Politics

Like Akpabio, Onu, Amaechi reportedly resigns from federal cabinet

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The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has reportedly resigned from the Federal Executive Council (FEC) ahead of the 2023 general elections.

The trio of Godswill Akpabio (Niger Delta), Ogbonnaya Onu (Science and Technology) and Emeka Nwajiuba (Education) had earlier resigned from the Federal Government to pursue their interest in the 2023 elections.

The ministers are among the All Progressives Congress (APC) aspirants eyeing the party’s presidential ticket at this month’s primary in Abuja.

President Muhammadu Buhari had during Wednesday’s FEC meeting in Abuja directed all political office holders with designs in the 2023 elections to leave their positions latest by May 16.

Amaechi’s resignation was confirmed by the United Kingdom chapter of APC on its Twitter handle on Wednesday evening.

The chapter wrote:

“Nigeria’s Minister of #Transportation, HM Chibuike R. Amaechi [@ChibuikeAmaechi] has resigned from the Federal Executive Council (FEC) to focus on his Presidential Campaign.

“Thank you for your service to Nigeria.”

However, there has been no official confirmation of the former Rivers State governor’s resignation by his media team.

Politics

Umahi visits Buhari, insists on political solution to Kanu’s case

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The Ebonyi State Governor, Dave Umahi, on Tuesday paid a “thank you visit” to President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The President paid two-day working visit to Ebonyi last week and commissioned some projects including a facility at the University of Medical Sciences, Uburu, the Presidential Lodge and the Government House in Abakaliki, among others.

The governor, who addressed State House correspondents at the end of the visit, said he was in the State House to deliver a letter of appreciation to the President from the leaders of the South-East region for his recent working visit to Ebonyi and by extension to the region.

He said: “I came to the Villa to see the President and give him a thank you letter from South-East leaders, which expresses their deep appreciation for the visit of the President on a two-day working visit to Ebonyi, by extension South-East.

“I thought it necessary to do that as quickly as possible, our people are deeply very happy with the President and very appreciative of all the rewards of that visit.”

On the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, the governor insisted on a political solution to the problem.

He dismissed the insinuation that the people of the South-East zone were no longer interested in the “Nigeria Project.”

The people of the South-East, according to him, are not in support of any form of agitation or plan to secede from Nigeria.

Umahi said: “I had many months back met with the President, where we had very detailed and frank discussion on that particular matter. South-East people are tired and I have always said that we are not totally in support of agitation to secede from the Nigerian nation.

We want to belong to the Nigerian nation and as the Chairman of the South-East Governors’ Forum, I have publicly said it, I have defended it, I don’t care about the attacks and those who have taken to the politics of that matter in our place.

“So, the President graciously granted my request for a political solution but you see, when the President repeatedly said the matter is in court, we must appreciate his pedigree and integrity.

“He cannot just as a President say he is going to destroy the matter in court.

“But there is always room for dialogue and out of court settlement and that is what we are looking for.

“He has said, your cultural leadership should be able to initiate that with Nnamdi Kanu’s lawyer.’

“But, this is over six months and we have been begging the President of Ohaneze to take up that responsibility.

“So, that is the position and we are waiting for the President of Ohaneze to kick-start this political dialogue.

“I met with the Attorney-General of the Federation, he is very well disposed to it,

“I have also met with the Director General of the Department of State Services and he is also disposed and the same with the Inspector General of Police – so the ball is in our hands.”

Politics

Court orders accelerated hearing in suit seeking to stop PDP presidential primary

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Justice Donatus Okorowo of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Tuesday ordered the accelerated hearing into a suit seeking to stop the presidential primary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) slated for May 29.

The judge gave the order while ruling on an application for abridgment of time argued by Mr. Paul Erokoro (SAN) on behalf of the plaintiff, Mr. Cosmos Ndukwe.

He held that time was of the essence in the matter and that it would be in the interest of justice for the suit to be fully determined before the primary election.

Justice Okorowo asked the PDP, its National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu and the National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu to file their responses to the suit against them within four days.

The judge fixed May 18 for adoption of final addresses in the suit, saying a date for judgement would be fixed immediately after the adoption of addresses.

Erokoro had in the application pleaded with the court to abridge the time for the suit to be expeditiously heard.

