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Tag: 2023

  • You’ve opportunity to produce another Tafawa Balewa, Atiku tells Northeast supporters

    You’ve opportunity to produce another Tafawa Balewa, Atiku tells Northeast supporters

    The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, says the party’s supporters in the Northeast have an opportunity to produce another Tafawa Balewa by voting for him in 2023.

    Abubakar stated this at the Pantami Stadium, Gombe while addressing supporters during his campaign launch in the state.

    He said it had been a long time since the sub-region produced the president of the country and that his candidature was an opportunity to produce another president through a vote for PDP.

    “Most of you were not born when the late Prime Minister of Nigeria, Sir Tafawa Balewa was in office; you now have another opportunity to produce Abubakar Tafawa Balewa in me,’’ he said.

    Abubakar said his coming to Gombe State was home coming and that he would ensure that the people in the state were empowered and business-supported to create jobs if elected in 2023.

    “We promise to expand your businesses so that we can create more jobs for our young men and women; we also promise that the Dadin Kowa Dam is reactivated to produce electricity and irrigation farming,” he said.

    The PDP presidential candidate said the economy and agriculture would be prioritised and roads within the Northeast would be reconstructed to enhance trade and commerce.

    Abubakar also pledged to address insecurity in the Northeast and ensure that peace was restored to fast-track development.

    Gov. Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom who was the chairman of the PDP Presidential Campaign Council said Abubakar remained the most qualified amongst the candidates.

    Emmanuel stated that a vote for Abubakar would restore the country to the path of progress and improve the well-being of the common man.

    Also, Gov. Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State and also the Director-General, PDP presidential Campaign Organisation appealed to supporters to vote for PDP in 2023.

    Tambuwal said Abubakar’s administration would revive the economy to ensure that commerce and manufacturing become the cornerstone for the benefit of the people of Gombe.

    Amongst the party executives that attended the ceremony was the immediate past governor of Gombe State, Alhaji Ibrahim Dankwambo and Gov.Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa.

    The highlight of the occasion was the presentation of the party flag to Alhaji Jibrin Barde the state PDP governorship candidate.

  • Adamawa: How First Lady lobbied APC stakeholders against female governorship candidate Binani

    Adamawa: How First Lady lobbied APC stakeholders against female governorship candidate Binani

    All is not well in the Adamawa State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) following moves by the First Lady, Mrs. Aisha Buhari to prevail on stakeholders to drop Sen. Aishatu Dahiru Ahmed (Binani) as the governorship candidate of the party.

    Mrs. Buhari, who convened a meeting of Adamawa leaders at her Conference Room on Friday night in Abuja, said the only female governorship candidate in the country must be dropped.

    She said she anticipated that the Court of Appeal may order a fresh governorship primary election in the state.
    She directed all the stakeholders to vote for a former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)., Mallam Nuhu Ribadu if the court demands a re-run of the primary election.

    But her position shocked many stakeholders at the venue of the meeting in the Presidential Villa.
    Some of them threatened protest votes if the First Lady has her way.

    A few others have opted to protest to the National Chairman of APC, Sen. Abdullahi Adamu.
    A member of the State Executive Committee(SEC) at the meeting, who spoke in confidence, captured the mood at the session.

    He said: “What they did was to go on a journey of self deception by playing God. All through the First Lady assured them of how very powerful she is and her capacity to determine outcomes especially in Adamawa State.

    “She said she had powers to influence the course of events including removing the National Chairman of the party if he opposes her move.
    ” She intimidated them to high heavens and even claimed that non of the candidates will win the next election without her support.”

    But it was learnt that the session became tensed when the First Lady opened up on why Adamawa was not ripe for a female governor.
    She explained why she is opposed to the governorship ticket of Sen. Dahiru Ahmed (Binani)
    Another source at the meeting said: “The First Lady Federal Republic of Nigeria Mrs Aisha Buhari called a meeting of selected individuals from Adamawa State on Friday 18th November 2022 by 7pm.

    “The First Lady said Nigeria is not ripe for a female gubernatorial candidate or an elected female governor. That the maximum women should expect is a female deputy governor.

