TheNewsGuru

Tag: 2023 Presidency

  • [Watch] Mr Ibu reveals his 2023 presidential candidate, denies Tinubu

    [Watch] Mr Ibu reveals his 2023 presidential candidate, denies Tinubu

    Veteran Nollywood actor, Mr Ibu has clarified reports on the viral video of him endorsing the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ahmed Tinubu for 2023 presidency.

    In a video shared on his Instagram page, Mr Ibu said he was at the event where Tinubu was endorsed.

    He clarified that former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar is his candidate if he decides to run for presidency in 2023 and not Tinubu.

    According to the actor, Atiku has helped him a lot in the past and he had no intention of dumping him for another candidate.

    He said: “People approached me of Tinubu’s involvement to contest for president of Nigeria, I’m a completely independent person, anything that has to do with any thing publicly you should address me on that. I don’t know why this thing is going round like this.

    “I’ve never run sideways, it’s been me and Atiku who has helped me in so many ways and if he is running for president certainly Atiku is my candidate.

    “Atiku is like a father to me, been working for him even in his own State, so I wouldn’t abandon him. I’m not trying to pull Tinubu down but he’s not my candidate, Atiku is my candidate.

    “Anybody I visited is just simply a visitation. As an actor they wanted me to assist them in one way or the other that does not mean I’ve abandoned my candidate and fathers. Everybody is contesting in 2023 and may God help them.”

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  • 2023 presidency: Tinubu’s seven-point agenda manifesto leaks

    2023 presidency: Tinubu’s seven-point agenda manifesto leaks

    Amidst a deafening silence from the national leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu on his true position on contesting the 2023 presidential elections, a seven-point agenda manifesto confirming the politician’s interest in the presidential poll has surfaced.

    There has been wild speculations that the two-term former Lagos State governor is doing everything possible to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari whom he influenced his ascension to power in 2015 but Tinubu has neither denied nor confirmed the news.

    However, to nail doubts, a manifesto leaked over the weekend suggesting that Tinubu is all set to take power from President Buhari in 2023.

    Tagged, “Seven Point Agenda: The Rebirth Manifesto,” the document detailed Tinubu’s plan for Nigeria if elected as the country’s leader.

    The seven key areas the campaign master plan covered include education, technology, infrastructure, home grown business, leadership, and true federalism and democratic process.

    Leadership

    Provide transformational leadership that has the ability to unify all of Nigeria and lead us to the attainment of shared goals and vision.

    Technology

    Leverage modern technology for digital transformation and economic growth.

    Security

    Create conditions that allow citizens move and transact freely across the Nation.

    Infrastructure

    Commence extensive infrastructural development by building basic foundational services (24 hrs access to electricity, roads, bridges e.t.c) that connect (power) people and businesses ultimately improving the quality of living.

    Homegrown Businesses

    Build platforms that enable and empower homegrown businesses to scale and compete favourably in the global market.

    Education

    Deploy initiatives targeted at promoting knowledge and equipping learners of all age groups with the skills and values needed to address modern-day challenges globally. Propagate and activate strategies that also promote a sense of pride and awakening amongst all Nigerian citizens to the extent that people feel extremely patriotic and ecstatic to be Nigerians.

    True Federalism and Democratic Processes

    Promote democracy, realize human potential and create conditions for prosperity and progress.

    Meanwhile, Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola last week asked Nigerians to wait till January 2022 for his former boss to declare whether he will be running for president in 2023 or not.

    When he was asked if he will support the candidacy of the national leader of the APC in the 2023 election, Fashola said Tinubu has not informed him he is running in 2023.

    “I saw him last week; he didn’t tell me he is running for office and to the best of my knowledge, the last statement he made about it was that people would know in January,” he said.

    The Minister was also asked if he enquired from Tinubu about his intention to run, during the visit he said, “No, I didn’t ask him, I only went to see how well he was doing.

    “He has issued a statement that I will speak in January, so let’s wait for his speech.”

    While he was away on medical grounds abroad, Tinubu received the creme-dela-creme of Nigeria’s political actors including President Buhari at his London residence.

    However, despite Tinubu’s silence on his presidential ambition, several groups, including the South West Agenda for Asiwaju (SWAGA) have been vocal about the politician’s interest in contesting for the 2023 presidential poll.

  • Why northern youths are supporting me for 2023 presidency – Orji Kalu

    Why northern youths are supporting me for 2023 presidency – Orji Kalu

    The Chief Whip of the Senate. Sen. Orji Kalu, on Friday in Abuja, said that northern groups were drumming support for him to vie for president in 2023 because they found him worthy to deliver good governance to the nation.

