Former President of Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan has rejected the conditions given to him by the presidency to clinch the presidential ticket of the All Progressives Congress in 2023.
A source that spoke with SaharaReporters disclosed that the presidency asked Jonathan to join the ruling party with some Peoples Democratic Party governors in the South-South and South-East regions.
The source further stated that the former president rejected the conditions and told the presidency that he doesn’t have an interest in the 2023 presidency again.
It was gathered the presidency was embarrassed by the response of Jonathan, describing him as a traitor.
The source said, “They are now accusing Jonathan of not fulfilling some of his promises after all the several meetings and soft-landing given to him.
“He was to come on board by converting some PDP states in the South-South and South-East to APC, and that way he would get the automatic ticket uncontested. Some other conditions were also given to him.
“But guess what? He told them he won’t contest again. They are now angry, saying he was deceitful. They said after getting some of his seized monies back, his wife’s monies returned to him, he finally decided not to contest.”
This is coming a few days after a former Minister from the South-South was reported to have said the former president is set to decide if he would join the APC with the convention of the ruling party now over.
A former governor of Kano State and leader of the Kwankwasiyya movement, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, has defected to the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Kwankwaso in a letter dated 29th March, 2022 and addressed to the Chairman of the PDP in his ward, said he was leaving due to some serious and irreconcilable differences.
The letter read, “It is with deep sense of humility that I write to notify you that, as a result of some serious and irreconcilable differences, I have reached the conclusion that my continued stay in the PDP is untenable.
“Therefore, effective from today, Tuesday the 29th of March, 2022 I have withdrawn my membership from the Peoples Democratic Party.”
Earlier, close political associates and supporters of Kwankwaso had defected to the NNPP.
The defectors include a former PDP governorship candidate in the 2019 general election, Engr. Abba Kabir Yusuf, also known as ‘Abba Gida Gida’, as well as his deputy, Comrade Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo.
THE WHISTLER had earlier reported how stakeholders in the PDP moved to withdraw the leadership of the party from Kwankwaso’s control over his ‘political romance’ with the NNPP.
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.”
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”.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
Governors of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have reportedly approved a former Governor of Nasarawa State, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, as the consensus chairman of the party ahead of its Saturday’s national convention.
According to The Nation, the governors agreed to support Adamu as the party’s next chairman following his endorsement by President Muhammadu Buhari.
It was learned that the governors bowed to the President and supported the candidature of Adamu at the end of their meeting on Wednesday at the State House, Abuja.
Also, the President and the 16 governors who were at the meeting picked former Senate President, Ken Nnamani, as Deputy National Chairman (South), while Abubakar Kyari is the consensus candidate for Deputy National Chairman (North).
It was also agreed at the meeting that all chairmanship aspirants who lost out would get a refund of their N20million nomination fee.
Before the President’s meeting with the governors, seven chairmanship aspirants were screened by Governor Aminu Masari-led screening committee.
Seven aspirants screened included Saliu Mustapha, Sani Musa, Tanko Al-Makura, Abdullahi Adamu, George Akume, Abdulaziz Yari and Mohammed Etsu.
Also screened for the position of Deputy Chair North were Sunny S. Moniedafe, Abubakar Girei, Yakubu Dogara, Isa Yuguda and Abubakar Kyari.
Nnamani and Emmanuel Joseph were screened for the Deputy Chair South post, while Iyiola Omisore, Adebayo Shittu and Ifeolu Oyedele were screened for the National Secretary position.
Naija News recalls that the President had endorsed the former Nasarawa governor as the APC chairman during his meeting with the governors in February.
Following the development, Adamu and some aspirants denied the reported endorsement, saying that the President has not endorsed the Nasarawa Central Senator.
