TheNewsGuru

Tag: 2023 Elections

  • 2023: Why all political parties should zone presidential slots to South East – Igbo elders

    2023: Why all political parties should zone presidential slots to South East – Igbo elders

    The Igbo Elders Consultative Forum (IECF), on Wednesday asked all political parties in Nigeria to zone their presidential slots to South East to pave way for an Igbo president in 2023.

    Members of the socio-politico group warned that any political party that Ignores the South East in the choice of presidential candidate will not get the votes of the people of Southern Nigeria and will ultimately lose the presidency in 2023.

    Chairman of the IECF, Dr Chukwuemeka Ezeife made this declaration at a news conference held in Abuja.
    Ezeife, a former Governor of Anambra State, said some political jobbers and unpatriotic elements want to thwart the popular clamour by many Nigerians for power shift to the Southern part of the country, preferably South East, but said such moves will fail.

    Ezeife explained that the clamour for a Nigerian President of South East extraction has been endorsed by the leaderships of the Afenifere ( South West) , Pan Niger Delta Forum (South South) and the Middle Belt Forum ( MBF), adding that there would be no going back on the project.

    He said these major socio- political groups, Ezeife said that the Arewa Youth Forum, Yoruba Youths, Northern Youth Coalition and many other groups have also embraced the project based on their conviction that it was the right way to go at this time.

    Based on these endorsements, the forum has directed visionary, credible and creative presidential materials of South East zone to declare their intentions to join the presidential race.

    “We are very serious about this directive and do not mean those unserious bootlickers, who are angling to be running mates to candidates from other parts of the country. The Igbos will not take it lightly with any of our sons and daughters who accept to be running mates to any person outside the South East zone in 2023.

    “It is either we are allowed to produce the President of this country in 2023 to change the appalling narrative of continued decay, poverty, insecurity, poor governance corruption and maladministration in Nigeria or out of it. No half measure, as serious sanctions will be visited on any Igbo man or woman that sabotages this noble and patriotic decision of our people to provide for Nigeria a credible , visionary and creative President,” he said.

    The group asserted that morally, it is the turn of the South East to produce the next President of the country as the other zones have been given the opportunity to serve Nigeria in the past.

  • Delta 2023: Oborevwori cautions supporters to tow path of decency

    Delta 2023: Oborevwori cautions supporters to tow path of decency

    Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori, who is aspiring to become the Governor of Delta in 2023, has cautioned his supporters to tow the path of decency.

    Oborevwori made this known in his welcome remarks at the resumption of plenary on Tuesday, while reacting to a social media publication, which he described was designed to cause disaffection.

    He appealed to his fellow aspirants to pursue their aspirations in peace and harmony for the interest of Deltans and the State, adding that the dignity and sanctity of others no matter how should be respected.

    “My dear colleagues, I have offered myself to serve our people in a higher capacity come 2023 and there is no going back. By the grace of Almighty God and the goodwill of our teeming supporters, I remain a frontline aspirant in the 2023 governorship race.

    “In as much as I acknowledge the rights of others to pursue their political interests, people must desist from provocative and inciting utterances. Let us caution, educate and guide our supporters to tow the path of decency in their approach to issues. We are all brothers and not enemies and therefore, politics should be issue-based and not attack on personalities,” Oborevwori said.

    The Speaker commended all his colleagues for their commitment and support for the programmes and activities of the Seventh Assembly, and noted that; “The leadership of the House acknowledges your loyalty and push for the success of the Assembly thus far”.

    He added: “My distinguished colleagues, as we resume plenary today, I wish to remind all of us that we have a number of Bills to consider, process and pass before the end of this session in June. Therefore, I urge you to deploy your effectiveness and efficiency towards the passage of the Bills”.

    He seized the opportunity to appreciate Deltans and all residents in the State for their continued confidence and goodwill for the House, just as he said that; “As representatives of our people, we will at all times promote their common good, welfare and security. We are very much receptive of constructive criticism that will add value to our mandates”.

    Rt Hon Oborevwori reassured his colleagues and constituents that the leadership of the Seventh Assembly was anchored on accountability and transparency, noting that; “As head of the Legislature for almost five years now, I have not been invited by any anti- graft agency for fraud related issues”.

    “The leadership of the House will continue to draw and rely on the tremendous support of members and staff till the end of the Seventh Assembly. Distinguished colleagues, let me commend you for the peace and stability in the House. Delta State House of Assembly is one of the most vibrant State Houses of Assembly in the country.

    “This is because of your collective efforts and strength of character. Let us therefore continue to work together with His Excellency, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, our dear Governor, to achieve the Stronger Delta Vision,” Oborevwori said.

