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2023: Consider Adopting Osinbajo As Consensus Candidate – Group Tells Buhari, APC

A group canvassing for Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has called on President Muhammadu Buhari and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to consider adopting the vice president as the party’s presidential candidate in the forthcoming 2023 general elections.

The group, The Progressive Project (TPP), made the call in a six-point declaration during a press conference at its campaign office in Abuja on Wednesday.

They held that the Vice President was one of the very few Nigerian political aspirants who will not turn electoral victory into an opportunity for wealth accumulation and Nigerian women will give him resolute backing for the 2003 presidential elections.

The women wing of the group, National Coalition of Women for Osinbajo, led by their chairperson, Hajia Rabi Dauda, also declared support for the vice president stressing that the 2023 general election will be a decisive turning point for APC and the entire nation.

The coalition strongly affirmed “Nigerian women’s utmost confidence in the candidature of Professor Yemi Osinbajo as a people-focused leader with the right intellectual capacity and innate leadership qualities to move Nigeria forward, with an emphatic attention to women progress and development.”

According to the women’s coalition, various parameters of assessing genuine leadership puts Osinbajo ahead of other presidential aspirants.

“The 2023 general election will be a very decisive juncture in the history of Nigeria and our great party, APC, has an epoch-making responsibility to move the nation forward by deepening democracy, considering affirmative action for 35 percent representation for women and accelerating general development.

“Without any iota of doubt, we believe that the emergence of Prof Yemi Osinbajo as the 2023 presidential flag-bearer of the APC will give Nigeria the opportunity to realize these lofty collective progressive aspirations.

“It is important that Nigerians make a clear decision by choosing a leader known to be ready to work for the development of the future and the betterment of the country rather than joining those politicians who have tendencies to exploit public office as an opportunity to fill their pockets.

“Nigerian women believe in the candidature of Prof Yemi Osinbajo, a man whose credibility, objectivity and intellectual capacity has been proven over time.

“Seriously, there is need for effective steps to be taken to ensure that those who engaged in plundering state and federal coffers in the past are not allowed back into governance roles where trust and integrity really matters.

“Along with government, our party leaders and other stakeholders in our great country Nigeria, we must all contribute to deepen democracy, encourage productive dialogue, mobilize women and youth for optimal participation in our democratic processes and ensure free and fair election,” the coalition’s leader, Hajia Rabi Dauda added.

Electoral Bill: Lawan, Gbajabiamila Lack Courage To Override Buhari – Shehu Sani

A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Shehu Sani, says Senate President, Ahmad Lawan and the Speaker, House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, lack the courage to override President Muhammadu Buhari and pass the Electoral Act Amendment Bill.

In an interview on Channels Television on Tuesday night, Sani said the right thing for the National Assembly to do is to override the president and approve the bill.

The former Kaduna Central Senator said the current administration will be tagged a failure if it fails to approve the electoral bill.

He said: “From what I can see from the statement of Lawan and Gbajabiamila, I think they lack the courage to do what is right. The courage to do what is right is to override the president and approve the bill.
“First of all, when they (referring to the national assembly) passed that bill, the comment that came from them was that they have taken power back to Nigerians and then the president rejected this bill and then they just don’t know what to do.

“They have no concrete plan on what to do. Nigerians need a credible electoral process and already they have a bill that Nigerians were happy with. So, if Nigerians accepted the bill, why should the president oppose it?

“If the president opposes it, the next thing Gbajabiamila and Lawan should do — let them have the courage to override him and approve that bill.
“For me, I believe they should know — both the national assembly and the president. If there is any legacy that they will leave behind for this country, it is to let us have a new electoral act that will make the 2023 election better than 2019. If they fail in this, they fail in everything.”

Women Groups Urge APC To Actualize Osinbajo Presidency in 2023

A coalition of women groups from different parts of the country on Tuesday stormed venue of the All Progressive Congress (APC) National Women’s Conference in Abuja to demands actualization of an Osinbajo presidency in 2023.

