The leader of the pan Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, Pa Ayo Adebanjo, on Saturday, alleged that the popular “Emi Lokan” chant by the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, was the outcome of his succession agreement with President Muhammadu Buhari.
The former Lagos State governor came up with the term which means “it’s my turn” at a meeting he held with APC supporters in Abeokuta, Ogun State, before the party’s presidential primary in June last year.
At the event, Tinubu stunned Nigerians by declaring that Buhari would not have won the 2015 presidential election without his support.
However, Adebanjo, who addressed the Labour Party supporters at the Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS), Lagos, the venue of the party’s final presidential campaign rally, stressed that the term did not represent the interest of the Yoruba people.
The elder statesman is a major supporter of LP’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi.
He declared his support for the former Anambra State governor last year and stressed the need for the South-East to produce the country’s next president later this month.
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Adebanjo said: “The one who said ‘it is my turn’ is his agreement with Buhari.
“Emilokan didn’t say it is the turn of the Yoruba. Emilokan’s agreement with Buhari was that when Buhari leaves office, he will take over. (But) were you there when he said that?
“I said before that if Obi does not come in as the president, forget Nigeria. The northern elders now say I want to impose Obi on them. No! They want to impose a northerner on us, and we said no.”
One of the spokespersons for the Tinubu, Shettima Presidential Campaign Council, Festus Keyamo, has claimed his presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu, has no ruling-party advantage in the forthcoming election.
Keyamo also said the opposition should be prepared to accept defeat in good faith.
He wrote, “Since the opposition assumes that the NAIRA redesign policy is targeted at @officialABAT by the ‘powers-that-be’, it’s safe to assume that they now agree that BAT has no ruling-party advantage in this election. In that case, let them be prepared to take their defeat in good faith.”
No fewer than eleven commissioners in Sokoto State have dumped the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.
The development followed an announcement by the state’s Deputy Governor, Manir Muhammad Dan Iya, resigning his membership in the main opposition party.
𝕹𝖔𝖇𝖑𝖊 𝕽𝖊𝖕𝖔𝖗𝖙𝖊𝖗𝖘 𝕸𝖊𝖉𝖎𝖆 had reported that Muhammad made the disclosure in a letter directed to the PDP Ward Chairman of the Kware Ward, Kware Local Government Area of the State.
Reports of the defection hit the media a few hours before the presidential campaign rally of the ruling party.
The APC presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu, and his running mate, Kashim Shettima, are expected to land in the state for the campaign rally on Thursday.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu, on Wednesday hailed the Supreme Court over its ruling on the naira redesign.
A seven-member panel of the apex court had earlier on Wednesday restrained the Federal Government and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) from going ahead with the February 10 deadline for the withdrawal of the old naira notes from circulation was discussed by the two leaders.
The court delivered the ruling in an application filed by Governors Nasir El-Rufai (Kaduna), Yahaya Bello (Kogi), and Bello Matawalle (Zamfara).
The court also adjourned the case to February 15, 2023.
Tinubu, who reacted to the judgement in a statement issued by the Director of Media and Publicity in the APC Presidential Campaign Council, Bayo Omanuga, said the ruling saved Nigeria from anarchy.
The former Lagos State governor charged the Nigerian government to revise the policy in the interest of Nigerians.
He also commended the three APC governors who took the matter to the apex court, saying he was in the presidential race to make life better for Nigerians.
The statement read: “I want to salute the courage of our governors and most especially the progressives governors in APC who acted to save our country from avoidable and dangerous political crises and social unrest which the central bank policy on new naira notes has brought on our country,”
“Our country was dangerously careering toward anarchy and political and economic shutdown. But with the Supreme Court interim ruling, our country has been pulled back from the precipice.
“We thank our Supreme Court justices for ruling wisely on the side of the people who have been subjected to undue agony and pains since this policy was announced.
“The federal government and relevant stakeholders can now sit down and work out a better framework on how to proceed with the new policy without causing any social and economic disruption and inconvenience to our people. We have examples of other countries that have successfully and seamlessly changed their currencies to learn from.
All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has alleged that opposition political parties and enemies of democracy are taking advantage of the current scarcity of fuel and new naira notes to scuttle the forthcoming elections and cause strife in the country.
Tinubu, who addressed journalists in Abuja on Tuesday, said Nigerians must fight the plots and protect the country’s democracy.
The twin crises of fuel and cash scarcity had thrown Nigerians into unprecedented hardships, with some commercial banks accused of hoarding the new notes.
There were also reports of protest in different parts of the country as a result of the frustration resulting from the naira redesign policy recently announced by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
Speaking on the situation in the country, the former Lagos State governor sympathized with Nigerians and called for calm.
