Category: Politics

The spokesman of the Labour Party Presidential Campaign Council, Kenneth Okonkwo, has confirmed the conversation between the party’s candidate, Peter Obi, and the founder of the Living Faith Church Worldwide [Winners’ Chapel], Bishop David Oyedepo, in a leaked audio tape.

In the audio conversation which was reportedly held on the eve of the presidential election, the former Anambra State governor can be heard imploring Oyedepo to help pass messages to Christians across the South-West as well as those in the North Central states of Kwara, Kogi, and Niger.

“Daddy, I need you to speak to your people in the South-West and Kwara, the Christians in the South-West and Kwara,” Obi said in the audio obtained by The Gazette.

You’d recall that the Labour Party standard-bearer had been caught in a video clip before the election in which he asked Christian leaders to take back their country.

He also repeated the same sentiment in the leaked conversation when he told the man of God that “This is a religious war,” to which Oyedepo replied, “I believe that, I believe that, I believe that.”

“Like I keep saying: if this works, you people will never regret the support,” Obi pressed on while sobering about the difficulty to penetrate Christians in places like Kogi, Kwara and Niger states.

But, Oyedepo promised to circulate more messages to Christians on Obi’s behalf and said “We look forward to God’s intervention.”

The audio tape has generated several reactions on social media, especially from supporters of the ruling party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) who accused the Labour Party candidate of deploying dangerous religious rhetorics capable to further polarise the nation.

Reacting to the development, Okonkwo, who confirmed that the leaked audio was a conversation between his principal and Oyedepo, blamed opposition parties of trying to spin the content of the tape.

In a series of tweets on his Twitter page on Sunday, April 2, 2023, the Nollywood actor argued that Obi was simply urging the Bishop to help him push his messages to his people.

His tweets read: “In a telephone conversation leaked to Peoples Gazette, Peter Obi begged Bishop David Oyedepo to help canvass Christian votes on the eve of Nigeria’s presidential election. Religion became central to the campaign after Bola Tinubu tapped a fellow Muslim running mate in a nation making a religious statement.

“Firstly, the context of the conversation was aptly put by Bishop Oyedepo when he said “All Nigerians have equal stake in this nation, nobody has the right to claim that he is dashing something to someone”.

“HE @PeterObi e was simply urging the Bishop to help him push this message of equal stake of all Nigerians in the Nigerian project to his people and the christiandom because the politicians of the other party is carrying on this campaign as if it is a religious war.

“To drive home this point, he informed him that he visited the traditional ruler of Offa, the Olofa of Offa, who is a Muslim, but who advised Obi to get the support of Oyedepo and be assured of his own support. No Politician has ever visited the Olofa of Offa.

“It is clear to everybody that the APC political party that has a Presidential Candidate, Vice Presidential Candidate, Senate President, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, National Chairman of the Party all from one religion at a time the CJN is a Muslim is the Party that has declared religious war on Nigerians and we must all rise up together to fight this unconstitutional act of religious intolerance of other religions by APC.

“I went around with Obi on campaign train and never saw him discriminate against any religion. Of course he can’t because his Vice is a Muslim unlike APC. I resigned from APC because of their religious intolerance. Nigerians should disregard any insinuation of religious bigots about this tape.”

Social Democratic Party, SDP has Suspended it Gubernatorial Candidate in Oyo State, Mr Michael lana and the Party Secretary Mr Idowu Owokoya for anti-party activities.

31st March, 2023

The National Chairman,

Social Democratic Party Headquarters,

No 17, Nairobi Street,

Wuse II, Abuja.

Dear Sir,​

SUSPENSION OF MR FOLORUNSHO LANA AND MR IDOWU OWOKOYA AS A MEMBER OF SDP IN OYO STATE AND AS A STATE SECRETARY RESPECTIVELY.

I wish to bring to your attention of the meeting held
OYO STATE CHAPTER

today 31st March, 2023 in our state office, Oyo State.

​​The meeting comprising members of state executives and the local government chairmen.

After reviewing the activities of Mr folorunsho Lana, the gubernatorial candidates in the just concluded general election and the secretary of the party during and after the elections, the whole house resolved as follows:

1. That Mr folorunsho Lana be suspended from the party for anti-party activities. No substantial contribution to the party.

2.​The state secretary of the party Mr IdowuOwokoya be suspended for indiscipline, insubordination and dropping the name of the national secretary to destabilize the party.