The coalition, which includes market women, farmers, traders, artisans and professionals, all voiced demand for Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, to become the APC presidential candidate in 2023 at the International Conference Centre.

The groups urged the party’s caretaker committee to ensure a properly organized national convention that would not be hijacked by money bags who had “participated in looting state or federal resources in the past.”

Osinbajo is yet to publicly admit any interest in the presidential race but he is believed to be interested in taking over from President Muhammadu Buhari.

Presidential aspirants within the APC who have declared their interest include Bola Tinubu, Orji Uzo Kalu and Governor Yahya Bello of Kogi States.

Hajia Rabi Dauda, leader of the Steering Committee of Women’s Coalition for Osinbajo, who spoke with reporters at the venue of the women conference in Abuja, said the women had assessed all aspirants across political parties and concluded that “Osinbajo is the best option for Nigerian women.”

She said, “We are rooting for Osinbajo, not because there are no other aspirants but because he is the most qualified and the one with the most easily predictable disposition towards development issues that are of utmost concern to women.

“Nigerian women trust Osinbajo more than any other presidential aspirant and he already has an idea of what the specific challenges of governance in present times really mean.

“ We believe that Osinbajo can consolidate upon whatever good foundation that Baba Buhari has laid and Nigerian women are much more optimistic about prospects for a better future under an Osinbajo presidency.

“At this APC National Women’s Conference and beyond here, we are urging all Nigerian women to actively mobilize support for Osinbajo in the interest of generations yet unborn because 2023 elections will leave very enduring impact on the fate of Nigeria.”

Speaking in a similar vein, Madam Scholastica Dominic who led a group of market women to join the women’s coalition for a peaceful rally at the event stated that it was a voluntary demonstration of support.

Madam Dominic said, “ Osinbajo is healthy, youth-friendly and women-friendly and he represents positive change.

“Besides, Osinbajo has demonstrated keen disposition towards seeing things from the perspective of market women and he can make things easy for us; indeed, we believe that he has great capacity to move Nigeria forward.”

Leading the Inter-Faith group within the coalition, Evangelist Ochoja said the women were confident in Osinbajo’s readiness for the job unlike other aspirants.

She said the women would not be swayed by money because they believed strongly in Osinbajo who she said had “demonstrated capacity to serve with empathy.”

Female Presidential Aspirant, Khadija Okunnu-Lamidi Reveals Her Relationship With Tinubu

Female presidential candidate, Khadija Okunnu-Lamidi, has stated that she would run for the presidency in 2023 despite the respect she has for the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu.
Okunnu-Lamidi while giving her reason said Nigerians clamour for a young person with a vibrancy to lead the country out of its challenges is her drive.

The aspirant stated this as she disclosed that she is “somehow related” to the former Governor of Lagos State.

Okunnu-Lamidi while speaking with BBC pidgin said, “He’s the national leader of the APC; he has contributed to national politics and I have great respect for him. But that doesn’t change the fact that Nigerians are looking for a young person with vibrancy. Nigerians are looking for a way out of poverty, they want 24 hours electricity supply, good health care and good roads which are what I’m here to provide.”

The presidential aspirant when asked if she has political experience, said, “Many people will say they have never heard of my name but I’ve been in politics for at least 20 years learning. Many people do declare their political ambition before they are ready, which is quite a problem. I’ve learnt the work and seen how others do it, which I don’t find satisfying, it gives me a stomach ache.

Okunnu-Lamidi when asked when she decided to contest for the presidency said, “It was shortly after the EndSARS protests in October 2020.”

She further stated that she reached out to young minds and the late singer, Sound Sultan, towards the goal of fielding some youths to contest for public office.

According to the aspirant, most of the youths she spoke with were sceptical about the idea.

She said, “At that point, it occurred to me that if I truly have the passion, I should be the one to step out and take the risk for us to have a better Nigeria.”

When asked how serious she is about her ambition, she said, “As you can see, my entrance into the race has not been a joke.”

Asked to speak about the political platform she’s running on, Okunnu-Lamidi said, “I don’t like to talk about the party because, for me, it doesn’t bring a solution. I’ve never seen any party talking about how to make life better for everybody, it’s just about their selfish interest.”

