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Tag: Northern Leaders

  • Northern leaders plan powerful meeting with Shettima, former heads of state, others

    Northern leaders plan powerful meeting with Shettima, former heads of state, others

    Some northern leaders have begun plans to host a powerful meeting to “determine the regions political future”.

    Those to attend the important meeting include Vice President Kashim Shettima, governors, former heads of states and lawmakers from the region.

    This was revealed in Abuja on Tuesday, during a gathering of the League of Northern Democrats (LND), a group political bigwigs and other prominent figures from the region.

    The central theme of the initiative, set to be officially announced at a summit in Kaduna, revolves around addressing the region’s political trajectory, economic growth and security issues.

    Speaking on the plan for a northern summit on Tuesday, the Protem Chairman of the LND and former governor of Kano State, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, said, “The LND resolved to organise a Northern Nigerian Political Summit, to be held in Kaduna.

    “This summit will serve as a platform for discussing the region’s political future, economic development, and security challenges. It will bring together key leaders, thinkers, and influencers to chart a new course for the North.”

    In an interview with journalists on the meeting, Shekarau expressed the group’s concern about the progress of the region.

    He said the group intended to evaluate the challenges confronting the North, particularly security issues, and create a document detailing possible solutions to tackle the problems.

    “We came together to analyse and review the problem bedevilling the northern part of Nigeria. We said we need to embark on general societal reorientation, to enlighten the people on what are their basic challenges and their basic needs.

    “It is not about any person or any political party. We want to produce a document, which is not about a year, two-year, or 10-year issue.

    “The whole idea is to produce a document that we can confront anybody seeking our votes that these are the aspirations of our people and we want you to assure us that this will be part of your guiding principles.”

    In a communiqué jointly signed by the convener, Umar Ardo, and the interim secretary, Emmanuel Jime, the LND announced its resolution to unify the North and reestablish it as a dominant force in national politics.

    “The LND resolved to prioritise the political unity of Northern Nigeria. Recognising the diverse backgrounds and experiences within our ranks, we are committed to fostering a strong sense of community and solidarity.

    “This unity will serve as the foundation for our efforts to reposition the North as a leading force in Nigeria’s political landscape,” the group said.

     

  • Ohanaeze lobbies Northern leaders, Asari Dokubo over kanu’s release

    Ohanaeze lobbies Northern leaders, Asari Dokubo over kanu’s release

    Apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has intensified moves to Lobby some Northern Leaders as well Leader of the Niger Delta Peoples volunteer force, Mujahid Asari Dokubo towards the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, Leader of indigenous people of Biafra (IPOB).

    Ohanaeze stated that although, there are ongoing efforts by Northern Leaders and Asari Dokubo to pressure the federal government not to accept Igbo’s request for the release of Nnamdi Kanu.

    A statement signed by Ohanaeze’s factional Secretary-general, Mazi Okechukwu lsiguzoro on Wednesday, while reacting to the comment of the detained(IPOB)Leader, Kanu that he would not beg the Federal Government for his release.

    According to the statement, Kanu went further to state that it would be an insult to the loving memories of the late lgbo elderstateman, Pa Mbazulike Amaechi who died in 2022 at the age of 91.

    Recall that a delegation of Igbo Eldersmen had solicited the release of IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu after the appeal court ordered his release.

    “”Ohanaeze Ndigbo has insisted that Nnamdi Kanu’s statement is in order and that people should stop begging for his release. However, the organization maintains that the Appeal Court’s pronouncement over Kanu remains sacrosanct and that the Supreme Court should fix a date for the hearing of the appeal filed by the government against Kanu’s release.

    “The organization also called on the Federal Government to obey the rule of law and release Kanu unconditionally, as he has been in detention for over the years without adherence to court orders.

    “Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, is believed to have played a significant role in the earlier release of Nnamdi Kanu in 2017, the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

    “The organization is said to have sent a delegation to the North and prominent Nigerians to pacify them and seek their support for Kanu’s release.

