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You’re Playing ‘Bolekaja Politics’ — Presidency Hits Wike For Criticising Dariye, Nyame’s Pardon

The Presidency has responded to Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, over his criticism of the presidential pardon granted to former governors Joshua Dariye and Jolly Nyame who were jailed for corruption.

Nyame and Dariye, who were serving 12 and 10 years’ jail terms respectively, were granted pardon alongside 157 others at a Council of State meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari last week.

Governor Wike, in reaction, said the president made a mockery of the judiciary and the nation at large before the international community.

“You have big big people, you jail them after all the court proceedings and waste of money, then you ridicule the judiciary by granting them pardon.

“How will the international community look at us with these types of things we do? Look at the amount spent in the prosecutions and you wake up one morning and mess it up all because of politics.

“He (Buhari) obviously wants them to help him during the electionshe wants Dariye to help with Plateau while Nyame will work for Taraba.

“If it is not for election purposes, why did he not grant pardon to the likes of James Ibori and Atuche?” Wike queried during his visit to the Peoples Democratic Party delegates in Minna, Niger State, on Saturday.

But reacting, President Buhari’s senior media assistant, Garba Shehu, advised the Rivers State Governor to stop playing ‘bolekaja politics’ which is a Yoruba term that means ‘come down, let’s fight’ and derives from the mass transit system commonly found in Lagos.

Shehu wrote in a Facebook post: “I do not see the moral justification for Governor Wike’s criticism of the decision of the government to pardon Governors Dariye and Nyame at a meeting to which he was duly invited but did not attend.

“The Rivers State Deputy Governor, Dr. Ipalibo Banigo who joined the Council of State meeting virtually switched off her camera so it was difficult to determine whether she sat behind the dark screen or just walked away after first joining.

“If the Governor felt so strongly about the pardons, the right was for him or his representative to sit through the meeting and assert views. This did not do. A press release after the meeting is bolekaja politics.”

2023: Adamu Garba To Join Presidential Race

Former presidential aspirant, Adamu Garba has disclosed his intentions to join the 2023 presidential race.

The CEO of Crowee, via his Facebook page on April 15, noted that he will be making his intentions of presidential ambition known to the general public on the 16th, April 2022.

Notifying the public about his declaration, Garba wrote; “I will be declaring to aspire for the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria tomorrow 16 April 2022 insha Allahu. Let’s do this for our country, guys. May Allah, the Guarantor, Guardian and Grantor of Power and Authority see us through.”

He also shared photos of the stage for declaration with the caption; “Declaration stage getting ready. At a very symbolic location. May Allah see us through.”

Recall, Garba was a Presidential aspirant in 2019 under the All Progressives Congress (APC). He, however, stepped down for President Muhammadu Buhari who later clinched the party’s ticket.

REVEALED! How Osinbajo Rejected Obasanjo’s Offer To Betray Tinubu

Veteran journalist, Mustapha Ogunsakin has claimed that Vice President Yemi Osinbajo rejected the chance to become Nigeria’s Attorney-General and Minister of Justice under the administration of ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo.

The journalist stated this on Friday amidst claims that Osinbajo has betrayed his benefactor and national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for declaring to contest in the 2023 presidential election.

Ogunsakin claimed that Obasanjo offered Osinnajo, who was then Lagos State Commissioner of Justice, the AGF role in 2005 but Nigeria’s vice-president rejected the offer out of loyalty to Tinubu.

He said: “In 2005, President Obasanjo invited Osinbajo to take appointment as the Attorney-General of the Federation after Chief Akin Olujimi left office. Obasanjo saw the sterling qualities and performance that Osinbajo had as Attorney General of Lagos.

“The president without informing Bola Tinubu, the then Lagos State Governor, offered the post to Osinbajo who was then Lagos State Attorney-General. The first thing Osinbajo did was to inform his principal, Tinubu, who gave him a free hand to take his decision.”

According to the veteran journalist, Osinbajo asked Obasanjo to release the withheld Lagos State Council funds before he accepts the offer.

But Obasanjo asked him to first take the appointment and then advise him as Attorney-General of the Federation on the matter.

Ogunsakin said: “Osinbajo went underground and for weeks Obasanjo could no longer reach him.