    “We were told to be prepared that in the unlikely event that Binani recovers the ticket at the Appeal Court, they should be prepared to work against her as they did to Bindow in 2019. They called this agenda ” *the secret within a secret.

    ” The key stakeholders at the meeting were forced to sign a document of endorsement saying Nuhu Ribadu has been endorsed as the Gubernatorial candidate and Ambassador Patricia Yakubu, the current woman leader was to be the running mate.
    ” All other gubernatorial aspirants were assured a place in Tinubu’s government at the center.

    ” After acknowledging that they are first cousins and close family relations with “Uwani” as Binani is called within family circles, the first lady said that Binani offended her by crossing over to PDM in 2015.

    “She said she sent emissaries ito ask her to remain in APC in order to support her husband but Binani refused. Some of us felt it was cheap blackmail.
    ” Nuhu Ribadu whom she supports now was an APC member who defected to the PDP to fly the flag of PDP as gubernatorial candidate.” The deputy Governorship candidate she endorsed was an APC member who defected in order to serve as a Commissioner in a PDP government in the state headed by Bala Ngillari.”

    Some leaders at the meeting were however sulking over sudden choice of Ribadu.
    One of them added: “In 2015 Mallam Nuhu Ribadu was not popular within the PDP, the current governor was the choice of the majority, he used his connections with the Villa to move the primaries from Yola to Abuja and he won the nomination but came third in the election to the extent of being defeated in his polling unit, ward and LGA by Marcus Gundiri.

    In 2023 he is repeating the same thing by coming to Abuja to receive the endorsement of people who cannot even deliver their polling units. Meanwhile the person whose ambitions he scuttled in 2015 contested in 2019 and by the grace of God the governor of the state. He sought nomination in 2019 and lost to the then sitting governor. He only succeeded in delaying the will of God but he never stopped it. So shall it be in the case of Binani insha Allah.”

    On plans for the general election, another leader at the session gave more insights.
    The leader said:” The First Lady directed the “setting up of a committee made of serving members of the House of Representatives to mobilize funds for the financing of the campaigns in Adamawa State especially those of the state House of Assembly members.

    ” The first lady will directly take charge of all affairs of the APC in Adamawa State and that once the cases are over and Nuhu Ribadu becomes candidate she will roll out the campaign plans.

    ” Certain individuals were instantly appointed directors of media, administration, mobilization of the APC Presidential Campaign Council in Adamawa State which will in turn also be the driver of the gubernatorial campaign as well.

    But all the candidates admitted that they were low on cash for the 2023 election.
    A candidate said: “We spoke through representatives for each category, one Senatorial, one House of Representatives and one House of Assembly. The party leadership spoke and a few selected stakeholders also spoke. One of the gubernatorial Aspirants gave the closing remarks.

    “All the candidates made it clear to the meeting that two major problems may impede their success at the next circle of elections.
    Should there be no gubernatorial candidate for the APC in the state, all other candidates from presidential to the state House of Assembly will be hard to sell.
    “As it is they said they are all very low on funds to prosecute their campaigns and that there is an urgent need to provide them financial support.”
    “Those who attended the session were the National Vice Chairman of APC for the North-East, members of the State Working Committee of the party, sone aspirants for governorship including Nuhu Ribadu, Abdulrazaq Namdas, Wafari Theman. Althouhh Binani was invited for the meeting, she couldn’t make it.

    Others included all serving members of the House of Representatives;Senatorial candidate from the Southern Zone; all the 25 APC House of Assembly candidates; ex-Deputy Governor Martins Babale who is the interim coordinator of APC Presidential Campaign Organization in Adamawa State.
    “Others were strategic leaders of APC and some selected persons known to either to be supporting or opposing Ribadu or5 Binani.

    First Lady, Mrs. Aisha Buhari to prevail on stakeholders to drop Sen. Aishatu Dahiru Ahmed (Binani) as the governorship candidate of the party.
    Mrs. Buhari, who convened a meeting of Adamawa leaders at her Conference Room on Friday night in Abuja, said the only female governorship candidate in the country must be dropped.

    She said she anticipated that the Court of Appeal may order a fresh governorship primary election in the state.
    She directed all the stakeholders to vote for a former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)., Mallam Nuhu Ribadu if the court demands a re-run of the primary election.

