2023 presidency: Kano support group urges Tinubu to fly APC’s ticket – Newstrends
Connect with us

Politics

2023 presidency: Kano support group urges Tinubu to fly APC’s ticket

Published

3 years ago

on

Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Senator Sani Musa

The R-WIN-WIN Movement, one of the groups drumming support for the 2023 presidential aspiration of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, yesterday told Nigerians, particularly members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), not to be distracted in their search for President Muhammadu Buhari’s successor.

The group spoke in Kano simultaneously as a former Commissioner for Commerce and Industry in Ondo State, Mr. Akin Akingbesote, declared that he and many others joined the Tinubu Support Organisation (TSO) to ensure that the presidential ambition of Tinubu becomes a reality.

“The national leader of the party (APC) should show us the way and fly the ticket. A leader is one who knows the way, and one who knows the way should lead,” key note speaker Engr. Rabi’u Suleman Bichi, who is the Executive Chairman, Policy Strategy, Implementation and Evaluation Directorate, Government House, Kano, said at the R-WIN-WIN interactive discourse on Tinubu 2023.

The event took place at Hajjo Event Centre, Audu Bako Way, Kano, under the chairmanship of Auwal Abdu Dankano.

Bichi, a former Secretary to the Kano State Government (SSG), added: “We as Nigerians and people of Kano are here today to discuss about Buhari’s successor and how our R-Win-WIN will help renew Nigeria, the person that will become president in 2023 and how what we want will be possible in terms of job creation, healthcare and youth employment, among others.

“That person is Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The former Lagos governor will rescue Nigeria because he thinks ahead. He brought this government to power in 2015; a change Buhari tried for 12 years without success until Tinubu formed an alliance with him.

“He is the only one who will build on Buhari’s laudable projects and policies. We need people with good qualities who can carry the people along.

“A leader sees ahead and tells his people. He leads the way, does not come to steal public funds, has good character, knows and teaches his people how to do it.

“If you check very well, Tinubu doesn’t rely on public funds. His mother, who is called Alhaja, invested all her money on Tinubu.

“Tinubu worked in foreign oil company. They born him with money and he grew up with money, so he cannot steal public funds.

READ ALSO:

“Lagos used to be unsecured. We would see corpses by the roadsides. But all that stopped when Tinubu became governor up till now.”

Explaining further why Tinubu is the right person to succeed Buhari come 2023, he said the APC national leader made unprecedented achievements in Lagos between 1999 and 2007, of which his greatest performance was in Lekki.

He said: “Bola Tinubu came in when Lagos was generating only N500 million as revenue in a month. But by the time he handed over to Barrister Babatunde Raji Fashola, Lagos was generating N25 billion.

“Presently, Lagos is generating about N50 billion or more, having handed over to Fashola who handed over to Ambode and now Babajide Sanwo-Olu.”

Guest Speaker at the discourse, Ambassador Aliyu Lawal Saulawa, told the audience that upon his election as governor in 1999, Tinubu sat down with his team to draw up a 25-year development plan for Lagos.

Saulawa said: “With this plan on ground, he discovered it would be a mirage should the financial base of the state remain at an abysmally low level as he met it. He, therefore, kick-started a review of the financial status of the state and how to shore up its revenue.

“With his professional background as accountant and auditor, he addressed the issue of revenue with every determination required. The administration also reformed the tax administration process.

“This measure was accompanied by the continuous renovation and upgrading of the state’s tax offices with modern facilities to aid electronic tax collection and reporting. This brought 1GR from N600 million to N25 billion by the time he was leaving office.

“One radical measure taken in regard to the application of information and communications technology was the introduction of the Lagos State Government Electronic Banking System of Revenue Cycle Management (LASG EBS-RCM) project.

“Partnering with the private sector, Lagos State used high-level technology to ensure more effective monitoring of collected revenue.

“With funds at his disposal, he was able to carry out iconic people-friendly projects and built so many roads among which were the construction of Adeola-Odeku Road, dualisation of lkorodu-ltokin-EpenLink Road, dualisation of Ejigbo-Ajao Estate/Airport Road, dualisation of Mende/Opebi Link Road, expansion of Badagry Expressway and many more.

“As at the time he took over governance in Lagos, the state was considered the dirtiest state in Africa with heaps of filth everywhere. He decided to sensitise the citizenry on the need for a cleaner Lagos; a decision that led to a massive attitudinal change by people.

“During his tenure as Lagos State governor, he established the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA). He also established additional five general hospitals in the state. He provided free healthcare services including free ante-natal care for women, free eye treatments and free glasses popularly called JIGIBOLA.

