Politics

2023 Presidential Election: Southern, Northern Leaders unanimous on Atiku’s candidacy – YEU

Published

2 years ago

February 12, 2023

…Say It Is Democratic And Demonstrates National Solidarity

Southern leaders under the aegis of Yoruba Elders’ Union (YEU) have aligned with their northern counterparts in their proclamation that “Until Nigerians come to realize that the country’s leader can come from any part of the country, Nigeria will never experience the practice of true democracy.” This was the view expressed by the President of the Yoruba Elders’ Union and former presidential aspirant in the ongoing electioneering process, Prof. Muhammad Omolaja when addressing the journalist in Abuja on Saturday, February 11, 2023.

Late in the year 2022, the amalgamated Union of northern leaders comprising cattle dealers, transporters, vegetable marketers, pepper and tomatoes sellers, farmers, artisans and so on categorically made it clear during a National Conference that apart from the fact that the north still has a balance of four years to lead the country to meet with the south after the President Muhammad Buhari’s tenure of office, “they would rather support a situation where a competent leader for Nigeria would be elected from any part of the country as from the year 2023”

Prof. Omolaja said that two of the ingredients of true democracy are patriotism and nationalism. Hence, the assertion that “unless a particular candidate from a particular region emerges as the next President of Nigeria, the country will no longer exist”, as expressed during the recent presidential rally of the Labour Party in Lagos, is not tenable in a democratic process. Such a statement especially from an elderly person is tantamount to intimidation and capable of creating chaos and instability at this time when the society is already charged! The Yoruba Elder’s Union, according to Prof. Omolaja, considers this kind of inflammatory statements irrational, unconstitutional and totally objectionable in the parlance of democracy. He said candidates from other political parties and geopolitical regions should also be given a level playing ground.

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For instance, the joint presidential candidacy of His Excellency Alhaji Abubakar Atiku and Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is perfectly in order and democratic in the spirit of national consciousness, national integration and national solidarity which Nigerians should celebrate! It settles the questions of north and south dichotomy, religious ambiguity and above all nationalism among others. It is politically wrong to say that the president of a nation should emerge from a particular part of the country or else the country will cease to exist thereby depriving other candidates running for the same office of their rights to be elected simply because of their places or regions of birth unless there has been a memorandum of understanding to that effect.

Presently, from all indications, the PDP Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates, Alhaji Abubakar Atiku and Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa (The Unifying Team) are already been favoured by at least 65% of the Nigerian eligible voters across the country to take over from the President Muhammadu Buhai-led administration of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the end of their tenure on May 29, 2023, according to a popular opinion poll.

H. E. Abubakar Atiku is very competent, energetic, experienced as a two terms Vice President of the federal Republic of Nigeria under the General Olusegun Obasanjo’s civilian administration from 1999 to 1987, and his network of politics and business in Nigeria is nothing but excellent apart from his fantastic network of human and public relations across the six geopolitical zones of the country!

The southern leaders, in line with the body language and popular expressions of their counterparts in the north, therefore call on all well meaning Nigerians to forget about all kinds of sentiment and subjectivity; and vote massively for the candidacy of Alhaji Abubakar Atiku and Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa of the PDP during the forthcoming February 25, 2023 presidential election as a symbol of unity and national integration.

Related Topics:Atiku northern Presidential Election Southern

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Politics

Why I can’t form coalition with Peter Obi – Sowore

Published

1 day ago

November 13, 2024

Trends Admin

Peter Obi and Omoyele Sowore

Why I can’t form coalition with Peter Obi – Sowore

Omoyele Sowore, the African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate in the 2023 election, recently shared his reasons for not forming a coalition with Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s candidate in the same election.

In his appearance on the Honest Bunch podcast, Sowore asserted that, in his view, Obi is similar to other Nigerian politicians, describing him as “better at packaging.”

Sowore explained that his own journey in politics began long before Obi gained national recognition, emphasizing his dedication to advocating for systemic change in Nigeria.

During the podcast, co-hosted by Nedu, Husband Material, Deity Cole, and Ezinne, Sowore highlighted his belief in challenging the status quo, which he feels differs significantly from Obi’s approach.