“It was obvious to the then President that Osinbajo deliberately avoided him; he went on to appoint Chief Bayo Ojo as his Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.

“Osinbajo rejected the position of Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice and stayed with Tinubu; nobody complained then.”

While cautioning those calling Osinbajo a betrayer, Ogunsakin said the VP not only stood with Bola Tinubu, but stayed loyal to Lagos State.

2023 presidency: Fayemi to declare for 2023 presidency after Ramadan

Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), Kayode Fayemi, will declare his aspiration in respect of the 2023 presidential election at the end of the ongoing Ramadan.

Fayemi, the Governor of Ekiti State, feels that the season of Ramadan and the lent period were sacred for political games.

Fayemi had been making moves to secure the attention of President Muhammadu Buhari. The 57-year-old followed President Buhari to his office on Thursday after the Council of State meeting in Abuja.

Fayemi previously served in office as Ekiti Governor between 2010 and 2014 before losing re-election to Ayodele Fayose. He was also the Minister of Solid Minerals Development in President Buhari’s cabinet from 11 November 2015 to 30 May 2018, when he resigned to contest for a second time as Governor of Ekiti State.

So far, no fewer than eight aspirants in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) have declared their interests in taking over from Buhari when his tenure expires on May 29, 2023.

The aspirants are Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo; a former governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu; Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi; Governor of Ebonyi State, David Umahi; Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello; a businessman, Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim; a former governor of Imo State, Senator Rochas Okorocha; and Ihechukwu Dallas Chima.

MKO Abiola’s Son, Kola, Joins Politics Ahead Of 2023 Elections

Late Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola’s son, Kola, has joined the Peoples Redemption Party ahead of the 2023 general election.

Late Abiola popularly known as MKO Abiola was the winner of June 12, 1993 presidential election believed to be the fairest election in Nigeria’s history.

Kola Abiola was on Thursday received into the party by the National Chairman of the PRP, Falalu Bello, who described him as an asset to the party.

The new entrant said the PRP is a party that was started by the people and which is truly for the people. He hailed the party for it’s commitment to internal democracy.

Kola Abiola said, “Today makes my formal inroad after 27 years, back into politics.

“I particularly picked to come back into politics through the PRP for some good reasons.

“I have gone back to the history of Nigeria to look at the party that truly represents Nigeria.

“I have gone back and I have found out that the oldest living party is the PRP; it still holds those ideals of what Nigeria and democratic practice should be like.”

He said he believes in equal opportunities for all Nigerians in every aspect and stressed that the PRP believes in that as well.

He said the youths would be given opportunities to take their rightful places in the party and the country to reposition it for development.

“I have come back to PRP to show Nigerians that not too long ago, we did things in the right way and the new entities that have come together nowadays forget that there was Nigeria that did things right.

“I am one that believes in an equal opportunity be it employment, be it business, equally in politics and I believe this party represents all of these.

“Everybody should have equal opportunity, irrespective of age, religion and ethnicity and that is represented here,” Mr kola Abiola said.

“We have a youth population that has been caught out of the system, the political process.

“The first thing I want to do is to disrupt the political process, to disabuse the minds of the youth about godfatherism.

“The way to do this is to give the true owners of Nigeria, that is, the 18 to 36 years age group that makes up over 75 per cent of the population, an opportunity for their voices to be heard and their numbers to count.”

2023: Presidential hopeful, Atiku reveals key transition plan

2023 presidential aspirant, Atiku Abubakar, has promised to hand over power to a youth if he fulfills his aspiration of becoming Nigeria’s leader.

Atiku, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), said this at a recent meeting with leaders of over 200 support groups and the leadership of TeeCom across Nigeria in Abuja.

“I will mentor you and hand over power to you,” the former Vice-President said.

“I would like to work more with young people because young people are more agile, creative, and conversant with contemporary opportunities and challenges.

“Our administration is going to be a transition of power from the senior generation to a younger generation.”

Abubakar, an indigene of Adamawa State, got the ticket of the opposition party in 2019 but was defeated by incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari.

To clinch the PDP ticket in 2019, he defeated other aspirants such as a former senate president, Bukola Saraki, Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto, former Kano governor Rabiu Kwankwaso, amongst others.