“He upgraded facilities at the Lagos State Teaching Hospital (LASUT) while he also pioneered the Bus Rapid Transit System and LAGBUS to ease commuter stress.

READ ALSO:

“An advocate of fiscal federalism, Asiwaju battled and won 13 landmark cases related to the principle of federalism at the Supreme Court and created 37 local council development areas.

“Tinubu instituted a reform plan that greatly improved the welfare of judicial officers including magistrates. He revamped the civil and criminal procedure rule as well as creation of the Citizens Mediation Centre, a well-staffed and independent Office of the Public Defender offering legal services for the poor.

“During the eight-year period of his being in office, he made large investments in education in the state and also increased the number of schools in the state by returning many schools to the already settled former owners.

“The Tinubu administration was the first to approach the capital market to source long term funds to pursue major projects.

“In 2003, the Lagos State Government created the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), signaling its intention to reorient the way in which transport services were managed and implemented.

“Asiwau Bola Ahmed Tinubu implemented an independent power project in 1999, the first of its kind in Nigeria.

“Above all, he is a first class human capital developer and empowerment engine for the people.”

Hajiya Mariam Ibrahim Hali said Tinubu is detribalised and is not a religious bigot but one who believes in credibility.

She told the audience how Tinubu invests in humanity, which is why he appointed his cabinet members from different states who are today serving in different capacities.

“Tinubu is also gender sensitive, as he cares for women, particularly widows and children,” she said.

The Nation

Related Topics:
Advertisement

Politics

PDP crisis: Two ex-Senate presidents lead fresh plot to oust Damagum

Published

1 day ago

on

December 21, 2024

By

Umar Iliya Damagum, Acting National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)

PDP crisis: Two ex-Senate presidents lead fresh plot to oust Damagum

Two former Presidents of the Senate, Chief David Mark and Dr Bukola Saraki are leading a fresh charge aimed at removing Amb. Umar Damagum as the Acting National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The push by Mark and Saraki has received the backing of prominent stakeholders, including the Plateau State Governor, Caleb Muftwang and other political office holders elected on the platform of the PDP.

Similarly, former governors from the Northcentral zone who served on the party’s platform have also aligned forces with the group.

Rising from a stakeholders’ meeting in Abuja on Thursday night, the party chieftains resolved to produce a candidate from the zone early 2025 to replace Damagum.

According to them, the move to replace Damagum with a substantive chairman from the Northcentral, has received the endorsement of key party stakeholders from the Northwest and the Northeast zones.

Among those being projected as potential candidates to take Damagum’s seat include Mark; a former Benue State Governor, Gabriel Suswam; and a former House of Representatives member from Nasarawa State, David
David Ombugadu.

A communique issued after the meeting, said the stakeholders
reviewed the festering crisis in the party following the exit of the erstwhile National Chairman, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu.

Ayu lost his seat to the crisis triggered by disagreements over the emergency of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar as the presidential candidate of the PDP in the 2023 general election.

READ ALSO:

The crisis has continued to deepen with the apparent overbearing influence of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike on the Damagum-led national leadership.

The Northcentral stakeholders argued that Damagum’s continued occupation of the office breached provisions of the PDP constitution.

The communique states in part, “The PDP’s constitution clearly states that succession of offices in the party at all levels is largely to the extent that any vacant position can be replaced by appointment from the zone, as per Section 47 (6) of the party.

“The party is guided by its constitution at all times. Therefore, the leadership of the party needs to rise up to the occasion to restore goodwill and cohesion in the party by making necessary sacrifices and compromises to restore confidence and cohesion in the party.

“It is in the light of this that the stakeholders of the Northcentral Zone appeal to the conscience and goodwill of our compatriots in other zones of the Northern region to restore the seat of the chairmanship of the party back to the Northcentral Zone to serve out its tenure.

“That the stakeholders must strive to build consensus to get the buy-in to the position of Northcentral zone.

“The Northcentral is united and will strive to preserve the PDP as a veritable platform for good governance in Nigeria.”

The meeting, which was attended by Governor Muftwang, also had former Governors Jonah Jang (Plateau), Babangida Aliyu (Niger), Abdulfatah Ahmed (Kwara) and Idris Wada (Kogi) in attendance.

Others at the meeting included the Senate Minority Leader, Senator Abba Moro; incumbent PDP National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade (SAN); and a former Information Minister, Prof Jerry Gana.

