Oluwasegun Adesuyi, Author at SocietyGazette.com

APC convention: Shittu Loses Out As Omisore, Kekemeke 11 Others Make South-West Unity List

The South-West unity list for the 2022 All Progressives Congress’ convention has been released.

The name of former Minister of Communications, Adebayo.Shittu, is conspicuously missing on the list made available on Saturday.

Five APC governors in the South West signed the list. They are: Governor Kayode Fayemi ( Ekiti) Rotimi Akeredolu ( Ondo); Adegboyega Oyetola ( Osun); Dapo Abiodun ( Ogun) and Babajide Sanwo-Olu ( Lagos).

On the list, former Deputy Governor of Osun State, Senator Iyiola Omisore, was nominated as the National Secretary of APC.

Former APC chairman in Ondo State, Isaacs Kekemeke, was listed as the National Vice Chairman South West and 11 other APC members were nominated in the list.

Akeredolu had said in a statement by his Commissioner for Information, Donald Ojogor, that some forces outside the region were trying to impose some persons on the APC in the South-West. But he said the governors had agreed to support Kekemeke as the National Vice Chairman ( South West).

It read in part, “This is to confirm that one of our own, the former APC state chairman, Duerimini Isaac Kekemeke, is in the race for the position of the National Vice-Chairman (South-West). Kekemeke has the full backing of Governor Akeredolu and his brother governors in the South-West.

“It should be noted that critical stakeholders in the South-West had earlier micro-zoned the positions that were brought to the region. Among these were the national vice-chairman, which was retained in Ondo, and the secretary, which was micro-zoned to the Oyo/Osun axis.

“For emphasis, what we are going for is national vice-chairman with Kekemeke as our candidate, and not national secretary. Those outside the South-West, who are attempting to micro-zone our offices for us in the South-West, are only creating unnecessary confusion and any such of their permutations outside the decision of stakeholders in the South-West should be ignored.”

JUST IN: Foreign Delegates Beaten, Robbed During APC National Convention

Some foreign delegates have lamented the ill-treatment they received at the ongoing national convention of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) currently taking place at Eagles Square, Abuja.

In a video in circulation which was sighted by DAILY INDEPENDENT, a foreign delegate from Canada, said they arrived at the venue of the convention as early as 7 am but were not allowed admittance as at 1 pm.

He said they were asked to be in the queue but were beaten while some of them have their phones stolen.

“They sent us an e-mail that we should come by 7’o clock in the morning. We were there at 7 am. Later, they sent another e-mail that we should come at 9 am. They gave us a tag, took us on a bus. We went round all this place for almost one hour. They couldn’t let us in”.

“They finally told us to form a line. We got on the line. They started beating us, stealing our phones. As I am talking to you, we are still standing outside. Just look at what they are doing to foreign delegates. This is very unacceptable and the government has to know this. I came all the way from Canada and this is what we are getting”.

Breaking: Al-Makura Withdraws From APC Chairmanship Race, Backs Adamu

One of the contenders for the national chairmanship position of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Tanko Al-Makura has withdrawn from the race.

He withdrew from the race to support Senator Abdullahi Adamu who is believed to be the consensus candidate of the party for the position and enjoys the support of President Muhammadu Buhari.

This development was confirmed by Al-Makura’s spokesperson Danjuma Joseph and comes just a few hours before the commencement of the APC national convention in Abuja.

Al-Makura has previously declared he would not be withdrawing from the race to become the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

According to Al-Makura, he can’t withdraw from the race simply based on speculations that President Muhammadu Buhari has endorsed Senator Abdullahi Adamu.

Meanwhile, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has reiterated that it prefers candidates contesting national working committee (NWC) positions to emerge through consensus.

This is at it added that members who feel otherwise about a consensus candidate would be allowed to test their popularity at the polls.

This position was made known on Friday by the Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule who is the chairman of the media and publicity sub-committee of the APC national convention.

He submitted that the consensus option ensures the process is faster and rancour-free.