In line with party constitution, we therefore wish to forward the resolution of the party for your office approval to suspend both Mr folorunsho Lana and Idowu Owokoya.

The party also resolved that Ajibola Adeniyi of Lagelu local government under the oyo central secretarial district to replace Idowu Owokoya inacting capacity.

Thanking you in anticipation for cooperation sir.

Note that the signatures of members in attendance is hereby attached.

Yours faithfully,

Okunlade Michael

OFFICE OF THE CHAIRMAN: 08033796111

Chairman, Oyo State

Osun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has carpeted Osun state All Progressives Congress (APC) over its comments on the March salary, declaring that the state APC is financially illiterate, hence its gullible reaction on the state’s finance.

Governor Adeleke is a leader who has kept every promise he made to the people of Osun state. Widely named “a talk and do Governor,” Governor Adeleke’s popularity has moved from 70 percent to over 90 percent in the last three months. His job approval rating is beyond 80 percent. APC rating is below 10 percent, as evidenced by recent surveys and outcome of recent elections.

Osun state workers understand the imperative of the delay from last week as it was meant to serve their interest to ensure payment of their long-awaited promotion arrears, which the last APC government denied them. They know they will soon start receiving alerts from Monday.

Workers across the sector are appreciative of Governor Ademola Adeleke’s innovative and shrewd handling of state’s finance, which addresses the basic needs of the people and attends to the critical infrastructural needs of the state.

After failing for four years to pay the promotion arrears, contributory pensions and the half salary of workers in Osun state, the APC is shamed by the sterling records of Adeleke’s administration which include clearing all the messy legacy of the previous government. This explains its unfounded vituperations and false alarm on Osun finance.

I want to assure the shameless APC leadership that the Adeleke administration is managing Osun resources very judiciously with the best interest of the people at heart. PDP Government is not a sadist led government of Gboyega Oyetola, which thrived in human wickedness and man’s inhumanity to man.

The PDP government met a state already run aground by the APC but is now with ingenuity taking the state out of doldrums by focusing on human development, revival of abandoned infrastructure and delivery of urgent social services like water and health services.

Osun APC peopled by men and women of wicked characters boldly rejected by the people of Osun state should apologize to Osun people for the years of locust it foisted on the state and learn lessons of good governance from a Governor who had done more for the people under three months than the four years of Oyetola in power.

The Eze Igbo of Ajao Estate in Lagos State, Fredrick Nwajagu, has been arrested hours after thr£atening to invite members of the proscribed group, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) to the state to secure properties of a certain tribe.

Nwajagu was arrested by a combined team of police and DSS in the early hours of Saturday, April 1.

Speaking in a video that went viral on Friday, March 31, Nwajagu thr£atened to invite members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) to Lagos State, adding that the move became necessary in the wake of attacks on some a certain tribe in the state.

He said: “IPOB, we will invite them. They have no job. All of the IPOB will protect all of our shops. And we have to pay them. We have to mobilize for that. We have to do that. We must have our own security so that they will stop attacking us at midnight, in the morning, and in the afternoon.

When they discover that we have our own security, before they come, they will know that we have our own men there. I am not saying a single word to be hidden. I am not hiding my words; let my words go viral. We must get their rights and get standing in Lagos State.”

Subsequently, the police and DSS went after Nwajagu in a midnight raid but he had already fled his palace. He was later traced to a hotel in Ejigbo where he was arrested.

The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at its meeting today, Thursday, March 30, 2023 extensively discussed recent developments in the Party.

The party quoted in a statement made available to newsmen today by the Publicity Secretary of the Party, Debo Ologunagba as read in part:

“The NWC recognized the imperativeness of a total reconciliation among Party leaders and critical stakeholders for a more cohesive Party in the overall interest of our teeming members and Nigerians in general.

“Consequent upon the above, the NWC reverses the referral of the Governor of Benue State, His Excellency, Dr. Samuel Ortom to the National Disciplinary Committee.

“The NWC in the same vein reverses the suspension of the following underlisted members of our great Party:

1. H.E Ibrahim Shema (Katsina State)
2. Ayodele Fayose (Ekiti State)
3. Sen. Pius Anyim (Ebonyi State)
4. Prof. Dennis Ityavyar (Benue State)
5. Dr. Aslam Aliyu (Zamfara State)

“This decision is without prejudice to the powers of the NWC to take necessary disciplinary action against any member of the Party at any time pursuant to the provisions of the Constitution of the PDP (as amended in 2017).