Again, APC Governors Fail To Fix Date For Convention

The Progressive Governors’ Forum, a platform for governors of the All Progressive Congress again failed to fix a date for the party’s national convention, which has been slated for February 2022, but insisted it remained the party’s month of national convention.

The governors failed to announce the exact date and venue for the convention even as it passed vote of confidence on Governor Buni-led Caretaker/Extraordinary Committee.

Notwithstanding the fact that the job of fixing a date for the convention lies squarely with the party executive, it was expected that since some governors of the party are part of the caretaker committee and February had been chosen as the month, the governors will suggest a date which can be adopted by the party executive to end the crisis rocking the party.

Besides, by insisting on February, the party would be going against the electoral act if it goes ahead to hold its convention as it would be failing to notify the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, as required by law.

The law says INEC must get a 21-day notification before any of such an event could be held.

However, rising from a meeting which started on Sunday, the Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum and Kebbi State governor, Abubakar Bagudu, told journalists that, “The Progressive Governors met tonight to discuss numerous issues affecting the forum and member states and we acknowledged some of the achievements in the states and members of the forum as well as the President who visited Ogun and Borno states where he commissioned projects.

“We have had challenges in some states and we commiserated with them. We spoke about our unanimous appreciation for Mr President and especially the confidence he has in the forum.

“We also passed a vote of confidence in the National Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee of the party chaired by Governor Mai Mala Buni and assisted by two other governors including Governor Abubakar Bello of Niger State and Gboyega Oyetola of Osun State; who have done an incredible job of running our party successfully, mobilising people into the party.”

The governor explained that the Forum discussed the February national convention stating that it has unanimously agreed that it holds in February; as opposed to speculations of an impending postponement

He said, “We discussed our coming convention which you may recall, I had cause to address the press when we visited Mr President in November. We expressed that both Mr President and the party have agreed that convention should take place in February.

“So we took inputs about the reviews and we noted all the misrepresentations in the press and sought to correct it.

“The Progressive Governors’ Forum is one united body as you can see evidently from the attendance. And our decision is unanimous. We are united behind Mr President and we thank him. And we are united behind the Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee.”

Asked what date in February the convention will hold, he said, “Yes, February is still realistic. But we are just one group of stakeholders. Our party respects institutions. It is the appropriate organ of the party, the National Caretaker Committee that will announce a date.

“We have agreed and they will announce a date in February. The announcement comes from the party. It is a party decision. There are other stakeholders that they are consulting with and to show respect and institutional limits, we are not going to overstep our bounds.”

The meeting had in attendance all governors of the Forum except Aminu Masari of Katsina and Muhammad Yahaya of Gombe.

Those who attended were the Governors of Yobe, Mai Mala Buni; Borno, Babagana Zulum; Jigawa, Muhammad Abubakar; Ondo, Rotimi Akeredolu; Niger, Abubakar Bello; Kaduna, Nasir El-Rufai; Ekiti, Kayode Fayemi; Kogi, Yahaya Bello and Ogun, Dapo Abiodun.

In attendance also were Zamfara, Bello Matawalle; Ebonyi, Dave Umahi; Osun, Gboyega Oyetola; Lagos, Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Plateau, Simon Lalong; Imo, Hope Uzondinma; Nasarrawa, Abdullahi Sule and Cross River, Ben Ayade.

Others were Kwara, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, Kano, Abdullahi Ganduje; and Deputy Governor of Anambra State, Nkem Okeke.

Why I Met APC National Leader, Bola Tinubu – Fayemi

Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State has described his meeting with the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as a “family meeting of minds”.
Naija News reports that Fayemi had met with Tinubu after the former Lagos State governor declared his intention to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023.

Reports had claimed that the meeting was convened to discuss the presidential ambition of Tinubu and the upcoming Ekiti State governorship election.

Reacting in a statement on Saturday, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Fayemi, Yinka Oyebode, said the meeting of his principal with Tinubu had nothing to do with the presidential ambition or otherwise of either of the two political leaders.

