Speaker of the House of Representatives Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila has said that the political pedigree of the presidential candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu stood him out from other candidates
Gbajabiamila said Tinubu has done what none of the other presidential candidates has ever done when he served as the governor of Lagos State for 8 years from 1999 to 2007. (Watch Video Here)
Speaking during a meeting with leaders of Community Development Associations (CDAs) in Surulere, Lagos State on Tuesday, Gbajabiamila said Nigerians should vote for Tinubu because he is the only candidate that has something to show for what he did in the recent past.
“Today, they say there are four, three or four front-runner presidential candidates. There was something that I used to say many years ago. I used to say it is not by mouth, it is by what you do, the seeds that you’ve sown. (Watch Video Here)
“So, today, I ask people of all the front runners, they all have records; Asiwaju has a record of 8 years as governor; Peter Obi has a record of 8 years as governor in Anambra; Atiku has a record as Vice President for 8 years. When you put their records side by side: there is no competition whatsoever, Asiwaju stands tall shoulders above everybody.
“In his (Tinubu’s) case, Lagos is not even like a state; Lagos is like a country in terms of population, in terms of density, in terms of different people in the state and look at what he has been able to do,” he said. (Watch Video Here)
The Speaker noted that because of Tinubu’s track record, “this election is the one that we must campaign based on persuasion, for us to go out there and talk to those who are still sitting on the fence, who are persuaded based on religion, or ethnicity. Let them be persuaded by records, that is what I want from you.”
Gbajabiamila said he had been able to fulfill thousands of requests from people in Surulere and beyond, noting that “I am only now asking for one request, that we all come together, go and knock on the doors of those who are not with us, go and campaign vigorously for Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.” (Watch Video Here)
The Speaker thanked the people of Surulere through the leaders of the CDAs for electing him during five different election cycles to represent Surulere 1 Federal Constituency as well as for their support since 2003.
He noted that CDAs were the backbone of democracy anywhere in the world, which was why he always accorded them respect and reached his constituents through them.(Watch Video Here)
Peter Obi, the presidential flag-bearer of the Labour Party for the 2023 election, on Tuesday said Anambra businessman Chief Arthur Eze “is part of the establishment and structure that young Nigerians want to take our country back from”.
𝕹𝖔𝖇𝖑𝖊 𝕽𝖊𝖕𝖔𝖗𝖙𝖊𝖗𝖘 𝕸𝖊𝖉𝖎𝖆 reports that Obi spoke through his spokesperson, Diran Onifade.
The Labour Party candidate (Watch Video Here) described the ‘bitter’ comments ascribed to Eze concerning Obi as unfortunate but not unexpected.
Eze had said he told Obi to jettison his presidential ambition because he does not believe the former Anambra State governor can win in the 2023 election.
“It is the influence of people like that we want to take our politics away from.
“He is part of the establishment and structure that young Nigerians what to take our country back from. (Watch Video Here)
“When we take power from the Peoples Democratic Party and the All Progressives Congress, the likes of Arthur Eze will no longer wield the kind of influence they enjoy today.
“You don’t expect them to take this lying down. Our candidate and our campaign remain focused on the take ahead which is to take back our country, rebuild it to make it take its proper place in the comity of nations,” Vanguard quotes Onifade as saying. (Watch Video Here)
Labour Party (LP) chieftain, Doyin Okupe insists presidential candidate, Peter Obi, will win the 2023 election.
The politician made an analysis on Tuesday in response to ThisDay Election Centre Projections. (Watch Video Here)
Okupe said the projections were “false, bogus and do not represent the actual situation on ground across the nation”.
The former presidential aide declared that they were “essentially aimed at misinforming the public”.
Okupe said the calculations ignored many important electoral parameters that have operated in Nigeria’s polity for over six decades. (Watch Video Here)
“Without any doubt, PO will score 25% in no less than 24/25 states including Taraba, Adamawa and Gombe, and will lead all the other 3 numerically.
“He is the candidate to beat. Peter Obi will win and lead massively in the SE (South-East) averagely (70%) including all states in the SS (South-South).
“In the SW (South-West), PO will score minimum of 40% in Lagos. 25% in Ogun, Oyo, Ekiti and Ondo. (Watch Video Here)
“Osun 15% min. NW (North-West) 40% min in Kaduna, and no less than 10% of all the other 6 states, mainly because of Igbo residents”, he tweeted.
