I am Able and Capable, My Track Record Speaks for Me – Tinubu
Category: Politics
How Ayu Collected One Billion From Presidential Aspirant In Lagos – WikeRivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike
Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has alleged that the chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Iyorchia Ayu took money from a presidential candidate in Lagos State.
The PDP chieftain who spoke on Friday challenged Ayu to deny the claims, noting that he has evidence. Wike, however, refused to mention the individual who Ayu collected the money from.
Wike who said he was hugely pained that he was unable to win the PDP’s presidential primary and go on to battle the All Progressives Congress, APC, said the money Ayu collected did not enter PDP‘s account.
He said: “Will he deny the fact that he did not collect one billion naira from Lagos? Yes, let him deny it, I will tell him who gave him the money.
“Not Lagos state government, but someone in Lagos. The money was given to him in Lagos. He met one of the presidential aspirants and told him he was not sure state governors would want to sponsor the party.
“Let Ayu say no, I will even call some of the businessmen and how the money was arranged in Lagos. That money did not enter the account of PDP. But we are not attacking Ayu on that basis,” Wike said during an interview on Channels on Friday, Naija News reports.
Wike stressed that he has a good relationship with the party and that is why he is making sure candidates that emerge in my state win in the 2023 general elections.
Returning to the call for Ayu’s resignation, Wike said the issue as it is today is that as it is provided in the constitution of the party that there shall be zoning of party offices and elective offices.
“It is made clear and what should be and what should be done. People in the system now manipulate things and would not let the public know the truth.”
We Brought You From Gutter To Be PDP Chairman – Wike Replies Ayu
In his usual style, the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has come down hard on the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Iyorchia Ayu, warning the former Senate President not be an ingrate as he was brought from the gutter to become the party’s National Chairman.
Wike was speaking on Thursday in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
What Ayu Said
Ayu, who many political analysts have described as “a spent force who was in political limbo” had granted an interview to BBC Hausa on Wednesday after the reception for former Kano State Governor, Ibrahim Shekau, who re-joined the PDP.
He had emerged Chairman after a long absence from the political space. Wike was credited with his emergence after an official visit to the state when it was concluded that Uche Secondus would go as the party’s National Chairman.
He alongside the Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, pushed for his emergence, which worked.
Ayu said, “When we started the PDP journey, we did not see these children. They are children who do not know why we established this party,” he had said.
“We will not allow one person to come and destroy our party.”
Wike’s Reply
But as he is wont to do, the governor replied Ayu while inaugurating roads in Ikwerre LGA of the state, warning Ayu that he should not be an ingrate.
“You can imagine what power can do. You can imagine how ingratitude — how people can be ingrates in their lives,” Wike said.
“I thought as a chairman of a party who wants to win elections, your business is to bring peace to your party; your business is not to divide your party. Your business is not to show arrogance to your party.
“Yes, the children brought you to be chairman of the party. The children brought you from the gutter to make you chairman.
“Ayu, you were impeached as senate president. Ayu, you were sacked by Obasanjo in his administration. Arrogance cannot take you anywhere.
“Now, we have seen that you don’t want the party to win the election. We will help you.
“These children — these people you call boys — brought you from nothing.”
He accused Ayu of sitting pretty as chairman because of the billions of naira in the PDP coffers which were made from the sale of forms during the party’s primary elections.
PDP Crisis
The crisis in the PDP began after the conclusion of the presidential primary election and the selection of Vice Presidential Candidate.
While Wike had emerged second to the presidential standard bearer, Atiku Abubakar, in the May election, he expected to be chosen as the running mate.
Atiku settled for Ifeanyi Okowa, the Delta State governor, by overruling the decision of the selection committee set up by the party.
The crisis has festered with war of words complicating the already difficult situation, which has stopped the setting up of the PDP Campaign Council.
Adeyanju exposes Obasanjo’s major 2023 plan
Abuja-based activist, Deji Adeyanju has disclosed that he is privy to information that former president, Olusegun Obasanjo is supporting the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi.