  • 2023: Ohaneze insists on zoning presidency to South East

    2023: Ohaneze insists on zoning presidency to South East

    Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, an Igbo apex socio-cultural organisation has insisted that zoning the presidency to the South East will remain a fundamental ingredient for national unity.

    This is contained in a release signed by Presidential General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Prof. George Obiozor and made available to newsmen in Owerri on Monday.

    Obiozor, a former Nigerian Ambassador to the United States and Israel said that the current state of the nation underscored the need for a president of Igbo extraction.

    According to him, wherever the next president of Nigeria comes from will send a strong message to Ndigbo (Igbo people).

    “Nigeria will, above all, once again experience resurgence of nationalism with enthusiasm under a Nigerian President of Igbo extraction, with malice towards none, and charity to all,”.

    He urged the nation’s political class to drop all fears and prejudices against Igbos and to forge a common front to move the nation forward.

    The former ambassador also said that there was no better time for Nigerian politicians to embrace patriotism and political wisdom and jettison personal ambition.

    He noted that the Igbos were blessed with a good number of capable, patriotic and credible personalities, who were eminently qualified to govern the country and meet the expectations of the citizenry through equity, justice and fairness.

    Obiozor assured Nigerians that a president of Igbo extraction would bring into office, an amazing sense of peace and harmony to the country, ensure the imperative of national unity and commitment to good governance with dedication, decency and decorum.

    “Igbos have been campaigning for their rights to leadership in Nigeria since 1960, hence the complaints of marginalisation in critical areas of politics and government,” he said.

    The Ohaneze leader admonished political elites to take serious note of denial of justice to any group or groups in the history of Nigeria.

    “We need a leader who can unite us as one nation and one destiny and not one Nigeria with disputed destinies as incrementally observed in our history in recent years.

    “How many Nigerians are more popular than Ndigbo political elites within and outside Nigeria who have a high visibility and popularity in Nigeria and outside?

    “Above all, it is part of the prejudice Ndigbo complain about that when the opportunity for leadership comes to them, our rivals and political adversaries always try to shift the goal post whenever Ndigbo are within the penalty box.

    “In a country where you have a glaring statistics of power sharing history as Nigeria, there is absolutely no doubt that it is politically and morally defensible and justifiable for power to shift to the South and to the South-East,” he said.

  • 2023 zoning and aspirants’ pairing permutations [2] – By Ehichioya Ezomon

    2023 zoning and aspirants’ pairing permutations [2] – By Ehichioya Ezomon

    By Ehichioya Ezomon

    As noted in part one of this article on Monday, February 7, 2022, the politicians that welcomed the new civilian administration in 1999 agreed to a gentleman’s arrangement to rotate the presidency between the North and South of Nigeria.

    But for the distortion of the principle in 2011 by President Goodluck Jonathan, a Southerner, the mechanism would’ve run smoothly, at least on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
    Recall that former Head of State, retired Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, a Northerner, mindful of the “zoning of the presidency to the South” in 1999, ran under the All Peoples Party (APP) against the second term bid of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo of the PDP in 2003.

    And thereafter, Buhari consecutively vied on the platforms of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) in 2007, Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) in 2011 and All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2015, before crowning his long-held ambition that runs out in 2023.

    Dr Jonathan, as vice president, and later president, had completed the first-term tenure of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, a Northerner, who died in the third year of his presidency in 2010.
    Subsequently, Jonathan, against the understanding for rotation of the presidency between the North and South, contested in the 2011 polls and won, even as there’s a reported agreement by the North to allow him a single term of four years – between 2011 and 2015 – before the office would revert to the North.

    Nonetheless, Jonathan’s rule in those four years short-changed the North of its eight-year-tenured presidency under the rotation agenda. That’s why in the 2023 election cycle, zoning of the seat has become intensely contentious, and hazier, as to which region – North or South – should produce the next president.

    The argument for rotation of the presidency weighs heavily in favour of the South, considering that President Buhari will be completing his eight years of two terms of four years each in 2023.
    So, in the lead-up to the polls, the expectation, and urging is that the South will produce the next president on the basis that the political parties, especially the ruling APC and the main opposition PDP, will zone the seat to Southern Nigeria.

    However, a section of the political class and the intelligentsia in the North feels otherwise, and strongly canvasses for the North to retain the presidency beyond President Buhari’s tenure in 2023, so as to equal or surpass the number of years that the South has ruled Nigeria since the return of democracy in 1999.

    For the record, the South has produced two presidents in former Head of State, Dr Obasanjo and Dr Jonathan, cumulatively governing for 14 years, with Obasanjo ruling from 1999 to 2007, and Jonathan from 2010 to 2015.