“The NWC charges all leaders, critical stakeholders and teeming members of our Party across the country to be guided by the provisions of the PDP Constitution (as amended in 2017) as well as the new spirit and necessity of reconciliation, unity and harmony in our Party at this critical time.

“The PDP must remain focused as we continue to take every necessary action to recover the stolen mandate freely given by Nigerians to our Party and Presidential Candidate, Atiku Abubakar, on Saturday February 25, 2023, at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal.

The 32 elected lawmakers representing their various constituencies at the Oyo State House of Assembly had on yesterday received the certificates of return from Independent National Electoral Commission INEC.

The presentation which was done earlier today at the International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan had several guests from traditional rulers, religious leaders, the governor of the state and all elected 32 lawmakers in attendance.

The elected lawmakers were called according to their constituencies to collect the certificates before they were asked to return to their various seats.

Governor Makinde was also presented his certificate of return by the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr. Rahmon Adeniran Tella.

The REC Chairman, Dr. Rahman Tella while speaking enjoined all the elected lawmakers to be magnanimous in victory and ensure that they keep to their electioneering campaign promises.

The Leader of the pan-Yoruba socio-political organization, Afenifere, Chief Reuben Famuyide Fasoranti, OFR, has dissociated the organization from the Communique purportedly issued after a meeting that held on Tuesday, March 27, at Isanya Ogbo, Ogun State because of the content of the said document.

In a release he personally signed, The Leader stated that being a law abiding organization, Afenifere could not have asserted that someone, other than the person declared by the body duly authorized by the Constitution and other extant laws of the land, is the winner of the presidential election held on February 25, 2023 in Nigeria.

The Communique also announced the removal and suspension of two officials of the organization, Abagun Kole Omololu and Comrade Jare Ajayi “pending further decisions after their appearance before and recommendations by the Disciplinary Committee’. Meaning that the two were pronounced guilty and consequently sanctioned even before their appearance before a Disciplinary Committee.

But in his statement, Afenifere Leader, maintained that the organization is not against the election of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu whom he personally blessed and anointed on October 30, 2022 before the whole world. “How then would we turn round and condemn the election of such a person? We never did so.”

He also declared as null and void, the purported removal and suspension of both Ajayi and Omololu.

It would be recalled that Pa Fasoranti, as The Leader, in 2021, appointed Chief Ayo Adebanjo as Acting Leader and Oba Oladipo Olaitan as deputy Leader.

Following is the Text of Pa Fasoranti’s statement:
“My attention has been drawn to the Communique purportedly issued after a meeting that held on Tuesday, March 27, at Isanya Ogbo, Ogun State. This statement is being issued because of the content of the said document.

Section 2.02 of the document claims that “the results of the lawful votes at the Presidential election available to the Afenifere through credible sources confirm that Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, won the said election”.

Afenifere could not have asserted that someone, other than the person declared by the body duly authorized by the Constitution and other extant laws of the land, is the winner of the presidential election held on February 25, 2023 in Nigeria.

The body mandated to conduct elections in Nigeria, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), after the completion of this year’s presidential election on February 25th, has declared the candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu as the winner of the said election. Our National Publicity Secretary of Afenifere, Comrade Jare Ajayi, issued a congratulatory message to the President-elect after he had been issued a Certificate of Return by INEC. This was cited as an ‘uncouth activity’ by the Communique mentioned above which further stated that Abagun and Ajayi were ‘suspended sine die pending further decisions after their appearance before and recommendations by the Disciplinary Committee’. Meaning that the two were pronounced guilty and consequently sanctioned even before their appearance before a Disciplinary Committee.

That is not the Afenifere way. A General Meeting does not have the power to convene and take such a far-reaching decision just at the whims of individuals.

There must have been an official petition laid at the Caucus Meeting, which is referred to the Disciplinary Committee that will investigate and give the officers involved the opportunity to plead their cases. Reports and recommendations are then received by the Leaders-in-Council who then take a decision on the Report with The Leader before reverting to the Caucus in communication. This fiat approach as seen in the current situation is alien to our organisation and cannot stand.

On the assertion that someone else other than the person declared by INEC as winner of the presidential election.

This type of position is alien to us in Afenifere which does not conduct itself as an agent of the state let alone as an electoral umpire. We accept the results of the elections at all levels as declared by INEC until otherwise decided by competent courts in the land.

Presently, the whole world knows that Nigeria has a President-elect in person of Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu, a true Yoruba son and nationalist. We in Afenifere not only acknowledge this, we take delight in his in-coming Presidency and are confident that he will, by the grace of God, return Nigeria to the glorious position that all of us will be proud of.”

