Politics Archives - Page 44 of 87

‘Wike, Fayose Will Work For Tinubu… Buhari Not Eyeing Northern Successor’

There are indications that Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State and former Ekiti Governor, Ayo Fayose may work against the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) if Bola Tinubu emerges the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

According to sources, Wike and Fayose strong relationship with Tinubu may see them support the former Lagos governor.

The source who spoke to Vanguard revealed why President Muhammadu Buhari refused to announce his successor when he met with APC governors.

He also dismissed insinuations that Buhari was looking to the North to pick his successor.

The source said: “It is true that President Buhari has a candidate but persons working around him who believe strongly that a Tinubu presidency will be too strong for them to handle, are the ones moving around to see how to edge out Tinubu.

“The Tuesday meeting was originally planned by Buhari to tell the governors to endorse his candidate. Invariably, Buhari did not have the guts to drop the name of the person. It was a meeting where they were to really brainstorm and possibly look at all the aspirants on their merit and then, take a decision. Instead, the president brought out a speech and started reading.

“That tells you that Buhari is not convinced about the person they are pushing to him. As an individual, I know Buhari has his reservations about Tinubu but he has tremendous respect for Baba Bisi Akande and even if he wants to deal with Tinubu, he (Buhari) cannot because of Baba Akande.

“As recent as two weeks ago, some prominent Nigerians, including those from the South-West had a one-on-one with Buhari and he told them that he had no problem with Tinubu. There are some persons around the president who are not comfortable with Tinubu but if they go ahead with the primary, Tinubu will carry the day and that is why members of the cabal are trying to see if they can micro-manage the situation and ensure they don’t go into an election.

“If APC makes the mistake of abandoning Tinubu, Atiku will win the 2023 election hands down. It is only a Tinubu candidate that Ayo Fayose, a Wike, will work for and some other prominent persons in the PDP.”

On if the President was looking in the direction of the North to pick his successor, the source said: “That is not true. Who is the prominent Northerner in the race? Is it Ahmad Lawan? Ahmad Lawan cannot win Yobe State and they know that.

“If you are a cabinet member and the form has not closed and you meet Buhari today that you want to run, he will wish you good luck. That is what all of them are carrying about to say that Buhari is supporting them.

Tinubu’s aspiration has been on for three years ago and this is to tell you when the project started. It is not something that started today; it was not an afterthought.

“That is why when some Buhari people got to know that Tanko Al-Makura, who was aspiring to be APC National Chairman, was close to Tinubu, they quickly moved against him. Abdullahi Adamu was not a serious contender for the APC chairmanship and unfortunately for them too, Adamu cannot carry out the things they asked him to do because before the NWC was put together, El-Rufai was not with Tinubu.

“As it is now, el-Rufai’s people in the NWC are giving Abdullahi Adamu tough times.

The Deputy National Chairman (North) was produced by Kashim Shettima, we have the National Secretary. The Deputy National Chairman (South), though from the Buhari camp, has some allegiance with Tinubu. So, Abdullahi Adamu cannot push any anti-Tinubu case. That is the challenge they are facing.”

How Buhari/Osinbajo Ticket Emerged In 2015 – Tinubu Reveals ( Watch Video)

Former Governor of Lagos State and frontline presidential aspirant of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has made a strong case why he should not be overlooked for the party’s presidential candidate.

Tinubu said without his support, President Muhammadu Buhari would not have emerged president in 2015.

He also took a swipe at Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, staying that he personally nominated him as Buhari’s running mate.

Tinubu stated this at the presidential lodge in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital while addressing APC delegates ahead of the party’s presidential primary election next week.

He explained that Buhari had offered him a running mate ticket, but some blocs rose against him, fanning ember of Muslim-Muslim ticket.

It was then he was asked to nominate his replacement as running mate at which point he chose Osinbajo out of the three names that were penciled down.

He said he chose Osinbajo from the three names of Yemi Kadoso, Wale Edun and Yemi Osinbajo.

“You have not heard this from me before. This is the first place I am saying this. If not me that led the war front, Buhari wouldn’t have emerged. He contested first, second and third times, but lost. He even said on television that he won’t contest again.

“But I went to his home in Katsina. I told him you would contest and win, but you won’t joke with the matters of the Yorubas. Since he has emerged I have not been appointed minister. I didn’t get contract.