In the statement titled, ‘Re: Tinubu-Fayemi meeting: The spin doctors got it wrong’, Oyebode stated that Tinubu and Fayemi’s relationship dates back to the dark years of military despotism.

According to the governor’s aide, Fayemi did not surrender his undeclared presidential ambition to Tinubu.

The statement partly read, “Meeting between the two leaders, dates as far back as their days in exile, when they were both involved in the struggle to wrest the country away from military jackboots, and has since been a regular occurrence both within and outside the country’s political space. So there should not be any big deal in seeing them meet, except someone has opted to create a mischief out of it.

“While the details of their recent meeting remain undisclosed, seeing the two of them who are being rumoured as potential presidential aspirants from the southwest together may naturally give way to speculations that the 2023 presidential election could form part of their discussions.

“This may have been further fuelled by the fact that Asiwaju Tinubu said he had informed President Muhammadu Buhari that he would be coveting the presidential seat in 2023. Dr Fayemi on the other hand; has yet to give any visible sign in that direction.

“However, both Asiwaju Tinubu’s declared ambition and Fayemi’s undeclared ambition have now been taken up and given verve by some spin doctors, particularly those who believe such could rev up their relevance in the eyes of either of the political leaders.

“What makes the matter worse is that such spin doctors, surreptitiously scrambling for relevance have been weaving, not half truths, but blatant lies into the Tinubu-Fayemi meeting, saying it signposted Dr Fayemi surrendering his undeclared ambition to Asiwaju Tinubu’s declared one.

“Specifically, they have been dishing out barefaced and unsubstantiated lies that Dr Fayemi at the closed door meeting “debunked the raging rumour of his 2023 presidential ambition and pledged support for the national leader of the All Progressives Congress Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“This, no doubt, is a reckless and untruthful spin. First, since the perpetrators were not present at the meeting and none of the leaders could have divulged what transpired, one wonders from where they got their narrative.

“Secondly, the spin doctors, were so consumed by their fictional hogwash that they could not consider it an impossibility for Fayemi to drop a rumoured, yet undeclared ambition, even when Asiwaju Tinubu said he was still consulting as to whether to run or not.

“The story by the spin doctors thus stands logic in the head and stands not only disclaimed but condemned. It must have been sourced from the rumour mill, or as a beer parlour gist. At its best, it is a mere conjecture.

“If and when Dr Fayemi chooses to declare his interest in running for the 2023 presidential ticket, he would not be embarking on an ego trip that would warrant going into unhealthy contest with Asiwaju Tinubu or anyone else. Fayemi sees Tinubu as his leader in politics and reserves respect for him as a national leader of his party. Neither will he run the race with the intention of using it to negotiate with anyone. Rather he will run because he is convinced it is desirable for him to do so.

“Perhaps the spin doctors are unmindful of the fact that Fayemi currently remains focused on finishing strong and well the assignment in his hand as two-term governor of Ekiti State. They also fail to realise that there is still a sitting President equally focused on finishing well his second term in office. Neither Fayemi nor Buhari would like to be distracted by such inanity at this juncture.

“Should Dr Fayemi eventually choose to run in the 2023 Presidential race at all, he would not hide his intention to do so, neither will he involve himself in any clandestine meeting to discuss his chances, since he would have been x-rayed and classified among the preferred aspirants based on his credentials, even before he makes such declaration.

“The masterminds of such fable are therefore advised to desist from doing so any further as it will not give them any political or social mileage. Rather it will wreak serious havoc on their personality, without reducing the worth of either Asiwaju Tinubu or Governor Fayemi who are respectable and respected leaders in their own rights.”

Tinubu finally reveals outcome of his consultations ahead of 2023 presidential election

Former governor of Lagos State, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on Saturday in Ibadan, Oyo State capital said the outcome of consultations regarding his 2023 presidential ambition has been very successful.

He maintained that he has the confidence and capacity to overcome any form of challenge that may manifest in his bid to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari before and after the presidential election.

