Category: Politics

Aisha Buhari, the First Lady of Nigeria, has sent out invitations to aspirants gunning for the presidency of the country in the different political parties to show up for a Ramadan dinner with her on Saturday, April 23.

According to the invitation card, the presidential aspirants are expected to present their invitation cards at the gate of the venue otherwise they may be turned back.

The presidential aspirants were also instructed to leave their phones behind when coming for the dinner.

“Please, bring this card with you. Phones are not allowed,” stated the invite.

The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) currently has about 8 presidential aspirants.

Former governor of Lagos State and National Leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu broke the ice in January and declared his intention to run for the presidency when he visited Aisha’s husband, Muhammadu Buhari at the Aso Villa, Abuja.

The Governor of Ebonyi State, Dave Umahi, followed suit, and in a similar fashion, visited Buhari to inform him of his intention to run for the coveted number one position in the country.

It did not take long for others like a former governor of Abia State, Senator Orji Kalu; ex-governor of Imo State, Senator Rochas Okorocha; Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State; and Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, to declare their interest in the presidency on the platform of the APC.

Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo has also joined the race.

Those who have declared for the top position on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) include the governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal; a United States-based medical doctor, Nwachukwu Anakwenze; media entrepreneur and publisher, Dele Momodu; Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike; Investment banker and economist, Mohammed Hayatu-Deen; former governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi; Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Udom Emmanuel and a Pharmacist, Sam Ohuabunwa.

Others are former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar; former Senate President, Bukola Saraki; former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim and the Governor of Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed, as well as the only female aspirant in the race, Oliver Tareila Diana.

However, this directive will not apply to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and governors and ministers who are expected to be at the meeting.

The ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo state has thrown its weight behind the state Governor, Seyi Makinde, on his pronouncement to probe the last administration with the aim of retrieving public funds looted from the state coffers.

It would be recalled that Governor Makinde had last week, while featuring on a Live radio program in Ibadan had declared that his Government will not leave any stone unturned to retrieve every Kobo stolen from Oyo purse during the last administration of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Oyo state PDP in a statement on Thursday April 21 by the State Publicity Secretary of the party, Akeem Olatunji, said the party is disturbed by what it described as unwarranted kid gloves treatment of the matter by the state Governor for almost three years since inception of the present administration.

It would also be recalled that the ruling party has at different times in the past called on Governor Makinde to set machineries in motion to probe the last government of APC in the state with the aim of retrieving all public funds diverted into private purse as well as all misappropriated monies.

The Oyo state PDP wondered why the state government has yet to commence probing of the last government despite the pronouncement to do so saying that no sentimental coloration should be attached to the probe move.

The ruling party also noted that in the face of clarity, the last APC government did an extrensive probe and prosecution of a previous government of former Governor Rashidi Ladoja before it until the Court of law gave a final ruling on it.

The party urged Governor Seyi Makinde to as a matter of urgency and necessity commence the probe in order to retrieve stolen public funds and monies misappropriated under the APC government from 2011–2019.

The statement reads partly, “we are still bewildered as a political party as to why the Governor, His Excellency, Engr Seyi Makinde has continued to show undeserved leniency to those who have made pensioners, retirees and even civil servants in the state to suffer undeserved and untold hardship as a result of deliberate denial of their legitimate rights after serving the state meritoriously.

“We want to state it unequivocally clear that probing the last APC administration will be the only elixir that can heal the wounded hearts of all those who have lost their loved ones to the cold hands of death as a result of denied rights and benefits after many years of active service in the state civil service.

“It is of note that apart from brazen misappropriation and diversion of public funds under the last APC government which runs into several billions of naira, civil servants who were then in active service and others still in active service before the emergence of the PDP led Government were made to suffer unjust treatment even across ministries and government parastatals.

“The fifty billion Health Endowment funds that was either diverted to private purse or misappropriated is yet to be accounted for. The sudden and questionable wealth acquired by many officials who served under the last APC government can not be allowed to be swept under the carpet.