Sule however added that it doesn’t mean the APC would deny aspirants the opportunity to contest or for delegates to vote as anyone who disagrees with the consensus candidate would be allowed to slug it out at the polls.

He stated this during a press conference on Friday ahead of the party’s national convention scheduled for Saturday (tomorrow) at the Eagle Square in Abuja.

John Dumelo Vows To Walk BareFooted From Accra To Lagos If Nigeria Wins

Actor turned Politician John Dumelo, like many Ghanaians, seem to have an abundance of hope in the senior national football team, Black Stars, ahead of the 2022 World Cup Qualifier match against Nigeria.

In a tweet, Mr Dumelo told his followers the Nigerian national team do not stand a chance against Ghana in the game on Friday, March 25.

The actors suggested the Super Eagles cannot possibly win the game.
However, in the event they do, John Dumelo said he would walk barefoot from Accra, the capital city of Ghana to Lagos, the capital city of Nigeria, some 463 km away from Ghana.

That is not all, the actor added he would carry his ginger – he harvests on his farms – on his head for the journey.

“Super Eagles my foot!” John Dumelo wrote.

Let them know!!! pic.twitter.com/H9FyKjAfxd— MrDumelo (@johndumelo) March 25, 2022

Ghana and Nigeria are battling for a spot in the 2022 World Cup expected to be held at Qatar.

POLL

Ghana will play Nigeria in the 1st leg on Friday, March 25, 2022, at 19:30GMT at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi.

They will then travel four days later to Abuja for the second leg at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium.

The actor is not the only Ghanaian excited about the match. Former Black Stars player Asamoah Gyan called on the players to make Ghana proud.

“The nation is fully behind you,” he added in a tweet.

Meanwhile, Head coach of the Black Stars, Otto Addo, has revealed the players are in good condition ahead of the FIFA World Cup qualifier playoff against Nigeria.

Addo, who is set to lead the team as the head coach for the first time believes his men are gunning to go in Kumasi.

“I have had enough time. The players are ready and in good shape. We have done a lot in training and I hope that we can show what we have done to Ghanaians,” the former Black Stars player told the media on Thursday.

The gaffer also calmed the fears and scepticism amongst the supporters, adding that is normal to feel that away ahead of a clash of this nature.

ASUU Strike: NANS Orders Students To Begin Street Protests

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has ordered students to commence street protests against the continued strike action by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

The directive, issued on Friday by NANS president, Comrade Sunday Asefon told the students to carry their cooking pots, mattresses, and other items and occupy the streets of Abuja, the nation’s capital city.

The directive was contained in a letter titled, ‘Urgent Notice Of Immediate Commencement Of Mobilisation,’ dated March 25, 2022, and addressed to the zonal coordinators of the union.

It will be recalled that ASUU under the leadership of Professor Emmanuel Osodeke had declared a one-month warning strike on February 14, 2022, over what it termed the failure of the federal government to address its demands and agreements.

The strike was further extended by two months on March 14 when the initial warning strike was supposed to end.

2023: Tinubu Meets Buhari’s Anointed APC Chairmanship Candidate, Abdullahi Adamu

Presidential hopeful and the national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has met with a candidate for the party’s chairmanship position, Senator Abdullahi Adamu.

Naija News reports that the Tinubu met behind closed doors with the former governor of Nasarawa State on Thursday at his residence in Abuja, the nation’s capital.

It is understood that the former Lagos governor met with Adamu to negotiate his emergence as the ruling party’s presidential candidate in 2023 and the party’s national convention slated for Saturday.

As of the time of filing this report, the two leaders have not released a statement regarding the meeting.

Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday night hosted Tinubu and other founder fathers of the party.

The President continues his consultation with stakeholders of the party ahead of the party’s national convention on the 26th of March.

The first Interim Chairman of the party, Bisi Akande, the Minister of Science and Technology, Ogbonnaya Onu, the lawmaker representing Imo West Senatorial district, Rochas Okorocha, former Governor of Kano State, Ibrahim Shekarau and former Governor of Sokoto State, Aliyu Wamako were in attendance.