He said: “This is a challenging period in the life of our country when our people are made to stay on the line for hours to get fuel and even get their own money from the banks.
“I empathize with Nigerians across the country, especially the poor masses who have been made to bear the brunt and pains of the CBN naira policy and fuel scarcity the most.
“While the government continues to work to solve these problems, let’s stay calm, maintain the peace and continue to shun and avoid any act capable of causing civil unrest and disharmony.
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“What the opposition and enemies of democracy want is to create a state of national siege and tension that can disrupt the coming general election and create an atmosphere of strife in our country.
“We must say no to them. We must be resolute and stand firm to protect our democracy by ensuring we hold our elections in a peaceful and orderly manner. I am in this race to bring renewed hope and prosperity to all Nigerians.
President Muhammadu Buhari said on Saturday he would continue to support the presidential aspiration of the All Progressives Congress (APC) flag bearer, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, ahead of this month’s elections.
The president, according to a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, stated this at the APC presidential campaign rally in Lafia, Nasarawa State.
There are insinuations that the president and other key members of APC have lost confidence in the former Lagos State governor over a number of allegations including certificate forgery, corruption, and drug-related matters hanging on his neck.
The president thanked the party supporters for defying the hot weather to stay in the sun for several hours to express their support for the party’s flag bearers in the elections.
Buhari said: “I congratulate all our party members and assure you that God willing we are going to win through and through.
“As Tinubu said in his speech, I have known him for more than 20 years ago, and I will continue to campaign for Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He is a committed Nigerian and I believe he will give his best to Nigeria.
The leader of Afenifere, a pan Yoruba socio-political organisation, Pa Ayo Adebanjo, on Saturday, took a swipe at the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu, saying Northerners would not vote for him.
Adebanjo also urged Tinubu to quit the race and declare support for his Labour Party (LP) counterpart, Peter Obi.
He spoke alongside another top member of Afenifere, Senator Femi Okunronmu, during the LP presidential campaign rally in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
The campaign rally which held at the Ake Palace ground has in attendance, Obi, his vice presidential candidate, Yusuf Baba-Ahmed Datti, the national Chairman of LP, Julius Abure, and other party leaders.
Addressing the crowd, Adebanjo who spoke in Yoruba, took a swipe at Tinubu, describing him as a failure.
He asked Tinubu to withdraw his candidature and join Obi/Datti movement, saying the North he is banking on, would disappoint him.
The Afenifere leader described the LP as the new the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) which according to him would save Nigerians from the misrule of the APC.
Adebanjo said, “All those that know Tinubu should tell him. I have always told and I will tell him again, the Northers will not vote for him.
“He (Tinubu) should come back home now and support Obi because when they finally defeat him, he won’t have the courage to come back home again, if he comes back now, we will forgive him and take him back.
“I have told you before and I want to say it again, Labour Party is now NADECO, those of us supporting Obi are the ones that want good governance, we want Nigeria to be better, we want to liberate ourselves from the captive of the ruling class.”
Obi had earlier paid a visit to the palace of the Alake and Paramount ruler of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo before addressing hundreds of youths at a town hall meeting held within the premises of the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL).
Speaking at the Alake palace, Obi described Nigeria as one of the most insecure countries of the world “which is no longer in control of your territory”.
He said, “For me, I have served the people of Anambra State and was rated as number 1 in the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the records are there. Even in the areas of education and taking people out of poverty without borrowing a Kobo from anybody and I paid all the pensions being owed before I assumed office.
“So, let presidential candidates come out and show Nigerians what they have done in the past before aspiring to govern the country.
“We are determined for a new Nigeria; we want people who are confident, who are qualified for the job. This year’s elections is very essential, we can no longer be comfortable with incompetence. We want people who will show commitments; this job requires physical and mental energies. So, w want people who are ready for the job. Myself and Datti want to change Nigeria.”
President Muhammadu Buhari says Bola Tinubu, Presidential candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC) in the forthcoming election, has been tested and trusted, calling on the electorates to vote for him as the next president.
The President made the call at the inauguration of the presidential campaign of APC on Saturday in Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital.
Buhari added that he knew Tinubu as a progressive and patriotic Nigerian in the last 20 years who had contributed a lot to democracy in the country.
He said Tinubu had been tested and trusted in the position he held in the past and would replicate and improve upon it if elected as president.
On his part, Tinubu reinstated his commitment to transform the country and reposition it for economic development if elected as president.
Tinubu said that opposition parties and enemies of the country who want to see that there is a crack in APC would wait in vain as the party remains united and stronger.
