Oluwasegun Adesuyi, Author at SocietyGazette.com

Female Presidential Aspirant, Khadija Okunnu-Lamidi Reveals Her Relationship With Tinubu

Female presidential candidate, Khadija Okunnu-Lamidi, has stated that she would run for the presidency in 2023 despite the respect she has for the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu.
Okunnu-Lamidi while giving her reason said Nigerians clamour for a young person with a vibrancy to lead the country out of its challenges is her drive.

The aspirant stated this as she disclosed that she is “somehow related” to the former Governor of Lagos State.

Okunnu-Lamidi while speaking with BBC pidgin said, “He’s the national leader of the APC; he has contributed to national politics and I have great respect for him. But that doesn’t change the fact that Nigerians are looking for a young person with vibrancy. Nigerians are looking for a way out of poverty, they want 24 hours electricity supply, good health care and good roads which are what I’m here to provide.”

The presidential aspirant when asked if she has political experience, said, “Many people will say they have never heard of my name but I’ve been in politics for at least 20 years learning. Many people do declare their political ambition before they are ready, which is quite a problem. I’ve learnt the work and seen how others do it, which I don’t find satisfying, it gives me a stomach ache.

Okunnu-Lamidi when asked when she decided to contest for the presidency said, “It was shortly after the EndSARS protests in October 2020.”

She further stated that she reached out to young minds and the late singer, Sound Sultan, towards the goal of fielding some youths to contest for public office.

According to the aspirant, most of the youths she spoke with were sceptical about the idea.

She said, “At that point, it occurred to me that if I truly have the passion, I should be the one to step out and take the risk for us to have a better Nigeria.”

When asked how serious she is about her ambition, she said, “As you can see, my entrance into the race has not been a joke.”

Asked to speak about the political platform she’s running on, Okunnu-Lamidi said, “I don’t like to talk about the party because, for me, it doesn’t bring a solution. I’ve never seen any party talking about how to make life better for everybody, it’s just about their selfish interest.”

[JUST IN] APC Crisis: DG, Progressive Governors’ Forum resigns

In the wake of the crisis which has trailed the February National Convention of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), the Director General (DG) of the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF), Salihu Lukman has resigned.

It was gathered that Lukman’s resignation followed Sunday night’s meeting of the APC Governors’ Forum where a few of the governors had demanded that he should be removed from office ‘for being too vocal’.

Many of the governors were said to have kicked against the demand saying the erstwhile PGF helmsman should be allowed to continue to speak in his personal capacity as a chieftain of the party.

More to follow…

BREAKING: Many people slaughtered in Kebbi as bandits attack, burn corpses [PHOTO]

Scores of residents have been feared killed in a midnight raid by terrorists known locally as bandits, in Kebbi State.

The bandits in their large numbers invaded Dan-Kade village in Unashi district under the Zuru chiefdom, killing an unspecified number of persons on Sunday night.

Residents have fled their homes as bandits have reportedly burnt many houses in the area.

A leader of a local Vigilante group in Zuru, Mani John, confirmed the attacks, according to Sahara Reporters.

The Kebbi State Police Command could not yet be reached for comments as of the time of publishing this report.

Bandits’ attacks have become a menace in Kebbi and almost every part of northern Nigeria.

Recall this newspaper reported at the weekend that bandits launched a brutal attack on the same Dankade village. It was learnt that the bandits operated unchallenged from 3pm to 7pm last Friday.

In recent times, northern Nigerian states like Kebbi, Zamfara, Kaduna, Sokoto, Niger and Kaduna have witnessed incessant attacks by terrorists. These lawbreakers have killed thousands of people, kidnapped hundreds and displaced thousands from their homes.

Again, APC Governors Fail To Fix Date For Convention

The Progressive Governors’ Forum, a platform for governors of the All Progressive Congress again failed to fix a date for the party’s national convention, which has been slated for February 2022, but insisted it remained the party’s month of national convention.

The governors failed to announce the exact date and venue for the convention even as it passed vote of confidence on Governor Buni-led Caretaker/Extraordinary Committee.

Notwithstanding the fact that the job of fixing a date for the convention lies squarely with the party executive, it was expected that since some governors of the party are part of the caretaker committee and February had been chosen as the month, the governors will suggest a date which can be adopted by the party executive to end the crisis rocking the party.

Besides, by insisting on February, the party would be going against the electoral act if it goes ahead to hold its convention as it would be failing to notify the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, as required by law.

The law says INEC must get a 21-day notification before any of such an event could be held.

However, rising from a meeting which started on Sunday, the Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum and Kebbi State governor, Abubakar Bagudu, told journalists that, “The Progressive Governors met tonight to discuss numerous issues affecting the forum and member states and we acknowledged some of the achievements in the states and members of the forum as well as the President who visited Ogun and Borno states where he commissioned projects.