Okupe, a former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was until recently the Director General of Peter Obi/Yusuf Baba-Ahmed Campaign. (Watch Video Here)
A former presidential aspirant of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Adamu Garba has disclosed why Igbos should follow Governor Charles Soludo of Anambra State.
Garba said Soludo is the promising leader Igbos should follow because he kept the promises of the late Chukwuemeka Ojukwu. (Watch Video Here)
He noted that Soludo joined Ojukwu’s party, the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA.
In a series of tweets, Garba said the Anambra State governor knows what is best for the Southeast.
He wrote: “Gov. Soludo kept the promises of Chief Ikemba Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu. He held on to the belief that a true Igbo identity in (Watch Video Here) Nigeria is what will make Igbos stronger, not a divided, fictional & terroristic Biafra movement.
“Soludo knows what is excellent for the Igbo people.
“In line with keeping onto his promise for the dream of General Ojukwu to be alive, he joined APGA. Not APC, not PDP but APGA. This is the promising (Watch Video Here) leader Igbos should all follow.
“The two statesmen, Prince Eze & HE Soludo can serve as a perfect template for Igbo Nigerian Project.”
The Labour Party, LP, has appointed former Political Adviser to President Olusegun Obasanjo, Akin Osuntokun as the new Director General of its Presidential Campaign.
This was confirmed by the party’s National Chairman, Julius Abure, in Abuja, on Tuesday. (Watch Video Here)
According to Abure, the decision was reached after comprehensive consultations with party stakeholders across board.
Osuntokun will now replace Doyin Okupe who resigned from the position last week.
Okupe stepped down from the position following a federal high court judgment (Watch Video Here) which convicted him of money laundering.
The court sentenced him to two years imprisonment but with an option to pay a N500,000 fine on each count, totalling N13 million.
Ahead of the 2023 general elections, a former Minister of Education, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, has charged presidential candidates to tell Nigerians the truth about the state of the nation, instead of promising immediate results.
Ezekwesili, who spoke as a guest on Channels Television’s Political Paradigm, said regardless of who emerges president next year, immediate results may not be achieved in four years, because of the level of decay in the system. (Watch Video Here)
“Candidates who are running for elections must tell electorates the bitter truth. The bitter truth is that the country is not in a place for any President to immediately deliver results.
“What matters is that you have a President who understands the problems that need to be solved and has an idea of how to go about solving it.
Any candidate who is promising instant results after the 2023 elections is not being fair to you. So it is important that we understand that citizens must be ready for the work ahead because it is going to require everybody working together to make this happen.” (Watch Video Here)
The 2023 general elections begin with the presidential and National Assembly polls on February 25.
The Emir of Gwandu in Kebbi State, retired Major General Iliyasu Bashar, has urged Nigerians to ensure that they get their permanent voter cards before the 2023 general elections.
According to him, the voter cards have become necessary considering the economic and security crisis being faced by Nigerians. (Watch Video Here)
He said the Federal Government needs the support of everyone towards the implementation of its programmes and policies.
The Emir emphasized particularly on the forthcoming national population census program, the introduction of new naira notes and the 2023 general elections, saying that the citizens should support the Federal Government to succeed in these areas. (Watch Video Here)
Bashar made the appeal on Saturday at the Abdullahi Fodio Palace in Birnin Kebbi at the wedding ceremony of the Governor’s son, Jabir Atiku Bagudu, and Hadiza Abdullahi.
In his response, the royal father advised Nigerians to present themselves for head count to ascertain the strength and exact population of the country for proper development plan of the federation.
He further advised the people to embrace the currency change by the Federal Government, saying that the policy has been designed to enhance economic growth of the country. (Watch Video Here)
On the 2023 general elections, the monarch appealed to all eligible voters to obtain their permanent voters’ cards, (PVCs) to enable them exercise their civic rights.
He urged the citizens to imbibe the virtues of peaceful co-existence, brotherliness, piety and security consciousness.
The Emir greeted President Muhammadu Buhari on his 80th birthday and prayed Allah to empower him with good health, wisdom and protection to steer the country through the general elections and hand over successfully. (Watch Video Here)
Christians in Kaduna State on Sunday joined their counterparts all over the world to celebrate Christmas with praises and thanksgiving.
As part of the celebration, Christian worshippers gathered in different churches within the state to thank God for being alive to witness another Christmas despite the socio-economic challenges they are facing. (Watch Video Here)
𝕹𝖔𝖇𝖑𝖊 𝕽𝖊𝖕𝖔𝖗𝖙𝖊𝖗𝖘 𝕸𝖊𝖉𝖎𝖆 monitored the services held at the Saint Michael’s Anglican Cathedral and St Joseph Catholic cathedral in Kaduna metropolis.
