Category: Politics

Accord presidential candidate, Professor Christopher Imumolen has hailed President Muhammadu Buhari for his decision not to interfere in next year’s general elections.

The president while hosting state governors who are members of his political party, APC in Abuja on Tuesday had made it categorically clear that he would respect the will and wish of the Nigerian people by not trying to influence the outcome of the elections even though his party would be presenting a candidate in Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The president said he was encouraged by recent governorship elections held in Anambra, Ekiti and Osun states, saying it had further boosted the people’s confidence in the electoral process.
His position on the elections has since elicited a variety of comments from Nigerians including Professor Imumolen who is easily the youngest candidate in the 2023 presidential race.

Read Also: Suspected pirates kill 5 boat passengers in Rivers

Professor Imumolen in his response said the stance of the president on neutrality represents perhaps the biggest victory witnessed in the electoral process in over two decades of the country’s return to democratic rule.

He said such neutrality not only had the tendency to boost the confidence of both the contestants and voting public in the electoral process, it was a major milestone in the sense that it negates now well held stereotypes of incumbents using the instrumentality of state power to influence outcomes of elections.

“I really want to appreciate our command-in-chief, President Muhammadu Buhari for stating that he’d be neutral in next year’s general elections,” Imumolen said on Saturday in an interview.
“What makes his position on non-interference in the elections most remarkable is the fact that he is an interested party. The APC would be presenting a candidate in the elections, and if past antecedents is the yardstick, then we would all naturally believe he’d do anything, including using the security forces and the electoral umpire to sway the results of the elections his way.

“For this, I salute him. Now, Nigerians can be fully assured that their votes will count and all the negative practices of the past will not happen this time.

“Our biggest fear before now has been that the elections will be rigged to favour the party in power. But the president’s recent statement will do a lot clear those fears. Our people, assured that their collective wishes would be respected, will now be confident to throng the 176,000 polling booths all across the country on election day to cast their votes,” he added.

Professor Imumolen also called on the president to complement his stance on neutrality with adequate support to the security personnel that would be deployed across the voting centres on election day.

“Another wish I’d like the president to grant our people is to ensure that the security forces, personnel are well motivated and mobilised to deliver a hitch-free exercise.

“I hope we can trust the president on this? If he indeed honours his words to steer clear of interfering in the elections and allows the best man win, then he will go down in history as the man who really brought about transparent elections in Nigeria.

“What a legacy that would be? When his story would be told to future generations, he shall be known as a champion of democracy despite initially coming from a military background. I know he will not disappoint, though,” he said.

Read Also: Group seeks support traffic officer to reduce road crashes

The youthful presidential candidate also commended the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) for cleaning up their acts in such a way as to ensure resounding successes in elections recently held in Anambra, Ekiti and Osun, saying it was a great improvement on elections of the past.

“I will also like to commend INEC for the efficient manner they conducted the governorship elections in Anambra, Ekiti and Osun states.

“I am particularly impressed by the way the results were collated, announced with minimal delay. With their plans to also electronically transmit elections in next year’s general elections, Nigerians are in for the best times of their lives.

“With everything appearing to be in place, I have no doubts whatsoever that a candidate like Professor Christopher Imumolen who is the voice of the people, who has the structure, who believes in raising millions of votes will emerge the winner,” he said.

Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, the APC Presidential candidate, has revealed what he admires about his running mate, Senator Kashim Shettima.

Tinubu expressed his excitement about his energy, dynamism, and readiness to serve the country at the centre as Vice President.

In a message to Shettima on Friday, the APC presidential candidate said, “I heartily congratulate my brother and worthy partner, Senator Kashim Shettima, on attaining 56 in good health.”

“I am excited about his energy, dynamism, and readiness to serve our country at the centre as Vice President.”
“Senator Shettima is an extraordinary leader forged in the theatre of challenges. He led a heroic struggle against the forces of terrorism with intellect, courage and tenacity. He gave succour to the victims while mobilising the civilians to support our military.