    Conversely, within the timeframe of 24 years, between 1999 and 2023 (when Buhari will round off his tenure), the North has produced two presidents – the late Yar’Adua and Buhari, whose years of governance would be 11, with Yar’Adua ruling from 2007 to 2010, and Buhari from 2015 till 2023.

    And that’s the puzzle of the matter! The North insists on producing the next president, to compensate for its “loss” of four (or five) years from eight years the region would’ve controlled power, but for the death of President Yar’Adua barely three years in office.

    But polity watchers argue that retaining power in the North, after Buhari in 2023, would disrupt further the rotation of office of the president between the North and South of Nigeria.

    Certainly, were this scenario to succeed, the North would’ve had additional four years, in the first instance, from 2023 to 2027, and the likelihood of another four years between 2027 and 2031, to complete the presidential cycle of eight years.

    In other words, the North, since 1999, would’ve aggregately ruled the country for 15 years or 19 years, resulting in one or five years more than the period of 14 years that the South has governed.

    This has the potential to set a dangerous precedent of tit-for-tat between the North and South, as each tries to grab power at the centre, and thus deepens the level of polarisation in the system.

    Worrying as this picture might look, the North doesn’t seem to care, as its sole interest is in equalling or surpassing the number of years that the South has ruled the country since 1999.

    Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed restated the North’s stand in late January 2022, as he received a report from the Contact and Consultation Committee he set up for his presidential ambition.

    Mohammed said: “We are aware of the agitations of the southern part of the country because the leader of the country today, President Muhammadu Buhari, who is from the North, will finish his tenure in 2023; so power should rotate to the South.

    “But I want to say that I am in PDP, I am not in APC. It is the APC that has this burden (of zoning the presidency to the South). In my party, the last president was from the South, and he was my President, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.

    “During this period, my party was at the centre for 16 years (and) 14 of those years were led by the people from the South. So, where is the justice and the justification (for the North to relinquish power)? Therefore, it is the turn of the North (to produce the next president).

    “While Governor Mohammed is concerned about zoning under the PDP, some are theorising a situation in which all political parties will field only Northern presidential candidates in the 2023 polls – a semblance of the 1999 zoning – and whoever wins on whatever political platform will govern for only one term of four years.

    The reasoning is that the outcome of such an arrangement would almost balance the number of years – 15 and 14, in that order – that the North and South have ruled the country, and then, the rotation of the presidency between the two regions would begin afresh.

    The problem with this theory is twofold. First, which of the regions – North or South – will take the first shot at the presidency in 2027? If it’s the North, it would’ve consecutively completed 12 years in the saddle, and accumulatively 15 years overall.

    That’s, Yar’Adua’s three years plus Buhari’s eight years and the contemplated four-years post-Buhari presidency, thus surpassing, by one year, the South’s 14 years in power since 1999.
    Second, due to “sweetness of power,” there’s a possibility of the North insisting on another four years, from 2027 to 2031 – in an eight-year tenure – to progressively make it 16 years of unbroken presidency by the region, and a total of 19 years in power, and five years more than the South’s rulership of Nigeria since 1999.

    What a vicious cycle that would be were the South to emulate the North when power returned to it in whatever year! It’d be a mockery of the rotation principle designed to equitably distribute power, every eight years, between the North and South of Nigeria.

    Last Line: Part 3 of this serial will examine zero-zoning or open contest of the presidency based on “competence” and the gambit of a “Muslim-Muslim” joint ticket, as it’s in the Military annulled June 12, 1993, presidential election.

     

    *Mr. Ezomon, Journalist and Media Consultant, writes from Lagos, Nigeria.

  • 2023: Delta Central elders ask Gov Okowa to disregard DC-23 screening exercise in leaked confidential letter

    2023: Delta Central elders ask Gov Okowa to disregard DC-23 screening exercise in leaked confidential letter

    Some prominent elders from Delta Central Senatorial District under the aegis of Delta Central Political Elders and Leaders of Thought (DCPELT) have asked the State Governor, Senator Dr Ifeanyi Okowa to disregard the outcome of the screening exercise carried out by the lobby group known as DC-23.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the elders asked Governor Okowa to disregard the outcome of the screening exercise carried out by a DC-23 committee in a leaked confidential letter DCPELT wrote to the Governor.

    Recall that DC-23 had picked Olorogun David Edevbie, Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi and Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori as their preferred aspirants to bid for the 2023 governorship ticket of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

    However, DCPELT in the leaked confidential letter signed by Dr. Adogbeji Ideh, Chief P. O. Akaighe and Chief Eddie Ono-Sorhue told Governor Okowa that the outcome of the screening exercise does not reflect the yearnings of Deltans.

    The elders in the letter accused the DC-23 screening committee of manipulating the screening exercise to deliberately exclude the “best of the lot” and foist persons of questionable character on the PDP in what they described as a political ambush to serve selfish interests.

