Politics

Obasanjo unfit to recommend president for Nigerians -Tinubu

Published

2 years ago

January 5, 2023

Trends Admin

Bola Tinubu and Olusegun Obasanjo

…urges Europeans to pay reparation on returned Benin artefacts

…promises massive economic development

All Progressives Congress Presidential Candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu , said former President Olusegun Obasanjo is not qualified to recommend or endorse anyone as President of Nigeria because of his failures.

While speaking on Thursday at the APC Presidential Campaign rally held at the University of Benin Sports Complex, Ugbowo Campus, Benin, the APC flagbearer said Obasanjo failed to develop the country when he had the opportunity, but rather was fighting his then Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, while accusing each other of spending the country’s money for their personal comfort.

Tinubu noted that after spending $16billion on electricity, Obasanjo and the PDP government could not deliver electricity for Nigerians to make even popcorn.

As Governor of Lagos, Tinubu recalled how he brought Enron Power to generate electricity and solve the power problem in the commercial nerve centre of the country but the project was frustrated by the Obasanjo-led PDP government.

“I brought Enron to solve electricity problem and help Lagos economy but Obasanjo and PDP frustrated it. They punished me and Lagos people and even began deducting our money. I created Local Governments in Lagos to accelerate development and create employment for our people but Obasanjo siezed our allocation and punished us for that. That was wickedness and such a man said he endorsed a man for you to vote as President. Can you follow such a man? Can Obasanjo recommend a leader for anyone in Nigeria? A man who does not know the way cannot show the way.”

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On his main opponent, Atiku Abubakar, the former Governor of Lagos said the PDP presidential candidate is not qualified to be President of Nigeria having indicted himself on his record as a civil servant.

“Atiku and Obasanjo accused themselves of using Nigeria’s money to buy cars for their comfort. Atiku was a custom officer who said he made money selling cars, that is smugling. He didn’t even know that a civil servant can not do any other business apart from agriculture. That is enough to disqualify him and he is not fit to be President.”

On his plan for the economy and Edo people, Tinubu said it is time to eliminate darkness and make the economy of the country productive through massive industrialisation, promising to make Edo State a hub of industrial activities and an energy state.

At the very electrifying rally, Tinubu told the people that prosperity and happiness have come. He applauded the return of Benin artefacts by some Western nations but urged the countries to pay some money to Edo State having made huge money from the returned artefacts through tourism and exhibitions.

“Edo people, prosperity has come, happiness has come, hope is back in your homes, knowledge is back in your community. I am happy about the returned artefacts. They are bringing our artefacts. I support the Oba of Benin who said our heritage must come back but I disagree with the Europeans. They have used our artefacts for exhibitions and tourism for decades in their museums to make money. They should not just send them back without money. When I become President I will ask them to pay us restitution. I will contribute to the building of the museum in Benin.”

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On his competence and readiness for the job, Tinubu told the mammoth crowd that his administration would focus on job creation through small scale industries, build a credible credit system for capital formation, bring multibillion dollar investments to Edo State and end estimated electricity billing.

“I will turn Edo State to energy State. I will convert Yahoo boys and make them useful by converting their talents and intellects to produce chips for industries. We can defeat poverty, ignorance and homelessness. We have the knowledge, we have the brain to do it. Trust me. I am an expert in finding the way where there is no way. I found a way to tame the Atlantic and turn it to money- making machine.”

Tinubu also spoke on his motivation to make life better for the poor and why opportunities must be created for young people to move up on socio-economic ladder.

“I believe the children of boli and groundnut sellers should become doctors, engineers, nurses etc. That was why I started the payment of WAEC fees for their children as governor in Lagos. If you want to become rich, elect me. If you say I should go and retire, it means you want to retire diamond and gold. Edo people, I am telling you like I say everywhere in Nigeria, elect me.”

In his address at the rally, former governor of Edo State and Deputy Director- General of the Tinubu-Shettima Campaign, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, said come February 25, Edo people would use their PVC to appreciate Tinubu as a father of multi-party democracy in Nigeria.

“If you want to understand why Obasanjo failed to turn Nigeria into a one-party state, it was the resistance of Asíwájú and others.

“Obasanjo also wanted to take over Lagos. Asíwájú said you can’t do it. If you are a military general, I am a general of politics. He fought him to a standstill,” Oshiomhole said.

He charged the mammoth crowd at the rally to mobilize their relatives and friends back home to vote for the APC candidate.

Oshiomhole also threw jibes at Presidential candidates of Labour Party, Peter Obi, and that of PDP, Atiku Abubakar, asking Edo people to reject them.

“Peter Obi is a joke,” he said, adding that Obi could not address the erosion problem in his state of Anambra.

Oshiomhole said Atiku cannot unite this country. “Someone who cannot unite his house, how can he unite Nigeria?”

Edo State APC Chairman, Col David Imuse (rtd), said Edo had always been with Asiwaju Tinubu and would always be there for him to ensure victory in the February 25 election.

“There is no political party that has a candidate that is as qualified as our candidate, in terms of experience, in terms of pedigree and performance.”

Kano State Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, APC National Woman Leader Beta Edu, former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio; Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Clem Agba, former Chief of Defence Staff, General Olanisakin, Senator Andy Uba, among others, attended the rally.

