TheNewsGuru

Tag: Presidential Aspirant

  • Aspiring Nigerian President, Tinubu tells INEC how his academic certificates were stolen by unknown persons

    Aspiring Nigerian President and presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has failed to present his primary and secondary certificates to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, saying that his certificates were stolen by unknown persons.

     

    The former Lagos State Governor (Tinubu) said the incident happened when he was on self exile.

     

    Recall that Tinubu, alongside other chieftains of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) fled the country to evade the persecution of the military government headed by the late General Sani Abacha.

     

    Abacha had deployed gruesome tactics in clamping down on activists, including students and technocrats opposed to his regime.

     

    In the affidavit he sworn to support his nomination form for the office of the president, Tinubu said he “went on self exile from October 1994 to October 1999 (and) when I returned and discovered that my property including all the documents relating to my qualification and my certificates in respect of paragraph 3 above were looted by unknown persons.”

     

    The ruling party presidential candidate, who failed to provide information regarding his primary and secondary education in the INEC form, stated that he attended University of Chicago between 1972 and 1976, where he obtained B.Sc in Economics.

    Tinubu

     

    The form also showed that he obtained B.Sc in Business and Administration, as well as certificate in Public Account.

     

    Tinubu’s latest claims appear to be in contradiction with the submission he made to INEC when he ran and won the Lagos State governorship election in 1999.

     

    The former governor had stated that he attended St Paul Children’s Home School, Ibadan, between 1958 and 1964 before proceeding to Government College Ibadan (GCI), between 1965 and 1968 for his secondary education.

     

    The ensuing backlash forced Tinubu to withdraw his primary and secondary schools academic records during his second term bid in 2003.

     

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) recalls that Tinubu won the APC presidential primary at a special convention held in Eagle Square, Abuja.

     

    He won the election by a landslide after beating the likes of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, and the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan.

  • APC primaries: I’ve not endorsed any presidential aspirant – Buhari

    APC primaries: I’ve not endorsed any presidential aspirant – Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari met behind closed doors with Northern governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the State House, Abuja, on Monday.

    Speaking to State House correspondents on the outcome of the meeting, the Chairman of the Northern Governors’ Forum and governor of Plateau, Mr Simon Lalong, said the president insisted that he had not endorsed any of the 23 candidates aspiring to clinch the presidential ticket of the APC.

    He said the president confirmed to them that, contrary to insinuations in some quarters, he had not endorsed any of the 23 candidates, ahead of the party’s primary election on Tuesday.

    Lalong stated that the president had, therefore, directed that governors of APC controlled states should meet with the National Working Committee of the party, to fine tune modalities for the selection of the presidential flag bearer of APC.

    He said: “The president told us that for the APC presidential primaries, he has no anointed candidate and therefore directed that the Progressive Governors’ Forum meet with the National Working Committee of the party to agree and proffer further solutions and recommendations for his successor.

    “And based on his directive, the Chairman of Progressive Governors’ Forum has summoned a meeting for 5.00p.m, today, after which we will make further suggestions to the president.”

    Lalong added that the governors were at the Presidential Villa to apologise to the president, because they met at the weekend and took a position to support power shift to the Southern part of the country in the spirit of fairness but before they could convey their position to him, the matter got leaked.

    Gov. Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi, who also spoke at the event, said the northern governors believed their support for “power shift to the South is good for the unity of the nation, fairness and justice.

    “We looked at the totality of the issues in our country and we believe APC with a president that has delivered democratic dividends across the breadth of the country and 22 governors, has everything going for it.

    “What is the political brinkmanship that we need to bring so that every component of Nigeria will feel important?

    “It is to allow opportunity for other parts of the country. And this is a step that will bring more peace and resonate with every part of Nigeria.”

    Gov. Nasiru El-Rufai of Kaduna said out of the 14 governors of APC states in Northern Nigeria, only one; that of Kogi State, who is also an aspirant, disagreed with their position.

  • PDP primaries: Untold story of how Atiku used Tambuwal to derail Wike’s ambition

    PDP primaries: Untold story of how Atiku used Tambuwal to derail Wike’s ambition

    …the South-South governors gang up over VP position

    …how money played a pivotal role

    The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP primaries has come and gone but the wounds inflicted may not easily heal as Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike had to swallow a bitter pill from perceived friends turned enemies overnight.

    TheNewsGuru.com, (TNG) reliably gathered that Wike’s close allies foresaw how Tambuwal would be used to ensure an Atiku victory at the primaries.