The respondents, however, opposed the application for abridgment of time and accelerated hearing, claiming that there was nothing urgent about the case of the plaintiff.

The PDP counsel, Mr. Mahmud Magaji, (SAN), said the plaintiff had nothing to lose if the party went ahead with the presidential primary.

Ndukwe had on April 28 filed an ex parte application restraining the PDP from proceeding with the primary election over its refusal to zone the presidential ticket to the Southern part of the country.

Politics

Court nullifies sale of assets recovered by Malami committee

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Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa of the Federal High Court, Lagos, on Tuesday nullified the sale of assets recovered by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), under the Asset Tracing, Recovery and Management Regulations, 2019.

The judge gave the ruling in a suit filed by the Incorporated Trustees of the Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA) Resource Centre against the AGF.

He also declared that the Asset Tracing, Recovery and Management Regulations, 2019 as an invalid statutory instrument, saying the powers of the committee headed by Malami were beyond the legal powers of the office of the AGF.

The AGF had on November 9, 2020, inaugurated the Inter-Ministerial Committee on the disposal of assets forfeited to the Federal Government.

The establishment of the committee, according to the minister, was in line with the President’s directive of October 2018 following recommendations of the Presidential Audit Committee on Recovery and Management of Stolen Assets and a need for efficient management of the assets.

But HEDA through its counsel, Omotayo Olatubosun, challenged the AGF’s power to set up the committee, arguing that the regulations conflicted with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Act, Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administrative Act, 2015, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Act, 2004 and Independent Corrupt Practices Commission Act (ICPC), 2000, among others, on the disposal of forfeited assets.

In filing the suit, the plaintiff sought nine reliefs including the nullification of all disposals of assets by the committee.

In his judgment, Justice Lewis-Allagoa dismissed the AGF’s preliminary objection argued by the committee’s counsel, Tolu Mokunolu, and granted all of HEDA’s reliefs as prayed on the motion paper.

He said: “I am entirely in agreement with the submission of counsels to the plaintiff that the Asset Tracing, Recovery and Management Regulations, 2019 are contrary to the statutory provisions of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC Act, Trafficking in Persons Cohabitation Enforcement and Administration Act, NDLEA Act and Immigration Act.

A careful perusal of the above statutory provisions will show the provisions for the Attorney-General of the Federation to make regulations for the agencies for disposal of assets under the various enactments listed above.

“The above statutory enactments are therefore the enabling source of the Attorney-General of the Federation to the regulations.

“Consequently, the administrative powers to be exercised by the Honourable Attorney-General of the Federation must flow from the enabling statutes.

“It is pertinent to state that the powers of the Attorney-General of the Federation do not override the provisions of the enabling statutes stabilising the powers of the law enforcement agencies and anti-corruption agencies and consequently the powers referred to in the commencement clause of the regulations merely are to be exercised in accordance with the Acts not to usurp the mandatory powers vested in the law enforcement agencies and the anti-corruption agencies.”

Politics

Presidency replies Clarke on tenure extension, insists Buhari will leave office in 2023

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The Presidency said on Tuesday President Muhammadu Buhari would handover to an elected President at the end of his tenure on May 29 next year.

The presidency was reacting to a demand by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Robert Clarke, for an elongation of the President’s tenure by six months.

Clarke, who featured in a programme on Arise TV on Monday, said the President required the tenure elongation to enable him to fix the country’s challenges, particularly security.

However, in a statement issued by the Senior Special Assistant, Media and Publicity to the President, Garba Shehu, the Presidency said Buhari would not stay another day in office at the end of his tenure in 2023.

The statement read: “Chief Robert Clarke, a very well-respected elder may be sincere in his wish for the President to extend his term by six months.

We wish to categorically restate that the President will step down on May 29, 2023, after serving two terms – as per the constitution.

“Having been the first recipient of a democratic transfer of power from an incumbent administration to an opposition candidate in Nigerian history, the President is committed to extending and entrenching democratic values across the country.

“He shall, in turn, hand the privilege of serving the people of Nigeria to whomever they choose through free, fair and credible elections.

“However, Chief Clarke is right to say that without security, Nigeria would not likely realize its true potential as a peaceful and prosperous nation.

That is why it has been at the core of this administration. The results are there for all to see. Boko Haram insurgents have been forced back from controlling whole swathes of this country.