Related Topics:Featured Nigerians Obasanjo Tinubu

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As Senate resumes, Akpabio denies sexual harassment, Natasha submits petition

Published

2 days ago

March 5, 2025

Trends Admin

As Senate resumes, Akpabio denies sexual harassment, Natasha submits petition

Senate President Godswill Akpabio on Wednesday denied allegations of sexual harassment brought against him by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.

He spoke at the resumption of plenary in the Senate, after a week’s recess.

Senator Akpabio said, “At no time did I ever harass any woman. I was raised very well by my late single mother, and I have always upheld respect for women. I was even awarded the most gender-friendly governor in Nigeria.”

The Senate President, who said he had been inundated with calls on the matter since February 25, and that he was aware of the growing social media discourse, urged Nigerians, the media, and social media users to refrain from drawing conclusions and instead await the court’s decision on the matter.

However, immediately after his remarks, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan raised a petition under Order 40, accusing the Senate President of sexual harassment and abuse of office.

She requested permission to step forward and formally lay the petition before the chamber.

The Senate subsequently referred the petition to the Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Code of Conduct, directing it to review the matter as soon as practicable.

The controversy started in February when a seat rearrangement led to a confrontation between Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan and the Senate President.

This led to the allegation of sexual harassment by Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, and raising fresh concerns about decorum and conduct within the legislative body.

On Wednesday, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan arrived at the Senate Chamber in the company with her husband.

She shared a brief kiss with her husband before proceeding into the chamber to take her seat.

However, she refused to stand on the arrival of Akpabio for the commencement of plenary.

Police fire tear gas at Natasha supporters

Police officers fired tear gas to prevent supporters of Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan from accessing the National Assembly Complex on Wednesday.

The protesters had converged on the National Assembly gate as early as 8am ahead of resumption of plenary.

They carried placards bearing inscriptions such as ‘Akpabio must go’, ‘Protect women’s rights’, and ‘Protect Natasha at all costs’.

The police moved in swiftly, firing tear gas cannisters at them.

The crowd later moved to the Unity Fountain.

Politics

I lost Lagos governorship election because of Peter Obi – Jandor

Published

2 days ago

March 5, 2025

Trends Admin

I lost Lagos governorship election because of Peter Obi – Jandor

The 2023 governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos State, Abdul-Azeez Adediran, popularly known as Jandor, has claimed that he would have won the election if not for Peter Obi’s victory in the presidential poll in the state.

Obi was the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP).

According to Jandor, Obi’s victory altered the political dynamics against the PDP ahead of the governorship election, which was held weeks later.

He made this statement on Tuesday during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today.

Jandor explained that the governorship race was a two-horse contest before the presidential election, but Obi’s win reshaped voters’ expectations.

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“The 2023 election came with its dynamics, and it was a two-horse race until the presidential election. If you look at what happened in the presidential election, Peter Obi came first (in Lagos), Asiwaju came second, and Atiku came third.

“The moment that happened, there was this belief that if we do this, we can get this state off XYZ. So, we were victims of that,” he said.

“Each time I address my people, I tell them: look, we did everything but that wave came and swallowed the whole thing; nobody saw that coming,” he added.

Jandor eventually lost the governorship election, securing 62,449 votes and finishing third.

The incumbent governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), won 762,134 votes, while Labour Party’s Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour came second with 312,329 votes.

On Monday, Jandor announced his resignation from the PDP, citing growing indiscipline and widespread anti-party activities within the party.

He specifically accused some PDP leaders, including former Deputy National Chairman Chief Olabode George, of working against the party during the 2023 elections.

I lost Lagos governorship election because of Peter Obi – Jandor

Politics

Tinubu’s 2027 Ambition: APC already has candidate, insists Orji Kalu

Published

3 days ago

March 4, 2025

Trends Admin

Senator Orji Uzor Kalu and President Bola Tinubu

Tinubu’s 2027 Ambition: APC already has candidate, insists Orji Kalu

Senator Orji Uzor Kalu has declared that President Bola Tinubu must complete two terms in office, insisting the All Progressives Congress (APC) has only one presidential candidate for the 2027 election.

“Well, in our party, we have only one presidential candidate now. And Tinubu has to do eight years. You can see the repairs he has done to the economy, and things are starting to pick up again,” Kalu said on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday.

The Senator representing Abia North and former Abia State governor also emphasised the need for an Igbo president but ruled out 2027 as a possibility.

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“I am not going to discuss anything about the Igbo presidency. But I still tell you there is a need for it,” he said.

“The Igbo must present an acceptable candidate to all Nigerians. No one zone can make a president. President Tinubu was not elected by the Yoruba. He was elected by all Nigerians.”

He further noted that while Tinubu has not personally declared his intention to run for re-election, the APC leadership has already endorsed him.

“This president is not even doing politics. He has never told anybody he wants to run for election or not. But as a party, we have mandated him to run and given him a vote of confidence,” Kalu said.

According to him, the National Executive Committee (NEC) reaffirmed its support for Tinubu’s leadership, with a motion moved by Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma and announced by APC National Chairman Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje.

“So, things cannot just get better in one night,” Kalu added.