This time, it’s Yoruba turn and in Yorubaland, it’s my tenure.”

Tinubu also said without God and him, Governor Dapo Abiodun would not have emerged in 2019 election.

“Dapo that’s sitting down here, could he have become governor without me? We were at the stadium, they tore all his posters. Even the party flag, they didn’t want to hand over it to him, I was the one who brought it.

“If he wants to meet God at the right place, he must know that without God and me, he would not have become governor.”

Abiodun has long thrown his weight behind Osinbajo, who is said to be his kinsman while Buhari is looking elsewhere to anoint somebody as his successor.

The development is causing ripples in the camp of Tinubu who’s making it known that it’s either him for the party to win or without him for the party to burst.

Watch video below:

Presidential Convention: APC Gives Malami, Atiku, Akeredolu, Sanwo-Olu, Others Fresh Appointment [Full List]

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has set up 18 sub-committees to take charge of activities ahead of its presidential convention.

Naija News reports that the ruling party has scheduled June 6-8, 2022, to conduct its Special convention to produce its presidential candidate.

The 18 sub-committees was made known in a statement on Wednesday night by the National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Felix Morka.

The APC appointed Gombe Governor, Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya and Minister of Finance, Hajiya Zainab Shamsuna Ahmed to head its budget sub-committee.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State was appointed to head Finance and Logistics sub-committee.

Also, Accreditation and Decoration will be handled by Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State while the Governor of Ondo state, Rotimi Akeredolu will be in charge of Security and Compliance.

He will be assisted by a former Minister of Interior, Gen. Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau (rtd).

Election Planning Subcommittee is jointly chaired by Governors Abubakar Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State and Hope Uzodinma of Imo State among others.

See full list below:

1. Budget – H.E. Muhammad Yahaya, Governor of Gombe State

Co-Chair: Minister of Finance, Hajiya Zainab Ahmed

2. Finance and Logistics – H.E. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Governor of Lagos State

3. Accreditation and Decoration – H.E. Prince Dapo Abiodun, Governor of Ogun State

4. Security and Compliance – H.E. Rotimi Akeredolu, Governor of Ondo State

Co-Chair: Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau (retd.), former Minister of Interior

5. Election Planning – H.E. Atiku Bagudu, Governor of Kebbi State

Co-Chair: H.E. Hope Uzodimma, Governor of Imo State

6. Transportation – H.E. Abdullahi Ganduje, Governor of Kano State

Deputy: Ramatu Aliyu, Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory

7. Accommodation – H.E. Babagana Zulum, Governor of Borno State

Co-Chair: H.E. Gboyega Oyetola, Governor of Osun State

8. Media and Publicity – H.E. Abdullahi Sule, Governor of Nasarawa State

9. Medicals – Dr. Chris Ngige, Minister of Labour and Employment

Co-Chair: Prof. Isaac Folorunso Adewole, former Minister of Health

10. Legal: Abubakar Malami SAN, Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice

11. Venue and Site Servicing: H.E. Bello Matawalle, Governor of Zamfara State

Co-Chair: Mohammed Bello, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory

12. Election Appeal – H.E. Mai Mala Buni, Governor of Yobe State

13. Hospitality and Welfare – H.E. Simon Lalong, Governor of Plateau State

Co-Chair: Hajiya Sadiya Farouq, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development

14. Protocols – H.E. Aminu Masari, Governor of Katsina State

15. Digital Communications – H.E. AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, Governor of Kwara State

16. Pre-Convention/Management/ Rapporteur – H.E. Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, Governor of Kaduna State

Deputy: Dame Pauline Tallen, Minister of Women Affairs

17. Presidential Screening Appeal – H.E. Abubakar Bello, Governor of Niger State

Co-Chair: Rt. Hon. Ahmed Idris Wase, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives

18. Accreditation of Diplomats – H.E. Ovie Omo-Agege, Deputy President of the Senate
Co-Chair: Geoffrey Onyeama, Minister for Foreign Affairs

2023: Buhari ‘Shortlists’ Two Presidential Aspirants As Successor

President Muhammadu Buhari may have shortlisted Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and Senate President Ahmad Lawan as his prefered successor.

Naija News recalls that the President had appealed to the APC governors to allow him to pick his preferred successor ahead of the party’s presidential primaries on June 6.