    Kalu, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) said that credibility, honesty and the capacity to deliver endeared him to many northerners.

    NAN recalls that recently a coalition of northern groups under the auspices of Arewa Youths drummed support for the chief whip of the senate to become the next president of the country.

    The coalition described him as a presidential material with experience in the private sector, executive and legislative arms of government.

    The Arewa youths also urged the ruling All Progressives Congress to commence a process of adopting him as the sole candidate of the party.

    They stressed that Kalu’s managerial skill, experience and national appeal put him in the best position to rule Nigeria in 2023.

    According to Kalu, the feelings that I am loved in the north is not by accident.

    “What is responsible for that, is that I have known most of the presidents from the north for a long time, and I have had deep relationships, and am not sure I have disappointed in any of these relations.

    “And I have also known many northerners, and I have had so many businesses with them, I had to do politics with them and in terms of business, I am not sure I have disappointed anybody in terms of buying and selling.

    “I have always been myself.

    “They find me worthy because they know whatever I say, I will do, and whatever I say I will not do, I will not do it.

    “The northerners find out that I am sincere to them, and they are sincere to me.

    “So, for people who gave me opportunity to be their brother at no cost when I was nothing, and when I am somebody, is it good to leave them? The answer is no.

    “ I cannot leave them because I started with them, and I think staying with them is better than abandoning them, when I feel I am better,’’ Kalu said.

  • Makinde speaks on interest in 2023 presidency, plans to dump PDP

    Makinde speaks on interest in 2023 presidency, plans to dump PDP

    Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, on Thursday denied plans to dump the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

    The governor also stated that he has no intention to contest for the office of the president or vice president in the coming general elections.

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG reports that there had been rumours in some quarters that governor might defect to another party like some his colleagues did of recent.

    Setting the record straight on Thursday on a monitored Channels Television interview, Governor Makinde said none of the information was true.

    “No, no. People easily forget how we got to where we are right now,” said the governor who insisted that he has no plans to join the presidential race. “For this republic, there has been President Obasanjo, President Yar’Adua, President Goodluck Jonathan, and now President Buhari.

    “All of them, if you look at them, they were called. Some stakeholders got together and said, ‘look at this particular time, this is who we really want to use.”

    According to Governor Makinde, President Buhari had vowed not to contest for presidency after he lost to former President Jonathan in 2011, but some stakeholders later endorsed him in 2015.

    Ahead of the general elections, he believes his party possesses people whom he describes as eminently qualified candidates to govern the country.

    The governor identified some of them as former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto, and Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi, among others.

    For the PDP, he revealed that the focus of the party was on conducting a successful national convention.

    “What is important at this stage, which I will solicit the support of PDP members and the generality of Nigerians, is please support us to have a successful national convention.

    “There is no way you can become President, Vice President, even governors if you don’t have a party. So what we want to do first is to ensure that we get things right,” said Governor Makinde.

  • 2023 Presidency: Why Igbos may not stand a chance – Dokpesi

    2023 Presidency: Why Igbos may not stand a chance – Dokpesi

    Chairman Emeritus of DAAR Communications Plc, Chief Raymond Dokpesi says the separatist activities of Nnamdi Kanu, detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) would jeopardise the chances of the South-East region to produce the president of Nigeria in 2023.

    In a statement on Monday, Dokpesi stressed that he is a firm believer in a united, indivisible Nigeria.

    He stated that the emergence of IPOB and its influence across the South-East “has complicated and undermined the agitation for patriotic Nigerians of Igbo extraction to lead this nation as far as the 2023 election is concerned.”

    The PDP chieftain added that if an Igbo President is voted in, Kanu would use militant tactics to blackmail and force the President to declare the South-East independent of Nigeria.

    He said, “On the surrender of Biafra to Nigeria, Yakubu Gowon, declared ‘no Victor, no vanquished’ but clearly, since, the regions that have determined leadership have used this against the South-East and denied Igbos the opportunity to lead. Should that be used against the leaders and sons of the South-East today? Of course not!

    “I have publicly come out to support and call on a Southeastern presidential candidate in the recent past, but the emergence of IPOB and its influence across the South-East has complicated and undermined the agitation for patriotic Nigerians of Igbo extraction to lead this nation as far as the 2023 election is concerned.

    “If nobody has told Ohanaeze Ndigbo before, the concern today from some other regions is that if Nnamdi Kanu plays the role of Aguiyi Ironsi in leading a militant revolt against constitutional government in the South-East under Igbo presidency, the president will be pressured by his base to facilitate the UN processes for the South-East to call for independence from Nigeria. Thus an Igbo President may be compromised in protecting the political and geographic boundaries of Nigeria whilst Nigeria remains under the threat of IPOB’s secessionist activities.