Former governor of Sokoto, Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa, has expressed his displeasure with Governor Nasir El Rufai of of Kaduna state for saying the north is in support of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Presidential Candidate of the ALl Progressives Congress (APC).
In an interview with BBC, Bafarawa, a chieftain of People Democratic Party (PDP), said other persons from the region were also pushing their candidates.
“He (El-Rufai) was insisting that Tinubu must win the election, whether people like it or not, they have already won. Who told him that the whole of the North is supporting the APC?
“This is just his opinion, in that case, he has no right to insist on the North because everybody has his candidate.
“The way he is campaigning for Tinubu that is how we are campaigning for our candidate. We will shock them, we will make them understand that this country belongs to nobody, likewise the North.” Bafarawa said.
The former governor noted that youngsters who reason well in their youthful exuberance are better than someone who is 100 years if we are to consider age.
“He is talking about being 63, doesn’t he see that there are still elders left in the North? For us, we see that these comments are lacking in responsibility.
“He thinks that we are not elders, he will understand that there are elders in the north. His comments lack being responsible and respectful, What is expected of him are comments that can lead to the development of the North and the development of the country at large.
“El-Rufai talked about contesting for elections and winning, if this is what he referred to as being responsible, we have contested and won before him,” he stated.
Nollywood actress, Eniola Badmus has been appointed to the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign committee.
The thespian, who appeared unconcerned about internet criticism for her support for the APC candidate, was appointed to the Tinubu/Shettima campaign committee as a member of Creative Arts.
“On behalf of APC Presidential Campaign Council (PPC), I humbly wish to inform you of your nomination to serve as Member of the above Directorate. I am to add that your nomination to serve in this capacity is voluntary and a clarion call to National duty. We are grateful that you have joined our campaign team. We know you will do your utmost in this new responsibility so we conduct an effective, message-driven campaign leading us to victory in the 2023 presidential election. Together, not only can we ensure victory for our party in the February 2023 election, but we shall also move Nigeria along the path of national greatness by building on the achievements of our party and the President Muhammadu Buhari administration in providing progressive good governance to Nigerians. All further information pertaining to your Directorate will be communicated to you through your Director”
The All Progressives Congress, APC, presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu has insisted that the Southwest would produce President Muhammadu Buhari’s successor.
Tinubu said the Southwest supported the North to produce a president, hence the region would succeed Buhari in February.
He spoke during his presidential campaign rally in Osogbo, the Osun State capital.
Tinubu said the fuel and currency scarcity would not stop Nigerians from voting him as president come February 25.
“We collaborated with the North to elect a president of the Northern extraction; this time, we (Southwest) will succeed them.
“Nobody smashes the seed from a palm nut by being gentlemanly. We are not bastards. We were the ones that put them there and we will be the ones to succeed them.
“If you say you want to frustrate us, we have come a long way and no matter what you do, we will remain steadfast. We are grateful for the way you trooped out for us”, he said
Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, has said that President Muhammadu Buhari is in total support of the All Progressives Congress, APC, presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu, in the forthcoming election.
Mohammed made this clarification on Thursday in Abuja at the 22nd edition of the PMB Administration Scorecard Series (2015-2023), organised to project the achievements of the Buhari government.
He said in his comment that “the President is committed to a free, fair and credible elections, and that he is doing everything possible to ensure a level-playing field for all contestants”, was misinterpreted by some sections of the media.
“Yesterday, while reacting to a question at the post-Federal Executive Council briefing at the State House, I said, inter alia, that Mr. President is committed to a free, fair and credible elections.
“This comment has been misinterpreted in some circles, especially with regards to Mr. President’s support for the presidential candidate of our party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“I want to say, unequivocally, that Mr. President is in total support of our party’s flag bearer, and that is attested to by his continuing campaign with the candidate across the country.
The Assistant Director, Media and Publicity, Tinubu, Shettima Campaign Council, Biodun Ajiboye, has said the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, and not President Muhammadu Buhari should be held responsible for the poor exchange rate of the Naira against the Dollar.
Ajiboye made the statement on Thursday while fielding questions on Arise Television’s Morning Show.
He accused Emefiele of being a mole working for the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, against the All Progressives Congress, APC-led administration, noting former President Goodluck Jonathan appointed him to achieve a particular purpose.
Ajiboye further added that he would have fired him and taken propositions from other people who can manage the exchange rate properly, if he were the president.
He said, ”An institution manages the exchange rate in question and not the Villa. The institution managing it should take the blame for the unprecedented increase or decrease and for the ability to curtail the exchange rate.