In his Christmas message, the Bishop of Kaduna Anglican Diocese, Most Reverend Timothy Yahaya expressed hope for better days ahead despite the present economic instability and security challenges confronting the nation.
While lamenting over the growing insecurity in the country, Bishop Yahaya called for the restructuring of the Nigerian Police Force through the creation of state and local government police in order to ensure more boots on the ground to secure all ungoverned spaces.
He also alleged that some bag eggs in the military who are benefiting from the present security challenges are truncating government’s effort to bring the attacks and killings to an end. (Watch Video Here)
Regarding the 2023 general elections, Bishop Yahaya warned politicians to play the game by the rules and to shun acts that are capable of compromising the elections, even as he urged the Central Bank of Nigeria to exercise caution in the implementation the cashless policy, noting that Nigeria is not yet ripe implement such policy holistically.
On his Part, the Catholic Archbishop of Kaduna Archdiocese, Most Reverend Mathew Ndagoso, also urged the federal government and the Independent National Electoral Commission to create an enabling environment for all citizens to participate in the 2023 elections, and also ensure that the exercise is free, fair and credible. (Watch Video Here)
Bishop Ndagoso also admonished citizens to get their Permanent Voter Cards and ensure they vote only for candidates with integrity and capacity to transform the country for good, insisting that the country can no longer be left in the hands of mediocre
Human rights lawyer Femi Falana has called on security agencies to apprehend those he claimed are “anti-democratic forces” bent on truncating the 2023 elections.
Falana raised the alarm on Monday and based his argument on the series of attacks on the facilities of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), bandits’ mayhem, and the activities of some political actors in the country among others. (Watch Video Here)
“In spite of the fact that the facilities are said to be well guarded, the criminal elements involved in the nefarious activities generally operate without any challenge from security forces. If the dangerous trend continues on a larger scale, INEC will not be in a position to conduct elections in the affected areas. It is, therefore, curious to note that the few suspected arsonists have not been charged before any court,” he said in a statement sent to Channels Television.
“The state of insecurity in Nigeria has also constituted a serious threat to the conduct of credible elections. It has been confirmed that elections cannot take place in the over 40 local government areas in different parts of the country which are firmly under the control of various armed gangs, including bandits, (Watch Video Here) terrorists, and known and unknown gunmen. The territories seized by the criminal gangs are in Borno, Kaduna Katsina, Niger, Sokoto, Zamfara, Abia, and Imo States.”
“Unless the security forces are prepared to deal with the anti-democratic forces that are currently disrupting the democratic process, the 2023 general elections may be sabotaged to the detriment of democracy and political stability in the country,” the lawyer added. (Watch Video Here)
In the last 4 years, the Independent National Electoral Commission has so far recorded 50 attacks on its facilities across 15 states. According to reliable data, Imo State had the highest number of attacks on INEC facilities with 11 incidents followed by Osun, Akwa-Ibom, Enugu, Ebonyi, Cross River, Abia, Anambra, Taraba, Borno, Ogun, Lagos, Bayelsa, Ondo and Kaduna States.
In spite of the fact that the facilities are said to be well guarded the criminal elements involved in the nefarious activities generally operate without any challenge from security forces. If the dangerous trend continues on a larger scale INEC will not be a position to conduct elections in the affected areas. It is therefore curious to note that the few suspected arsonists have not been charged before any court.
The state of insecurity in Nigeria has also constituted a serious threat to the conduct of credible elections. It has been confirmed that elections cannot take place in the over 40 local government areas in different parts of the country which are firmly in the control of various armed gangs, including bandits, terrorists, known and unknown gunmen. The territories seized by the criminal gangs are in Borno, Kaduna Katsina, Niger, Sokoto, Zamfara, Abia and Imo States.
As the security of electoral officials and election materials cannot be guaranteed in the seized territories the authorities of the armed forces should ensure that an enabling environment exists for the conduct of elections in all the states of the Federation. Otherwise, the elections may be postponed indefinitely in territories controlled by the armed gangs with serious implications for the 2023 General Elections
Last week, the INEC raised the alarm that some politicians have been buying up Permanent Voter Cards, PVCs, and financially inducing unsuspecting voters to harvest their Voter Identification Numbers (VIN) ahead of the 2023 general elections. Apart from the two suspects who were recently convicted for illegal possession of PVCs in Sokoto and Kano states the sponsors of the criminal enterprise have not been exposed by security forces.