    But her position shocked many stakeholders at the venue of the meeting in the Presidential Villa.
    Some of them threatened protest votes if the First Lady has her way.
    A few others have opted to protest to the National Chairman of APC, Sen. Abdullahi Adamu.

    A member of the State Executive Committee(SEC) at the meeting, who spoke in confidence, captured the mood at the session.

    He said: “What they did was to go on a journey of self deception by playing God. All through the First Lady assured them of how very powerful she is and her capacity to determine outcomes especially in Adamawa State.

    “She said she had powers to influence the course of events including removing the National Chairman of the party if he opposes her move.
    ” She intimidated them to high heavens and even claimed that non of the candidates will win the next election without her support.”

    But it was learnt that the session became tensed when the First Lady opened up on why Adamawa was not ripe for a female governor.

    She explained why she is opposed to the governorship ticket of Sen. Dahiru Ahmed (Binani)

    Another source at the meeting said: “The First Lady Federal Republic of Nigeria Mrs Aisha Buhari called a meeting of selected individuals from Adamawa State on Friday 18th November 2022 by 7pm.

    “The First Lady said Nigeria is not ripe for a female gubernatorial candidate or an elected female governor. That the maximum women should expect is a female deputy governor.
    “We were told to be prepared that in the unlikely event that Binani recovers the ticket at the Appeal Court, they should be prepared to work against her as they did to Bindow in 2019. They called this agenda ” *the secret within a secret.
    ” The key stakeholders at the meeting were forced to sign a document of endorsement saying Nuhu Ribadu has been endorsed as the Gubernatorial candidate and Ambassador Patricia Yakubu, the current woman leader was to be the running mate.
    ” All other gubernatorial aspirants were assured a place in Tinubu’s government at the center.

    ” After acknowledging that they are first cousins and close family relations with “Uwani” as Binani is called within family circles, the first lady said that Binani offended her by crossing over to PDM in 2015.

    “She said she sent emissaries ito ask her to remain in APC in order to support her husband but Binani refused. Some of us felt it was cheap blackmail.

    ” Nuhu Ribadu whom she supports now was an APC member who defected to the PDP to fly the flag of PDP as gubernatorial candidate.” The deputy Governorship candidate she endorsed was an APC member who defected in order to serve as a Commissioner in a PDP government in the state headed by Bala Ngillari.”

    Some leaders at the meeting were however sulking over sudden choice of Ribadu.
    One of them added: “In 2015 Mallam Nuhu Ribadu was not popular within the PDP, the current governor was the choice of the majority, he used his connections with the Villa to move the primaries from Yola to Abuja and he won the nomination but came third in the election to the extent of being defeated in his polling unit, ward and LGA by Marcus Gundiri.

    In 2023 he is repeating the same thing by coming to Abuja to receive the endorsement of people who cannot even deliver their polling units. Meanwhile the person whose ambitions he scuttled in 2015 contested in 2019 and by the grace of God the governor of the state. He sought nomination in 2019 and lost to the then sitting governor. He only succeeded in delaying the will of God but he never stopped it. So shall it be in the case of Binani insha Allah.”

    On plans for the general election, another leader at the session gave more insights.
    The leader said:” The First Lady directed the “setting up of a committee made of serving members of the House of Representatives to mobilize funds for the financing of the campaigns in Adamawa State especially those of the state House of Assembly members.

    ” The first lady will directly take charge of all affairs of the APC in Adamawa State and that once the cases are over and Nuhu Ribadu becomes candidate she will roll out the campaign plans.

    ” Certain individuals were instantly appointed directors of media, administration, mobilization of the APC Presidential Campaign Council in Adamawa State which will in turn also be the driver of the gubernatorial campaign as well.

    But all the candidates admitted that they were low on cash for the 2023 election.
    A candidate said: “We spoke through representatives for each category, one Senatorial, one House of Representatives and one House of Assembly. The party leadership spoke and a few selected stakeholders also spoke. One of the gubernatorial Aspirants gave the closing remarks.