“We have had challenges in some states and we commiserated with them. We spoke about our unanimous appreciation for Mr President and especially the confidence he has in the forum.

“We also passed a vote of confidence in the National Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee of the party chaired by Governor Mai Mala Buni and assisted by two other governors including Governor Abubakar Bello of Niger State and Gboyega Oyetola of Osun State; who have done an incredible job of running our party successfully, mobilising people into the party.”

The governor explained that the Forum discussed the February national convention stating that it has unanimously agreed that it holds in February; as opposed to speculations of an impending postponement

He said, “We discussed our coming convention which you may recall, I had cause to address the press when we visited Mr President in November. We expressed that both Mr President and the party have agreed that convention should take place in February.

“So we took inputs about the reviews and we noted all the misrepresentations in the press and sought to correct it.

“The Progressive Governors’ Forum is one united body as you can see evidently from the attendance. And our decision is unanimous. We are united behind Mr President and we thank him. And we are united behind the Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee.”

Asked what date in February the convention will hold, he said, “Yes, February is still realistic. But we are just one group of stakeholders. Our party respects institutions. It is the appropriate organ of the party, the National Caretaker Committee that will announce a date.

“We have agreed and they will announce a date in February. The announcement comes from the party. It is a party decision. There are other stakeholders that they are consulting with and to show respect and institutional limits, we are not going to overstep our bounds.”

The meeting had in attendance all governors of the Forum except Aminu Masari of Katsina and Muhammad Yahaya of Gombe.

Those who attended were the Governors of Yobe, Mai Mala Buni; Borno, Babagana Zulum; Jigawa, Muhammad Abubakar; Ondo, Rotimi Akeredolu; Niger, Abubakar Bello; Kaduna, Nasir El-Rufai; Ekiti, Kayode Fayemi; Kogi, Yahaya Bello and Ogun, Dapo Abiodun.

In attendance also were Zamfara, Bello Matawalle; Ebonyi, Dave Umahi; Osun, Gboyega Oyetola; Lagos, Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Plateau, Simon Lalong; Imo, Hope Uzondinma; Nasarrawa, Abdullahi Sule and Cross River, Ben Ayade.

Others were Kwara, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, Kano, Abdullahi Ganduje; and Deputy Governor of Anambra State, Nkem Okeke.

Bandits Demand Petrol, Viju Milk To Free Kidnap Victims In Niger State

Armed bandits have demanded gallons of petrol and viju milk, amongst other items, to free kidnapped persons barely 12 hours after President Muhammadu Buhari directed the military to embark on a robust military operation to tackle the worsening security in Niger State.

The bandits had invaded another set of communities across Kontagora and Mashegu Local Government Areas on Sunday which left three persons dead and 28 others abducted, according to eyewitnesses.

“The gunmen came on about 18 motorcycles, there were three of them on each of the motorcycles, they were shooting anyhow making the villagers to scamper into the forest

“The unlucky ones were kidnapped but one person was killed,” the eyewitness said.

The Vice-Chairman of Kontagora local government Council Alhaji Aliyu Makiga confirmed the attack to newsmen saying “the gunmen came through the Tegina route in their large number”.

He said security agents attempted to foil the attack but met “stiff resistance from the well equipped gunmen”.

“They kidnapped a lot of people but some were set free when their motorcycles could not carry all of them and others are still with them.

“They (gunmen) are demanding for a ransom of seven 50 litres jerrican of petrol, Viju Milk and other drinks,” he said.

It was earlier reported how President Buhari on Sunday directed the military to respond robustly to the cases of killings and kidnappings in the state through use of force.

Why I Met APC National Leader, Bola Tinubu – Fayemi

Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State has described his meeting with the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as a “family meeting of minds”.
Naija News reports that Fayemi had met with Tinubu after the former Lagos State governor declared his intention to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023.

Reports had claimed that the meeting was convened to discuss the presidential ambition of Tinubu and the upcoming Ekiti State governorship election.

Reacting in a statement on Saturday, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Fayemi, Yinka Oyebode, said the meeting of his principal with Tinubu had nothing to do with the presidential ambition or otherwise of either of the two political leaders.

In the statement titled, ‘Re: Tinubu-Fayemi meeting: The spin doctors got it wrong’, Oyebode stated that Tinubu and Fayemi’s relationship dates back to the dark years of military despotism.

According to the governor’s aide, Fayemi did not surrender his undeclared presidential ambition to Tinubu.

The statement partly read, “Meeting between the two leaders, dates as far back as their days in exile, when they were both involved in the struggle to wrest the country away from military jackboots, and has since been a regular occurrence both within and outside the country’s political space. So there should not be any big deal in seeing them meet, except someone has opted to create a mischief out of it.

