Politics

2023: Obasanjo declares support for Obi

Published

1 year ago

January 1, 2023

NewsDirect

Rallies support of Nigerian youths

Says seven years of APC led government brought so much stress to Nigerians

Bankole Taiwo, Abeokuta

Just as Nigerians were busy celebrating the new year 2023, former President of the country Chief Olusegun Obasanjo on Sunday, wrote to declare his support for the presidential candidate of Labour Party and former governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi.

Obasanjo, specifically, in the letter addressed to Nigerian youths tasked them to make Obi’s presidency happen saying that it was either they rise up to the occasion or ever regretted the missed opportunity.

The presidential election hold on February 25. Other top two contenders in the presidential race are Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar running under the umbrella of PDP.

Obasanjo said that the last seven and half years of APC led government under President Muhammadu Buhari have no doubt been eventful and stressful years for many Nigerians.

He said “We have moved from frying pan to fire and from mountain top to the valley. Our leaders have done their best, but their best had turned out to be not the best for Nigeria and Nigerians at home and abroad. For most Nigerians, it was hell on earth.

“Those of us who are alive should thank God for His mercies, brace ourselves for the remaining few months of this administration and pray and work very hard for an immediate better future – future of liberation, restoration and great hope and expectation”.

Obasanjo said though the presidential candidates have told him of their resolve to take back the country to where it was when he (Obasanjo) was in charge between 1999 and 2007 but he said that they have failed to realise that “Nigeria of today had been dragged down well below where at the beginning of his Presidency in June 1999.

He explained that “Although at that time, Nigeria was in very bad shape and was tottering on the verge of collapse and break-up. Even then, Nigeria was not faced with the level of pervasive and mind-numbing insecurity, rudderless leadership, buoyed by mismanagement of diversity and pervasive corruption, bad economic policies resulting in extremes of poverty and massive unemployment and galloping inflation”.

Obasanjo said, while all the presidential candidates are claiming to be their mentors, he would certainly not deny that having worked directly or indirectly with all of them in the past but the job of rescuing the country from its near collapse required much more than being his mentee.

The former president said that from experience and interaction he has had over the years, there are four attributes and characters someone to be a good leader must have and these he said are “Track record of ability and performance; Vision that is authentic, honest and realistic; Character and attributes of a lady and a gentleman who are children of God and obedient to God; and Physical and mental capability with soundness of mind because leading the country could be a very tasking assignment that should be done at the best of times”.

Obasanjo said that the task of rescuing Nigeria from its woes is not one to be determined on the basis of “Emi lokan” (it is my turn) or that “I have paid my dues” but rather on competence and ability to help deliver on so many challenges confronting the nation

He said “let me say straight away that ‘Emi Lokan’ (My turn) and ‘I have paid my dues’ are one and the same thing and are wrong attitude and mentality for the leadership of Nigeria now. They cannot form the new pedestal to reinvent and to invest in a new Nigeria based on an All-Nigeria Government for the liberation and restoration of Nigeria.

“Such a government must have representation from all sectors of our national life – public, private, civil society, professional, labour, employers, and the diaspora. The solution should be in ‘we’ and ‘us’ and not in ‘me’ and ‘I’”.

“Mind you, I reiterate that no human being is an angel let alone a Messiah, but there are elements of these attributes and on comparative basis and by measure of what we know of, and what some of us have experienced from the front-runners, we must assess judiciously and choose wisely. If anybody claims he or she has anything to the contrary, it will be up to him or her to prove to us”

The former President has therefore rallied Nigerian youth to wake up as the next presidential election is less than two months away urging them to use this rare opportunity of chosing for themselves leader who will deploy the resources of the country to make life much better and give them a very bright future.

Obasanjo said “I challenge the youth to arise. Let nobody pull wool over your eyes to divide you and/or segregate you to make you underlings. Nigerian youth, wherever they come from, North or South, East or West need education which is now denied to over 20 million children; Nigerian youth also need skills, empowerment, employment, reasonably good living conditions, welfare and well-being.

“My dear young men and collectively and women, you must come together and bring about a truly meaningful change in your lives. If you fail, you have no one else to blame. Your present and future are in your hands to make or to mar.

“The future of Nigeria is in the same manner in your hands and literally so. If for any reason you fail to redeem yourself and your country, you will have lost the opportunity for good and you will have no one to blame but yourselves and posterity will not forgive you. Get up, get together, get going and get us to where we should be. And you, the youth, it is your time and your turn. ‘Eyin Lokan’ (Your turn).

