Politics

Only Tinubu has the capacity to confront Atiku, others: Sen. Abiru

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Sen. Tokunbo Abiru (APC – Lagos East) said that only Bola Tinubu has the capacity to confront Atiku Abubakar and other oppositions.

The Senator added that the All Progressives Congress (APC) made the best decision in choosing Tinubu as its 2023 presidential candidate.

He said the APC now has a formidable candidate that would ensure its victory in the presidential election.

n the congratulatory message by his media spokesperson, Mr. Enitan Olukotun in Lagos on Thursday, the senator expressed confidence in Tinubu’s capacity.

Abiru who is also the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Industries said: “Only Tinubu has the capacity to confront the opposition and secure victory for the ruling party in the 2023 general elections.

“I heartily congratulate our revered Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu on his victory at the APC presidential primary election.

“The delegates of our dear party have made the best decision by electing Asiwaju to fly the flag of our dear party, APC in 2023.

“The Bola Tinubu presidency promises to bring transformational development to Nigeria as witnessed in Lagos state, where he served as governor for two terms.”

Abiru, therefore, urged Nigerians from all walks of life to look beyond primordial considerations and throw their support behind Tinubu’s candidacy.

He noted that the complexities and protracted challenges facing the nation required a tested and experienced leader like Tinubu to tackle them headlong.

“I congratulate all APC members and supporters for this historic feat.”

Politics, World News

$25,000 Presidential Delegate Bribe Can Pay 3 Years’ Salaries Of Nigerian University Professor – Group.

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Anon-governmental organisation, International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety), says that the $25,000 bribe reportedly paid to some presidential primary delegates each can pay three years’ salaries of a Nigerian university professor.
 
Intersociety regretted that such an amount could be paid to induce delegates while university lecturers had been on strike for close to four months over poor remuneration and funding of schools.


The group said, “The monthly remuneration (basic salary and allowances) of a Professor of Nigerian University presently stands at N416, 000 or N15m for three years.”
 
A statement by the group on Wednesday, signed by its Board Chair, Emeka Umeagbalasi; Head, Democracy and Good Governance, Chinwe Umeche, among others, said it was no longer going to be business as usual.
 
They noted that unlike in the past elections such as in 2011 and 2019 when some leading northern political players hid under religious extremism to organise and sponsor post-election mayhems targeted majorly at members of the Igbo ethnic nationality and their Trado-Judeo-Christian faith; the electoral umpire must get it right in 2023 to “avoid the explosion of post-election tsunami of unquenchable proportions across the country”.
 
It alleged that through the INEC conspiracy, “millions of eligible voters of old Eastern Nigeria and Midwest residents in the North-Central States of Plateau, Benue, Niger, FCT, Kogi and Nasarawa; Northeast States of Borno, Taraba, Adamawa, Bauchi, Gombe and Yobe; Northwest States of Kaduna, Sokoto, Kano, Jigawa and Kebbi; and Southwest States of Lagos and Ogun were denied and are still being denied demographic or registration and voting centre accessibility for them to be captured as voters and allowed to vote during elections.
 
“During the 2019 Presidential Poll, they were targeted and destructively attacked in Lagos, Plateau, Taraba, Kaduna, Kano and several other parts of the country.
 
“Apart from millions of them disenfranchised during the past voter registration and revalidation exercises, millions of others were also chased away from polling booths in the February 2019 Presidential Poll with their properties worth billions of naira destroyed or burnt to ashes.
 
“Millions of members of the sedentary Southeast and South-South population have also been disenfranchised by INEC by deliberately denying them from being captured as registered voters with PVCs hiding under ‘technical hitches’ or at the polling units on the Election Day.
 
“These are sharply in contrast with what was obtainable in the North, especially its Muslim held areas where most of the eligible voters were not only captured to vote with PVCs but also millions of underage and illegal aliens were registered as voters with PVCs and allowed to vote during elections.”
 
It said that checks conducted in various registration centres across the country, especially in the Igbo Southeast and South-South have shown that the Commission is at it again by playing pranks on the ongoing voters’ registration.
 
“Apart from massive disenfranchisement through shrinking constituency delineation exercise in recent past, especially in Igbo and Christian populated areas in the North and the Southwest, acute shortage of registration machines and manpower, especially in the named areas have been reported in the ongoing exercise with less than 22 days to go.
 
“INEC has also shut down its website segments for fresh voters’ registration, revalidation and transfer but still advertises them to be open and operational. Long queues of massive prospective voters involving hundreds of thousands, if not in their millions have dotted most of the registration centres in the Southeast, South-South and Igbo/Christian held areas of the Southwest and the North.”
 
The group alleged that the situation is different in the Muslim dominated areas of the country where “PVCs are issued to their owners including children of underage and illegal aliens by proxies including through Village Heads”.
“In several places monitored in Onitsha South, Onitsha North, Idemmili North, Ogbaru and Aguata in Anambra State, for instance, a price tag of between N2, 000 and N5, 000 is additionally imposed for getting to be registered,” it said.
 
It further stated, “These are some of the Commission’s undoing in its ongoing electoral midwifery capable of pushing millions of Nigerian youths/revolutionary voters from ‘Ballot Revolution’ to ‘Street Revolution’. These, INEC must desist from continuing to do and must have them frontally redressed and put to an end before it is too late.”

Politics, World News

Enugu Bans Commercial Motorcycle, Tricycle Operations In Two Council Areas Over Killing Of Policemen.

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The Enugu State Government has banned the use of commercial motorcycles (popularly called Okada) and tricycles (Keke) in the Igbo-Eze South and Igbo-Eze North council areas of the state from 6 pm to 6 am daily.

This comes after a security meeting over the recent upsurge in the activities of gunmen in the affected areas.
SaharaReporters gathered that the restriction was part of the agreement between the state government and the leaders of the Keke and Okada unions during the security meeting held on Tuesday night.

The tricycle and motorcycle riders’ associations in Igbo-Eze North and Igbo-Eze South LGAs have reportedly resolved to stop operating within the stipulated time.
In a statement signed by their leaders, the unions directed their members to desist from operating in the two council areas from 6 pm to 6 am, daily.

They also directed all Keke and Okada operators to withdraw their services in Aguibeje and Iyionu communities in Igbo-Eze North LGA with effect from June 7, 2022, till further notice.
The statement also requested security agencies in the state to enforce the resolutions to the letter.
SaharaReporters had reported how two policemen – an inspector and a sergeant were shot dead in the area recently.

Politics, World News

Tinubu coming at right time, says Segun Oni.

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The Social Democratic Party governorship candidate in Ekiti State, Chief Segun Oni, congratuled the newly elected presidential candidate of All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu.
The PUNCH reports that Tinubu scored 1,271 votes to defeat his closest contenders, Rotimi Amaechi and Yemi Osinbajo.
Amaechi obtained 316 votes while Osinbajo polled 235.

He contested against thirteen other aspirants – Mr Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, Pastor Tunde Bakare, Mr Ahmed Rufai, Senator Rochas Okorocha, Mr Jack Rich, Governor Ben Ayade, Governor David Umahi, Senator Ahmed Yarima, Dr Ahmed Lawan, Osinbajo, Amaechi, Governor Yahaya Bello and Mr Ogbonnaya Onu.

Nine aspirants had earlier stepped down, eight of whom asked their supporters to vote for Tinubu, while one asked his supporters to vote for Osinbajo.
Those who stepped down before voting began are Governor Abubakar Badaru of Jigawa, Robert Boroffice, Ken Nnamani, Ibikunle Amosun, Dimeji Bankole, Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi and Godswill Akpabio.