“The success of his interventions and help in facilitating the emergence of another excellent leader in Prof. Babagana Zulum are part of the achievements of our party today in Born State.”

Tinubu added that it gladdened his heart to be on this journey with Shettima to deliver to the people progressive good governance.

“I wish Senator Shettima many more years, robust health and more wisdom as he forges ahead in the
service of our country,” he said.

By Thompson Yamput

Presidential candidates are to pay N10 million to erect billboards and posters in Kogi.

This follows the passage of the State’s Signage Agency Establishment Law by House of Assembly on Thursday in Lokoja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the legislators, who considered the bill clause by clause at plenary, said the law would regulate outdoor display of signage and advertisement in the state.

The law also aims at curbing the indiscriminate pasting of posters on side walks, walls, bridges and public buildings in the state.

By the new law all governorship candidates are to pay N5 million, Senatorial candidates, N2 million and House of Representatives, N1 million.
The law also stipulates that House of Assembly and Council Chairmanship candidates are to pay N500, 000 each.

Consequently, the law provides for the establishment of a signage agency saddled with regulatory functions.

This means that until permits are issued no politician, political party or organisation can erect any billboard or paste a poster at any designated place in the state.

Also at plenary, the house passed a second bill regulating pool betting in the state.

By the new law, if assented, all operators of pool centres in the state must register with the state government before operating such a business in Kogi.

The speaker of the House, Mr Matthew Kolawale, explained that with the passage of the two bills, defaulters would face the wrath of the law.

Former Governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress in Kaduna state, Sani Mohammed Sha’aban, has said members of the National Assembly cannot impeach President Muhammadu Buhari, as they are partly responsible for Nigeria’s security and economic woes.

Sha’aban, who represented Zaria Federal Constituency in the National Assembly between 2003 and 2007, told journalists in Kaduna that the lawmakers have failed in their oversight functions, especially as regards security and economy, alleging that they are only interested in oversight functions when they are broke, so that they can get allowances.

Sha’aban, who described the recent threat by the National Assembly members to impeach the President as laughable and a huge joke, also alleged that some National Assembly members who have failed in their representative duties and lacked what to tell their constituents in seeking re-election, were behind the impeachment saga, as they want to use President Buhari as scape goat.

Read Also: N11.9bn stolen from Kwara treasury between 2011-2019 – Audit Report

“I looked at the stand they (National Assembly members) took as a huge joke. In fact, it is laughable. One thing we should know is that, Nigeria is not operating in isolation, the rest of the world is watching us. We are in democracy, even though we borrowed the system from the western world, the other part of the world don’t practice democracy the way we are practicing ours.

“We should realise that in the House of Representatives, in the Senate, they function under various committees and those committees are in charge of what we call oversight functions, but what is happening today? Where are the oversight functions? What happened to reports of activities within the security apparatus? If anybody coming from the Senate or House of Representatives and points accusing finger on President Buhari on security, I challenge that person to go and impeach Buhari tomorrow if he dares.

“As you point your finger, millions of people from your constituency will point finger at you. You say you are representing them, is it when it pinches most that you will find a scape goat? And you want to make Buhari a scape goat? Was there any time when there was financial request and he passed it and the heads of agencies and parastatals, the service chiefs and others in charge of security didn’t get it? Was there any time they were punished by the National Assembly? So, why President Buhari? Who is deceiving who? Let us treat this matter very seriously.

“I happen to come from Zaria and there is no place in the world that I can cherish, respect and value than my origin. Wherever I go in the world, I don’t feel comfortable until I step foot in Zaria, because that is where I come from. But today, Zaria is under the siege of bandits, you can hardly sleep. This is something we use to hear from far away. Our farmers cannot go to farm, our schools are closed down, so many institutions are closed down, we can barely go out to carry out our basic activities for the day without the fear of being kidnapped, bandits are coming from left, right and centre.

