2023:ThecabalinthePresidencywere the one deceivingAtiku that they will give the presidency to him. The same cabal which failed to win APC primaries.Nowthatthecabal'splothas been exposed to all by the APC Northern Governors, let's see what is leftofAtiku'sdelusionalambition. --GovNyesomWike
InShaAllah,victoryiscertain
Do not get
n g r y . T h o s e who locked up yourfuelandcash, they did so to get you annoyed so they can cause crisis, stop the election and suggest interim Government, they've failed Those who locked your cash and fuel will soon release them. The rat that eat poison will onlykill itself.
-JAGABAN.
PeterObiisanopportunistandnoisemakersurroundedbyinternetfavourites-SeunKuti
TheEl-RufaiTVCInterview: Explosive.Revealing.Interesting.
AsiwajuisthenextPresident afterBuhari:Sen.Adefuye
Presidentialelection:Therewon’tbeproblemsinRiversasEverybodySupportsTinubu–AsariDokubo
DeputyGov,3senatorialcandidates,othersjoinAPC,DumpLabourParty-pg02
“Theyplotandplan, andAllahtooplans; butthebestof plannersisAllah”All Traditional Rulers in Oyo State have agreed that power must come to the South after 8 years and we have all agreed to work forAsiwajuBolaAhmed Tinubu. ObaFrancisOlusholaAlao,HRM. The Olugbon Of Orile-Igbon, Ogbomosho Zone, Deputy Chairman, Oyo State Council OfObasandChiefs
The past few weeks have been a challenging one for Nigerians especially our SME's, poor and vulnerablemassesandthosewhosevery survival depend on daily cash transactions.Theyhavefeltthebruntof the combined problems of scarcity of fuelandnewNairanotes.
We feel the pains of our market women and artisans who have experienced low sales because customers do not have cash to make purchases. We hear the loud cries of farmers in rural areas and hinterlandswhohavebeenforcedtosell their produce at much lower prices so they don't lose out completely We hear every Nigerian dealing with the consequencesoftheroll-outofthecash swapprogramme. While the scarcity arising from the supplylimitationsofthenewnairanotes isstillwithus,weareencouragedabout reports that the fuel queues across the country are easing out as a result of bettersupplytofuelstations.Wearenow confronted with how to bring quick, sustainable solution, and relief to Nigerians on the challenges still posed by the non availability of new Naira notes, so that social and economic activities can move on unimpeded and normalcycanimmediatelyreturntoour financial services sector and overall productivityofournation.
In seeking a quick resolution, the NationalCouncilofStatemetonFriday, February 10, 2022 and advised the government and Central Bank in particular,topushmorenewNairanotes intocirculationandalsoallowfortheold notes to remain a legal tender by ensuring supply gaps relative to infrastructurallimitationsarebridgedby recirculating it to ameliorate the pains caused by the scarcity of new ones. We agreewiththewisdomoftheCouncilof States as a necessary starting point to begin redressing the unintended consequences of what would have otherwise been a good policy that required mainstream adoption. For the records,Iandmyrunningmate,Senator Kashim Shettima and our campaign councildonothaveanythingagainstthe CBNNairaredesignandcashlesspolicy in principle We are,however, only concerned about its disruptive implementation and the hardship it has brought on the generality of our people who currently can't access their hardearned money to meet obligations and
the attendant consequences on the informalsector,wheremajorityoperate.
Despite the challenges and current difficulties,weareacountryofresilient, bold and courageous people who don't succumbtohardtimes.Wehavealways overcome our most difficult times and comeoutbetterasapeopleandanation. This time will not be different. We will make lemonade out of our current lemons.
Tobringimmediaterelieftoourpeople, weurgetheCentralBanktoconsiderthe following:
1.FollowingtheadviceoftheCouncilof States, the CBN should announce that the old and new Naira notes (especially thenon-withdrawnnotesandcoins)will co-exist as legal tender for the next 12 monthstofollowexamplesofcountries that have successfully implemented similar monetary policy This will immediatelyremovegrowingtensionin thecountry,eliminatepanicreactionsby the populace and allow time to scale up infrastructural gaps around alternative paymentoptionstocash.
2. We advise the immediate suspension of associated charges on online transactions and bank transfers and
paymentsviaPOSuntilthecurrentcrisis is fully resolved. This cost should be considered a roll-out expense by the CBNtoincentivisetheenvisagedshiftto alternative transaction channels; for both the financial services consuming public and those in charge of implementingthescale-upprogramme.
3. Mobilise all Money Deposit Banks, Payment platforms to show clear commitment and timelines on expanding their infrastructure and supportservices.
4 Bring in Fintech companies with capabilities into currency swap programme for the next 90 days to help decongestbankinghallsandATMpoints wherepeoplelineupforhours.
5. The Central Bank and other relevant MDA's should form an Inter-Agency Action Committee for immediate oversightoverthecashsupplygapsfrom the Nigerian Security and Minting Company and deal with issues around capabilitiesandturnaroundtimetomeet the needs of the informal sector and unbankedpeople.
6 The CBN, National Orientation Agency and Ministry of Information, StateandLocalGovernmentswiththeir
The Presidency of Nigeriain2023.
- AbdulazeezZamfara Labour Party (LP) Deputy governorship candidate, three senatorial candidates and seven candidates for House of Representatives have joinedtheAllProgressives Congress(APC).
The Younger Brother of Former President of Nigeria, Shehu MusaYar’adua.
relevant organs in both the public and private sectors should commence a major public enlightenment and sensitisation campaign to further educateandempowerourpeopleonthe new naira and cashless policy for better understanding and mainstream adoption.
As leaders, our commitment to our country everyday must be on how to make life better for our people and we are called upon not to waste the opportunitythemomentpresentstousto rampupcapacityandcapabilitytoserve 200 million Nigerians, leaving no one behindandultimatelyimprovetheliving conditionsofeverysingleNigerian.Our tasknowistorestorehopeinthecountry byimplementingthesestepstoenergise ourpeoplethatwecandobigthingsfora better future and shared prosperity We can build upon this citizen-focused policy challenge to offer a template on how governance should work for the people. God bless you and God bless Nigeria. Weareovercomers.
AsiwajuBolaAhmedTinubu
Musa Yar’adua
The whole Northern Region is solidly behind Asiwaju Bola AhmedTinubutowin
DeputyGov, 3senatorial candidates, othersjoinAPC, DumpLabour Party
mercilessly Thevotes of other contestants put together, couldn't even match what he eventuallygarnered.
As i t w a s during the presidential primary election of theAPC,soshallitbe on Saturday, 25 February 2023, when Nigerians shall go to the polls to elect the successortoPresident Muhammadu Buhari, whose tenure expires on29May2023.
Of all the contenders for this exalted position, Asiwaju
Bola Ahmed Tinubu stands out among the rest in antecedents, capacity, competence, capability, and vision. He has traversed the length and breadth of the country, and still travelling like no others, taking his message of Renewed Hope to the cities, towns, and villages. He has held countless
Town Hall Meetings, interacting with the low and mighty, the royalsandthemasses, andwhereverhegoes, the acceptance has beenverywelcoming, veryimpressive.
Just as it was in the presidential primary ofhisparty,scheming andplottinghavebeen u n i m a g i n a b l y treacherous, yet when the results were out, he not only beat other contestants, he c r u s h e d t h e m
In the 25 February 2023 presidential e l e c t i o n , h i s opponents are in for similar crushing and massive defeat, with s o m e o f t h e m potentially losing their deposits. Asiwaju is set to win handsomely and will satisfy the two major constitutional requirements at the first ballot, scoring 25%ormoreinatleast 29 states of the countryandhavingan overall majority of all the votes cast in the election.
Thereisnowayanyof the other contestants
can beat Asiwaju. Impossible.
He will clearly and c o n v i n c i n g l y dominate in the S o u t h w e s t , Northwest,Northeast, and come in first or s e c o n d i n N o r t h c e n t r a l , Southsouth and even Southeast.
The reality of Asiwaju's presidency willberevealedbythe time the results are announced on 27 February 2023. Nobody can stop the man whose time has come, as every man has his hour and every hour has its man.
In Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the hour and the man haveclearlymet.
All hail Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the 17th President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria!
Honestly,itwasnotverydifficultto get that done. First of all, right from 2019 after President Muhammadu Buhari won the election, some of us privately approached him and askedforhissuccessionplans.Inoneofour meetings I had with Mr President, he told methathehasnosuccessionplan. Then,I told him that he must be interested in his successor He insisted that the democratic process will produce his successor But I reasoned otherwise and I said to him that things don't work that way I told him that he must have a legacy and he should be interested in who will preserve those legacies. Then,hesaidtomethatitwasa brilliantideaandthathewouldthinkabout it.Till2020,Buharididnothaveaposition.
In2020,Iaskedhimwherehewouldwant hissuccessortobefrom. Isaidtohimthat he did not have to anoint anyone, since he believes in the democratic process I continued to engage him till a point he askedwhyIwasmuchconcernedabouthis successor Then, he said to me, Nasir, going by our arrangement, my successor must be from the South. I said, thank you, Mr President. I asked him if I could go public with that and he granted that permission. People will recall that late in 2019orearly2020,Iwasthefirstgovernor tocomeoutandsaythatthenextpresident ofNigeriamustbefromtheSouth.
To be fair to Mr President, he has been consistent in private conversations with
some of us on this. So, it was not very difficult for those of us in the ,APC particularly the Northern governors to say thisisthePresident'sposition.
But why was the intense intra-party heat before your candidate eventually emerged?
What happened was that all kinds of political games that took control of the party began in a way to achieve a predeterminedconclusionthatwasnotvery cleartousatthetime. Butoneofthethings wepushedwasforthePresidenttodeclare whohewantedasthechairmanoftheparty I remember the Progressive Governors Forumatatimemandatedmewiththetask toseekaudiencewithMr Presidentonwho hewantedasthechairmanofourparty
Again, the President first said all chairmanshipaspirantsshouldcomeoutto seek votes from the delegates. But, we insisted that he should tell us who he wantedandwewillallsupporthim. Then, hesaidthechairmanshouldbefromNorthcentral and finally, he nominated Senator AbdullahiAdamu.We agreed. Once that decision was taken, it was a very clear signal that the next presidential candidate of our party will be from the South. Then, weswappedpositionsofpartyexecutives.
Havingestablishedthepositionoftheparty chairman, who is from the North, it was simplylogicalforusthatthenextpresident must be from the South and we were all looking at how to minimise competition within the party to pick a Southern candidate.
We also heard that some members of the
WorkingCommitteecalledusandsaidthe Senate President was the anointed one. Then, the northern governors sought audience with Mr President over that rumourandthisisnotconsistentwithwhat you have been telling us in the past two to threeyears. ThePresidentexpressedshock andsaidhewasnotpartofthegame.Right thereandthen,hesummonedGarbaShehu toissueastatementthathehadnotanointed anyone.
But, we learnt that at some point, the President preferred a Northern candidate?
We also heard the same and it was of concern to us when some governors and someseniormembersofthepartybeganto get calls from some elements in the Villa nudging them to buy forms to contest for presidency That began to worry us. So, someofuswentbacktothePresidenttoask whatwasgoingon. ThePresidentsaidhis position had not changed But, it was worrisome that there were some senior membersoftheparty,believeitornot,that wanted another northerner to succeed PresidentBuhari.
We,theAPCgovernorsfromtheNorth,had to sit down, reviewed the situation and consideredwhat our forefatherswould do. We are Northerners. We are people of honour Wekeepourwords.Werespondto kindnesswithkindness.Thisisthepolitical culture in the North.This is whatAhmadu Bello, Sardauna of Sokoto, practised.This is what Tafawa Balewa practised. This is whatAminuKanopractised.
We talked to ourselves that we would not allow any other agenda to produce the presidentialcandidatefromtheNorth.And all of us, including Governor Badru of Jigawa who was encouraged by those elements in the Villa to buy form, made a decisionthatthepresidencymustgoSouth. We, therefore, sent a delegation to the Presidenttoinformhimaboutourdecision andwemadeourdecisionpublic.Thatwas thesecondstep.
Now among the Southerners, we had a challengewhetherweshouldcomeupwith a consensus or we all go to the primaries. This was because some of us supported Amaechi; some supported Osinbajo; some supported Asiwaju; and some supported Kayode Fayemi. Again, we had to have anotherroundofdiscussions.Ofcourse,all of us could not come to an agreement because one of us, Yahaya Bello, was runningtoo.Andhesaidhewasnotgoing tostepdown.
But still, the momentum was from the Northwest The Northwest governors, along with Senator Wammako met, and after several meetings of going back and forth, we decided that we will go with Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu Then, NortheastfollowedandNorth-Central,toa large extent also followed. That was why we went to the convention quite confident thatAsiwajuwillhavethenumbersandthe momentum.We were even shocked by the margin with which he won. It was clear that it was not just the Northern APC governors that supported him, but Tinubu had support across the country And he
How did the Northern governors get to bring the presidency of your party down South?
emergedasthecandidateoverwhelmingly
We also learnt that some of the governors are withdrawing their support from Tinubu. Whatisthesituation?
Iwanttoassureyouthataswespeaktoday, all the 22APC governors, including those that contested for the presidency, are solidly behind our presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and we are doing everything we can to ensure that he succeeds.ButforusasNortherngovernors, itwasamatterofhonour;itwasamatterof just doing what is right; it was a matter of doingwhatisfair
How then did you handle the issue of manyaspirantscomingfromtheSouth?
The President told us to go and give him five aspirants from the South and he will pick one. We, the Progressive governors wentback,metandcameupwiththenames ofVicePresidentOsinabajo,AsiwajuBola Ahmed Tinubu, Gov Rotimi Amaechi, Gov Dave Umahi and Gov Kayode Fayemi. Wetookthesefivenamesandsaid tohimthatwebelievedanyoneofthemcan be a veritable successor and they can preservehislegacy
We said they have been either past or serving governors and they know how to handle state and institutions and we can work with them “Pick any one Mr Presidentandwewillsupportyourchoice. Then, most of us had our preferences but wesaidwewilldefertohimbecauseofthe loveandrespectforhim.”
Please, don't doubt this. All of us have great respect for the President because we knowhisheartandweknowhisintention. Heisamanofintegritywhohasgreatand good intentions all the time. He could be misled,heishuman,though. Mr President said the five names were good choices,
relationship with the President and I can alwaysgotohimtoask. ThisiswhyIam theenemyofmostofthemalongwithsome ofus.
With these elements in the Villa, don't you thinktheyshouldbeunmaskednow?
Unmasking them is not as joyful as defeatingthem.They'llbeunmaskedindue time. But we have defeated them when they wanted their own people in the national working committee of the party We have defeated them when they wanted their anointed candidate to be the presidential candidate of the party without dueregardtodueprocessandevenrespect us as governors Governors have been touted to be corrupt; governors are said to be bad and we didn't matter to them Meanwhilenoneofthemhascontestedfor governorshiporevencouncillorshipandif theydid,theywouldnotwin.
We will get to the unmasking stage. The stage we are now is to come to Nigerians anddrawtheirattentiontothefactthatthere are elements that are doing this and they don'tmeanwellforourparty Theywantto incite voters against our party so that we lose election. Once Nigerians know that, then, they will know where these funny decisionsarecomingfrom.
