Politics
Tinubu visited me to seek support for presidential ambition – Yakasai
A founding member of the Arewa Consultative Forum and elder statesman, Alhaji Tanko Yakasai, has revealed that he would support the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu’s presidential bid in 2023.
Tinubu had on Wednesday visited the elder statesman at his Abuja residence.
Yakasai told Saturday PUNCH that the ex-governor of Lagos was at his Abuja residence to solicit his support for his (Tinubu’s) presidential ambition in the next general elections.
Of recent, posters and billboards advertising the rumoured presidential bid of Tinubu, who was Lagos governor from May 1999 to May 2007, have been seen in major cities, including Lagos and Abuja.
Though Tinubu has yet to declare his intention to contest any office in 2023, there have been reports and veiled indications that he might be interested in the exalted seat.
READ ALSO:
- Proscription of Bandits: FG has succumbed to blackmail – Gumi
- There is no basis begging Buhari to release Sunday Igboho – Afenifere
- Special forces eliminate bandits terrorizing Kaduna-Abuja road
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, had in October inaugurated the South-West Agenda 2023, a political movement mobilising support for Tinubu to contest the 2023 presidential election.
Tinubu, who celebrated his 69th birthday in March 2021 and commands an arguably large following of political loyalists, has been reported to nurse presidential ambition in 2023, even as political debates get intense for a southern president after the eight-year regime of the incumbent, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), who is from Katsina State, North-West Nigeria.
Between July and October 2021, while Tinubu was in the United Kingdom for a knee surgery and physiotherapy, over 50 politicians, including the President, six governors, dozens of senators and House of Representatives members, visited him at his London home and turned the place to a Mecca of sort.
In October, the Northern Caucus of House of Representatives, led by Deputy Speaker, Ahmed Idris Wase, had also paid a get-well visit to the APC leader in London and declared support for Tinubu’s reported 2023 presidential ambition.
Speaking with Saturday PUNCH on Friday, 96-year-old Yakasai said he had earmarked two politicians to support for Presidency in 2023.
READ ALSO:
- Kidnappers of Ondo N-Power teachers, principals, demand N35m
- I regret deceiving my father to raise N.8m for Libyan trip —Returnee
- FG to impose stiffer penalties against firms involved oil spillage
He, however, said he has no intention to join politics but he has the constitutional right to back any candidate of his choice.
Asked whether he planned to join the ruling party after Tinubu’s visit, Yakassai said, “I don’t want to join any (political) party but I can support a candidate of my choice. I have said it way back in 1951 that I will not be a party member but I will support a candidate of my choice.”
On the APC leader’s visit, the elder statesman said, “He (Tinubu) just came to visit me but actually I have two of them (presidential aspirants) that I have earmarked right from the beginning and I made a vow that any one of them who came to ask for my support first is the person I would support. Tinubu is the first person.”
When asked whether Tinubu told him he would be contesting for President in 2021, Yakasai said, “He (Tinubu) did and he asked for my support.”
Yakasai, however, said he didn’t disclose to Tinubu, during the visit, that he would support his ambition.
He also said that interested aspirants must first scale the hurdles of primary elections in their various political parties “then we will begin to compare them.”
Punch
Politics
Edo 2024: Muslims demand fair representation in govt
Edo 2024: Muslims demand fair representation in govt
In anticipation of the upcoming governorship election slated for September 21 in Edo State, the state chapter of the Nigeria Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) has called for the fair representation of Muslims in the state’s governance.
Mallam Abdulazeez Igbinidu, the Chairman of Edo State’s NSCIA, voiced this demand during a stakeholders’ meeting in Benin City. He emphasized the inadequate representation of Muslims in the state’s governance structures.
READ ALSO:
- Fubara: I have moved on with governance despite political pressure
- FG begins disbursement of N50bn grant to small business owners
- Man confesses killing cousin, friend, body parts sold to ritualists
Addressing the attendees, Mallam Igbinidu highlighted the purpose of the meeting, which aimed to collectively address the concerns of Muslims regarding the conduct of the upcoming governorship election.
He stressed the necessity for equity and fairness in representation within the state’s governance framework to ensure that Muslims are adequately represented.
The call for equitable representation underscores the importance of inclusivity and diversity in governance, reflecting the need for all population segments to be adequately represented in decision-making processes.
Edo 2024: Muslims demand fair representation in govt
Politics
PDP: Sule Lamido blames court for mass resignation from party
PDP: Sule Lamido blames court for mass resignation from party
Former governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido, has revealed why the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, is grappling with a gale of resignations from its folds in recent times.
