Category: Politics

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, has said Bola Tinubu, an All Progressives Congress, APC, presidential aspirant will use a “magic wand” to fix Nigeria’s problems if elected in 2023.

Sanwo-Olu said Tinubu knows the issues plaguing the country, hence has the solution.

Speaking in Lagos yesterday, the governor said Nigerians should give the APC National Leader a chance to be president next year.

He urged lawmakers in Lagos State to work towards ensuring that Tinubu becomes Nigeria’s next president.

He said, “Tinubu knows the issues plaguing our nation like the back of his hands and he has the magic wand to fix it.

Nigeria Youth Movement

Anti-Aregbesola campaign has hit Alimosho,as political leaders declear him dead politically.

The fight continues in Lagos as political leaders in Alimosho have decleared the honorable Minister of Interior dead politically following the ongoing power tussle between him and his benefactor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

Before the breakdown of relationship, Rauf Aregbeshola used to be the Numera uno of Alimosho politics….

Details Later……

Some Yoruba leaders, including traditional rulers, yesterday, began a move to resolve the conflict between the National Leader of All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and former governor of Osun State and Minister for Interior, Rauf Aregbesola.

Tinubu, who was governor of Lagos from 1999 to 2003 and Aregbesola who, served under him as Commissioner for Works before going to Osun State to become governor in 2010, has been at loggerheads over the Osun State governorship election scheduled to hold on July 16 2022.

The two APC leaders are currently engaging in a war of words over the re-election bid of Governor Gboyega Oyetola. While Tinubu is supporting Oyetola who is his blood brother, Aregbesola, who is the immediate predecessor of the governor, believes that Oyetola does not deserve a second term just like former Governor Akinwunmi Ambode was deprived of re-election in Lagos in the October 2018 direct governorship primary election.

Aregbesola is insisting that what Ambode was alleged to have done that made Tinubu, himself and other stakeholders join forces to stop the former Lagos governor in 2018, Oyetola has done worse than that, lamenting that Tinubu is now trying to protect Oyetola because they are brothers.

The concerned traditional rulers said their intervention became important because there are no leadership strata in the Yoruba APC that could stop Tinubu and Aregbesola from the current show of shame.

A source within the traditional institution told The Guardian yesterday that efforts were ongoing to prevent the reoccurrence of what happened between the late Premier of the defunct Western Region, Chief Obafemi Awolowo and his then Deputy, the late Chief S.L Akintola, that led to the Western Region crisis in the 1960s.

The source also said that beyond the fear of the damage that Tinubu and Aregbesola could do to each other’s political career, the monarchs are of the belief that the fight will set a very bad precedent for the younger generations.

“The thinking of the worried monarchs is that the mudslinging approach the two political leaders have adopted would reduce the pride of Yoruba race among other ethnic nationalities. They wonder what’s the life span of the two fighters for them to destroy the integrity of their race and coming generations because of political interest,” the source said.

But beyond the Osun saga, which is believed to be the remote cause of the outburst between Tinuhu and Aregbesola, The Guardian learnt that what actually triggered the crisis was the advice the minister gave Tinubu to jettison his presidential ambition, claiming that the presidency and northerners were not favourably disposed to it.

“Since that day, there have been targeted efforts to decimate Aregbesola both in Lagos and Osun State, which of course is forcing the minister to fight back now,” the source said.

It was gathered that to further prevent any form of crisis among personalities eying the presidency in Yoruba land, the traditional rulers and other Yoruba leaders may still approach the likes of Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State, who is still interested in succeeding President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023; Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and Tinubu. Such invitation is likely to be extended to the Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola. The aim is to appeal for a consensus.

When his opinion was sought, Chairman of Afenifere, a pan-Yoruba socio-political group, Chief Ayo Adebanjo said he did not want to get involved in the personal issue between Tinubu and his former Works Commissioner. “I don’t want to be involved at all. They know and understand each other’s secret and they will expose it. Let us not degrade national issues to individual matters,” Adebanjo said.

A former Minister of Defence and now Chairman, Social Democratic Party, Dr. Olu Agunloye, who claimed that Tinubu is his personal friend while Aregesola is a close friend of his (Agunloye) junior brother, said their misunderstanding is better resolved not for political purposes but in the interest of Yoruba nation. “The way they are going they will destroy many things.”

Secretary-General, Yoruba Council of Elders (YCE), Dr. Kunle Olajide said he had been extremely worried over the type of news he read concerning Tinubu and Aregbesola in the last couple of weeks.

“It is not doing the Yoruba nation any proud both at home and abroad. The two of them could be described as foremost Yoruba political leaders for now. To start washing their dirty linens in the public is a great disservice to Yoruba people. I appeal to them to caution their supporters while the elders in Yoruba land will intervene quietly to resolve their differences.”