“We are optimistic that Governor Makinde will by reason of posterity and justice to every resident and citizen of Oyo who hold his personality and reputation in the highest esteem immediately set machineries with the view to retrieving every stolen Kobo from the coffers of the state between 2011 and 2019 while assuring the state government of our maximum and unreserved cooperation and support in the entire probe process.”

The Osinbajo Support Movement has accused Tinubu’s supporters of being behind the recent posters in some parts of the FCT referring to the vice president as a ‘betrayer’

The pro-Osinbajo group said phone records of the printer suggests he has been conversing with members of the Tinubu Support Group based in the Nigerian capital city.

Details later.

The apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has described as untrue the statement credited to Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrosheed Adewale Akanbi, that the Igbo cannot be trusted with the office of the Nigerian presidency.

Ohanaeze noted that Oba Akanbi’s attack on the Igbo was not based on any verifiable evidence but rather on self-serving interests.

Oba Akanbi had, in a statement issued through his Chief Press Secretary, Alli Ibraheem, said that “no Nigerian will feel secure in the hands of a leader whose ethnic attachment deprived other Nigerians of their rights”.

He further accused the Igbo of “preventing people from the other parts of the country from acquiring properties in their domain”, adding that “the style by the Southeasterners is barbaric”.

Reacting to the allegations on Tuesday, Ohanaeze President General, Prof. George Obiozor, described the accusations as untrue, and advised Oba Akanbi to “undergo some tutelage under some more experienced cosmopolitan urbane intelligent monarchs”, stating that a well-adjusted traditional ruler is known by being open-minded towards all, especially people of other ethnic groups that may be found in his domain.

Obiozor in a statement issued through the National Publicity Secretary of Ohanaeze, Chief Alex Ogbonnia, said, “It is self-evident that Nigeria is a beleaguered country that urgently needs nation-building; inflammatory and incendiary remarks from monarchs and the highly placed are antithetical to peace and unity of Nigeria.

“In promoting his preferred candidate, he has committed a fallacy of hasty generalisation when he stated that ‘the style by southeasterners is barbaric; the Igbo cannot be trusted with power’, among others.

“Surely, such prejudice, innuendo and vitriolic group vilifications against the entire Igbo nation is most unreflective of a royal father whose primary duty is to sow seeds of unity in his kingdom and beyond. For the avoidance of doubt, the Igbo are adventurous nation builders; they are found in all parts of Nigeria and beyond.

“The wild claims that the Igbo prevent people from the other parts of the country from acquiring properties in their domain or have an obnoxious policy of depriving other Nigerians of their rights cannot be substantiated. On the other hand, it is inconceivable that a group that builds modern houses in all parts of the country will prevent other ethnicities from building in their homestead.

“One would think that the morbid fabrication of falsehood is terrible mischief, only for the uninitiated. What else? Oba Akanbi is drawn to his paradox, where he acknowledged the damage done to the Igbo during the Nigerian civil war and at the same time condemning the agitation by Igbo youth, such as the ESN for their clamour for inclusiveness based on equity and justice after about 53 years of the Nigerian Civil War,” the statement read in part.

Leader of Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, has said that presidential aspirants from the South-West geopolitical zone including Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and former Lagos State Governor, Bola Tinubu, should forget their presidential ambitions.

He said it was the turn of the South-East to produce Nigeria’s next President after the regime of the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), in May 2023.

The elder statesman made his position known in an exclusive interview with The PUNCH on Tuesday.

According to him, it is an injustice for a South-West President to emerge in 2023 after ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo from Ogun State had ruled from 1999 to 2007; while Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, also from Ogun State, has been in government since May 2015 and would have spent eight years in power by May 2023.

The 94-year old elder statesman added that the South-South zone has also had a shot at both President and Vice-President positions with ex-President Goodluck Jonathan between 2007 and 2010 (as VP) and from 2010 to 2015 (as President).

Adebanjo, however, said for Nigeria to have another President, the country must first be secured.

