Politics
Muslim-Muslim ticket: No leader can Islamise Nigeria, says FFK
- Tinubu returned schools to missionaries, granted land to mega churches
Former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, says he has “prayed about” the Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and is sure that the country cannot be Islamised.
Indeed, he expressed confidence that those given the ticket currently to fly the flag of the APC in the 2023 presidential election would defend the rights of the Christans.
Bola Tinubu, the APC presidential candidate, picked Kashim Shettima, the former governor of Borno, who is also a Muslim, as his running mate for the 2023 presidential election.
This has generated heavy criticisms from key stakeholders, particularly the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN).
Before joining the APC, Fani-Kayode, on several occasions, had accused the APC-led Federal Government of Islamisation and Fulanisation of the country.
Asked to comment on the APC’s Muslim-Muslim ticket in the light of his previous comments, the former minister said since he joined the ruling party, he had realised that the party had “completely changed”, adding that the claim of Fulanisation of the country had been thrown out of the window.
Fani-Kayode said it is not about the faith of the presidential candidates but their individual abilities.
He said, “We spoke about Fulanisation; that has been thrown out of the window now because power has been shifted to the South by the APC, the party we accused of that.
“Secondly, we spoke about Islamisation. Since I joined APC, I realised that, like I said earlier, things have completely changed; a situation whereby in this country today we have, no less than 20 Christian governors. The whole of the South-West has Christian governors, except for Osun State, which has now changed because we have a Christian governor who is coming in.
“A situation like that tells you clearly that the country cannot be Islamised and neither is our party APC interested in that. What is happening as far as I’m concerned is this: we have reformed and are moving forward.
“Same faith ticket was a challenge but we looked into it. I prayed about it, I consulted, I spoke to Kashim because all along my position has been – it all depends who the vice-president is.
“It is not about the faith. It is about the individual and if the individual is a Muslim that I can live with, I’m prepared to live with that. I spoke to this man and Tinubu.
“The candidate himself returned schools to the missionaries in Lagos something that had not been done before. The candidate gave land to so many of these mega churches in Lagos when he was governor and since that time they have been granted licences to build churches.
“Go to the North; the vice, that is Shettima himself, I met him for over three hours, we discussed. I looked into the man’s eyes and raised a number of pertinent questions which I needed to be satisfied with and I was satisfied with his answers.
“He has built more churches in Borno State than any other before him and since that time and he won the confidence of many Christians. So the issue of Islamisation no longer arises.”
Politics
APC spokesman denies threatening Peter Obi
APC spokesman denies threatening Peter Obi
Felix Morka, National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has accused Peter Obi, Presidential Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the last election, of misleading the public.
Obi had raised the alarm that Morka threatened him over his New Year message to President Bola Tinubu.
“My New Year Message has now led to threats to my life, my family, and those around me. While I have received all sorts of messages, one Mr. Felix Morka has gone further to accuse me of “crossing the line” and has warned that I will face consequences,” Obi had tweeted.
The allegation of Obi had attracted comments from different quarters, with Atiku Abubakar, Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the last election, accusing the ruling party of stifling opposition voices.
The Labour Party also told Tinubu to call Morka to order, demanding a probe of the alarm raised by Obi.
But in a statement on Tuesday, Morka said Obi’s allegation stemmed from his answer to a question during an interview on AriseTV’s THIS WEEK program on Saturday, January 4, 2025.
READ ALSO:
- Reactions as Mahama calls Tinubu ‘president of Ghana’ during inaugural speech
- Time to reset our country, says Mahama on inauguration as Ghana’s President
- Two fake EFCC officers demand $1m bribe from ex-NPA MD
“To be clear and for the record, Morka did not threaten Mr Obi or his family or those around him or anyone. Morka has absolutely no reason to, and has never, threatened Obi or anyone. Nothing that Morka said in that interview or any other forum remotely contains or suggests threat against Mr. Obi or anyone else, as the verbatim transcription of the relevant clip indisputably attests:
“Morka’s answer was in the exclusive context of the question. The last sentence of that answer that, “I am not somebody to go on the offensive in that manner, but Mr. Obi has crossed the line so many times and I think that at this point he has coming to him, whatever he gets, he needs to manage it”, was in specific and exclusive response to the question’s reference to “prophet of doom” and “voodoo economics”. Again, nothing in that sentence constitutes or suggests a threat to Obi or anyone.
“While everyone has a right to free speech, no one has a right to peddle misinformation or outright falsehood. The right to free speech granted by our country’s Constitution is not Mr. Obi’s exclusive right but a right that is available to all Nigerians, including Morka. Mr. Obi cannot disseminate misinformation and demand or expect that no one should disagree or challenge his false narrative.