”That the exchange rate is ballooning beyond a reasonable doubt is not entirely the fault of the president or the presidency. But at the same time, if I were the president, for instance, and I see, I feel and know that the exchange rate is going beyond reasonable proportion, I probably would ask the CBN governor, is it that you don’t know what to do? Or what exactly is the problem? If he does not give me a good reason, as chief executive, I will fire him and take propositions from other people who can manage the exchange rate properly.
”I personally don’t see any reason why Emefiele should have continued in the office. Emefiele was a PDP appointee; for whatever reason, President Goodluck Jonathan would not have appointed him if he didn’t suit his purpose. Therefore, I can infer rightly that Emefiele was and is PDP.
“His attempt to join APC and his branded vehicles should mean that, at a time, he probably wanted to cross to APC.”
The All Progressives Congress, APC, presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu has cautioned the people of Anambra State against voting for his counterpart from the Labour Party, LP, Peter Obi.
Tinubu said Obi would deny his promises like the Biblical Peter denied Jesus Christ three times before the cock crowed.
He spoke at his presidential campaign rally at Ekwueme Square in Awka, the Anambra State capital on Tuesday.
Tinubu said a man who kept people at home to suffer could turn around and ask to be voted for.
According to Tinubu: “I’m not afraid of anybody, and I don’t worry. The man who left here, he calls himself Peter Obi. We read in the Bible that before the cock crows three times, he will deny Jesus Christ.
“Before cock crows, he denied. So how can he keep a promise to you? He who cannot keep a promise to God.”
Describing himself as smart, Tinubu said he never closed down any market or killed anybody.
The All Progressives Congress, APC, presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu has cautioned the people of Anambra State against voting for his counterpart from the Labour Party, LP, Peter Obi.
Tinubu said Obi would deny his promises like the Biblical Peter denied Jesus Christ three times before the cock crowed.
He spoke at his presidential campaign rally at Ekwueme Square in Awka, the Anambra State capital on Tuesday.
Tinubu said a man who kept people at home to suffer could turn around and ask to be voted for.
According to Tinubu: “I’m not afraid of anybody, and I don’t worry. The man who left here, he calls himself Peter Obi. We read in the Bible that before the cock crows three times, he will deny Jesus Christ.
“Before cock crows, he denied. So how can he keep a promise to you? He who cannot keep a promise to God.”
Describing himself as smart, Tinubu said he never closed down any market or killed anybody.
The All Progressives Congress, APC, presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu has cautioned the people of Anambra State against voting for his counterpart from the Labour Party, LP, Peter Obi.
Tinubu said Obi would deny his promises like the Biblical Peter denied Jesus Christ three times before the cock crowed.
He spoke at his presidential campaign rally at Ekwueme Square in Awka, the Anambra State capital on Tuesday.
Tinubu said a man who kept people at home to suffer could turn around and ask to be voted for.
According to Tinubu: “I’m not afraid of anybody, and I don’t worry. The man who left here, he calls himself Peter Obi. We read in the Bible that before the cock crows three times, he will deny Jesus Christ.
“Before cock crows, he denied. So how can he keep a promise to you? He who cannot keep a promise to God.”
Describing himself as smart, Tinubu said he never closed down any market or killed anybody.
A support group for the Presidential Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Arewa for Asiwaju has lauded the candidate for speaking out against the January 31st deadline set to end the swap of the old Naira notes.
The group claimed Tinubu’s Abeokuta outburst made the Federal Government extend the deadline to 10th February, saying he saved the nation from going up in flames, as a consequence of the raging public anger that pervaded the atmosphere before the sudden 10 days extension.
The group’s North-Central Coordinator, Aliyu Musa Pass, in a statement, said it is the courageous attitude shown by Tinubu that saved the Nigerian commoner from suffering the pains of the initial timeline set by the Federal Government for the unpopular new currency swap.
The statement explained that Tinubu has proved himself a great statesman by taking the bold and necessary step of alerting on the dangers inherent in the new naira policy, its timing and deadline.
In less than one month to the 2023 presidential election, there are still indications that all may not be well between the presidency and the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu.
Despite being members of the APC, President Muhammadu Buhari, his Vice, Professor Yemi Osinbajo and other members of his cabinet appear to be showing lackadaisical attitudes towards the presidential ambition of the former Lagos State Governor.
Since he started his campaign a few months ago, the presidency has not shown a serious level of commitment towards ensuring the victory of Tinubu and the APC. While Buhari has attended very few campaign rallies, Osinbajo has totally abstained.
Many are yet to understand why those at the Aso Rock Villa, including some leaders of the APC, are not really interested in whether Tinubu wins or not. In fact, there are rumours that some governors are surreptitiously hobnobbing with the opposition ahead of the general election.
As the Jagaban could no longer pretend about the unfavourable development, he was compelled to let the cat out of the bag during his recent visit to Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, exposing the level of infighting tearing the party apart underneath.