    “Don’t shoot me, I’m just a messenger. It is unfair but neither the South-South nor the South-East nor the North-East has the votes combined to determine the presidency on their own. We have to negotiate with other regions and where prominent leaders express such concerns based on the similarities of our history and contemporary circumstances, it indicates to me that the South-East is not trusted with the Presidency in 2023. It indicates to me that the leaders of the South-East have not done enough before now in dealing with and addressing the challenge that IPOB poses to their aspirations in leading Nigeria. Why and what to do to change this narrative is a question for leaders and politicians from the South-East to determine but you can see and understand why we in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) must take a realistic, pragmatic and strategic approach towards supporting the North-East zone for the presidency in 2023.

    “In Atiku Abubakar, the South-East not only has a friend and a detribalised Nigerian who understands the pains, frustrations as genuine aspirations of the people of the South-East but also is a believer in the restructuring of Nigeria, which both in the short term and in the long term, is necessary and critical to the growth and development of Nigeria in general and the minority regions in particular.

    “By supporting Atiku Abubakar from the North-East to victory in 2023, the rotation of power across Nigeria will have come full cycle and I believe that the agitation for a South-East presidency will be better accepted and appreciated by the incumbency and other regions in subsequent elections after 2023.

    “So taken in totality I do not intend to offend the South-East or any of its eminent sons who are more than qualified to lead this nation. The South-South and South-East regions have already produced PDP presidents in the fourth republic, so we have had 14 years in the presidency, while the North has only had 2-years under PDP.

    “The nomination of President Goodluck Jonathan at the 2014 PDP Presidential Convention weakened our support in the North and ultimately led to the APC and President Buhari taking over government in 2015. We need to retrace our steps as a party. We need to consolidate our base in the South-South and South-East and we need to reach out across other regions of this country presenting a detribalised Nigerian that will be accepted and trusted to build the best ‘all-star’ Nigerian team to get us out of our present quagmire without carrying the baggage of IPOB undermining their credibility.”

  • 2023 presidency: We cannot be intimidated to give up our rights to South, Northern groups reject ‘unconstitutional’ zoning arrangements

    2023 presidency: We cannot be intimidated to give up our rights to South, Northern groups reject ‘unconstitutional’ zoning arrangements

    The Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) has opposed the zoning arrangement by political parties, describing it as unconstitutional and a plot to intimidate the north from contesting for the presidency in 2023.

    Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Monday, CNG spokesperson, Abdul-Azeez Suleiman said the group aligns with the position of the Northern Governors’ Forum, asking the political parties to jettison the idea of zoning the post to the southern region of Nigeria.

    According to him, the north will not be obliged to any zoning arrangement for elective positions in the forthcoming general election.

    “We find the renewed desperation by the south to threaten [the] northern people’s right to franchise a deliberate attempt to bastardise democracy, cause greater instability in the guise of contentious undemocratic power shift arrangement and therefore unacceptable,” he said.

    “The CNG after due consultation with stakeholders, leaders and elders has categorically resolved to firmly and solidly align completely with the position taken by the Northern Elders Forum as expressed by Dr Hakeem Baba-Ahmed and that of the Northern Governors’ Forum that zoning of elective positions is unconstitutional, undemocratic and must be jettisoned.”

    The CNG spokesman further explained that the northern region is a major stakeholder in Nigeria, especially with respect to elections.

    The group’s comment came eight days after the governors of the 19 northern states opposed the call by their southern counterparts that the Presidency should be zoned to the south in 2023.

    After an emergency meeting with traditional rulers in the region at the Government House in Kaduna State on September 27, the Chairman of the Forum and Governor of Plateau State, Simon Lalong, read out the communique containing the resolutions on behalf of his colleagues.

    According to the governors, zoning the office of the president as being agitated by southern governors is against the provisions of the 1999 Constitution as amended.

    They stated that any president elected must meet the constitutional requirements which include scoring the majority votes, and polling at least 25 per cent of the votes cast in two-thirds of the 36 states of the federation.

    Governor Lalong noted that although some northern governors had endorsed the power shift to the south, the regional governors collectively fault such calls.

     

  • 2023 presidency: Ohanaeze Ndigbo backs Southern Governors, says PDP will be dead forever if…

    2023 presidency: Ohanaeze Ndigbo backs Southern Governors, says PDP will be dead forever if…

    Apex Igbo sociocultural group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has warned the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that its attempts to zone the presidential ticket to the north will lead to its ugly end.