    “This time around, Ohanaeze Ndigbo is likely to adopt a similar strategy, focusing on underground networking with critical stakeholders and appealing to those who were aggrieved by Kanu’s broadcasts in the past.

    It stated that Ohanaeze may also seek the assistance of Igbo billionaire business moguls and the leadership of the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), who played a significant role in the previous release of Kanu in 2017.

    “However, the current situation is more challenging due to the lack of diplomatic underground work and the need to pacify some friends of the government, especially some Northern leadership and groups and Asari Dokubo, a former Niger Delta militant.

    While saying that the violent sit-at-home protests have also not brought any desired outcome, urging Igbos to change tactics in their efforts to secure Kanu’s release.

  • Tinubu should not be subjected to blackmail by any region – OPC warns northern leaders

    Tinubu should not be subjected to blackmail by any region – OPC warns northern leaders

    The Odua Peoples Congress (OPC), has warned Northern leaders to desist from “blackmailing” President-elect Bola Tinubu.

    This warning is coming in the wake of struggle for political offices in the incoming administration under Mr Tinubu, including the leadership of the 10th National Assembly.

    A group of northern senators-elect had met on Sunday night and resolved that their region must produce the president of the 10th Senate.

    In the meeting which cut across party lines, the senators-elect maintained that their region deserved the senate presidency because it delivered the highest number of votes which saw the election of President-elect Bola Tinubu.

    In a response signed by its secretary, Bunmi Fasehun, the OPC described the group as self-serving individuals who have resorted to uttering provocative statements and blackmailing Mr Tinubu because of an improper sense of entitlement to principal offices in the country’s parliament.

    “We want to advise that Tinubu should not be subjected to blackmail by any region over the distribution of legislative and executive offices. There is no single geo-political region where Tinubu scored zero votes; so he was fundamentally elected by all sections of Nigeria, North, South, East and West. He belongs to everybody.”

    The OPC said that it was premature for the group to start attempting to influence the president-elect on ethnic basis because the ethnic and religious divisions brought about by President Muhammadu Buhari’s lopsided appointments would be tough to address.

    “It is very funny, curious, and contradictory that those who failed to raise a voice to demand equity for other regions when President Muhammadu Buhari was indulging in lopsided appointments and pushing sectional agendas are the ones now clamouring to monopolise positions and offices once more,” the statement read.

    “It is time for these selfish Northern individuals to release the levers of power and let the occupant of Aso Rock to equally dispense the dividends of democracy so that the entire country will enjoy equity, justice and development.

    “Tinubu should not forget that even those who did not vote for him still add great value in terms of the natural resources they contribute to the national treasury.

    “The President-Elect must realise that he is inheriting a badly divided country that needs urgent healing from insurgency, insecurity and underdevelopment.”

  • Northern leaders announce choice of consensus candidate for PDP Chairmanship slot

    Northern leaders announce choice of consensus candidate for PDP Chairmanship slot

    The northern leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have picked Senator Iyorchia Ayu as their consensus candidate for the party’s chairmanship position zoned to the region.

    This comes after the PDP leaders held a consensus meeting in Bauchi on Wednesday ahead of the party’s national convention.

    It suffered a setback as some stakeholders in the party were reported to have shunned the meeting.

    Chairman of the Convention Organising Committee and Adamawa State Governor, Umaru Fintiri, then adjourned the meeting to Thursday where the leaders chose Senator Iyorchia.

    The PDP leaders from the northern region had met to trim down the number of candidates contesting for the office of the national chairman of the PDP and other positions in the forthcoming convention.

    Last Thursday, they agreed to set up a 20-man committee that would streamline the number of contestants from each of the zones in the region.

    Party leaders in the north-central region had held a similar meeting on Tuesday where Professor Iyorchia Ayu emerged as a consensus candidate for the chairmanship position in the convention to be held later in October.

    On September 9, the PDP leadership set up a national zoning committee to zone national offices to be contested by all PDP members.

    But the mandate of the committee did not include zoning of the offices of the president, vice president, as well as other executive and legislative offices in the country.