President of Yoruba Ronu Leadership Forum, Akin Malaolu, said it was necessary for the traditional rulers, especially the Ooni of Ife, Alaafin of Oyo, Awujale of Ijebu land, Alake of Egba land, and others to resolve the crisis. “The traditional rulers should not fold their arms and allow the interests of two political gladiators to destroys the aspirations of millions of other subjects of theirs.”

Gbenga Ilesanmi Ashaolu
For Gemtv Africa

A former president, Olusegun Obasanjo today opined that for Nigeria to move forward, it needs “more rebels” that are bold to speak truth to power not minding whose ox is gored.

He said that having rebels remains one of the greatest steps towards rebuilding Nigeria.

Obasanjo stated this in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital, while unveiling the autobiography of the Babanla Adinni of Egbaland, Chief Tayo Sowunmi, titled “Footprints Of A Rebel.”

He said “our country, there is no country that we can call our own except Nigeria. Our country, Nigeria, needs more rebels. Those who would look at things straight in the face and say ‘this is not right, this, I will not be part of, this is not good for Nigeria.”

Shortly before the unveiling of the autobiography, Obasanjo submitted that whoever must live life of honesty and integrity has to be a rebel.

The Minister of Interior, Engr. Rauf Aregbesola has called the recently conducted primary election of APC in Osun State a sham.

This was contained in a statement made available by the Special Adviser on Media to the Minister, Sola Fasure as read in part:

“On behalf of the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, I will like to thank you most sincerely for heeding the call earlier this morning to participate in our party’s governorship primary and conduct yourselves most peacefully. You adopted a non-violent posture, even in the face of sore provocation.

“You have demonstrated your loyalty to the party and democratic ideals. You have comported yourselves as Omoluabi in the true essence.

“We have received and continue to receive the reports of the shenanigans of the officials who conducted the sham of an election. We have been inundated with reports state-wide of how your names were expunged from the party’s voters register, which was not made available until this morning, contrary to the convention of making the list available to the candidates before the election.

“We have heard of how party registration cards were being hawked this morning to the supporters of the state governor.
We have also received reports of how accreditation was not done at all in many wards and how people without the party identification just participated and queued behind the governor in many polling units.

“We have received the report from our members and independent observers, how government officials and notable supporters of the governor officiated in the election, how votes were farcically counted in favour of the governor and how the votes recorded for him were more than the number of voters accredited ab initio in many units.

“We have heard of the absence of result sheets and other vital documents for recording results and vital data. We note also the absence of INEC officials in most wards, casting serious doubt on the credibility of the election.

“We note with shame and much regret the consternation of local and international observers on what they regard as a travesty of an election.

“I will urge you to maintain your cool and calm. Be not downcast, be not agitated. Hold your head high. We are still receiving and studying all these reports and will take a definitive position on them.

“You are urged not to take laws into your hands. Please leave the rest to the Almighty God and let us explore all peaceful and legal means for addressing the matter in order to obtain justice.

“Please remain committed to peace and the rule of law. Be unflinching in your commitment to the democratic ideals. Democracy is for the long haul. As you all know, we never tire and we never give up on the cause we believe in. Be rest assured that victory is ours”.

Governor of Oyo State, ‘Seyi Makinde, on Friday, hailed the late former Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala as a great man, who recognised and lived his life in accordance with the Biblical teaching that there is a time and a season for everything under the sun.
Makinde, who declared that the state government would immortalise the late former governor, said a committee headed by his Chief of Staff, Hon. Segun Ogunwuyi, has been put in place to work on how best to honour the late Chief Alao-Akala.
The governor called for suggestions from well-meaning residents of the state.
A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, indicated that the governor stated these at the Beulah Baptist Conference Centre, Ogbomoso, venue of the burial service for the late former governor.
He praised the former governor for putting aside party differences to work for the progress of the state when he (Makinde) informed him of plan to flag off the Ogbomoso-Fapote-Iseyin road.
He said: “In Ecclesiastes Chapter 3, the Bible says ‘there is time for everything under the sun.’ In the last conversation I had with Governor Alao-Akala, I called to inform that I would like him to be the one to flag off the Ogbomoso-Fapote-Iseyin Road project and he said to me, ‘Seyi, just call to give 48 hours notice and I would be there.’
“He knew there was the time to tear down and a time to rebuild together. The former governor recognised the fact that that particular time was not the time for us to project our political differences but a time to come together in the interest of Oyo State.”
The governor maintained that apart from supporting the family of the governor, he would also redeem whatever pledge Alao-Akala made to students of the Ogbomoso Baptist Conference College.
“As for the children who came with a request, I know how you feel and I will champion the cause to redeem whatever it is the late Governor Alao-Akala has promised them.
“Finally, I have been going around to determine how we can honour our great man from Oyo State. And we have set up a committee headed by the Chief of Staff. If you also have any advice in this regard, let us know and, within the shortest period of time, the government of Oyo State will ensure that he is adequately honoured.
“On that note, I want to say farewell to a great man, my brother, my mentor and a great son of Ogbomosoland,” Makinde added.
In his speech, Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, equally hailed Alao-Akala for being a humane and simple man, who played politics with open mind.
Osinbajo said: “Everywhere Alao-Akala went in his days as governor, you would hear the chant of ‘Oyato.’ Of course, he really did many things differently in office.
“He significantly improved the IGR of the state from a paltry N300 million to N1 billion in eight months and put in place a very good security architecture.
“Alao-Akala practically demonstrated what is possible when you have creativity and compassion. Since his transition in January, I have read several glowing tributes to his memory and the common refrain running through all of those tributes has been the attestation to his uncommon generosity.
“He was indeed a simple and humane man, who practised politics with an open mind. “Many testified that his resources were available to all and his home was there for anyone to come for help.”
Some of those in attendance at the burial service include former Senate President, Senator Ken Nnamani; Minister of Youth and Sports, Mr. Sunday Dare; Governor Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti); Governors Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq (Kwara) and Prince Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), who were both represented by their Deputy Governors.
Others were Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, who was represented by his Commissioner for Information, Mr. Donald Ojogor; former Governor of Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun; Senators Fatai Buhari and Ayoade Adeseun; former House Leader, Mulikat Akande-Adeola.
On the entourage of Governor Makinde were the Deputy Governor, Engr. Rauf Olaniyan; Secretary to the State Governor, Mrs. Olubamiwo Adeosun; chairman of the Oyo State Advisory Council, Senator Hosea Agboola, commissioners and chairmen of parastatal-agencies among others.