“The power to change is in your hands. Your future, my future, the future of grandchildren and great grandchildren is in your hands. Politics and elections are numbers game. You have the numbers, get up, stand up and make your number count”

The former President declared that “Nigeria has no business with insecurity, poverty, insurgency, banditry, unemployment, hunger, debt, division and disunity. We are in these situations because advertently or inadvertently, our leaders have made the choices. They have done the best they could do. Let them take their rest deservedly or not and let them enjoy their retirement as Septuagenarians or older.

“I became Head of State at 39 and at 42, I had retired into the farm. When it was considered necessary, I was drafted back into active political life after twenty years of interregnum. I came back at 62 and by 70, I was on my way out. Others like General Gowon and Enahoro became national leaders at 33 and 27 respectively and General Gowon at the helms of leadership of Nigeria at the highest level.

“The vigour, energy, agility, dynamism and outreach that the job of leadership of Nigeria requires at the very top may not be provided as a septuagenarian or older. I know that from personal experience. And it is glaring out of our current experiences. Otherwise, we will be fed with, “The President says” and we will neither see nor hear him directly as we should.

“Yes, for some, age and physical and mental disposition are not in tandem. But where and when they are with obvious evidence, they must be taken into account for purpose of reality. And yet it is a job in our present situation where the team leader or captain of the team should be up and doing, outgoing inside and outside and speaking to the nation on almost daily basis visibly and as much as possible interactively and meeting his colleagues all over the world on behalf of Nigeria.

“Youth of Nigeria, your time has come, and it is now and please grasp it. If not now, it will be never. I appeal to you to turn the tide on its head and march forward chanting ‘Awa Lokan’ (Our turn) not with a sense of entitlement, but with a demonstrable ideological commitment to unity and transformation of Nigeria.
Leave The Past, Face The Future”.

“I appeal to the young Nigerians to stop inheriting other people’s prejudices and enemies.
Let’s stop criminalizing and demonizing one another on the basis of the civil war on which we are all wrong. And let’s praise and thank God for preserving the oneness of Nigeria. The Scripture says that if God would take account of all our wrongdoings, nobody would be able to stand before Him.

“While not suffering from amnesia, let us stop still fighting and reacting to the civil war in our hearts, minds, heads and our attitude acrimoniously. Let’s stop living on our different wrongs or mistakes of the past: treasonable felony, Tiv riot and its handling, first military coup and its aftermath, second military coup, araba, pogrom and the civil war, all in the 1960s. And more recently OPC, Egbesu, MASSOB, IPOB, Boko Haram and banditry. No region can claim to be innocent or to be saintly. And no justification will suffice.

The former president warned that “we can only continue to play politics of ethnicity, religion, region and money bags at the peril of our country and to self-destruction. We need selfless, courageous, honest, patriotic, in short, outstanding leadership with character and fear of God beyond what we have had in recent past”.

Picking Obi as his preferred presidential candidate in the coming February 25 presidential election, Obasanjo said “none of the contestants is a saint but when one compares their character, antecedent, their understanding, knowledge, discipline and vitality that they can bring to bear and the great efforts required to stay focused on the job particularly looking at where the country is today and with the experience on the job that I personally had, Peter Obi as a mentee has an edge.

“Others like all of us have what they can contribute to the new dispensation to liberation, restoration and salvaging of Nigeria collectively. One other important point to make about Peter is that he is a needle with thread attached to it from North and South and he may not get lost.

“In other words, he has people who can pull his ears, if and when necessary. Needless to say that he has a young and able running mate with clean track record of achievement both in public and private life”.

Politics

Ekpo supports adoption of Sen. Akpabio as sole candidate for 2027 Senate poll

Published

7 hours ago

May 4, 2024

NewsDirect

The beautifully decorated Ikot Ekpene Township Stadium assumed the role of a parliamentary session on Saturday as Minister of State Petroleum Resources (Gas), Rt. Hon (Obongemem) Ekperikpe Ekpo moved a motion for the adoption of Senator Godswill Akpabio by the people of Akwa Ibom North West senatorial district as sole candidate of all political parties for the 2027 election.

The event was the public reception organised by the Akwa Ibom North West senatorial district for Akpabio as Senate President.

Ekpo’s motion was seconded by Hon Dr. Patrick Umoh, House of Representatives member representing Ikot Ekpene, Essien Udim, Obot Akara federal constituency and was generally agreed through a voice votes on the affirmative.

The Gas Minister who described Akpabio as a father, role model, a man of grace who has served the state and senatorial district meritoriously and deserved to be allowed to run for the 2027 Senate unopposed citing his magnanimous decision to allow Senator Aloysius Etuk run for two terms in the same senatorial district.