Sowore said, “Before you discovered Peter Obi, I was already running for president. All these shouts about Peter Obi… He just knows how to package. Anyone can do it.

“If I form a coalition with Peter Obi, I will be going against what I have always stood for, which is that I will never support a Nigerian leader who has held any political office — whether at the federal, state, or local level — if I consider them non-performing.

“It’s the same reason I would never have joined hands with Atiku. And the Peter Obi you’re talking about was a vice-presidential candidate to Atiku when I was a presidential candidate in 2019.

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“So, what are we talking about? There is no lesser evil in my book. If you are evil, you are evil. If you are good, you are good. I have a general disdain for non-performance.”

He added that there is no such thing as “emotional attachment” in his dictionary.

“There was a friend of mine who kept saying, he doesn’t care if Peter Obi is Igbo, but that it is the turn of the Igbos. But it is beyond that; I have a natural disdain for poor performance,” he explained.

Sowore insisted that while many may not know it, he knew Obi before and during his time as governor, and he backed him.

“I had always known and supported him and stood against his removal when (Olusegun) Obasanjo wanted to use Andy Ubah to replace him—the twists and turns then.

“However, when Peter Obi finished his term in Anambra, the question I asked him was whether he could send his child to any university he had built in Anambra—he was mute and could not respond.

“I also asked him if he could enter any hospital he built in Anambra, which he governed for eight years, even if it was for the slightest headache—there was also no response.”

Sowore went on to challenge the four anchors or any other Nigerians, saying, “If they can pack their bags and head to Anambra for a vacation.”

PUNCH Online reports that President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress recorded 8,794,726 votes in the 2023 presidential election, followed by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party who secured 6,984,520 votes.

In third place, Labour Party’s Obi garnered 6,101,533 votes, and Rabiu Kwankwaso of the New Nigeria Peoples Party secured 1,496,687 votes.

Why I can’t form coalition with Peter Obi – Sowore

Politics

Why we want Jonathan to contest 2027 presidency – Northern group

Published

3 days ago

November 11, 2024

Trends Admin

Goodluck Ebele Jonathan

Why we want Jonathan to contest 2027 presidency – Northern group

The Arewa Consensus for Jonathan, a political group in the North, has urged former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan to enter the 2027 presidential race.

Jonathan, who served as Nigeria’s president from 2010 to 2015, is widely regarded for his role in fostering democratic growth and his relatively peaceful exit from power after losing the 2015 election.
Despite his exit from politics, his name has remained a focal point in discussions about Nigeria’s future leadership.

The group’s leader, Munir Musa, who made the appeal during a press conference in Bauchi over the weekend, emphasised that Jonathan’s return to office was crucial to addressing Nigeria’s pressing economic and security challenges.

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He argued that Nigeria, grappling with severe economic downturns and rising security threats, needs a leader with Jonathan’s experience and competence to restore stability.

“The nation is at a crossroads, and we believe that Goodluck Jonathan is the right man to steer us out of the current malaise,” Musa told reporters.

He expressed confidence that Jonathan’s leadership could heal the country’s deepening wounds and usher in a new era of progress.

Why we want Jonathan to contest 2027 presidency – Northern group

Politics

Afenifere, Council of Obas back Aiyedatiwa for Ondo gov

Published

3 days ago

November 11, 2024

Trends Admin

Governor of Ondo State, Lucky Aiyedatiwa

Afenifere, Council of Obas back Aiyedatiwa for Ondo gov

Afenifere, the pan-Yoruba socio-political and cultural organization, has endorsed Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the November 16 governorship election in Ondo State.

Sehinde Arogbofa, a prominent Afenifere leader, announced the support at the Olubaka of Oka land palace, Oba Yusuf Adebori Adeleye.

Arogbofa expressed confidence in Aiyedatiwa’s leadership and encouraged him to follow the values and legacy of Chief Adekunle Ajasin, Ondo State’s first governor. “Afenifere stands firmly behind your mandate… Strive to make Ondo State great again,” Arogbofa said.

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Oba Adeleye, speaking on behalf of traditional rulers in Akoko South West Local Government Area, also endorsed Aiyedatiwa, citing his masses-focused policies and the governor’s initiative to allocate five percent of local government funds to traditional institutions as a demonstration of his commitment to their welfare.