But in a statement by the Chairman, Media Advisory Council, Segun Oni Campaign Organisation, Moses Jolayemi, Oni described Tinubu as “a detribalised leader and an astute politician of a formidable political trajectory”.

Oni further stated that Tinubu truly deserves his party’s confidence as demonstrated with a convincing win in the APC presidential primary.
While wishing Tinubu success in the task ahead, Oni said with the country’s current challenges, there was need for a leader in the mould of the former Lagos State governor.

“The myriad of problems confronting the nation at this time needs attention from leaders who are not only experienced but possess the necessary political will and vision to unite the nation across all ethnic and religious lines in order to restore the fast dwindling fortunes of our great country,” the governorship candidate said.

Politics

I will fight terrorism if elected president, Tinubu tells APC delegates

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Bola Tinubu, one of the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential aspirants, has said that he will fight terrorism and insecurity in the country if elected as the next president in 2023.

He said this on Tuesday while addressing the party’s delegates at its special convention and presidential primary election at the Abuja Eagle Square.

Mr Tinubu commended the other aspirants in the race for conducting what he described as a decent campaign, saying that the competition would eventually make the APC stronger.

He described himself as a unifier and the one which the current moment in the country calls for.

“Nominate me as the party’s presidential candidate for 2023 because I’m competent and courageous to serve Nigeria, and deliver good governance,” he said.

Mr Tinubu, a former two-term governor of Lagos State said he had the experience, record of achievements, and the ability to deliver good governance if elected as the country’s next president.

He added that true reform and progress lie not in copying others, but in identifying our own opportunities as a nation.

“I have done this in Lagos State as governor for two terms. I humbly ask you to allow me to use these skills and experiences to advance the nation.

“I come to you with a coherent vision on how to improve our nation, such that our schools, industry, agriculture, and infrastructure will become the pride of all.

“Ours shall be a land where all Nigerians will have equal chance and no one is excluded because of his ethnic background, religious creed, place of origin, or social status, we are all Nigerians.

“By this statement, I seek your help and support to become our party’s nominee and standard-bearer in the coming February 2023 presidential elections.

“To lead Nigerians is a sacred trust, which I do not take lightly or seek selfishly, by giving me the party’s mandate, I hereby make solemn vow to make Nigeria the best home for its citizens,” he said.

Mr Tinubu expressed optimism that as an indivisible united country, Nigerians shall overcome the destructive forces attempting to steal the destiny of the nation.

Also speaking to the delegates, Ahmad Lawan, President of the Senate, said he would build on President Muhammadu Buhari’s achievements if elected as the country’s next president.

“I am running for the office of the president of the country because this party has been built well around ideas which we all share,” he said.

He appealed to the delegates to elect an aspirant that would build on Buhari’s achievements.

Earlier, Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo assured that the party’s presidential primary election would be free, fair, and transparent.

Mr Uzodinma is the chairman of the Central Planning Committee of the APC special convention and presidential primary election.

“Our party has always proved the opposition parties wrong and we will prove that today with a free, fair, and transparent election, ” he said.

Rotimi Amaechi, the immediate past Minister of Transportation and a former two-term governor of Rivers while speaking to the delegates, said he was the most qualified aspirant to be the country’s next president having served in various capacities.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that contrary to speculations, all 23 APC presidential aspirants that bought the party’s Expression of Interest and Nomination forms were asked to sell their candidacy to the delegates.

Meanwhile, Ibikunle Amosun, Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti, Abubakar Badaru of Jigawa, Godswill Akpabio, Dimeji Bankole and Uju Ken-Ohanenye, the only APC female presidential aspirant, all stepped down for Tinubu.

As of the time of filing this report, Felix Nicholas, a Nigerian based in the United States of America and the youngest APC presidential aspirant also stepped down for Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

Yahaya Bello of Kogi, also a presidential aspirant, reiterated his ability, experience, and what takes to ensure electoral victory for the APC in 2023, saying that he remains in the race.

He appealed to the delegates to elect him as the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, adding that he had the support of women, youths, and persons with disability in the country (NAN)

Politics

APC Primaries: Nine Candidates who withdrew, who they endorsed

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Mr Nnamani cited as reasons for his withdrawal from the race the party’s alleged lack of “sincerity on zoning arrangement and the poor management of the primary election activities.”

The highlight of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) special convention to elect its presidential candidate for the 2023 elections so far is the galore of withdrawals from the race by some of the aspirants.

When the event commenced Tuesday afternoon, there were 23 aspirants in the race. But after pronouncements by each of the aspirants, only 14 of them remained in the battle for the ticket to fly the party’s flag in the 2023 general election.

Seven of the aspirants stepped down for the former governor of Lagos State, Bola Tinubu, and pledged their support for him.

One aspirant, however, stepped down for the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo.

Ken Nnamani, a former President of the Senate, had earlier withdrawn from the race before the commencement of the convention. But unlike other candidates who declared their support for either Mr Tinubu or Mr Osinbajo, Mr Nnamani did not announce his support for any of the remaining aspirants.

He cited as reasons for his decision the party’s alleged lack of “sincerity on zoning arrangement and the poor management of the primary election activities.”

He said the development had created uncertainty and poor preparation for his planned campaign.

Meanwhile, here are the nine aspirants who stepped down at the convention and who they declared their support for.

1. Jigawa State Governor, Abubakar Badaru, stepped down for Bola Tinubu.

2. Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole, stepped down for Bola Tinubu.

3. Senator representing Ondo North Senatorial District, Ajayi Boroffice, stepped down for Bola Tinubu.

4. Governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi stepped down for Bola Tinubu.

5. Godswill Akpabio, former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs stepped down for Bola Tinubu.

6. Ibikunle Amosun, former Ogun State governor, stepped down for Bola Tinubu.

7. Uju-Kennedy Ohanenye, the only female aspirant in the race, also stepped down for Bola Tinubu.

8. The youngest male presidential aspirant, Nicholas Felix, stepped down for Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

9. The former Senate President, Ken Nnamani, only withdrew from the race without declaring support for any of the remaining aspirants.

A total of 2,203 delegates drawn from the 36 states of the federation and the federal capital territory (FCT) were accredited to participate in the election.

Politics

Osinbajo receives hostile reception from South-west delegates

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However, as the delegates from his home South-west region noticed his arrival, chants of “betrayer’ ‘”thief” and other derogatory slogans rose from their pavilions.

The Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, has received a hostile welcome to the Eagle Square venue of the National Convention of the All Progressives Congress (APC) from a section of South-west delegates.

Mr Osinbajo, who is one of the contenders for the presidential ticket of the APC, arrived at the convention ground at 7.25 p.m. accompanied by the director-general of his campaign, Kabiru Gaya, and the Governor of Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun.

However, as the delegates from his home South-west region noticed his arrival, chants of “betrayer’ ‘”thief” and other derogatory slogans rose from their pavilions.

The vice president had attempted to come out of his vehicle to greet the delegates, but the hostile environment forced him to go back.

However, voices of support for him rose from among his supporters as the vice president moved to the State Box to await the arrival of President Muhammadu Buhari.

Politics

APC Convention: Tinubu, Osinbajo, Amaechi, others battle for APC ticket (LIVE UPDATES)

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Over 2,000 delegates drawn from the 36 states and FCT will elect the APC presidential candidate from the 23 aspirants jostling for the ticket of the ruling party at today’s primary.