Some notable members of the nation’s leading opposition party have quit the party in recent weeks.
Speaking on the exodus from the party, Lamido blamed the situation on the procedures of the court.
He said the actions of the court and the leadership of the PDP have left the party in a precarious and parlous state.
He added that the PDP mass resignation was as a result of frustration engendered by the leadership of the party and the judiciary.
Speaking during an interview with This Day, Lamido bemoaned the selfish moves of some leaders of the party.
Recall that there has been an ongoing resignation by members of PDP especially in Imo and few other states.
The former governor said if the court did not insist that Senator Samuel Anyanwu was the National Secretary, when he (Anyanwu) went and contested for the Imo State governorship election, the position of National Secretary would have gone to another person from Imo State.
READ ALSO:
- Father mourns 14-year-old daughter poisoned at school, says ‘I’ve failed you my baby’
- Zamfara APC defends Mattawale, says protesters are rented crowd
- SERAP sues Wike, 36 govs over N5.9tn, $4.6bn loans
He also asserted that some persons outside the PDP are influencing what happens in the party.
Lamido said, “Emeka Ihedioha and other chieftains of the PDP that resigned from the party were humiliated and frustrated out. They were humiliated by the leadership of the party, with the help of the judiciary.
“Ministers resigned to contest election. Other government officials and even party officials resigned to contest elective offices. Senator Anyanwu ought to have resigned to contest the governorship election in Imo state.
“What did he (Anyanwu) do. He held to the office of national secretary and contested for the governorship election. You cannot eat your cake and still have it back. You cannot appropriate the two positions. You are the national secretary and the governorship candidate at the same time. This is not done.
“So, when the stakeholders from Imo state complained, the judiciary aided him and affirmed his position as National Secretary when he lost his governorship election.
“So, Ihedioha and his group felt frustrated and humiliated by the action of the leadership of the party by failing to stand up for justice. So, as a person, I don’t blame Ihedioha and his associates. I can understand why he and his associates left. Some external influences are tele-guiding the party.”
he said, “The leadership of the party was extremely unfair to Ihedioha who first asked if Anyanwu will contest for governor and when Anyanwu said yes, Ihedioha left it for him and yet, Anyanwu still did not leave the post of National secretary. It is not fair.”
PDP: Sule Lamido blames court for mass resignation from party
Politics
Aregbesola no longer member of APC, says ex-Osun commissioner
Aregbesola no longer member of APC, says ex-Osun commissioner
The immediate past Osun State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr Adebayo Adeleke, has said ex-Minister of Interior, Mr Rauf Aregbesola, is not a member of the All Progressives Congress.
Adeleke served as a commissioner in the cabinet of ex-governor Adegboyega Oyetola, currently serving as the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy.
He spoke at the Osun Central Senatorial meeting of the APC held in Osogbo, Osun State capital.
The APC chieftain said all serious party members in the state were aware that Aregbesola was not currently a member of the party.
READ ALSO:
- Ex-FCMB manager sentenced to 121-year imprisonment
- Journalist hit by stray bullet at Kano Govt house
- Organ Harvesting: Police arrest 10 suspects in Lagos
Speaking at the meeting attended by the APC National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Basiru, and other party bigwigs from the ten local government areas that made up the senatorial district, Adeleke insisted that the two ex-governors in Osun APC are Chief Bisi Akande and Oyetola.
Adeleke said, “They said in our party in Osun, we have two former governors, we have Chief Bisi Akande and ex-governor, Adegboyega Oyetola.
“Someone asked about ex-governor Rauf Aregbesola, and my response is that all members of the APC know that Aregbesola presently is not a member of our party.”
Aregbesola no longer member of APC, says ex-Osun commissioner
-
International1 day ago
Gaza: Thousands rally for hostage deal as ceasefire talks continue
-
Sports1 day ago
Ronaldo’s hat-trick leads Al Nassr to 6-0 victory over Al Wehda
-
metro17 hours ago
DSS seals Plateau clinic over patient’s death
-
Entertainment1 day ago
Nollywood veteran Shan George weeps as fraudster clears ₦3.6m from her account (VIDEO)
-
News3 days ago
I never said I’m a billionaire— Ex-Anambra CP
-
Entertainment3 days ago
Sanwo-Olu appoints KWAM1’S daughter as aide
-
News2 days ago
Don’t host US, French military bases in Nigeria, northern leaders warn Tinubu
-
metro2 days ago
EFCC nabs 20 suspected internet fraudsters in Sapele