While condemning the illegal purchase of PVCs the Director Publicity and Advocacy of NEF, Dr Hakeem Baba-Ahmed has disclosed that “thousands, or possibly even millions of northern voters, particularly women, are being made to surrender their PVCs for a pittance, in most instances not more than N2000. In some instances, they are told their cards will be returned to them after they are processed for additional payments as poverty relief. No cards are returned. Our investigations suggest that this is an aggressive and blatant voter suppression attempt to reduce the voting power of the North.”
On June 8, 2022 the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, has approved the establishment of electoral offences desks at the Force Criminal Investigations Department, FCID, Force Headquarters, Abuja, with the Commissioner of Police, FCID, as the desk officer. The IGP also approved establishment of the desks at state commands across the country, with Assistant Commissioners of Police in charge of the Criminal Investigation Departments as state desk officers.
A statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Muyiwa Adejobi, said: “The mandate of the Electoral Offences Desk Officers includes the collation and investigation of all electoral offences/complaints from members of the public or any quarters, with a view to determining culpability in line with the amended Electoral Act 2022, and proffering charges before Courts of competent jurisdiction for necessary legal action.”
On November 18, 2022, the inspector-general of police (IGP), alleged that some governors were using armed thugs and state security outfits to disrupt campaigns and other political activities. Mr. Baba accused such governors show “traits of political intolerance” which create political tension in the country. On December 4, 2022 the Director General of the State Security Service, Mr. Bichi warned political leaders to do away with usage of thugs when carrying out their activities and urged the youth not to make themselves willing tools for politicians.
On December 11, 2022 the National Security Adviser, NSA, Major General Babagana Monguno (retd) warned state governors using thugs to prevent opposition parties from mounting campaign materials in their domains that security agencies would soon descend on them. Monguno said he was aware that in the last month, at least 52 cases of electoral violence across 22 states including politically motivated assassination of candidates had been reported.
The heads of the nation’s security agencies have been warning governors and other top officials of the political parties to desist from disrupting the democratic process. At the same time, they have been threatening to deal with armed thugs. Instead of issuing empty threats the security forces should proceed to arrest and prosecute the suspects electoral offenders.
Contrary to the general belief among security forces, executive immunity does not cover electoral offences. In Turaki v Dalhatu 2003) 38 WRN 54 at 188, the Court of Appeal held that “If a governor were to be considered immune from court proceedings, that would create the position where a sitting Governor would be able to flout election laws and regulations to the detriment of other persons contesting with him. This would make a nonsense of the election process and be against the spirit of our national Constitution which in its tenor provides for a free and fair election.”
A fortnight ago, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) announced its plan to limit weekly cash withdrawals over the counter to N100,000 for individuals and N500,000 for organisations regardless of their size while withdrawal at POS terminals has also been limited to N20,000 per day. Since the policy was announced, politicians have engaged in mopping up dollars to induce voters during the forthcoming elections. But the CBN has deliberately refused to ban the reckless inducement voters with dollars.
Meanwhile, no step has been taken by the Federal Government to amend section 2 (1) of the Money Laundering Act, 2022 which provides that “No person or body corporate shall, except in a transaction through a financial institution, make or accept cash payment of a sum exceeding (a)5,000,000 or its equivalent, in the case of an individual ; or (b) N10,000,000 or its equivalent, in the case of a body corporate.”
During the last governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun States it was widely reported that scores of vote buyers were arrested by operatives of the EFCC and ICPC. The suspects have not been charged before any court. Similarly, the hundreds of armed thugs arrested during the last primary elections of some of the registered political parties have been let off the hook.
A fortnight ago, suspected political thugs attacked the home of Senator Lee Maeba,the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Campaign Council, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. Without conducting any investigation whatsoever the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Okon Effiong said that the attack by the suspected thugs was stage-managed.
However, in view of the reluctance of the ruling parties to allow the police to arrest and prosecute armed thugs and other criminal elements who disrupt elections the Uwais Electoral Reform Panel had recommended the establishment of Electoral Offences Commission. In July 2021, the Senate eventually passed the Electoral Offences Commission Bill. But the Houses of Representatives has deliberately refused to pass the Bill. Therefore, Nigerians should mount pressure on the members of the House of Representatives to pass the Bill and forward same to President Buhari for his assent.
