Politics

Yoruba elders to Tinubu: your victory in 2023 certain

Published

2 years ago

August 9, 2022

Presidential Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu

Yoruba elders yesterday threw their weight behind the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

They said the former Lagos State governor is eminently qualified to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari in next year’s election, assuring that he will make a difference as a leader.

To the elders, Tinubu has the pedigree and antecedent, having served credibly as a senator in the Third Republic and two-term governor of the Centre of Excellence.

The elders, under the aegis of the Yoruba Council of Elders (YCE), said Tinubu’s efforts at stabilising democracy in Nigeria were enough to earn him victory in 2023.

The council stated this in a communiqué after its quarterly meeting in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

The communiqué was signed by its Chairman, Mr Francis Akinikawe; Secretary, Chief Clement Fadipe; National Treasurer, Aremu Akindele and National Welfare Officer, Mrs Funmi Jabaru.

Also yesterday, the Southwest APC unfolded a comprehensive reconciliation plan for the six states in a bid to ensure unity and cohesion ahead of next year’s polls.

The APC Campaign Organisation spokesman and Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo, said Tinubu’s qualities and achievements make him an easy candidate to sell to the electorate.

Speaking on Arise TV programme, he described the APC flag bearer as a political and economic trailblazer and builder of men.

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A political group, the ‘ROT Like Minds,’ held special prayers in Lagos at the weekend for Tinubu’s success at the poll.

‘Tinubu a detrabalised Nigerian’

YCE described Tinubu as a destabilised Nigerian and a good leader, who ran an all-inclusive government during his tenure as Lagos State governor.

The group maintained that as the chief crusader of democracy in Nigeria, Tinubu stands for justice, fairness and national cohesion.

YCE said it was optimistic that Tinubu would tackle the myriad of problems facing Nigeria if elected president.

It added: “We believe that you are capable of leading the nation despite challenges of insecurity, economy downtown, and we know you can turn the nation for the better.

“We want the world to know that Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is a phenomenon in the world of politics.

“We are not against anyone’s group or aspirations but all we are saying is that Asiwaju is the right person for the job.

“He is the best man for the job at this period while our support for his candidacy’s burn out of his starling performances and track record of achievements over the years as fishers of men with just and equitable management of men and re-distribution of the available resources under his watch at every given opportunity.”

A political group, the ‘ROT Like Minds,’ on Sunday held special prayers in Lagos for the success of the APC presidential candidate and Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

The coordinator of the group, Mr Jimmy Akinboro, chaired the joint Islam and Christian special prayers.

Akinboro explained that ‘ROT Like Minds’ organised the prayers to seek spiritual intervention for the ambitions of Tinubu and Sanwo-Olu.

He said: “The group believes that Tinubu’s presidential ambition will become a reality by seeking the blessings of God.

“Tinubu is a trusted and tested leader who has touched lives and redefined leadership in and out of political positions.

“This is not the first time that this type of programme is being held.

“We have embarked upon this prayer session in honour of our principal and our mentor.

“This is because he has unfolded his ambition to become the president of the country by the grace of God.

“We are his foot soldiers and we are his loyalists. All of us have come under the banner of this group to organise this Christian and Muslim prayer session.

“We want to hand over all our affairs to God so that He can guide us and grant our request.

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“This is so that Tinubu can become president to continue to do what he knows how to do best, which is developing people and developing society.”

Southwest APC unfolds peace plans

The Southwest APC has unfolded what it described as a comprehensive reconciliation plan to foster unity and harmony in the six states ahead of the 2023 polls.

The Zonal Executive Committee, led by Isaacs Kekemeke, urged warring chieftains, particularly in Ogun, Osun and Oyo states, to sheathe their swords, show decorum and exhibit maturity.

The reconciliation agenda being proposed will encompass the setting up of ad-hoc committees to listen to grievances and visit by selected party elders and officers to the chapters to encourage aggrieved chieftains to subscribe to a truce.

Southwest governors are also expected to play a role in the efforts of the zone to put its house in order.

Kekemeke, who is the National Vice Chairman (Southwest), urged the gladiators to jettison personal interests for the collective interest of the party to triumph in the region at this critical time.

He urged the opposing camps in Ogun, led by Governor Dapo Abiodun and Senator Ibikunle Amosun, to cease fire and allow peace to reign in the chapter.

Kekemeke has also dissociated the zonal chapter from the aggrieved governorship contender in Oyo State, who has defected to other parties to contest.