The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is set for its special convention to elect its presidential candidate for the 2023 elections.

The convention will hold for the next three days (June 6-8) at the Eagle Square in the nation’s capital, Abuja.

It was initially scheduled for May 29 and 30 but was postponed after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) shifted the deadline for political parties to pick their candidates for the general elections from June 3 to June 9.

A total of 2,322 ad-hoc delegates drawn from the 36 states and FCT are expected to participate in the primary to elect the APC flag bearer out of the 23 aspirants jostling for the ticket.

The aspirants are Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, former Science and Technology Minister, Ogbonnaya Onu, former Minister of State for Education, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba and former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio.

There are also five serving governors, namely Yahaya Bello (Kogi), Dave Umahi (Ebonyi), Abubakar Badaru (Jigawa), Ben Ayade (Cross River) and Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti).

Also in the race are former Lagos State governor, Bola Tinubu, former Ogun State governor and serving senator, Ibikunle Amosun, former Zamfara governor, Ahmad Sani, former Imo State governor and serving senator, Rochas Okorocha.

There are also the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, a former Senate President, Ken Nnamani, a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole, and a serving senator, Ajayi Boroffice.

Also gunning for the APC ticket are two clerics, Tunde Bakare and Felix Nicholas as well as a former Information Minister, Ikeobasi Mokelu, a businessman, Tein Jack-Rich, and the only female among them, Uju Ken-Ohanenye.

All 23 aspirants had been cleared by the seven-member screening committee of the party headed by former National Chairman, John Odigie-Oyegun.

The committee had in its report submitted on Friday shortlisted 13 aspirants but encouraged the party to allow everyone to participate in the event of inability to reach voluntary withdrawal from the race.

Twenty-eight nomination and expression of interest forms were procured by aspirants and support groups. However, former President Goodluck Jonathan, Central Bank Governor Godwin Emefiele and AfBD President Akinwumi Adeshina rejected the forms procured for them by support groups. Two ministers, Chris Ngige (Labour and Employment) and Timipre Sylva (State, Petroleum Resources) opted out of the race.

The journey to the convention has been very rough for the party– partly due to the internal wrangling as well as poor planning.

The days leading up to the convention had been fraught with controversies, bickering, lobbying, meetings and threats.

Moves by some party members, including President Muhammadu Buhari to ensure the emergence of a consensus candidate from among the array of aspirants were unsuccessful.

On Saturday, the president held a meeting with the aspirants during which he asked them to go and chose a consensus candidate among themselves.

“I urge all of you to hold consultations amongst yourselves and with the party, with a view to building a consensus in a manner that would help the party reduce the number of aspirants, bring up a formidable candidate and scale down the anxiety of party members,” Mr Buhari said

The same day, 10 APC governors in the north backed the shift of presidential power to the south, a boost to the demand of the southern governor for power to return to the south. The aspirants from the north are expected to exit the race given the decision by the governors. However, they are still in the race.

However, barring any last minute changes, all 23 aspirants will slug it out at the convention.

The party says it is ready for the convention for which it recently constituted 18 subcommittees. The Eagle Square venue of the event has been given a face lift.

The Chairman of the Convention Planning Committee, Governor Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State, said many people have been at work to ensure the success of the event.

APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Adamu, said the convention is a bit different from the previous convention because it is the first transition convention of the ruling party.

PREMIUM TIMES is at the convention ground to bring you live updates of the event.

Politics, World News

He’s a hero of Ukraine’ -15 year old boy risks his life to help Ukraine military using his toy drones to locate advancing Russian convoys.

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A teenage boy who used his drone to help Ukraine’s armed forces locate and destroy a huge Russian convoy bearing down on Kyiv in the early days of the war has been hailed as a ‘real hero of Ukraine’.

Ukraine’s territorial defence unit contacted young drone pilot Andrii Pokrasa early in the war after hearing that the teenager was a highly skilled drone operator living near Kyiv.

Andrii Pokrasa, a 15-year-old boy who lives on the outskirts of the Ukrainian capital, was approached by the military to help them find a Russian convoy, which was between the E40 highway between Kyiv and Zhytomyr. 
 
Despite the threat to his life, Pokrasa took his drone into a nearby field under cover of darkness and successfully obtained photos and GPS co-ordinates of the oncoming Russian convoy, which his father forwarded to Ukrainian military via social media. 

Minutes later, Ukrainian artillery rained down on the highway near Berezivka and obliterated the convoy roughly 23 miles away from the Kyiv city centre.
 
The move was so successful that the military handed the young boy the controls of a high-grade drone with a longer range which helped them to go ahead wnd destroy several Russian tank units and armoured vehicles as a result.

‘[Pokrasa] was the only one who was experienced with drones in that region,’ Yurii Kasjanov, the commander of a territorial defence unit that liased with the teenage drone pilot, said.

‘He’s a real hero. A hero of Ukraine.’
Pokrasa described the experience as being ‘very, very scary’, but said he wanted to prevent the Russian forces from attacking his home town.

The territorial defence force provided us information on where approximately the Russian column could be. 

‘Our goal was to find the exact coordinates and provide the coordinates to the soldiers… I gave them the coordinates and photos, and after that they targeted the location,’ the teenage pilot said.

Commander Kasjanov said his territorial defence unit offered as much protection to Pokrasa and his family as they could while the teenager carried out his vital work. 

Ukraine’s deployment of drones has been an integral part of their success in pushing back Putin’s forces from around Kyiv, and Military-grade drones, such as the Turkish-made Bayraktar TB-2, have helped Ukraine’s armed forces to inflict major losses on Russia’s motorised units since the war began.

Pokrasa told Global News he was aware of the risks involved and was afraid, but said he knew ‘I can’t do it any other way’.

Politics, World News

Buhari arrives APC convention ground.

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The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari(retd), has arrived at the scene of the convention of the All Progressives Congress, The PUNCH reports.
Buhari, who arrived around 7:40 pm, came in the company of security operatives.
The PUNCH reports that Buhari had been under pressure as regards the choice of his successor.
Buhari, in a meeting with governors under the ruling APC, had noted that he would appreciate their support in choosing his successor.

In another meeting with aspirants, the president noted the need to reduce the number of aspirants.
Though the president in a statement released by his special assistant, Garba Shehu insisted that he would not impose any candidate.

The Governor of Plateau state, Simon Lalong, in an interview with Channels Television on Tuesday, noted that Buhari had okayed a list of five aspirants.

Lalong said, “The President told us any of these five (aspirants) is qualified to be president and have contributed to the party (APC). He said he is comfortable with any of them.
“Our recommendation is to enable us to give direction for the party as we go into the primary. We cannot go with everybody, but in our view, these are the people we think should remain.”

Politics, World News

Excitement as Tinubu, Osinbajo, Lawan arrive at APC primary venue.

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Frontline Presidential aspirants, ex-Governor Bola Tinubu, Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, Senate President Ahmad Lawan and Governor Kayode Fayemi have just arrived at the Eagle Square, Abuja, the venue of the Presidential primary of the All Progressives Congress.

The President, Major General Muhamadu Buhari (retd.), is expected to arrive any moment from now.
Other aspirants that had arrived earlier are: Rotimi Amaechi, Governor Dave Umahi, Governor Yahaya Bello, Senator Ajayi Boroffice, Tein Jack-Rich, and many others.