Unless the security forces are prepared to deal with the anti democratic forces that are currently disrupting the democratic process the 2023 General elections may be sabotaged to the detriment of democracy and political stability in the country.
Femi Falana SAN, The Chair, Alliance on Surviving Covid 19 and Beyond (ASCAB) December 19, 2022
A former National President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Cardinal John Onaiyekan has cautioned politicians using “warlike language” to insist on winning the 2023 elections.
The archbishop and member of the National Peace Committee said candidates who are insisting on winning the next general elections at all cost are not democratic. (Watch Video Here)
“For politicians, I will beg them. Enough of lies, enough of insistence that we must win because there are politicians who keep saying we must win this election, whatever it takes, we will win,” the cleric said on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics.
“That kind of language is not democratic; it is the language of those who are going to war. They use belligerent language very often in their campaign. That will not carry Nigeria into any better waters. We want a Nigeria that we can be proud of.”
‘Ethnicity, Religion Not Nigeria’s Problems’ Onaiyekan also said Nigeria’s challenge is not ethnicity and religion because both factors are by choice. (Watch Video Here)
“Our problem is really not with ethnicity and religion. It cannot be with ethnicity because we really have no choice in the matter. I was born in Kabba. So, I’m a Yoruba man, not by choice but by accident of birth. And if it is like that for every Nigerian, it should not be an issue.
“As for religion, again, it is a choice that people make freely and therefore, it should not be an issue,” he said.
Onaiyekan blamed those “running the business of religion” for not doing the right thing and for having other motives at heart.
“The other aspect is when politicians, because they want to win elections, do all they can to manipulate religion, and they use it in order to get people to vote for them because they claim to be of a particular religion. (Watch Video Here)
“It is possible to refuse to be manipulated by politician but when people decide on their own that they want to manipulate their own religious sentiments, there is nothing anybody can do about it,” he said.
Onaiyekan cautioned that religious differences should not lead to violence and tasked clerics to pursue peace and spread tolerance amongst their members and others who are of different faiths.
‘Use 2023 To Turn Nigeria Around’ The cleric urged candidates in the next general elections to use the epochal event to turn the fortunes of Nigeria around for the better. (Watch Video Here)
“We cannot continue as we have been going until now. And therefore, we should try our best and beg the Almighty God to make it possible for us to use the opportunity of a new election in 2023 to turn the nation around.
“This is the job of the politician but it is also our job. We should make sure that al those who may seem to want to create problems, who do not want anything to change, who are thinking of disrupting the elections, we should do our best to restrain their hands and the government should be seen to be proactive in this,” he said.
Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike expressed strong displeasure at recent comments by his political rival and former National Chairman of the Peoples Demoractic Party (PDP), Uche Secondus over the former’s reluctance to support the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar. (Watch Video Here)
Wike, on Thursday, promised to reveal his preferred candidate in January 2023. In response, Secondus reportedly gave an assurance that the people of Rivers were too sophisticated for anyone to impose a candidate on them. (Watch Video Here)
But on Saturday, the governor countered the former PDP chairman while during commissioning of Aluu-Omagwa Road in Ikwerre Local Government Area (LGA).
“I read in the newspaper this morning where a former member of our party, one Prince Uche Secondus said that no one man can impose a presidential candidate on Rivers people. He’s not a member of our party. (Watch Video Here)
“His ward expelled him from this party; the court affirmed it. He went to the Court of Appeal – he lost. He went to the Supreme Court, the matter is coming up on October 23rd, 2023,” he said.
Wike bragged to the attendees, “I told him he would not be national chairman or conduct the convention. Did he conduct it? Was he at the national convention?” to which the crowd chorused, “No!” (Watch Video Here)
“In any case, I never said I was going to impose my candidate on Rivers people,” he added. “I said I was going to tell Rivers people whom I’m going to support, whom I’m going to campaign for. But you see, you don’t blame them.
A photo combination of Nyesom Wike and Uche Secondus “When you didn’t finish secondary school, you will not understand the grammar that ‘I will tell Rivers people whom I want to support’ does not mean I said, ‘Rivers people, I will impose a candidate on you.’”
Wike argued that the only person that would defend the people of Rivers had their ear, adding that Secondus allegedly had no influence on them. (Watch Video Here)
“You (Secondus) cannot defend the interest of Rivers people is that Atiku wins so you can get an oil block. That’s all. Just like the one you forced to be a senator in Rivers South-East because he was not supposed to be a senator. It was Magnus Abe that was supposed to be senator, an educated man at that level,” he said. (Watch Video Here)
“I don’t know how Secondus would have the effrontery, the temerity to talk to somebody like me who finished primary school, secondary school very well, who went to university very well, went for youth service, (Watch Video Here) came back for university, went to law school, was called to bar.
