President Muhammadu Buhari is currently in a closed-door meeting with Governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC, from the northern region.
Naija News learnt that the meeting is being held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Reports confirmed that while other concerned governors are already on sit, Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello is nowhere to be found as of reporting time.
Naija News understands that the ruling party commenced processes for its presidential primaries on Monday ahead the 2023 general elections.
Although President Buhari has maintained his position on the consensus arrangement, there has not been any agreement among the 23 APC presidential aspirants screened last week.
Hopefully, the meeting with the APC governors from the north would ease the party’s effort to get a consensus candidate so as to reduce acrimony that may arise at the end of the convention.
Governors reportedly present at the ongoing meeting include the Chairman of Progressive Governors Forum and governor of Kebbi State, Atiku Bagudu, chairman of Northern governors Forum and governor of Plateau State, Simeon Lalong, Abubakar Badaru (Jigawa) and Babagana Zulum (Borno).
Others are Aminu Bello Masari (Katsina), Abdullahi Sule (Nasarawa), Bello Matawale (Zamfara), Mallam Nasir el-Rufai (Kaduna), Abdullahi Ganduje (Kano), Yahaya Inuwa (Gombe), Abubakar Bello (Niger), and the Yobe State governor, Mai Mala Buni.
An aide to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has debunked reports that the convoy of the Vice President was involved in a road accident along Airport Road, Abuja.
Laolu Akande, Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to Vice President, said in a tweet on Monday that contrary to media reports, Osinbajo’s convoy stopped to assist victims of the road crash before proceeding to Owo, Ondo State, on a condolence visit over the killing of many worshippers in the town on Sunday.
Some media reports, not THE WHISTLER, had alleged that one of the vehicles conveying the Vice President’s aides somersaulted while making its way to the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport.
Akande, however, described the reports as untrue, saying that Osinbajo’s convoy ambulance was only used to convey the victims to a hospital.
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo assists accident victims in Abuja.
“On his way to the airport this morning, VP came across a road traffic accident, stopped to lend assistance, & ensured victim was taken to the hospital with VP’s convoy ambulance. He then proceeded on his trip and is now in Ondo State heading to site of yesterday’s attack in Owo,” the tweet read.
“VP’s medical and security teams quickly intervened removing the victim from the crushed car which somersaulted on the opposite side of the road and got stuck on a tree. Victim now moved to an hospital,” he added.
Frontline presidential aspirant and former Governor of Lagos State, Bola Tinubu said the attack on worshippers at the St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State is highly reprehensible.
The presidential hopeful stated that the violent attack on Sunday morning shocked the conscience of the nation and shattered the peace of the ancient town of Owo.
Tinubu said in a statement by his media office in Abuja while reacting to the attack on the Catholic Church, Owa-luwa Street in Owo Local Government Area of the state.
He, however, stated that the attackers cannot break the country’s collective spirit and Nigerians’ will to live in peace and with compassion for all regardless of faith.
The APC national leader commiserated with Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, the families of the victims of the attack and indeed the people of Owo and Ondo State.
He urged the police and security agencies to do all that is within their power to investigate the attack and apprehend the wicked perpetrators and bring them to justice.
The presidential aspirant also urged the people of the state to remain calm, and peaceful and not take laws into their hands.
The statement reads: “Today’s attack on worshippers at the St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State is reprehensible in every sense of the word. There is no place for such hatred and wanton taking of innocent lives in our nation.
“No one can discern the darkness in the mind of those that would kill people who were merely engaged in the harmless practice of their faith. The only thing that can be said for sure is that these perpetrators are evil and that they should be subjected to the full measure of the law and justice.
“This violent attack has shocked the conscience of the nation and shattered the peace of this ancient town. It has saddened our hearts beyond what words can say. However, those who did this have made a terrible mistake. They think they can break our collective spirit and our will to live in peace and with compassion to all regardless of faith.
“What they have done will not pull us apart. We must unite so that together we extinguish this evil from our nation. We owe it to ourselves and to those who lost their lives in this heinous attack.
“Violent extremism and insecurity want to bring us low. We must continue to do all that we can to beat the vile challenge so that Nigeria becomes its better self. The architects of violence shall only seal their own fate but not the fate of this nation or the peace-loving people who inhabit it.
“While this is political season, let us put aside partisan affiliation and politics for the moment. I ask all Nigerians to stand and commiserate with Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN), the families of the victims of the attack and indeed the people of Owo and Ondo State. I too mourn and extend condolences with the pastors and leaders of St. Francis Catholic Church.
“While urging the people of the state to remain calm, and peaceful, we must also urge the police and security agencies to do all that is within their mortal power to do to get to the bottom of this attack, apprehend the wicked perpetrators and bring them to justice.
“May God watch over this republic and the people of Nigeria such that such evil is quickly and forever extinguished from the land!”
Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State has expressed sadness over Sunday’s attack at the St Francis Catholic Church, Owo, and vowed to hunt down the masterminds of the assault.
He said this in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Richard Olatunde, shortly after the attack which killed many.
“It is a black Sunday in Owo. Our hearts are heavy. Our peace and tranquility have been attacked by the enemies of the people. This is a personal loss, an attack on our dear state,” Governor Akeredolu said.
“I have spoken to the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Ondo, Most Reverend Jude Arogundade, who is presently on his way to Owo. Similarly, I have had to cut short my party’s national assignment in Abuja and visit Owo immediately.”
The governor, who said he had cut short his visit to Abuja ahead of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to visit Owo immediately, vowed to fish out the culprits.
“This is an unexpected development. I am shocked, to say the least. Nevertheless, We shall commit every available resource to hunt down these assailants and make them pay. We shall never bow to the machinations of heartless elements in our resolves to rid our state of criminals,” the statement added.
“I commiserate with my people in Owo, particularly families of the those who lost their lives to this ugly and unfortunate attack. I extend my condolences to Olowo of Owo, Oba Gbadegesin Ogunoye as well as the Catholic Church.”
Governor Akeredolu called for the people to remain calm, assuring them that “security operatives would be deployed to monitor and restore normalcy to Owo kingdom”.
Read the full statement below:
PRESS STATEMENT.
Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, is deeply saddened by the unprovoked attack and killing of innocent people of Owo, worshiping at the St Francis Catholic Church, Owa-luwa Street, on Sunday.
The vile and satanic attack is a calculated assault on the peace-loving people of Owo Kingdom who have enjoyed relative peace over the years.
“It is a black Sunday in Owo. Our hearts are heavy. Our peace and tranquility have been attacked by the enemies of the people. This is a personal loss, an attack on our dear state.
“I have spoken to the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Ondo, Most Reverend Jude Arogundade, who is presently on his way to Owo. Similarly, I have had to cut short my party’s national assignment in Abuja and visit Owo immediately.
“This is an unexpected development. I am shocked, to say the least. Nevertheless, We shall commit every available resource to hunt down these assailants and make them pay. We shall never bow to the machinations of heartless elements in our resolves to rid our state of criminals.
“I commiserate with my people in Owo, particularly families of the those who lost their lives to this ugly and unfortunate attack. I extend my condolences to Olowo of Owo, Oba Gbadegesin Ogunoye as well as the Catholic Church.
“I urge our people to remain calm and vigilant. Do not take laws into your hands. I have spoken to the heads of the security agencies. I have equally been assured that security operatives would be deployed to monitor and restore normalcy to Owo kingdom.” Akeredolu said.
Former Governor of Borno State, Kassim Shettima on Sunday apologised to the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo for liking him to an ice cream seller for contesting against the national leader of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu.
Shettima while speaking on his earlier statement said it was not to claim that Osinbajo and Lawan are not worthy of the presidency.
He said his comment was to clarify that they are non-threatening contenders” to Bola Tinubu, under the ruling party.
The former governor had stated that the character can’t earn him the Presidency but should be selling Gala and popcorn.
Shettima title reacting to his earlier comment released a statement titled: “My Channels TV Interview Taken Out of Context” reads partly: “When I appeared on Channels TV last Thursday amidst the tension rippling through our political arena, it was to underline the promise Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s presidential bid held for those yet to establish the certainty of the hurdle ahead of the APC. I never set out to denigrate the personality of any aspirant and not that of my dear friends and allies.
“My assessments of Yemi Osinbajo, and the President of the Senate, Senator Ahmad Lawan, were well-intentioned.
“I never set out to subject them to ridicule but, rather, to stir up interest in the contrasting virtues of the cast of aspirants putting up a fight against my preferred aspirant, one most favoured and advantaged to guarantee APC’s victory in the forthcoming presidential election.
“The interpretations of my remarks on Osinbajo and Senator Lawan are, thus, being done literally and overblown. My words weren’t woven to portray them as unworthy aspirants, but merely to qualify them as non-threatening contenders.
“I, however, take full responsibility for my utterances and wish to appeal to our teeming supporters to neither take my words out of their metaphoric contexts nor interpret them as a measure and declaration of hostility towards my dear friends and allies.
“I, hereby, tender my unreserved apologies to the Vice President and the President of the Senate for the unintended pains my jibes might have caused them and their families and supporters.”
Many people have lost their lives after an explosion on Sunday hit St Francis Catholic Church, Owa-luwa Street, in the Owo Local Government Area of Ondo State.
Reports said the explosion on the church grounds killed several people and injured many more.
An eyewitness, Kehinde Ogunkorode, told Daily Post that the incident caused chaos in the vicinity, with residents fleeing for safety after being caught off guard.
Owo is the hometown of Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu
The governor of Jigawa state, Abubakar Badaru has withdrawn from the presidential race.