    Their position was hinged on the fact that the Sokoto Governor was out to play a spoiler’s role as he knows from day one that his chances of emerging as the flag bearer of the PDP were slim.

    The fact that he is from the northwest, President Muhammadu Buhari’s zone alone knocked him out of the race.

    Immediately Tambuwal pulled out of the race declaring that his supporters should vote for Atiku they all concluded the game was over as Wike automatically lost over 119 votes mainly from Imo, Kebbi, Sokoto and Zamfara.

    Imo delegates under the care of Tambuwal’s bosom ally, Hon Emeka Ihedioha who was his deputy in the seventh Assembly paved way for Atiku.

    One of such close friends to Wike who spoke to TNG under the condition of anonymity said “The height of betrayal. Not surprised. Never been a fan of Tambuwal, not after I named him and Ihedioha as the mastermind of Farouk cap-banking in 2012. He betrayed Jonathan in 2011. He has done same to Wike in 2022.

    Another chorused that “we knew it was going to go this way because there’s an unwritten law in northern Nigeria which states that never vote for a southerner even if he has the best credentials.

    This actually played a pivotal role in the outcome of the PDP presidential primaries as most votes garnered by Wike came from the southern part of the country.

    Even the Middlebelt that was seen by many as the footstool of Wike crumbled at the last minute.

    Wike’s South-South governors championed by Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, Udom Emmanuel who got just extra 4 votes from his state’s 31 votes point to a big betrayal.

    All the South-South governors ganged up against the Rivers Governor because they were all eyeing the position of a vice president to Atiku.

    Okowa is said to be in the forefront of the alleged campaign to ensure Wike fails.

    The voting which actually commenced by 8.59 pm after a five-minute speech by all the aspirants ended before 11.15 pm as there were only 767 delegates across Nigeria.

    The only female aspirant, Olivia Tereila Delta State had the best presentation among all the aspirants.

    The money for votes delegates:

    The PDP primaries showcased a high level of how delegates looked for the highest bidders collecting money from all aspirants ranging from $10k to $20k.

    They all sold their conscience for money and this was manifested in the outcome of the results as some South-South governors helped to enlarge the war chest of Atiku.

    How the aspirants fared:
    Atiku polled 371 against Wike’s 237 and Saraki came a distant third with 70 votes.

    Other results:

    Sam Ohuanbuwa: 1 vote, Nyesom Wike: 237 votes, Anyim Pius Anyim: 14 votes

    Olivia Tariela  – 1 vote

    Udom Emmanuel: 38 votes

    Bukola Saraki: 70 votes

    Bala Mohammed: 20 votes

    12 voided votes.

     

  • Peter Obi hovers over becoming president of Nigeria

    Former Governor of Anambra State and Presidential aspirant, Peter Obi, has told critics that he is not desperate to become the president of Nigeria.

     

    He made it crystal clear that his interest is to see Nigeria work for the teeming youths and other Nigerians facing hardship across the country.

     

    He made his position on the 2023 Presidential election known in a statement on Friday night.

     

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) recalls that Peter dumped the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP on 25th May.

     

    According to reports, he later joined the Labour Party on Friday, 27th May.

     

    He maintained that the party is the right platform that aligns with his aspiration.

     

    The former governor asserted that he had chosen a path that he considered to be in line with “our aspirations and my mantra of taking the country from consumption to production.”

     

    The statement reads: “I thank all Nigerians, especially our youths who have joined me in the mission of taking back and reuniting Nigeria. This project is yours and for the future of your children. I am just a facilitator.

     

    “Since I resigned from the PDP because of issues that are at variance with my persona and principles, I have consulted widely with various parties and personalities to ensure we do not complicate the route to our desired destination.

     

    “For me, the process of achieving our goal is as fundamental as what one will do thereafter.

     

    “Therefore, I have chosen a route that I consider to be in line with our aspirations and my mantra of taking the country from consumption to production; and that is the Labour Party which is synonymous with the people, workers, development, production, securing and uniting Nigerians as one family. I invite all Nigerians to join me in taking back our country. Be assured that I’ll never let you down.”

     

    However, TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) had earlier reported that the former governor has likened his defection from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the Labour Party (LP) to leaving a palace for a hut.

  • Forces that wish evil for Nigeria will fail – Tinubu

    Forces that wish evil for Nigeria will fail – Tinubu

    The All Progressives Congress ( APC) presidential aspirant, Sen. Bola Tinubu, says evil and politics will not divide Nigeria.