And once the election is done and settled, bythegraceofGodinourfavourinthenext three weeks, the process of unmasking themcanstart. Wearenotsleeping. Weare goingtoworkhardtillFebruary27whenall the election results would have come out and by the grace of God when Asiwaju would have been elected and other APC candidateswouldhavebeenelected. The presidential candidate of the Peoples' Democratic Party has said that the CBN should not extend its policy on cash swap.
President. Now, with the extension of 10 days, he is turning round to say that the CBN should not extend means something. It shows clearly that he is benefiting from thepainNigeriansaregoingthroughatthe moment.IhaveseenprotestinLagostoday I have reports of people in Kaduna that
usingthenameofBuhari.
Some have insinuated that there is no cordial relationship between your presidential candidate and the President. What'sgoingon?
Hewillstillgotoothercampaigns,though you need to understand that his primary
having worked with them and any one of themcanbePresident. Hesaidnow,weput himinaquagmire. Butwetoldhimtoclose hiseyesandpickone.
He said no. Then, the President said they are all my brothers or children, therefore, let the democratic process produce the winner and that was how we went to the primaries. Yes, some elements wanted to force a consensus around one person, but the President insisted that the democratic processmustprevail.
Since the President had already concluded that the democratic process should prevail, was there subtle influence fromAsoRockduringthistime?
Yes, there were. Those elements in the Villaweretheonesthatwantedaparticular candidateandtheydidn'thavethecourtesy tocallusasgovernorstoinformussothat wecouldhavediscussionsonthematteror evengiveourviews,butthatdidn'tmatter It was convenient to hide behind the President's name and say this, as if we cannotgotothePresidenttoaskhim. And thisistheirmodusoperandi.Peoplelikeme who can go to the President to ask him aboutanyrumourcomingfromtheVillais the most hated because I have that
Whatisyourtake?
Ifyoulookatthestatementfromtheother partyafterIspokeonthecashswap,weare notagainstthepolicy Cashlessistheway togo.Wehavenoproblemwithit,butyou don'tdoitinafewweeks. Allowtimefor every farmer, trader, student, market women in the villages to be able to take their money to the bank and get new currency or go and meet them where they are doing their business, take the bullion vanswithsecuritytothemandchangetheir moneyforthemwithease.POSwon'twork in some places where there is network challenge. Letussitdownandlookatthis thingandgiveareasonabletimetodothis thing.
Even the CBN Act that empowers the President to issue a directive on currency redesignsaysthatreasonabletimemustbe given before a currency ceases to be legal tender Arefewweeksareasonabletime? So,what'syourtakeonAtiku'sreaction?
The fact that the Presidential candidate of the PDP, who last week issued statement appealingforextensionbecausehewanted togetsympathynowturningaroundtosing anothersongspeaksvolume. Hewantedto comeouttospeakagainstourpartyandthe
cannot buy food; they cannot sell because there is no cash, and yet, the PDP's presidential candidate says don't extend becauseheisgainingfromit.
The incitement of the people against the governmentofAPCisagaintohim. This incitement is stronger in the North where Atiku hopes to benefit from. Secondly, we should know that the presidential candidates of the other parties, like the NNPP,havestrongrelationshipswithsome banksandevenownsome.Theycangetthe currencywhilewecan't.
IwantNigerianstounderstandveryclearly that it is unfortunate that somebody who advocated for extension last week is now saying don't extend. If he has the poor at heart, the farmers, the market women and men,thevillagers,hewon'tsaythat.
He has said the policy will tame votebuying.Isthiscorrect?
IfAtikuAbubarkaoranybodyissayingthat ifyouextend,therewillbevote-buying.Is Nairatheonlycurrencywithwhichyoucan buyvotes?YoucangoacrosstoNigerand buycefaifthedollaristoobig. Andafter elections,cefacanbeconvertedintoNaira. Thatisnotthesolutiontovote-buying.
Some have accused the President of not supporting your candidate as he has not been attending your party's presidential ralliesinrecenttimes. Isthattrue?
It is not true that President Buhari is not attendingourrallies. Thefirstmajorrallies we had in Jos, Plateau, Buhari was there, and spoke very well. And said Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is his Khalifah, meaningtheonecomingafterhim. The next place was in Kano but the Presidentwasnotthere.WhenImethim,I asked why, he said, he was not invited; he wasnotscheduled.Thatwaswhenwehad to schedule him forAdamawa, Yobe… In Adamawa, he raised Asiwaju's hands up and said this is my successor, this is my Khalifahandyou'reluckyasapartytohave him as the party's candidate judging from thegreatthingshedidinLagos.Hesaidthe samethinginYobe.
HewassupposedtobeinKwarabutdueto national engagements, he could not. He, however, asked the Vice President to representhim. He,too,couldnotmakeit. OnthedayhewassupposedtobeinOgun, he was somewhere else. So, it is not true that President Buhari is not supporting Asiwaju. The President alongsideTinubu andOgbonayaOnuandsomeotherpeople gavebirthtotheAPC. Hewillneverwork againsttheAPC. He may not go out of his way to help us like other presidents do, riggingelectionsfortheirparty,hemaynot liftafingertogiveanadvantage,buthewill never, never work against us. It is those elements that are doing these things and
responsibilityistogovernthecountry But when he is with us, he endorses our candidate; he praises Asiwaju and the relationshipbetweenthemisexcellent. Some polls have put the candidate of the Labour Party ahead of yours. How do you seethis?
Iaminlovewithdataanalysis. WhenIwas a student at the Kennedy School of Government, I was a teaching assistant on statistics The most important thing in looking at any opinion poll is the sample, followedbyyourmethodology Whenyou have about 100 million registered voters and you are sampling 2,000 registered voters,Iamsorry,yourresultsfromdayone are unreliable You will have a wide margin of errors. And most of those polls arelikethat.
What about methodology? Most of these polls, like the Bloomberg, the ANAP, the Okonjo-Iweala, all used telephones. How manyregisteredvotershavetheirtelephone onINEC'srecord?Itisjust31percent. So, from the beginning, your results are dead onarrival.Icantakeeachofthesepollsand deconstruct them This is because I understand their sampling and methodology So,withthegreatestrespect, thosepollsareajoke.
Wehavedoneapollwithasampleofnearly 40,000acrossNigeriaandtheresultshows thatweareahead.Yes,theelectionisgoing to be a tight one There is a large percentage of undecided. So, we must work hard to swing the undecided to our side,butweareahead.
HowcanPeterObi,whoispollingoneper centinSokoto,twopercentinKatsina,five percentinKano,wintheelection?Thefact that you are doing 70 per cent inAnambra state does not mean that somebody doing 10 per cent in Kano is not better than you. Kanohasfourmillionvotes.Thenumberof votersinAnambraisonelocalgovernment inKadunaState.Yes,PeterObiwillsweep South-eastern states; he will do well in South-South,whereelse?Hewon'tdowell intheSouthwest. Heispollingwellinthe Christian enclave in the North. But how many are they? Obi cannot win this election. He does not have the number of states. He does not have the 25 per cent spread. PeterObiisaNollywoodactorand thatiswherehewillbe.
This election is between the APC and the PDP because they have the spread Ethnicityandreligiousbigotrywillnottake you anywhere and those are what the LabourParty'scampaignsareabout.Weare theonlypartywithabroadbaseofsupport acrossNigeriaandbythegraceofGod,we aregoingtowin.
state and Lagos, said his administration would encourage such partnerships acrossthecountry
KebbiStateGovernorAtikuBaguduand Minister of Justice and AttorneyGeneral of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, who addressed the gathering calledonthemtocasttheirvotesforthe APC presidential candidate because of his past investments in advancing democracyinthecountry
Malami reminded the gathering that the APC administration has made major investments in agriculture, social welfareandinfrastructure,sayingitwas now time to pay back by voting in Tinubuandothercandidatesoftheparty
The Presidential Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has promised the people of Kebbi State major investments that will boostthestate'sagriculturalprofile.
Speaking while addressing the APC presidential campaign rally at Haliru AbduStadiuminBirninKebbi,thestate capital, Asiwaju Tinubu commended farmersinthestatefortherevolutionary ventureespeciallyinricefarming.
"Wearegoingtoinvestineducationand
agro-alliedindustriestomakeprosperity averysimplething.
"We will manage water resources to make sure that Nigeria becomes a leading agricultural country in Africa," hesaid.
The APC presidential candidate also promised to revive the now-moribund Argungu Fishing Festival and make it a touristdestinationinNigeria.
Tinubu, who acknowledged Kebbi's exploitsinriceproductionandhowthat created close partnership between the
He saidTinubu shared a lot in common with President Muhammadu Buhari, adding that if he is elected he would consolidateonthegainsrecordedbythe Buhariadministration.
The APC National Chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu and the DirectorGeneral of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, Governor Simon Bako Lalong, thanked the mammoth crowd who turned out for the rally, admonishingthemtovoteforTinubufor hissterlingtrackrecord.
Among those in attendance at the rally were Governors Mohammed Badaru Abubakar (Jigawa), Dr Abdullahi
Ganduje (Kano), Bello Matawalle (Zamfara) and Prof. Babagana Zulum (Borno).
Others were Senate Leader, Senator Ibrahim Gobir; former governorsAliyu Wamakko (Sokoto); Mahmud Shinkafi (Zamfara)andSaiduDakingari(Kebbi).
AlsoinattendancewereformerSpeaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Dimeji Bankole, APC National Woman Leader, Dr Betta Edu, Deputy Director-General of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, Hadiza Bala Usman; Alhaji Ibrahim Masari, amongothers.
TinubuMediaOffice AbdulazizAbdulaziz
February11,2023
will say, which is changing this policy
And help us, sensitize relatives and everyonetostoptakingthesenotestothe bank,continuetransactingbusinesswith youroldnotes.BythegraceofGod,no one will suffer any loss This responsibility is on us. You voted us to
protect your rights. Wallahi, we shall stand firm and protect your rights until thedayGodtakesourlives.
This is what I came to tell you, I crave your indulgence to remain patient; no riots,nounrestbecausethatiswhatthey want.
And here he is; together we are making this promise, any indigene of Kaduna state that has the old notes from now till the next four years, if APC is elected, Uba will returnhismoney Wewillensurehegets hismoney
So, stop changing notes And tell everyonetostoptakingnotestothebank when you transact, collect the old notes if you are given, stop insisting on collecting only the new notes; your businesswillcrumble.Thatiswhatthey want.
Tell everyone in Kaduna state, anyone
with the old notes should go ahead and make purchases. Tell every trader to collecttheoldnotes.NasiruElRufaiand Uba Sani and Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu have promised you, if we are elected, this policy will be changed and everyone will be given as much time as should to change their notes Stop returning notes to the bank; hold onto your money Nobody will render your moneyworthless.Itislaw Noonedares. It's a matter of patient. We have just 18 days from today to election. Once the electionisover,youjustwaittohearthe greatthingAsiwajuBolaAhmedTinubu
Whatisthesignificanceof today's (Wednesday) event where you hosted about 20 groups supporting Asiwaju Bola Tinubu's presidentialbid,especiallyonyour birthday?
It is very significant to do this for AsiwajuBolaTinubu.Hehasdoneso much for some of us. So this is a payback time for some for us to ensure that he becomes the next President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
On this occasion of my birthday, I thought about adding colour to it by promoting BAT and honour the groups that have made me their patron to be recognized. There are verymanyvoluntarygroupsallover the country, hence we want them to speak with one voice so that they wouldbeabletoachievetheirdream, so that we can all benefit from his governmentcome2023.
What does Nigeria stands to gain if BATbecomesPresident?
Well, I know Bola Tinubu will be a listening President. You know that the problem we have now is that we are unable to gain access to Mr President.And he has been there for oversevenyears,butIhavenotbeen able to see him. I have booked an appointment several times but it has notbeenpossible.
Before the elections it was easy for
heads across the country and ethnic divides to show that he is a panNigeria patriot. Some of them are serving at the national level now in different capacities. He raised the state's internally generated revenue astronomically to the benefit of the state.
Though he was in the opposition whenChiefOlusegunObasanjowas the President, he created 37 local governments, but Obasanjo failed to allow them to be listed in the NigerianConstitution.Ifyoulookat the population of Lagos State, it is almostatparwiththatofKanoState. Since then, Kano State has been dividedintothreestateswhichhavea total of about 90 local governments. Kano alone today has a total of 44 localgovernments.
Obasanjo did not fight those who split Kano State into three, but he fought Lagos State from having additional local governments He thoughtitwasunnecessaryforLagos to have additional councils and withheld our Federal Allocation to thesecouncils.
Tinubu also transformed the infrastructural landscape of the state after finding a way around the issue offundstomakesurethatpeopledid not feel the impact of the seizure of thelocalgovernmentfunds.Heeven went as far as generating electricity becausewesufferedalotofblackout during the period. Even at then, Obasanjo still fought him, saying hedidnothavesuchpower
someofustotalktohim,butsincehe became President it has been impossible.Thatisnotgoodenough. You would not be able to know or hear what people are saying when youblockthemfromreachingyou. But Bola Tinubu has an open door policy Andtherefore,hewillbeable to listen to the people and identify with their needs and find the way to solvethem.Sowhatwereallyneedis a Bola Tinubu government that will replicatewhathedidinLagos.
What specifically do you mean by whathedidinLagos?
If you remember, when he was governor of Lagos State, he effectively utilized human resources across the country for the development of the state He is reputedtohavediscoveredmanyegg
Thisisthetypeofpersonwewant, somebodywhowillfightdoggedly for the people; who will feel the painofthepeople;whowillmake sure that people are happy all the time by responding to their needs and aspirations I think that Nigerianswillnotloseanythingby votingforBolaAhmedTinubu.In fact I assure them that Bola Tinubu's period will be the best Nigeriawilleverhave. The same faith issue has been a matter of concern. How do you see it?
Well, if you look at it this way, presently, we have a strong Muslim asPresidentandastrongChristian,a pastor and a strong pillar in the Redeemed Christian conglomerate asVicePresident,haveyouseenany major difference? Is there anything theyhavedonethatisdifferentfrom when they had Muslim/Christian or Christian/Christianticket? Now,thedichotomyalongthelineof religionisameredecoration,itdoes not have any significant impact on the progress and development of the country What we need right now is people who can provide for the people –satisfy the four cardinal
programmes- free education, free health service, housing for all and security That is what we want and Godwillhelpustoachievethese. How do you see the various securitychallengesinthecountry? Well,thereisnodoubtthatthereare serious security challenges in the country, but all the same, the social media has over-exaggerated it. You see, security is one of the major globalproblemsatthismoment.Soit isnotpeculiartoNigeria. Also, the journalists have not done theirjobverywell,becauseeachtime there is a security breach they will say they are from one part of the country Mostofthekidnappingand other crimes happening in Southern Nigeria are carried out by Southerners, but the journalists call them Fulani herdsmen, without investigation.
So they have exaggerated the issue beyond what is happening. I am not saying there are no infringements, butitisexaggerated.
Don't forget too, that some of our people in the South-East, whether you call them unknown gunmen or not, are also part of the problem. I remember there was a man who stormed a church and wanted to kidnapapriest,butwasarrested.