    The elders asked Okowa to disregard the final shortlist by DC-23, especially on the basis that the screening committee members were financially induced heavily by the beneficiaries of the DC-23 screening.

    They strongly canvassed for further assessment of intending governorship aspirants, including Chief James Augoye, Senator Emmanuel Aguariavwodo and Omizu Ejaife Odebala on the basis of competence, experience, loyalty and vision of purpose, using recognised organs of the PDP.

    The leaked confidential letter reads: “We write to you under confidential cover as DELTA CENTRAL POLITICAL ELDERS AND LEADERS OF THOUGHT mutually desirous of a smooth transition that will usher in your successor of Urhobo extraction, in line with what is commonly referred to as the Zoning Formula of the Ruling PDP in Delta State.

    “We firmly believe that it is quite expedient that such a person should possess remarkable integrity, reasonable competence, requisite experience and general acceptance of the electorate that can consolidate on your laudable achievements of the SMART Agenda and unite the State.

    “We wish to therefore dissociate ourselves from the subject, which has expectedly generated needless controversy, capable of creating further disaffection within the Party due to the manipulative selection process eventually deployed by the Screening Committee of the lobby group DC-23, deliberately designed to exclude the “best of the lot” and foist persons of questionable character on the Party in a political ambush to serve selfish interests.

    “We have indeed received several reports of mouthwatering monetary inducements of the Screening Committee members by the beneficiaries of this charade and wish to crave your indulgence to carry out an independent investigation to substantiate the veracity of this weighty allegations, in order to properly guide your anticipated action on this issue.

    “We are strongly canvassing for further assessment of intending governorship aspirants on the basis of competence, experience, loyalty and vision of purpose, using recognised organs of the Party, which we also believe that the Final List would not ordinarily exclude the likes of Sen. Emmanuel Aguariavwodo, Chief James Augoye and OmizuEjaifeOdebala, going by their known antecedents, expressed intentions and ongoing consultation efforts.

    “We are therefore soliciting your kind cooperation to disregard the outcome of the exercise conducted by the DC-23 lobby group in the true spirit of fairness by deploying available instruments of your office as the State Party Leader, towards ensuring the emergence of a flagbearer that meets the yearnings and aspirations of most political stakeholders in the current dispensation, all in a bid to guarantee victory for the Party at the general elections next year.

    “We remain committed to your patriotic quest of finishing strong and bequeathing a lasting legacy to all Deltans”.

  • 2023: How I will tackle insecurity if elected president – Tambuwal

    2023: How I will tackle insecurity if elected president – Tambuwal

    Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State and People’s Democratic Party (PDP) presidential aspirant has addressed how he will tackle insecurity if elected president of Nigeria in the 2023 general elections.

    Governor Tambuwal gave the address after a consultative meeting with Kebbi State PDP executives, delegates and other key stakeholders of the party held at the state secretariat in Birnin Kebbi, the state capital.

    Tambuwal was in Birnin Kebbi in continuation of consultation towards accomplishing his intent of becoming the presidential flag-bearer of PDP.

    “First of all, it’s about ensuring that Nigeria is re-secured and to do that, we must reorient our security forces so that they learn and understand the techniques of the current security challenges.

    “We will ensure supply of sufficient modern equipment and ensure that security agents are well taken care of in terms of their welfare, recruit more and more personnel and use modern technology to fight banditry, insurgency and other crimes across Nigeria.

    “We also intend to create more jobs, we will have no business with poverty in Nigeria, and by creating more jobs, you are in a way addressing the issue of insecurity.

    “We also intend to support and boost agriculture that will take care of most of the people by engaging them in one form of agriculture or the other,” Tambuwal said.

    On education, the aspirant observed that “if care is not taken”, the country’s education system would collapse, insisting that the issue was glaring in the lingering squabble between Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the Federal Government.

    Tambuwal said if elected, he would intensify efforts on more of rail services, support constitutional amendment to devolve more powers to states.

    “On infrastructure, we intend to do a lot more in terms of providing more of rail services in the country by also supporting the constitutional amendment that will devolve more powers to states, strategising for their involvement in rail system, power and energy.

    “This will enable states invest in power generation, transmission and distribution as well as provision of railway and other services and a lot of other things that we will do to reform, reposition and take Nigeria to a greater level,” he noted.

    On how to foster unity among Nigerians, Tambuwal said that records were there when he was the Speaker, House of Representatives, he was able to ensure unity among house members from different parts of the country.

    “I was able to bring 359 members of the house together without rancour, despite the fact that members came from different parts of the country and from different backgrounds, different culture, and different parties among others.

    “This goes to show that by the grace of God the capacity is there to bring back the unity of this country by providing inclusive leadership,” he said.