Tinubu had tackled the Buhari-led government over the new naira notes redesign and the lingering fuel scarcity, alleging that some individuals were sabotaging his presidential ambition through the two developments.
According to Tinubu, they were deliberately hoarding petrol and naira notes, a situation he speculated was to affect his chances negatively.
“With our PVC, we will wrest power from them. Even if they said there is no fuel, we will trek. They are full of hanky panky. They are cleverly creating fuel scarcity. Let the fuel continue to be scarce, they know where they hoard it.
“You hoard the naira, you hoard fuel, but we will vote and we will win. You can even change the ink on the naira notes, we will win. They sabotage fuel supply. Whether they supply fuel or not, we will go and vote. This is a superior revolution. You know me. We are going to win,” Tinubu said in Yoruba.
After making the statement, the media space was awash with comments from the opposition, who saw Tinubu’s words as an attack on President Buhari and his party, the APC.
The moment he realised the statement could breed chaos within the party, Tinubu and his campaign team immediately embarked on damage control, saying the presidential candidate was actually attacking the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and not the APC-led Federal Government.
But, many are seeking to know if the PDP is in charge of the Ministry of Petroleum or President Buhari. They also want to know if the Central Bank of Nigeria is under the control of the PDP or the Federal Government. The answer to this is clear enough to know who Tinubu was referring to during his campaign in Abeokuta.
The question on the lips of some Nigerians is, why is the presidency less concerned about Tinubu’s presidential race?
Buhari’s anointed candidate
Before the APC primary, there were indications that President Buhari had an anointing candidate among those eyeing the presidential ticket. Apart from Osinbajo, a sizable number of Buhari’s kitchen cabinet members, his allies and others, were in the race for the ticket.
Before the primary, Buhari had met with governors of the party, telling them to allow him choose his successor the same way they choose theirs.
Buhari told the governors: “In keeping with the established internal policies of the party and as we approach the convention in a few days, I wish to solicit the reciprocity and support of the Governors and other stakeholders in picking my successor, who would fly the flag of our party for election into the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in 2023.
“We gave governors re-election tickets or an opportunity to pick their successors; allow me to pick my successor.”
Though Buhari did not name his choice, but as Tinubu realised that he was not likely to be the anointed candidate of Buhari, he began to talk tough.
The Abeokuta comment
In the buildup to the June 2022 APC presidential primary, Tinubu was in Abeokuta to seek the support of party delegates. At the Presidential Lodge in Ibara Housing Estate, where he met party leaders, Tinubu went back memory lane to recount how he helped Buhari to power after the former Army General had cried on live television.
He also said he was the one who nominated Osinbajo to be Buhari’s running mate after Bukola Saraki kicked against the Muslim-Muslim ticket.
Osinbajo, at that time, was also contesting the APC ticket with Tinubu, the main reason he was being described as a “betrayer” in the Tinubu camp.
“He tried the first time and failed. He tried a second time and failed. He tried a third time and failed. He even cried on television that he will never run for president again. I went to meet him and told him this is not a crying matter: ‘we will support you and you will be president’. If not for me, he wouldn’t have become the president,” Tinubu said in Yoruba.
His comment was said to have angered the President and his appointees, who replied Tinubu, telling him not to claim he was the one who single-handedly made Buhari president.
A statement by a presidential media aide, Garba Shehu, partly read: “There are those who advised the president to run again; those who decided to build a political party – the APC – that could finally be the political vehicle capable of delivering victory where all other opposition parties and alliances before it had failed.
“Those decisions may have been agreed upon by a few. But they were delivered by thousands and voted for by tens of millions. No one can or should claim to have made this possible.”
It was believed that Tinubu’s angry comment in Abeokuta in June helped him in getting the APC ticket, as it caused the president to steer clear of whatever happened at the APC convention.
However, it is left to be seen if the latest Abeokuta comment from Tinubu would also earn him a positive action from the presidency
Mammoth residents of Ikorodu Division have expressed support for all the All Progressives Congress, APC candidates in the 2023 general polls
This came as AP, of Ikorodu Division, at the weekend, flagged off its 2023 campaign for candidates vying for various elective positions at all levels of government in Ikorodu Division, Lagos State.
The flag-off ceremony which was held at the Alajede Palace Ijede had in attendance, the Lagos East Senatorial candidate of the party, Senator Mikhail Adetokunbo Abiru FCA; House of Representatives Member, Babajimi Benson, candidate House of Reps, Aro Abiodun AMA, candidate, Ikorodu Constituency II and Gbolahan Ogunleye, candidate, Ikorodu Constituency 1.