“While the details of their recent meeting remain undisclosed, seeing the two of them who are being rumoured as potential presidential aspirants from the southwest together may naturally give way to speculations that the 2023 presidential election could form part of their discussions.

“This may have been further fuelled by the fact that Asiwaju Tinubu said he had informed President Muhammadu Buhari that he would be coveting the presidential seat in 2023. Dr Fayemi on the other hand; has yet to give any visible sign in that direction.

“However, both Asiwaju Tinubu’s declared ambition and Fayemi’s undeclared ambition have now been taken up and given verve by some spin doctors, particularly those who believe such could rev up their relevance in the eyes of either of the political leaders.

“What makes the matter worse is that such spin doctors, surreptitiously scrambling for relevance have been weaving, not half truths, but blatant lies into the Tinubu-Fayemi meeting, saying it signposted Dr Fayemi surrendering his undeclared ambition to Asiwaju Tinubu’s declared one.

“Specifically, they have been dishing out barefaced and unsubstantiated lies that Dr Fayemi at the closed door meeting “debunked the raging rumour of his 2023 presidential ambition and pledged support for the national leader of the All Progressives Congress Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“This, no doubt, is a reckless and untruthful spin. First, since the perpetrators were not present at the meeting and none of the leaders could have divulged what transpired, one wonders from where they got their narrative.

“Secondly, the spin doctors, were so consumed by their fictional hogwash that they could not consider it an impossibility for Fayemi to drop a rumoured, yet undeclared ambition, even when Asiwaju Tinubu said he was still consulting as to whether to run or not.

“The story by the spin doctors thus stands logic in the head and stands not only disclaimed but condemned. It must have been sourced from the rumour mill, or as a beer parlour gist. At its best, it is a mere conjecture.

“If and when Dr Fayemi chooses to declare his interest in running for the 2023 presidential ticket, he would not be embarking on an ego trip that would warrant going into unhealthy contest with Asiwaju Tinubu or anyone else. Fayemi sees Tinubu as his leader in politics and reserves respect for him as a national leader of his party. Neither will he run the race with the intention of using it to negotiate with anyone. Rather he will run because he is convinced it is desirable for him to do so.

“Perhaps the spin doctors are unmindful of the fact that Fayemi currently remains focused on finishing strong and well the assignment in his hand as two-term governor of Ekiti State. They also fail to realise that there is still a sitting President equally focused on finishing well his second term in office. Neither Fayemi nor Buhari would like to be distracted by such inanity at this juncture.

“Should Dr Fayemi eventually choose to run in the 2023 Presidential race at all, he would not hide his intention to do so, neither will he involve himself in any clandestine meeting to discuss his chances, since he would have been x-rayed and classified among the preferred aspirants based on his credentials, even before he makes such declaration.

“The masterminds of such fable are therefore advised to desist from doing so any further as it will not give them any political or social mileage. Rather it will wreak serious havoc on their personality, without reducing the worth of either Asiwaju Tinubu or Governor Fayemi who are respectable and respected leaders in their own rights.”

Nigerians drag Shina Peters, Saheed Balogun, Mr Ibu, others after presenting award to Femi Adeshina

Nollywood actor Saheed Balogun, Mr Ibu, Shina Peters and others have come under heavy criticisms after presenting an award to Buhari’s media spokesman Femi Adeshina.
Nigerians drag Saheed Balogun, Mr Ibu, others over an award to Femi Adeshina
Nigerians drag Saheed Balogun, Mr Ibu, others over an award to Femi Adeshina
A photo making the rounds online captured some notable Nigerian actors presenting an award to Femi Adeshina at the Aso Rock.

This did not sit well with many Nigerians as they questioned the award’s purpose and blasted the Nollywood stars for being concerned about their pockets instead of the masses.

It’s the build-up to the 2023 elections, and many Nigerians who seem tired of the current challenging situation in the country are not smiling with anyone supporting old politicians.

Mr. Ibu, Shina Peter and other Nollywood actors presented an award to Femi Adeshina

oy_mabel wrote: Presenting award for what exactly? SMH

lagosketobabe wrote: These people cannot be serious

cobz_mrcruise wrote: Mr Ibu is just unrepentant Baba no even care about the critics.

ghaffarmogaji wrote: This is why the nigerian system is always mono singular, my pocket alone, grow alone F everyone else

News recalls Nollywood actor Uche Maduagwu has tackled his senior colleague in the industry, Mr Ibu, over his show of support for the former vice president of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar, ahead of the presidential election.

This comes after Mr Ibu and many other actors came under heavy criticism after a video of them drumming support for the 2023 presidential ambition of National Leader of APC Asiwaju Bola Tinubu surfaced online.