  • Osinbajo, Sanusi, other northern leaders meet inside Aso Rock

    Vice-President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo is currently meeting the Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi and some other northern leaders behind closed doors at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    Aside from the Emir, others in attendance include; the Lamido of Adamawa, Muhammadu Mustapha; and Alhaji Ahmed Joda among others.

    Details of the meeting is however sketchy as at the time of filing this report.

     

    Details later…

  • Restructuring: Northern elders are enemies of progress – Afenifere

    Restructuring: Northern elders are enemies of progress – Afenifere

    Spokesperson of Yoruba social-political organization, Afenifere, Yinka Odumakin, has stated that Northern leaders who are against the restructuring of Nigeria are enemies of progress.

    He said some powerful forces in the North do not want the North and other regions in the country to move forward.

    Odumakin accused the North of always wanting to suppress others, noting that every part of the country will live in prosperity if restructuring takes place.

    He told the Sun, “It’s unfortunate that the core North bluntly refused to see reasons why we need to restructure Nigeria.

    “Their style is if I don’t make it, you must not make it.

    “All they want is for everybody to be at a level where you can’t develop, where you can’t make progress.

    “All they want is amass and control. They believe they can only prosper in inequity, that they cannot prosper under a new arrangement.

    “It’s a fallacy. We need restructuring to enjoy prosperity.

    “At the 2014 National Conference, we looked at the map of Nigeria. There is no part of Nigeria that will not live in prosperity and happiness if we practice true federalism.

    “The mineral deposit in Niger State alone, if we practice true federalism will make that state richer than some countries.

    “With restructuring, they will prosper better. The North should stop looking for what is not there. They are searching for oil in Lake Chad.

    “The mineral deposits in the North will fetch them much more than oil. In the area of education, they make the system uneven.

    “A child from the South is given admission with higher marks, while his counterpart from the North gains admission with lower marks in the common entrance exam.

    “What is common in that entrance? It’s uncommon entrance. It’s from that narrow point of view that they look at things.

    “That section of the country is not interested in the prosperity and advancement of anybody.”

  • Nigeria will experience abundance under Buhari – Northern clerics

    Nigeria will experience abundance under Buhari – Northern clerics

    Nigerians have been asked to expect great abundance under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Clerics from northern Nigeria under the auspices of the Northern Interfaith and Religious Organization for Peace, who made this call, urged Nigerians not to be deterred by the heath of the president, assuring he would soon bounce back and continue the good job he had started.

    The group gave this charge at a special prayer session for the peace, unity and divine leadership of the country held in Abuja on Saturday.

    The National Co-ordinator of the group, Bishop Musa Fomson said it was revealed to the anointed vessels during the meeting that Nigeria will experience a great harvest and turn-around under the leadership of President Buhari.

    The meeting, which had in attendance about 38 clergymen from the various parts of the country, asserted that Buhari is on a mission in the country and should be allowed to complete it.

    According to him, just like the biblical Hezekiah, God has put the enemy of the nation into shame by extending the life span of the president on earth
    Fomson said, “It was revealed to the assembly that President Muhammadu Buhari remains God’s answer to the prayer of Nigerians for a leader that would make afflictions, pains and hunger things of the past.

    “The Lord revealed to the gathering of the anointed clergies that Boko Haram has long been defeated about a year ago and those carrying out attacks are the rebels that the devil has refused to release from the bondage of their past and doomed even on earth before judgment in the hereafter.

    “Boko Haram is an enemy of whom we shall hear no more even when persons freshly possessed of the destructive spirits operate under its name. The Lord shall make Nigeria triumph at every turn.

    “The enemies of the President according to revelations received during the meeting are only fighting God and will meet their waterloo if they fail to turn away from their evil ways. The Lord shall keep President Buhari to fulfill his mission in Nigeria.

    “God said he has used the first two years of Buhari to reset the nation and the remaining years ahead are years of harvest for those that would believe in the leader that God has given to them. In this vein Nigerians are enjoined to shun murmuring and not engage in grumbling that is displeasing to God so that their case would not be like the Children of Israel, whose murmuring prevented from entering the promised land.”