    “All the candidates made it clear to the meeting that two major problems may impede their success at the next circle of elections.
    Should there be no gubernatorial candidate for the APC in the state, all other candidates from presidential to the state House of Assembly will be hard to sell.
    “As it is they said they are all very low on funds to prosecute their campaigns and that there is an urgent need to provide them financial support.”
    “Those who attended the session were the National Vice Chairman of APC for the North-East, members of the State Working Committee of the party, sone aspirants for governorship including Nuhu Ribadu, Abdulrazaq Namdas, Wafari Theman. Althouhh Binani was invited for the meeting, she couldn’t make it.
    Others included all serving members of the House of Representatives;Senatorial candidate from the Southern Zone; all the 25 APC House of Assembly candidates; ex-Deputy Governor Martins Babale who is the interim coordinator of APC Presidential Campaign Organization in Adamawa State.
    “Others were strategic leaders of APC and some selected persons known to either to be supporting or opposing Ribadu or Binani.

  • 2023: Court affirms Kantigi as Niger PDP candidate

    2023: Court affirms Kantigi as Niger PDP candidate

    A Federal High Court, Abuja, on Thursday, affirmed Mr Liman Kantigi as the validly elected governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the 2023 elections in Niger.

    Justice Zainab Abubarkar, in a judgement, dismissed the suit brought by the plaintiff, Mr Idris Mohammed Sani, for lacking in merit.

    Newsmen reports that Sani had sued the PDP, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and Kantigi as 1st, 2nd and 3rd defendants respectively.

    In the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/804/2022, the plaintiff had challenged that the PDP (1st defendant) ought not to have cleared Kantigi (3rd defendant) to participate in the party’s primaries, having submitted false documents for the poll.

    Delivering the judgment, Justice Abubakar held that the suit failed to disclose reasonable cause of action against the defendants.

    The judge, who said that the case was a pre-election matter, held that the cause of action should have crystallised 14 days after the said action.

    She, however, said that the suit was filed before the conduct of the primaries.
    The judge held that the plaintiff had no cause of action in the suit, hence, the jurisdiction of the court cannot be activated.

    She said that the court would have assumed jurisdiction if the plaintiff had challenged the actual conduct of the poll.

    Abubakar, who said that the suit was not properly instituted, declared that it lacked merit.
    She consequently dismissed the suit.

  • Those against Shettima’s choice are my friends – Tinubu

    Those against Shettima’s choice are my friends – Tinubu

    The All Progressives Congress, APC, presidential candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has revealed that those criticizing his choice of Kashim Shettima as his running mate are his friends and also lobbying him for the same position.

    He disclosed this during an interactive session with the leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Abuja, led by Archbishop Daniel Ukoh.

    With Tinubu’s decision to pick Shettima as running mate, Nigerians had accused the APC flagbearer of plotting to Islamize Nigeria.

    Speaking during the session, Tinubu dismissed the Islamization claims in some quarters.

    He said, “People have reacted harshly to my selection. They are my friends, they lobbied me and wanted to be my running mate but I bluntly rejected them.

    “The rumour that this is some plot to suppress the Christian community is untrue and unfortunate. I don’t have that kind of agenda.

    “I can no more suppress the Christians of this nation than I can suppress the Christians in my own household, my very family, I cannot Islamise Nigeria.”

    Recall that Babachir Lawal, a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation and close ally of Tinubu, had condemned the APC’s Muslim-Muslim ticket.

    Also, an erstwhile Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, urged Christians to vote against the APC following Tinubu’s decision to settle for a Muslim-Muslim ticket.

     

  • We’re going to support and campaign for Tinubu – Buhari

    We’re going to support and campaign for Tinubu – Buhari

    President Muhamadu Buhari says he will work with All Progressives Congress (APC) stakeholders for the election of Sen. Ahmed Tinubu as his successor come 2023.

    Buhari stated this in his brief speech at the flag-off of APC presidential campaign on Tuesday in Jos.

    “The party has taken a stand and we are going to support and campaign for him to be elected president of Nigeria.

    “I am not going to read a long speech,  I am here to hand over our party flag to him,” he said.

    Sen. Abdullahi of Adamu, the APC National Chairman, said in his speech that the party was honoured to have the president attending the inauguration of the campaign in person.