Buhari made the appeal during a meeting with the governors and the National Chairman of the ruling party, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Tuesday.

A Presidential source disclosed that Buhari is torn between the choice of Lawan and Osinbajo, following the emergence of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as the PDP presidential candidate.

According to the Daily Sun, a team is looking at the pros and cons of selecting Lawan or Osinbajo, with the view to giving President Buhari informed advice for the final decision to be made on his return from Spain by Friday.

The presidential source said Buhari during his meeting with APC governors carefully highlighted that his choice would be someone capable of driving his visions.

He said Osinbajo has also strongly defended Buhari’s policies and projects, having played a lead role in its execution with the management of key initiatives central to the administration’s strategic imperatives.

The presidential source added that Lawan has also supported key legislation and helped support the President’s external borrowing policy.

It was learned that a lobby group would be raised in the coming days to work in the north and south, depending on who the President chooses between Osinbajo and Lawan.

The lobby group is waiting to meet with northern and southern elders in APC to solicit support for either of the two presidential aspirants.

God has chosen Asiwaju Tinubu to fix Nigeria in 2023- Cleric

Following the recent visit to Kano by aspirants of the the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC)including the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and the former Transport Minister Rotimi Ameachi, the APC National leader Bola Ahmed Tinubu was at Kano to meet with the party delegates.

Pastor Alamu David of the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) Abule Egba, Lagos has claimed All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential hopeful, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, will succeed President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023.

The cleric, in a statement, explained: “God revealed to me on the 24th June 2008 that a man with the name Bola Ahmed Tinubu will rule the nation, Nigeria for its betterment and I have a strong faith that the time is here; 2023. ‘Baba is unstoppable’”

He appealed to members of the APC and Nigerians “all over the world, irrespective of their tribe, religion and political party to support this revelation so that the plan of God towards our nation, Nigeria can manifest.”

David advised Yorubas against the candidature of Tinubu for different reasons to “note that Asiwaju is our son and father, we should look past his shortcomings and see him as the only candidate ready to retrieve our lost rights in 2023.”

The statement reads in part: “Asiwaju is the messiah of our time and denying him would be synonymous to the awful occurrence of Baba MKO Abiola and Baba Awolowo that we especially the Yoruba tribe regret afterwards.

“This shouldn’t be allowed to repeat itself as its effects might be beyond comprehension.

“I strongly believe only ‘A man of pedigree’ Baba Bola Ahmed Tinubu fits into this office.

“He has always been a politician with good strategies.

“He was the only gubernatorial candidate of the APC, the then Action congress of Nigeria (ACN) who emerged as a governor in the South West.

“He had and implemented a master plan for Lagos state which exists till date.

“Similarly, his good strategies served as a ladder to several politicians who have emerged in one political office or the other, whether gubernatorial, ministerial or senatorial offices.

“The incumbent president and his vice, Senate President and the speaker, all climbed on this ladder to attain their respective offices.

“It’s a payback time to support him and his ambition. I am also appealing to the elders of the Yoruba tribe to intervene, solicit and support him.”

Trouble As President Buhari, APC Governors disagree over choice of presidential candidate during meeting

A meeting the APC governors held Tuesday evening to discuss the stance of President Muhammadu Buhari on the party’s presidential candidate ended in a deadlock, PREMIUM TIMES has learnt.

The meeting was held in Abuja, minutes after the APC governors had a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari.

The governors meeting is to reconvene at 8 p.m., one of them told this newspaper.

At the meeting with the president, Mr Buhari told the governors that he would like to pick his successor and wants the governors to support him to do so.

The president left for Spain immediately after his meeting with the governors.

Governors Meeting

At their own meeting, one of the governors told PREMIUM TIMES, members could not agree on how to implement the president’s request.

“We believe the president has not settled for any particular person and that is why some governors felt the best thing to do was to nominate two of us (one each from the north and south) to the president for consideration,” the source said.

The source said many northern governors, however, argued that no southern governor could defeat Atiku Abubakar, the PDP presidential candidate, in the presidential election; so the north should be given preference.

This angered some southern governors.

Some of the southern governors also argued that the nominees do not have to be state governors. This position is believed to have been pushed by governors loyal to some southern presidential candidates such as Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and ex-Lagos governor Bola Tinubu.

Since the governors could not agree, they resolved to end the meeting and reconvene at 8 p.m.