Gboyega Oyetola, governor of Osun, says he is sure of victory at the end of the state primary election.

The APC primary election exercise is ongoing at 332 wards of the state.

Speaking at his ward in Boripe LGA, Iragbiji, Oyetola said the election should not be seen as a battleground.

“I will win by the grace of God. The other choice is not there. I want to appeal to all of us to see this issue as a family affair. We are APC all through,” he said.

“We should brace up for the challenge ahead. We are going to face another party whose candidate we don’t know yet. I want to appeal to us to ensure that we have an opportunity for reconciliation.”

Voting has been concluded across almost all the wards in the state. Results are now been collated at LGA levels and are expected to be transmitted to the party secretariat in Osogbo for a state collation and declaration.

The former Governor of Osun State and Minister of Interior, Engr. Rauf Aregbesola has called on his supporters not to be intimidated from carrying out their civic responsibilities at the ongoing APC primary.

In a statement released today by the Minister via his official Facebook account as read in part:

“Another electoral cycle has rolled by and we are now in that season again in Osun. We should thank God for the democratic right to participate in the electoral process of electing our leaders.

“As you all know, this is a two staged process. The first is intra-party, meaning that our party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), will democratically nominate its candidate. The second stage, inter-party, will take place in a state-wide election sometime in July, God willing.

“For this first stage, I am appealing to all our party members to participate but peacefully in the primary election taking place today. They should avoid any form of violence, brigandage and disorderliness.

“Our party members, especially our supporters, should be resolute to cast their vote, not to be intimidated and scared away. But they should portray themselves and the party in the best form in comportment, organisation and promotion of societal peace and tranquillity.

“You should know that we are first a community of humans before we are a political community. Our peaceful coexistence therefore supersedes every other activity.

“The Nigerian and our party’s constitutions make provision for the expression of our preference and choice of leader every four years. This is the heart of the democratic process. It is an inalienable right we should take as sacred and exercise with every sense of responsibility.

“I am also appealing to our members to push out the women and let them lead the process by coming out decently and peacefully. This is to demonstrate the customary dignity of women as matriarchs, mothers, wives and daughters, which confers on them the special protection status from violent attacks from thugs and hoodlums.

Our overall objective is to have a transparent, free, fair and peaceful election”.

A former governor of Ekiti State, Chief Segun Oni has announced his defection to the Social Democratic Party ( SDP) to contest the June 18 governorship election in the state.

Oni who was governor between 2007 and 2010 in the state lost the January 26 People’s Democratic Party (PDP) governorship primary to a former chairman of the party, Bisi Kolawole but alleged irregularities that made him dump the party three weeks ago.

Speaking on a private radio station, Voice 89.9FM in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital on Wednesday, the former governor revealed that the necessary paperwork by the national leadership of the SDP for him to be the party’s candidate and his running mate would soon be concluded with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

He noted that his decision to move to the SDP was a result of the continued call by the people for him to contest the June 18 poll as a third force, saying that aggrieved politicians in the two dominant political parties are supporting him in the new political party.

