As Obi unveils new DG Osuntokun, Fani-Kayode mocks him for joining 'losing side' – Newstrends
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As Obi unveils new DG Osuntokun, Fani-Kayode mocks him for joining ‘losing side’

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The Presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has officially unveiled Akin Osuntokun as the new Director General of the Obi-Datti Presidential Campaign Council.

But former Minister of Aviation and member of the ruling All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council, Femi Fani-Kayode, has mocked Osuntokun as joining a ‘losing side’.

Obi formally unveiled Osuntokun in Abuja, on Tuesday, hours after the Labour Party’s National Chairman, Julious Abure, announced the appointment of the former Political Adviser to former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

While fielding questions from journalists after the unveiling ceremony, Obi said for as long as there are Nigerians who are forced to leave their homes to live in Internally Displaced Persons camps, Nigeria remains an IDP camp.

The LP candidate explained that his aspiration was built on his conviction that Nigerians deserve better leadership than what they were getting at the moment.

He said, “We are trying to build a better Nigeria. Over this period, I have been traveling, I have been in various states visiting people in difficult positions, and living in IDP camps.

“If Nigerians are made to leave their homes and live in IDP camps, then Nigeria as a country is an IDP camp because these are Nigerians that should be in their homes.

“The purpose of government is to care for its citizens and the first line of care is the less privileged, government takes care of the less privileged people.

“My commitment is to ensure that every Nigerian sleeps and wakes up feeling proud to be a Nigerian and not live in an IDP camp.”

Osuntokun took over from Dr Doyin Okupe, who resigned from the position earlier.

This effectively ended weeks of speculations about the possible replacement for Doyin Okupe.

Okupe had resigned from the position to appeal his conviction for money laundering.

He paid N13 million as the option of a fine to avoid a two-year jail term that he would have served for the offence.

Until his appointment, Osuntokun was the Zonal Coordinator(South), of the Obi-Datti Campaign.

He is a trained Nigerian political scientist, strategist, researcher, administrator, journalist, and writer, with experience in media advocacy, policy research and implementation, and political analysis.

He was also at one time Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria, Osuntokun served as Political Adviser to former President Olusegun Obasanjo, and as Director of the Presidential campaign of the People’s Democratic Party in 2011.

Meanwhile, Femi Fani-Kayode has ‘congratulated’ Akin Osuntokun, the new DG of the of Labour Party who he described as a formidable force.

Fani-Kayode made this assertion in statement via his verified Twitter handle on Tuesday, adding that he had teamed up with a losing side.

He stated, “Congrats to my brother Bashorun Akin Osuntokun on his appointment as DG of the Obi/Dati PCC. I respect Akin & we have fought many battles shoulder-to-shoulder against our common foes for over 30 years. He has joined the losing side but he will be a formidable adversary.

“..look forward to joining issues, crossing swords and meeting my brother in the field of battle.

“Peter the Pooh and Dati the Daft have absolutely NO chance of winning this election even with a tough and courageous soul and brilliant mind like Akin leading their campaign,” he added.

Femi Fani-Kayode

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Wike: My fallout with Secondus was his opposition to Fubara

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Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Nyesom Wike

Wike: My fallout with Secondus was his opposition to Fubara

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has shed light on his role in the removal of Uche Secondus as the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Speaking at a PDP gathering in Rivers State, Wike explained that his decision was fueled by Secondus’ opposition to Siminalayi Fubara’s governorship ambition in 2023.

According to Wike, Secondus had pushed for his cousin, Tele Ikuru, to secure the PDP ticket for the governorship position, a move Wike said he could not support. This, he revealed, was the primary reason he championed Secondus’ ouster from the party’s leadership.

Reflecting on the ongoing tensions between himself and Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Wike accused Secondus and former Rivers Governor Celestine Omehia of hypocrisy. He alleged that the duo only began backing Fubara after benefiting personally from the relationship.

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Wike, who was once a close ally of Fubara, claimed that Secondus and Omehia were the true enemies of the governor, not him. He criticized their actions, arguing that their newfound loyalty to Fubara was insincere.