This angered Nigerians as they dragged the Nollywood stars for betraying the masses with such an act stating they are all after their pocket to the detriment of what happens to others.

However, in a video, Mr Ibu made a Uturn after disclosing that Atiku Abubakar is his presidential candidate since he has done so much for him and given him a house to stay.

In reaction to the statement, Uche rained insults at Mr Ibu for proclaiming his support for a northern candidate as an Igbo man. He added that the 2023 presidency belongs to the south.

Obi Cubana offers Lagos hawker university scholarship, employment

Popular businessman Obi Cubana has offered Ekuma Jeremiah, the Lagos hawker seen in a viral video giving money to inmates in Nigerian Correctional Service bus in Ajah, Lagos State, university scholarship and employment in any of his companies.

The socialite disclosed this in an Instagram live with media personality Daddy Freeze.

He said: “I am offering him a lifetime opportunity, he has to go to school I think that is his ambition.

“I will see him through the university and if he wants to do Masters abroad , I will make sure he is comfortable while going to school because like I said earlier, that is the best we can do for him.”

Cubana added: “He will do University, anything he wants and then by God’s grace I know I will still be standing by the time he is done with school, he has a place in any of my organisations at the top level and if by God’s grace he finds a higher calling, you see there is nothing tied to this, I do not expect anything in return.

” I am not giving any conditions for this but if he chooses not to go back to school we can now hear what he wants to do and then we see him through.

“The most important thing is to know that he has in me a mentor, he has in me a life guide in me. I will make it easy for him through God so I believe that God will give me health and strength.

“The guy will go to any University of his choice in good condition not just to pay school fees. He has a heart of gold. This is the kind of people we need.

“I pray that people will do eye service to get my attention, let them do this kind of thing, in doing that you don’t know when you get used to it the world becomes a better place”.

Daddy Freeze, in another live Instagram broadcast, announced the gesture to Jeremiah.

Jeremiah said: “I want to thank God for everything, he is God and he is God alone. It is only God who can do it. Just like I have always done to myself and it is my routine, if I wake up every morning I always pray to God and I shall continue to thank him. It is only God that has brought me this far. May his name be highly uplifted I praise his name.”

Tinubu finally reveals outcome of his consultations ahead of 2023 presidential election

Former governor of Lagos State, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on Saturday in Ibadan, Oyo State capital said the outcome of consultations regarding his 2023 presidential ambition has been very successful.

He maintained that he has the confidence and capacity to overcome any form of challenge that may manifest in his bid to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari before and after the presidential election.

Speaking with journalists shortly after paying a visit to the former governor of Oyo State and the Osi Olubadan of Ibadan, Senator Rasheed Ladoja in his Bodija residence, Tinubu declared that “the outcome of my consultation over my presidential ambition is successful.”

He stated: “Life is a challenge and you must be ready to confront challenges and overcome. I have the confidence that I will overcome any form of challenge. I am sure I would face challenges and I have the confidence that I will overcome them.”

According to Tinubu, “the reactions of critical stakeholders to my presidential ambition have been very positive, encouraging and overwhelming and these have spurred me on with the strong conviction that we would succeed and emerge victorious after the election.

“Life itself is a challenge and I have the confidence and capacity to wade through challenges and overcome. We are forging ahead and with the strong support of the masses of Nigerians, we are going to achieve a resounding victory, “he posited.

Though journalists were barred from Tinubu’s meeting with Ladoja, which lasted for more than 30 minutes, insiders informed Sunday Tribune that Tinubu was in the state to commiserate with Governor Seyi Makinde and the people of the state over the demise of Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Oladunni Oyewumi Ajagungbade, the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Saliu Akanmu Adetunji and former governor of Oyo State, Chief Christopher Adebayo Alao Akala.

I’ve ‘Resigned’ From Impregnating Women — 2Baba reveals

Award-winning Nigerian artist, Innocent Idibia popularly known as 2Baba, has announced that he has resigned from impregnating women.

Tuface said this while performing one of his hit songs, True Love, during the Idoma carnival in Benue state, asking his audience repeatedly “where is my true love?”

Low response from them, prompted him to make the statement.

He said in pidgin, “I see say some babe dey fear to shout for that side. Abeg, make una no fear to shout, I no dey give belle like that again, I don stop. Ask anybody, they will tell you I am Innocent Idibia. I no dey do that kind thing again. No be small thing, I don resign for that kind matter.”(sic)

Currently, Tuface has seven children, his previous relationship with his baby mama Pero had produced three kids, with Sumbo Adeoye the singer has two kids.

He is married to a Nigerian Actress, Annie and their union have been blessed with two kids.