The Ifaki-born politician disclosed that no fewer than four aggrieved governorship aspirants in the All Progressives Congress (APC), members of a factional group in Ekiti APC, the South West Agenda for Asiwaju 2023 (SWAGA); members of the repositioning group in the PDP and others are forming what he described as a grand collation to win the election.

“I have chosen to advance my ambition in the Social Democratic Party (SDP) because we are looking at the future, not the present. The party has been around for years and won elections in this country, it is a well-known party, that is the reason I chose SDP to contest the June 18, 2022 governorship election in Ekiti state. We have seen the potential in SDP because we believe it is easier to sell as a third force for Nigerians. The process to make me a candidate is ongoing and will soon be completed,” he said.

When asked how the SDP will win without a known structure less than four months to the election, the former governor maintained that the will and aspirations of the people are the most important structure needed to defeat the APC and PDP in the state.

He expressed optimism that his achievements when he was governor coupled with the alleged impunity and injustice in the two dominant parties would sway the votes in his favour.

According to him, “I want to say without any forms of contradictions, that we politicians are coming together for this project coupled with the opinions of people in the streets. We are looking at a familiar terrain and a party with potential and also we are getting support from people that are well known in Ekiti’s political terrain.

“Let me say that for those who are in APC, four aggrieved aspirants are working with us. In PDP, the people called repositioning group, majority of them are working with us. Also, we are working with SWAGA members, SWAGA is a strong force in APC with a strong membership base.

“It is going to be a grand collation that will definitely benefit the people of Ekiti. I believe the goodwill of repositioning group, SWAGA and Segun Oni is almost enough to win the election in Ekiti.

“We must come to the reality of how a party is properly managed, if it is not properly managed, it won’t attract good people, that is the fact. I believe whatever is right is right. I have been around for some time, my antecedents are there for us to see, I am not looking for what to eat but service to the people, that is how I see politics.

“It is the people that will challenge the parties, the people are superior to the APC, PDP. It is what Ekiti people want not the political parties, we are listening to what the people are saying in the streets. I worked for the people with everything I had between 2007 and 2010 when I was governor and the citizens can testify to my achievements.”

Oni who advised the people of the state to reject vote-buying and other forms of inducement ahead of the poll stated that everything possible would be done to discourage voters from trading their future on the altar of peanuts.

“We are ready for Ekiti election. We will campaign against vote-buying because it is illegal. We are not going to fold our arms and allow it to work here. This condemnable act is against the people and our people must learn from what happened in the past. We must support those who can help our society to develop. Will the people still be eating what they got on election day for four years? It is bad and we will campaign against it because the people are not better now in the last four years in the state,” he said.

On what transpired during the PDP primaries, Oni reiterated that the party’s guidelines on the secret ballot system were violated, adding that he reacted to the injustice by leaving the party.

He said, “The PDP primary election was manipulated and devoid of known guidelines in any democracy in the world. What is bad is bad, and we must not be afraid to say the truth at all times. The guidelines say it is a secret ballot but the ballot is being shown to the former governor, Ayodele Fayose by the delegates.

“Let me say, If a party cannot manage their processes, it is the party that should be blamed, not the people reacting to injustice. We are only reacting to the obvious Injustice.

A socio-political group, under the auspices of the Yoruba Ronu Group, has cautioned against involving in campaign of calumny ahead of the forthcoming 2023 elections.

The group also condemned some alleged sponsored online media attacks against one of the presidential aspirants and National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu.

In a statement released on Tuesday by Mr Diran Iyantan, chairman of the group, it was stated that mischievous posts online had become a routine, alleging that the source of those publications is well known and traceable to certain misguided politicians and fake human rights crusaders.

Iyatan said, “We have repeatedly stated in our previous releases that Asiwaju Bola Tinubu’s ambition does not stop other Yoruba or any South-West person from aspiring to the same position. We just feel that Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has a better chance than anyone else at clinching the position which is the reason for our support for him.

“It is, therefore, sad to see fellow Yoruba persons casting aspersions on the person of Jagaban for flying high the flag of the Yoruba race. Asiwaju Bola Tinubu’s interest after leaving office has been to help nurture and consolidate democracy in Nigeria. This, he has done, creditably, well. In addition, he has helped the progressives to attain the country’s presidency.

“We are aware that the stakes are high as the presidential election approaches, and desperate politicians will resort to different gimmicks, basically, to rock the boat. Those who have committed themselves to a sustained campaign of calumny in the media against the person of Asiwaju Tinubu, the former Governor of Lagos State, will labour in vain and they are well known to us.

“We are aware that these cowards and hack-writers have benefited from Asiwaju’s benevolence in the past, only to turn around and sponsor negative publications to impugn his reputation. We charge them to desist forthwith from such callousness because their duplicitous conduct will eventually hunt them down.”

The group urged politicians to promote their political party interest, to conduct themselves with maturity, dignity and mutual respect in the interest of the people of Yoruba-land and, by extension, Nigeria.