    Ohanaeze was reacting to the resolution by the Northern States Governors’ Forum with Northern Emirs and Chiefs on Monday in Kaduna which vehemently rejected the clamour for power shift.

    Spokesman of Ohanaeze Alex Ogbonnia, in a statement, said the PDP can as well consider itself dead forever if it proceeds to zone the presidential ticket to the north.

    It recalled there was a gentleman’s agreement between the north and south in 1998 to rotate power, an arrangement the body has been kept to the letters until now.

    Ohanaeze berated northern leaders to plotting to retain power at a time the region was consumed by banditry, terrorism and insecurity.

    It pointed out the north despite producing most of the nation’s leaders has remained underdeveloped and retarded, an issue it said should have been the focus of northern leaders as against seeking political power at all time.

    Parts of the statement read: “A gentleman agreement was reached at the NUC Conference Centre, Abuja in 1998 between the North and the South. The Late Dr. Chuba Okadigbo spoke for the entire South and Alh. Abubakar Rimi, also of blessed memory spoke for the North.

    “It was agreed that after Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar as the Head of State, that the presidency should shift to the South. That accounted for the emergence of the presidential flag bearers of the mainstream political parties from the South West. Chief Olusegun Obasanjo respected the agreement and handed over to the North in the person of Musa Yar’Adua. Again, Goodluck Jonathan, a Southerner, respected the gentleman agreement and handed over to the North in the person of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    “Therefore, the least that is expected from the North is a show of profound gratitude to the entire South for their large heart, equanimity and sportsmanship.

    “Furthermore, it is in the interest of every Nigerian that there should be a paradigm shift to governance techniques. Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide unequivocally stands with the 17 Southern Governors and any black leg among them will incur the wrath of history.”

    Warning against the north’s agenda to remain in power beyond 2023, the body added: “The exponents of this agenda, in their jaundiced calculations, believe that it is a sure way of regaining power from the All Peoples Congress (APC).

    “Experience would have taught them that to zone their presidential position to the North is an orchestrated requiem for the party; because more PDP Governors and grassroots will surely desert them.

    “May we remind the PDP that the Southeast has made unquantifiable sacrifices for PDP beginning from the time of Dr. Alex Ekwueme.

    “If by way of politics without principles the Southerners in PDP place their personal narrow interests over the interest of their people, the verdict of history will surely be harsh on them.

    “Ohanaeze Ndigbo led by Ambassador Professor George Obiozor reiterates that the bane of Nigeria is raw injustice especially targeted against the Igbo and until we begin to wean ourselves of the Igbophobia and rather harness individual and group resourcefulness, creativity, ingenuity and initiatives wherever they are found, Nigeria will remain on the downward spiral”.

    Ohanaeze warned that the remarks by the northern leaders were indicative of a bleak future for Nigeria.

    The body added: “It is most regrettable that the North are undisturbed that Nigeria is fast collapsing under its leadership. The Forum failed to recognize that at the moment, Nigeria is confronted with the most precarious omens full of uncertainty, doubts, insecurity and bloodshed.

    “The chairman of the Northern States Governors Forum, Governor Simon Lalong can attest that the people of Plateau State had never in history witnessed the number of deaths as has taken place under his watch as governor.

    “The banditry in Zamfara, Katsina, Kaduna and Jigawa States is terrifying. Benue State has turned into a killing field. The states of Yobe and Borno are worst hit by the menace of Boko Haram; etc. Several schools in the North could not open because of kidnappers and millions of children are on the street as beggars.

    “The Nigerian currency has lost its value. Unemployment has skyrocketed; and Nigeria has become the poverty capital of the world…..and the Northern Governors, the Sultan and the Emirs instead of seeking solution to Nigerian problems were busy strategizing on how to retain power in 2023. This is most unconscionable, to say the least.

    “Let it be made abundantly clear that if Presidency is a panacea to people’s problems, the North would have become the Netherlands of Africa.

    “This is because the North had Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Yakubu Gowon, Murtala Mohammed, Shehu Shagari, Muhammadu Buhari, Ibrahim Babangida, Sani Abacha, Abdulsalam Abubakar, Musa Yaradua, Muhammadu Buhari, yet the problems of the North are on the increase”.

  • APC dismisses rancour rumour over 2023 presidency

    APC dismisses rancour rumour over 2023 presidency

    The All Progressives Congress on Friday in Abuja said there is no crisis among its national leadership over the race for 2023 presidency.

    Alhaji Mamman Mohammed, Director-General Press and Media Affairs to Gov. Mai Mala Buni, National Chairman APC Caretaker and Extra-ordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC), said this in a statement.