“Will we not allow such a man to go for another term? We know that even if you sleep and election is conducted you will win…but the people have mandated me to ask you that come 2027 no body will buy any form to contest that seat from any of the political parties in Ikot Ekpene senatorial district…the people have told me to inform you that,” Ekpo said amid thunderous applause from the crowd.

Ekpo thanked the large crowd that turned up for the event saying the former governor of the state deserved all the honour and felicitations from the people.

The Minister also extolled the peaceful disposition of the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno to governance, urging the Senate President to partner with Eno for the development of the state.

Ekpo described Eno as a “shepherd that should be celebrated” imploring Akpabio not to listen to those who come to him to blackmail and backbite the governor.

The minister tasked Akpabio “to teach Governor Eno” how to perform and deliver dividends of democracy to Akwa Ibom State just as he did as governor.

Politics

Osun 2026: Political gladiators, stakeholders begin intra-party mobilization

Published

18 hours ago

May 4, 2024

NewsDirect

By Ismail Azeez, Osogbo

When people are thinking about what the government can do for them to make their lives bearable as citizens, politicians are thinking about how to win the next election.

In December, former Governor of Osun State, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola whose members of the All Progressives Congress, (APC) Osun State chapter believe masterminded the defeat of the party to then opposition party, People Democratic Party, (PDP) during the last governorship election, revealed plans to announce his next political move to the people of the state.

Aregbesola and his political loyalists Omoluabi Progressive Caucus which was launched in 2023 have continued to separate political activities in the state.

The effort of the immediate past Governor and now Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola cannot be underestimated to put the party on track of progress ahead of the 2026 governorship election.

In his effort to further strengthen the party Oyetola has successfully wooed Mr Dotun Babayemi and Dr Akin Ogunbiyi, former Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Fatai Akinbade, alongside their supporters to Osun APC.=

Ogunbiyi had contested and lost the 2018 governorship ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party to Senator Ademola Adeleke, who was defeated at the poll by the APC candidate, Adegboyega Oyetola.

In the race for the 2022 governorship ticket of the PDP, Ogunbiyi was among the contenders for the PDP ticket, before he announced his withdrawal, accusing the National Working Committee of the party of bias.

But Babayemi and his supporters held a parallel governorship primary, where he emerged as a PDP factional candidate.

The Supreme Court later held that the incumbent governor, Adeleke was the validly elected candidate of the PDP at the poll, laying to rest the disagreement on the matter.

Babayemi has not formally announced his defection from the PDP.

Also, the party has set up three committees which are reconciliation, appeal and discipline.

The chairman of the Reconciliation Committee, Alhaji Sule Aderemi from Boripe local government council was picked as while the members are Elder J. A. Oni from Atakumosa East local government council; and Ademola Akeem Adesina from Irepodun local government council.

Other members of the Reconciliation Committee are Dupe Ajayi from Obokun Local Government; Sola Ogunfolaju from Ayedaade Local Government Council Area; Bisi Odewumi from Ife North Local Government Area while Bisi Ogunkale from Ayedire Local Government Council Area will serve as the Secretary of the committee.

Also, a committee headed by former Minister of Health, Dr. Isaac Adewole was set up at the state level to reinvigorate the party.

The chairman of the Appeal Committee is Biodun Awolola from Egbedore Local Government Council Area; Dauda Akinwole from Ife-East Local Government Area (member) and Yele Akintola from Ilesa East Local Government Area (member).

According to a statement by the party’s Director of Media and Information, Kola Olabisi, the Secretary of the party, Alao Kamoru, disclosed that the date of the inauguration of the three committees would be communicated to the members at a later date.

“Alao also stated that the terms of reference of each of the committees shall be spelt out to the members on the day of the inauguration.

“The state party secretary congratulated the members of the three committees, praying that God would use them for the improvement of the fortune of the APC to accomplish its collective mission,” he said

At the quarterly meeting of Osun Central APC in Osogbo, the National Secretary of the party, Senator Ajibola Basiru, stressed that there is no political party without dissension, but the best way to solve it is by employing internal mechanisms instead of playing moles.

“I’m happy with our members in Osun Central for not selling their birthrights for a pot of porridge. With contentment and steadfastness, our rank will swell, and we will sweep back to power.”

Basiru also urged the party faithful to steer clear of spreading unfounded information about the leaders of the party, stating that there are hierarchies and processes to get and sieve information about the party and its leaders.

Saying it for the umpteenth time that he and the minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola are on good terms, the APC National Secretary harped on the need to mobilize women and youths for APC to be more deeply rooted in the State.