“Look at Giwa, look at Birnin Gwari, Chikun, Kajuru. All these are parts of Kaduna that, today whether you like it or not, you cannot afford to stay beyond 6:00pm, you have to move. But then, somebody will just come, because he feels time is here to re-contest and come back to the National Assembly and he doesn’t want his people to ask him what he has done as their Senator of Rep. So he can be saying, it is the fault of Buhari. That is bullshit. We must tell ourselves the truth.

Read Also: Peace Network donates sporting kits to promote peace in Gombe State

“If you, a National Assembly member, is assigned to do oversight function, do it. If you then find the President wanting in anyway, you can impeach him. I don’t condone illegality no matter my relationship with you. But, in a situation where I know somebody is doing his best, No! Look at the three tiers of government, each one complementing the other. But you only wait for allowances, when you are broke, then you begin to create oversight functions and by the time they send the Ghana Must Go, that is the end of the matter. This is most unfair and this is what has given birth to the economic and security challenges,” he said.

Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State, the running mate of the Peoples Democratic Party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has chastised the Labour Party’s flagbearer, Mr Peter Obi, for his church visits.

Okowa told reporters in Kano State on Wednesday that he does not believe in dragging the church into partisan politics, emphasising that politics is not the church’s calling.

He lamented that, in their desperation to win the February 2022 election, some presidential candidates are now reaching out to anyone, even at the expense of their faith.

“Now you begin to look at what is going on; the Peter Obi factor is as if he is trying to go through the church and make it look as if he is driving the Christians into politics. I do not believe that the church should actively go into politics because that is not their calling.

“But people are just hanging to anything they can reach out to even to the detriment of their fate. I don’t believe that’s the right part to go,” he said.
It was reported that Peter Obi had on several occasions appeared in different church programmes.

Recall that video of the former Anambra Governor, who was given an unusual ovation when he appeared at the Glory Dome, Abuja, had trended on all social media platforms.

Mudashiru Obasa, Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, has advised Nigerians not to be divided over the All Progressives Congress’ Muslim-Muslim presidential candidate (APC).

Obasa told Nigerians that a number of Asian leaders are not religious but have led their countries to great heights.

The Speaker spoke at the Assembly’s 14th Annual Hijrah Lecture on Wednesday.

He emphasised that religion has never been a determinant in the development of many successful countries.

“Good governance is seen all around them in countries like India, Singapore, China, most of the democratic states in Asia, and some other parts of the world where neither Islam nor Christianity is practised,” he said.

Obasa noted that even in Africa, before the advent of both Islam and Christianity, there was good and steady democratic setting with traditional beliefs.

“It is now worrisome, however, that we allow religion to dictate to us how democracy should be practised,” he said.

The Speaker argued that the spiritual core of democratic governance is the obligation to serve the people with godly principles and noble objectives.

He told citizens to focus on whoever will be fair, just, visionary and can identify good people to work with in order to achieve success, not religion.

Obasa urged religious bodies to deploy their spiritual energies in not only undermining the negative forces of nepotism, but in positively enhancing the development of Nigeria.

“Whether the political party contesting is running on Muslim-Muslim ticket or Christian-Christian ticket and otherwise, our focus should be the good intentions of the contestants,” he added.

The Speaker charged the people not to allow anyone to bamboozle them with religion as they make their choice early next year at the polls.

The Speaker added that as enshrined in the Constitution of Nigeria being a secular state, there is no provision for the elevation of a particular form of religion over another.

The APC presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu and his running mate, Kashim Shettima are Muslims, a situation opposed by the Christian community in the country.

Some chieftains of the ruling party, including ex-House of Representatives Speaker, Yakubu Dogara and ex-Secretary to the Federal Government, Babachir Lawal had voiced their displeasure.

Dele Alake, Director of Strategic Communication for the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign council, has stated that he will not apologise to supporters of Peter Obi, former Anambra state governor and Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, for recent comments he made about Obi ahead of the 2023 general elections.