    Earlier, former PDP Board of Trustees’ Chairman, Dr Bello Haliru, commended Tambuwal for accepting to contest for the position of President.

    “We are not just happy that you are from Sokoto, and Kebbi is part of Sokoto, but because you actually deserved to do the job. This is because, we need somebody who is more credible and who will mend the bond of relationship amongst Nigerians.

    “We need somebody who is honest, confident, committed and more credible to fix the nation,” Haliru said.

    Dr Attahiru Bafarawa, former governor of Sokoto State and former presidential aspirant, expressed appreciation for the warmth reception accorded the entourage in Kebbi, appealing for more support, prayer and encouragement to succeed.

    He said that the essence of the visit was to consult with stakeholders toward taking one of their own to the number one seat come 2023.

    According to him, Tambuwal is more credible to be the flag bearer of the party considering his political antecedent, saying that he was a legislator who rose to the peak as Speaker.

    “Tambuwal was not only a legislator but also a lawyer by profession, meaning that he fits into judiciary and at the same time, today he is a sitting governor serving his second term.

    “This is to tell you that Tambuwal fits into all the three arms of government. Therefore, he is more credible for the presidential ticket. That’s why we are here to take him to where we want him to be, not where he wants to be,” Bafarawa said.

    Welcoming the aspirant and his entourage, Alhaji Usman Bello-Suru, Chairman, PDP Kebbi State, told the delegation that they did not need to beg for votes from Kebbi, assuring that a block vote from the state was reserved mainly for Tambuwal.

  • 2023: 14 govs, 13 ex-govs, 3 ex-Senate Presidents meet to ‘rescue Nigeria’

    2023: 14 govs, 13 ex-govs, 3 ex-Senate Presidents meet to ‘rescue Nigeria’

    One hundred political and thought leaders, including 14 serving governors, 13 former governors as well as three former Senate Presidents have met with the view to ‘rescue Nigeria’ and map a new consensus for national rebirth.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the political and thought leaders met February 4th to 6th 2022 in Lagos State under the aegis of ‘The 2022 Committee’.

    In a communique released by the conveners, ThisDay Newspapers Publisher, Nduka Obaigbena; as well as Borno-born politician and Chairman, Board of Trustees of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, Kashim Ibrahim-Imam, the committee said the leaders worked in three sub-committees.

    The communique reads: “100 leading business, political, civil society and thought leaders met in Lagos over the last weekend from February 4-6, 2022 under the aegis of The 2022 Committee, in a nonpartisan retreat, to map a new consensus for national rebirth.

    “The attendance list included 14 current Governors and 13 former Governors as well as 3 former Senate Presidents. Working in 3 Sub-Committees of National Security, The Economy and Nigeria in Transition, the participants recognised that there is an urgent need to seek common ground and irreducible minimum actions to stabilise the polity at this critical time of transition.

    “The meetings will continue, as we work with Federal and State Governments, current and future political leaders of all political persuasions, as well as other eminent patriotic citizens, for the greater good of the Nigerian people.

    “Whilst The 2022 Committee is interested in the quality of leadership that will emerge in Nigeria at all levels, we consider attempts to link the Committee with candidates or political parties for the 2023 elections as an unwarranted and unnecessary distraction – candidates are only chosen by political parties and we are not a political party.

    “All the 100 leading lights of the 2022 Committee have the capacity for national leadership; indeed, amongst the very active participants in the work of the Committee are over 7 persons, from 3 or more political parties, who have already publicly declared their aspiration to lead the country but are desirous of working with other patriots for non-partisan greater national goals.

    “We must have a secure, peaceful and united nation before we can have candidates for political offices. The Committee believes that what Nigeria needs today is for all patriots to come together to rescue our nation from all political, economic and security threats, and promote the unity of Nigeria.

    “We call on all patriotic volunteers, who are willing and able, to join this collective effort to stabilise the system so we can all build a new Nigeria we can all be proud of”.

    TNG reports the communique did not mention the names of the thought leaders that partook in the meeting.

  • Making Igbo president – By Sonnie Ekwowusi

    Making Igbo president – By Sonnie Ekwowusi

    By Sonnie Ekwowusi

    Never in the political history of Nigeria has there been so much agreeableness or concurrence of views on the imperative that Ndigbo should produce the next President for Nigeria’s survival than now. This unanimity of views is not borne out of any misguided Igbo irredentism or narrow-mindedness: It is borne out of fair-mindedness and equity principle to give vent to inclusiveness, sense of belonging and balanced participation in our pluralist and heterogeneous society. This is probably why the PDP, APC and other political parties have not stopped musing over fielding Igbo presidential candidates in 2023. Since Nigeria’s independence no Igbo has functioned as the civilian executive President of Nigeria. Igbo has been playing second fiddle. In contrast, the North has been ruling Nigeria since independence and has not left till date. It is obvious that Nigerians are tired of this one-sided ethnic dominance of power. Nigerians want a power shift to the South. This is why any political party that fields a Northern presidential candidate risks losing the 2023 Presidential election.