Also at the meeting were former senators Tunde Ogbeha, Philip Aduda, Suleiman Adokwe, Dino Melaye, Mohammed Onawo and Peter Jiya.

READ ALSO:

Similarly, former Ministers, Labaran Maku and Sarah Ochekpe also attended the meeting. Other stakeholders like Simon Mwadkwon, Mrs. Margaret Icheen, Mr. Raymond Dabo, Maika Jiba, and Isa Dobi were also present.

Damagum, who is from Yobe State in the Northeast zone, emerged Acting National Chairman in March 2023 following the exit of Ayu who is from Benue State in the Northcentral zone.

Damagum was the PDP Deputy National Chairman (North) before his appointment as Acting National Chairman.

By virtue of Section 47 (6) of the party’s constitution, he ought to have relinquished the seat for a substantive National Chairman from the Northcentral zone where Ayu hailed from.

The Section reads: “Where a vacancy occurs in any of the offices of the party, the Executive Committee at the appropriate level shall appoint another person from the area or zone where the officer originated from to serve out the tenure of the officer.”

Ayu was elected chairman in 2022 for a four-year tenure that should expire in 2026 before his tenure got truncated in 2023.

Several moves by critical organs of the party, including the PDP Governors Forum, the Board of Trustees (BoT) and the National Caucus to replace Damagum have been thwarted by the Acting National Chairman, allegedly with the backing of Wike.

Miffed by the development, the PDP Governors Forum, led by Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, had, a few weeks ago, directed the Damagum-led leadership to convene the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting latest by February 2025.

The NEC meeting has suffered four postponements between August and November 2024, as Damagum, who is supposed to convene the meeting has been evasive.

The power to ratify any candidate chosen by the Northcentral zone to replace Damagum is vested only in the NEC.

 

PDP crisis: Two ex-Senate presidents lead fresh plot to oust Damagum

Continue Reading

Politics

PDP expels South-East national vice chairperson over anti-party activities

Published

3 days ago

on

December 19, 2024

By

PDP expels South-East national vice chairperson over anti-party activities

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oguduokwor Ward, Onicha Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, has officially expelled Ali Odefa, the suspended National Vice Chairperson of the party in the South-East, following allegations of anti-party activities.

Odefa had been suspended on September 11, 2024, by the ward executives, a move that was later upheld by the Federal High Court in Abakaliki. In its ruling on November 29, 2024, under suit number FHC/AI/CS/182/2024, the court affirmed the legitimacy of his suspension.

On Wednesday, Onyeka Ovuta, the Acting Chairperson of the PDP in Oguduokwor, announced Odefa’s expulsion in a statement. Ovuta explained that the decision followed recommendations from the party’s disciplinary committee, which confirmed the allegations against Odefa.

READ ALSO:

The party announced that Mr Odefa by the virtue of his expulsion, “ceases to be a member of the party.”

Reacting, Mr Odefa laughed off the expulsion, stating that those who announced it were “frustrated charlatans”.

He said the expulsion cannot stand because “it did not take place in the ward but in Abuja”. He said those who made the announcement against him were not ward executives of the party.

“Let them come home come and announce it. Or is our ward now located in Abuja?”

 

PDP expels South-East national vice chairperson over anti-party activities

Continue Reading

Politics

INEC recognises Sylvester Ezeokenwa as APGA national chairman

Published

4 days ago

on

December 18, 2024

By

APGA National Chairman, Sylvester Ezeokenwa

INEC recognises Sylvester Ezeokenwa as APGA national chairman

Sylvester Ezeokenwa has been reinstated as the national chairman of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA).

Ezeokenwa was reinstated by the leadership of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Tuesday, December 17.

According to Sam Olumekun, the National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee of INEC, the commission had been served with the judgement of the Supreme Court.

The apex court judgement with the Appeal No. SC/CV/824/2024 APGA & ANOR vs OYE & ORS was delivered on November 27, 2024.

The court ruled that Ezeokenwa should be recognised as the national chairman of the party.

READ ALSO:

“In compliance with the judgement of the apex court, the Commission has restored Barr. Ezeokenwa as the Chairman of APGA and restored his name on our website accordingly,” the INEC commissioner said.

He also stated that the reisnstatmemt of the new chairman would automatically lead to the withdrawal of the recognition of Njoku as the national chairman of the party.

The court also upheld an earlier judgement of the appeal which did not confer any enforceable rights on Njoku.

If also awarded N20 million each against the appellaants.

INEC recognises Sylvester Ezeokenwa as APGA national chairman

Continue Reading

Trending