Alake, who was a guest on News Central TV, was asked if he would retract some of his statements against Obi because his supporters, known as Obidients, are dissatisfied with him.
Responding, Alake said he will not retract any of the things he said as his statements about Obi are based on empirical evidence and verifiable facts.
He said “I said so many things about Peter Obi and I cannot take anything back because everything I said is the truth. I speak with conviction and I’m not a propagandist. I’m a publicist. There is a wide difference between propaganda and publicity. Publicity is anchored on the action, verifiable facts, and empiricism. Now propaganda can be vacuous, amorphous, nebulous, actually neither here nor there”.

Read Also: PDP Crisis: Wike reveals next line of action, says retired generals are threatening him

“So, whatever I say about Tinubu is anchored on empiricism and verifiable facts. I cannot take anything back about Obi. I said Obi said he wants to move Nigeria back from consumption to production and I said that is not true. He cannot do it because his own business survives on consumption. Is that a lie? He has been an importer and I said he deals with cash and carry economics; container economics, imports”.
“All the goods that can be produced in Nigeria, Obi imports them in his supermarkets. That is consumption economics. That kind of person cannot tell you that he is moving you from consumption to production. He will then be committing self-economic suicide and Obi will not do that to himself”.
“So, Obi is deceiving everybody and I can’t take that back because that is true.

“What I said about Asiwaju, I gave examples of his vision, knowledge and courage. There is none about Obi. You can’t point to any enduring legacy of Obi in his eight years as governor of Anambra”.

Rivers State Governor Nyelsom Wike accused some unnamed retired generals of threatening him with the Central Intelligence Agency, CIA, if he did not do their biddings.

Governor Wike, who did not name the ex-generals or the demands they made on him, vowed that he would not do anyone’s bidding except what would benefit the majority of Nigerians.

This came as he charged some former generals with redirecting their CIA goodwill to fighting insurgency in Nigeria rather than threatening him and his supporters with the American security outfit.
He said it was most unfortunate that the unnamed retired Generals would turn their “contacts” with the CIA to fight an individual rather than use same to confront the issue of insecurity bedevilling the country.

Wike made the disclosure while flagging off the construction work of Igwuruta internal roads in Ikwerre Local Government Area of the state, which was performed by Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, the governor of Abia State.
“Some people threatened that they are former generals, they are close to the CIA in America and they can deal with us. I said listen, no problem. If you are close to the American CIA, why don’t you use it to solve the Boko Haram problem? Is it on my body (me) that you’ll use it? Nigeria has a serious problem and you are close to the CIA, you know them as former generals, so why not use that contact and solve Nigeria’s problem?

“You want to use it to threaten me. Who are you that I should come and do your own biddings? I say no to that. I will do the biddings of Nigerians not the biddings of a few people who believe that if they are not there, it should be their children,” Wike stated.

He pointed out that if President Muhammadu Buhari does not renege on his pledge not to interfere with the conduct of the 2023 general elections, the All Progressives Congress will be doomed noting that such resolve means that President Buhari is serious about leaving an enduring legacy of conducting a free and fair election.

“I thank Mr President that he wants to leave a legacy of conducting a free and fair election.

“Thank God Mr President for saying that you will not interfere or intimidate anybody. That means your party has no way to win.”
He expressed doubt concerning the public promise made by the Independent National Electoral Commission( INEC) to deliver a better election to Nigerians saying “my problem is INEC, whether they will do what they said they will do. They are making promises now. I don’t know whether they will keep to it. If INEC will keep to the promises that Nigeria will get a better election, I will be so happy. Everybody will see with their eyes, that Abuja does not vote. It is the people here that will vote.”

Wike went on to stress the need for those seeking votes from Rivers electorate to courageously tell them what they will eventually benefit from such electoral support.

He said; “So, if you have given to Adamawa, you have given to Benue, you have given to Delta, would you not give Rivers? Is it just to collect our votes?”

Wike disassociated himself from such people who he said can do anything as agents set against their own people. He emphasised that no matter the enticement, he will never betray his or mortgage the interest of Rivers State.