Others at the dinner are Governors Nasir El-Rufai (Kaduna); Aminu Masari (Katsina) and Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi.

The Caretaker Chairman of the ruling party, Mai Mala Buni and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha were in attendance also.

The dinner was fixed by President Buhari to appreciate the critical stakeholders for their continued support to his administration.

It is also expected that issues of leadership and crisis in the party were discussed during the dinner.

National Convention: APC Releases Programme Of Events

With the National Convention of the All Progressives Congress (APC) less than 48-hours away, the ruling has released its programme for the event.

Naija News reports that the programme for the convention scheduled for March 26th was released by the APC media and publicity sub-committee of the convention.

The APC National Convention would hold at the Eagle Square in Abuja.

The programme of events for the APC convention are as follows:

1. Arrival of Accredited National Delegates 10am-1pm

2. Arrival of the Members of the National Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) 1:30pm

3. Arrival of the APC State Governors, National Assembly Members, Ministers and Party Leaders 1:30-2:pm

4. Arrival of the Speaker of the House of Representatives 2:10pm

5. Arrival of the Senate President 2:20pm

6. Arrival of the National Chairman, Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) 2:30pm

7. Arrival of the Vice-President 2:45pm

8. Arrival of the President 3:15pm

9. The National Anthem 3:30pm

10. Opening Prayers 3:35pm

11. Goodwill messages by Youth Wing, Women Wing, People Living with Disability (PLwD) and Diaspora Wing 3:40-4:50pm

12. Remarks by Chairman, Progressives Governors’ Forum and Representatives of Governors’ from each of the six geo-political zones 4:50-5:20pm

13. Interlude 5:20-5:25pm

14. Remarks by the Speaker of the House of Representatives 5:25-5:30pm

15. Remarks by the Senate President 5:30-5:35pm

16. Remarks by the Vice-President 5:35-5:40pm

17. Special Remarks by the President 5:40-5:55pm

18. Welcome Address by National Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee Chairman and presentation of motions 5:55-6:10pm

i.Motion for the approval of constitution as amended

ii. Motion for the ratification of all activities carried out by CECPC

19. Remarks by the Chairman, Election Committee 6:10-6:20pm

20. Elections into Zonal and National Offices of the APC

21. Interlude

22. Counting and Collation of Votes

23. Declaration of Results/Swearing in of the newly elected executives

24. Acceptance Speech by the newly elected National Chairman of the APC

25. Motion for closing of the 2022 Extraordinary National Convention

26. Closing Remarks by National Secretary

27. Closing Prayers

28. National Anthem

29. Departure in reverse order

Peter Obi Joins Presidential Race, To Tackle Atiku, Saraki, Tambuwal For PDP Ticket

The former vice-presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2019 general election, Peter Obi, has declared interest to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023.

Naija News reports that he declared his ambition while addressing traditional rulers at the Anambra State Government conference hall Agu- Awka, Anambra State.

According to Peter Obi, his decision to declare his ambition before traditional rulers was done to get royal blessings.

“I am talking to the traditional rulers because if somebody begins any journey he must first tell his fathers,” he said.

“I am telling you as my fathers that I am coming out to contest the position of the president of Nigeria.

“You know me and you know how Nigeria is today. In 2019, I went with Atiku as the vice-presidential candidate but today I want to come out on my own.

“I just came to seek your blessings as the traditional rulers of the State.”

The former Anambra Governor said Nigeria is at the lowest ebb and needed somebody like him to move it forward.

While stating that he is in the presidential race to move Nigeria forward, Peter Obi insisted that he believes strongly in one united Nigeria

He said: “If I am voted as the president, I will secure Nigeria, create jobs for the teaming youths of the country and pull Nigeria out of poverty.

“Everything I have done regarding resources, I have managed them proudly.

“I want to move this country forward. I’m a Nigerian, I believe in one united Nigeria, I want it secure.