“I’m going to Rumuepirikom where I come from. I’m going to mobilise them to vote where I want them to vote. I will bring 98 percent of the vote. Let them assure their own candidate that they will bring five percent; I will bring 98 in my community.
“The community will say, ‘Look at it; what don’t we have, from chairman of local government, he gave us this. As chief of staff, he gave us this. As minister, we had this. As governor, see what we’re having.’”
A Party Divided Following the PDP presidential primary in May where he lost out, Wike has been at loggerheads with Atiku Abubakar over the chairmanship of Iyorchia Ayu.
After the presidential primary, Atiku, a former Vice President, stung Wike when he passed over his closest rival at the primary and chose Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa as his running mate.
Wike, with four other PDP governors known as the G5 or the Integrity Group, have insisted that Benue-born Ayu must step down for a southerner as a precondition to support the 2023 ambition of Atiku
Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu has asked residents of the state to reject his “inexperienced” opponents and allow him to actualise his re-election bid in the upcoming 2023 polls. (Watch Video Here)
Sanwo-Olu made the appeal on Friday during the All Progressives Congress (APC) West Senatorial District’s campaign in Alimosho, according to a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Gboyega Akosile. (Watch Video Here)
The governor told Alimosho residents to point to projects executed in the area whenever his opponents came with what he described as the wrong information about his government. He urged voters to reject his opponents, telling them to “suffocate” the plans of opposition parties with their votes. (Watch Video Here)
“We have some inexperienced people who are calling themselves candidates of a certain opposition party, going to town to tell lies about us. Tell them non-starters have no chance in the governance of a city as large as Lagos. You must use your vote to reject them and suffocate their ill-fated ambition.
“Those who have yet to collect their voter cards should do so. On the day of election, your objective is not to argue or fight with anyone. All we need to do is speak with our vote by choosing the APC. This is the only political party that has brought tremendous changes and development to Lagos. We must now allow the aliens to distract us and reverse our progress,” he said.
Earlier, Sanwo-Olu, in company with the Deputy Governor, Obafemi Hamzat and members of the State Executive Council, commissioned a network of three roads and a jetty in Alimosho. (Watch Video Here)
According to him, Lagos West Senatorial District was a major beneficiary of the State’s Blue Rail Line infrastructure whose first phase of 13 kilometres was completed last Wednesday. He said the second phase of the rail project, which will commence in January, would extend the infrastructure to Okokomaiko. (Watch Video Here)
The governor his administration was on course in fulfilling and delivering its promises to the electorate in the area.
Governor Takes Campaign to Lagos West Senatorial District ‘Part of Our Promises Fulfilled, Others on Course’ – Governor A huge crowd welcomed Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to Alimosho on Friday for the All Progressives Congress (APC) West Senatorial District’s campaign.
The party stalwarts and all candidates running for legislative seats in the State and National Assemblies led their supporters to the rally held at Ikotun Bus Depot along Idimu Road.
Sanwo-Olu is seeking election for another term on the party’s platform.
In the Governor’s entourage was the Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat and members of the State Executive Council.
Sanwo-Olu, who had earlier commissioned a network of three roads and a jetty in Alimosho before moving to the rally ground, said his administration was on course in fulfilling and delivering its promises to the electorate in the area.
The Governor said Lagos West Senatorial District was a major beneficiary of the State’s Blue Rail Line infrastructure whose first phase of 13 kilometres was completed last Wednesday. He said the second phase of the rail project, which will commence in January, would extend the infrastructure to Okokomaiko.
Sanwo-Olu reiterated that the election of APC presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, would have positive implications for Lagos, stressing that Alimosho, being the largest political constituency, had a significant role to make Tinubu’s presidential ambition a reality.
He said: “I believe with the meaningful and purposeful development we have brought to communities in Alimosho, APC has no rival in this constituency. Alimosho is being called Tinubu’s country because of the strong support you constantly show our leader. Now, this has become my second home as well.
“Our charge to you is to go out and tell your friends, neighbours and families the gospel of development you have seen and felt. All the candidates of APC need to be voted in for continuation of our programmes, which have touched your lives positively. From the presidency, which is Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, down to legislative offices and to the governorship election, which I’m representing you.”