The rift between Abiodun and Amosun deepened at the weekend as both leaders were locked in confrontation over the 2019 poll.

While Amosun said the governor was rigged into office because he never won the election, Abiodun returned the salvos, saying that the senator should desist from playing God.

Supporters of the governor and senator have also been engaged in a curious media war that has embarrassed the zonal and regional leadership of the party.

Also, in Osun, supporters of Governor Gboyega Oyetola and Interior Minister Rauf Aregbesola do not see eye to eye.

While the Aregbesola camp has called for the removal of Gboyega Famodun as chairman of the chapter, the governor’s camp said Famodun, who was properly elected during the state congress, cannot yield his position to Lowo Adebiyi, who belongs to the Aregbesola camp.

In Oyo, a post-primary crisis has ensued, following the emergence of Senator Teslim Folarin as governorship candidate.

An aggrieved aspirant, Adegoke Adelabu, has defected from the chapter to contest for governor on the platform of the Accord Party.

Also, the other two camps opposed to the candidate have not shown proof of any readiness to team up with him as the race is gathering momentum.

Party supporters who were confused over the protracted crises in the three chapters have urged the zonal leadership to urgently intervene to nip them in the bud.

Kekemeke said in a statement yesterday that there is no alternative to reconciliation and peace.

He said: “The Zonal Executive Committee of the All Progressives Congress in the Southwest has observed the brewing misunderstanding between some respected leaders/elders of our party in Ogun state.

“We grant that misunderstandings and quarrels are an essentially inevitable part of life and human organisations.

“However, it should be understood by all party compatriots that the Southwest zone can not afford any form of a dispute to fester; not at this time when all hands must be on deck to secure resounding electoral victory for Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and all other candidates of the party in the Zone during the forthcoming 2023 general elections.

“The party in the zone has already initiated actions to ensure that this family misunderstanding and others elsewhere in the Southwest are amicably resolved.

“I appeal to their Excellencies: Governor Abiodun and Senator Amosun to in the name of God and the interest of the party in the zone sheath their swords and direct their supporters to cease henceforth from making public statements that will further divide the party in Ogun state and the zone.

“I urge all party faithful in the state to remain steadfast, rest assured that, our party will emerge stronger and better.”

THE NATION

Politics

Damagun writes INEC to conduct by-election for 27 vacant Rivers assembly seats

Published

22 hours ago

November 26, 2024

Trends Admin

IIiya Umar Damagum

Damagun writes INEC to conduct by-election for 27 vacant Rivers assembly seats

Few days after governors on the platform of the Peoples Democracy Party (PDP) handed down an ultimatum for things to change in the party, the Acting National Chairman of the party, Umar Damagun has moved against the FCT Minister and his loyal lawmakers, the 27 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

Damagun in a letter addressed to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) dated 13th November 2024 and released on Sunday by the spokesperson of the Opposition Lawmakers Coalition, Ikenga Ugochinyere urged the electoral umpire to conduct a bye-election to fill up the 27 seats, they vacated to join the All Progressives Congress, APC.

Wike has been accused of being behind the crisis in the PDP over his disagreement with the Rivers State governor, Sim Fubara, his successor.

The crisis which started over control of resources divided the party in the state with 27 lawmakers in the state assembly siding Wike and defected to the APC following Wike’s acceptance to serve in the government of the APC.

He has also been accused of working in cahoots with Damagun to damage the PDP by not organising the National Executive Committee which would lead to the acting Chairman’s ouster.

After a series of agitation, the latest being from the PDP Governors’ Forum over the weekend, Damagun has demanded that INEC conduct elections as soon as possible, apparently moving against the FCT minister.

He argued in letter titled, ‘DEMAND FOR IMMEDIATE CONDUCT OF FRESH ELECTION IN 27 STATE CONSTITUENCIES OF RIVERS STATE WHICH HAVE BECOME VACANT PURSUANT TO SECTION 109(1)(g) OF THE CONSTITUTION’ that it’s “unlawful” for the 27 members to defect.

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The members defected to the APC on December 11, 2023.

Damagun said, going by provisions of the Constitution, the lawmakers are no longer members of the Assembly.

The PDP acting chairman therefore urged the Commission to perform its constitutional duties and begin the process of conducting fresh elections to fill the vacancies created in the 27 state constituencies by the unlawful act of the former Assembly members.

Parts of the letter read, “The Leadership of our great party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) wishes to draw the attention of the Commission to the gross violation of Section 109 (1)(g) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) by 27 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly following their unlawful defection from our Party, the PDP who sponsored their elections to the All Progressive Congress (APC) on Monday, December 11, 2023.