This is coming in the wake of Obasanjo’s meeting with Obi and some Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors in London, on Thursday.
In the post shared on his Twitter page, Adeyanju said the elder statesman has been calling people across the world to support the former Governor of Anambra State.
According to him, Obasanjo has also called on some international connections to fund the campaign of the LP flagbearer.
He, however, added that amidst the support from the former president, Obi will come a distant third in the presidential election and challenged anyone in doubt of his words to bet with him.
He wrote: “I have information and those who know me know this. OBJ is supporting Obi 100% and I said this days ago.
“Baba has been the one calling people all over the place for Obi; from PDP governors to international connects and even people that can help fund the campaign but Obi will still come distant 3rd. Do you wanna bet?”
Tinubu: Governors Reportedly Plotting APC Chairman’s Removal, Replacement
The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Adamu Abdullahi, may not serve to the end of his tenure as plots have begun to remove and replace him with a Northern Christian.
Strong indications have emerged that APC governors and other stakeholders wants Adamu replaced by a Christian from the North-Central and this might be carried out during the ruling party’s upcoming National Executive Council (NEC) meeting scheduled for September.
Naija News recalls that Adamu had in March emerged as the APC chairman after backing from President Muhammadu Buhari despite APC governors throwing their weight behind a former Nasarawa State Governor, Tanko Al-Makura.
A member of the National Working Committee (NWC) told Saturday Sun that the ongoing financial audit, non-payment of staff salaries and inability of the party to meet other financial obligations, were already generating concerns.
He said APC governors, who are worried about the fallout of the Muslim-Muslim ticket, are planning to replace Adamu with a Christian from any of the six North Central States.
While stating that Buhari had not been briefed over fears that he might not support the move, the source said the party’s presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu, is in support of any move to appease Christians.
“Akume is Tinubu’s man,” he revealed, adding that “other acceptable names are being searched for to be submitted to President Buhari for consideration. Whether or not Buhari will accept the move, I don’t know.
“Buhari, if you remember, personally insisted on the choice of Adamu. The President also knows that Christian leaders in APC are unhappy. In the interest of reconciliation and inclusiveness, the President may just approve it.
“These issues will gain momentum as soon as NWC announces a date for the NEC meeting. The presidential candidate of the party, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is also in support of any move that will placate Christians.
“If Tinubu decides to personally table it before President Buhari, it may work. If you recall, Adamu didn’t support Tinubu’s candidacy. He was the one who, without the endorsement of NWC, announced Ahmad Lawan as the consensus presidential candidate of the APC.
“Tinubu didn’t like that and he has expressed his displeasure many times with governors and other party leaders. Although he has not asked for Adamu’s replacement, he won’t oppose it if the move is made.
“But Tinubu has no hand in pushing for this. However, he won’t resist anything that will raise his chances of winning next year’s presidential election.”
Details Of Atiku, Wike’s Meeting To Resolve PDP Crisis Emerges
The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, and Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, have agreed to set up a joint consultation committee to iron out issues.
Naija News reports that this was the outcome of their first face-to-face meeting held on Thursday at the private residence of Professor Jerry Gana, a member of the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT).
A source disclosed that Atiku and Wike agreed to set up a joint consultation committee of equal persons to address the issues.
According to the source, this should be done between now and next week, after which they are expected to brief the various organs of the party.
“This is the first step towards the setting up of our Presidential Campaign Council.
“Very, very soon, all these challenges will be behind us, and the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, will know their time in office is up for good,” the source told Vanguard.
However, a source in Wike’s camp disclosed that loyalists of the Rivers State Governor have all agreed to remain in the PDP, stating that their interests will be best served in the main opposition party.
“Our principal is yet to brief me. But I know whatever decision he takes, he will reach out to us, and we will collectively decide the way forward.
“We all agreed at our meeting that our collective political interests will be better served in the PDP.
“The party belongs to all of us what transpired before and after our primary is behind us now,” the source said.
Naija News reports that Atiku and Wike had fallen out after the PDP presidential candidate selected Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State as his running mate.