    Adamu said that Buhari’s presence showed his commitment to the party and all its candidates.

    The chairman stated that Buhari’s achievements surpassed those of his predecessors in terms of infrastructure and other areas.

    “I ask you all to stand up and applaud Buhari for a job well done.

    “Our party has performed creditably well, we promise change and we delivered change,” he said.

    He pointed out that the party flag as handed over to the candidate, was a symbol of authority to lead the party into 2023 general elections.

    According to him, the flag is the banner of the party and must remain clean at all times.

    “We must not do anything that will stain the banner. It will stain when we fail to be good ambassadors and faithful servants of the party.

    “We stain the banner when we do things that negate free, fair, and credible elections,” he emphasised.

    He said that it would not do them any good if APC members failed to work hard for the success of the party.

    Adamu further said that he understood that hard work and unity of purpose would produce the desired results for the party.

    The chairman urged APC members not to relent saying “it is not over until it is over, until the trophy of victory is in our bag, we will not rest”.

    He further urged party members to vote for all APC candidates in the elections.

    Adamu added that the party was in the race to win at all levels.

    Senate President Ahmed Lawan assured Buhari and Tinubu that all National Assembly members were completely committed to supporting presidential candidate and his running mate.

    Lawan said that the APC worked hard to elect more the 75 percent of its members to the National Assembly so that the next president would enjoy a robust relationship with the legislature.

  • APC fulfilled most campaign promises to Nigerians – Badaru

    APC fulfilled most campaign promises to Nigerians – Badaru

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) on Sunday said it has fulfilled most of the campaign promises made to the people of Jigawa since 2015 and solicited for more support.

    Gov. Muhammadu Badaru stated this on Sunday while inaugurating the APC 2023 gubernatorial campaign in Hadejia, headquarters of Hadejia Local Government Area of the state.

    He said his administration had executed viable projects and programmes in all parts of the state from the grassroots to urban centres.

    According to him, the objects of the rally is to formally showcase the governorship and other candidates of the party from the zone to the people of the state.

    The governor said that there were indications that APC could retain power both in the state and at the federal levels because of the achievements made by the party across all sectors.

    He, however, expressed appreciation to God for making the event a reality having given them the opportunity to serve the state and utilise its resources judiciously for the benefit of both rural and urban dwellers.

    Badaru said that the turnout of people at the rally was a clear demonstration of the party’s acceptability in the state, and appreciation of the democratic dividends it had brought to the people.

    The governor, therefore, called on the electorate to campaign for the party’s candidates at all levels to enable it to retain power for continuity.

    The APC’s governorship flag bearer, Alhaji Umar Namadi expressed his readiness to pilot the affairs of the state with keen interest to serve his people, if elected in 2023.

    Namadi, also the incumbent deputy governor of the state, said the APC administration had done a lot of projects that have a direct bearing on the lives of the commoners who are in the majority in the state.

    The governorship hopeful said the number of the new projects and the rehabilitated ones across the sectors executed under the Badaru-led administration cannot be overemphasised.

    He, however, assured the teeming APC supporters of his determination to continue to invest in meaningful developmental programmes and projects, if given the mandate.

    Also, former Sen. Ubale Shitu expressed appreciation to God and the people of the state for demonstrating their support to the party, adding that it proved APC’s strength above the opposition parties.

    He said it was a thing of joy for them to witness mammoth crowd at the rally as against the low turnout during the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate visit on Friday in the state.

    “This is a clear message for the opposition parties and the PDP to note that the majority of the people in Jigawa are not with them,” he said.

    APC chieftains, candidates and other party loyalists attended the rally.

  • 2023: Kaduna APC welcomes 12,000 PDP decampees

    2023: Kaduna APC welcomes 12,000 PDP decampees

    The All Progressive Congress (APC) in Kaduna, says it has received 12,817 decampees of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) into its fold in Giwa Local Government Area of the state.

    Sen. Uba Sani said this at a rally to formally receive the decampees including a former Commissioner for Woman Affairs and youth leaders, on Sunday in Giwa.

