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
NNPP caucus denies coalition talks with PDP
NNPP caucus denies coalition talks with PDP
The New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) House of Representatives Caucus has refuted claims of engaging in discussions for a possible coalition or merger with the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) or any other political party.
The denial comes amidst widely circulated rumours suggesting ongoing talks between the NNPP and the PDP.
In a statement released by Hon Abdulmumin Jibrin on behalf of the NNPP House Caucus, the party categorically dismissed the rumours as baseless and entirely false.
The party clarified its stance, asserting an open policy for collaboration, alliances, or mergers with various political entities, including the APC, PDP, and LP.
Politics
Tinubu approves APC’s blueprint for total takeover of southeast states
Tinubu approves APC’s blueprint for total takeover of southeast states
National chairman of All Progressives Congress, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, says President Tinubu has already approved party’s blueprint for political liberation of Southeastern states.
With the newly approved blueprint, Ganduje expressed his optimism that Anambra would become an APC controlled state in 2025.
Ganduje stated this when he received Senator Ifeanyi Uba, Senator Uche Ekwunife and other party stalwarts from Anambra state at the APC, national secretariat in Abuja.
He said, it would be in the best interest of the South-East geo-political zone pushing to produce an occupant of the exalted seat of the presidency to join the APC fold.
He added that, the liberal revolution is starting from Anambra and the party will test its popularity with the citizenry in the South-east geo-political zone with the 2025 Anambra state governorship poll.
“I will like to let you know that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved our blueprint for political liberation of South-east to the APC, he approved the political emancipation and political de-marginalisation of the region,” Ganduje said.
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“Be with one voice because if you speak with one voice, it will be bigger, wider for negotiating the political leadership of this country.
“We will win the next gubernatorial election and will win the National Assembly, the State Assembly, and all other grassroot elections, in Anambra state.
“So what I’m telling you is that the South East geopolitical zone is coming into the national politics and the region will be dominated by APC,” he added.
Meanwhile, Imo state governor and chairman of the Progressives Governors Forum (PGF), Hope Uzodinma who was at the party secretariat also re-echoed the position of Ganduje.
“It is important that APC as a political party become the vehicle for the South-east region to be fully integrated into the national project.
“Consistent to that, we are going to do our best to make sure that the five states in the South-eastern region are dominated by APC, by endearing our party to the people of the South-east region,” he said.
Other governors in attendance include: Kwara state governor and Chairman Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Abdulrahman Abdulrazak, governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa state and governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe state.
Tinubu approves APC’s blueprint for total takeover of southeast states
Politics
2027 election: INEC receives application from 25 new political parties
2027 election: INEC receives application from 25 new political parties
In Nigeria, 25 political associations have requested to be recognized as political parties ahead of the general elections in 2027.
Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), revealed this on Tuesday in Abuja at the Public Presentation of the ‘NEEDS Assessment of Political Parties in Nigeria’, which was organized by the Kukah Centre and the European Union (EU).
Sam Olumekun, a National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, represented INEC.
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He said: “Despite harsh criticism that INEC has passed through, especially in the last couple of months, we have the National Assembly that emerged from the political parties. There was a time we had many political parties before they were pruned down by legal requirements to 19.
“As at today we have about 25 political associations that have applied that they want to register as political parties. If political parties are not functioning well, why are groups coming up to seek registration as political parties?” Olumekun queried.
Also, Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, represented by the Senator from Anambra Central Senatorial District, Chief Victor Umeh, said that since the return to democracy in 1999, Nigeria’s political landscape had witnessed significant transformation, which can be attributed to the relentless efforts of various stakeholders and institutions, including Nigerians and political parties.
2027 election: INEC receives application from 25 new political parties
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