People from Igbogbo/Bayieku Local Council Development Area, LCDA, Imota, Ijede, and the entire Ikorodu Division attended the program.
The Apex APC Chairman of the party in Ikorodu Division, Prince Abiodun Ogunleye, a former deputy Governor of the state, while addressing the mammoth crowd, urged all to intensify efforts at ensuring the success of the party at all levels in the 2023 general elections.
Ogunleye who described the pairing of Chief Bola Tinubu and Shettima as the right choice for the country, especially during this trying period stressed the need for members to make it a reality.
He added that candidates of the party at all levels including its governorship candidate, Babajide Sanwo-Olu has political records of excellent performance.
“I urge our people to go and collect their Permanent Voter Cards. This is the only legal weapon to make the dream come to reality,” he said.
The rally which was anchored by the Executive Chairman, Igbogbo/Bayeku Local Council Development Area, LCDA and Director of Local Organising Committee, LOC, Media, Builder Olusesan Daini, saw Senator, Sen.Abiru and Mr Julius Berger of Ikorodu Division, Rep. Benson, appealing passionately with the electorates to double the previous figures of elections in Ikorodu Division. They assured the multitude crowd of effective and more quality representation.
Also, the APC candidate in Ikorodu Constituency II, Abiodun, popularly known as AMA, said his choice of candidate is a divine one, and that he would ensure he put smiles on the faces of the people of Ikorodu Constituency II if elected.
He urged all to come out in large numbers and cast their votes for all APC candidates in February and March polls respectfully.
Other party chieftains in attendance were: Asipa Kaoli, Adebimpe Akinsola, Gbenga Oshin, Chairman Motunrayo Gbadebo-Alogba of Ijede LCDA, Wasiu Adeshina of Ikorodu LG, Adeola Banjo of Ikorodu North, Prince Wasiu Agoro of Imota, Sulaimon Olanrewaju of Ikorodu West LCDA, Prince Segun Ogunlewe, LGAs Chairmen.
Others were: the six Ikorodu Division Council Chairmen who played host to the event, Akinsola Adebimpe, Agboyi-Ketu Local Council Chairman, Mayor Dele Oshinowo, Former Chief Whip of Lagos State House of Assembly, Mr Rotimi Abiru and another party faithful in Ikorodu Division, APC stalwarts, groups, among others
The presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Sunday, said “our wives” selling garden eggs, carrots, roasted corn were most affected by the need to change to the new Naira notes.
Tinubu said this when he took his campaign to Benin City, Edo State, where he held a town hall meeting with political leaders, social groups and professionals from various sectors.
He presented his programmes and called for support for his party in all the elections beginning from February 25.
At the palace of the Oba of Benin where His Majesty, Oba Ewuare II in the company of traditional rulers from Edo Central and Edo North senatorial districts, Tinubu commended President Muhammadu Buhari for agreeing to the extension of the deadline for the changing into the redesigned naira notes.
He said appeals for the extension contributed to his coming late for the meeting.
He also said he would fight for restitution on the artefacts taken away from the City and that part of his programmes, if he wins, is to explore the rich mineral resources in Edo state, particularly gas, to be exported to Europe.
According to him, “My coming late is not intentional, it is because of the national politics.
“Some of our cousins, our wives selling garden eggs, carrots, roasted corn, they need money and they need Naira.
“In the process, if Naira is cancelled the way it is and we fail to intervene, we have failed in our duties.
“We have been on this for three to four days and suddenly today, when the President said okay out of great respect he will consider our request for an extension, we were happy.
“You talked about the education of our children, it is in our work plan and I can tell you as I am standing here the programme is there; education reform will happen.
“We will establish students’ loans and we will minimise the interest rate and we stagger their payments and give parents relief; they don’t have to be slaves to the circumstances.”
Speaking about his development plans, he said: “Benin is the economic centre of this region rich in resources, rich in gas.
“We are working on West Africa gas that will sell in Europe. We would have been making money in this country today if those who said they want power and ruled for 16 years; if they had thought about this, we would have been better
“Nigeria would have been selling gas and the development for Edo would have been different.
“I assure you we are going to mend all those anomalies and Edo will be a centre of economic activities for all.”
For the artefacts, Tinubu said he would support the construction of a museum to house them and would continue to call for restitution from those who have housed them all these years.
“I am here to seek your prayers, I fought for and suffered for democracy in this country, I made sacrifices.
“When we started these eight years, it is only normal to look forward to succession and I told President Buhari that I am running and I am running nowhere.
“I am running for the Villa. When you move out, I want to occupy the place. Therefore I need your blessings, that blessing is important to me.”