    He said the APC was waxing stronger and had an edge over opposition parties in the state.

    Sani who is also the APC gubernatorial candidate for 2023 general election, assured the decampees of equal status and rights like every other member of the party.

    “In APC; there is no discrimination, those that joined today are equal in status as those who joined when the party was formed.

    “We are one and a united family,” he said, and advised the electorates to vote for all the APC candidates in the 2023 elections.

    “You should vote for Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the presidential election, vote for Muhammad Sani Abdullahi as senator representing Kaduna Central and vote for Jibrin Zubairu as member representing Giwa/Birnin Gwari Federal Constituency.

    “Vote for me during the governorship election, elect Umar Auwal Bijimi and Adamu Mohammed Shika to represent Birnin Gwari West and East at the state House of Assembly, respectively,” he said.

    The governirship candidate promised to be fair to all and develop all parts of Kaduna State as well as consolidate on the achievements of Gov. Nasir El-Rufai administration.

    The State Chairman of the party, Emmanuel Jekada applauded the decampees for realising that the APC is the winning party which brought dividends of democracy to the people of the state.

    Also, Lawal Samaila Yakawada advised the people of Giwa LGA to embrace campaign devoid of thuggery and abusive language.

    Yakawada, a former Secretary to the Kaduna State Government, said that APC would emerged victorious in the forthcoming election.

  • NASS needs well informed people as members – PDP senatorial candidate

    NASS needs well informed people as members – PDP senatorial candidate

    Mr. Ifedayo Adedipe (SAN) Ondo State Central Senatorial Candidate of the PDP, says there is a need to vote for well-informed people as members of  Nigeria’s National Assembly (NASS) in 2023.

    The senior advocate of Nigeria said that legislation would favour Nigerians more if society began to ask questions about the quality of representation they got and what they ought to get.

    “The NASS wields so much power that any constituency not well represented will lose out from dividends therein,” he said.

    Adedipe told the NAN on Sunday in Akure that in addition to outstanding representation, he would be accessible to his constituency if elected in  2023.

    The PDP senatorial candidate, who explained that he delved
    into politics to give back to society, said “there is a limit to what an individual can do to help the society”.

    He lamented that society lacked quality leaders with the political will to improve the standard of living of the poor masses.

    “You will agree with me that no individual, no matter how rich they are, can do what a well run government will do for the masses,” he said.

    According to him, there is no amount of wealth an individual can possess to be able to fix roads, build bridges, hospitals and stadia, among others, for the benefit of society without government interventions.

    Adedipe said that it was high time society began to have people with ideas, people with altruistic reasons to be in government.

    He said the national assembly,  which was designed for lawmaking and others, needed well-informed legislators on board.

    “If I am elected into the national assembly, I will be a very good people’s senator, lobby on their behalf, work for them and I will always be available and accessible.

    “And if I do not represent them well, they can report me to my family because I am from the illustrious Elemo Family in Akure. I have a duty to hold the banner of the family without any stain.

    “And have reached the pinnacle of my carrier as a legal practitioner (SAN), I believe it’s high time I give back to society.

    “My duty is not only to the people of Akure but also to people of Ondo East, Ondo West, Ifedore, Idanre, Akure South, and Akure North Local Government Areas of Ondo state.

    “Moreover, everybody, including elders in the constituency will be represented well by not putting them to shame.

    “They will all be proud of my quality representation at the national assembly,” he said.

    Adedipe, who said there was need for more   Federal Government presence in the state, said it would be suicidal for the people to elect an incompetent candidate as representative.

    He, therefore, urged the electorate to resolve and vote for the  PDP in the senatorial, presidential and other elective positions in the forthcoming general elections

    Adedipe expressed confidence that the landmark achievements of the previous administration of the PDP, in both the state and county at large, would speak for it as a political party, given the reality on ground.

    He said that the people were yearning for the return of PDP in Ondo state.

    According to him, every election is a refrendum on the party in office.

    “I am sure the people will make a wise choice

    “Although, the APC may be in control of the state government at the moment, we will know at the polls who the people prefer. But I can tell you that PDP is the people’s choice in Ondo state.”