“Internally Displaced Persons are now returning to rebuild their communities. These achievements have been accomplished through the bravery and determination of the Nigerian armed forces and the fortitude of the people of our nation.

“New challenges have arisen and tackled in turn – whether it’s the National Livestock Transformation Plan to alleviate herder-farmer clashes, the elimination of the leadership of ISWAP, or new efforts to combat banditry.

“Till the last day of the administration, the security of the citizens shall remain the administration’s paramount concern. We shall finish the job. Yet, in any case, respect for the constitution and Nigerians’ democratic rights remains the best path to securing and then maintaining peace.

“Yet there are others, such as Chief Afe Babalola, that believe elections should be suspended, with the current elected government replaced by an interim unelected administration.

“This, he claims, is necessary to create a new constitution for the people, made possible, paradoxically, by ignoring their democratic rights. Down that path lies crisis and instability.

Politics

2023: INEC rules out extension of deadline

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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Tuesday ruled out the extension of the deadline for the conclusion of primaries by political parties in the country.

The commission had asked the 18 political parties in the country to complete the primaries by June 3.

However, the parties had asked INEC to extend the timeline for the exercises by two months.

The INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, stated this at a consultative meeting with leaders of political parties in Abuja.

He also asked the parties to ensure their primaries make room for women, youths and persons with disability.

He said: “Let me reiterate the position of the Commission that there will be no review of the timelines. There are so many inter-related activities that are associated with the timelines which must be carried out.

“Any review to extend the timeline for one activity will affect other activities and put unnecessary pressure on political parties and the Commission. This will ultimately result in more complications than what the extension seeks to achieve.

“Therefore, the Commission will not review the timelines. Working together, we should ensure fidelity to the timelines in conducting transparent and democratic primaries for the purpose of electing candidates for the 1,491 constituencies for which elections will be held on 25th February and 11th March 2023.”

Politics

Buhari has exposed me to good governance – Osinbajo

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Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo said on Tuesday he has been exposed to good governance by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Osinbajo, who stated this when he paid homage to the Emir of Bauchi, Alhaji Rilwanu Suleiman Adamu, at his palace as part of his consultations before the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential primary, said he would adopt President Buhri’s leadership style if elected as the country’s president next year.

He said: “Your Royal Highness, I have served as Vice President to President Muhammadu Buhari for the past seven years and with God helping us, I will see out that term till May 2023.

“But in that capacity, I have been exposed to governance of a complex and diverse level my office has allowed. Thanks very much to the openness and transparency of our President, Muhammadu Buhari.

“I have learnt a lot and I know that even during that period that I acted as President of this country, I was exposed to so much.

And if given the opportunity in 2023, I will continue with the legacies of the President.

“At all times, the concern of our government is the plight of the common man, how to ensure that the common man is given a fair chance to be employed and to have a decent living.

“This is the reason why several of our projects that we have undertaken, especially the social investment programme, have been to better the life of the common man.

“But also, we have been concerned about young people; how we can improve, not just the quality of education of our young people, but the opportunity for young people to get jobs, to be employed and to have a decent standard of living. This is very important for us as a government.

“And this will also explain why I am running for the President of this country come February 2023.”

Politics

MASSOB leader, Uwazurike, accuses S’East presidential aspirants of lobbying North for VP slots

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Leader of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), Ralph Uwazuruike, has accused 2023 presidential aspirants from the South-East of only pretending to be in the race while they are only lobbying the North to get vice presidential spots.

Uwazuruike who threw his weight behind Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello last week and mobilised youths in Imo State to stage a walk for the APC candidate, said the presidential aspirants from the South-East are all pretending to be serious while secretly aligning with aspirants from the north to get slots to be their running mates.

Uwazurike who addressed a press conference on Sunday in Owerri, insisted that as far as he was concerned, there was no Igbo man in the presidential race who is really serious about gunning for the position.

No Igbo man is contesting for the presidency. All these people you are seeing are pretenders. I repeat, no Igbo man, let them swear, all of them, that they are not going to the North to lobby for vice president,” Uwazuruike said.

“People have called me from the North telling me that all those clamouring to be president are the ones seeking to be vice presidents. I laughed because I know them.