Politics, World News

Crowd overpowers security officials, break-in into APC primary venue.

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There was nearly a stampede at the venue of the All Progressive Congress primary when the crowd overpowered the security officials on duty and gained access to Eagle Square, the venue of the convention.
The issue was quickly brought under control as another set of security officials went in to block the last gate to the venue of the national convention.


The PUNCH reports that the main entrance has become full of people, making it difficult for delegates to gain access to the venue.
After the main gate, are four other gates before final access to the last gate. The mob broke the third gate before security men quickly went to block the last gate.

As of 7 pm, many delegates are still locked outside the gate trying to find access to the convention ground.

Politics, World News

Three aspirants have stepped down for Osinbajo -Campaign DG.

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Director-General of the Yemi Osinbajo Campaign Organisation, Senator Kabiru Gaya has said that three aspirants have stepped down for the Vice President in the All Progressives Congress primary holding today June 7. 
 
This came after he told Channels Television that the list of Presidential aspirants in the All Progressives Congress has been trimmed to just two – Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo and former Governor Bola Tinubu of Lagos State.

 
Gaya, who represents Kano-South senatorial district, failed to identify the three aspirants, only claiming that former Senate President Ken Nnamani who stepped down on Monday June 6, did so in honour of Osinbajo.

Vice President of Nigeria, Professor Yemi Osinbajo


 
He said; 
 

“We have Vice-President Osinbajo and Bola Tinubu. I am aware that some aspirants have stepped down for Osinbajo. Nnamani and two others have stepped down for Osinbajo.”

Politics, World News

Over 300 Women Groups Give Buhari Government Four Weeks To Stop Killings In Nigeria.

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Women groups under the umbrella of Womenifesto, have given the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Nigerian government a four-week ultimatum to stop killings in the country.
 
Womenifesto, made up of about 320 different women groups, gave the ultimatum in reaction to Sunday’s massacre at St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State, where terrorists attacked and killed no fewer than 22 worshippers.

The groups lamented the height of wanton killings across the country, stating that the Owo massacre was another evidence of blatant disregard for human lives by criminal gangs who have been marauding unchecked across Nigeria.
 
In a statement signed by Dr. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, on behalf of the group, Womenifesto pointed out that report by Nigeria Security Tracker showed that across the country, over 3,515 people died as a result of violent attacks between January and June 2022, with 1,214 deaths recorded in March, ranking higher than the 996 deaths recorded in January.
 
The groups said the report revealed that at least 14,641 people have been killed across the six geopolitical zones of the country in the past three years; while in the first five months of this year, about 3,173 were killed and more than 2,293 abducted.
 
The groups said, “Women groups under the aegis of Womanifesto strongly condemn the attack on St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo in Ondo State on the 5th of June, 2022 which left dozens of people, men, women and young persons dead and many others critically wounded.
“Our hearts go out to the families, friends and loved ones of all those affected by this vile and evil act. We also commiserate with the Catholic Community and the entire people of Ondo state.
 
“This cold-blooded massacre in St. Francis Church is yet another evidence of the blatant disregard for human life and the incessant murder of defenceless citizens by criminal gangs who have been marauding unchecked across our country.
“As a result, thousands of people are widowed and children orphaned. It is reported that over 3,515 people have died as a result of violent attacks between January and June 2022, with 1,214 deaths in March, ranking higher than the 996 deaths recorded in January (Nigeria Security Tracker).
 
“The Owo massacre in which citizens in their place of worship were killed, again raises the question of governance failure considering that our 1999 Constitution asserts security and welfare of citizens as a primary responsibility of the government.
“The same Constitution centralizes the command and control of security establishments in the Federal Government through the President of Nigeria as Commander-In-Chief of the Nigeria Armed Forces.
 
“According to a report, at least 14,641 people have been killed across the six regions in Nigeria in the past three years, and in just the first five months of this year, about 3,173 have been killed and more than 2,293 abducted in similar circumstances.
“Unfortunately, the failure of the government to properly investigate or take tangible actions to ensure justice or deter future occurrences continues to exacerbate the crises. Since its insurgence in 2009, the herdsmen and banditry attacks have risen exponentially as the government has failed to demonstrate the capacity to address the insecurity plaguing the country.
 
“We, therefore, call on President Muhammadu Buhari, the Federal Government, the Nigeria Police and all other relevant Federal Law Enforcement Agency to take immediate measures beyond condemning this barbaric act- to end the insecurity in the country.
 
“Womanifesto demands in the medium term, a comprehensive restructuring of Nigeria’s security architecture through a National Conversation on a new Constitution to replace the problematic 1999 Constitution.
 
“In the immediate term, however, we demand the following actions by the federal and Ondo State Governments: Publish the identities of all the victims of the Owo tragedy including those that died as well as the injured.
 
“Demonstrate accountability and carry out a speedy investigation that is conclusive – leads to arrests, successful judicial prosecution and sentencing of the killers.
 
“Make immediate contact, provide constant updates, and appropriate succour for all the families of victims of the tragedy by the federal and Ondo state governments.
 
“Present as a matter of urgency, a state of national security status report to Nigerians in fulfilment of the constitutional duty of the President and the security agencies.
 
“Transparently communicate the performance of the security establishments in light of the huge budgetary provisions allocated annually to the counter-terrorism war.”
 
The groups stated that they found “The current fixation of Nigeria’s public officials and other politicians with the 2023 elections in a country which has many evident signs of being on the brink of collapse, an unconscionable, unkind, and cynical diversion of energy that should be focused on securing anxiety-numbed citizens.”
 
Further lamenting the seeming negligence of the deteriorating security situation in the country by the leaders, Womenifesto said, “We are shocked that our political leaders are continuing to ignore and downplay the rising trend of daily killings of Nigerians in states across the country at a dangerous time like this and instead, giving priority to their personal quest for power. This is utterly condemnable.
 
“We want our President, governors, and lawmakers across Nigeria to immediately cease continuing to ‘major in the minors’ and reprioritize the safety and security of citizens to the top of our national agenda. We demand that they focus on the existential threats bedeviling Nigeria and Nigerians now.
 
“Finally, we shall be monitoring the response of President Muhammadu Buhari, the federal and Ondo state governments to our demands. If by July 5th, 2022, we do not see any strong signs of progress on our five demands, Nigerian women will take every step necessary to stand for the preservation of the lives of our citizens.
 
“We emphatically declare that “Enough is Enough!”
The groups include 9jafeminista, Abiodun Essiet Initiative for Girls, Above Whispers Foundation, Action Aid Nigeria, ACTS Generation GBV, Ade Grange Child Foundation, ADEM Community Human Development Foundation, Adinya Arise Foundation (AAF), Advocate for Health and Development Initiative, Advocacy for Women With Disabilities , African Women’s Initiative (AWI) and Albertiqs Extra Helping Hands Foundation.
Others include African Research Group on Gender, Association of ALIWE Daughters, Ajegunle Community Project, Ajoke Ayisat Afolabi Foundation, Alliances for Africa (AfA), Amazing Grace Inspirations, Aminchi Women Cooperative Society, Amnesty International Nigeria, ARDA Development Communication Inc., Arise Nigerian Woman Foundation., ASWHAN, ATATA Development and Empowerment Foundation (ADEF), Affirmative Action Initiative for Women (NCAA), Association of Nigeria Women’s Business Network (ANWBN), Association of Women in Trade and Agriculture (AWITA), AWEP, ANWIB and Bring Back Our Girls.

