Politics

2023: What Bola Tinubu is going through currently over running mate – Gov Akeredolu

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Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State has revealed what the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is currently going through in his quest for a substantive running mate for the 2023 presidential election.

The Governor pointed out that there are so many factors being considered in picking Tinubu’s running mate, thereby making it somewhat difficult for the former Lagos State Governor.

Not mentioning the issue of religion which has formed much of the public debate among Nigerians, Governor Akeredolu centred his argument on zone, loyalty and the area with the highest votes, as he listed the factors that have left the APC flagbearer racking his brain.

Featuring on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday evening, the Governor explained that, “The circumstance Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu has found himself now, that’s a major of what I’ll call ground-wetting. For instance, he’ll not pick from the South. So he’s left to make a choice from the North.

“Because he’s from the South he won’t pick from South-East or South-South, because he’s from the South-West he has to pick from the North.

“And when you look at the North, a lot of factors will have to come into play. Some will say ‘pick from North West’ But North West, that’s where the President now comes from.

“Will they have a second bite whether as vice or anything? Some will argue ‘why not pick from the North East?’ That’s a factor to be considered.

“Others can argue, ‘why not pick from North Central?’ So, another factor to be considered is ‘okay, where do you get votes?’

“So many factors, but under these circumstances, I think he is probably left with North Central and North East probably because so many factors can come into play.

“So, in determining who you pick at the end of the day, you have to look at loyalty. Will this person be loyal or will he be there to undermine you? Those are issues you’ll have to consider very seriously.”

Politics

Gov Akeredolu is a threat to democracy in Nigeria —CNG

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The Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG), says Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, is a big threat to democracy in Nigeria following his comments that any party who fields a northern candidate for the presidency in 2023 will lose the election.

Akeredolu, who is also the Chairman of the Southern Governors’ Forum (SGF), while receiving members of the Power Rotation Movement (PRM), in his office in Akure on Tuesday, had reiterated the need for parties to field southern candidates, insisting that it was the turn of the south to produce the next Nigerian President.

“Any political party that fields presidential candidates from the north would lose the election because such candidate would not have the support of the southern governors.

“Those pushing against power rotation in the country are toying with the existence of Nigeria,” he had said.

However, in a statement on Thursday by its spokesperson, Abdul-Azeez Suleiman, the CNG said the Ondo governor as well as the Southern Governors Forum should be cautioned as their stance was capable of threatening Nigeria’s democracy.

According to the CNG, as far as the North was concerned, “the idea that we would be directly or indirectly threatened or intimidated or blackmailed into yielding an office which ought to be settled democratically is not acceptable.”

For the avoidance of doubt, no amount of threats and intimidation from the South would change the minds of northerners regarding zoning,” the apex Northern group said.

“Any president to be elected should be done democratically and not by unnecessary empty expressions by anyone from whatever region and of whatever status,” the CNG added.

The group also warned that “persistent threats from self-appointed enemies of the North are unconstitutional and reckless,” adding that Akeredolu constitutes a threat to the nation’s democracy.

“They are empty threats that won’t work.

“The North will not be deterred by empty, provocative statements from Akeredolu and groups in the South, who believe in threats and hate campaigns as the hallmark or defining elements for elections,” the Northern coalition said.

Politics

PDP accuses Gov Akeredolu of financial recklessness

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The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State on Sunday accused Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of financial recklessness.

In a statement issued by its Publicity Secretary in the state, Kennedy Peretei, the party alleged that the governor had been using his wife and children to siphon funds from the state’s coffers.

The PDP stressed that the grandeur and opulence in which Akeredolu and his family had been living was a sharp contrast to the appalling standard of living in the state.

The statement read: “Every passing day in Ondo State, one is confronted with the reality that there is a very slim possibility of Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu, Governor of Ondo State, and his All Progressives Congress completely serving out his remaining tenure.

This speculation is fueled by the financial recklessness, brazen lack of respect for rules by Akeredolu’s wife, Betty, his son, Babajide, and lately his daughter, Teniola, and her husband Michael Olatunde.”

However, the state government in a statement issued by the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Donald Ojogo, dismissed the allegation.

He said: “A responsible government does not descend into the arena of perfidy and frivolities triggered by idleness to trade words.

“This is not the first time the opposition party will cry in this mindless manner. Of course, you don’t expect a child not to cry when flogged.

“The PDP must be seen to be saying something at least. We can only sympathise with them even though we won’t share in their self-inflicted pains.”

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