    So the South holds all the aces in the 2023 Presidential election. And among the 2023 Southern presidential candidates, the presidential scale of justice tilts in favour of the South-East presidential candidate. Why? Because the South-South and South-West had had their respective shots at the Presidency and the South-East has not. Truth is that justice is like the vital thread that knits human society together. Without justice it will be impossible to build a nation. Small wonder Aristotle praises justice to high heavens by stating that “neither the morning star nor the evening star is as glorious as justice”. The cardinal virtue and ethical conduct upon which Islam is built is justice. “Stand firm for justice…even if it is against yourselves, your parents or relatives…(Surat An-Nisa 4: 135) and “let not the hatred of others make you swerve to wrong and depart from justice. Be just for that is nearer to piety” (Surat Al-Maidah 5: 8)

    Therefore if we want unity and peace to reign in Nigeria we must apriori allow communal justice to reign because unity and peace reside in the crannies of justice. This is why the Pan-Igbo socio- cultural organization Ohaneze Ndigbo tirelessly advocates for Igbo Presidency in 2023. Only last week the prominent Pan-Yoruba socio-political group Afenifere, pursuant to the idea of rotational presidency, power sharing in Nigeria and the Constitutional provision which stipulates that the composition of the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria or its agencies and the conduct of its affairs shall be carried out in such a manner and section as to reflect the federal character of Nigeria and need to promote national cohesion, unity and loyalty in Nigeria, canvassed for the emergence of an Igbo President in 2023. According to Afenifere leader and statesman Pa Ayo Adebanjo, the major ethnic groups in the country have had respective their turns in the Presidency and justice and equity demands that it should be the turn of the Igbos in 2023. Pa Adebanjo speaks about a gang-up of other tribes in Nigeria against the Igbos. Says he, “If there is anything like a power-shift in Nigeria, it should go to the South-East. There is no doubt about that, any other thing is just a gang-up…there should not be any argument about that because the South-West has gotten it, the North has gotten it, South-South has gotten it. You want the Igbo to remain in Nigeria but you want to discriminate against them”

    The fact remains that the deep-seated political, economic, social and cultural imbalances plaguing the Nigerian enterprise or, poignantly, the crisis of federalism plaguing Nigeria since her independence stem from the inability to manage Nigeria’s diversity well. For example, all the Constitutional Conferences that were held in Nigeria, from the 1957 Conference, 1994/1995 Constitutional Conference, 2005 National Political Reform, 214 Constitutional Conference to the Oputa Panel Report were all geared towards addressing and remedying Nigerian diversity. Historically, the 1914 amalgamation wrought by the British was to further accentuate her selfish interests in the colony. The amalgamation was a potpourri or assemblage of seemingly irreconcilable ethno-religiously and culturally diverse native kingdoms and nationalities. That was why the concocted amalgamation failed on arrival. It was a forced marriage that was, at the outset, bound to wobble. Owing to the clear absence of esprit de corps and cohesion amongst the nationalities which were forcefully amalgamated, Chief Obafemi Awolowo had referred to Nigeria as a “mere geographical expression”. With all the natural resources and minerals at the disposal of different regions at independence everything was working well for Nigeria. But it was short-lived. Under the pretext that it was a corrective and cleansing regime, the military (during the military interregnum) so much institutionalized official corruption in Nigeria that the country still bleeds from it till date. Apart from institutionalizing official corruption in Nigeria, the military destroyed the hitherto viable national institutions and systems in Nigeria, especially the educational system. The current 1999 Constitution (which is substantially similar to the 1979 Constitution) is General Abdulsalam Abubakar’s military Constitution not the much-vaunted people’s Constitution. It is not an autochthonous Constitution. No inputs from the people who are supposed to be the sovereign in presidential democracy. Simply put, the 1999 Constitution is an inconvenient inequitable constitutional contraption being used to perpetuate injustices in Nigeria. The Constitution over-concentrates enormous power (as could be gleaned from the long list of federal powers in the Exclusive List of the Constitution) in the hands of the Federal government thus leaving the Federating units at the mercy of the Federal government or as appendages to the Federal government.