    He made this known while soliciting support from APC delegates In Jigawa, ahead of the party’s presidential primaries.

    Tinubu also referred to as one of the national leaders of the APC, said despite his keen interest about the contest, “he believes on the supremacy of Nigeria above any personal interest.”

    The presidential aspirant alleged that there were some “evil forces that wish evil for Nigeria but certainly, they will fail as good people of the country are praying to God to save the country.”

    “We must work together to build the nation and make Nigeria to grow bigger than all of us.”

    “I am here before you to solicit your support and I hope you will vote for me at our party’s presidential primary.

    “I assure you that if given the mandate, we will join hands with all good people of Nigeria to move the country forward for peace, unity, and prosperity.

    “My dreams and plans are to have a Jigawa that is full of opportunity of farming, commerce, and trade, as well as a country with full opportunities for health care services, education, and food security for all,” Tinubu said.

    In his remarks, Gov. Muhammad Badaru described Tinubu as a pan Nigerian with broad-based support across the country and beyond.

    Badaru, who described Tinubu as a father, recalled how he was looking for a platform to contest for the governorship election in 2011 when Tinubu gave him the opportunity in Action Congress of Nigeria, (ACN).

  • Sowore’s loses 100yrs grandmother

    Sowore’s loses 100yrs grandmother

    Presidential aspirant, Omoyele Sowore, has announced the death of his grandmother Moyinoluwa Olawoye nee Befo.

     

    The publisher of Sahara Reporters said she passed on early Wednesday at the age of 100, describing her in a touching tribute as his digital grandmother.

     

    “Early this morning my legendary grandmother, Moyinoluwa Comfort Olawoye nee Befo passed on at the age 100!” he wrote across social media platforms.

     

    Sowore noted that him and his grandmother became close later in life because schooling took him away from home early.

     

    “However, recently she started to show signs that she will be departing this world soon. She kept asking to speak with me and I had thought it was because she did not believe anything anyone in the family told her that I had been released from detention since 2019,” he wrote.

     

    Sowore recently secured an Appeal Court order nullifying a lower court order which restricted him to Abuja in his face-off with the Federal Government.

     

    He said his last visit to his grandmother before her passing was on May 5 during a campaign stop in his hometown.

     

    “She said she needed to embark on a journey but was just waiting to see me before that very important trip, but because my grandma was often talking about ‘departing this world’ at least for the last 20 years, I told her she’s not gonna die yet, at least not until I bring her with me to Abuja as President of Nigeria, I teased. It turned out this would be our final meeting,” he noted.

     

    Sowore, whose younger brother was shot dead last year, revealed that his grandmother had tattoos on her arms, legs and back.

     

    “She ate little, she never drank or partied. She was born and made for heaven!” He added.

  • Deborah Samuel: Atiku explains why his post was deleted

    Deborah Samuel: Atiku explains why his post was deleted

    Former Vice President and a presidential aspirant, under the umbrella of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP)Atiku Abubakar has explained why the post he made condemning the lynching of Deborah Samuel a part two student of Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto State by some male Muslim students, was deleted shortly after it was posted online.

     

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that Deborah Samuel was beaten to death and her remains burnt by some male Muslim students who accused her of insulting Prophet Muhammed SAW via a WhatsApp platform.

     

    The management of Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto State has shut down the school indefinitely to avoid being thrown into further pandemonium.

    Atiku had, while reacting to the incident, declared that all those behind the killing must be brought to book.

    He wrote, “There cannot be a justification for such gruesome murder. Deborah Yakubu was murdered, and all those behind her death must be brought to justice. My condolences to her family and friends.”

    However, some religious fanatics with Islamic names stormed the comment sections, particularly on Facebook, threatening to withdraw their support for his 2023 presidential ambition.

    The presidential aspirants later deleted the post on his various social media handles to avoid more comments on the post.

    Writing on his Facebook page on Friday, Atiku said he did not give approval for the post.

    He said, ”This evening I received information that a post was made that doesn’t agree with my orders. I use this to announce that any post without AA is not from me. May God protect – AA.”

  • APC primaries: My chances incredibly high and I will win – Bola Tinubu

    APC primaries: My chances incredibly high and I will win – Bola Tinubu

    National leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu and one of its presidential aspirants has expressed confidence in winning the presidential ticket of the party.

    TheNewsGuru reports that Tinubu made the statement shortly after he interacted with delegates of the party on Sunday in Jalingo.