Tinubu is a focused, highly disciplined person who is very adept in organization and in administering people. Based on his antecedent, we have no doubt at all that under his leadership, Nigeria will breathe a new lease of life that will soon make her one of the nations of the world that are respected and admired.

The whole world is aware that I personally blessed and anointed Ahmed Bola Tinubu on October 30, 2022 in the presence of notable people from all parts of Yorubaland right here in my place in Akure. How can we then turn round and condemn the election of such a person? We never did so.”

I also read in the said Communique, the purported removal and suspension of the National Publicity Secretary and the National Organising Secretary of the organization in persons of Comrade Jare Ajayi and Abagun Kole Omololu.

“At no time was any of these officials reported to me as doing anything against what Afenifere stands for or doing anything against the interests of our race, the Yoruba.

Thus, at no time was I informed that they were queried, warned or sanctioned for conducting themselves in a manner contrary to what Afenifere or the Yorubas stand for.

“Being an organization that believes in justice and fairness, being an organization that always maintains that those at the helms of affairs should follow the rule of law, Afenifere, our organization, cannot just wake up and pronounce some officials removed and suspended without telling them what their offences are and without giving them the opportunities to defend themselves.

“Such a step is not only against natural justice; it is also in clear defiance of the law of the land. Afenifere believes in the rule of law and in the fundamental rights of all, including right to fair hearing. For these and other reasons, the purported removal and suspension are null and void. The two officials should be commended rather than condemned for the selfless services they are rendering to Afenifere, to the Yoruba race and to Nigeria and humanity. They are hereby so commended”.

I seize this opportunity to congratulate the President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu on his 71st birthday and to wish him many more years, nay decades, in good health and more meritorious service to our land and to humanity.

I called on all our people to co-operate with the Buhari administration for its remaining period so that we can have a smooth transition on May 29, this year. Such co-operation should be extended to the in-coming ad

The Department of State Services has confirmed a plot by some key players to install an interim government and stop President-elect, Bola Tinubu from being inaugurated on May 29th.

In a statement on Wednesday, Peter Afunanya, the public relations officer of the secret police, said: “The Department of State Services (DSS) has identified some key players in the plot for an Interim Government in Nigeria.

“The Service considers the plot, being pursued by these entrenched interests, as not only an aberration but a mischievous way to set aside the constitution and undermine civil rule as well as plunge the country into an avoidable crisis.

“The illegality is totally unacceptable in a democracy and to the peace-loving Nigerians. This is even more so that the machination is taking place after the peaceful conduct of the elections in most parts of the country.”

Former deputy national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Bode George said that he does not hate the president-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu and that when he lost his son, Tinubu wrote a beautiful letter to him.

Chief Bode George made the statement in an interview with Arise News during the Morning Show program and Reuben Abati asked him that now that the President-elect has called for an inclusive government, will he go if Tinubu invites him to Abuja for the inauguration on May 29 and congratulate him.

Chief Bode George first said that Reuben Abati tickled him with the question, however. He said that he will not go to the celebration because it is not his party.

Bode George added that he does not hate Tinubu as a person and that as a Christian, he does not have right to hate anybody. In fact he said that when he lost his son, Tinubu wrote a beautiful letter to him, so he does not hate him as individual but if he invites him to Abuja, he will not go.

“…If Tinubu invite me, I won’t go because it is not my party and you know it will be party celebration but let me say this, Bola is not my enemy, I don’t hate him as a human being, I have no right to hate anybody. When I lost my so he wrote me a beautiful letter but we are talking about issues that affect our nation. That’s all”

The Attorney General of the State and Commissioner for Justice, Prof Oyelowo Oyewo, SAN, has addressed the issue of garnishee order of the court on its Local Government accounts.

He said: “The state is not in disobedience of the court order.

“Out of N4.2b, we have paid N1.5bn and we were also in the process of paying. But because of the cash swap policy, that disrupted our plans, so, the finances were disrupted and we could not.

“We are not in disobedience of the Court and we are going to go to the court, and also we observed that the Federal Capital Territory does not have jurisdiction on that matter, but these are matters that will be brought before the court.

“Oyo State is amenable to instalmental payment and even the judgements that were given during Ajimobi’s administration, we are still paying them. The obligation that the payment has is spread across the spectrum.

“At the end of the day, the court will give a hearing and we are amenable to instalmental payment and we are still going to go to court and quash the order.”