Politics
Obasanjo: Atiku wanted Ekwueme as president to resign after three years

…I can’t be blamed for non-completion of Ibadan-Ilorin expressway
By Fola Raheem
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has attributed the defeat of erstwhile Vice-President Alex Ekwueme during the 2003 presidential primary election of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the collapse of the alliance between him (Ekwueme) and former Vice-President Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.
He also contended that he could not be blamed for the non-completion of Ibadan-Ilorin expressway project, which was awarded during his administration.
Obasanjo spoke on Thursday at Trenchard Hall of the University of Ibadan (UI) while reacting to some issues raised in the biography of a former governor of Oyo State, Chief Christopher Adebayo Alao Akala, titled “Amazing Grace”, which was presented to the public.
He said, “Adebayo has exhibited extra courage to invite eyewitnesses and ‘ear witnesses’ of some of the events chronicled in the biography for confirmation or otherwise. It is both courageous and dangerous to do so.
“By inviting me to be here at the launch of this great intellectual work of yours, you are asking me to confirm all events itemised in the book and in which I am connected as correct which you may or may not know are not.
“Atiku did not back down as you claimed until Alex Ekwueme was defeated at the primary of the PDP in 2003 as Atiku’s agreement with Ekwueme was to be Ekwueme’s running mate and Ekwueme, as president, spending three years and resigning for Atiku to complete the fourth year and then for Atiku to contest election in his own right in 2007.
“It was after the result of the primary that Atiku backed down, if you put it that way, it was when there was no other choice.”
Obasanjo continued “I wonder how you come on page 390 of your book to blame or criticise me for dividing the Ibadan-Ilorin Road to three sections for reconstruction during my second tem so that it could be expeditiously completed. You had a full term plus one year from Governor Ladoja’s tenure as governor and even up till today, the roads are not completed and you believe honestly that in your biography.
“I should be blamed at least 13 years after I have left office. As an Ogbomoso man, I can understand how important that road is to you.
“But when I took the steps which I took for the road to be expeditiously handled, it was not for your interest as an Ogbomoso man but for the importance of the road for the economic life of Nigeria and it is tragic that the artery road remains in the sorry state it is today.”
In his remark, Akala recalled that his maternal grandmother popularly called “Iya Alaro” singlehandedly reconstructed his fractured life, saying “it was a miracle how grace took me to the top.”
Commenting on the public presentation of the book, Professor Oluyemi Fayomi from the Department of International Relations and Political Science, Leads City University, Ibadan, described Akala as one who is committed to human capital development, tasking Nigerian politicians to emulate his virtues.
Eminent personalities at the event included the Ekiti State governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Saliu Akanmu Adetunji, former military governor of Oyo State, Brigadier General Oladayo Popoola (rtd), Dr Saka Balogun, Chief Niyi Akintola (SAN), the Minister for Youth and Sports Development, Mr Sunday Dare, the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State during 2019 elections, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, among others.
Politics
Activist Senator Shehu Sani returns to APC with 49 others

Activist Senator Shehu Sani returns to APC with 49 others
Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State has welcomed to the All Progressives Congress (APC) Senator Shehu Sani and other prominent politicians in Kaduna.
Gov Sani also assured Shehu Sani and the other 49 political stalwarts that defected to the APC that they would enjoy the same rights and privileges like every other members of the party.
The Governor spoke when he addressed a mammoth crowd of the party’s supporters at the Murtala Square at a mega rally held on Saturday.
Sani said that there was no any difference between a party member that joined it recently and the ones that have been in APC ten years ago.
He said: ‘’Someone who joined APC today and the one who has been a foundation member 10 years ago, they are of the same status. They will enjoy the same rights and privileges.”
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Sani urged the decampees to notify their supporters of the readiness of APC to accept them into the party as their doors were still open to accept more defectors.
According to him, the popularity and acceptability of APC is because of the its just leadership at both the state and federal levels.
Sani added that the party has come to stay in Kaduna State, the entire North and Nigeria as a whole.
‘’In the 2027 election, the electorate will vote for APC in all the elections, from top to bottom.
“At the top, our leader, President Bola Tinubu will be elected.
“At the state level, the party will be voted for at the gubernatorial, National and State Assemblies elections, by the Grace of God,’’ he said.
The Governor promised that more projects would be executed in all the nooks and crannies of the state, irrespective of party affiliations and ethno-religious considerations.
‘’Politics is different from governance. We will be fair to all, whether or not they voted for us, because that is the oath of office that we swore to uphold as leaders,’’ he further said.
Activist Senator Shehu Sani returns to APC with 49 others
Politics
Buhari, governor vote in Katsina local govt election

Buhari, governor vote in Katsina local govt election
Former President Muhammadu Buhari has voted in the ongoing local government election in Katsina State.
He voted at Polling Unit 003, Sarkin Yarn Ward A of Daura at 11:09am alongside the state Commissioner for Special Duties, Adnan Na-Habu Daura.
Katsina State Governor, Dikko Radda, and his wife, Zulaihat, also cast their votes on Saturday in the local government election.
The governor and his wife voted around 11:45am at the Kofar Katika Polling Unit in Radda Ward of Charanchi Local Government Area.
Radda said he was impressed with the large turnout of voters, adding that this was a testament that democracy had come to maturity in the state.
“I believe that at the end of the exercise, with the kind of projects executed since we came on board, we believe so much in APC and APC will come out victorious. People should expect their votes to count,” Radda said.
Politics
Osun LG poll is illegal, APC won’t participate, says Oyetola

Osun LG poll is illegal, APC won’t participate, says Oyetola
The All Progressives Congress(APC), Osun State has declared that it would boycott the forthcoming local government poll scheduled for February 22, following the Court of Appeal verdict reinstating its sacked members back to their offices.
It will be recalled that APC members were elected at the twilight of the administration of Adegboyega Oyetola in 2022 in a controversial ‘Yes or No’ election, which the Federal High Court declared illegal.
Subsequently, Governor Ademola Adeleke sacked the council bosses in November 2022, hence the matter was taken to Court of Appeal where the matter was resolved in favour of APC on Monday. However, the Osun Independent Electoral Commission(OSIEC) had fixed February 22nd for the election.
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Meanwhile, the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola who is the leader of APC in Osun State on Friday announced that the party will boycott the election noting they ‘any election after the Court of Appeal verdict is illegal. We can’t be part of such.”
Speaking at the Tinubu/Shettima Campaign office on Friday, Oyetola said: “We will not participate in any LG election, it is illegal, tell them to obey the court order first because as it is, the council positions are not vacant, hence no need for another election.
“Our chairmen will resume their respective offices with all instruments of law. The court of Appeal verdict will be implemented. I want to urge all the chairmen and councillors not to fight them, we are a peace-loving party.”
He charged the reinstated council Excos that “Go home and be rejoicing, I will come and greet you all in your respective offices.”
Earlier, the State Chairman of APC, Tajudeen Lawal lauded Oyetola for providing leadership for the party and supporting the course of the court matter which reinstated members of the party to 30 Osun councils.
Osun LG poll is illegal, APC won’t participate, says Oyetola
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