Ifhehadsucceededtheywouldhave said the kidnap was carried out by Fulani herdsmen. If a Fulani man is goingtokidnapanyonewillhewear theculturaldressofaFulani? So let us stop giving ethnic colourationtocriminality.Whenour
peoplekidnapandyoupeoplereport that they are Fulani, you will not allowthepolicetodotheirownwork. Police will be looking for Fulani whereas the perpetrators are Southerners themselves. We have to be very careful about what we publish especially in the social media.
A major measure of good governance is responsiveness on thepartofthegovernment.Would you say the APC government has been responsive when it comes to security?
Now,unknowntomostofyou,bythe time Buhari took over government, 12localgovernmentswereunderthe control of Boko Haram and nobody didanythingwhiletheterroristwere expanding their territories It was when Buhari came to office that he took over those local governments. He didn't make noise nor interact with the people when he dislodged Boko Haram from those local governments.
Boko Haram is now doing damage control attacking soft targets and runningaway Howcanpeoplederail atrainwhentheyknewlotsofpeople, including children would be affected? What do you want to achieve?Isthatareligiouswar? No, rather, wanton destruction. By the grace of God all those who carriedoutthatcrimewouldbedealt withbyoursecurityagencies.
SenatorAnthonyAdefuyeisachieftainoftheAllProgressivesCongress,(APC)whoservedasacontemporaryofthepresidentialcandidateoftheAPC, SenatorBolaTinubu,attheNationalAssemblyintheearly90s. InthisinterviewwithBIYIADEGOROYE,hespeaksonthechancesofTinubuinthe2023generalelectionsandothernationalissuesOn25February2023,Iwillpick this voter's card, walk to the pollingcentreandcastmyvote for His Excellency, Chief Ahmed Bola Tinubu, the Jagaban Borgu. This is a firmcommitmentgivenafterahistoryof association, honour, demographic reality, constitutional requirement, weighing pros and cons as well as the personalities of the candidate and his runningmate.
Association
In 2011, I supported the presidential candidature of Nuhu Ribadu. Together we travelled and met with the Jagaba manytimesinLagos.WhyIpitchedmy tent with Ribadu then, apart from sharing many things like age, world view, personality, background, geography, etc, was the firm belief that no matter how popular is a northern candidate, he needs to crossover to the South for additional votes and geographic spread that the constitution
stipulates. For Buhari to run again that year, 2011, after two previous unsuccessful attempts, would be an exerciseinfutilityasitindeedprovedto be after failure of the last minute CPC/ACN merger attempt then. The resultsdidnottietowarrantthesecond roundascalculatedinBuhari'squarters. In2015themergerwasdoneandvictory was achieved. Elections are about law andnumbers.Nomagic.
There will hardly be any southerner better fit for the position of a partner to the North than the Jagaba today He is ourAbiola,ifnotbetter Assomeofmy readersrightlysaid,hehaspatronizedus many times: Atiku in 2007 under AC, Ribadu in ACN (2011) and Buhari in APC (2015).This is a consistent friend inneed.Honourbegetsreciprocity
Furthermore, I am aware that the Muslim identity of the Jagaba has been used to disenfranchise him politically three times. In 2011, Buhari was not keenonthemergerthatrequiredPastor BakaretowithdrawforTinububecause he Buhari was opposed to a MuslimMuslim ticket after receiving over a decade of bashing from the southern pressovershariah.
In2015,Tinubuwasbluntlyandbrutally told at a caucus meeting that he cannot deputize for Buhari because he was Muslim He swallowed that and presentedOsinbajo.
For the third time, for 2023, the some peoplewanttocrucifyhimforpickinga Muslim as deputy against all odds. He believes that the Muslim identity of his runningmatewillearnhimthewinning voteandchoosingaNorthernChristian that will upset the Muslims will deny himourvote.
HowhonorablewouldIlookifIwouldI turn my back against a friend in need
who earlier provided platforms for my brothersandnowbelieveinmycapacity to rescue him? What if my son will contestthePresidencytomorrowandhe goes to the Southwest to ask for support?Andthatdaywillcome,whena northerner will again be in need of that alliance. Let us behave wisely 2023 is not the end of Nigeria. We must guard thehonourthatweareknownfor
Southernpartnersofthenorthhavebeen changingovertheyearsbuttheyremain constantlyrelevant.TheNorthmustnot return to those days of serial losses by promoting a candidate acceptable only to it.This is the situation that theAtiku ticketpresentstoday,regrettably
Ourbrother,theWazirinAdamawa,His Excellency,AlhajiAtikuAbubakar,has failed, against all advice, to patiently nurturethesupportoftheSouth-southin 2011 after losing the ticket to the incumbent Instead, he supported BuharioftheopposingCPC.Worsestill, in2015heabandonedthethePDP,led5 governors in rebel against the southern President, claiming that it was the north's turn, and decamped to APC to humiliate Jonathan out of power Now he has gone to the south-south cup in handandtheypaidhimbackinhisown coins.
Still after Bubari's 8 years, in 2022, he blockedtheemergenceofSoutheastand south-south candidates, claiming that rotationisapartymatter Thisproduced PeterObiticketandtheG5;twoblocks that will deny him the traditional PDP votesintheSoutheastandSouth-south. Southwest is already effectively blockedagainsthimbyTinubu. The Waziri is effectively left with the North Here, Benue, Plateau and Southern Kaduna are not likely to vote for “another Fulani”, as we heard them
declare repeatedly The votes of the Muslim North are themselves divided for and against him, not united as they were for Buhari. Borno and Yobe, will massively vote for APC The ruling party even for kinship will also take KwaraandKogi.Thenincumbencywill retain for APC the states of Kaduna, Niger, Zamfara, Gombe and possibly Katsina.Yes, Waziri will getAdamawa and Taraba and possibly Sokoto and Kebbi. Bauchi and Nasarawa are still uncertainforhim.
ThenasBabachirandsomeanti-muslim irredentists are threatening northern Muslims of humiliation, a block vote, including Kano, in favour of MuslimMuslimticketispossible.Thatwillseal thefateofAtikudecisively
Now,Thiscalculusdoesnotadduptoan electoralwininanyway Itisarecipefor the disasters of 2003, 2007 and 2011 to repeatthemselves.
Babachir'sinsolenceisanevilthatmust be disproved and defeated by both Muslims and Christians Those who failedtoearntheAPCVPticketshould return and introspect on why they were not electorally viable enough to win it, not resort to blackmailing and threatening 120 million Muslims. That willonlyprovetheeviltheyare,which made it right for the Jagaba to reject them. Nobody can publicly say he will teach 120 million citizens a lesson and be allowed to succeed unless if those citizensareworsethandonkeys.Nolion can stand an army of 120 million donkeys.
Now Babachir's insult has pushed even the reluctant Muslims to prove their electoral worth as they are increasingly rallying behind the Muslim-Muslim ticket The majority well-meaning Christians should also do the same
Babachir is posing an existential threat toallnortherners.IfthereisaChristian thatwillbefairtoMuslimstomorrow,I andmanyMuslimswillvoteforhim,as many of us did for Obasanjo and Jonathanbetween1999and2011.Buta genocidal psychopath of whatever religion does not deserve to be even a deputy local government chairman anywhere in this country Let us leave himtogrumbleandcrumblealone.
SamefaithticketsarenotnewinNigeria and they are presently practiced in all predominantly Christian States like Plateau, Benue, Edo and even in a number of Southwestern states where Muslims are predominant Their Muslims have not threatened national security for their selfish reasons as Babachirandhisgangaredoinguphere. Tam.
Beyond the acquaintance, honour of reciprocity, averting past electoral disasters suffered by the North and the existential challenge of the Babachirs, the Tinubu/ Shettima ticket presents a lot of pros which my readers expressed when I asked their opinion on the my Facebook page last week. I share the viewsofthosewhoareconvincedofthe Jagaba's record performance in Lagos, arguably the best that the country has knownofagovernorsince1999,which, according to the readers,came from his courage, team work, modernity, foresight,talenthunting,etc.
For a person who also believes in efficiency, I cannot but be attracted to the Jagaba Nigeria needs system upgrading and in some areas even disk reformatting. The Jagaba is the perfect person with the record to handle that squarely No one better than him can pursue digital reform in commerce, taxation, education, governance, communications, etc. His pragmatism andpenchantformodernityisneededto solveoursecurityandotherchallenges. Who can project the success story of Lagosatthenationallevelbetterthanits original author—the Jagaba? None of my readers has denied him these qualities.
From among my readers who are opposedtotheTinubuPresidencyarea number of cons which arise from five sources:theperceivedlimitationsofage and much touted fake stories of his sickness; the accusation of supporting OPC to kill Hausas in Lagos while he was governor; the perception of tribalism,astheIgboandHausatooare accused of by others; his affiliation to APC and the President, considering what the readers consider as the failure of the government in many areas in the past 8 years; and the predominantly Christiannatureofhishouse.
Well on the first and last issue, the runner-up candidate, the Waziri of Adamawa, cannot completely acquit himself of them either He too is old. Being over 70 he must have evidently slowed down and he cannot disclaim having age associated illnesses. Above 60,onemusthaveoneortwo.Theyboth have slip tongues as a President Buhari Buhari did in Germany and suffers issuesofmemorymanytimes.Joswere both misnamed their parties—PDAPC and APDP was no coincidence Kwankwaso had it once in Kano too: NPCP Mischief makers do not deserve ourattention.
Evenat61,IhavehadmanytimesthatI could not recall names instantly The brain just fails to retrieve the information from the disk as fast as when I was much younger I had the privilegeofmeetingtheJagabarecently andwassurprisedthathenegatedthose stories by holding me to a night conversation of one hour after a long day he had in Ebonyi. I watched him appear from his room, walked towards me straight, shook my hands and sat right beside me. There is no sign, then and not in his appearance at Chattam House and the BBC a week later, of a debilitatingsicknessaspurportedandhe appearstogetincreasinglystronger
Inanycase,thestrengthofanyleaderis notintheclassofhisweight;otherwise, America would have made Tyson a President. It is in the people a leader rallies around him. To be fair to the Jagaba whose talent-hunting obsession is renowned, his Presidency as an
theOPCcame,wehadnoexperienceof Plateau, Boko Haram and Bandits. Is it justified for anyone now to equally accuse Governors Sheriff, Shettima, Zulum, Yari, El-rufa'i or even the Presidentwhohasallourwararsenalof being supporters or financiers or Boko Haram or Bandits? What will be our reaction—believehimorrefutehim?So if the late Sheikh Jafar were alive, he wouldhavewithdrawnhisfatwaonthe Jagaba for he would have known the hardwaythatGovernorsdonothavethe power of controlling high level violence.Theycanonlycooperatewith the Federal Government, which the JagabadidandOPCwasquelledthough not before it left many innocents dead, as Boko Haram and bandits are doing today
Allthemajortribesaccuseeachotherof tribalism.PresidentBuhariisaccusedof preferring Hausa Muslims in appointments The Hausa see the
the successes of the President and has promised to build on his good works. Wherenecessary,hewillchangecourse, surely IamBolaAhmedTinubu,hetold the BBC Come again Is the alternative the PDP in a better positionthantheAPCwhenitcomesto failureofadministration?
Soputgenerally,theprosoftheTinubu Presidency would by far outweigh its cons. Yet, there is another pillar of the ticket we must mention before we concludethispiece—thebackup.
KashimShettima
In his choice of a running mate, the Jagaba has made a very strategic one. Choosing Kashim earns him not only a reliableandloyalVP,butalsoacredible one His Excellency, Alhaji Kashim Shettima,theformerGovernorofBorno State and a present senator, is not only highly competent but also carries a political aura that can shelter the entire North, coming from the prestigious
institution will run unhindered by his age He cannot have our bests, the Kashims, Elrufai's, the Ribadus , the Hadizas,theModibbos,theArabis,etc. andfailtoperform.Butifhewillresort to family and friends instead of competence,thenIconcedethathisage will become aggravating. He is not as old as Mahathir Mohammed or Joe Biden after all, not minding similar attacks from Trump during the 2020 campaignsaboutthelatter
Intheend,asMuslims,wemustbelieve that“nosoulshalldieexceptbythewill ofGod,adecreedetermined”,asHesaid in the Qur'an. Period. Furthermore, the constitutionhasforeseenthatandmade the necessary provisions, whether an electedPresidentislivingordead.
TheChristiancomponentoftheWaziri's family cannot be denied and neither is he a better practicing Muslim than the Jagaba. None of them is a Sheikh or Imam,anyway
The OPC related killings cannot be ascribedtohimjustbecausehewasthe Governor of Lagos. We northerners in particular must understand that by now better than anyone. Unfortunately for the Jagaba, he was the Guinea Pig of insurrection in this dispensation. When
Yoruba as more tribal though. But the Jagabahassetarecordhere.Morethan any governor, he has elevated nonnatives of Lagos including Hausas to levels of commissioners, helped many grow their businesses in Lagos including Dangote. Of course, as with Buhari in 1984 or Elrufai in FCT and now Kaduna, anyone wanting to modernizecitieshastoencroachintothe business spaces of the common man who is fond of erecting illegal structures The Jagaba cannot modernize Lagos by magic. He has to touch such structures belonging to commonerstoo.Butallsaid,Ithinkhis inclination for merit in administration willblunthisnaturalinstinctofkinship, whichweallshareanyway Hemaynot give 3 ministries to a single Hausaman as Buhari did to Fashola but he will not suppress northern talent at all. His record denies thatflatly
Finally, there is nothing he can do regarding the failure of APC He is undoubtedly its chieftain but not more. The President and members of his cabinetshouldcarrytheircross—andso should governors, each in his own domain. The Jagaba has acknowledged
Kanuri tribe and with the personal humility to listen, respect, engage and accommodateall.Heisamongourbest.
TheJagabadidnotlookforalackluster yesmanofnofirmroots.Hewentfora talent that is both loyal and strong enoughtosupportthePresident,humble enough to follow him and honest enoughtocautionhim.Thatismyfriend andmaster,Kashim.WiththeJagabaas the President and him as the VP, I can find no safer shelter among the 2023 presidentialcamps.
Thesearemyreasonsforansweringthe call to support the Tinubu/Shettima ticket.AndIcalloneverydispassionate mind to do so for the sake of unity and progress of our country I am not only promisingthiscausemyvoteandthatof myfamily,butIwillworkhardtoearnit manymore,asmuchasmytalent,body andresourcescanaffordmeinthenext twomonths.Comewithme.
May God be with us and guide us to what is best for our dear country as we vote for the next President on 25 February2023.
During his campaign rally in Abeokuta, Ogun State, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the APC presidential candidateandthefront-runnerinthe coming presidential election, hinted at a plot to frustrate his hugelyaccepted presidential ambition. He spoke angrily against a mysterious fuelscarcitythatsuddenlypoppedup atthetailendoftheAPCregimethat isfamousfortamingtheennuioffuel scarcity and which, at present, appears intractable and against an opaque monetary policy that was suddenly propped up just before the electionandwhichstandsoutforthe jarring contradictions and oddities thathadmadeitlookconfusingwhile levyingsuspiciousdifficultiesonthe generality of Nigerians He, nonetheless, and in an exceptionally confident and self-assured manner, vowed he would defeat all those behind these policies and eventually emerge victorious in the coming Februaryelection.
