Politics

Governors, Lawan, Atiku, Kwankwaso, Uba, others salute Tinubu

Published

3 years ago

June 9, 2022

Prominent Nigerians, including Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, have congratulated Asiwaju Bola Tinubu for clinching the APC ticket.

Also, groups like the Conference of Nigeria Political Parties(CNPP and Coalition of Southeast Youth Leaders, welcomed the emergence of the former Lagos State governor as APC flag bearer, saying they have no doubt that he would transform Nigeria if elected president.

Among them notable Nigerians were Senate President Ahmad Lawan; Speaker of the House of Representatives Femi Gbajabiamila, Governors Rotimi Akeredolu (Ondo), Adegboyega Oyetola (Osun); Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Abdullahi Ganduje (Kano); AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq (Kwara), Muhammadu Inuwa (Gombe) and NNPP presidential ticket holder Rabiu Kwakwanso.

Former Ogun State Governor Gbenga Daniel; Deputy Senate President Ovie Omo-Agege, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Ahmad Wase, Lagos State House of Assembly Speaker Mudashiru Obasa, Senator Andy Uba; Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo (SAN) and Florence, widow of the late Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi

They said Tinubu’s victory was a reward for hard work, doggedness, grit, political sagacity and, resilience.

Abubakar, a former vice-president, described the APC primary as “a hard-fought contest.”

READ ALSO:

He wrote: “Congratulations, @officialABAT, on your emergence as your party’s presidential candidate.

“It has been a hard-fought contest, but that you prevailed confirms your tenacity.”

Lawan, who also contested the shadow election, said in a statement that Tinubu’s victory has reassured APC members of the possibility of the party winning next year’s presidential poll.

He added in the statement titled: “Felicitation,” that the outcome of the primary had proved the popularity of the former Lagos State governor amongst APC members.

Lawan said: ” The outcome of the election process has shown that Your Excellency(Tinubu) is the popular choice of our party for that assignment.

“I do not have an iota of doubt in the wisdom of that decision by our party’s delegates from across the country.

“Your glittering track record of public service, foresight and grit in party building and administration, as well as the courage you continue to demonstrate in fighting for the entrenchment of democracy in Nigeria make you worthy of the high esteem and trust of our party members everywhere in Nigeria as exhibited at the national convention.

Omo-Agege

Omo-Agege also expressed optimism that Tinubu would emerge victorious in next year’s presidential election.

While calling on the former governor to be magnanimous in victory, he stressed the need for all those who lost to join hands with Tinubu and the APC in ensuring victory next year.

The Deputy Senate President said: ”With the transparent process that saw the emergence of Asiwaju Tinubu as our party standard bearer, I am confident more than ever before that this is the beginning of even greater tidings for our party.”

He also called on Nigerians to support Tinubu and other APC candidates at all levels in the forthcoming polls.

Speaker Gbajabiamila described Tinubu as a dogged democrat who has the quality to lead APC to victory next year.

He said in his congratulatory message that the former governor’s victory was “well-deserved.”

Gbajabiamila added: “I congratulate my mentor for this victory. This is a victory for democracy and Nigerians as a whole. With the manner he went about his campaigns, Asiwaju has proved to be a hero of our democracy.

“From day one, he stood his ground that the APC must organise a free, fair and transparent presidential primary if it wanted to remain the party to beat. He advocated that and remained steadfast. This will make the party come out peaceful and victorious in the end.

Fayemi: Asiwaju, a long distance runner

In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Yinka Oyebode, Fayemi said Tinubu’s emergence represented the collective wish of the vast majority of APC members.

He added that the former governor “has proven his dedication and competence to lead the country at such an important time in history.”

Fayemi who stepped down as an aspirant and endorsed Tinubu at the convention described the APC flag bearer as a “long distance runner,”, who has the capacity to lead the country to greater heights.

READ ALSO:

He said: “It is a great moment for our party. I congratulate Asiwaju Tinubu for the well-deserved victory and the leadership of the party as well as the convention committee members for a great job.

“Collectively, we shall move from this convention venue with greater determination to strengthen the party and work assiduously for the success of the party in the 2023 elections.”

Fayemi, who is the Chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, also lauded President Muhammadu Buhari for “superintending over a free, fair, and credible process as national leader of the party.”

He congratulated the APC leadership and the convention planning committee for the successful conduct of the exercise.

Akeredolu: Tinubu will calm frayed nerves

Governor Akeredolu, who hailed Tinubu for emerging victorious, said he was happy that the APC displayed a total commitment to the ethos of democracy and embraced the path of fairness and equity.

Akeredolu advised Tinubu to unite all contending forces to enable the APC to retain power next year.

He described the contest as a “brotherly scramble.”

His words: ”The aspirants and leaders of our great party must now leverage on our political strength to build the party and reposition it for even greater victory.

“We must identify and underscore our challenges for the greater good of the people. The time for strives is beneath us. As the dust settles, we must form a common front and understand that victory at the general election is our collective target.

“It is time to justify our zeal and passion for the party. The instruments of the party must be fully deployed for the rescue mission of the nation. Let us expend our strength and reach to replete the party with brighter prospects. Ours is to plough not to plunder.

“Our struggle for the service of the people must reflect in our support and incurable commitment to unity geared towards the good of the people and the country at large.