Following Atiku’s decision, Wike and his loyalists have reportedly demanded the resignation of the PDP National Chairman, Senator Iyorchia Ayu, accusing him of bias during the party’s presidential primary.
JUST IN: APC Names Plateau State Governor Presidential Campaign Director-General
The All Progressives Congress, APC, has named the Plateau State Governor, Simon Lalong, as the Director General of its Presidential Campaign Council.
Lalong is the Chairman of the Northern Governors’ Forum.
The APC Chairman, Abdullahi Adamu, made the revelation to State House Correspondents after meeting President Muhammadu Buhari at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja for a closed-door meeting on Thursday.
“We are here to see Mr. President to brief him and to get his approvals of plans that we are having regarding our campaign outfit,” Adamu said when asked by journalists.
He added: “And once we have his approval, we intend to make major disclosure. We’re on the same page with the Presidential (candidates) and the individuals who will play various roles in the campaign.
“The DG of the campaign is seated by my right here. Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State.
“We have a spokesperson in the person of Festus Kenyamo. The deputy spokesperson is Hannatu Musawa. This is what we came to discuss with the President.”
He revealed that the choice of Lalong was based on his ability to do the work required to ensure victory for the Tinubu-Shettima ticket in next year’s presidential elections.
“He has the ability to do it. The party leadership has seen that he is capable of running the affairs of the campaign outfit,” he noted.
2023: Atiku appoints Dino, Bwala as spokespersons
The Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar has appointed Senator Dino Melaye and former Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Dr. Daniel Bwala as spokespersons.
Bwala dumped the APC last month over APC candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s choice of a fellow Muslim, former Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima as running mate.
Atiku in a statement by his media adviser, Paul Ibe, Thursday appointed the duo as his spokesperson for the upcoming presidential campaign.
According to the statement, the appointments take immediate effect.
The statement partly read “Malaye is a politician and a member of the 8th Senate, who represented Kogi West Senatorial district. He hails from Ayetoro Gbede in Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State
“Bwala, on the other hand, is a legal practitioner, politician, and public affairs analyst. He hails from Adamawa State”.
Tinubu, Shettima Meets APC Governors In Lagos
The presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu, on Monday met with some governors elected on the platform of the ruling party.
Tinubu met with the governors at his residence in Lagos to strategise ahead 2023 general election.
The vice presidential candidate of the ruling party, Kassim Shettima was also in attendance during the meeting.
The Governor of Kebbi State, Atiku Bagudu, Zamfara State Governor, Bello Matawalle, Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, Jigawa State Governor, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the Governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Ganduje were among the APC governors in attendance at the meeting.
At the time of filing this report, the details of the meeting were not disclosed.
The APC presidential candidate is hoping to take over from President Muhammadu Buhari at the end of his Tenure in 2023.
Tinubu would be contesting against the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, the flagbearer of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, the candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, Rabiu Kwankwaso and other candidates in 2023.
2023: PDP Gov Candidate, Jandor Receives APC Decampees In Lagos
The Peoples Democratic Party Governorship candidate in Lagos State, Olajide Adediran, popularly known as Jandor on Wednesday received decampees from the All Progressives Congress.
The decampees from the ruling party came from the 20 Local Government Areas of the Lagos State ahead of the 2023 governorship election.
Jandor disclosed that the decampees, named ‘Best Alternative Network’ dumped APC because they believed in their (PDP) promise to Lagosians.
He further stated that they are against the misrule they are currently experiencing under the ruling party.
According to Jandor, “Yesterday, (Wednesday) I received into the Lagos PDP family, some members of the APC who dumped the APC for the PDP.
“The group by name, Best Alternative Network said they left APC, despite being the party in power because they believe in our promise of a better tomorrow as against the misrule they are currently experiencing under APC”
Jandor is contesting in the 2023 governorship election under the PDP alongside popular Nollywood actress, Funke Akindele, also known as Jenifa.
The PDP governorship candidate would be contesting against the state Governor and candidate of the APC, Babajide Sanwo-Olu and other candidates.