“The Commission may recall that our Party, the PDP nominated all our 32 State House of Assembly candidates in Rivers State for the 2023 General Election on the 7th of July 2022 via your electronic candidate election nomination portal (See attached acknowledgement).

“The Commission may also recall that following the nomination, the Commission conducted election into the Rivers State House of Assembly on the 18th of March, 2023 and our Party won 32 seats in the state Assembly. The elected State House of Assembly members were inaugurated and sworn-in on June, 2023.

“However, on Monday, 11 December, 2023 a period of just six (6) months after inauguration, 27 out of the 32 members publicly announced their defection from our Party to the All Progressive Congress (APC). This defection is a gross violation of Section 109(1)(g) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (As amended).

“The only two grounds of division and merger provided for in the Constitution that permit such defection are completely non-existent in our political Party. It therefore means that the defections of the 27 members are without lawful excuse and these members have vacated their seats in the Rivers State House of Assembly by the operations of Section 109(1)(g) of the 1999 Constitution.

“In view of the foregoing, we hereby demand that the Commission performs its constitutional duties and begin the process of conducting a Fresh Election to fill the vacancies created in the 27 State Constituencies by the unlawful act of the Assembly members. Find attached the list of the 27 State Assembly Members and their Constituencies.

“While thanking the Commission for its commitment to deepening democracy in our country, please accept the assurances of our highest regards.”

Damagun writes INEC to conduct by-election for 27 vacant Rivers assembly seats

Politics

Nigeria would have been better under Peter Obi, too much nepotism under Tinubu – Senator Abaribe

Published

1 day ago

November 26, 2024

Trends Admin

Nigeria would have been better under Peter Obi, too much nepotism under Tinubu – Senator Abaribe

Nigeria would have been better than what it is currently if Peter Obi, candidate of the Labour Party (LP), had won the 2023 elections, the senator representing Abia South, Enyinnaya Abaribe, has said.

Abaribe, who spoke on ‘Politics Today,’ a Channels Television programme, on Monday, said Obi would not have been as nepotistic as the administration of President Bola Tinubu.

“Number one, he would not be as nepotistic as this government; he won’t; it’s not in him. That is just who we are; we feel for the other people.”

The lawmaker called attention to Tinubu’s appointment of four ministers from Ogun alone, noting that many other states have just one.

“I say it, and I don’t think so. We are seeing it everyday. I just gave you one example. How can Ogun state have four ministers? Why does he favour Ogun state? Oyo state has only one minister,” Abaribe said.

”The nepotism of Buhari, which nobody followed, has now deepened under President Tinubu because Buhari did it, and nobody said much. I was the only person shouting.”

He said that rather than waiting for presidents to be fair to the people of the south-east, it is high time people of the zone went back to revamp it, make it more livable, better, and more cohesive.

“It’s obvious that if we continue to look at whoever becomes president, they will look at us and do us right. Apart from Obasanjo and maybe Jonathan, I do not think that we have seen that same type of fairness,” he said.

Politics

Lagos 2027: Seyi Tinubu campaign team releases his life documentary

Published

2 days ago

November 25, 2024

Trends Admin

Seyi Tinubu

Lagos 2027: Seyi Tinubu campaign team releases his life documentary

Seyi Tinubu, son of President Bola Tinubu, has been tipped for the seat of Lagos governor in the 2027 governorship election.

This was according to a video making the rounds on various social media platforms, which Peoples Gazette saw on Sunday.

The video highlights the president’s son’s biography, focusing on his education, career, and humanitarian activities as a Nigerian. It also documents his involvement in youth development in the country.

This biopic comes on the heels of some groups’ endorsements of Mr Tinubu’s son as a potential successor to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu in 2027.

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On Tuesday, the Coalition of Nigerian Youth Leaders issued an endorsement in Owerri, Imo, suggesting that the younger Tinubu would be welcomed to contest the governorship seat in Osun or Imo.

He was also endorsed by Friends of Seyi, a group emphasising his vision and intellectual wherewithal to govern the country’s commercial nerve.

APC chieftain Joe Igbokwe, however, described the gale of endorsements as a ploy to undermine the president in a Facebook post.

“Who are these faceless people pushing Seyi Tinubu for Lagos governor? This is a needless distraction,” said Mr Igbokwe. “To pull PBAT down is their target. Ruling Lagos is not the job of boys.”