The 75-year-old is expected to compete for the 2023 ticket with Tambuwal, Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi and other PDP presidential aspirants.

2023: Tinubu Rallies APC Speakers, Ex-Legislators Ahead of Primary Election

– Says Nigeria Is In Need Of Drastic Solutions To Challenges

+ Mentions Qualities Needed By Nigeria’s Next President

The National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has declared that Nigeria needs a courageous leader to urgently meet the desire of citizens for drastic solutions to the challenges facing the country.

Tinubu also described himself as the most qualified for the position of President in 2023 adding that his aspiration is for a nation that would not be an index of poverty.

The presidential aspirant said this at a one-day parley held for serving Speakers and former Speakers and deputies held in Lagos with the theme: The Legislature, Changing Times and Nigeria’s Democratic Journey.

“We have the brilliance, the resources, the focus. We don’t just know how to run the race and take care of the gear of progress,” Tinubu said at the event hosted by the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa.

Tinubu further described himself as brilliant, courageous and sound enough to know the solutions to Nigeria’s problems adding: “Just as I need Nigeria, Nigeria needs me.”

Noting his can-do attitude, he recalled how he changed the fortunes of Lagos when he became governor of the State at a time of its challenge.

“In the face of tyranny, I have survived, struggled for democracy, I have endured the bush path, lived without a family, spent resources.

“To make Nigeria one is a task and who could do it? I am one. I am the first governor to grant autonomy to the House of Assembly. I survived non-allocation of local government funds. We didn’t suffer, we didn’t retrench. We made progress out of adversity.

“I inherited N600m as Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) with zero allocation from Federal Accounte Allocation Committee (FAAC). But we survived and today, Lagos is number one economy.

“That is why I am begging you to do me a favour so that I can do Nigeria a favour.

“It is a very challenging time for us in the country and we have to get it right. We need to intellectually interogate ourselves.

“I am the first governor to bring Independent Power Project (IPP) to Nigeria. It was 300 megawatts. If they had followed my advice then, Nigeria will not be facing epileptic power supplies,” he said recalling how he brought major investors to Nigeria and promising that he is ready to do it again.

Tinubu also said he believed in religious tolerance and women’s participation in politics.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who was a guest of honour at the parley, described Tinubu as his mentor and benefactor.

He also urged the legislators to key into the desire to make Nigeria a better country with Tinubu as President.

Speaking with his colleagues, Dr. Obasa described Tinubu as a true democrat.

“I am standing here before you because Asiwaju is a talent hunter. He is someone that would support you, raise you to a point of leadership and give you room to excel.

“I can confirm that he is the brain behind the legislative autonomy that we enjoy today at the Lagos State House of Assembly and he did this far before the clamour for it by other states.

“So we can see that he is a person that will support the legislative arm of government to remain strong. Dear colleagues, let us all stand with him and support him,” he said.

2023: Tinubus Wife ‘Shuns’ Osinbajo’s Invitation

Vice President and 2023 presidential aspirant Yemi Osinbanjo hosted All Progressives Congress (APC) Senators of the 9th Assembly to Iftar Dinner at his residence.
Two out of the three from Lagos State, Senator Solomon Adeola Olamilekan and Tokunbo Abiru honored the VP’s invitation while Lagos Central Senator and wife of APC national leader, Oluremi Tinubu was conspicuously absent.

The dinner which took place on Tuesday, April 12, was hosted with the intention of wooing the senators to support his presidential ambition.

Senate President, Ahmed Lawan, led the senators to the meeting.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Lawan said: “We had Iftar dinner with His Excellency, the Vice President and thereafter we had brief interaction on our Government and of course on the Vice President’s declaration to run for the presidency of our great country, the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“Maturally, the Vice President told us that he has expressed his interest and that he wanted to consult with the Senate APC caucus.

“He wanted us to hear from his mouth and we did and he was seeking our support in whatever way we can at the appropriate time and we wish the Vice President goodluck in this endeavour.

“But let me assure everyone that the Senate APC caucus and indeed the National Assembly caucus of the APC will continue to work very hard for our great party, the APC, to continue to provide services to Nigerians and also work hard to ensure that by 2023, the next administration is an APC administration at the center and majority of the States in our country, by the Grace of God will be APC.”