ThatisvintageAsiwaju;bold,suave, confident, courageous and decisive. He doesn't know how to sneak
through innuendos and speculations on government policies and issues thataffectNigeria.Heisversed.Heis knowledgeable He is wellconnected. He has the benefits of men, women, young, and old and resources needed to read well policies, issues and developments that affect Nigeria and Nigerians This remains the reason why he has been able to dominate the country's political sphere today from the position of sole opposition governor in2003. SoTinubuhasenoughvital information and facts to back any statement or position on Nigerian governance. Tinubu is too vast and knowledgeable on Nigerian issues such that any utterance he makes carries such a hefty weight that provesitscredulity
queeranddestructive.Theseareakin to a boxing watch below the belt to score points Opposition to someone's ambition and dream is legitimate Still, when it veers towards levying mass torture to stop an aspiration, it becomes devilish. It panders to the extreme guile and inordinate selfish desires of the perpetratorsofthesevillainies. Are there some people or forces opposed to Tinubu's presidency that theycangotoanylengthtofrustrate his ambition? Yes, there are. Many people and forces desire to stop Asiwaju.Thatisnatural.Thatiseven legit. There is nothing wrong with that.Thereisnothingillegalaboutit. So,itshouldbenobigdealthatsome
Those who have bandied together like desperate heathens to stop Asiwaju are struggling in vain becauseAsiwajuislikeatraininfull motionthatcan'tbestoppedmidway through a journey. I have solid reasonstomaintainthisposition.
through his feelings when he sees threats discreetly He doesn't cower away and hide in cowardly diplomatese when he sees a battle. He doesn't know how to wear an affable mien and pretend through a challenge. He doesn't know how to cowerawayinfrightwhenthereisa battletofight.Asiwajuisdefiantand bold when he sees a battle. In this situation, he calls out the cowardly saboteurs that hide under indecent policiestoconstituteobstaclestohis God-appointed desire to take up the challenge of turning round the fortunes of Nigeria, as he did that of Lagos.
Many Nigerians took Asiwaju's statement seriously Asiwaju is not your ordinary Nigerian who claws
people and forces would be strenuously exerting themselves to stop Asiwaju Every person with ambitionhasfacedsuchobstacles.
But then, why should some people levy war on the generality of Nigeriansjusttoconstituteobstacles on the paths of one man to rule Nigeria, as the present hoarding and fuelsupplyrestrictionportend?Why should state officials introduce and adamantly stick to an inchoate currencypolicylikethepresentNaira redesignation and enforcement of a cash withdrawal policy which negatively impacts the generality of the Nigerian people, just to stop one man's political dream? These are areaswhereoppositionorobstacleto Asiwaju'sambitionbecomesstrange,
My concern with such in this article is how extreme some people can go to satisfy their selfish political desires. My problem is that people can deviate from the norm, tow the paths of mass ruination to quench their deadly desires, caring no hoot whatbecomesofthegeneralityofthe peopleforwhompoliticalambitions aimtoserve.Myconcernisthatsome peoplecangetsodesperateastopull down the whole house in order to satisfy their bestial interests, as the present hoarding of fuel and the artificial monetary scarcity are scorchingNigerians.Itisatthislevel that opposition to other peoples' ambitions and political interests becomes evil. The current project to create a syndicated crisis, make the Buhari/APC government look bad and make the candidate of APC unpopular heading to the February election is an evilproject.Itisanextensive and humongous project that wouldn't mind taking down thewholeofNigeriawithitif thatwouldstopAsiwaju.Itis an expansive project that melds the opposition and the fifthcolumnistsworkingwith the APC government together They have joint interests that converge at stopping Asiwaju by all means.
But there is no gain in saying that these dark forces are struggling in vain. Asiwaju himself emphatically stated that much at the same Abeokutarallyandeventsandtrends that have so far unfurled in the process leading to the February election show that Asiwaju is unstoppable in his dream of leading Nigeria at this turn of our history
Firstly, Nigerians know that the Nigerian presidency is about competenceandproofofthecapacity todealdecisivelywiththestatehood problems confronting Nigeria. Nigerians know that only Asiwaju has the proven capacity and competencetotakethecountrydown the paths of development and progress at this turn of our history Good enough, none of the other dreamers for the job has made any claim to equal or superior competence thanAsiwaju, so he has warehoused the trust of Nigerians that he is best equipped and competent for the Nigerian presidency, and a momentary sabotage by negative forces and principalitiescanneverunhingethis. Secondly,Asiwajuhasanunbeatable governancetemplateinLagosthatis unstoppable in terms of growth and progresstoflaunt.Therisingfortunes
of Lagos, as well as the universallyacknowledged fact that Asiwaju birthedandwateredthetemplatethat has assured this exponential progress, has succeeded in convincing Nigerians that in Asiwaju, Nigeria has a redoubtable achiever whose Midas touch stands to influence the fortunes of the country positively So, it is guaranteed that the desperate prattle
of the opposition and the fifth columnistswithintheAPCwillnever reverse the huge advantageAsiwaju has already gotten among Nigerians who have invested so much faith in his capacity to re-enact the positive Lagos story in Nigeria if elected president.
Thirdly, through the campaign trail so far, it is obvious that the coming election is almost anAsiwaju affair With his major challenger, Atiku mired in humongous corruption scandalsandwithhiscampandparty shredded in cyclical schism and
millions of Nigerians are seeing this in the ongoing campaign, thus disproving the baleful, outlandish and dense propaganda of the distrustedopposition.
Sixthly,Tinubuhasproducedaclear, cadent and expressive manifesto embeddedinhisRenewedHopeplan forNigeria.Thisclearlyspellsouthis programs, policies and plans for the country, as well as the process of actualisation of these policies. This contrastswiththeshambolic,unclear andfuzzyprogramsofhisopponents. NigerianshavecometotrustAsiwaju
tolerance across the board and the downplaying of the divide lines on national issues. He has proven his toleranceandacceptabilityacrossthe boardandtheprescriptionofsuchfor the good of the Nigerian commonwealth.These have ensured the tightened grip he has on a majority of Nigerian electorates as the election draws nearer, and the gripistootighttobeloosenedbythe slyactivitiesoftheopposition.
is that all other opposition parties combined don't come near APC in strength, reach and capacity, so the actionsofafew(evenifstrategically placed) blacklegs won't do much to shred the awesome might of APC, whichisrangedforTinubu.
unamendabledivision,itisbecoming obvious from the enthusiasm and attendance at the rallies and other strategic engagements that form parts of the campaign process, that the game is Asiwaju's as he draws unprecedented crowd and enthusiasmthatcutsacrosstheboard inallthestateshehascampaignedin deference to the sparse, unenthusiastic attendanceAtiku and othercontestantsdraw
Fourthly, Asiwaju has shown his deep organisational and strategic prowess by the way and manner he had engaged Nigerians from all persuasionsandwalksoflifethrough his innovative Town-Hall-Meetings and such other fora that are hitherto alien to Nigerian politics His opponentscopypoorly,yettheydon't have the depth and zeal to match Asiwaju's originality, which he is imbuing in the current campaign With his strategic engagements, he hasbeenabletolockdownthevotes and support of critical population segments, and this can never be undonebytheactionsofadesperate but deficient opposition to his ambition.
Fifthly,Asiwajuhasdonemuchmore workandhassofarworkedfarmore harder than other candidates in the current campaign. He maintains a tighter, more crowded and more busiercampaignschedulethanallthe other candidates combined This showsthat,contrarytothefrustrated campaign of the opposition alleging that Asiwaju is not healthy, he had demonstrated that he leads a healthier,morerobustandfitlifethan hisopponents.Hehasshownthathe is far more fitter for the job, and
based on the clearness and explicit nature of his Renewed Hope manifesto,asthisprovesthefactthat Asiwaju has proved his hugelysuccessful tenure in Lagos. There is the belief writ large amongst Nigerians today that, like in Lagos, Tinubu knows the way and the process to strike success in governance, unlike others that stumble their way through governancehencetheirunproductive and forgotten tenures in previous governancepositions.
Seventhly, Asiwaju has shown, for decades, that he is a detribalised patriot and a believer in Project Nigeriawhohaserectedimpregnable structures and walls of strength across the disparate divides that make up the country He has built infallible bridges across the length and breadth of Nigeria, and these have promised him dedicated massive support across the country The fire-brigade actions of a malevolent opposition would not be abletowithstandthesebridges,aswe wouldseeinFebruary Thesebridges ensured his emphatic victory in the hugely contested APC presidential primary,andtheyaretheretoreward him in February with the ultimate presidentialcrownequally Eighthly, Asiwaju has shown, through his family life and his policiesasLagosGovernor,thatheis blind to religious, ethnic and primordial sentiments. This is a critical imperative to providing value-freeleadershiptoadiversified country like Nigeria While other candidates play on the ethnic and religious fault lines of the country, Asiwaju preaches and prescribes
Ninthly, Asiwaju is well tutored on thenuancesofelectioneeringaswell as the antics of opposition interests, so he won't easily fall prey to the plots, schemes and shenanigans of desperate opposition interests Asiwaju's capacity is borderless and across boundaries His reach is infinite.Hisconstituencyiscatholic, and his means are limitless. These have made him build an opposition that vassaled a ruling party, took effectivecontrolofthegovernanceof thecountryandwhichhassentenced theonce-rulingpartytoabile-ridden, distraught and frustrated opposition today Asiwaju's enormous contacts have stood him in good stead to withstand the many booby traps and snarethehurtingNigerianopposition set on his way since 2015. His farreachingcontactsensurethathestays severalmilesaheadofthosethathave fervently plotted his downfall since 1999. He vanquished the imperial Obasanjo as Lagos governor, made mincemeat of Jonathan and the PDP government from 2011 to 2015, madePDPdevourthesandinsuchan emphaticmannerandeasilytookthe APC ticket in what was predicted to beatightrace.Ahideousopposition working cowardly to sabotage the system so as to make APC and its
So, the coming presidential election still remains an exclusive game Asiwajuisagamemasterofrepute,a formidable tactician, a logistician and a master crafter that knows his way around the Nigerian political spacelikethemasterheis.Anticsofa frustratedoppositionaccountforthe least of the political issues he had been dealing with on his way to the top So when he boasted that he would defeat the present conspiracy of the opposition, those versed with hisrichpoliticalhistoryknewhewas statingtheobvious.
With his Abeokuta revelation, the lifeblood has been sapped from the conniving opposition and their cahoots in the APC government Theirfallisamatterofverylittletime because they draw their devious energy from working under the cover, believing no one knows their game. But Asiwaju took that cover offinAbeokuta;hencetheirfallistoo eminent.EvenasIwritethispiece,I amgettinginformationthattherehas been a massive ramp-up in fuel distribution across Nigeria, thus paving the way for the eventual resolution of this artificial energy crisis. The solution to the currency crisis is well nigh with Asiwaju's revelation So, in Asiwaju's impending presidency, Nigeria will haveabold,fearlessandcourageous leader who would be ready to frontally deal with the heinous saboteursactivelyengagedintheact
governmentunpopularastofrustrate Asiwaju's ambition would be very easy meat for a veteran fighter and survivorlikeAsiwajutohandle.
TheAPC may have some black legs within (and this is natural for any human organisation).APC may still havemolesworkingforadishevelled PDPanditscandidate.Still,thetruth
of doing everything to cripple the Nigerian state to satisfy their selfish interests.TheyknowthatAsiwajuis comingtogivethemarealbattle,so the present sabotage of the fuel supply chain and currency restrictions are parts of their deadly projects to frustrate him. Like he emphatically said inAbeokuta, they will all fail because they are dealing withtheownerofthegamehimself.
Former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Deputy National Chairman Chief Olabode George has blamed presidential candidate Atiku AbubakarandNationalChairman Iyorchia Ayu for their silence on theragingfuelandcashscarcities.
He also expressed surprise over the silence maintained by the Campaign Director-General, Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal.
George said: “In all honesty, I cannot decipher the logic of quietness against the cliff edge thatNigeriahasbeenplunged.
“Our party, the PDP, and others, such as the Labour Party, SDP, NNPP,seemtohaveconcurredto the present shenanigan. I wonder, what hate, what evil, what madness will propel anyone of sane mind to plunge Nigeria into the present state of hopelessness, annihilation and abject suffering ofthecitizenry.”
The PDP elder, who spoke with reporters in Lagos, lamented that “due to this anomaly, which is a deviationfromregulationorwhat isregardedasnormal,thereseems to be a graveyard silence on the partofPDPleadership.
George said: “It puzzles rationality It benumbs our senses asNigerianswakeupeverydayto daily agonies of perennial fuel scarcity,tossedatusbytheNNPC and the agony of non-availability ofcash,occasionedbytheCentral Bank of Nigeria (CBN) through itsNairarebranding.
“Where is the Presidential candidate of our party, the PDP, Atiku Abubakar? Where is Iyorchia Ayu, the National Chairman.Howcomethevoiceof theDG,CampaignCouncilofthe PDP is drowned in perpetual silence, with the presidential electionjustafewdaysaway?
“Why have they allowed their voices to be drowned in conspiratorial silence? Where are the opposition political parties? What does the graveyard silence portendforNigerians?Itseemsto
meanthatNigerians'righttogood hasbeenconsignedtothedustbin bythepoliticalclass..”
To the former Ondo military Governor, the Federal Government is overwhelmed, stunned, halted, stalled, and puzzled about grappling with the currentchallenges.
He added:”I believe the various state actors can do better Managersofoureconomyshould not take Nigerians for granted by churning out retrogressive economicpolicies.
“Weshouldratherstrivetoreview ourfocusandourultimatehorizon Nigeria must withdraw from the destructivebrink.”
George lamented that the country has continued to toy with power supply, which is very germane to the development of any developingeconomy
HesaidNigerialosesanestimated $29 billion in accruable revenue everyyearduetoepilepticpower, addingthatitisnotsustainable.
George stressed:”Power is the very lifeblood of all industrial revolution. It is the fuel of all economic development. A nation without efficient power supply cannotriseintothebrightdawnof thedigitalcivilisation.
"IfIgotobanktoaskforcash, don't give me, if you see my cheque,ifyoucan'thonorit,I'll understand.AllI'msayingislet these petty traders get their daily withdrawal limit without this stress They are leaving their daily job to queue at ATMs,thisissad"
“It is stuck forever in the bleak dark side of economic underdevelopment and teeters inevitably on economic ruination.”
On the chaotic cash crunch imbroglio, George said:”The decision of the manager of our financial system, the CBN, to redesign the Naira, has only pushed the country further into direstraits.
“Our national economy has sunk deeper into the abyss, and the peoplearebeingmadetobecome refugeesintheirowncountrywith hungerravagingeveryhome.The policyonthecurrencyshouldnot have been contemplated in the wayitwasimplemented.”
Headded:“Thecitizenryareonly worse for the policy, toiling in vain every day for the nonavailability of the new notes.The tragic comedy of the financial crisisistheinternalexchangerate racketgoingoninallthestates.