Meanwhile, all things seem not well with the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) as some members of the party accused Governor Ademola Adeleke of only appointing those who have Political affiliation with the ‘Adeleke dynasty.’

Some members of the PDP who are loyalists of the former governor of Osun State, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola are not part of the current administration and have not been participating in state political functions.

Recently, Barr. Faruq Abass, the Chief of Staff to the Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Hon. Wale Egbedun, announced his resignation from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Abass tendered his resignation in a document shared on his official X (formerly Twitter) handle.

In a letter addressed to the PDP Chairman in his Ward, Ejigbo Local Government, Abass cited the hijack of the party by some ‘bootlickers,’ the failure of the ruling party to provide quality and visionary governance to the people of the state since 2022, and the ostracisation of party members who supported the governorship ambition of Prince Dotun Babayemi, among others.

The Speaker’s CoS also said that despite the substantial allocation to the Ejigbo local government, there has not been any meaningful development in the council area.

Abass is one of the loyalists of Babayemi, who has concluded plans to move to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

However, the Inter-party Advisory Council (IPAC) also put effort into making their voice heard in the state, the Chairman of IPAC, Pastor Victor Akande, told Governor Adeleke that they are not an opposition to the present administration but a partner in progress.

He consequently promised to give necessary support to ensure Governor Adeleke’s success in office, stressing that it is their success too in IPAC.

Politics

Adeleke’s aide fabricated story on Babayemi, Ogunbiyi — Osun APC

Published

20 hours ago

May 4, 2024

NewsDirect

The Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has accused the Spokesperson for Governor Adeleke, Rasheed Olawale of publishing fabricated lies against Omo Oba Dotun Babayemi and Dr Akin Ogunbiyi.

Babayemi was a Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) governorship aspirant in Osun State during the last general elections while Ogunbiyi, before his return to the PDP, was also the governorship candidate of the Accord Party during the elections.

The Office of the Spokesperson for Governor Adeleke had few days ago published story to be published in its last edition of Osun Spring purporting that a chieftain of the APC, whose name wasn’t given, had registered his displeasure that the defection of the duo of Babayemi and Ogunbiyi would disorganize the opposition party.

Commenting on the development, the Osun State chairman of the APC, Sooko Tajudeen Lawal, in a statement issued by the party’s Director of Media and Information, Chief Kola Olabisi, today, wondered where Olawale learnt his journalism, adding that one would have thought that Olawale’s current travail with the DSS, where he has become a fugitive like the biblical Cain for causing a defamatory story to be published against some VIPs in the state, would have taught the lying machine some good lessons on how to practise his trade with restraint, decorum and professionalism.

Lawal opined that truly, when the head is rotten, then naturally, the other parts of the body would be at risk.

In the state APC chairman’s words: “There is no gainsaying the fact that Osun State is so unfortunate to have had someone like Ademola Adeleke at the helm of affairs at this point in time. Ordinarily, the media team of a governor plays an important role in burnishing his image when the need arises.”

“Unfortunately for the dancing and singing governor, his Media Office is peopled by half-baked scoundrels who equally need to be micromanaged. This is because they are criminally minded, clever by half and myopic.

“These lots, in their nincompoopery, think our party, the APC, is like their party, the PDP, that resents good idea and independent minded folks.

“Adeleke and his shallow-thinking boys in their self-delusion on Thursday, 2nd May, 2024, published in the rag sheet;

“While we are dancing and clinking glasses that the coming of the two juggernauts with their teeming supporters will further bolster our victory at the 2026 poll, Adeleke and his korope media are there deluding themselves.”

“Since their paymasters, on account of their greed and self-centeredness, have refused to see the value in these people, we have seen it and have so accepted them. The APC is solid. If there’s grumbling or complaints anywhere, it’s in the PDP and that’s why Omooba Dotun Babayemi, Akin Ogunbiyi and thousands of others are leaving the evil assemblage, PDP, for the APC.

“Today, who’s running from pillar to post, begging Babayemi and his supporters not to leave the PDP? Why is Adeleke patronising members of the Late Adagunodo’s camp with letters of appointments and money to discourage them from leaving the PDP?

“APC is a disciplined party that allows for cohesiveness. As such, the presence of Babayemi, Ogunbiyi and others in our great party will further cement our strength rather than divide us.

“We challenge the purveyors of evil and fabled news to mention the name of the said faceless ‘grumbling APC Chieftain’. We advise the distraught PDP to keep their mouth shut and continue to lick their wounds for losing their valuable members to us.

“Rest assured that come 2026, we shall send the figurehead out of the Bola Ige House. This is crystal clear,” Lawal assured.