Sanwo-Olu urged the electorate to disregard the rhetoric of an opposition candidate, whom, the Governor said, had been going round the town with “laughable accusations” to belittle the APC’s development programmes in Lagos.
The Governor told Alimosho residents to point to projects executed in the area whenever his opponents came with wrong information about his Government. He urged voters to reject his opponents, telling them to suffocate the plans of opposition parties with their votes.
He said: “We have some inexperienced people who are calling themselves candidates of a certain opposition party, going to town to tell lies about us. Tell them non-starters have no chance in the governance of a city as large as Lagos. You must use your vote to reject them and suffocate their ill-fated ambition.
“Those who have yet to collect their voter cards should do so. On the day of election, your objective is not to argue or fight with anyone. All we need to do is speak with our vote by choosing the APC. This is the only political party that has brought tremendous changes and development to Lagos. We must now allow the aliens to distract us and reverse our progress.”
Lagos APC chairman, Hon. Cornelius Ojelabi, explained why the party should be allowed to continue in office, noting that Lagos under the APC leadership had become a model for good governance and responsive Government.
He urged the Alimosho residents to keep faith with the party and vote for all the candidates presented by the APC in the general elections.
Before the rally, Sanwo-Olu commissioned the newly-rehabilitated Isuti Road in Igando, Ishefun-Camp Davies Road and Ijon-Liasu Ojo-Ijo Road to bring relief to the residents and improve connectivity.
The Governor also commissioned a newly built ferry jetty in Ishefun riverine community to facilitate seamless ferry services to boundary towns along the river channel.
The Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has promised Nigerians that they will not spend their next Christmas queuing for petrol at filling stations if he is voted President come February. (Watch Video Here)
Atiku said this in his Christmas message signed on his behalf by his Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, late on Saturday.
He noted that the All Progressives Congress-led regime has set a new record of the longest petrol scarcity in the history of Nigeria.
Shaibu invited Nigerians to recall that the latest round of petrol scarcity started in January 2022 on account of the importation of dirty petrol high in methanol. (Watch Video Here)
According to him, the Group Managing Director of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari, explained at the time that the petrol was brought in from Belgium.
The House of Representatives led by Femi Gbajabiamila, opened a probe into the matter but nothing has been heard about the investigation till date. This is not surprising since it is an APC affair. (Watch Video Here)
He said, “Based on estimates from the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, the media reported that NNPC may have spent about N201 billion worth of clean Premium Motor Spirit (petrol), to clean the 170.25 million litres of dirty petrol. Still, no one was sacked for bringing the country to its knees. (Watch Video Here)
“After a few weeks of respite, the petrol scarcity continued yet again in May as oil marketers complained about the outstanding payment of bridging claims incurred by dealers for the transportation of petroleum products across the country. (Watch Video Here)
“The NNPC claimed the queues in Abuja and most parts of the north were caused by (Watch Video Here) panic buying.
“The scarcity stretched into September with the NNPC claiming that the floods in Kogi and other states had prevented truck drivers from coming up north.
“In November the government again claimed that the petrol scarcity was caused by the road repairs in Lagos and the inability of truck drivers to move products timely. (Watch Video Here)
“With the fuel scarcity now continuing till December, the government has run out of excuses even as most Nigerians are now at the mercy of black marketers who sell petrol as high as N500 per litre. (Watch Video Here)
“ The NNPC which is the sole importer of petrol has failed to live up to its duties, clear evidence that its privatisation is merely cosmetic. (Watch Video Here)
“But the biggest culprit in this mess is President Muhammadu Buhari who is the minister of petroleum.
“It is saddening that he has failed to bring succour to Nigerians who are suffering from the worsening inflation, unemployment and insecurity.“
He further said, “It is disheartening that a country that claims to spend $40m daily on petrol subsidy cannot still make the product available to its people. (Watch Video Here)
“This is clear evidence that the monies are going into private pockets ahead of elections at the expense of Nigerians.
“The APC which is running for a third term through the person of Bola Ahmed Tinubu is now promising renewed hope after dashing the hopes of millions of Nigerians for the last eight years.
“It is exasperating that Tinubu is promising to remove petrol subsidy when his party has retained it for the last seven years and spent billions of dollars subsidising criminality. It is obvious that Tinubu’s statement is an indictment on Buhari.
“Nigerians have suffered too much in these last seven years . A country which has been unable to meet its OPEC quota at a time of oil boom is now witnessing an unprecedented petrol scarcity that has brought economic activities to its knees across the country.