“For you to get Naira cash across the counter and from POS operators, there is an 'exchange rate' (charges) depending on the financial smartness of the operators.
“Nigeriansnowpaybetween10% and25%forthemtogettheirhard-
earned Naira cash. Nigeria must be the only country in the world where you pay 'officially' a percentage in local currency for youtogetyourmoneyinbanks.”
George said Nigerians cannot be forcedtomoveawayfromacashbased economy to a complete cashless regime overnight, judging by the current archaic state of technology, the internet which is still in its epileptic state and the perennial fuel supply situation , which has also thrown thecountryintoturmoil.
Frowning at the fuel scarcity, he said it is scandalous, adding:”As Africa'slargestcrudeoilproducer, many months of fuel scarcity, especially during the Christmas and New Year festivities, reflects thedysfunctioninNigeria'spublic administrationandtheeconomy.”
The government and its agencies are clueless, making conflicting statements and embarking on uncoordinatedactions.Thisisthe time for Nigerians to open their eyes and minds by voting for a competent and experienced person to take us to the promise land. We cannot afford to make mistakes this time around. Any move short of this is a recipe for completechaos.”
AsiwajuBolaAhmedTinubu
"Now that you have taken our money away, no cash no transfer, no network, I hope you won't accuse us again that wewerebribedwhen T i n u b u w i n s landslide?..."
AsariDokubo
Redirect our nation from misrule,” thepartyadded.
However, in a swift reaction, the Senator who has secured the PDP ticket to contest the Enugu East Senatorial District, in the forthcoming National Assembly electionshasdescribedhisexpulsion fromthepartyasajoketakentoofar Nnamani in an open letter to the Senator Iyorchia Ayu-led National Working Committee (NWC) of the peoples Democratic Party (PDP) specifically said Ayu and his team had no powers to suspend or expel himfromtheparty Nnamani's letter to the PDP NWC wassignedbyhisCounselOlusegun O. Jolaawo, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria. He stated that the NWC has no powers to suspend or expel him except the National Executive Committee(NEC).
Nnamani said theAyu-led NWC did not follow due process and strict compliancewiththeprovisionsofthe PDP Constitution and therefore lacked the powers to suspend or expel him as a member of the NationalAssembly
He quoted copiously the relevant sections of the PDP constitution breachedbytheAyuled NWC.
Part
the competence to entertain any question of discipline against our client,excepttheNationalExecutive Committeeoftheparty
“Quite apart from the obvious and undeniable fact that the purported proceeding of the National Working Committee of your party held on 20 January, 2023 and the decision reached there at suspending our clientfromthepartyisnullandvoid, asourclientwasneitherinvitedtothe meetingnorgiventheopportunityto be heard before the decision against himwastaken.
“SeeArticle57(6)oftheConstitution of your party, the National Working Committee lacks the requisite powers to entertain any question of discipline against our client to the extent of suspending or expelling himfromtheparty
“The proceeding and decision reached at the meeting of the National Working Committee of your Party which was held on 20 January, 2023 is therefore, both illegalandanullity
ForsupportingAllProgressives
Congress presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu,aformergovernorofEnugu State and Senator representing EnuguEastSenatorialDistrictinthe National Assembly, Dr Chimaroke Nnamani, is being punished by his party, the Peoples Democratic Party, over alleged anti-party activities SundayAborisadereports
Since Bola Tinubu, a former governor of Lagos State emerged as the standard bearer of the All Progressives Congress for the February 25, 2023 Presidential Election, his friend who served as governor of Enugu State from 1999 to 2007, has not hidden his preference for the APC candidate abovetheflagbearerofhisownparty, AtikuAbubakar, a situation that had earned him, an instant expulsion fromthemainoppositionparty.
TheNationalWorkingCommitteeof thePDP,weildedthebigstickagainst Nnamani on February 10 after reviewing it's earlier decision taken on January 28, this year, to suspend the Senator and six others, based on thereportofitsNationalDisciplinary Committee, which recommended theirsuspension.
In a statement signed by Debo Ologunagba, the PDPspokesperson,
the party said, “The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at its 566th meeting today, Friday, February 10, 2023, approved the expulsion of the following individuals from the Party for antiParty activities and other grave offences in violation of the ConstitutionofthePDP(asamended in2017)
“Those expelled from the Party are: Senator Chimaroke Nnamani –(EnuguState) andHon.ChrisOgbu (ImoState)
“Othersare:AjijolaLateefOladimeji (Ekiti Central), Olayinka James Olalere (Ekiti Central II), Fayose Oluwajomiloju John (Ekiti Central I), AkereleOluyinka(EkitiNorthI) and Emiola Adenike Jennifer(EkitiSouthII).
“The expulsion takes effect from today,Friday,February10,2023.”
ThePDPexplainedthatthedecision of its NWC was sequel to the recommendation of the National Disciplinary Committee and pursuanttoSections58and59(1)(g) ofthePDPConstitution(asamended in2017).
“ThePDPchargesallmembersofour Party across the country to remain unitedandfocusedonthemissionof our Party to Rescue, Rebuild and
Notwithstandinganyotherprovision relating to discipline, no Executive Committee at any level, except the NationalExecutiveCommittee,shall entertain any question of discipline as may or concern a member of the National Executive Committee, DeputyGovernorsormembersofthe NationalAssembly,
“Provided that nothing in this Constitution shall preclude or invalidate any complaint submitted through the National Working CommitteetotheNationalExecutive Committee concerning any person whatsoever
“Article 59(3) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Constitution relating to discipline, no Executive Committee at any level except the National Executive Committee shall entertain any question of discipline asmayrelateorconcernamemberof the National Executive Committee, President, Vice President, Governors, Deputy Governors, Ministers, Ambassadors, Special Advisers or member of any of the legislativehouses.
“On 20 January, 2023, the NWC conducted preliminary disciplinary hearing against our client and approved his suspension from the party for one month, purportedly actingpursuanttoArticle57(3)ofthe ConstitutionofthePDP
“ItisevidentonthebasisofArticles 57(7)and59(3)oftheConstitutionof your party excerpted above, that no organ of the party, including the National Working Committee, has
“It therefore gives us great concern, that your proposed disciplinary hearingof8February,2023asstated inyourletterof1stFebruary,2023,is built and erected on the illegal and invalid meeting and decision taken bytheNationalWorkingCommittee of your Party at its meeting of 20 January,2023,suspendingourclient fromtheParty
“Your letter to our client dated 1st February, 2023 made it abundantly clear that the complaint against our client was made to your committee bytheNationalWorkingCommittee.
“However,byvirtueoftheprovisoto Article 57(7) of the Constitution of your Party, the National Working Committee is required to make complaintonanydisciplinarymatter against a member of the National Assembly, only to the National Executive Committee of the Party Yourcommitteehasnotclaimedtobe theNationalExecutiveCommitteeof thePDPandinfact,isnot.
“Your committee therefore, has no powersundertheConstitutionofthe Party (under which you claim to be proceeding against our client) to entertain or hear any question of disciplineagainstourclientasheisa member of the National Assembly OnlyaproperlyconstitutedNational Executive Committee of the party can entertain such question of disciplineagainsthim.
“Wetherefore,urgeyoutoreconsider your proposed disciplinary hearing against our client and abort it immediately
“We have only requested your committeetocomplystrictlywiththe clear provisions of the Constitution ofthePartyunderwhichyouclaimto be proceeding Your proposed disciplinary hearing of 8 February, 2023 is wholly erected on illegality
and your committee equally has no powersundertheConstitutionofthe party to invite our client for the purpose of entertaining any disciplinarymatteragainsthim.”
Meanwhile, keen watchers of the politicaldevelopmentsinthecountry would obviously notice that Nnamani has been consistently making public statements, explaining why Tinubu should be electedasNigeria'snextpresident.
He had defended Tinubu's health status,hiscompetenceandhadgone furthertotellhiskinsmeninIgboland that they should support the APC candidateandwaitfortheirowntime inthenearestfuture.
OnNovember23,lastyear,Nnamani inastatement,saidTinubu'sreforms and mentorship as governor from 1999- 2007 transformed Lagos State.
He described Tinubu as a great mentor who has guided numerous mentees from various states, from political boyhood to political adulthood in his capacity as a politicalmentor
Nnamani added that Tinubu has repeatedly proven himself to be a professional politician and the greatest political leader and mentor; whobuiltthenecessarybridges,paid his dues, and nurtured political heavyweights.
Part of the statement, personally signed by him, read: “Before I talk about the leadership and mentoring philosophies of the governors from theclassof1999,Iwanttofirstshed some important insight on what politicalleadershipandmentoringis all about, as opposed to godfatherism, which has been the norm for teeming youths. We must understand that effective leadership requiresavarietyofabilities.
“A successful leader, according to Thomas Paine, is one who understands when to take the initiative, follow others and step aside. Successful strategic plans for thepresentandfuturearecreatedby competentleaderswhobuildashared vision for the future, they discuss howtogetwhatisrequiredwhilealso takingintoaccountwhatisdesired.
“A competent leader develops support for their plans in order to involve people and groups in the decision-making and policyenactmentprocesses.
“Similar to how different organisations require different kinds of leaders tailored to their needs, local,state,andfederalgovernments require political leaders who can translate divergent viewpoints and conflicting interests into laws and practicesthattoadvanceequalityand opportunityforall.
“People are believed to follow a leaderwhowilltakethemwherethey want to go, but a competent leader will also take them to where they shouldgo.
“I can't help but feel that when Tinubu and his Transition Working
Group began what will be remembered as Nigeria's largest political reform, which elevated Lagos State to one of the biggest economic centers in Africa, the majority of residents of Lagos State didnotenvisionthecityasitistoday after living through three decades of military rule, during which they witnessed first hand a crumbling health system, collapsing school buildings, poor social services, and therest.
“The city-boy (Tinubu) substantially enhanced the lives of individualswhoresideinLagosState with his visionary reforms in the health, school, justice, works, and infrastructuresectors,whichwehave reviewedinthepastweeks.
“Tinubu has guided numerous mentees from various states from political boyhood to political adulthood in his capacity as a political mentor A trait transformational leaders likeTinubu andtheclassof1999governorshave. Tinubumenteeshavegoneontohold various leadership positions in Nigeria.
“But we cannot discuss some of his menteeswhohasbeennurturedfrom political boyhood to adulthood without mentioning our very own AnambraSon,BenAkabueze,whom Tinubu influenced his appointment as the commissioner for economic planning and budget in Lagos state after seeing his achievements as the CEO of NAL Bank Plc, (now SterlingBankPlc).
“Ben Akabueze, a well-known charteredaccountantthroughTinubu rosethroughtherankstobecomethe Director General of the Federal RepublicofNigeria'sBudgetOffice.
“Currently serving as Nigeria's Minister of Youths and Sports, SundayDareof Oyo Stateservedas Tinubu'sspecialadviseronmedia.
“After eight years as governor of Osun State, Rauf Aregbesola, who also served as Lagos State commissioner for works under Tinubu, is currently Nigeria's Minister of Interior.The philosopher king and consummate intellectual former Governor of Ekiti state KayodeFayemiwillalwayscometo mind.
“Similarly, Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, who was Tinubu's Chief of Staff, before serving as Lagos State governor, is currently the Minister for Works and Housing, while the current governor of Lagos State Babajide Sanwo-Olu, served as Tinubu's commissioner for commerce.
“Tinubu's first Chief of Staff,Alhaji Lai Mohammed from Kwara state is currently serving as Minister for InformationandCulture.
“While The Right Honorable Femi Gbajabiamila,CurrentSpeakerofthe House of Representatives, was first electedtotheHousein2003courtesy ofTinubu.
“Don't forget, our own Vice
President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo SAN, GCON, served as Lagos State attorney general and commissioner forjusticeduringTinubu'stenure.
“While leaders in comfortable conditions offer an even easier life whether they can provide it or not, revolutionarysituationslikethefight for Nigeria's democracy prior to 1999 forged exceptional leaders like Tinubu and many others who demand great work ethics, confidenceand'candospirit'
“Because of Tinubu's mentoring philosophyandmotivationtofinding the best brains from wherever to complete the required job, Lagos Stateiswhatitistoday
“In today's political sphere, our inability to distinguish between confidence and competence, our attraction to charismatic people, and ourinabilitytowithstandtheallureof narcissistic people have led several nations to elect individuals with no backgroundinpoliticstothehighest office in their various countries, thereby turning a bad situation worse.”
Nnamani therefore opined that “Nigeria's currentdispensationcalls forreadyandexperiencedhandslike Tinubuand notbeginners toleadthe nationtogreaterheights.”
Similarly, the former governor of EnuguState,inanotherstatementhe signed some time in October last year, advised the Igbo to reflect on the looming reality of Tinubu, emergingaspresident.
Nnamanistatedthisinthepiecetitled “The Igbo Insularity and it'sYoruba Wahala, ” made available to journalistsinAbuja.
Accordingtohim,itwasnottoolate
for the Igbo to reflect on, and carefully x-ray the imminent reality of Tinubu winning the 2023 presidentialelection.
Nnamaniinthepiece,askedtheIgbo several questions bordering on their relationshipwiththeYoruba.
The Senator, who is the Chairman, Senate Committee on Cooperation and Integration in Africa/NEPAD, noted that the Yoruba were not the problemoftheIgbo.
Hiswords:“HowdidtheIgbogetto this?WhosoldthismassiveConjob? Whoarethesnakeoilsalesmen?
“Why the perceived mistrust of the Yoruba? We never fought? Our properties never seized? Our businesses thriving in their Homelands? Blossoming intermarriages with multiple offsprings? Commonlanguageetymology.”
He further said, “They stayed out of Nigeria/Biafra war until the Benin expedition. Fajuyi died for Ironsi's sake. BolaTinubu gave his financial lifelinetoIgboBenAkabueze.”
Nnamani added that President Olusegun Obasanjo had highly dependent Igbo people including himself, that the retired general was mentoring.
The Senator said, “He (Obasanjo) calls me son and seriously shared confidentiality with me. That I will carrywithmetotheLord'svineyard.
“Our properties were returned immediatelyinthesecondquarterof 1970 with collected rent and interests.
“The 'ontogeny' of our revered kolanut Yoruba. My brothers where is the disconnect? Okpara and our forebears saw it. The NCNC/ NPC alliance was a colossal failure for
SouthEast.DittoNPN/NPP History repeats.
“Action Group/National Council of Nigerian Citizens alliance 1956/57 was aborted. It could have provided Chief executive to either party The AG/ NCNC alliance in United Progressive Grand Alliance, AwolowoandOkparamiredinPre66 Coupimbroglio.
“TheUnityPartyofNigeria/National Peoples Party alliance could have done the same The threat of Ekwueme Presidency writers claim added Filip to collapse of the Third Republic.
“When you shift power to Yoruba, you don't go to Kwara or Kogi, you go to South-West. But the weakness of the South-East zone is patently obvious such that they throw any bonestousandwebite.
“We must always be expected to showgratitudeforanypittance.After all we were spared with “no victor , novanquished”Weshouldbehappy anddon'tworry
“We canalwaysresorttospareparts and hugging containers For this ongoing political expedition, my Igbo people have suffered the consequences of sociopolitical Insularity
Hecategoricallystatedthat“thetwo political parties with emotional capture of my people will lose the Presidentialelection.