“None of these people you are supporting today are serious. They are all looking for vice president; all of them, from A to Z, I challenge them. They are pretenders.”

Politics

Gov Umahi accuses Ebonyi PDP, senator, for masterminding shootings in name of IPOB

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Ebonyi State Governor, Dave Umahi has blamed the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), an unnamed Senator in the state as well as some officers of the Nigeria Police of carrying out shootings in the state in the name of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

Umahi who made the allegations on Sunday at a church service at Government House Chapel in Abakiliki, the state capital, said the shooting along the Enugu-Abakaliki express road while President Muhammadu Buhari was on a state visit, said the shootings were not carried out by IPOB or its militia wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN), but orchestrated by the PDP and the Senator using the police.

There was a report of shooting along the Enugu-Abakaliki express road when President Muhammadu Buhari was in the state; the shooting was done by the PDP people; the shooting at the Secretariat was also carried out by the PDP and a sitting Senator in this state and for the past two weeks, they have been shooting in that area, is that how they want to contest and win elections in Ebonyi State?

“There were even questions as to why there was no announcement of IPOB about the President’s coming; the answer is I don’t know, refer the matter to God, everything worked out perfectly well and that could only come through fasting and prayers.”

Umahi also claimed that the gunmen who attacked a police station in Ezza South and North were caught with weapons belonging to the police and a vehicle carrying a Senator’s name and PDP logo.

“When the police stations were attacked in Ezza South and North, the police guns were missing, when the shooting was happening and one of the thugs were arrested, with a bus of a Senator painted in PDP colour, with his name boldly written on it, do you know what was discovered, among other guns and ammunition was the police gun.

“How can you come to a state and you will be shooting as if there is no government, and you are carrying police people and then your thugs are shooting, it won’t happen again”, the APC presidential aspirant said.

Politics

2023: Abdulmumin Jibrin dumps APC, may abandon Tinubu

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The Director-General of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Support Groups Management Council (ABATSGMC), Abdulmumin Jibrin, has left the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Jibrin, who announced this via his Twitter handle @AbdulAbmJ, on Saturday, stated that he has done his best for the APC.

He noted that he will make public his new party within the next 24 hours.

“I have done my best for APC. It’s time to move on. I will announce my new political party within the next 24 hours Insha Allah. I will make a formal statement in due course,” his tweet read.

Jibrin, a former House of Representatives member, has been leading the presidential campaign for the National Leader of the APC, and former Governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Having dumped the ruling party under which Tinubu is seeking to vie for the nation’s presidency, it is still unclear if Jubrin would still be part of Tinubu’s campaign activities.

Politics

2023: Tinubu endorses Sanwo-Olu for 2nd term in Lagos

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The All Progressives Congress (APC) National Leader, Bola Tinubu, on Friday endorsed the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu and his deputy, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, for a second term in office.

At an APC stakeholders’ meeting in Ikeja, Tinubu endorsed Sanwo-Olu and Hamzat for another term of four years in office by raising the duo’s hands to the admiration of those present at the forum.

He said the governor and his deputy had established an unbreakable team to raise the bar of excellence in governance and service delivery in the state with tangible results and progress to show for it.

According to him, the duo’s accomplishments won them the chance to run for a second term, rather than a blanket endorsement that many politicians seek.

Tinubu, a presidential candidate on the APC platform, said Lagos had remained a source of pride for residents and other Nigerians who desired responsive administration and progress under Sanwo-Olu’s leadership.

He said: “We have a brilliant governor at the helm of affairs, who is supported by his deputy to build an unbreakable team that has raised the bar of excellence in governance in Lagos. I specially thank Dr. Hamzat, who has been a very good assistant and a pillar of support to the governor.

”Sanwo-Olu with Hamzat has raised an impenetrable team. I commend both of you and all members of the cabinet. You have all done wonderfully well and I must say that I am very proud of you.”

In what appeared like a thinly veiled jibe at the former state governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, who is reportedly eyeing a return to the seat he vacated in 2019, the APC leader said the party would not prevent any aspirant from vying for any position or testing their strength at the primaries in the state.

He said that all candidates that would be fielded by the party across must go through a delegate electoral system.

Tinubu added: “Aspirants who are showing interest in positions from House of Assembly to the governorship, go and get your forms; you are going to contest primaries. There will not be any favouritism in the primaries.