“I heard Secondus recently in Bori, saying I awarded the Bori Internal Road as governor. I paid 50% with the hope that we had a governor we all supported to continue the projects,” Wike said.

He continued, “Secondus claimed his enemies are the governor’s enemies. But who are the enemies of the governor? Secondus, who initially opposed him becoming governor and wanted his cousin, Tele Ikuru, to get the position?

“I orchestrated Secondus’ removal as PDP National Chairman when he tried to impose his cousin as governor. Now he calls himself the governor’s friend while labeling me the enemy. To God be the glory,” Wike declared.

 

Wike: My fallout with Secondus was his opposition to Fubara

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APC reacts to Kwankwaso’s statement to reduce party’s votes in 2027

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APC reacts to Kwankwaso’s statement to reduce party’s votes in 2027

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano state has dismissed claims by former Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso that the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) will significantly reduce APC’s votes in Kano State during the 2027 elections.

Reacting in a statement on Thursday, Abdullahi Abass, chairman of the state chapter of the party said Kwankwaso’s assertion is laughable and nothing but a mere daydream. Abass called on Kwankwaso to focus on reclaiming his membership in the NNPP rather than making unfounded claims.

The APC described Kwankwaso as a political refugee clinging to Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf in a futile attempt to regain relevance. They warned Kwankwaso that the APC would not allow a repeat of the alleged vote manipulation and allocation that created the impression of NNPP’s influence in Kano State during the 2023 general election.

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“Our teeming supporters in the APC have no cause to worry about Kwankwaso, who has been booted out of the NNPP due to his cluelessness and self-centredness. We expect Kwankwaso to keep wondering why he has become a wanderer in the political terrain,” the party chair said.

“He ran away from APC because he couldn’t fit into our progressive ideals. His overbloated ego and domineering posture forced him to abandon the PDP, and he has now become a political refugee because the NNPP refused to accommodate him.”

Kwankwaso had on Wednesday received some political decampees at his residence. During the event, he claimed that the NNPP was now formidable enough to diminish APC’s influence in the state.

“If the PDP could struggle to receive 15, 000 votes in the 2023 Presidential elections in Kano, APC would not only receive below expectations but would receive the most embarrassing votes in the 2027 elections in Kano,” he stated

“NNPP achieved tremendous success in the presidential and governorship elections despite being a new political platform with a late start to its campaign. APC will be diminished in Kano in 2027,” he added.

 

APC reacts to Kwankwaso’s statement to reduce party’s votes in 2027

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Kwankwaso: APC will struggle to get 15,000 votes in Kano

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Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso

Kwankwaso: APC will struggle to get 15,000 votes in Kano

Ahead of the 2027 general election, the 2023 Presidential candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party, NNPP, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso said his party would work tirelessly to ensure that the ruling party, All Progressive Congress, APC, struggle to secure less than 15,000 votes in Kano State.

The APC, has, meanwhile, asked Kwankwaso to channel his energies towards reclaiming his membership in the NNPP not day dreaming over claims to relegate the APC in the state.

Kwankwaso while receiving delegates of the NNPP from the Kano North senatorial district at his Miller Road Mansion in Kano, acknowledged the hard work of the party during the 2023 elections, which resulted in the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, struggling to secure only 15,000 votes in Kano.

He said: “Now, it’s turn to diminish APC’s influence. We will work tirelessly to ensure their votes are reduced to less than 15,000 in Kano by 2027.”

He encouraged his supporters to remain focused on delivering results that would secure the party’s success in future elections.

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The leader of the delegates, Abdul Bichi, told journalists that the visit was to renew their loyalty to the national leader of the NNPP, Kwankwaso and to distance themselves from former Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Dr. Abdullahi Bichi.

Abdul said they had parted ways with Bichi since his removal from office.

“It is true we are supporters of the former SSG, and we are from the same constituency as Dr. Bichi, but we have decided to distance ourselves from him since he is no longer with the government.

“We have come here to see our national leader and founder of Kwankwaso in solidarity and to renew our total loyalty to him. We have come to say we are not leaving our party. We are not going with the SSG,” Abdul said.

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