“The Igbo are out of the power echelon of an African State they helped found. Product of self injury and own goal. We need a restart. Based on a paradigm shift. Careful butcalculatedrisk.”
He cautioned that “the Igbo has to retrace the steps of Okpara and Awolowo, The United Progressive GrandAlliance.
He said, “An Igbo-YorubaAlliance. ItisnotlatefortheIgbotoreflecton and carefully X-Ray the looming reality of a President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”
OnOctober10lastyear,Nnamaniin another statement said Tinubu, was medicallyfittogovernNigeria.
The medical doctor and surgeon, said“Tinubuhadnohealthchallenge aserroneouslybeingspeculated”and insisted that the former Lagos State Governor'shealthcannotinanyway affect the discharge of his responsibilitiesasPresident.
TheSenatorsaid, “Ijoinmillionsof our people in welcoming Tinubu home. It is to God's Glory that he returnedinsuperbhealth.
“I continue to strongly condemn those who wallow in ignorance in celebration of real and fantom infirmities.Rather,Ilendmyvoicein celebrating his giant strides in governance, reforms and local administration in all its spheres. I salute his political deftness and sagacity
“As a medical professional, with honour, I attest to his good health and capacity Tinubu has a robust general system, acute awareness of
his holistic environment, political andinallramifications.
“A bubbling and vivacious personality his confidence easily apparent, sharing and transferable. Engaging him clearly demonstrates goodhealth,energyandreadinessto rumble.”
He reaffirmed his acquaintance with Tinubu over the years which is without prejudice to his current politicalcommitments.
Nnamani, in another post on his verified Facebook page on August 10, 2022, gave comprehensive
“The Judges stopped writing physical notes More advanced vehicles were provided and participation in Conferences guaranteed. Our two Attorneys General worked closely Mrs Gloria Egbuji steered us throughAccess to JusticeProgram,thenowfamousDr Joe Abah assisted and supervised underthedirectionofDFID.
“I recall a National Competition on Reform advances amongst States c o v e r i n g G o v e r n a n c e , Transparencies, Budgeting and Ease ofdoingbusiness.Supervisedbythe
causetoengagewithhimonjobsfor Enugu spouses In the Education Sector, he introduced Tutor General and raised the bar for earning by teachers.InEnuguweapprovedthat Primary School Teachers could rise tolevel16.
“We also approved elevation for those who obtained graduate qualifications I also admired his pupilGovernorforaday SomehowI never got to it. Tinubu also directly intervened in Enugu spouses who hadissuesasteachers.
“IntheHealthSector,Ifaintlyrecalla Soyinka heading his HIV program and later becoming Health Commissioner!AsadoctorIkepttab onhisstridesinmyprofessionalarea. WithamodernDiseaseSurveillance system and Emergency Medicine programinplace.
“He put in programs cordinating healthandJusticeforabusedwomen and children. Tinubu had first class social work response program. His reform advocacy was second to Enugu State. I had the advantage of background but gravely limited by resources.Heleftalastinglegacyof hard work in Lagos State in infrastructure(roadsandhousing).
“When Bola Ahmed Tinubu was governor, Lagos state's IGR rose from600millionNairapermonthto over8billionNairapermonth.
“He had an impressive track record as a governor; his state contributed morethan30%toourcountry'sGDP, accounted for more than 65% of industrial investment in Nigeria, 80% of its international trade, and collected more than 60% of the country'svalue-addedtax.
“In the area of Human capacity, his mentorship was first class and his mentees have spread out and like littleacornsmanyhavebecomegiant oak trees in Nigeria's political firmaments.
reasonshewassupportingTinubu.
Thepostread,“BolaTinubu,the12th governor of Lagos State, was a cogovernor with me (1999–2007). As colleagues we worked together in pioneering the first meetings of Conferences of Southern Governors which we interchanged hosting the firstandsecondandvisitedEnugufor themeetings.
“That meeting brought to the front burner, issues of Federalism both PhysicalandFiscal.Istillremember the educative contributions of Gov BisiAkande.
“Imustconfessofoccasionalenvyas we interchanged ideas and implemented reform decisions. He had more resources and quickly implementedthefullrequirementsof ACCESS to Justice reform project. Making the Lagos State Criminal Justice System, one of the best in Africa.
EconomicAdvisertothePresident(a guy from Benue State), DFID and other development partners also participated.
“Enugu emerged tops, followed closely by either Lagos State or the FCT.Enugualsoestablishedthefirst Poverty Reduction Study, Review, Guidelines and Implementation before the Federal Government or indeedanyotherState,verifiedbyDr Joe Abah, former DFID staff in Enugu. Enugu tried considering our Financial dilemma The Justice system also paid close attention to WomenandChildrenwelfare.
“Both governments pioneered Development Centers. For obvious political reasons he was denied due Federalallocationsforyears.Hekept ploughingon!
“HisJusticesectoralsoprovidedjobs to many spouses of non Lagosians workingandresidinginLagos.Ihad
“JustlikeinEnuguweappointednon Enugu people (avoiding the meaningless and retrogressive anathema“nonindigene”)Irecallmy brother Ben Akabueze being a repository of the financial and economic secrets of “Yoruba” TinubuLagosStateGovernment. “Fashola, Osinbajo, Aregbosola, Fayemi, etc. All first class with Agame always. I vigorously oppose, protest and detest the shameless campaigns and parody targeting Tinubu'shealth.
“AsaHealthworkerIamamazedby the ignorance, foolishness, wickedness and callousness of these idioticoperators.
“I believe they are unwarranted, extremely unprofessional, and have no place in our polity As the GenZ grow and Nigeria merges with the newworld,theywillcryatthefoibles oftheirprogenitors.
“Get it folks, life is turn by turn limited(apologyUncleBode).These actions which bleed my heart personallyareofpublicrecords.
“History and The Almighty will be
very harsh to these bad political comedians. Since we all desire a betterNigeria,ourpoliticsshouldbe grounded in facts and reliable evidence.
“Thisistheonlywaywecanadvance this nation. Ahmed Bola Tinubu is the MOST successful Governor in modern Nigeria bar none. Result of
disease.
“Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR) the longest serving president of the United States ofAmerica served his termaspresidentonawheelchairthis was as a result of polio diagnosis whenhewas39yrsoldin1921.
“DespitehishealthRooseveltguided the country through the Great
endin1919,asignofapartialstroke, according to a doctor, by October 1919,hewaspartiallyparalyzed.
“Dwight D. Eisenhower, elected in 1952,Americanrememberedhisera as the “happy days” one which they enjoyed nothing but a booming economy.Itisimportanttonotethat he was already suffering from abdominal adhesions resulting from a 1923 appendectomy and in 1956 during his second term He was diagnosed for having Crohn's disease,aseveredigestivecondition thatcalledforsurgery
“Eisenhower has a stroke shortly after that in 1957. Americans were able to enjoy a booming economy regardlessofhishealth.
got Nnamani, a slot in the APC PresidentialCampaignCouncil
Defending the development then, a formerPDPgovernorshipaspirantin Enugu State, Dr Josef Onoh, gave reasons for Nnamani's inclusion in theAllProgressivesCongress(APC) Presidential campaign council of AsiwajuBolaTinubu
According to Onoh, even though NnamanibelongstothePDP,hehas cometoshareaffinitywithTinubuin manyways,particularlysincebothof them became governors of their respective states between 1999 and 2007.
combination of may truisms some beyondhim.
“Permit me to mention some past presidents who stood out for being able to contribute to the growth and greatness of their countries despite healthissues.Thefirstpersononmy lineup is:- John F Kennedy (JFK). JFK actually experienced almost dailydiscomfort,
“He had digestive issues, allergies, and a persistent back condition that necessitated several operations and wasmadeworsebyhisparticipation in World War II. He had medical sequelaeofhypoadrenalism,anemia, low blood pressure, etc essentially later determined to be Addison's
DepressionandWorldWarII,twoof thebiggestcrisesofthe20thcentury
“He significantly increased the federal government's authority through a number of initiatives and reformsknownastheNewDeal.
“He was also a key figure in the successful campaign to eradicate Japanese militarism and German National Socialism Woodrow Wilson.
“After World War I, Woodrow Wilson founded the League of Nations (1914–18). He oversaw the passage of laws outlawing child labor and the 19th Amendment, granting women the right to vote. Wilson's mouth was sagging on one
“Ronald Reagan, even though there isn't much proof that the 40th president had Alzheimer's while he served as commander in chief, suspicions of dementia followed Reagan during his first presidential campaign, where the 69-year-age old'sattractedalotofattentionashe wastheoldestincomingpresident.
“Regardless,beingreferredtoas“the greatcommunicator”Bynegotiating effectively with Congress, Reagan was able to pass legislation that boosted employment, reduced inflation, and strengthened the nation'sdefense.
“H.E BolaTinubuneedstoworkon improving relationships with many othersespeciallymypeopletheIgbo. He needs to lead by advocacy, example, practice and openmindedness in assuaging the feeling and ongoing hostility to the Igbo in Lagos,Nnamanistated. ThemassivesupportforTinubueven
HerecalledthatTinubuandNnamani commenced the Southern Nigeria Governors Forum which has now crystallized into a major political force for balancing of power in the Nigeriafederation.
He further recalled that it was at the same Southern Governors Forum meeting hosted by Governor Ifeanyi OkowainAsabathattookadecision that the next President of Nigeria shouldcomefromSouthernNigeria, despiteanypoliticalpartyaffiliation.
Onohsaidhehoweverregrettedthat the initial host of that Southern Governor's meeting, Okowa, capitulated,soldoutadecisiontaken in his house and went behind to negotiate for a selfish vice presidential slot to the detriment of theentireSouthernNigeria.
Itisveryobviousandcertainthatthe expulsionofNnamanifromthePDP cannot stop him from contesting next week's election. Whether the Senator will defect to theAPC after thepoll,remainfornow,intherealm ofspeculation.
culledfromThisDay
HundredsofmembersofPeoples Democratic Party, PDP led by Alhaja Aolat Olatunde, the party's Women Leader at Ward C comprising Alausa, Olusosun and Oregun in Ikeja area of Lagos on MondaydefectedtotheAllProgressives Congress,APC.
ThePDPmembershingedtheirdecision to abandon the PDP on their desire to support the ambition of APC presidentialcandidate,BolaTinubu. While confirming this during the defection event, Olatunde said the personality of Sen Bola Tinubu attractedherandotherstotheAPC. “Tinubuisanenigmawhohasassisteda lot of people irrespective of their tribal, political or religious affiliations and I also benefitted from him when he was thegovernorofLagos.
“We can also see the good works of Sanwo-Olu These and many other reasons prompted our decision to join theAPC.
“We have strong PDP members across IkejanamelyAlausa,Olusosun,Oregun, Opebi,Onigbogbo,OnirekeandCement among others that defected with me. More are willing to join the APC,'' she said.
The PDP members were received into APC at Alausa, Lagos by the Director-
General, Independent Campaign CounciloftheAPC,MrTayoAyinde.
Ayinde said the new PDP members wouldcontributetoAPC'svictoryinthe forthcomingelection.
Ayinde, also the Chief of Staff to Gov Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State congratulatedthenewmembersofAPC fortheirdecision.
He assured them of fairness and equal treatmentwitholdmembers.
“We welcome all the defectors and
appreciate you for your conviction and yourtrustinourparty
“I want to congratulate the people of Alausa because today's event is important and unique in the sense that thisisournationalleader'swardwhichis WardC,AlausaIkeja.
“Today,allthePDPmembersinAlausa, Ikeja, which is the ward of our national leader, had said to us that they are decampingtoAPC.
“We have here today the leader of the
PDPinthisward,AlhajaAolatOlatunde, whohadcalledmeandshetoldmethat shehaddecidedtojointherulingparty
“Shetoldmethatherdecisiontojointhe party was to use her influence to ensure victoryforthepresidentialcandidateand also because of the massive support for Asiwaju in the north and other geopoliticalzones,''hesaid.
Ayinde promised to work with all party memberstoensurevictoryfortheparty's presidentialcandidate,Sen.BolaAhmed Tinubuandforotherpartycandidatesin thestate.
He enjoined members of other political partytocometotherulingpartybecause of the massive development embarked uponbythecurrentadministration.
He said it was obvious that there had been massive development, across the nooksandcranniesofthestate.
Also speaking at the event, APC chieftain, Cardinal James Odumbaku popularly called “Baba Eto'' noted that Tinubu stands for progressive politics, the reason why people kept associating withhim.
“We give kudos to our national leader, Tinubu; his works speak for him and attracted many opposition members to his party over the years,'' Odumbaku said.
Fr o m R u m o u r s t o Manifestations. It began like a rumour; unfound imaginative sentiments of his political rivals, but the manifestation proved his critics right The style of ethnocentric politicking and manner of Obi's campaign in Ibo-dominated Alaba market square during his recent Presidential campaign in Lagos has proven Peter Obi's penchant for needlessly divisive, dangerous ethnocentricpolitickingwhichisboth condemnable and undesirable at this pointofournationhood.
Rationally, one might not be hasty to condemn or be too hard in criticising the presidential candidate of the Labour Party for his refusal to frontally and decisively condemn the activities of IPOB and other selfstyled “Biafra Warlords” wreaking havoc and manifesting most heinous criminalities on the good people of South-East and elsewhere But, it stands logic and commonsensical rationalitiesintheheadwhyPeterObi (a South-Easterner) entered Lagos, a South-West cosmopolitan and accommodatingcityofprosperityfor all-irrespective of tribal or ethnic orientations, and opted to visit only his kinsmen and women in the IbodominatedAlabamarket.
The Makeba Dance Typical of a distasteful “makeba dance in the market square”, Peter Obi uttered words that would appear insensitive andinsultingtothehostYorubarace. This is not to hype ethnicity but reality IdoubtitifaYorubaorFulani man or woman would display that level of rude effrontery in the SouthWest.
Lagosisforall.Weallknowthatsame would not apply to Fulani, Yoruba, Nupe and other ethnic traders in Onitsha, Nnewi, Aba and other marketsintheSouth-East.AsaHighChiefinYorubaland,I wish toputon recordthatwhatObididistantamount toinsensitiveactofcountingthe'ninefingers' with full consciousness of victim(Akiitiojuonikamesanka'a!). This further reinforces and underscoresthedesireofNigeriansto vote a detribalised leader in the
February 25, 2023 presidential election. Doing otherwise would be costly and risky for the continued existence and unity of the Federal RepublicofNigeria.
Peter Obi knew that an Oba exists in Lagos-ObaofLagos,yetheoptedto ignorehim.Conventionally,theusual political and electioneering itinerary isforthevisitortofirstpayacourtesy visittotherulerandancestralowners ofthelandwhichtheOba,ObiorEmir ofthetownrepresents.
Would Peter Obi have done same to thehighlyintellectualObiofOnitsha?
