Politics

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

Published

3 years ago

February 6, 2022

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.

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“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.

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“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

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Politics

Atiku, Obi, El-Rufai’s coalition can’t unseat Tinubu – Shekarau

Published

17 hours ago

March 23, 2025

Trends Admin

Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau

Atiku, Obi, El-Rufai’s coalition can’t unseat Tinubu – Shekarau

Former Kano State Governor, Ibrahim Shekarau, has cast doubt on the ability of a newly formed opposition coalition to unseat President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 elections.

Shekarau described the alliance, which includes former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate Peter Obi, and ex-Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, as a gathering of individuals with personal political ambitions rather than a structured and unified opposition front.

His remarks came just two days after the coalition’s formation was announced, with the stated goal of challenging Tinubu’s administration.

In a statement by his spokesperson, Dr. Sule Yau, Shekarau remarked, “This is just a gathering of certain individuals with political ambitions; none of them has officially consulted their party leadership.”

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He further argued that a coalition featuring prominent figures does not necessarily equate to an effective political alliance.

“The coalition of opposition figures is a good development, as seen in their recent meeting under what they call an opposition alliance. However, none of the key figures involved represents their party leadership,” Shekarau stated.

Emphasizing the legal framework for political mergers, he pointed out that only registered parties could formally unite, making the recent gathering an informal arrangement rather than an officially recognized coalition.

Atiku, Obi, El-Rufai’s coalition can’t unseat Tinubu – Shekarau

Politics

PDP gives condition to back Atiku, Obi, El-Rufai in 2027

Published

19 hours ago

March 23, 2025

Trends Admin

Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi

PDP gives condition to back Atiku, Obi, El-Rufai in 2027

Although the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) hasn’t made its official position known on the coalition being put together by some key leaders of the opposition to wrestle power from the ruling party at the federal level, All Progressives Congress (APC), and President Bola Tinubu ahead of 2027, Sunday Vanguard understands that the PDP may join forces with them on one condition: The process will not lead to its loss of identity.

The PDP was in power for 16 years before the APC dislodged it from the Presidential Villa in 2015 when then-incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan lost reelection to former President Buhari.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, the party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, had, last week, announced his decision to join the coalition with other members of opposition parties to challenge Tinubu in the 2027 elections.

Atiku was responding to a call by a former governor of Kaduna State, Mallam El-Rufai, to key members of opposition parties in the country to come together and fight Tinubu and APC in 2027.

El-Rufai had made the call while dumping the APC for the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

In his response, the former PDP presidential candidate confirmed that he, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 elections, Mr Peter Obi, and El-Rufai, among others, had kick-started a movement aimed at defeating Tinubu’s APC in the 2027 elections.

He spoke at a press conference organized by Nigeria’s key opposition leaders and political stakeholders to discuss the President’s controversial declaration of state of emergency in Rivers State.

When journalists asked whether the emerging coalition would be the major opposition force against the APC in 2027, Atiku did not mince words.
“Yes,” he declared.

Clarity

Sources within the PDP told Sunday Vanguard at the weekend that the party will expect the former presidential candidate to give clarity to his decision soon.

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A member of the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC), who spoke on condition of anonymity because the matter was “yet to be discussed at the official level,” said, “We expect him to shed more light on his decision as we proceed.

“For now, he is still a high ranking member of our party the PDP.

“We have been following his public statements and engagements and he hasn’t announced to anyone that he is leaving or has left our party.

“Yes, he left the party on two previous occasions over the past two decades -first to join Tinubu’s Action Congress (AC) to contest the 2007 presidential election; and in 2013 or thereabouts to join others to form the All Progressives Congress (APC).

“Note, however, that on each of these occasions he returned to the PDP.

“Now, whether he is planning to leave to join others or he wants others to come join us to beat the APC rigging machine in 2027, only he can explain. “For now, from my interactions with members of his team, one thing is clear, this time around, Atiku’s move is a strategic step towards unifying opposition forces against the ruling APC.

‘Significant shift’

“His announcement of the formation of a coalition signals a significant shift in Nigeria’s political landscape, as opposition leaders seek to present a united front against the current administration.

“The proposed coalition is expected to bring together key political parties and stakeholders, including prominent figures like Mr Peter Obi of the Labour Party.

“It’s worth noting that Atiku’s decision might not be universally accepted within the PDP, as some members may have different opinions on the best strategy to challenge the APC in 2027.

“Nevertheless, Atiku’s move demonstrates his commitment to opposing the current administration and his willingness to work with other opposition parties to achieve this goal.”

Identity

The party chieftain further explained that a majority of leaders and members of the PDP are resolute in their desire to ensure that the party retains its identity.

According to him, a former governor of Jigawa State, Alhaji Sule Lamido, spoke the minds of most leaders and members of the PDP when he dismissed El-Rufai’s call to dump the party and join the SDP.

Lamido said in an interview, “The party we formed, the PDP, is the one that gave birth to El-Rufai. You’re not enough to make us leave the PDP.

“He (El-Rufai) once said that there are no elders in Nigerian politics, but now he is calling on us to join him in the SDP.”

Lamido equally questioned El-Rufai’s motive for dumping the APC for the SDP and his motivation for seeking power.

“Leadership is done with patience and vision, and doing things for the peace of the followers and the country as a whole”, he said.

While restating his loyalty to the PDP, Lamido said the party which he helped to form hasn’t done anything wrong to warrant him leaving to join another.

His views resonated with another leader and foundation member of the PDP, Chief Bode George, who has told whoever cares to listen that he is in the PDP to stay.

PDP gives condition to back Atiku, Obi, El-Rufai in 2027

Vanguard

Politics

PDP crisis over secretary lingers despite Supreme Court ruling

Published

2 days ago

March 22, 2025

Trends Admin

PDP crisis over secretary lingers despite Supreme Court ruling

The Supreme Court on Friday set aside the decision of the Court of Appeal, Enugu Division, delivered on 20 December 2024, which affirmed the removal of Senator Samuel Anyanwu as the National Secretary of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

In a unanimous judgment by a five-member panel, the apex court ruled that matters concerning the leadership or membership of a political party are internal affairs and should not be subject to judicial intervention. The court held that the Federal High Court lacked jurisdiction to hear the matter initially brought by Aniagwu Emmanuel.

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However, the judgment, expected to bring an end to the crisis, has left the PDP leadership and members in disarray, as both parties in the suit—Anyanwu and Ude-Okoye—are claiming victory. The development threatens to disrupt the fragile peace the party has enjoyed since its organs unanimously endorsed Sunday Ude-Okoye following the High Court’s ruling in Enugu.