Olurode recounts Awolowo's ethics on Akande's 85th birthday – Newstrends
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Olurode recounts Awolowo’s ethics on Akande’s 85th birthday

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Olurode recounts Awolowo’s ethics on Akande’s 85th birthday

‘Bis Akande is an exceptional politician’

A former National Commissioner with the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Lai Olurode, has extolling the starling qualities of an ex-Osun State governor, Chief Bisi Akande, as he turns 85.

In a statement, Olurode paid tribute to  Akande, saying he belongs to the Chief Obafemi Awolowo political school of thought with the core values of being blunt and uncompromising.

“This school of thought is not after power or political office for personal aggrandisement or power for its own sake. Power is only pursued as long as it can serve the purpose of alleviating human sufferings,” he stated.

Olurode, a retired professor of Sociology at the university of Lagos, also remarked that central to the political philosophy of the school is education used as a social good, which all must have access to regardless of placement within the social structure.

According to him, health, shelter, rural development and provision of employment opportunities deserve utmost attention, if governance must be purposive and responsible.’

A third element which Olurode alluded to is his disdain for flamboyance and political jamboree.

He said, “For Awolowo political school of thought, political campaigns shouldn’t be driven by money but by the efficacy and sophistication of policies and ideas placed before the electorates.

“The school of thought believes strongly that in the market of political goods, it would corner the most market, if not all, except it is cheated by corrupt people.
“And when Chief Bisi Akande had the opportunity to serve as first, Secretary to the government of old Oyo State under Chief Bola and later as the deputy governor, he was guided by those political ethics which gave more attention to governance and substantive issues in place of the type of cars that officials of the state ride in.
“When he was elected as the governor of Osun State in 1999, this ethical approach to governance blossomed.

“Akande, in the course of the political campaign for election as governor didn’t spend up to two hundred thousand naira. He drastically cut down on the cost of governance.

“For him, the office of the first lady had no place in Nigeria’s and he didn’t allow this constitutional aberration. No wonder, Akande, in just four years as the governor of Osun State built a colossal state secretariat which eradicated the practice of hiring apartments all over the state to accommodate government officials.

“During the commissioning of the architectural masterpiece, the then President Olusegun Obasanjo, marvelled as to how Akande was able to achieve the feat without borrowing.

“Had Akande been desperate for political office, he would have secured a ministerial post under President Muhammadu Buhari for free.”

According to Olurode, ‘”Akande is loyal to his political associates. Through thick and thin, and even after the death of Bola Ige, his loyalty to him didn’t whither.

“And throughout the hectic and marathon campaign travels and travails of the then Senator Bola Tinubu, Bisi Akande, in spite of advanced age, stood by him.

“This man is an exceptional politician, indeed, out of the run of the mill. He deserves all the encomiums in a country where politics isn’t really about principle and service but centres around a rapacious money culture.”

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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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