The nonagenarian said, “Right now, is there a country for them to be President? There must be one country first before you can talk of an election. Is this the country Jonathan handed over to Buhari? Whether a Southern or a Northern candidate, let us unite everyone. We can’t get everyone united until we change this constitution.

“Are you safe? Talk about security. How am I sure that I won’t be shocked when I go to the police station, when electoral officers, soldiers, and policemen are being shot dead and I can’t travel to Maiduguri safely?

“All those who are clamouring for Presidency, be it Jagaban (Tinubu) or Osinbajo, they should assure us of our safety first, that the country is safe, that we are one, then we talk of who is going to be President. They should forget about their ambitions now until there is safety. Nobody can go to the South-East now, and we are all living in denial.”

Asked if he was supporting Tinubu, Osinbajo, or any President from the South-West, the Afenifere leader said, “How can I back a South-West candidate? That is not equity. Has Obasanjo not done so for eight years? Has Osinbajo not done eight years as VP? Has Jonathan not done five years as President? Is the South-East not part of Nigeria?

“We want peace and equity. It is the turn of the South-East. I don’t talk ambiguously. It is the South-East that the thing must go; there is no doubt about that but my anxiety now is that before we say, South-East, have we got a country? Let us settle that before we say the South-East is the answer. I am not ambivalent about it at all.”

He is entitled to his opinion, say VP, ex-Lagos gov’s camps

Pro-Tinubu and pro-Osinbajo groups have however expressed their disagreements with the statement made by the Afenifere leader.

Meanwhile, the chairman of the pro-Tinubu group, South West Agenda 2023 group, Senator Adedayo Adeyeye, said the rotation principle of the presidency is between the North and South of the country.

He said, “Chief Adebanjo is our leader and a man I respect. He is now in his 90s and has paid his own dues; we are their followers and we are also entitled to our own views and our view is that Asiwaju Bola Tinubu should go ahead and contest the presidency.

“The rotation principle in Nigeria is between the North and the South and whenever it rotates to any of the regions, whether South or North, every of the geopolitical zones in that region are free to contest the presidency. Now, it is the turn of the South and we absolutely believe that anybody in the South, including those from the South-West, are free to throw their hats into the ring and challenge for the presidency.

“This is exactly what Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is doing and he is enjoying tremendous support not only in the South-West which is his own base, but throughout the entire length and breadth, nook and cranny of Nigeria and therefore, no person will sit in one corner and say Asiwaju Bola Tinubu should forget his presidential ambition. Certainly, he will contest for the presidency.”

The Convener, Progressive Lawyers for Osinbajo, Dr Kayode Ajulo, also explained that the opinion of Adebanjo does not indicate the position of the Afenifere group.

He said, “The Presidency of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is not about making emotive statements. I know that if Afenifere wants to say anything, it has to be decided on. Afenifere is not a conclave of what people don’t know what is being done there. The way we have been doing it is that the issue would be deliberated upon by Afenifere and there would be a communique collectively passed. I ask, where is the communiqué of Afenifere saying this?

“For some time now, I have not seen such things from Afenifere. I have not received any notification to this effect and no one else has confirmed receiving any invitation. Baba Adebanjo is entitled to his opinion. But where is Baba Reuben Fasoranti? Where is Baba Sehinde Arogbofa? Where is Chief Sola Ebiseni? Where is Olu Falae’s opinion on this issue? This is not an issue that only one person will just make a sweeping remark. Where did these men deliberate on this issue?

“I am worried that it is being termed Afenifere’s position. Afenifere has procedures, ways and manners such an issue is to be discussed. As it is, I see more of Chief Ayo Adebanjo’s personal opinion which he is entitled to, but please it is clear how the President of Nigerians should emerge.”

The Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrosheed Adewale Akanbi, has declared that he can trust any Southeasterner to be the President of Nigeria.

His stand is coming at a time the South-East is demanding for a Nigerian President of Igbo extraction, on the basis of equity.