“Ours is a democracy where every citizen, irrespective of political affiliation, is entitled to agree or disagree with other political views or opinions. More than any other Nigerian in this political dispensation, Mr. Obi has exercised his fundamental liberty to speak and disseminate his political views in person, in the formal and on social media.”
The APC spokesman claimed Obi leads a restless band of online mob who continue to attack, intimidate, bully and issue death threats to other citizens who dare disagree or criticize Obi or his opinions or position on any subject or matter of national conversation.
“Many eminent and highly respected elder statesmen have been serially attacked, humiliated and bullied by Obi’s online followers. Obi has never condemned their conduct or called them to order.”
“Obi must think himself to be Nigeria’s sacred cow, the super citizen, quintessential, without blemish, beyond reproach, always right, never wrong, and endowed with the supreme and inalienable right to deride, castigate, intimidate blackmail and incite Nigerians against other political leaders who disagree with him, even those who defeated him decisively in the last general election. Mr. Obi is not entitled to any monolithic or exclusive constitutional or extraterrestrial liberty over and above any other citizen.
“There’s no doubt that Mr. Obi has crossed the line of truth in his many assessments. As a candidate for the office of President in the last general election, Mr. Obi made very bold electoral promises to implement specific economic policies to tackle the country’s economic crisis.”
APC spokesman denies threatening Peter Obi
Politics
El-Rufai speaks on report of defection to PDP
El-Rufai speaks on report of defection to PDP
Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has dismissed claims that he has defected from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
A close associate of the ex-governor informed Channels Television that the allegations are baseless and the work of detractors. The aide emphasized that El-Rufai, as a prominent political figure, would not join the PDP without making such a decision public.
READ ALSO:
- Delta Gov Oborevwori under fire for hobnobbing with APC
- Why Fubara can do business with three lawmakers – Court
- As Hamas, Israel quarrel over talks, Israeli intensifies strikes in Gaza
El-Rufai also addressed the speculation on his verified X account, formerly known as Twitter, urging the public to ignore the rumors and asserting that legal action has been initiated against those spreading falsehoods.
“Please disregard the patent lies and rumours about my political affiliation. I have referred the lead peddlers of the fake news for further action by my lawyers,” El-Rufai posted on Sunday.
El-Rufai speaks on report of defection to PDP
Politics
Delta Gov Oborevwori under fire for hobnobbing with APC
Delta Gov Oborevwori under fire for hobnobbing with APC
In Delta State, some PDP elders have queried Governor Sheriff Oborevwori over alleged anti-party activities.
The elders under the aegis of ‘Concerned Leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Delta State chapter, urged Oborevwori to either confirm or deny rumours of his alleged romance with the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The group, in a statement by Mr. Theophilus Ekiyor, Mr. Ochuko Oghenekome and Mr Ezekiel Chukwudi, also urged the governor to either confirm or deny his defection plan.
The statement reads in part: “The rumour mills are agog with stories of your intention of cross-carpeting to the ruling party at the centre, the APC
“You have been secretly romancing top aides to His Excellency, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
READ ALSO:
- Why Fubara can do business with three lawmakers – Court
- As Hamas, Israel quarrel over talks, Israeli intensifies strikes in Gaza
- WAEC announces resit exams for candidates from Jan/Feb 2025
“Top presidential aides and allies of the president are now working to facilitate a meeting between you and President Tinubu on this self-seeking agenda.
“Your ultimate goal, as pointed out by those close to you, is to obtain approval to join the APC. In this regard, we are deeply troubled by these flying and unconfirmed rumours.
“We, therefore, demand prompt clarification from you to put us in the picture.
“A delayed response could be considered as glaring evidence of your compromised position.”
However, the Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the governor, Festus Ahon, dismissed the query, which he attributed to opposition politicians in the state who are afraid of the governor’s landmarks.
He said: “Those people are not from the PDP. They are elements who want to heat up the polity. The governor is comfortable in his party and has no plan to defect to the APC.”
Delta Gov Oborevwori under fire for hobnobbing with APC
-
metro2 days ago
Updated: Nigerians worry over Wike’s look after poisoning alarm
-
Education1 day ago
UNILORIN introduces courier service for collection of certificates
-
metro3 days ago
You saved Nigeria’s democracy by defeating third term agenda, Tinubu tells Nnamani
-
Education2 days ago
WAEC announces resit exams for candidates from Jan/Feb 2025
-
Business2 days ago
8 financial mistakes to avoid in 2025
-
metro1 day ago
Distribution of CNG buses tears NANS leaders apart
-
News6 hours ago
Reactions as Mahama calls Tinubu ‘president of Ghana’ during inaugural speech
-
metro2 days ago
NDLEA arrests 61-year-old female Lagos socialite, drug kingpin