Politics, World News

Court Restrains INEC, Lawan, Gbajabiamila On Participation Of Statutory Delegates.

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The Court of Appeal in Abuja has granted an order of interim injunction restraining the Senate President, the Speaker of the House of Reps, INEC and three others from executing, enforcing or relying on the judgment delivered by Justice Mohammed Liman of a Federal High Court, Kano, on the 3rd of June, 2022.
The Appeal Court restrained them following an exparte application filed by the National Chairman of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Adamu Abdullahi.
The three others are Senator Mas’ud Doguwa, Hon. Habibu Sani, Hon Bilyamimu Shinkafi. All six are jointly listed as respondents to the suit.
On the 3rd of June, Justice Liman sitting in the Kano division of the court had held that statutory delegates can participate in primaries of political parties in accordance with the Nigerian constitution.
Justice Liman reached this decision while giving judgement in a suit filed by Doguwa, a legislative aide to Femi Gbajabiamila, Speaker of the House of Representatives; Habibu Sani and Bilyaminu Shinkafi.
But the Court of Appeal on Monday restrained all the respondents and in particular, Doguwa, Sani and Shinkafi from relying on that judgment or doing anything inconsistent with the rights of the applicant with respect to organizing/conducting the convention of the APC in any manner the party may deem fit to so doing in accordance with its extant laws pending the determination of the suit seeking a stay of execution of the judgment of the 3rd of June.
The three-member panel of the Court of Appeal made up of Justice Simon Tsamani, Justice Stephen Adah and Justice Elfreda Williams-Dawodu, also granted leave to the applicant to serve the notice of appeal, the record of appeal, and all other processes on the 6 respondents. It adjourned to June the 9th for the hearing of the application.

Politics

APC primary: I see danger ahead, Fayose tells Tinubu

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Former governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, yesterday, urged Tinubu to tread with caution, as he prepares for the presidential primary.

Fayose, in an open letter to Tinubu, warned the presidential hopeful that he “may be swimming against the political tide of the cabal in your party.”

The letter reads: “Let me start this letter to your good-self, whom I considered as one of the leading lights of the Yoruba nation, as a letter that may not be patronising, especially for the content based on the subjective views I will express here as a Yoruba man and not as a politician. 

“I equally wish to state that I am not an APC man and will never be. I am writing based on my observed views and the attached possible dangers about your good-self against today.

“One of the undeniable facts is your outburst in Abeokuta, which is a clear indication that you clearly saw a political danger to which you reacted. This informed the basis of my writing to you now.

“I equally read the reactions of your political allies both in the North and in the South. The reactions gave me great cause of concern for you and your life. Again, I see danger.

“As a knowledgeable student of history whom you are; our great late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo and the celebrated winner of the June 12, 1993 general election; Alhaji Moshood Abiola, were led to the Golgotha by self acclaimed champions of democracy. I am sure the same people may advise you to ignore my advice.  

“Going by the handwriting that is now clearly on the wall, if I may comment sir, I see you as one that may be swimming against the political tide of the cabal in your party. They are equally prepared for your actions and reactions and are fully set to contain the same as they did to both Awolowo and Abiola.  

“Unfortunately, your kingdom has been badly balkanized if what happened in Abeokuta is anything to go by.

“My advice: The book of Proverbs chapter 22 verse 3 (The Good News Translations), “sensible people will see trouble coming and avoid it but unthinking people will work into it.

“Again, Asiwaju, for reasons of not being misrepresented, I will like to stop here and allow you to make your decisions, good or bad, as a wise full-grown adult who you are. I wish you the best of luck.”

Politics

APC presidential ticket: Adamu’s consensus plot fails, 21 aspirants in battle royale

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Eniola Akinkuotu, Friday Olokor,  Adebayo Folorunsho-Francis, Stephen Angbulu and Deborah Tolu-Kolawole

An attempt by the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Abdullahi Adamu, to select Senate President Ahmad Lawan – a northerner – as the preferred candidate of the APC, failed on Monday as both the Presidency and 12 northern governors of the party openly distanced themselves from the move.

Adamu had summoned a meeting of the 25-member National Working Committee at the party’s headquarters in Abuja ahead of the presidential primary slated for Tuesday (today).

At the meeting, Adamu informed the NWC that Lawan was the anointed candidate of the party, a move which was not accepted by all of the members.

It was gathered that the national chairman insisted the choice of Lawan was arrived at after due consultation with the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.).

After the meeting, Adamu hurriedly jumped into his vehicle and zoomed off.

The APC’s stand on Monday threatened the hope of the South to produce the next president as a northerner, former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, on May 28 got the presidential ticket of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party after defeating southern aspirants including the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, and the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Udom Emmanuel.

But northern governors in the APC, at their meeting on Saturday night, raised the hope of the South when they insisted that the presidential candidate of the party should emerge from the southern part of the country.

Adamu’s plot to impose Lawan was on Monday greeted by a groundswell of opposition from some NWC members, northern governors and other presidential aspirants.

Moments after the NWC meeting,  about seven members led by the National Organising Secretary of the APC, Suleman Argungu, told journalists at the party secretariat that Lawan was not the preferred candidate of the party.

Argungu stated, “We want to state that the pronouncement of Lawan as the consensus candidate was the chairman’s opinion and he is entitled to his opinion. It is not the position of the party.”

Others who supported Argungu were the National Vice Chairman (North-West), Salihu Lukman; Deputy National Chairman (South), Isaac Kekemeke; the National Youth Leader, Dayo Israel.

Amid the commotion, 12 northern governors emerged from a meeting with the President at the Presidential Villa where they stated that the President had confirmed to them that he had no preferred candidate.

The governors said they stood by their decision to zone the party’s presidential ticket to the South, a move which angered Kogi State Governor and Presidential aspirant, Yahaya Bello.

According to a communiqué issued after the meeting, the governors said, “After careful deliberation, we wish to state our firm conviction that after eight years in the office of President Muhammadu Buhari, the presidential candidate of the APC for the 2023 elections should be one of our teeming members from the southern states of Nigeria.

“It is a question of honour for the APC, an obligation that is not in any way affected by the decisions taken by another political party.”

Speaking on behalf of the governors, Chairman of the Northern Governors Forum, Simon Lalong of Plateau State regretted that the communiqué from the earlier meeting, where they endorsed power shift, had leaked to the public before they officially informed the President of their resolution.

He, however, noted that the governors had to inform the President in person as part of last-minute preparations for tomorrow’s primary elections.

“Mr. President, as a believer in democratic process, believes that any candidate must emerge through a transparent process and the emphasis that Mr. President told us that for this election, for now, he has no anointed candidate and therefore directed that the Progressive Governors Forum meet with the National Working Committee of the party to agree and proffer further solutions and recommendations for his own succession.”

Asked why their Kogi State counterpart was absent from the meeting, a distraught Governor Nasir El-Rufai (of Kaduna) said it was not compulsory for all 14 of them to agree on the southern ticket.

According to him, Bello had excused himself from the meeting with the President because he rejected the resolution made by the governors. El-Rufai argued that 13 out of 14 yeses are enough to front the agenda for a southern candidate.

“We all met before coming to meet with Mr. President, including the governor of Kogi State. As you can see, he’s not the only aspirant, the governor of Jigawa State is also an aspirant and he’s here with us and we met.