“Atiku Abubakar hereby promises Nigerians that this will be their last Christmas that will be spent at a filling station queuing for petrol. Voting APC in February will be a reinforcement of failure which could push Nigeria into an existential crisis. To Nigerians, we say the ability to change your destiny lies in your hands. Merry Christmas.”
Speaker of the House of Representatives ,Rep Femi Gbajabiamila says the presidential candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC) , Sen. Bola Tinubu will serve the interests of all parts of Nigeria if elected in 2023. (Watch Video Here)
Gbajabiamila made the statement on Saturday in Lagos, while speaking at the Surulere Constituency 2 APC Town Hall meeting.
He said the APC presidential candidate was passionate about the development of Nigeria, adding he would care for all the peoples of the country, if elected. (Watch Video Here)
“One thing I can assure all Nigerians is that when Asiwaju Bola Tinubu becomes the president of this country, he will be president for all.
“He will care for the Yoruba people, he will care for South South , he will care for the Igbos, he will care for the Nupes and the northerners. (Watch Video Here)
“He is the only candidate that has proven himself well.He has the capacity and will deliver”, Gbajabiamila said.
The Speaker particularly appealed to Igbos to invest their votes in Tinubu to take the country to greater heights. (Watch Video Here)
He said it was unfair not to vote for Tinubu, simply because he is not from the South East or any other region apart from his. (Watch Video Here)
Gbajabiamila said Tinubu had done well for the Igbos and urged people from the region to give him all the support to lead the country.
“To our brothers and sisters from the South East, has Asiwaju done anything to offend anybody in the South East? Has he done anything wrong? (Watch Video Here)
“Tell me one state in Nigeria where you have a non -indigene in the cabinet. I can tell you ,the only state where that happens is Lagos state.
“The Director-General of Budget Office in Nigeria, one of the highest positions in Nigeria, what is his name? Ben Akabueze. Is he from from Lagos? No ,he is from the South East and Asiwaju put him there. (Watch Video Here)
” He determines the budget.Whatever any money any agency or department is looking for, it must come Akabueze’s table. He determines whether to give or not to give.That is a man from the South East, put there by Asiwaju Tinubu. (Watch Video Here)
“And I can give you many more names. So, why will a man that has done much for the Igbos now come to you for votes ,and you tell him he has not done bad ,he has done well ,but because he is not from the South East ,we have somebody from the South East to vote for. I think that is not the way to go,” he said .
Gbajabiamila said the 2023 election was about the progress of the country, and urged Nigerians to vote for competence rather than tribe or religion . (Watch Video Here)
The Speaker said though he represents Surulere 1 Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives ,he was at the Surulere 2 APC Federal Constituency meeting to ensure victory for the party in the area.
He said it was regrettable that APC lost the constituency to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party in 2015 and 2019, adding that it was time for APC to take back the area.
He urged party members to shun in-fighting and mobilise support for the victory of the party in the area, come 2023.
Speaking ,Mr Agboola Dabiri , a former Commissioner for Youths and Sports in Lagos State, described APC as the party for Nigerians.
He urged the people of Surulere Constituency 2 to vote the party’s candidates. (Watch Video Here)
Dabiri, chairman of an APC task force set up to deliver the constituency to the party, said voting APC in the area would mean delivery of democratic dividends to the people .
“You all know what the people of constituency 1 ,represented by the Speaker ,are enjoying .
“They are too numerous to mention.You too will enjoy the same and more if you vote our candidates to represent you at the House of Representatives.
“The PDP that is representing you now is not the best for you .You should do the right thing in 2023.”he said.
He said though Gbajabiamila represents Surulere 1 Federal Constituency, he had executed many projects in Surulere 2 .
Dabiri said the Speaker had installed streetlights in many streets in Itire- Ikate and Coker Aguda in Constituency 2 and had constructed many roads in the constituency.
He said it would be better for the people of the area if they have an APC Rep in 2023.
Mr Ahmed Apatira ,Chairman ,Itire- Ikate Local Council Development Area, commended Gbajabiamila for all his projects in Surulere 2 despite not representing the area.
He promised that the council and the party would do their best to deliver the area to APC in 2023.
Also speaking ,Mr Rasak Olalekan ,Chairman ,Coker -Aguda LCDA ,commended the Speaker for extending love to the people of constituency 2,saying the Speaker had demonstrated that he was a caring leader with his many projects in the constituency.
Noble Reporters Media 