Speaking with journalists shortly after paying a visit to the former governor of Oyo State and the Osi Olubadan of Ibadan, Senator Rasheed Ladoja in his Bodija residence, Tinubu declared that “the outcome of my consultation over my presidential ambition is successful.”

He stated: “Life is a challenge and you must be ready to confront challenges and overcome. I have the confidence that I will overcome any form of challenge. I am sure I would face challenges and I have the confidence that I will overcome them.”

According to Tinubu, “the reactions of critical stakeholders to my presidential ambition have been very positive, encouraging and overwhelming and these have spurred me on with the strong conviction that we would succeed and emerge victorious after the election.

“Life itself is a challenge and I have the confidence and capacity to wade through challenges and overcome. We are forging ahead and with the strong support of the masses of Nigerians, we are going to achieve a resounding victory, “he posited.

Though journalists were barred from Tinubu’s meeting with Ladoja, which lasted for more than 30 minutes, insiders informed Sunday Tribune that Tinubu was in the state to commiserate with Governor Seyi Makinde and the people of the state over the demise of Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Oladunni Oyewumi Ajagungbade, the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Saliu Akanmu Adetunji and former governor of Oyo State, Chief Christopher Adebayo Alao Akala.

Alao-Akala Not Responsible For My Impeachment, Says Ladoja

Former governor of Oyo State, Senator Rashidi Ladoja, has described the death of his former deputy and successor, Chief Adebayo Alao-Akala as a huge loss to him.

Ladoja, who is the Osi Olubadan, was impeached and removed as governor on January 12, 2006 and Alao-Akala was sworn in.

But in a condolence message to mourn the late politician, Ladoja said Alao-Akala did not betray him during the impeachment.

He said former President Olusegun Obasanjo removed him from office then and not his late forrner deputy contrary to the claims in some quarters

The former governor said his relationship with Alao-Akala which started in the 1970s long before they entered into politics remained cordial until the Ogbomoso-born politician died.

He said although they had occasions of political disagreements but such did not injure their personal relationship.

Ladoja said he was shocked to hear the news of Alao-Akala’s death, recalling that they were together at two separate functions in Ibadan recently, the last being the funeral of the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Saliu Adetunji.

Ladoja siad, “We were very close. So close that I celebrated his 40th birthday for him in one of my houses in Apapa, Lagos. That was 31 years ago. He was introduced to me by a mutual friend, Tommy Oyelade. That was in the 70’s and since then we had been friends.

“He followed me on exile during the NADECO days when Sani Abacha was looking for those of us in the NADECO. He stayed with me in my house in England and we were going to my office together. We lived together for about a month.

“He came into politics through me. He followed me to the defunct UNCP. And when he wanted to contest as chairman, the Ogbomoso establishment opposed it and he was disqualified.

“When a new dispensation started in 1998, he came to me and said since I am the one he followed into politics and would not want to go to a different party. But given the circumstances of Ogbomoso politics, he would like to join APP and realise his ambition as council chairman . And I agreed with him to go to APP where he contested and won the council chairmanship election along with seven councilors out of 10, which meant that he proved his mettle.

“It was because of me that he left APP and joined PDP. He wanted to run for chairmanship again, but this was fiercely resisted by party members who had been in the party before him. But fortune smiled on him and I took him as my deputy.
He accepted me as his boss until his last day.

“On some occasions, we had different opinions, but such differences never went beyond the issues. The differences did not go into our hearts because we had some peculiar love for each other. Our boss-subordinate relationship lasted till he died.

“In fact, the last two times we met at functions, first at the anniversary of Alhaji Lam Adesina. He told me he would have to rush to attend other functions in Lagos that day. That was in November last year. At the burial of the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji, we also met. On both occasions, he took permission from me before leaving. He said he naturally would not leave me behind at any function.

“Maybe as a result of his training as a policeman, he loved taking and carrying out orders. He took orders from superiors without questioning them. When Alao-Akala addressed himself to an assignment, he carried it out with total commitment.