“But the governor of Kogi State chose to excuse himself from meeting with Mr. President because he believes that he does not agree with our position. There are 14 APC governors out of the 19 northern states. The 13 of us are on one page on this subject and we all came to see the President, but the governor of Kogi State excused himself and it is within his democratic rights to excuse himself. But 12 out of 14 is a super majority. 13 out of 14 is an even bigger super majority and the 13 of us met with the President today,” he said.

El-Rufai argued that the governors do not need a 100 per cent agreement rate to proceed with their decision.

On his part, the Chairman of the Progressives Governors Forum, Atiku Bagudu, accused the main opposition of ignoring the south and throwing open its Presidential ticket, despite having zoning in its constitution.

According to him, the APC will look out for the interest of the South in its considerations.

“Remember, the main opposition party PDP, they even have zoning in their constitution. But when it came to the selection of candidates, they ignored sections of Nigeria that are saying it’s our turn. In our party, we don’t even have zoning in our constitution, but knowing our president, how magnanimous he is, we felt comfortable to make a recommendation to him that even though we don’t have zoning, Mr. President, can we consider this?” Bagudu explained.

Other northern governors in attendance were:  Abubakar Badaru (Jigawa), Aminu Masari (Katsina) Abdullahi Sule (Nasarawa) Bello Matawalle (Zamfara) Abdullahi Ganduje (Kano), Abubakar Bello (Niger), Yahaya Inuwa (Gombe), Babagana Zulum (Borno) and AbdulRahman Abdulrazaq (Kwara).

Agreeing with the governors, Buhari in a statement afterwards said he had not anointed any of the presidential aspirants.

This was as he said the party’s delegates would decide the outcome of Tuesday’s primary elections.

According to a statement signed by his Senior Special Assistant, Media and Publicity, Garaba Shehu, Buhari spoke at a meeting with 12 Northern APC Governors at the State House, Abuja, saying he has “no preferred candidate,” and has “anointed no one.”

The statement is titled ‘I have anointed no one, there shall be no imposition, says president Buhari’.

While noting that he is determined to ensure that “there shall be no imposition of any candidate on the party,” Buhari said the party is important and its members must be respected, and made to feel they are important.

The President said he had a clear mind about what he was doing and asked the APC governors to feel the same way: “You were elected as I was. Have a clear mind as I have. God gave us the chance; we have no reason to complain. We must be ready to take pain as we take the joy. Allow the delegates to decide. The Party must participate, nobody will appoint anybody.”

The Kwara State Governor, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, through his Special Adviser on Political Communications, Alhaji Bashir Adigun,  told The PUNCH  there was no going back on the southern Presidency.

Adigun said, “We have been inundated with enquiries on whether our Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq supports the resolution of Northern leaders on power shift to southern Nigeria.

“We like to state emphatically that the governor was ab initio fully part of the meeting and resolution of the northern leaders that the next President should come from southern part of the country.

“The governor could not immediately sign the resolution of the meeting because he was at his niece’s wedding held  on Saturday June 4,2022 where he was the Chief Host .

Presidency tackles Tinubu

Also in a separate statement, the Presidency rubbished claims by APC stalwart, Bola Tinubu, that he was largely responsible for Buhari’s victory at the 2015 polls after the President had failed in three earlier attempts.

According to a statement signed by Shehu, the Presidency said the past should not decide the next general election and what matters today is to elect a candidate that would “make our country better than it has ever been.”

The PUNCH reports that Tinubu, had raised some dust last Thursday when he claimed that without him, Buhari would not have emerged the president in 2015.

The Presidential aspirant made the claim at the Presidential Lodge in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital, when he was addressing the APC delegates ahead of the party’s primary elections.

In its reaction, the Presidency said “It is perhaps not surprising that on the eve of the All Progressives Congress flag bearer primary there are those running as candidates who wish to associate themselves with the President’s rise to elected office seven years ago.

“There are many people who played parts large and small in his historic election in 2015, making history as the first opposition candidate to defeat a sitting president with power changing hands peacefully at the ballot box.

“There are those who advised the President to run again; those who decided to build a political party – the APC – that could finally be the political vehicle capable of delivering victory where all other opposition parties and alliances before it had failed.

“Those decisions may have been agreed upon by a few. But they were delivered by thousands and voted for by tens of millions. No one can or should claim to have made this possible.”

It added that as crucial as the 2015 victory was, it is not what should decide the next general election.

Meanwhile, The PUNCH learnt on Monday that although 21 APC Presidential aspirants were in the race, the battle for delegates votes was largely between Lawan, Tinubu, Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State and former Governor Rotimi Amaechi.

Others in the race are: Oil mogul, Tein Jack-Rich; former Governors Godswill Akpabio, Ibikunle Amosun, Ogbonnaya Onu, Sani Yerima, and Rochas Okorocha; Governor Ben Ayade (Cross River), Governor Dave Umahi (Ebonyi), Governor Bello (Kogi), Deputy Senate Majority Leader, Ajayi Boroffice; a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole; fiery Lagos cleric, Tunde Bakare; Mrs Uju Ken-Ohnenye; Pastor Nicholas Nwagbo, a former Minister of Information, Chief Ikeobasi Mokelu and a former Minister of State for Education, Emeka Nwajiuba.

Both Governor Badaru of Jigawa State and a former Senate President, Ken Nnamani, have withdrawn from the race.

Nnamani announced his withdrawal during a meeting with journalists in Abuja on Monday.

He said, “In the present circumstances, it does not make any sense for me to continue in the race as I have not had the opportunity to market my profile and ideas to the delegates of our party in a manner that allow for deliberation and introspection.

“Therefore, I discontinue my aspiration and wish the party successful primary and unity of purpose so that we can win the 2023 general elections.

“I will continue to engage with the party and its leadership to make sure that the ideas and values that I cherish and propagate find strong footing in the party administration and in public leadership after election.”

Meanwhile, the legal department of the Bola Tinubu Campaign Organisation on Tuesday rejected attempts to anoint Lawan as the party’s candidate, insisting that the Electoral Act says consensus must be agreed to by all aspirants before the party can adopt it.

The Director, Legal Directorate, Tinubu Campaign Organisation, Babatunde Ogala (SAN), said this in a statement titled, ‘Consensus Candidate a Legal Impossibility’.

The statement read in part, “While the national chairman has yet to deny or offer any clarification on the alleged declaration, it is necessary to state that such a declaration is a legal impossibility. This is because under the regime of the Electoral Act 2022, consensus, though provided for as one of the means by which a political party may produce its candidate, must specifically occur in a precise form.”

Meanwhile, a former Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State says the powerful cabal in the Presidency is planning to give All Progressives Congress leader, Bola Tinubu, the ‘MKO Abiola’ treatment at the Presidential primary of the APC.

Fayose said this in an open letter to Tinubu on Monday which he personally signed.

MKO Abiola was the acclaimed winner of the June 12, 1993 Presidential election but was denied victory after the result was controversially annulled. He was eventually detained by the military government of General Sani Abacha the following year for declaring himself President. He died four years later.

In his open letter, Fayose said it was obvious that Tinubu was swimming against the tide and he needed to proceed with extreme caution.

The letter read in part, “Going by the handwritings that are now clearly on the wall, if I may consider sir, I see you as one that may be swimming against the political tide of the cabal in your party. They are equally preparing for your actions and reactions and are fully set to contain same as they did to both Awolowo and Abiola.”