On his part, Oba Ewuare II appreciated Tinubu’s planned support for the Museum, which he said would help tourism and research and said the federal government has taken over the building of the museum through the National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM).
He also commended the state government for its support for the museum project.
At the town hall meeting, Tinubu said he would ensure total deregulation of the oil sector so market forces would determine the price of oil products depending on the location.
He said his administration would ensure all the refineries work and should not allow other parties like the PDP to power
Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has discharged any insinuation of friction in his relationship with President Muhammadu Buhari, insisting his support for the president is unalloyed and enduring.
Tinubu stated this while addressing the APC rally in Gusau, the Zamfara State capital, on Saturday.
The former Lagos State governor also promised to tackle problems bedevilling the state and enhancing agricultural productivity.
Tinubu thanked the people of Zamfara State and key party leaders for the warm welcome and their continued support for the APC.
He said, “I have supported President Buhari even before his first day in office. I will continue to be his supporter and friend after his last day in office.
“He tackled the problems other leaders ran from. He has earned a place in history that cannot be denied.
“I have said this before and will say it again now: when the true history of this moment is written, President Buhari shall be treated very kindly because of his contributions to the nation.”
Tinubu also said Buhari and Governor Bello Matawalle had been doing their best to end the banditry problem, pledging to consolidate the gains recorded.
He added, “My security plan will empower all branches of security forces. We’ll use modern air and ground technology to trace and capture these criminals.”
Bola Tinubu, the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has said the validation of Adegboyega Oyetola as the winner of the July 2022 Osun governorship election by the tribunal is a victory of light over darkness.
𝕹𝖔𝖇𝖑𝖊 𝕽𝖊𝖕𝖔𝖗𝖙𝖊𝖗𝖘 𝕸𝖊𝖉𝖎𝖆 had reported on Friday that the Osun State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Osogbo overturned the victory of Governor Ademola Adeleke at the July 16th 2022, governorship polls.
Singer 9ice has explained why he will be voting for APC’s presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu in the upcoming general elections.
In a recent interview, 9ice disclosed that Tinubu won his heart by asking for his phone number during a gathering. He recalled how among the other performers on stage, Tinubu chose him and requested his phone number.
The singer admitted that he was taken aback by the request given that there were other A-list Nigerian artists. He continued by saying that Jagaban’s request had made him understand how capable a leader he is and how, if elected, he would be to the people.
Actress Bimbo Akintola gives reasons why Tinubu is the best presidential candidate for Nigeria This is coming after actress Bimbo Akintola also joined the list of celebrities declaring love and support for the presidential aspirant, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
In an interview with TVC ‘Your View’, Bimbo stated that she wouldn’t be bullied into disassociating herself from Tinubu’s campaign party.
Bimbo Akintola boldly stated that she is working for Tinubu, while pointing out his unique qualities which makes him the most suitable.
According to her, Tinubu builds talent and has contributed to the growth of many in the industry, but political and entertainment wise. She noted how he was the one who took care of Moji Olaiya’s bills when she died and how he has helped many in the industry, without knowing them.
Bimbo added that she knows the APC presidential candidate has vision for Nigeria and would uplift the country.
She said,
“I am working for Asiwaju.
Asiwaju builds talent. He finds people who can do things. Look at his cabinet – Fashola, Osinbajo were part of his cabinet and so many others.
He has supported our industry. When we lost Moji Olaiya, he flew her in from overseas and paid for everything.
I know he has a vision for the country. When he comes and we see the people he would work with, we would be excited.
A suit filed by a group seeking the disqualification of the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu, from the 2023 general elections, has been dismissed by a Federal High Court in Abuja, on Friday.
Justice Binta Nyako, in the judgment, held that the plaintiff, the Incorporated Trustees of Kingdom Human Rights Foundation International, lacked the locus standi (legal right) to institute the case.
“The issue of locus standi of the applicant is a threshold issue because anything conduct without locus will be a nullity and it will be set aside,” she said.
Justice Nyako held that the plaintiff, having not been a political party nor a member of APC, had no legal right to file the action.
The judge, who also described the suit as “an abuse of court process,” condemned the plaintiff for filing multiple suits with similar reliefs.
She said that Justice Inyang Ekwo of FHC had, on December 15, 2022, delivered a judgment in a similar suit during which it was dismissed.
Nyako observed that the earlier suit before Ekwo and the instant suit had the same reliefs though the names of the parties were slightly different.
“Consequently , the case is hereby dismissed for being an abuse of court process,” she declared.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the group had sued the INEC chairman, the APC, and Tinubu as first to third defendants respectively.