Buhari’s Position

PREMIUM TIMES reported how President Muhammadu Buhari told APC governors that he would want to pick his successor and needs the governors to support him to do so.

Mr Buhari said this Tuesday at a meeting with governors elected on the APC platform at the State House, Abuja.

“In keeping with the established internal policies of the Party and as we approach the Convention in a few days, therefore, I wish to solicit the reciprocity and support of the Governors and other stakeholders in picking my successor, who would fly the flag of our party for election into the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in 2023,” the president said at the meeting which was also attended by the APC national chairman.

Mr Buhari told the governors that he realises the ‘compelling need’ for him to provide ‘stronger leadership to the party under this transition process.’

The stronger leadership, Mr Buhari said, is not only to ensure that APCs electoral fortunes improve but also to ensure that the party ‘retains power at the centre’ by winning the presidential election.

The APC holds its presidential primary from June 6 to 8.

At the meeting with the governors, Mr Buhari also stated the factors he would consider in supporting a presidential candidate among the 25 persons seeking to fly the APC flag.

“Our objective must be the victory of our party and our choice of candidate must be someone who would give the Nigerian masses a sense of victory and confidence even before the elections,” he said.

JUST IN: Wike Backs Tinubu For Presidency, Vows To Deliver South-South For APC

Following his defeat at the People Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential primaries, Rivers state Governor Nyesom Wike has resolved to throw his weight behind the Presidential ambition of former Lagos State Governor, Bola Tinubu, POLITICS NIGERIA can authoritatively report.

Wike, who emerged second in the race to clinching the party’s ticket, lost to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who polled 371 votes against the River Governor’s 237 on Saturday.

Also, former senate president Bukola Saraki came third after he garnered votes of 70 delegates while Governor Udom trailed behind him with 38 votes.

Pundits believe that Wike’s loss at the poll was as a result of the last-minute alliance between Aminu Tambuwal, Sokoto State Governor and Abubakar. The former declared support for the latter at the 11th hour.

But Wike, according to multiple sources familiar with internal workings, will not be supporting PDP as expected. Rather, he will support Tinubu, a Presidential hopeful, who stands a chance to clinch the ticket under the All Progressives Congress, APC.

Sources attributed this to the outcome of the Saturday election, noting that the Rivers state Governor is at war with fellow south-south governors, whom he believes contributed to his defeat.

“As far as I’m concerned, there is nothing to worry about. I contested that election based on the agreement with all the Southern Governors and the leaders of the South that the presidency should go to the South.

“We have done our own part. We never betrayed anybody because it is not in our blood to betray. But it is a shame to those people, some governors from the South who are the people they used to sabotage our victory. But however, we have shown them that we are not like them,” the Rivers Governor had said on Monday.

Another source explained that prior to Saturday, there is an unwritten agreement between Tinubu and Wike, which states that the latter will support the former should he lose in the primaries.

According to this source, Wike, like some Governors who have a clandestine agreement with the APC leaders, has promised to deliver South South, which is his stronghold, to Tinubu.

Also, Tinubu’s agreement with Wike is to enable him ’cause problems’ for Rotimi Amaechi, one of his contenders in the APC Presidential primaries. This is evidenced by Wike’s subliminal support for Senator Magnus Abe, who is an opponent to Amaechi and currently battling him for the structure of the APC in Rivers state.

It should be noted that Amaechi, who is currently the minister of Transportation, is an arch rival of Wike.

Some bigwigs in the Peoples Democratic Party have already got a hold of Wike’s move and have commenced resolution talks. Part of this was the visit of Abubakar at Wike’s residence on Monday.

The Ikwerre born Politician has in the past expressed praise for the Lagos Political Leader adding that he would never “say or do anything to malign the hard-earned reputation of the elder statesman.”

SOURCE: POLITICS NIGERIA

BREAKING: Adelabu Quits Oyo APC After Failing To Get Guber Ticket

Former Deputy Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, has dumped the All Progressives Congress.

Adelabu, who had earlier described the Oyo State governorship primary poll which produced Senator Teslim Folarin as a charade, announced his exit from the APC at an emergency meeting held with his followers in Ibadan on Sunday.

He alleged that the APC in Oyo State had been hijacked and that he would make public his next political destination after consultations with his supporters across the state.

Adelabu said, “My followers have asked me to leave APC, I have left the APC.