He noted that the sit-at-home order issued by the members of the Eastern Security Network (ESN) was not only inimical to their survival but also to the growth of the nation.

Oba Abdulrosheed also advocated for a rethink by the South Easterners to their approach.

The monarch held that no Nigerian will feel secured in the hands of a leader whose ethnic attachment deprived other Nigerians their rights.

In a statement through Alli Ibraheem, his Chief Press Secretary, the Oluwo stated that the failure of the South Easterners to change their approach will amount to chasing shadow on their political journey of producing Nigeria’s President.

While acknowledging the damage done to Igbos by the Nigerian civil war, he enjoined the south easterners to rescind on their attitude of barring people from other parts of the country from owning properties in their domain.

He insisted that the policy was not only detrimental to their political strength, but also a deficit to the economic unity of Nigeria.

According to him, “The civil war wounds meted on south easterners is a weak factor to institutionalize policies capable of tearing the nation apart.

“I have people from across Nigeria in Iwo, including the South Easterners. They do not only have their businesses but also built their houses and own farm lands. Such is not only peculiar to Iwo but to other parts of the country, except the South-East. A Nigerian in Nigeria should be able to own land anywhere.

“The style by the South easterners is barbaric. Such is not only detrimental to their economic viability but also to their political recognition. As a traditional ruler, I can’t trust any South easterner as my President.

“You can’t be a leader on sectional interest. With such unsophisticated, primitive and uncivilized thinking, no Nigerian from other zones will vote a south easterner as their President.”

The Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has finally secured the nod of the Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC) to contest for the second term.

The GAC is the highest decision-making organ of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos led by the National Leader and presidential hopeful, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Daily Trust learnt that the GAC during its meeting at the State House, Marina, on Monday afternoon approved second term for Sanwo-Olu, thereby ending speculation about his second term.

A GAC member, who confirmed the development to Daily Trust, said members were unanimous that Sanwo-Olu had done well to deserve a second term.

“Unlike when there was a controversy and division during the tenure of Governor Babatunde Fashola, Sanwo-Olu was unanimously endorsed by all GAC members and he had been asked to start preparations for his re-election,” the source said.

It will be recalled that Sanwo-Olu’s predecessor, former Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, failed to get a second term in 2019 after falling out with the party’s leadership.

Three Commissioners serving presently in Oyo State, Hon Wasiu Olatunbosun (Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism), Hon Adebisi (Commissioner For Agric) and Barrister Seun Asamu (Commissioner for Energy). as well as former Speaker of Oyo State House of Assembly, Sen. Monsurat Summon have defected to the Peoples Democratic Party as the 2023 election approaches.

The list also includes special advisers to the Governor, elected vice-chairmen at local government councils, elected councillors and supervisory councillors.

Their defection was made known at a press conference organized by ADC at an event centre located at Bodija, Ibadan.

Hon Wasiu, who spoke on behalf of the decampees, noted that the party members made the decision to integrate the PDP fold to further enhance the reelection of Governor Seyi Makinde in 2023.

Legal luminary, Chief Afe Babalola (SAN), has said an interim government should replace the current administration at the expiration of the regime of the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), in 2023.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria, Babalola told a news conference in Ado-Ekiti on Monday that the interim government should be in force for six months to chart a new course for Nigeria.

He stressed that the 2023 elections should be suspended until Nigeria has “a new-look peoples’ Constitution which should provide for part-time legislators and non-executive President.”

He added that members of the interim government should be drawn from among living former Presidents and vice-presidents; some selected ministers and governors and delegates of prominent professional associations like the Nigeria Medical Association, Nigeria Bar Association and the Nigeria Labour Congress among others.

Babalola said, “The 1999 Constitution has made politics become not only very attractive, but lucrative business in Nigeria today.

“What this means is that any election that holds under the present scenario will end up producing transactional and recycled leaders with no ability to turn things around.”

The university proprietor advised that the new Constitution, which should be coordinated by the interim government, should spell out rules and regulations on improved qualifications of those contesting elections.