The group, in an originating motion on notice marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1960/22, sought an order of mandamus directing INEC to exercise its statutory power in accordance with Section 84(13) of the Electoral Act 2022 to immediately expunge Tinubu’s name from its final list of presidential candidates contesting the 2023 poll.
The group alluded its ground to the failure of the APC to comply with the mandatory provisions of Section 91(3) of Electoral Act 2022 which stipulates that a political party shall not receive any contribution of cash or kind exceeding N50 million without showing the source of the contribution to INEC, among others.
But Tinubu, through his counsel, Karma Fagbemi, told Justice Nyako that the plaintiff was a meddlesome interloper who was neither a political party nor a candidate in the poll.
He said the plaintiff lacked locus standi to institute the case, which invariably challenged the political party’s decision and its internal affairs.
Tinubu, in a preliminary objection filed by his lead counsel, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, prayed the court to dismiss the suit for being incompetent.
Giving a 14-ground argument, the lawyer said the subject matter of the suit was a challenge of his client’s eligibility in contesting for the 2023 presidential election on the ground that the APC failed and/or neglected to identify the source of the N100 million which he paid for his expression of interest and nomination form.
He described the suit as non-justifiable.
APC lawyer, Ibrahim Audu, also spoke in the same vein
The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, on Friday, declined to issue an order of mandamus to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to expunge the name of the flag-bearer of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Bola Tinubu, from list of qualified candidates for the forthcoming presidential election.
The court, in a judgement that was delivered by Justice Binta Nyako, dismissed the suit which accused the APC of failing to comply with mandatory provisions of section 90 (3) of the Electoral Act, 2022, in nominating Tinubu as its presidential candidate.
The suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1960/2022, was brought before the court by a non-governmental organization under the aegis of the Incorporated Trustees of Kingdom Human Rights Foundation International.
Justice Nyako held that the plaintiff, not being a registered political party in the country, lacked the locus-standi (legal right) to institute the action.
The court noted that the plaintiff had earlier filed a similar suit that was dismissed for want of merit.
Though the court accused the plaintiff of engaging in an abuse of the judicial process through multiplicity of actions, it however commended its lawyer, Mr. Jideobi Johnmary for his erudition.
According to the court, since the plaintiff had no right to file the action, there was no need to consider any of the issues it raised against Tinubu.
Specifically, the plaintiff had prayed the court for; “A declaration that having regard to the clear, unambiguous and express provisions, sprit and tenor of Section 90 (3) read alongside section 84 (13) of the Electoral Act 2022, the 1st defendant, has deliberately refused to exercise the powers, mandate and statutory duty/obligation bestowed on him in section 84 (13) of the Electoral Act 2022, to immediately exclude, expunge and remove the 3rd defendant’s name Bola Ahmed Tinubu from the final list of presidential candidates contesting the 2023 presidential election for failure of the 2nd Defendant to comply with the mandatory provisions of section 90 (3) of the Electoral Act 2022.
“A declaration that by operation of law and having regard to the clear, unambiguous and express provisions, sprit and tenor of Section 90 (3) read alongside section 84 (13) of the Electoral Act 2022, the 3rd defendant Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is not a candidate for the 2023 Presidential election, and he is automatically excluded, expunged, and removed from participating in the 2023 presidential election for failure of the 2nd Defendant to comply with the mandatory provisions of section 90 (3) of the Electoral Act 2022 in nominating the 3rd defendant as its presidential candidate.
“An order of mandamus directing and compelling 1st defendant to exercise the powers, mandate and statutory duty/ obligation bestowed on him in section 84 (13) of the Electoral Act 2022, to immediately exclude, expunge and remove the 3rd Defendant’s name Bola Ahmed Tinubu from the final list of presidential candidates contesting the 2023 presidential election for failure of the 2nd Defendant to comply with the mandatory provisions of section 90 (3) of the Electoral Act 2022 in nominating the 3rd defendant as its presidential candidate”.
As well as, “An order nullifying and setting aside as illegal, null and void, the nomination of the 3rd defendant as the presidential candidate of the 2nd defendant for failure of the 2nd defendant to comply with the mandatory provisions of section 90 (3) of the Electoral Act 2022”.
On grounds upon which it instituted the action, the plaintiff argued that by the provision of section 90 (3) of the 2022 Electoral Act, no political party in Nigeria is allowed to receive any contribution, of cash or kind, exceeding N50million, without showing the source of the contribution to INEC.
However, both the APC and Tinubu, who were cited in the suit as 2nd and 3rd Defendants, filed preliminary objections to challenge the competence of the suit.
The Defendants described the suit as non-justiciable, adding that it was statute barred since it was not filed within 14 days after Tinubu’s name was submitted to the INEC.
Consequently, they prayed the court to decline jurisdiction and dismiss the suit
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