  • Jonathan debunks reports linking him with aggrieved PDP governors

    Jonathan debunks reports linking him with aggrieved PDP governors

    Former President Goodluck Jonathan, has debunked a purported media report that the aggrieved Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors were loyal to him.

    Mr Ikechukwu Eze, the Media Adviser to Jonathan, in a statement on Friday in Abuja, said the office’s attention had been drawn to media reports linking his name to the current troubles in the PDP.

    Eze said that Jonathan would have ignored the strange tale, since it was obviously baseless.

    “However, we are offering this clarification because we have been reached by many Nigerians who are concerned that such fabrication, with a vague and suspicious attribution, could be given undeserved prominence on the front page of some national dailies.

    “We are also not unmindful of the fact that, this being an electioneering season, bizarre tales are often contrived, propagated and weaponised to either smear others, or deliver cheap political advantage to the purveyors.

    “First, we would like to make the point that it is not out of place if there was crisis in a political party like the PDP, and a former president who served under the party’s platform, is called upon to intervene.

    “That being the case, we initially did not see anything wrong with the headlines in some papers indicating that the former President was being persuaded to help resolve the issues in the party.

    “However, we are dismayed that the seemingly purpose-minded headlines were only cast to mask the mischief of the sponsors of the story and hoodwink the unsuspecting populace.”

    Eze said the former president’s office’s attention was called to the provocative and insulting statements in separate, but similar versions of the story in different news media.

    He said the report, either claiming that “the whole thing we are seeing in the PDP … is orchestrated for President Jonathan,” or that “he (Jonathan) is encouraging governors Wike, Makinde, Ikpeazu, Ugwuanyi and Ortom, to behave the way they are doing, knowing that these five governors are fighting his cause”.

    “We believe that such duplicitous statements could not have emanated from the camps of those who truly wish the party well.

    “It simply shows that the so called ‘sources’ of the story are not disposed to the peace and unity they pretend to be seeking in the PDP.

    “How could anybody turn around in 2022 to accuse Jonathan of bearing a grudge against the PDP when the former president had campaigned vigorously for the party and its presidential candidate during the 2019 elections?”

    Eze said those who insinuated that Jonathan was not happy with the PDP Presidential Candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, because of whatever roles he played ahead of the 2015 elections, had forgotten that the former president actively campaigned for him in 2019.

    “The fact that Dr. Jonathan stood out as an exemplary politician who, throughout his political career, abhorred treachery and mean-mindedness, and played politics without bitterness, needs no gainsay.

    “Unlike many of his detractors, the former President has, out of office, progressed to a higher level of statesmanship, faithfully applying himself to causes that promote peace, love, unity and progress, across the entire west African sub-region.

    “It is Dr. Jonathan’s wish that the PDP is able to resolve its internal crisis, unite all members and have a good showing in the forthcoming 2023 elections.

    “We wish to however point out that it will be difficult to achieve this aspiration if some forces in the party continue to engage in mudslinging, disinformation, and manifest tendencies that negate the values that are dear to loyal party members,” Eze said.

  • Osun ‘ll deliver 1m votes for Tinubu – Oyetola

    Osun ‘ll deliver 1m votes for Tinubu – Oyetola

    Gov. Gboyega Oyetola of Osun, has promised to deliver one million votes for Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate at the 2023 poll.

    He said this on Monday in Abuja at the party’s national secretariat when he spoke with newsmen.

    “We have started the campaign, sometimes last week, we had a solidarity walk throughout the state, we covered 11 km, the turnout was so massive.

    “Osun has always been a state for the progressive, so, there is nothing to worry about. I can assure you that we will deliver nothing less than one million votes for

    Oyetola who was elected in September 2018, loss his re-election bid on July 16, to Sen. Ademola Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    According INEC, Adeleke polled 403,371 votes while Oyetola scored 372,257 at the election.

    Oyetola who was dissatisfied with the outcome approached the court and called for the cancellation of the election, alleging over-voting.

    He also alledged that the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) was by passed by INEC among other alleged electoral frauds.

    Oyetola said he would reclaim his mandate, saying he had no fear.

    “I don’t have any fear. I have fate in almighty God. I will reclaim my mandate,” Oyetola said.