He is leader of leaders, says Oyetola

Governor Oyetola described Tinubu’s emergence as a victory for democracy and a demonstration of his influence and acceptability, not only within the APC but across the country.

He expressed confidence in the capacity and competence of Tinubu to deliver victory for the APC next year.

Oyetola added in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Ismail Omipidan, that the former governor would deploy his administrative acumen to take the country to enviable heights.

THE NATION

Related Topics:Atiku Featured governors Kwankwaso Lawan Tinubu UBA

Up Next

Tinubu to APC leaders: We must keep PDP out of power

Don't Miss

I’ll Relocate To Ghana If Tinubu Or Atiku Win 2023 Election – Charly Boy

Politics

2027: Why PDP shouldn’t field northern presidential candidate – Ex-Atiku campaigner

Published

3 hours ago

December 29, 2024

Trends Admin

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar

2027: Why PDP shouldn’t field northern presidential candidate – Ex-Atiku campaigner

A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and former member of Atiku Abubakar’s 2023 Presidential Campaign Committee, Dr. Adetokunbo Pearse, has called on the party to nominate a southern presidential candidate for the 2027 elections.

In an interview in Lagos, Pearse, who headed the Directorate of Documentation/Reporting for Atiku’s campaign in Lagos, argued that fielding a northern candidate could harm the party’s prospects.

“The national opinion now, the tendency, the feeling generally, is that the PDP should field a southerner for president in 2027,” Pearse said. “We need somebody from the South to complete these four years, to complete the eight years of southern presidency, so that we can rescue Nigeria.”

Pearse emphasized that it would be unstrategic for the party to support a northern candidate, given the current sentiment across the nation.

No Need for Alliances
The PDP stalwart also dismissed the idea of a political merger or alliance with other opposition parties, such as the Labour Party (LP) or New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), stating that such collaborations have historically been unsuccessful.

READ ALSO:

“An alliance in our politics, even abroad, is very difficult because it is hard for competing groups and leaders to give way for one or the other,” he explained. “It is not possible for PDP to go into any alliance in 2027. I personally think it is very unlikely.”

Pearse downplayed the potential contributions of LP and NNPP, noting that both parties only secured one governorship seat each in the last general elections.

He said the PDP has sufficient resources to win the next election with a southern candidate, citing the party’s 12 governors and a significant presence in the National Assembly.

Reuniting the Party
Pearse stressed the importance of reconciling with former members who had defected, particularly to the Labour Party.

“We just need to strengthen our party. We need to reach out to our members that have left the party. If 60 percent of them return, we will win the next election,” he stated.

He highlighted efforts underway to bring back youth members and others who supported rival parties during the 2023 elections, emphasizing the need for unity within the PDP.

Lessons from 2023
Reflecting on the 2023 elections, Pearse attributed the PDP’s loss to internal divisions, particularly regarding zoning issues.

“The party went astray last time because they did not clarify the constitutional tenets that said if the national chairman comes from the North, the presidential candidate cannot also come from the North,” he said.

He criticized the inability of former National Chairman Dr. Iyorchia Ayu to step down when a northern candidate emerged, calling it a key factor in the party’s defeat. Pearse stressed that lessons had been learned, and the party would avoid such missteps in the future.

“We are not going to allow it to happen now,” he added.

2027: Why PDP shouldn’t field northern presidential candidate – Ex-Atiku campaigner

Politics

Gbajabiamila speaks on his rumoured Lagos governorship ambition

Published

4 hours ago

December 29, 2024

Trends Admin

Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu

Gbajabiamila speaks on his rumoured Lagos governorship ambition

Femi Gbajabiamila, the Chief of Staff (CoS) to President Bola Tinubu, has dismissed speculations about his potential bid for the governorship of Lagos State, stressing that his current focus remains on his duties in the presidency.

Speaking at the general assembly of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Surulere, Lagos, on Saturday, Gbajabiamila attributed the rumours to detractors attempting to undermine his political progress.

“Some people are saying he came back from America about 20 years ago. After spending three to four years, he became the principal officer to the Minority Whip, from there he became Minority Leader, then Majority Leader, and from Majority Leader, he became Speaker,” Gbajabiamila said.

He noted that some individuals see his rise in politics as a threat and believe he might return to Lagos to contest for governor.

READ ALSO:

“They think with the way I’m progressing, it’s time to quickly drag me down so I won’t have any standing in Lagos,” he stated.

However, the former Speaker of the House of Representatives made it clear that the governorship race is not on his agenda for now.

“Please tell them it’s not yet time for governorship. There are still two and a half years left—it’s still far. God Almighty knows who will become the next governor,” Gbajabiamila noted.

Addressing the challenges of his current position, he added, “My current job as Chief of Staff is so demanding that I can’t even finish it. I don’t have the time to be thinking about governorship.”

The remarks come amid growing speculation surrounding potential contenders for the Lagos governorship seat, with names like Lagos State Speaker Mudashiru Obasa and Seyi Tinubu, the President’s son, also being mentioned.

Gbajabiamila speaks on his rumoured Lagos governorship ambition

Politics

Wike: My fallout with Secondus was his opposition to Fubara

Published

1 day ago

December 28, 2024

Trends Admin

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.