Setback for Labour party as NLC, TUC declare support for Tinubu, Sanwo- Olu – Newstrends
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Setback for Labour party as NLC, TUC declare support for Tinubu, Sanwo- Olu

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Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Babajide Sanwo-Olu

Organised Labour in Lagos State, yesterday, dumped Labour Party (LP) and all its candidates for the forthcoming general elections by declaring and mobilising support for All Progressives Congress (APC) and its candidates.

The workers’ union, under the umbrella of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC), Lagos State chapters at a rally, tagged: ‘Labour 4 Sanwo-Ou’  at the Police College, Ikeja declared their support for Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu re-election’s bid,  as well as other candidates of APC, contesting for elective posts.

Leader of NLC in the state, Agnes Funmilayo Sessi, who led her members to the rally, said yesterday was the first time labour unions in the state would come out to endorse the candidates of any political party.

She said the union had been sitting on the fence but now wants to take its faith in it hands by supporting Governor Sanwo-Olu’s second term re-election’s bid and other APC candidates, including, its presidential candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

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“Today’s not the day of making speeches, because before we came here, we all agreed. We had our congress and at the congress, we have done something very important. We only want to come and display it publicly. What we have done right in our house, let us show it to the world. This is the first time Labour in Lagos State will come out openly to support and endorse any candidate of any party. We have never done it before. but we are doing this because of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

“Some people might be surprised why we come out, we are not politicians. We have only been sitting on the fence but this time around, we want to be part of it so that we can be part of the government. We have come out with our full chests because this government has done good things for us.

“We are also endorsing Tinubu for president. We will vote for him”, she said. In the same vein, TUC Chairman, Gbenga Ekundayo, said: “There is no need beating about the bush. You have heard it well. Each time we meet Mr. Governor, he responds to us. Democracy is about inclusion. 

“We have tested Mr. Governor and we have found him to have listening ears and a large heart to accommodate us,.”

In his response, the governor pledged not to take for granted any support given for his re-election, as he would do much more than he has done in his first term, making lives of electorate and their children better.

“I want to thank all of you for this great endorsement. We will not take it for granted. What this tells us is that we must do a lot more. That’s when your lives and that of your children will be better. We will not disappoint you.

 “I want to recognise all the workers, including those in the private sector. This is Lagos, the centre of excellence. I want to say you have chosen well. You have come out in large number and I want to assure you we are coming back bigger, stronger and better for the people of Lagos State. We will ensure the value of your lives is not compromised.

  “I want to thank all of you for your endorsement. We will not take it for granted. What this tells us is that we must do a lot more. SUN

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Why I can’t form coalition with Peter Obi – Sowore

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Peter Obi and Omoyele Sowore

Why I can’t form coalition with Peter Obi – Sowore

Omoyele Sowore, the African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate in the 2023 election, recently shared his reasons for not forming a coalition with Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s candidate in the same election.

In his appearance on the Honest Bunch podcast, Sowore asserted that, in his view, Obi is similar to other Nigerian politicians, describing him as “better at packaging.”

Sowore explained that his own journey in politics began long before Obi gained national recognition, emphasizing his dedication to advocating for systemic change in Nigeria.

During the podcast, co-hosted by Nedu, Husband Material, Deity Cole, and Ezinne, Sowore highlighted his belief in challenging the status quo, which he feels differs significantly from Obi’s approach.

Sowore said, “Before you discovered Peter Obi, I was already running for president. All these shouts about Peter Obi… He just knows how to package. Anyone can do it.

“If I form a coalition with Peter Obi, I will be going against what I have always stood for, which is that I will never support a Nigerian leader who has held any political office — whether at the federal, state, or local level — if I consider them non-performing.

“It’s the same reason I would never have joined hands with Atiku. And the Peter Obi you’re talking about was a vice-presidential candidate to Atiku when I was a presidential candidate in 2019.

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“So, what are we talking about? There is no lesser evil in my book. If you are evil, you are evil. If you are good, you are good. I have a general disdain for non-performance.”

He added that there is no such thing as “emotional attachment” in his dictionary.

“There was a friend of mine who kept saying, he doesn’t care if Peter Obi is Igbo, but that it is the turn of the Igbos. But it is beyond that; I have a natural disdain for poor performance,” he explained.

Sowore insisted that while many may not know it, he knew Obi before and during his time as governor, and he backed him.

“I had always known and supported him and stood against his removal when (Olusegun) Obasanjo wanted to use Andy Ubah to replace him—the twists and turns then.

“However, when Peter Obi finished his term in Anambra, the question I asked him was whether he could send his child to any university he had built in Anambra—he was mute and could not respond.

“I also asked him if he could enter any hospital he built in Anambra, which he governed for eight years, even if it was for the slightest headache—there was also no response.”

Sowore went on to challenge the four anchors or any other Nigerians, saying, “If they can pack their bags and head to Anambra for a vacation.”

PUNCH Online reports that President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress recorded 8,794,726 votes in the 2023 presidential election, followed by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party who secured 6,984,520 votes.

In third place, Labour Party’s Obi garnered 6,101,533 votes, and Rabiu Kwankwaso of the New Nigeria Peoples Party secured 1,496,687 votes.

Why I can’t form coalition with Peter Obi – Sowore

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Why we want Jonathan to contest 2027 presidency – Northern group

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Goodluck Ebele Jonathan

Why we want Jonathan to contest 2027 presidency – Northern group

The Arewa Consensus for Jonathan, a political group in the North, has urged former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan to enter the 2027 presidential race.

Jonathan, who served as Nigeria’s president from 2010 to 2015, is widely regarded for his role in fostering democratic growth and his relatively peaceful exit from power after losing the 2015 election.
Despite his exit from politics, his name has remained a focal point in discussions about Nigeria’s future leadership.

The group’s leader, Munir Musa, who made the appeal during a press conference in Bauchi over the weekend, emphasised that Jonathan’s return to office was crucial to addressing Nigeria’s pressing economic and security challenges.

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He argued that Nigeria, grappling with severe economic downturns and rising security threats, needs a leader with Jonathan’s experience and competence to restore stability.

“The nation is at a crossroads, and we believe that Goodluck Jonathan is the right man to steer us out of the current malaise,” Musa told reporters.

He expressed confidence that Jonathan’s leadership could heal the country’s deepening wounds and usher in a new era of progress.

 

Why we want Jonathan to contest 2027 presidency – Northern group

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Afenifere, Council of Obas back Aiyedatiwa for Ondo gov

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Governor of Ondo State, Lucky Aiyedatiwa

Afenifere, Council of Obas back Aiyedatiwa for Ondo gov

Afenifere, the pan-Yoruba socio-political and cultural organization, has endorsed Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the November 16 governorship election in Ondo State.

Sehinde Arogbofa, a prominent Afenifere leader, announced the support at the Olubaka of Oka land palace, Oba Yusuf Adebori Adeleye.

Arogbofa expressed confidence in Aiyedatiwa’s leadership and encouraged him to follow the values and legacy of Chief Adekunle Ajasin, Ondo State’s first governor. “Afenifere stands firmly behind your mandate… Strive to make Ondo State great again,” Arogbofa said.

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Oba Adeleye, speaking on behalf of traditional rulers in Akoko South West Local Government Area, also endorsed Aiyedatiwa, citing his masses-focused policies and the governor’s initiative to allocate five percent of local government funds to traditional institutions as a demonstration of his commitment to their welfare.

“The Council of Obas has decided that Governor Aiyedatiwa is our candidate,” Oba Adeleye stated, pledging their support for Aiyedatiwa’s election campaign.

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