“I am not just aspiring for the political position but to serve and move the country forward.

“I have all it takes to be president and move the country forward.”

Naija News reports that following his declaration, Peter Obi will battle former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Bukola Saraki and Governor Aminu Tambuwal, who have all purchased their forms, for the PDP Presidential ticket.

Tinubu Says All Nigerians Deserve Blame For State Of The Nation, Donates N1 Billion Centre To LASU

Former Lagos State governor and frontline aspirant for the presidential ticket of the All Progressives Congress, Mr Bola Tinubu, has absolved President Muhammadu Buhari of any blame for the parlous state of the country saying every Nigerian is to blame.

Tinubu stated this while delivering the 25th convocation lecture of the Lagos State University, LASU, titled ‘Global trends: Nigeria and its place in the world, do we love ourselves enough?’ on Thursday.

Represented by the Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Mr Obafemi Hamzat, he said, “Let us not fool ourselves. History is patient yet not forever lenient regarding negligent folly.

“There comes a time when there is no time. Our nation approaches such a moment.

“We have boasted of enormous potential for decades, consoling our discomfort by saying that potential will be realised tomorrow.

“But something disappointing seems to happen when tomorrow becomes today.”

He pointed out that after many years, yet greatness remains elusive.

According to him, “If greatness came merely by speaking of it, we would be among the greatest nation in human history.

“Instead, Nigeria remains locked in place. We remain an economy unjustly designed to export raw materials and import increasingly expensive finished products.

“The name of the raw materials might have changed from cocoa and groundnut to oil and gas. The dire effects of this uneven economic arrangement remain the same.

“We must be truthful enough to acknowledge this lapse, bold enough to correct it, and tolerant enough not to endlessly vilify each other for causing it. We are all both cause and hopefully solution. Let us join hands. We must reform this nation,” he said.

On the dichotomy in the country with regards to the population, he opined that, “One, populated by a select few who flourish in the financial, corporate and virtual worlds. This group will be able to buy and do anything they want.

“The other will be the crowded house of the majority who work hard but earn very little given their strenuous effort. They will struggle but not gain. Toil not to triumph but merely survive. This unfairness has gone too long. We must end it,” he noted.

Tinubu lamented that Nigeria had never experienced double-digit growth for any sustained period. Nigeria and South Korea had per capita incomes of roughly $800 in 1950, he said pointing out that by 2008, Nigeria’s per capita incomes doubled.

Meanwhile, South Korea’s ballooned by over 2000 per cent, Tinubu added.

He explained that for many northern states, the percentage of land under attack exceeds 30 per cent.

“We face a harmful dynamic. More people are forced off the land due to deforestation, desertification and low rural incomes. Some of them crowd into other rural areas competing for limited resources with existing inhabitants,” he said.

He said the government should focus on curtailing youth urban unemployment, promote agriculture, engage on real estate reform, invest in education, economy and infrastructure among others critical sectors to better the condition of the country.

The former governor donated a Centre for Leadership and Development worth one billion Naira to the university.

Ejimakor Reveals Why Election May Not Hold In SouthEast

Aloy Ejimakor, the special counsel to the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has stated why elections might not hold in the South-East in 2023.

Ejimakor in a post on Twitter wondered why politicians from the region are mindful of their political interest and not the violence and injustice in the region.

He wondered who will vote for them during the election when thousands are in jail or have been killed.

Ejimakor lamented over the activities of the military in the region.

The lawyer wrote, “Dear #Ndigbo, especially the politicians: Why are you talking about the 2023 Elections & not the rising violence & injustice in Southeast?

“Plus the militarization of the South East? Who will vote for you? The thousands that are either in jail or dead? #MNK”.

Ahead of the 2023 general elections, politicians in the southeast have been calling on political parties to zone their presidential ticket to the region.

Some politicians in the region have expressed their desire to take over from President Muhammadu Buhari when his tenure ends in 2023.

The Peoples Democratic Party on its part is yet to decide if it would be zoning the presidential ticket of the party to the southeast.