    He explained that his chances of winning the presidential ticket of APC were on the very high side due to his political pedigree.

    According to him, my chances of winning the ticket are incredibly high and I am very confident. I am sure I can and I will win it,’ he said.

    Tinubu in his response to the option of a consensus arrangement by the party, said he preferred a process of democracy to choose who became the APC flag bearer.

    “I want democracy, I am voting for democracy, One man, one vote,’ he said.

  • 2023 Presidential Primaries: Don’t waste your votes, Amaechi tells APC delegates [PHOTOS]

    2023 Presidential Primaries: Don’t waste your votes, Amaechi tells APC delegates [PHOTOS]

    With the swelling number of presidential aspirants from the All Progressives Congress (APC), frontline Presidential aspirant, Rt Hon Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi has advised party delegates to vote wisely and not to waste their votes at the upcoming presidential primary.

    Addressing delegates in Edo State, weekend, Amaechi urged them not to be carried away with the bevy of aspirants from the ruling party, but to stay focused on the goal of voting a credible, experienced and performing aspirant like himself to fly the party flag at the 2023 presidential elections.

    He said, “Politicians will come to ask for your votes, but please, as South South people, as politicians, as good people of Nigeria, don’t waste your votes. The problem with politicians is you. The elites have shown you that they are here to ‘chop money’ and you allow them. They will bring money here and say you should vote for them, and nobody will care to ask ‘what was he before now, what is his performance?’ The economy they want to come and manage, how have they performed?

    “Ask me as Minister for Transport, I’m working hard to make sure that Lagos-Calabar rail line begins and it will come through Benin. I can account for my part. So when those in charge of the economy come to you for votes, ask them how they have managed the economy. As I’m here, ask me. If you ask these kind of questions, they will not come forward. Me, I come with experience, let them come with that experience. I come with the experience of being a Speaker for eight years and I managed my colleagues without being impeached. First time in the history of Nigeria that a Speaker will serve for eight years without being impeached. It was me. And I was Chairman, Speakers Forum, twice. You understand what it means to manage your equals? I was elected Chairman of Governors Forum, twice. If I didn’t manage the Governor’s Forum well, would my colleagues have voted for me?” He asked.

    Presidential Aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, Rt Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, addressing Party delegates in Benin, Edo State, weekend.

    Amaechi also harped on the importance of having an electable candidate on the ballot for the APC to win the presidency.

    “The electability of a candidate is essential for you, if not, the APC will lose the election. For now, I think I’m the most electable. I’m tried, tested and trusted,” Amaechi said, adding that he has a wealth of experience and history of project delivery to show, from his time as Governor of Rivers State and now as Minister of Transportation.

    He said, “if they ask me, I have huge evidences, Model Primary Schools, Secondary Schools, Primary Health Care Centres, Hospitals, Roads, 750 megawatts of power in Rivers State. Children were sent overseas to study, 13,200 teachers were employed, and other achievements as Governor. As Minister for Transportation, I finished the Kaduna-Abuja rail, Lagos-Ibadan is running. For those of you who say, ‘what has he done in the South South?’ There’s Warri-Itakpe rail line, only two communities are in Kogi, the rest are in Edo and Delta. States. We have started Port Harcourt-Maiduguri rail, and we will start the Lagos-Calabar rail. So when they say ‘he has not done anything in the South South,’ are they saying Delta and Edo are not part of the Niger Delta? So I have evidence of what my contributions are to APC and to Nigeria. I can account for the period I have been in office. So if they bring money, you take it, but let us rise, vote right and defend our votes.”

    Amaechi was also at the Palace of the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare 2, who told the Minister that he would have been surprised if he wasn’t running, as he is well positioned to lead the country.

    “If you didn’t come out, we would have been surprised. We have heard you, we have been watching all you have been doing as the Minister of Transportation. We commend you for what you have done for the railway lines, but the security agencies need to be involved considering what happened the last time on Abuja-Kaduna railway line. Benin throne is non-partisan, however, we endeavor to follow our ancestors directives to guide and pray,” the Oba said.

  • Former Governor of Katsina, Alhaji Ibrahim Shema, speaks fondly about his friend, Saraki (Photos)

    Former Governor of Katsina, Alhaji Ibrahim Shema, speaks fondly about his friend, Saraki (Photos)

    PDP Presidential Aspirant, former President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, at Dr. Saraki’s meeting with delegates and party stakeholders in Katsina State.