It is disgusting that Peter Obi preferredhisIbokinsmenandignored the Hausa community in Idi-Oro in Mushin He did not visit Yaba, Surulere, Iyana-Ipaja or elsewhere to create an impression that his aspiration for Nigeria's presidency and not tribal (Ibo) presidency He shouldhaveknownbetter
Would Tinubu, Atiku, Kwankwaso Have Done Same? Rabiu Musa KwankwasovisitedLagos,hedidnot indulge in the cossy enclaves of his 'talakawa' followers in Mushin and other “Sabo' in Lagos, Abeokuta, Ibadanorelsewhere.AtikuAbubakar visitedLagosand,inhischaracteristic manner, he visited the Oba of Lagos andotherswithoutparticularizinghis visit to the Fulani elites or HausaFulanicommunitiesinthemarketsin Mushin and other locations Atiku went to Abeokuata and called on Alake of Egbaland, our revered king who made me “Bada-Baamofin of Egabland.
Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, who deployed policy and other positive administrative measures to make Alaba market, Aspanda market, and igbo-dominated Ladipo spare-parts market in Mushin centers of wealth would have acted differently As Governor, Tinubu could have closed down the Alaba, Aspanda or Ladipo spare-parts and other Ibo-dominated markets He did not Rather, he appointed Ibos into his cabinets and other sensitive appointments His successors, Fasola, Ambode and Sanwo-Olu have also continued the healthy and progressive dispositions to those Ibo-dominated enclaves in LagosState.
Those Ibo-markets have received Lagos State attentions in terms of development and infrastructure, and are now vital grounds for prosperity and wealth by traders from SouthEast, who largely dominate and reap fortunes and wealth. Bola Tinubu or AtikuorKwankwasowouldnothave played very cheap, debased and condemnable ethnocentric politics likePeterObi.
Asiwaju Tinubu knows there are Yorubas in Anambra, Kano, Sokoto and elsewhere He opted to demonstrate and amplify national unity and did not proceed to Yoruba neighborhoods in those locations to dance the distasteful “makeba dance in the market square” like Peter Obi didmostinsensitively
N i g e r i a n s , “ S h i n e Yo u r Eyes” Indeed,weasNigeriansmust “shineoureyes”.Itwouldbedifficult
for any right-thinking, ethnic-neutral Nigerian to view Peter Obi as a detribalised Nigerian I don't, and millionsotheralsodon'teither
TheFebruary25presidentialelection willsendaverystrongsignalthatwe are Nigerians and we chose to live as Nigerians irrespective of our ethnic and religious differences. Developed countrieslikeCanada,USandtheUK take pride in their multi-culturalism and multi-ethnicity We should not allowanypoliticiantouseournatural ethnic settings to divide us Our diversityisamatterofnationalassets.
We do not trust ethnocentric presidential aspirants. Kudos to the draftersoftheportionoftheNigerian Constitution and Electoral Act that make it compulsory for candidates to score one-forth in two-thirds of the States in Nigeria including Abuja This makes it practically impossible for anyone to get electedon the basis of needlessly divisive and condemnable tribal sentiments and ethnocentricstyleofpoliticking.
Nigerians will decide, and we shall decideright.
Welovethiscountry
This GIANT called NIGERIA will rise,andnevertofallagain!
February12,2023
PROF YEMI OKE, PhD, FCArb, FCTI (Bada-Baamofin of Egbaland) (Lawyer,Scholar,Energy ConsultantandPoliticalActor)“Use your PVC to punish politicians who support the scarcity of new notesandpetrol..."
Gov.SeyiMakinde toProtesters
...APCcandidateassuresofeconomictransformation
forwardisataskthatmustbedone.Let's put together and conquer hunger by using the God's great space on agriculture."
Amajor highlight of the TownHall was when the APC candidate brought Senator John Owen Enoh and Barrister Ekpere Mary and reunited them with GovernorAyadeandothers.
He described Cross Rivers as a land of joyandlove.
“Cross River is blessed in Agriculture. Oil palm, rubber, cocoa, cashews, cassava,yam,rice,plantain,andbananas are abundant and already being processed,strengtheningtheagro-allied value chain in ways that create better jobsandraisethestandardofliving,”he added.
He also praised Governor Ayade for already starting the industrialisation driveinthestate.
“TheAyade-ledadministrationhasdone tremendous work to develop the processingcapacitywithinthestatewith theconstructionoftheOgojaRiceMill, Ikom Cocoa Mill, Rice Seed and seedlingcentre.
Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on
Tuesday assured Nigerians and stakeholders of the party from SouthSouthregionthathewouldleadNigeria tobuildbackbetterandstrongerevenin difficulttimeifelectednextPresident.
TinubumadethisdeclarationinCalabar at a TownHall meeting with party stakeholders on national transformation and industrialisation at the Cultural Centre,Calabar
Drawingparallelfromtheexperienceof the United States during its civil war, Tinubu charged Nigerians and party members to focus on what the country canaccomplish.
He said: "We can build in the middle of difficulty, the US was fighting the civil war and still building rail track We should focus on the things that we can accomplish.We have a lot - there is the waterfront here, we have minerals here, we have arable land, we must conquer hunger,wecannotallowhungerconquer us."
Speaking further at the well-attended event that had the Vice-Presidential candidate, Kashim Shettima, Governor Ben Ayade, Director-General of the campaign council and Governor of Plateau State, Simon Lalong, Deputy Director-General and former APC
National Chairman, Adams
Oshiomhole, Senator Florence ItaGiwa, Senator Victor Idoma Egba, former Governor Godswill Akpabio, formerPetroleumMinisterDonEtiebet, Minister of State Power, Jeddy Agba, and Minister of State Labour, Festus Keyamo,Tinubupointedoutthatforthe nationtoexperienceeconomicrecovery, lessfocusshouldbeplacedoncrudeoil whileharnessingotherareas.
Others at the event were former EFCC Chairman Nuhu Ribadu, Kashim Ibrahim-Imam,ChairmanofTeTFUND, former Speaker of House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole, APC
National Woman Leader, Beta Edu and otherpartychieftains.
The APC candidate promised to work towards industrialisation while also focusingontheproductionofgoodsand servicesacrossthecountry
“My campaign is built on the firm conviction that our greatest good and bestdeedsstilllieinfrontofusandnotin ourpast.
“The industrialisation of our economy represents a most vital step towards achievingtheNigeriaofourdreams.
“From its very beginnings, our nation's economy was established on an incomplete foundation. It was built to rely too heavily on oil exports. This means we have always experienced a large gap in the national economic structure. Greater industrialisation shall fill this gap through the production of more and better goods which improve our standard of living while creating better jobs, providing workers with a living wage and establishing businesses that will drive this economy for generationstocome.
“Because of this gap in our economic structure and the resultant lack of economic activity, Nigeria has experienced unacceptably high rates of unemploymentforseveraldecades.The problems this causes for our society are not limited to simply slowing our economic progress This gap has affected our nation in profound ways, strainingthesocialfabricinwaysthatno nation wishes for Now is the time to repair these fissures our country should never have had to experience,” Tinubu said.
“Our industrial policy will prioritise strategic industries vital to the development of our national economy Wewillgrowthenation'sindustrialbase to provide decent jobs and improving wages to our nation's ever increasing urbanpopulation.”
Speakingonhowtheycanbetterachieve this,Tinubusaidprimaryandsecondary
industrial hubs would be created across eachgeopoliticalzoneinthecountry
“The Governor has also gone further to develop the infrastructure for the movement of goods by land with the proposed Super-Highway, by sea with theproposedBakassiDeepSeaport,and byairwiththeconstructionoftheObudu
thestate'sresources.
“Our industrial plan encourages manufacturingonamassivescaleacross thecountry Nigeriawillbecomeknown as a nation that produces high quality goods worthy of export to anywhere in theworld.Weshalluseanarrayofpolicy measures. On the fiscal side, we shall employ tax credits and holidays, youth employment incentives, import relief, export credits and well-tailored subsidieswherenecessary
“Cross River State will play a leading roleinoureconomicuplift.Thisstateis blessed with limestone, clay, salt, tin, granite, basalt, quartzite, and kaolin depositsincommercialquantities.
“Our policies will afford local artisans andcraftsmenthroughouttheregionthe necessary tools to provide for their families and, ultimately, boost overall economicactivityforthenationalgood.
I enjoyed the stimulating cultural entertainmenttheperformersdisplayed. This is a town hall meeting of great minds,brainsandvisions.Myconcernis the development of Nigeria, this is a talentednationandmovingthiscountry
In his own address at the event, Governor Ayade said the focus of the nextadministrationshouldbeonhuman beingsfirstandGrossDomesticProduct asameasureofeconomicgrowthshould shifttoHumanHappinessIndex,adding that government must focus on industrialisation to create jobs for the masses.
"WemustmovefromGDPtotheHuman Happiness Index When God has empowered you, it is for the people," saidAyade
The Director-General of APC Presidential Campaign Council, GovernorLalongassuredthepeoplethat AsiwajuTinubuhascapacitytoprovide theleadershipthatwillcreateprosperity forallNigerians.
“AsiwajuturnedmammywaterinLagos ocean to Money Water through his brains,"headded.
December20,2022
He also promised to bring Cross River into the industrialisation plan through“I want to say that those of us from Northern Nigeria honour agreements. We do not violate unwritten political agreements and I will be the last person to lead in violating that agreement”. –NasirEl-Rufai,February2023.
For Atiku Abubakar, the serial presidential candidate of the PeoplesDemocraticParty(PDP), the 2023 election is definitely his last ditchefforttoachievehisambitiontobe thePresidentoftheFederalRepublicof Nigeria, which most political analysts believe he lost in 2003, due to his unbridled ambition. Just weeks into the first term of the Olusegun Obasanjo administration, Atiku Abubakar attemptedforcingObasanjotoadoptthe Nelson Mandela option, which would havemeantObasanjospendingonlyone term.
That desperate move, rather than advanceAtiku'spoliticalcareer,seemed to have doomed it, considering the vicious campaign that Obasanjo has againsthim.
Since 2001, Obasanjo, had taken effective steps to ensure thatAtiku will neverachieve hispresidentialambition, whichdatesbacktotheGeneralIbrahim Babangida 1993 unwinding transition. WheneventuallytheelectionthatChief M. K. O. Abiola is widely believed to have won held, it was annulled by the militaryjunta.
TheNorth,mostunfortunately,borethe brunt of Babangida's self serving annulment of the election. The fear is real, that if per chance Atiku wins the election, after eight years of Muhammadu Buhari, that the formidable South-west would ensure that the country enjoys no peace. The graveimplicationisthattheSouth-west might join the South-east agitations for independence.TheSouth-eastisalready ungovernable.
Because it's his last attempt, Atiku is throwingeverythingintotherace,which wasexpected.Theproblemishisrefusal to take into account the long term consequences of his actions on the fragileunityofthecountry
To say the least, his “Na ka, na ka” campaign, which simply means, the Northretainingpoweratwhatevercost, is irresponsible and dangerous And many well meaning northerners are
WithoutdoubtTinubu,popularlyknown as Jagaban, has proved himself a true and worthy friend of the North. Reason the North can't afford to turn its back at him.
Luckily, the Villa forces opposed to Tinubu, who haven't proffered any reasonable excuse, other than pure mischief, lack the political sophisticationtopullitoff.Thefactthat Tinubupickedtheticketinspiteoftheir oppositionoughttohave“calmed”them down, but being political novices they seemdeterminedtoreturnthecountryto 1993.
rightly incensed by the utterly primordial campaign that Atiku is mounting, so as to achieve his life ambition.
Atiku's albatross is the fact that he has never been a loyal party member; his loyaltyisonlytohisambition.Whenhe lost the ticket in 2011, to Jonathan, he workedforJonathan'sdefeat.In2015he once again abandoned the PDP, with somegovernors,andalignedwiththeAll ProgressivesCongress,APC,inanopen rebellion against the southern Jonathan claimingthatitwastheNorth'sturn.He ensured that Jonathan was humiliated out of power How can the South-south supportsuchaslipperycharacter?
The one problem with Atiku is that he doesn't seem to learn from the past. So, themorehedesperatelyplotstobecome the president, the more his past catches upwithhim.
Though Atiku managed to clinch the PDP ticket by subterfuge, he has in the process dividedthepartywiththeG-5, ledbyGovernorNyesomWikeofRivers state burying whatever chance that he thought he had in the February 25 election.
Only a desperate Atiku will defeat his pastargumentsagainstJonathanrunning in2015,byinsistingthatpowerremains intheNorthafterBuhari'seightyears.
ThemainangeroftheWikegroupisthe blunt refusal of Atiku to respect the zoning of the presidency between the North and South. For Wike, an Atiku presidency after eight years of MuhammaduBuhariisanegationofthe principle of rotation, which gives each section of the country a sense of belonging. Part of the reason Jonathan wasdefeatedin2015,washisrefusalto respecttheagreedzoningformula. Clearly,Atikubelievesinmaintaininga winning formula, which explains why sinceheemergedasthePDPflagbearer he has mounted the highly dangerous anddivisive“Naka,NaKa”campaign.
ItisbelievedthatAtikuhasalignedwith the same Villa forces which had vigorously pushed Senate President Ahmed Lawan for the presidency, but wereroundlydefeatedbythegovernors, who saw the negative implication for national unity, which the Villa forces blindedbypowerdidn'tsee.
state, who since 2018 has remained consistentinhiscallfortheAPCtoshift powerin2023totheSouth,inaseriesof media engagements has frontally accused the cabal, which Aisha, the president'swife,hadoncereferredtoas hyenasandnotthepresident,ofworking towards the defeat of the APC An allegation that BolaTinubu had equally made.
For El-Rufai, no argument justifies the Northholdingontopoweraftertheeight years of President Buhari, because it's the perfect recipe for crisis, and not in tandem with equity, common reasoning andworseisthatitwillonceagainpitch therestofthecountryagainsttheNorth. El-Rufaisaid,“Iwanttosaythatthoseof us from the North honour agreements. We do not violate unwritten political agreementsandIwillbethelastperson toleadinviolatingthatagreement”.
Butwhat'sthe implicationfortheNorth, if Atiku and the Villa forces get away withthispoliticaltreachery?
Being poor students of history, they seem to have forgotten how the rest of thecountry gangedupagainagainstthe Northin1993,aftertheannulmentofthe elections,believedtohavebeenwonby Chief Abiola. Every northerner was vicariously held responsible for the actionsofBabangidaandhisgroup. The other problem with the defeat of Tinubuisnotsimplythedeathofthefirst ever North- South-west political alliance, but the death of any future political alliance forever It needs be stressed that since independence, the North and the South-west have never workedtogetherpolitically,until2015.
IfTinubu,whohasshownhimselftobea true friend of the North, is rudely betrayed, it will be extremely difficult for any southern politician to trust and work with the North. The Villa forces don't understand that politics is an “I Owe You” (IOU). That the North can nevergoitalone.
In 2007, Tinubu had offered Atiku the presidential ticket of the Action CongressofNigeria(ACN).In2011,he once again offered Nuhu Ribadu the ACN presidential ticket and in 2015 he wholeheartedlysupportedBuharitowin the presidency, by working for the merger of the ACN, the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and the All
Sadly, the power Atiku and his coconspiratorsseekhasneverbeenforthe advancement of their beloved Arewa. The North despite the eight years of Buhari continues to occupy the bottom in all the indexes of human development. The administration to its eternal shame hasn't been able to complete the Kano-Kaduna-Abuja highway, nor tackle the security challengesconfrontingtheregion.