“Like I have said at several fora, it was not Akala that impeached me. It was [Olusegun] Obasanjo and his cohorts. Akala must have been put under pressure by Obasanjo and his cohorts. I don’t see Akala as somebody who betrayed me as my deputy. Whether he participated in the impeachment saga, he would have constitutionally taken over as governor.

“I commiserate with his wives,children and his political family.
As an older person, I should not go to his house now. But I have sent a delegation to Ogbomoso to condole with the family.
I pray that God will forgive his shortcomings. “

‘I’m better prepared than the first time’ — Dele Momodu says as he joins 2023 presidential race

Dele Momodu, journalist and publisher of Ovation Magazine, has joined the 2023 presidential race, promising to fix the country.

Momodu declared his interest on Thursday when he met with Ayorchia Ayu, chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), at the party headquarters in Abuja.

The former presidential candidate of the National Conscience Party (NCP) in the 2011 election said he is now better prepared to run, adding that he “won’t be intimidated by anyone who feels he or she can buy the whole of Nigeria with loads of cash fraudulently”.

“After due consultations with my family, friends and some stakeholders, I have arrived at the decision to contest the 2023 presidential election on the platform of our great party, PDP, if selected as the party’s candidate,” he said.

“I hasten to add that this is my personal decision, although I have received advice, encouragement and support from diverse quarters since I started my consultations.

“I, therefore, offer myself to the PDP as the best aspirant to turn the fortunes of our esteemed party and our well-endowed country around. In this regard, and with a deep sense of humility and profound respect.

“I urge the party not to consider picking its candidate based on the usual considerations which had spectacularly failed our country in the past. The mood of the teeming youths, and indeed every patriotic Nigerian, who we need to come out en masse to vote for our party, aligns with this view.

“It is for this reason, that I invite our great party, PDP, to accept that it must search for a veritable flag bearer with the requisite leadership and visionary qualities that Nigerians now earnestly yearn for.

“I’m convinced that the time has come to seriously challenge and dislodge those politicians who have held our country to ransom by kidnapping, hijacking and destroying the future of our younger generation and generations yet unborn.

“I’m better prepared now than at the time of my first foray into the fray in 2011, and I am fully ready and certainly capable for the onerous tasks and responsibilities ahead.

“I wish to place on record my firm promise and commitment not to be harassed, bullied or intimidated by anyone who feels he or she can buy the whole of Nigeria with loads of cash fraudulently and illegally filched and taken from the Nigerian people.”

Abia APC Says Many Party Elders ‘Neck Deep’ In PDP

The All Progressive Congress, APC, Abia State chapter, has accused some party leaders of working for the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, government in the state.

The Publicity Secretary of the party in Abia State, Chief Okey Ezeala, revealed this in Umuahia, while reacting to attacks on the personality of the state leader of the party, Chief Ikechi Emenike.

Ezeala said Emenike was being attacked because the APC was able to dislodge the PDP from it’s strongholds during the 2021 APC Ward, LGA and state congresses.

According to the party’s publicity secretary: “The truth is that some former officers and even elders of the APC in Abia State were working for the PDP government in the state as if the APC in Abia State is a parastatal of the Abia State Government.

He said,”Many APC elders and former officers are still neck deep in working for the PDP government in the state as could be seen in various ceremonies.

“And the Abia State Government honoured some APC members holding federal government positions.

“All these scenarios are glaring. The APC both at national and Abia State levels organised the party Congresses last year and elected officers at the Wards, LGAs and State levels, who are known non-members and non-supporters of the PDP Government of Abia State.

“These ruffling of feathers engendering anonymous write ups against Chief Ikechi Emenike are direct consequences of dislodging PDP stranglehold of APC in Abia State during 2021 Congresses.

“It was the vast majority of APC delegates who rejected these notorious politicians and their proxies in the last 2021 State Congresses, not the State Leader, Chief Ikechi Emenike, who voted like everyone else.

“There is freedom of association, whereby persons can join any political party of their choice.

“But to do so through maligning a leader of Chief Ikechi Emenike’s standing is, to say the least, irresponsible.”