    There is no doubt that the discordant political tones in Nigeria are attributable to the foregoing. But discordant tones are no obstacle to nation building. For example, as complex and diversified as the United States is, it remains an exemplar of political unity, human solidarity and cooperation in tackling common problems. Unfortunately our greatest undoing in Nigeria, as I earlier said, is our inability to manage our diversity well. All the efforts in cultivating that esprit de corps and sincerity of purpose, or, whatever you may choose to call it, that is indispensable for nation building have come to naught. If Nigeria is a multi-lingual, multi-ethnic and multi-national society, one would have thought that power sharing must reflect the shared visions and aspirations of the variegated interest groups and nationalities that constitute Nigeria. For example, former Ohaneze Ndigbo President Chief John Nnia Nwodo says that “under the current Federal government Igbo representation is abysmal and falls extremely short of the constitutional provisions for the reflection of federal character in the appointment into important government positions…”. Nwodo is not alone in this lamentation. Until his death, fiery-fighter and conscientious objector the late Gani Fawehinmi SAN unceasingly bemoaned Igbo marginalization. Prof Wole Soyinka has also said that “the Igbo have been wronged desperately”. Igbos, according to him, “ have been brutalized in a way that justifies their feeling that they were not part of the nation”

    Well said, but we must add that Igbo Presidency will not be delivered on a platter of gold. Neither will an Igbo President emerge from mere media sensationalism or media advertising blitz. Also an Igbo President will not emerge from appealing to popular sanctimonious sentiments. An Igbo President will not emerge from bragging in the media that Igbo are a force to be reckoned with in the scheme of things in Nigeria. Action not words. “A tiger does not proclaim his tigritude, he pounces”(Wole Soyinka). A river in turbulence is the fisherman’s gain. In other words, amid adverse circumstances, Igbos should re-strategize and re-prioritize to attain their destiny in Nigeria. Needless complaining about Igbo marginalization. “The challenge of disadvantages should be the Igbo man’s gold mine”, said Sir Louis Odumegwu Ojukwu many years ago. The first disadvantage to overcome is to elect Igbo as President in 2023. Power is not given: it is taken. Igbo presidency will not materialize in 2023 simply because Igbo are clamouring for it: it may materialize after consultation, discussions, agreements and horse-trading or handshakes with other presidential aspirants from other geo-political zones. No free lunch anywhere. The Presidency will not be handed to the Igbos free of charge. Elder statesman Alhaji Tanko Yakassai says that the Presidency will not be handed over to the Igbos in 2023 free of charge. It will be on terms. He advises that the APC should come up with a “gentleman’s agreement that the nation’s highest office should rotate to the South-East after Buhari’s tenure” . Therefore now is the time for Igbo to regain their rightful place in Nigeria. Igbo should seize the present moment and work out their salvation in Nigeria. Igbo presidential aspirants should reach out to other political blocks and or geo-political zones in order to probably enter into mutual understanding, agreement, or accord or terms with them for ceding Presidency to the South-East.

  • 2023: You can’t be president – Pastor Ighodalo tells Tinubu

    2023: You can’t be president – Pastor Ighodalo tells Tinubu

    …advises him to remain a kingmaker

    …insists he has nothing to offer

    The Senior Pastor of the Trinity House, a non-denominational Christian centre headquartered in Lagos, Snr Pastor Ituah Ighodalo has said his long time confidant, chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu should not venture into the 2023 presidential race as he cannot be president.

    Ighodalo the APC leader’s close acolyte stated that the astute politician is simply ambitious and not ready to offer anything to Nigerians.

    He explained that: “Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is my personal friend, as a person, I love him very much, he has been very kind to me, he is a good man, but leadership today in Nigeria is greater than any personal ambition, the kind of leader we want is not someone who says being president has been my life ambition, no, you must do better than that,” he said.

    Ituah, whose wife, Ibidun, a popular event planner died in 2020, observed that Nigerians deserve more than the APC chieftain.

    On the candidacy of his friend, Ighodalo said“What are you offering the people?

    “What are you giving the people, where are you taking them to? Do you have the interest of the people at heart? Or you are just trying to put on your CV that you became president of Nigeria, he queried.

    “We don’t have time for that anymore in Nigeria, we want people who really want to serve the people, people who are really ready to lay themselves down for the people, people who have vision for Nigeria, people who are bold enough to take the right decision and not going to offer us on the altar of politics and compromise us just because they want something or the other and take us back to square one again and we are suffering all over the place.

    “Asiwaju has done well, he has produced a lot of leaders, I think the role he should be thinking of now is to put Nigerians together and how to select a person who will be able to take us forward and honestly if he is able to do that Nigerians will never forget him.

    “I am looking for that righteous person who is ready to stop all these corrupt practices and not dashing people money, but using the money to educate them, build schools, hospital and laying infrastructures. What drives an economy is production, the ability to transform raw materials into finished goods.

    “When you continue producing, there will be more than enough for everybody to consume.