    Mohammed urged the media to resist any form of manipulation and stand for truth and justice at all times.

    According to him, the APC is conscious of plans being orchestrated by some individuals to cause disaffection within the party.

    He said that the plan was to distract the CECPC from the onerous task of rebuilding the party and discredit the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government.

    “For the avoidance of doubt, there is no disagreement between the President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan and the Governor of Yobe, Mai Mala Buni.

    “They have remained good brothers in a very good relationship with a common goal of contributing to the development of their state, party and country.

    “The Governor of Yobe and Chairman APC CECPC wish to make it abundantly clear that he is heavily preoccupied with the task of governance of his state and rebuilding the party,’’ he said.

    Mohammed said it amounts to insubordination for any loyal party member to start canvassing for any political office two years into the tenure of a sitting president from the party.

    He noted that President Buhari had two more years to complete his tenure, adding that it was compulsory on the party and every loyal member to support him and the APC administration.

    “We cannot contemplate anything outside the set plans of the party,’’ he said.

  • 2023 presidency: Neglect Rivers at your peril, Wike warns politicians

    2023 presidency: Neglect Rivers at your peril, Wike warns politicians

    Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike has said anybody jostling to be president of Nigeria will need to secure votes in Rivers to combine with either Kano or Lagos to win.

    He said such a pivotal position established the importance of Rivers in the political scheme of the country, and nobody would be allowed to undermine it.

    Wike, in a statement by his Special Assistant, Media, Kelvin Ebiri, spoke at the grand finale of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) local government election campaign at Ulakwo in Etche Local Government Area yesterday.

    He said: “I keep telling the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), that no state has given more votes to the party than Rivers.

    “And it is only in Rivers, in the whole of Southsouth, that the All Progressives Congress (APC) didn’t get 25 per cent votes in 2019 General Elections. We taught them a lesson.

    “In Nigeria, nobody wins presidency if you didn’t win either Rivers and Lagos or Kano and Lagos together. Rivers is not a state anybody can joke with. Some states went to negotiate with them. Rivers didn’t do it.”

    Wike criticised Senator Andrew Uchendu for his alleged uncanny comments in the media and wondered what courage he had to talk against the PDP administration that was ending the suffering he inflicted on his people.

    He said: “I was watching Arise Television the other day, and I heard Senator Andrew Uchendu and the Chief Medical Director of University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital. The CMD said I asked him to indict the former governor. I don’t know that he has such judicial power. I don’t also know his basis.

    “He (CMD) set up a target. The man was lobbying to be a commissioner where our former party chairman comes from without even doing due consultation. Because I didn’t give him commissioner, he ran and started to abuse me.”

    The governor said it was regrettable that Uchendu spent many years in the National Assembly and was close to the former administration in the state but could not fix the road leading to his village.

    He said: “I am going there to flag off the road and to tell his (Uchendu) community, see what your son couldn’t give you. He (Uchendu) has collected the contract from NDDC every year, he abandoned it. I am going to shame him by doing that road.”

    Wike said the fortunes of Etche people improved under the PDP-led administration in the state.

    According to him, under his administration, Etche sons have been appointed as Vice-Chancellor of the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education and also as a judge.

    He said his administration established a campus of the River State University in Etche and awarded contracts for the Igbo-Etche -Rumuokwurushi Road, Olakwor-Nihi Road, and the Chokocho-Ozuzu Road that was abandoned by Ogbonna Nwuke, despite being paid for the project.

    Wike said Etche would continue to be relevant in the political scheme of the State and be part of the process of discussion among stakeholders in deciding the next governor of the state.

    “If I say I will do something, I will do it. Ordinarily, if Nigeria is a place of true democracy where votes count, no party can campaign in this state. Their hope is to use security?

    “Have you seen second tenure governor working as we are doing? It is because of the love we have for this state. We all own this state together. All those threats of what they’ll do in 2023 are all foul talks,” he said.

    The governor urged the people of Etche to continue to work in unison ahead of 2023.

  • TRENDING VIDEO: Fayose, family in open prayer session at the beach for 2023 presidency

    TRENDING VIDEO: Fayose, family in open prayer session at the beach for 2023 presidency

    Former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose and his family having a spiritual bath at the beach in a trending video clip.

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG reports that the former vociferous Governor of Ekiti State is also eyeing President Muhamnadu Buhari’s office in 2023.

    The video clip vividly depicts the message embedded in the prayers.

    Watch video Below:

    https://twitter.com/tngbreaking_mu/status/1378282499529449474?s=20