2023: Osinbajo Disowns Support Group Over Comments Against Tinubu, Buhari

The Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo has asked Nigerians to ignore one Olugbenga Olaoye, Co-Convener, ‘Osinbajo Think Thank’ over his comments during an interview.

Olugbenga while reacting to the presidential ambition of the national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Bola Tinubu in an interview with Arise TV said Nigerians do not want another sick president who would be embarking on foreign medical trips.

He said Nigeria needs a capable person like the Vice President who formally declared on Monday to run for the top political office in the 2023 elections.

Osinbajo while reacting to the comment through his spokesman, Laolu Akande, said Olugbenga does not represent the office of the VP and should be ignored.

In a tweet on his official Twitter page, Akande claimed that he is not aware of the Osinbajo Think Tank group

The tweet reads, “Indeed this gentleman does not represent the VP nor the Office. His views are completely & totally his own. This particular opinion he has expressed on TV is deplorable and in bad taste. I am not even aware of the so-called Osinbajo Think Tank he purports to represent. Pls IGNORE”

2023: Community Leaders, APC Chieftains Endorse Speaker Obasa

The Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt Hon. (Dr) Mudashiru Obasa, on Sunday evening got the endorsements of respected leaders of the State from Agege and Orile-Agege for a return to the House.

The leaders all agreed that the Speaker has an unbeatable chance of winning if he vied for a seat in the Senate ahead of the 2023 election, but said their appeal for his return to the House of Assembly was in the interest of the entire Agege people and Lagos state, which he has made better through effective legislations and related activities.

At an Iftar programme that inadvertently provided an opportunity for the leaders to speak about Obasa’s achievements so far, the leaders said the Speaker had become a pride, not only to Agege, but to Lagos State.

At least 80 leaders, political appointees and chieftains of the All Progressives Congress (APC), including Dr. Babatunde Adejare of the House of Representatives; Wale Ahmed, Lagos Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs; Afolabi Ayantayo, Special Adviser to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Parastatals Monitoring Office; and Oba Ambaliu Hakeem Agbedeyi, the Alaige of Orile Agege supported that the Speaker return to the House.

Some of the others who gave their support included Chief Safari Adaranijo, APC Apex Leader in Agege; Gani Owolabi Dada, leader; Elder Rotimi Adesina; Olaniyi Salau Ojo APC chairman in Orile-Agege, Alhaji Tunde Azeez; APC chairman in Agege; former and current local government council chairmen; vice chairmen; councillors; supervisory councillors and Special Advisers of the two council chairmen.

While urging that the Speaker be asked to return to the House, Adejare said Agege is now noted for good road networks with the help of Obasa.

“Days ago, during the 80th birthday of Ebenezer Obey, a visiting Senator was marvelled that Agege now has very good roads. I told him not to forget that we have the Speaker of Lagos here,” he said while praying for more wisdom for Obasa in his leadership position.

Wale Ahmed who said he expects Obasa to be unopposed, added: “My prayer is that after the elections next year, we would all gather here to celebrate again.”

Oba Agbedeyi, while thanking Obasa for positively making Agege a place to reckon with, urged the Speaker to return so as to bring more developments to the area.

Mr. Johnson Sunday Babatunde, chairman of Orile-Agege LCDA, who led the conversation, warned that Agege must not lose all that it had gained through Speaker Obasa. Rather, he said, the area should experience more dividends of democracy.

“A lot of people from Agege have been employed because of Obasa. A lot of infrastructure have come to us because of Obasa. There should be no vacancy in Agege Constituency 1,” he said.

He noted that one way Agege can appreciate Obasa’s love for the area is to ask him to return and work for him to occupy the position again.

Supporting the collective decision by the leaders, Ganiyu Egunjobi, chairman of Agege local government council, said the Speaker had brought glory to Agege and that he should be encouraged to return to the House unopposed.

Earlier, the Islamic clergy at the Iftar, Chief Imam Quadri Abdul Ganiu Ayorinde, harped on love and the importance of Ramadan.

He prayed for Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, National Leader of the APC, and Obasa and described those who invite Muslim faithful to break fast with them as blessed.