    “We want leaders that will encourage production, it means that the constitution of Nigeria must be changed and fashioned in such a way that there can be complete production of all the resources of Nigeria, I will not be doing Nigerians a good service if I do not speak the truth, it is costing me a lot no doubt, but that is the sacrifice you have to make.

  • 2023: 85 groups declare support for South-East presidency, adopts Anyim Pius Anyim

    2023: 85 groups declare support for South-East presidency, adopts Anyim Pius Anyim

    Some 85 support groups, under the aegis of the United for Better Nigeria Initiative (UBNI), have declared support for South-East presidency ahead of the 2023 general elections and adopted former Senate President Anyim Pius Anyim as their presidential aspirant.

    Some of the groups are Arewa Sai Anyim, Nyja Malaysian 4 Anyim, and United Mobilisers 4 Anyim, S/East Students for Anyim, Enugu for Anyim, S. E. Professional Anyim, Business Forum 4 Anyim, Team Anyim 4 President, Anyim we Want, Gombe 4 Anyim, Jigawa for Anyim, Plateau for Anyim, Kogi for Anyim, FCT for Anyim, Bauchi for Anyim, North say yes to Anyim, Ebonyi Women 4 Anyim, Anyim Students support Group, and Delta 4 Anyim, among many others.

    Receiving the groups on Tuesday in Abuja, Mrs Nkoli Mkparu, Coordinator General, United for Better Nigeria Initiative (UBNI), said this is the time for a south-east president to emerge.

    Mkparu said immediately after the 2019 general elections, the push for a Nigerian President of South-east extraction became intense.

    According to her, the unity of mind and purpose of very few patriotic Nigerians, who came together through shared beliefs and convictions, necessitated the formation of the groups, now known as UBNI with over two million members across the world.

    She said that UBNI held consultations and meetings across chapters, zones within and outside the group and visited some major stakeholders from different geopolitical zones.

    “We interacted with presidential aspirants of South-east extraction, before and after they evidently declared interest to contest in the 2023 general elections.

    “We set up a committee to collate and shortlist presidential aspirants of South-east extraction and to recommend the presidential aspirant to adopt and support during the 2023 presidential election.

    “Just on Monday, our NEC received the report of that committee, and they unanimously affirmed their recommendation that Sen. Anyim Pius Anyim, should be adopted and supported in the 2023 presidential election.

    “So today, we will be carrying out two major assignments here. One will be to welcome the more than 80 other groups who are here to join UBNI for the greater task ahead and two to let the whole world know that we have adopted Anyim.’’

    Mkparu said that UBNI believes that Nigeria is redeemable, and is convinced that much more improvement would come its way as citizens work to usher in a new face in governance through the election of a credible President come 2023.

    “To get a credible person who will work to reposition, refix, rebuild, and return Nigeria to its glorious past remains a task which UBNI volunteered to be part of in the next political dispensation.‘’

    “Our efforts have been tremendous and involving in this regard. For instance, “we have: a. Extended hands of fellowship to other groups across Nigeria.

    “These groups who share in the same ideology, passion and commitment that the next president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria should come from the South east and must be credible and well acceptable personality,’’ she said.

    Mkparu said that at the group’s latest count, about 85 such groups had agreed to form an irrevocable alliance with UBNI with a multi-dimensional force across Nigeria with about two million members, operating in about 85 chapters across the world.

    She said that the support for Anyim is inevitable because it is morally right to have a south-east president and after their search Anyim was deemed fit to contest.

    Mr Usman Sulieman, Coordinator of Northern Supporters of Ndi-Igbo for President 2023, said so far Nigeria had seen the leadership qualities of the North and the South which belonged to three major ethnic groups except the East.

    Suleiman, therefore, said that justifiably and non negotiably, there was the need to also see the leadership qualities of the South-East as well.

    “This is because peace, progress and justice will never be attained without justifiable rotational leadership, so we need to support the south-east to become president because they are also Nigerians so let us try them too,’’ he said

    Dr Kayode Odayemi, Coordinator, Omo Egbe Anyim Rere, also drummed up support for Anyim, adding that “we are behind him and by God’s grace he will be president come 2023 because he is ready for the job.

    “It is time to redeem the nation and Nigeria will be great so let use let us give him the support because he can do it, so I urge you all to garner support for him from friends and family because he has what it takes to take the nation to that promised land flowing with milk and honey and everyone deserves to enjoy.’’

    Mr Finecountry Iyioku, the Zonal Coordinator, South-South, said so far the only zone yet to be tested for presidency in a democracy is the South-East .

    Iyioku said that Anyim was picked because of his record of experience as a former senate president and as Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) which was the engine room of governance.

    He therefore called on all regions to give the South East a chance so Nigeria could experience a positive turnaround in all spheres.