Buhari, who made a tragic mistake of not backing Yemi Osinbanjo, his vice, will be making a bigger one by not supporting Tinubu. It will be a mistake ofhistoricproportion.Itwillnotonlybe a betrayal ofTinubu who helped him to power, but a confirmation of whispers thatheisaselfishperson.
LikeEl-Rufaihasoftenstated,theNorth respects gentleman's agreement, especially as it was agreed upon by the leadership of theAPC prior to the 2015 general elections. El-Rufai's fears that thefatethatbefellthePDPmightbefall theAPC,whichheworkedhardtobirth, isnotawolf'scry
It's common knowledge that the main reason the PDP was defeated in 2015 was its refusal to respect the power rotation agreement enshrined in its constitution If only Jonathan had respected the zoning policy, the party wouldn'thavelostpowertotheAPC. Against this background, it is only logicalfortheAPCnotonlytorotatethe presidencytotheSouth,inkeepingwith the 2015 agreement it reached with the South,buttoensurethatTinubuwins. Thankfully,thesolidsupportoftheAPC governors led by El-Rufai will save the North the embarrassment of betraying Tinubu,whichwouldhavegonedownin history as a stupid politicaltreacheryof someonewhohasstoodsolidlywiththe Northfrom2007to2019.
El-Rufai's vow that the North “will honour our agreement and keep its words on power shift” is not an empty boast. The governors have a history of having consistently defeated the Villa forces, who are political neophytes, unmindful of the implications of their actions.
If per chance theVilla forces andAtiku prevail,itwouldbeaself-inflictedinjury broughtupontheAPCbythepresident's innercircle.
Buharishouldbemindfulofhisplacein history How does he want to be remembered?Thisisaquestionthatthe Villa forces ought to have been concernedwith.
ByDanjumaMusa Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna MusawritesfromKadunaFORMER Federal Commissioner for Information and South South Leader, Chief Edwin Clark has asked the Delta stateGovernorIfeanyiOkowatoresign from being the running mate of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the People's Democratic Party, PDP, presidential candidate.
Addressing journalists recently at his AsokororesidenceinAbuja,theLeader of Pan Niger Delta Forum, PANDEF and Southern and Middle-Belt Leaders Forum (SMBLF) in a letter dated February 2, 2023, addressed to Governor Okowa, said that the Governor and Atiku will not win the presidencyonjointticket.
Clark who noted that Okowa went contrary to the resolutions of southern governorsandotherstakeholdersthatno politician from the South should accept to be running mate to a northerner and particularly, Atiku Abubakar, accused theGovernorofusingmoneybelonging to Delta people to fund his campaign with Atiku, and asked the governor to publicly apologise to the people of the southandwithdrawfromtherace.
Partoftheletterread, “Today,Isaywith certainty that you are more dictatorial than any other Military administrator that has administered Delta State since itscreationin1991.
“I can therefore understand why you have deliberately and immorally
betrayed your colleagues of Southern Nigeria and the people for your own selfishambitionbywantingtolandona safer ground by accepting to serve as runningmatetoAlhajiAtikuAbubakar
“No,byGod'sgraceyourprayerwillnot be answered Perhaps, you have forgotten the gravity of the offence you have committed against the people of SouthernNigeria.
“In order to cover your nefarious plot, you voluntarily induced everyone to host a meeting of the 17 Southern governors in Government HouseAsaba on Tuesday 11th May 2021. You gave themaverygoodreceptionandprovided them a secretariat that drafted the
communiqué under your supervision, whichwasablyreadbytheChairmanof the Southern Governors Forum, Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State.
“It was indeed a bombshell, as you collectively demanded for Southern Presidencyandinsistedthatnoneofyou shouldaccepttobeaVicePresident.
“Shortly afterwards, the Southern and Middle-Belt Leaders Forum (SMBLF), which I lead, gave the governor's declaration 100% support and declared that no Southern serving governors, Legislators or Politicians should accept toberunningmate,particularlytoAtiku Abubakar
“The 17 governors later met again in Lagos and Enugu to affirm the decision takeninyourGovernmentHouseAsaba. Little did we know that you were using this to perfect your secret plan to be running mate to Atiku Abubakar from theverybeginning.
“Wearethereforenotsurprisedthatyou directed all the delegates from Delta State not to vote for Governor Nyesom WikeofRiversStateorGovernorUdom EmmanuelofAkwaIbomStatewhoare yourneighboursbutinstead,theyvoted massivelyforAtikuAbubakarduringthe PDPPresidentialPrimarieslastyear
“Itwouldberecalledin2007,thatDelta Statefinanceswereusedinfundingpart oftheelectionofUmaruMusaYar'Adua through the directive of President Olusegun Obasanjo. We were therefore notsurprisedwhenyoutoohavedecided to finance Atiku Abubakar with Delta People'smoneybecause;thereisnobody to challenge you. I repeat, you will not succeed.
“It is therefore in your own interest to openly apologise to your colleagues of bothAPCandPDPwhomyoudeceived in taking a decision you never believed in. After your unreserved apology to your people and Southern Nigeria, you should step down your ambition of becoming Vice-Presidential candidate ofthePDP Thereyourhonourlies.”
Ihold no allegiance to
BuhariandAtiku.ButI'm speciallygratefultoAtiku and Kwankwaso for some personal helps they've rendered to me. I've always hadtwoNigeriansinmindfor decades to become Nigeria's President and propell this countrytogreatness.
One of the two is Asiwaju BolaAhmedTinubu , I won't mention the second person. So, one day, Tinubu came to my house in Abuja...and he told me that he'd want to be President...he told me that he had not informed Buhari at that time, that he wanted my
support first...and from that instant, I gave my support to him.
Tinubuwillhavemyvoteand my continous support We fought for this democracy together,handsinhands. We faced the military together as comrades My biological father andAtiku are from the same place Kwankwaso appointed my son into his cabinet as governor...but this is more than personal relationships Bola Tinubu will rebuild Nigeria, and he willgetmyvote.
Tinubuwillhavemyvoteand mycontinoussupport.
Whereas many governors run their Local governments through SoleAdministrators or Caretaker Committees in flagrant breach of section 7 of the Constitution, Tinubu maintained fidelity with the Constitutionalrequirementthat thesystemoflocalgovernment in Nigeria must be through democratically elected local governmentcouncils.
By ensuring periodic elections intothe57LocalGovernments and Development Area CouncilsinLagosState,Tinubu opened up more opportunities for youths to be actively engagedingovernancethereby p r e p a r i n g t h e m f o r participation at higher levels. One of his Local Government Council Chairmen rose to becomeaSenator
By giving opportunities to youths to participate in legitimate endeavours Lagos State has witnessed a massive decline in violent crimes and othervices.
ThenewlookOshodi,formerly a den of robbers, attests to the success ofTinubu and those he helped successively to occupy the position of Governor of LagosState.Icangoonandon butIbelievethepointisclear H i s m a n y o t h e r accomplishments are common knowledge.
Ofallthefront-linePresidential candidates Tinubu is the most religious tolerant.Amongst the candidates he scored the best grades in the University and exhibited exceptional intelligence unmatched by any ofhisco-contestants.
The challenges facing Nigeria today were faced by Tinubu in Lagos State, though on a smaller scale However, by establishing a standard and laying a good foundation, Lagos has surmounted most of the limitations to become the fifthlargesteconomyinAfrica. You can imagine what Nigeria stands to gain if and when he leadsasPresident.
This is one in a life-time opportunityforNigeriaandwe mustnotallowittoslipthrough our fingers. Tinubu has the visionandcapacitytobuildthe foundationsofanewNigeriain the same way that Lee Kuan Yew of Singapore, Mahathir Ibn Mohamad of Malaysia and PaulKagameofRwandapulled their respective countries from povertytoprosperity.
I am not unmindful of the various criticisms and reservations that some have expressed againstTinubu and I donotimaginethatheisasaint. No one is perfect. Curiously, many of the opponents agree that he will make a good Presidentbutcontinuetorehash thereservations.
Soludo told Vice President
that erosion has
taken over 40% of Anambra State while requesting for Federal Governmenthelp.
These,Idaresay,nomatterhow well embellished they are with crude jokes, mockery, photos andvideos–realorfake,arenot weighty enough to deny Nigeria the benefits that a TinubuPresidencycanbring.
ItiscommonlysaidthatTinubu isnotagoodpublicspeakerand is slow or sluggish in speech. When God decided to free the childrenofIsraelfromcaptivity in Egypt he chose Moses who was slow in speech and a stammerer. He did not choose anorator.
Despite his self-confessed lack of eloquence, Moses successfully took his people from Egypt, crossed the Red Sea and led them safely to the promisedland. Some say that Tinubu was indictedorconvictedforadrugrelated crime in the United States of America in 1993 but the US government issued a statement in February 2003 to say that their government has no criminal record against Tinubu.
It simply makes no sense for any Nigerian nearly 20 years later to continue to contest or
Anambra is the same state a man governed for 8years where he was savingmoneyinbankwhileerosion destroyed lives and ravaged the people.Amanwhowasgovernorof thatstatefor8yearsanddidnothing to combat erosion is now telling us to give him Nigeria to run. Erosion problemthathastakenover40%of astateiscertainlynotaproblemthat started8yearsago.
Another man was governor when Atlanticoceansurgewasdestroying a prime part of his state and threatening to wash away Victoria Island. It was a perennial annual problem that defied solution and palliativesdecadesbeforethisother man became governor in 1999. He satdownandconceivedabetterand permanentsolutiononhowtoturna
contradict the unequivocal official statement clearing Tinubu of links with any crime infarwayUS.
To do so is to imply or suggest that the U.S. statement is false, which will be very ridiculous, tosaytheleast.
Again, it beats my imagination that people are insisting that Tinubu must display his primary and secondary school certificates even when he has provided to INEC his Chicago State University certificate, a qualification higher than the minimum required under our Constitution.
The only logical deduction fromalltheseaccusations,even from among many who do not doubttheleadershipacumenof Tinubu,isthattheseareallthey canhangontointheirdesperate oppositiontohiscandidature.
It is the same reason they continue to bandy about allegations in the libellous TV documentary, “The Lion of Bourdillon”, for which its publisher has publicly apologisedtoTinubu.
Inconclusion,mystrongadvice and appeal to Nigerians is that they should disabuse their minds of sentiments, bitterness orhateand,forthegoodofour country, elect a President who can transform Nigeria, not a debatingchampion.
Thattransformationalleader who has demonstrated capacity by a wide margin is SenatorAsiwajuBolaAhmed Tinubu. He is the President thatNigerianeedsin2023.He deservesourvotes.
huge liability to asset He constructed 8 kilometres seashore protection, invited private sector partner and reclaimed 10 million square metres from sea to build a newcitycalledEkoAtlanticCity–a brand new city that has been described as one of the civil engineeringwondersoftheworld.
Between these two men who seek to be President of Nigeria, who offers a better vision for governing a society and solving human problems? The one who savedmoneyinbankwhilepeople perishortheonewhosavedlives, propertiesandcreatedwealthfor people?
Two men and two visions for the future!
Recently, Governor Yemi OsinbajoWith campaigns ongoing for various elective positions in the 2023 general elections it is imperativeatthistimetoreflect on the type of person Nigeria needs to elect to the office of President. What really are the expectationsofNigeria?
Without a doubt, Nigerians want to have a country that works; that can provide the basic everyday needs of her citizens; whose leadership is imaginative, creative and can transform Nigeria from being perpetually “a country with great potentials” to one where those potentials become a reality with actual gains and positiveresultsinallspheresof life.
We need a President under whose watch and inspiring leadership we can change the narrative about Nigeria being a potentially great country; a President that will ignite the engines of growth which will result in actual gains and true greatness.
Weneedabuilderwhowillnot only position Nigeria on a new trajectory towards the realisationofherfullpotentials butwillsetthetoneforthesubnational units to emulate In 2023 and beyond the narrative must change in a remarkably different way by electing a President who can build the Nigeriaofourdreams.
The only way to decide who best meets these requirements amongst the Presidential candidates is to examine the trackrecordsofeachofthem.
This determination can be best made not through blind emotions, anger, hatred, envy, insultsorprotestbutbyacalm, sober and dispassionate assessment of the antecedents and track records of the candidates who seek to be our President.
We have reached a defining moment for Nigeria when we must seize the opportunity to liftourcountryoutofthethroes of backwardness so that it can
join the league of developed nations.
Many formerly underdeveloped countries like ours have since left us far behind in thedevelopmentindex. We have gone past the time of rhetoric and bare campaign
away from backwardness and be positioned irreversibly on the path of development and greatness.
He proved this in Lagos when he assumed the office of Governor in 1999 by laying a foundation which his
Eko Atlantic City has transformed hitherto erosion ravaged Bar Beach to a model city comparable to Dubai and otherdreamdestinationsacross the world to the extent that the United States of America is buildingthereperhapsoneofits most expensive missions in the world.
Tinubu as Governor identified thebestbrains(somethingheis known for) to help him actualise his vision for a new Lagos and they gave a good accountofthemselves.
Today one of his former Commissioners is the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; some are Ministersandmanyothershold high offices in government –both elective and appointive Noneofhiscontemporarieshas achievedthis.
promises (and politicians the world over are notorious for promises not kept) but must assess each candidate by what he had done before in public officeasapointertowhatheis likely to be able to do in the higherofficeofPresident.
Manifestos and debates have their place but much more important is the ability to fulfil campaign promises supported bypastrecords.
The President that Nigeria needsin2023andbeyondisone thatcanbuildourcountrytothe standard we all desire and expectittobeasdemonstrated, not by mere rhetoric but by evidencethatallcansee.
The candidate that best meets this description is, without a doubt, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu the APC Presidential candidate.
The evidence spans various spheresofwhatittakestobuild a nation to greatness With Tinubu, Nigeria will break
successors have continued to builduponindiversespheresto the admiration of all fairminded persons. A few illustrationswillsuffice.
Before 1999, Lagos used to havetheinfamousdistinctionas one of the dirtiest and most disorganisedcitiesintheworld but under Tinubu as Governor and till date the situation has changed. In spite of the challengesofaneverincreasing daily migration, Lagos now wears a new look with good roads, improved infrastructure and institutions like LAWMA, LASTMA, etc, that are being emulated by many States and even the Federal Government on issues like Justice Sector Reform. Newareasofdevelopmenthave been opened up in the Lekki axis with beautiful aesthetics a n d a w e l l - p l a n n e d environment hosting the newly commissioned Lekki Deep Sea Port, Dangote refinery and an
With his party AD controlling only Lagos State in 2003, Tinubuthroughhissagacityand deft political manoeuvring transformedittoAC,ACNand ultimately APC which is now therulingpartyinNigeria–this mostly at the expense of PDP whose leadership were consumed in arrogance, wickedness and misrule, believing the fake promise of rulingfor60years.
Theyweresweptawayafter16 terrible years for which they owe Nigerians an apology and atonement, not asking for their votes.
Tinubuharnessedtheenergyof the youths in Lagos by providing them with employment opportunities in stateinstitutionsestablishedby government and private sector enterprises enabled by an investment-friendly environment.
on-goinginternationalairport.