Fayose said unfortunately Tinubu’s empire – which comprised almost all the six South-West governors and ministers as well as Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo – had been balkanised as evidenced by Tinubu’s outburst in Abeokuta last week.

Advising the APC, a political analyst, Tonye Isokariari, said the APC must do the needful to save the party from imploding ahead of the 2023 election.

He said, “The national chairman made a comment, the NWC members have come out to say they are not party to that I believe everyone is entitled to his own opinion. Yes, the APC will survive this,  It’s an internal crisis. As we speak the governors are meeting with the NWC members. So, whatever is going on, they will solve the problem. Well that’s our hope, that they will do the needful for the interest of justice, fairness and equity.”

Another political analyst, Jide Ojo, said Adamu’s declaration  might unsettle the party if not properly resolved.

He said, “The drama that happened today  will unsettle the APC if it is not properly resolved. Before now, Adamu had been accused of running a one-man show. He did same by declaring Lawan as the consensus candidate of the party which the northern governors, President and NWC have disassociated themselves.”

Veteran journalist and spokesman for the Bola Tinubu Campaign Organisation, Bayo Onanuga, says he was the one who introduced Prof. Yemi Osinbajo to then Lagos State Governor, Bola Tinubu, in 1999, a decision he now regrets.

Onanuga said this in a statement on Monday in reaction to an interview by The PUNCH with a former National Secretary of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change, Buba Galadima, who had lambasted Osinbajo for daring to contest against Tinubu, his former boss.

A’Court restrains NASS

 In a related development, the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal on Monday issued an order restraining the National Assembly from imposing statutory delegates at the ongoing convention of the APC.

Delivering his ruling, Justice Haruna Tsammani also restrained the enforcement of the judgment of a Federal High Court in Kano delivered on June 3 granting the enforcement of the amended Section 84 (8) of the Electoral Act, 2022.

The ex parte application by the APC national chairman which was moved by A.A. Popoola and Karma Fagbemi, had pleaded with the Appeal Court to stay the execution of the judgment of Justice A.M. Liman of a Federal High Court in suit No. FHC/KN/CS/137/2022 permitting Senator Mas’ud El-Jibrin Doguwa, Hon. Habila Sani, Hon. Bilyaminu Yusuf Shinkafi, the Senate, the Speaker of House of Representatives and the Independent National Electoral Commission to enforce the amendment.

Justice Tsammani also ordered the service of processes of the order by substituted means against the parties in the matter and adjourned hearing of the motion on notice for stay of execution to June 9.

Adamu had contended that  Section 84(8) of the Electoral Act on statutory delegates participation in the primary, which amendment was still awaiting presidential assent was not in conflict with Section 223 of the Nigerian Constitution of 1999 and Article 20(iv) of the APC constitution.

He had further argued that the suit was filed in Kano on May 24 without joining of the Attorney General of the Federation as the Chief Law Officer of the Federation.

Politics

BREAKING: Oyo Deputy Governor Defects To APC

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The deputy governor of Oyo State, Rauf Olaniyan has announced his defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC). 

Olaniyan made this announcement in an interaction with journalists on Sunday.

He said the decision came in yielding to yearnings of his supporters who were tired of waiting after remaining afloat in the PDP, for a while.

He said the defection did not affect his relationship with the state governor, Seyi Makinde, saying he remained on the same page with the governor regarding governance.

He maintained that he was not resigning as deputy governor.

Politics

APC In Make-Or-Break Presidential Convention

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AFTER several months of intrigues and backstabbing by power blocs, the All Progressives Congress (APC) is set to conduct the much-anticipated presidential convention where its standard-bearer will emerge ahead of the next general election. 

The national chairman of the party, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, on Sunday inaugurated 19 committees to handle the process, barely 24 hours to the scheduled date. 

Against the stand of the northern APC governors to cede power to the South, certain aspirants in the race from the North have refused to defer to the resolution asking them to withdraw from the race. 

Six of the northern governors in a communique issued at the end of their weekend meeting in Abuja “strongly recommend to President Muhammadu Buhari that the search for a successor as the APC presidential candidate be limited to our compatriots from the southern states.” 

They further maintained that, “It is a question of honour for the APC; an obligation that is not in any way affected by the decisions taken by another political party.” 

Feelers from the camp of the aspirants, however, revealed that they might have decided to snub the northern governors. 

At the weekend, only Jigawa State governor, Abubakar Badaru, has formally withdrawn from the race. 

Head of Communications, Yahaya Bello Campaign Organisation, Dr Yemi Kolapo, said the Kogi State governor would not drop his ambition as he dismissed the resolutions of the northern governors as mere recommendation that is not binding on her principal. 

She said: “Are they presidential aspirants? They only gave mere recommendation. Has the party agreed to their suggestion? Even the national chairman of the party said no decision was taken at the dinner with Mr President on Saturday. 

“We started this campaign before any of the aspirants. At this stage, on the eve of the election, you can’t be telling us to withdraw.” 

President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, who incidentally is from North-East, has also snubbed the resolutions of the northern governors. 

Iyke Ekeoma, spokesman of the Ahmed Lawan campaign organisation, said the position taken by President Buhari mandating presidential aspirants to present a consensus candidate superseded the resolutions of the APC northern governors. 

He said: “The president’s position supersedes the resolutions of the APC northern governors. It is merely advisory, not binding on the aspirants. Even the party’s national chairman hasn’t said anything on zoning. 

“The president has tasked aspirants to bring a consensus candidate. That’s the level we are; we are still in the race.” 

The meeting to produce a consensus candidate among presidential aspirants from the South-West, held at the Abuja residence of former Ogun State governor, Chief Segun Osoba, also ended in a deadlock. 

A source at the meeting told Nigerian Tribune that none of the aspirants was willing to step down. 

“All of them asked Chief Osoba and Baba Bisi Akande to give them time to consult with their supporters. Some even said they want to consult their immediate family. Only Pastor Tunde Bakare was absent,” he said. 

Ahead of the convention, investigation revealed that party chieftains and aspirants are involved in several meetings to arrive at the consensus option suggested by President Buhari. 

On Sunday, however, Senator Adamu inaugurated the 19 committees of the presidential convention. 

According to an earlier statement by APC national publicity secretary, Felix Morka, Kebbi State governor, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, will chair the election management sub-committee. 

There was drama at the inauguration as the APC national chairman announced Imo State governor, Hope Uzodinma, who was initially paired with Governor Bagudu in the election management committee, as chairman of central steering committee. 

Borno State governor, Professor Babagana Zulum, however, objected as he noted that his Imo State counterpart was assuming the status of a sole administrator. 

Adamu later announced the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mohammed Bello, as deputy chairman to Governor Uzodimma. 

Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, is to lead the finance and logistics subcommittee, while the Ogun State governor, Dapo Abiodun, will superintend over accreditation and decoration. 

The APC national chairman, in his remarks, appealed to the leadership of the various committees to be diligent in order to achieve a seamless process. 

“This convention is a bit different from other conventions. It is different because it is the first transition convention of our great party. The forthcoming convention will be expected within our constitution to produce the standard-bearer of our great party to contest the presidential slot. 

“We are very careful that we chose different persons to be part of the committees that have been enumerated by the national secretary. It is our prayers and hope that every person who is allotted a committee will be anxious to give his or her best to serve in the slot that is given him or her,” he said. 

Uzodinma, in his speech on behalf of chairmen of other committees, assured the APC National Working Committee that they would live up to expectations. 