“We want you to contest and test your popularity. Nobody will ask you to step down for another aspirant. Let all aspirants mobilise their supporters; if you win, you win. If you lose, there will not be a refund of the nomination form.”

Politics

Tinubu, Osinbajo in attendance as South-West APC presidential aspirants, leaders meet in Lagos

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The All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential aspirants from the South-West presidential meet on Friday in Lagos to take a firm a position ahead of the party’s presidential primary slated for this month.

The meeting held at the Lagos House in Marina and convened by the APC pioneer National Chairman, Bisi Akande and former Ogun State governor, Segun Osoba, was attended by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, the APC National Leader, Bola Tinubu, former Ogun State governor, Ibikunle Amosun and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila.

Also at the meeting are governors Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos), Gboyega Oketola (Osun), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun) and Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti).

Three ministers – Babatunde Fashola (Works and Housing), Adeniyi Adebayo (Trade and Industry and Investment), Rauf Aregbesola (Interior), and a host of other APC leaders in the zone are also attending the meeting.

Politics

I am in support of IPOB’s agitation, says Wike

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Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers state, has revealed that he supports the agitation of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), and acknowledges that there is injustice against the South-East.

He made this known during an interview on Channels TV on Monday, May 2nd, 2022, noting that he is however, against the violence perpetrated by suspected IPOB members.

According to Wike, IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu used to sing his praises when he first declared support for the group’s agitation.

The governor said he started having issues with the secessionist group when they allegedly stormed Rivers state to set ablaze government properties and force indigenes to embrace their struggle.

He said; “There came a time that IPOB was singing praises about Wike. Nnamdi Kanu was singing praises about Wike, saying he is their son.

Why? I said to the federal government there is nothing wrong with people agitating. What is important is to listen to their agitations. What are they talking about? Sit down with them. Talk with them.

My problem came, which I will not compromise with. They came to my state and burnt every infrastructure — the courts and police stations. The state put money in building the courts and everything; you came and burnt everywhere. Not only are you burning everywhere, you said we (referring to Rivers state) are part of you. And I said ‘no, don’t do that’. That is not correct.

I support the agitation. I support that there is injustice against the south-east, whether anybody likes it or not. We should sit down and discuss it. What did I do wrong?

When you are now coming to say ‘burn everything there (referring to Rivers). We own everything. I’m a governor. I asked them a simple question — ‘do you need to kill everybody in my area and burn down the infrastructure simply for me to say I’m with you?’ I said no.”

Politics

Only selfless leadership can salvage Nigeria, says PDP presidential aspirant, Hayatu-Deen

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The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential aspirant, Muhammed Hayatu-Deen, on Monday identified altruistic leadership as the only solution to the Nigeria’s growing problems.

Hayatu-Deen, who addressed PDP stakeholders at a meeting in Yola, Adamawa State, blamed the problems in the country on its disappointing quality of leadership.

He added that for Nigeria to overcome its challenges, the leaders must be ready to make sacrifices and committed to serving the country genuinely.

Hayatu-deen said: “The country urgently needs seminal leadership that can provide the safe, secure and stable environment for a Nigeria that works for us all. We need someone who will take Nigeria and patiently nurture the country until it is back on the right path.

“Nigerians are in dire need of solutions. They need a set of leaders who can do things right, people who can sacrifice to put the country right. If we do not do right, we will not be forgiven by the next generation.”

The presidential aspirant challenged Nigerians to vote for leaders who can deliver, saying the country cannot afford to have another set of unprepared leaders in 2023.

Politics

APC, PDP 2023 nomination fees will encourage corruption – Ladoja

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The former Oyo State governor, Rasheed Ladoja, on Monday decried the exorbitant fees charged for the 2023 elections’ nomination forms by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), saying it would encourage corruption in the country.

The ruling party had pegged its nomination and expression of interest forms at N100 million for presidential aspirants and N50 million for their governorship counterparts.

The PDP on the other hand asked the presidential aspirants to pay N40 million for the nomination and expression of interest forms while those vying for governorship seats in the states are to cough out N20 million for the forms.

Ladoja, who stated this in a chat with journalists at his residence in Ibadan, Oyo State, said the fees charged by the two parties for the forms would have a negative effect on the nation’s economy.