This is coming after the northern governors of the ruling party met to push for a southern Presidential candidate.
Read full Statement below
STATEMENT BY NORTHERN STATES APC GOVERNORS AND POLITICAL LEADERS
APC governors and political leaders from the northern states of Nigeria today met to review the political situation and to further support our Party in providing progressive leadership amidst our national challenges.
During our discussions, we welcomed President Muhammadu Buhari’s invitation to governors and other stakeholders to contribute to the emergence of a strong presidential candidate for the APC.
After careful deliberation, we wish to state our firm conviction that after eight years in office of President Muhammadu Buhari, the presidential candidate of the APC for the 2023 elections should be one of our teeming members from the southern states of Nigeria.
It is a question of honour for the APC, an obligation that is not in anyway affected by the decisions taken by another political party.
We affirm that upholding this principle is in the interest of building a stronger, more united and more progressive country.
We therefore wish to strongly recommend to President Muhammadu Buhari that the search for a successor as the APC’s presidential candidate be limited to our compatriots from the southern states.
We appeal to all aspirants from the northern states to withdraw in the national interest and allow only the aspirants from the south to proceed to the primaries.
We are delighted by the decision of our esteemed colleague, His Excellency, Governor Abubakar Badaru to contribute to this patriotic quest by withdrawing his presidential aspiration.
The APC has a duty to ensure that the 2023 elections offer a nation-building moment, reaffirming that a democratic pathway to power exists for all who value cooperation and build national platforms.
This moment calls for the most sober and inclusive approach to selecting our party’s candidate, and we call on all APC leaders to fulfil their responsibility in this regard.
Signed,
4th June 2022:
Aminu Bello Masari Governor of Katsina State
Abubakar Sani Bello Governor of Niger State
Abdullahi A. Sule Governor of Nasarawa State
Prof. B.G. Umara Zulum Governor of Borno State
Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai Governor of Kaduna State
Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya Governor of Gombe State
Bello M. Matawalle Governor of Zamfara State
Simon Bako Lalong Governor of Plateau StateSenator
Aliyu Wamakko Former Governor of Sokoto State
Dr. A.U. Ganduje Governor of Kano StateSenator
Abubakar Atiku Bagudu Governor of Kebbi State
The National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Adamu, on Saturday said no presidential aspirant had been disqualified from contesting at the party’s presidential primary slated for Monday.
Adamu said this while briefing the media at the APC headquarters in Abuja this afternoon.
This newspaper had reported that out of the 23 aspirants screened in two days, the Chairman of the APC presidential screening committee, John Odigie-Oyegun, while submitting his committee’s report to Adamu on Friday, said 10 persons were disqualified.
Those not included in the list are; Rochas Okorocha, Tunde Bakare, Ben Ayade, Sani Yerima, Ken Nnamani, Ikeobasi Mokelu, Dimeji Bankole, Felix Nicholas, Robert Borrofice and Uju Ken Ohanenye.
However, in a fresh twist today, the party leadership seems to have discarded the list.
The Chairman of the independent National Electoral commission (INEC), Mahmood Yakubu, has announced withdrawal of sensitive electoral materials from the custody of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
Yakubu disclosed this at an ongoing symposium tagged “The Electorate: A Conversation on Elections in Nigeria” taking place at the Musa Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja.
He said in the interim, the CBN will no longer be in charge of election materials beginning with the Ekiti state governorship election.
According to Yakubu, the commission took the decision to prevent such materials from being compromised.
THE WHISTLER earlier reported that the INEC Chairman had told journalists at a briefing last month the commission had “already started talking about what alternatives are available to us in case we need to change the arrangement for the handling of sensitive materials.”
The CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, had made a failed attempt to contest for the position of the president of Nigeria on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The move had sparked outrage from Nigerians and civil society organizations who called on INEC to withdraw the 2023 election materials from the CBN on the grounds that its head had become partisan and a politician.
Bashir El-Rufai, the son of the governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai has warned the All Progressives Congress against denying the national leader of the party, Bola Tinubu the party’s presidential ticket in 2023.
Bashir stated this while reacting to the statement of Tinubu while addressing delegates of the party in Ogun State on Thursday.
Tinubu who sought the support of delegates from the state had claimed that it was the turn of the South-West and for him to take over the presidency in 2023.
The former Governor of Lagos State noted that he is the right candidate to take over from President Muhammadu Buhari at the end of his tenure.
Bashir in his reaction to the statement warned that the ruling party might crash if it fails to give Tinubu its presidential ticket in 2023.
There have been speculations that Tinubu might dump APC for the Social Democratic Party if he fails to win the presidential ticket of APC.
Bashir in a post on his Twitter account on Friday wrote, “If this man doesn’t get this ticket this “party“ as we know it immediately ceases to exist as a single entity.”