Meanwhile, contrary to expectations, the actual process of voting will take place on Tuesday. 

“The process is likely to be a three-day exercise,” a source told Nigerian Tribune.

Politics

Buhari agreed to support Tinubu for President – Buba Galadima

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A signatory to the 2013 merger of the All Progressives Congress, Alhaji Buba Galadima, tells ENIOLA AKINKUOTU and TOPE OMOGBOLAGUN about the agreements between Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) and former Governor Bola Tinubu of Lagos State.

As a former associate of the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), do you think the President will impose his candidate or leave it open for all aspirants to contest in the Presidential primary of the APC?

You don’t need to be a prophet or soothsayer to know that the President will indeed anoint whosoever he wants to be the candidate of the APC. But what one needs to look at is whether he could do that with some sense of decorum, with some sense of decency, with some sense of consideration for the opinion of the majority members of his party. My answer is No. Therefore, whoever he anoints will cause bickering,

infighting, and a lot of anti-party activities. This will bedevil the APC.

As one of the founding members of the APC, was there any agreement at any time that Tinubu would succeed Buhari?

Not perfectly an agreement, but there was an understanding because Tinubu with one other person and the President also with another person sat down and the information we got was that they agreed that if Tinubu would help Buhari win, he would become the Vice-President. When that was not possible, they called him to ask him to assist because of the exigencies of the time, which wouldn’t have allowed for a Muslim-Muslim ticket.

They said that whatever he does, he should deploy and make sure that Buhari becomes President and that when he (Buhari) is going, he would also do whatever he would in his powers to assist Tinubu to become President. It looks like they are now going back on that understanding. And a promise is a promise whether written or unwritten because if you can subvert it, God knows your heart. And God never accepts betrayal. When you are committed, whether it is sour or bitter, or tasty, you have to swallow it.

Now,  it looks like they want to go back on that understanding with Tinubu. This is why Tinubu is bitter and I understand this bitterness, because of what has happened to him, which I told him years back. I told him what was going to happen to him. And everything that I predicted those years is now happening. My prayer for him (Tinubu) is that he should come out of this unscathed and healthy. That is my biggest prayer for him.

But for him, it looks like he has already been subverted. The only way he can get his momentum is if the party agrees to do primaries. If the party agrees to go to the primaries, I have no doubt in my mind that Tinubu may emerge victorious, but as far as the consensus which they want to adopt is concerned, he is out of the game.

Who were those present when Buhari and Tinubu reached this agreement you claimed?

I won’t tell you but the people involved know. Tinubu came to the meeting with a former governor while Buhari came with a sitting governor. That is why that governor is solidly behind Tinubu today and because of the fear of God. But I wouldn’t want to mention the names of the two of them, because, Tinubu himself has alluded to this kind of understanding.

So are you saying that Buhari is the kind of person that does not honour promises?

Well, I don’t know. You should be the judge or ask Tinubu to whom he made the verbal promise.

So you foresee a situation whereby the party can have some crises or can even break if Tinubu is schemed out?

Well, the truth of the matter is that Nigerian politicians are cowards. Nigerian politicians are unprincipled. If they are courageous and principled, the APC would have broken into pieces a long time ago. But because of betrayals, God will never allow the APC to succeed, and even if they succeed, they will never have peace.

So what do you think of Tinubu’s outburst in Abeokuta last week and the threat by the APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Adamu, to punish him?

Well, who is the APC chairman? Where was he when some of us were fighting for Buhari? Where was he? He should remember what he did to us in 2003. Is it because Buhari has forgotten?

If Buhari recollects what the APC national chairman did to him, he would not even ever allow him to shake his hand, let alone make him chairman.

What did the APC chairman do in 2003?

Well, you can ask him (Adamu Abdullahi) that Buba Galadima said that you did something to Buhari in 2003. And that it is abominable to the extent that he (Buhari) shouldn’t even shake hands with you or stay under one roof with you. Let him tell you what he did to Buhari during our campaigns.

But some may argue that in politics, alliances change. What would you say of Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo who was Tinubu’s protégé but is now running against his former boss?

So, politics does not connote decency or respect at all? Is that what you are trying to tell me? I am a principled person. I am with Rabiu Kwankwaso, for example now, even if you give me the whole of the Central Bank of Nigeria, that cannot change me. And you can ask Goodluck Jonathan’s people about me. In 2015, they tried to induce Sule Yahaya, who was our director-general; Mustapha Saliu, the man from Kwara State who was Deputy National Chairman of the CPC and me, just for us to make an appearance and endorse the candidacy of Jonathan but we refused to take it.

Therefore, we are not doing things for personal benefits. We do things hoping that it would be the best for Nigeria. That is why I don’t believe in sentiments; primordial sentiments of religion, tribe or where one comes from. We have tried all these and we have failed as a nation. Why don’t we try for once capacity and capability to accommodate all Nigerians and deliver Nigeria from this present status instead of predicament?

You think Osinbajo should have given up his presidential ambition for loyalty to Tinubu?

If he doesn’t, can you now trust him? If you look at how Osinbajo came with Tinubu and he’s now contesting against Tinubu who brought him, how safe would you be to work with such a person?

If the man who did all this to someone who made him commissioner, made him this, made him that and he is now fighting him. You will now want to fight for him now, what would be your status later in life with him?

Now that you are in the NNPP…

(Cuts in) I am the national chairman of the Reformed APC, a faction that broke off from the APC and I am still one. But there is no law, either an act or the constitution of the party, or that of the country that prevents any member of any political party from supporting a candidate of other parties.

Maybe my knowledge is small, but if you think there is, please advise me on the law or in the section of the constitution that stops that so that I could stop parading myself as Chairman of the Reformed APC or supporting another candidate or aspirant of another political party.

Are you not afraid that they can expel you for anti-party activities?

What are they waiting for? Even if they expel me, that is physical. It is because of me that there’s the APC. Even, the APC never held a Board of Trustees meeting since its inception. If I were chairman of INEC, I would de-register the party for that contravention of the article of BOT.

It is already indelibly written up to eternity that I was the number four person who signed the amalgamation treaty of the APC; you can’t take that away from me again. Anybody that is chopping or stealing in the APC now is to my foresight of signing to amalgamate the party to become APC.

The northern governors have all agreed that the presidential ticket will go to the South. So don’t you think that it’s almost automatic that at least the APC is going to come out with every southern presidential candidate?

You don’t know the reason they did that, and how powerful they can be. But that is the decision of their party. I don’t give a damn about it. Because every political party envies getting to a position where they can achieve success, it’s not about sentiment, if they think that a southern presidential candidate will give them victory? So be it.

If other people think that a northern presidential candidate will give them victory, so be it. That is democracy. But what we’re asking for is a level playing field, free, fair, transparent, processes and election. So let he who has got the support of the majority of Nigerians win

What do you see emerging as the candidate for the APC?

That’s not my problem. We are not afraid of the person that the APC will pick because if Kwankwaso is given a proper atmosphere and levelled the playing field, he will defeat anyone who emerges on the platform of PDP or APC, even if they are put together.

Why do you think Kwankwaso will win when the NNPP doesn’t even have a single governor?

It’s because you don’t believe in yourself. You don’t believe in your capacity to organise and network Nigerians. Kwankwaso became the governor of Kano State for the second time without a councillor, without a local government chairman, without a member of the state or National Assembly. Without any elected person. He contested the election in 2011 and won the governorship of Kano. We can replicate that for Nigeria.

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