He said the arrogance of APC and PDP would force politicians to embezzle public funds, saying candidates should be picked based on their manifesto and not money.

The ex-governor said: “It is very ridiculous to ask a presidential aspirant to pick nomination form for N100 million and governorship nomination form for N50 million This is pure arrogance from the parties.

“You are asking a presidential aspirant to seek a job of N56 million with a form of N100 million. The same thing applies to the governorship. You are asking an aspirant to pay N50 million to seek a job of N28 million in four years.”

He stressed that the arrogance of the two parties would drop if other parties win elections in some states.

Ladoja added: “Other political parties charge less than APC and PDP. If other parties can also win elections in some states, the arrogance of the two major political parties will drop.

“These parties should understand that they are not the masters, but the people. They are just stampeding people thinking that they would vote for them either they like or not.”

Politics

Jonathan to declare 2023 presidential bid soon, group claims

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The Citizens Network for Peace and Development, a group rooting for former President Goodluck Jonathan as President in 2023, declared on Monday that he would join the 2023 presidential race soon.

The National Coordinator of CNPD, Raphael Okorie, who stated this at a press conference in Abuja, added that Jonathan might contest the election under the All Progressives Congress (APC) platform.

A group had last Friday stormed the ex-President’s office in Abuja and asked him to join the presidential race.

The group which comprised young men and women stormed the office with posters and urged Jonathan to declare his presidential bid.

He later addressed the campaigners and told them to “just watch out.”

At Monday’s briefing, Okorie told journalists that the ex-President was still making consultations with friends and associates before announcing his intention.

He said, “The entire country, men, women, East, North, South and West are unanimous for Jonathan to contest the 2023 presidential election.

“The presidential election is not a local government election and a man who has been the Commander-in-Chief of this country knows the full import of running in a presidential election.

“What he is doing is to respect every facet that has a role to play in the 2023 presidential election by consulting and having discussions with them and having them buy into this project. The man we are talking about is not selfish about becoming a President, he is not ambitious about becoming a President because he has been the commander of this nation.

“Therefore, he is making every step to see that consultations are full and conclusive before taking a step. But I can assure you today that Jonathan is going to run for the 2023 presidential election, God willing he is going to become the next President.”

Politics

Lack of accountability, injustice fuelling Nigeria’s insecurity ― Saraki

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Former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, said on Monday lack of accountability and injustice were responsible for the country’s crippling security challenges.

Saraki, who is eyeing the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential ticket at next month’s primary, stated this during a meeting with the party’s delegates in Plateau State.

He stressed that the time was ripe for the North-Central to produce the country’s President.

He said: “I was Senate President for four years, we sat down with the security agencies and we wrote a roadmap to address the issue of insecurity but today that report is still there. Maybe God wants one of us from the North-Central to implement it.

I want to assure Nigerians that with your support that comes May 2023 if I become the President of this country, I will bring to an end the insecurity that is going on in the North-Central and the nation at large, people will be held accountable to do what is right and I will not accept injustice.

“For somebody who has been the victim of injustice for four years, I know what injustice is all about, with me as your President it will be an end to injustice.

“When it is time to get something, they will call us, but once it is done they forget us. We need to unite this country, this country has been so divided. We need a man that has the capacity, not a man that will say I am not aware or somebody that does not know what is happening.

“I am one of you, if you can give me the mandate I am ready to replicate what I have done in the past because in all where I have worked I have never failed.”

Politics

Rivers APC unveils Tonye Cole as candidate ahead of governorship polls

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After the screening of 12 aspirants by 19 party leaders, the Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has announced Tonye Cole as its consensus governorship aspirant.

This is according to a statement issued by Chief Chris Finebone, the party’s Publicity Secretary in Rivers, on Monday in Port Harcourt.

“It must be stated that the leadership of APC in Rivers, consisting of 19 leaders met last Friday and chose a consensus aspirant of riverine extraction to contest the governorship primaries for the 2023 elections.

“The exercise took place in the absence of Minister of Transportation, Mr Chibuike Amaechi, who declined to participate in the process.

After a thorough scrutiny of all the aspirants, Arc Tonye Cole was chosen as he scored the highest vote among the 12 aspirants that participated,” the statement said.