The Nigerian Academy of International Affairs has chastised political leaders for meeting outside the country ahead of the 2023 elections.

In August, presidential candidates, governors, and party officials met in Dubai, France, and the United Kingdom.

Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP), and the governors of Abia (Okezie Ikpeazu), Oyo (Seyi Makinde), and Rivers (Nyesom Wike) are among them.

On Tuesday, Academy President Bolaji Akinyemi condemned the politicians’ “ill-advised and unwitting jamboree of shame.”

According to his statement, their trip demonstrated once again that the Nigerian environment they polluted is “not conducive to their vainglorious self-importance and unearned esteem.”

Akinyemi noted that they prefer a savoury Western atmosphere “because of their Neo-colonial mentality”

The group said the implication of meetings abroad was an exposure of Nigeria directly or indirectly to unwarranted Western influence.

Akinyemi said the unnecessary trips show the insensitivity and disregard for the plights of workers and pensioners whose salaries and pensions have not been paid for a long time.

The statement added that it was the kind of neo-colonialist behaviour that caused Nigeria’s absence from the global scene.

“Nigeria is not invited to G20, Brics or any significant meetings. Countries that watch our leaders’ pattern of behaviour such as the obnoxious conclaves in London/Paris/Dubai will have no respect for Nigeria.

“No wonder South Africa has eclipsed Nigeria on the global scene. The solution to Nigeria’s problems lies within Nigeria and among Nigerians,” he said.

The Academy insisted it would be more cost-effective and appropriate to brainstorm in Nigeria, adding that leaders should stop going abroad in search of the magic wand.

Ex-Director General, Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Prof. Bola Akinterinwa is the body’s Secretary.

Members include Lt. General Martin Luther Agwai, Prof. Joy Ogwu, Odein Ajumogobia (SAN), Prof. Akin Oyebode, Prof. Jide Osuntokun, Prof. Alaba Ogunsanwo, Amb. Godknows Igali, Director General of NIIA, Prof. Eghosa Osagie, among others.

The Peter Obi media office has lampooned Dele Alake after his comments about the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate.

Alake is the Director of Strategy and Communication of the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Campaign Presidential Council.

The former Lagos Commissioner for Information had declared that Obi’s achievements were way less than Tinubu’s.

Reacting, Obi’s media office noted that Alake is among those who believe Nigeria begins and ends in Lagos.

The camp said he might not have been to Anambra and was too biased to read up the LP candidate’s records in the public domain.

“Obi’s records won him numerous awards, including “Governor of the Decade, while Alake’s paymaster ruled Lagos State”, a statement reads.

It noted that the most to remember about Alake’s principal “is his huge internal revenue harnessing which has boosted one Bourdillon family’s income”.

Alake had also said Obi’s business was anchored on imports that destroy the economy and that Tinubu was a leading light during the struggle for democracy.

In reply, the office said Alake should not have celebrated Asiwaju’s role in the democracy struggle because of subsequent revelations.

“It was revealed that he lobbied to be made a Minister in late Sani Abacha’s government and only joined NADECO after he was rejected by the juntas.

“Obi is highly verifiable, but Alake’s man is not; Obi has an origin; Alake’s has none; Obi has educational credentials; his counterpart has affidavits,” he said.

The statement added that Obi is ready to face the challenge of leading Nigeria, while “the other candidate acts by proxy.

“Alake’s man says it’s his turn to rule Nigeria, Obi says it’s the turn of Nigerians to take back their country.”

The rejoinder said it was laughable that “attack dogs” keep targeting the man they claim has no structure, instead of selling “their structured candidate.”

“Let Alake’s man enter the stage and sell himself. Never again will anybody become Nigeria’s President through fake and unsubstantiated packaging”, it concluded.

Bola Tinubu, All Progressives Congress, APC, Presidential Candidate in 2023 polls, has met with former President Goodluck Jonathan in Abuja, as part of his nationwide consultation with critical stakeholders ahead of the 2023 elections.