“We will sit down with our leaders to decide on the political party to join. We will come back to APC after winning the governorship election, because we are progressives.

“It worked during the time of late Senator Abiola Ajimobi, he left Action Congress and went to All Nigeria Peoples Party and later came back to Action Congress of Nigeria.

“Just give us 48 hours to get back to you to announce the next political party to join.”

Adelabu had in an earlier statement said he would contest the 2023 governorship election. He also debunked the claim that he had joined the Social Democratic Party.

“All I can tell the whole world for now is that I am going to contest in the 2023 General elections as a Guber candidate, no matter what. This is the only reason why I left my groovy career as a Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria in 2018.

“No amount of intimidation, threat or harassment can stop me from my passionate ambition of revolutionising the political, social and economic landscape of Oyo State through machinery of government.

“As of today, I’m not a member of SDP or any other political party as being widely circulated by media organisations. Appropriate steps will be taken after consultations in due course,” he added.

2023: How Wike Reacted After Tambuwal Stepped Down To Support Atiku

Presidential aspirant and governor of Rivers state Nyesom Wike reportedly lost his spirit after Aminu Tambuwal withdrew from the presidential race to support Atiku Abubakar

According to some reports last minute intervention of some stake holders in the party worked in favor of Atiku.

At 8: 34pm, the governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal stepped down for Atiku, Legit.ng report.

Party sources said he withdrew from the race to support Atiku following the intervention of some elders who feared that should Wike pick the ticket, the ruling party would once again secure the presidential seat in 2023.

Before the commencement of the primary some Northern elders had met with Atiku, Saraki, Tambuwal and Bala Mohammed but the talks had failed as the aspirants had insisted on participating in the election.

However, the elders resumed the push at the venue of the event.

Tambuwal later gave in and withdrew from the election.

Wike’s mood changed after Tambuwal’s withdrawal

It was observed that aspirants from the South, except Udom Emmanuel, were all seated together, just as other contenders from the North were camped together.

Governors of Rivers and Benue states, Wike and Samuel Ortom respectively were seen having conversations shortly after Tambuwal announced his withdrawal from the race. Soon, another aspirant, Ayodele Fayose, also joined in.

Wike, who was cheerful before Tambuwal’s shocking announcement, frowned throughout the exercise.

The Rivers governor looked exhausted while ballot sorting was ongoing with Atiku’s name ringing in the air.

Coming second to Atiku was Wike who polled 237 votes. Nwachukwu Anakwenze, an aspirant had pulled out of the race around 5pm to support Wike.

Former Senate President Bukola Saraki came third with 70 votes; Governor Udom Emmanuel (Akwa Ibom) came fourth with 38 votes; Governor Bala Mohammed (Bauchi), came fifth with 20 votes; former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim came sixth with 14 votes, while Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa and Diana Oliver Tariela got one vote each.

Obanikoro Loses Senatorial Ticket To Ex-Deputy Governor Adebule

The former Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro, lost the All Progressives Congress (APC) Senatorial primary of the Lagos West Senatorial District on Saturday.

Obanikoro lost the Senatorial primary to the former Deputy Governor Lagos State, Oluranti Adebule.

The former minister polled 119 votes to emerge as the runner-up, while Adebule polled 424 votes to emerge as the winner of the senatorial ticket.

Another contestant, former Commissioner for Transport, Opeifa Kayode scored four votes to emerge third in the primary election.

Announcing the results, the chairman of the Senatorial Electoral Committee, Emeka Okafor, declared Adebule as the winner of the primary election having polled the highest votes.

Reacting to the development, Obanikoro rejected the outcome of the senatorial primary election, saying that the exercise was compromised.

In a statement signed by his spokesman, Tunji Adunbarin, the former minister expressed disappointment in the poll.

Obanikoro contended that Adebule was not qualified to participate in the poll, adding that the exercise was “fraught with intimidations and other malpractices which it will address with the party in due course.”

Meanwhile, the Senator representing Lagos East Senatorial District, Tokunbo Abiru, won the APC ticket unopposed with a total of 344 votes.

Similarly, the Deputy Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Wasiu Eshinlokun-Sanni, also clinched the APC ticket for the Lagos Central Senatorial District.

Eshinlokun-Sanni scored 185 votes to defeat his closest rival, Demola Seriki, who polled 97 votes.