Finebone further noted that the party remained committed to its former position of supporting the election of a riverine governor after 24 years of upland governorship.

All party faithful are implored to continue to go about their activities with decorum and peacefully as the next four weeks are bound to be busy and packed full with political activities,” it said.

The statement said that the overwhelming interest shown by a cross section of Rivers people, Nigerians and particularly the media on the emergence of Cole needed clarification.

“The process was an otherwise internal mechanism activated on April 22 to pick a consensus aspirant of riverine extraction for the 2023 governorship election in Rivers by the APC.

“It has become expedient and highly necessary to provide clarification to all; this is expected to clear all doubts and provide a clear summary of what happened,” the statement concluded.

Politics

2023: Afenifere insists on Igbo President, calls for Southern unity

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Afenifere, a Yoruba sociopolitical organization, demanded on Monday that the Igbo produce the president of Nigeria in 2023 for the sake of equity, justice, and fairness.

This was revealed by Pa Ayo Adebanjo, the Afenifere leader, during the Greater Nigeria Conference in Abuja, which was organized by leaders and allies of the South East Geopolitical Zone under the subject “Together We Can.”

He claimed that if the political elite and retired military generals could give the Yoruba the presidency in 1999, the same approach might be used to give the Igbo micro-zone authority.

He also called the Yoruba presidential campaign “awkward.”

The organization advised that hopefuls from the south, particularly the Igbo, needed to unify.

Adebanjo claimed that presidential aspirants from the South-South, such as Minister of Transportation Rt. Hon. Chibuike Ameachi and Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike, would give the north an unfair advantage over the south.

Adebanjo explained, “I only like to point to the fact that they are just deceiving you. All that you are hearing that they (the north) are supporting the South-West is an element of deceit to deprive you, to be able to rule you. They don’t like anybody!

I told Bola (Tinubu) himself, not in the papers, face-to-face, ‘You believe this man (Buhari) will make you president?’ He said yes. I said, ‘he wanted to make you president, he asked (Yemi) Osinbajo to contest? He asked (Kayode) Fayemi to contest, he asked Amosun (Ibikunle) to contest? All in the South-West, why? He wanted to divide the Yoruba first.

“The unfortunate thing is that President Goodluck Jonathan allowed himself to be disgraced by mentioning the fact that he was considering whether to be president, for what?”

When political figures in the north realized it was the Igbo’s turn to produce the president, Adebanjo wondered why they were now proposing so many hypotheses.

All the rhetoric about aspirants from the south traveling to lobby, campaign, and sell themselves was nonsense, according to the Afenifere leader, who stressed that the north knew the reality.

“Now that it is the turn of the Igbo, they are propounding a new theory: it must be based on merit and all that. If it is the question of merit, if it has been based on merit till today, till Kingdom comes, the Igbo alone will produce the president.

“Although, I don’t like all the people that came out from the east. But for the fact that they are saying you have no people, I’m happy you demonstrated that. But go and unite. A house divided against itself will not stand,” Pa Adebanjo stated.

Politics

‘Resign and contest for governor again to test your strength,’ Wike challenges Umahi

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The Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, on Friday cautioned the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) against giving its presidential ticket to a potential defector in the 2023 elections.

The governor gave the warning during a meeting with PDP leaders in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State.

Wike stressed that he was qualified to lead the country.

He said the recent defection of some prominent members of the party to other parties should not be allowed to continue.

He also challenged his Ebonyi State counterpart, Dave Umahi, to resign from the position and recontest to test his popularity.

The governor said: “I have never left this party for one day. When PDP was in trouble, I stood firm and said PDP will not die. Don’t give the presidential ticket to the person who will run from the party tomorrow. I am the only one Nigeria knows won’t run from the party no matter what happens.”

Wike insisted that the opposition party would rise above the confusion engendered by defectors.

He added: “My colleague, David Umahi, hear me well wherever you may be. PDP had sleepless nights to win elections and you took the mandate of our people to another party. If you know you’re a man and very strong and can win an election, I challenge you to resign as governor and contest the election whether you will win again.”

He advised delegates to shun ethno-religious sentiments during the convention, adding that the party could not afford to lose in the 2023 elections.

“What PDP wants now is who can win an election. It is not about where you come from. Give me the ticket and let me go and win the election for you,” the governor concluded.

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