Mr Tinubu, a former governor of Lagos State met with Jonathan on Tuesday night at the latter’s residence and was accompanied by his running mate, Kashim Shettima and five APC governors, among others, on the visit.

The source, who was at the meeting, told the News Agency of Nigeria that the brief meeting gave the leaders the opportunity to discuss various national issues and the forthcoming 2023 general elections.

Mr Tinubu, after the brief meeting, was quoted as saying that he was on a courtesy visit to the former president being a former leader and one of the critical stakeholders in the Nigeria project.

According to the source, Tinubu told Jonathan of his presidential ambition and sought his support.

Those who accompanied the APC presidential candidate included governors Dapo Abiodun of Ogun, Bello Matawale of Zamfara, Abubakar Badaru of Jigawa and AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara, among others.

The source pointed out that the meeting was part of efforts by Mr Tinubu to get the support of all critical stakeholders for his presidential ambition.
“Truly, Jonathan was at home with us. He was very receptive. You know the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) no longer accords him that respect.

“He is more comfortable with us. He is happy that Asiwaju Bola Tinubu visited him, he is at home with his aspirations,” the source said.

Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has again condemned former Governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido, over a fierce criticism from the latter.
It was recalled that Lamido said that nobody in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) offended Governor Wike. He also said that Wike can only order “his slaves” in Rivers State.

Responding last Wednesday, Wike stated that Lamido has lost political relevance, accusing the 74-year-old of cracking the wall of unity.

Speaking again when he interacted with journalists at the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa in Ikwerre Local Government Area (LGA), shortly on arrival from London, United Kingdom (UK) recently, the governor subtly accused Lamido of nepotism.

In the company of the Rivers State governor were the governors of Benue and Abia State, Samuel Ortom and Okezie Ikpeazu respectively.

“Never mind some people who are just interested in their own, some people who only know how to produce their own children as governors or members of National Assembly,” Wike said.

“It’s unfortunate that’s the country where we are in.

“A man finished to be a governor. Now, what the man does again, how his own son will be a governor. And this is what has been part of the crisis we are having.

“It’s unfortunate. And these are the kinds of people who said they are leaders of this country. What exactly are they showing as leaders of the country?

“Leadership is not about you and your family. Leadership is about everybody.

“Somebody finishes eight years as governor. Somebody doing his own son to be governor, doing his own son to go to the National Assembly [sic].

“It is only in this part of the world that you can see that. When we are talking about poverty everywhere.”

This newspaper reports that former governor Lamido’s son, Mustapha, is the PDP governorship candidate in Jigawa State for the 2023 election.

The presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu on Tuesday visited former president, Goodluck Jonathan in his residence.
This is coming months after speculations that the APC might give Jonathan its presidential ticket ahead of the 2023 general elections.

The rumour became heightened after a group purchased the nomination form of the ruling party for the ex-president.

The speculation was doused after Jonathan failed to show up for the presidential screening of the APC.

Tinubu on Tuesday visited Jonathan alongside his running mate, Kashim Shettima.

Other APC members who followed Tinubu include Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, Kwara State Governor, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, and Plateau State Governor, Simon Lalong.

The visit to the former President might not be unconnected to the presidential ambition of the former Governor of Lagos State who is seeking to take over from President Muhammadu Buhari at the end of his tenure.

Tinubu’s meeting with Jonathan is coming few days after he met with former President, Olusegun Obasanjo in Ogun State.

Popular Nigerian actor, Dele Odule, on Tuesday joined the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State.
It was reported that Odule joined the PDP at an event held in Ijebu-Ode area of Ogun State.

The thespian was received into the opposition party by the Chairman of the PDP in Ogun, Sikirulahi Ogundele; the governorship candidate, Hon. Ladi Adebutu; his running mate, Hon. Adekunle Akinlade and others.

The Oru indigene was handed the party’s flag by Ogundele, Adebutu and other PDP chieftains at the occasion.

Speaking, Odule said he would support the PDP and Adebutu in the 2023 governorship election.