Politics

2023: ACF Chieftain Blasts Adebanjo, Clark, Others Over Zoning

Published

2 years ago

May 23, 2022

Editor

Immediate past Secretary-General of the Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, Mr. Anthony Sani, Monday, counselled advocates of zoning to stop overheating the polity ahead of the 2023 general elections, noting that elective positions, particularly the office of the President can only be negotiated through lobby of the various ethnic nationalities that make up the country.

This is even as the elder statesman urged pro zoning individuals and groups to realize that political parties are at liberty to adopt any position they believe will win them votes, given that the primary motive for the establishment of political parties, particularly in third world countries like Nigeria, is to gain political power.

Vanguard reports that recently, eminent Nigerians including leader of Ijaw nation, Chief Edwin Clark and foremost Afenifere chieftain, Ayo Adebanjo warned of the dangerous consequences of jettisoning zoning of the Presidential ticket by the All Progressives Congress, APC and the opposition, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in the 2023 polls.

Responding to the communiqué signed by the Southern and Middle Belt Forum calling for the zoning of the exalted office to the South; Sani advised the elder statesmen to be guided by history in their public utterances.

He said: “When the socio-cultural groups in the Southern and the Middle Belt Forum repeatedly assert in their recent communiqué that any jettisoning of politics of identity symbolized by rotation of the Presidency between the North and the South-which they alleged is a tradition- would spell doom for the unity, harmony and stability of the country and feign ignorance of fact of history that in 2003, General Muhammadu Buhari from the North contested with President Olusegun Obasanjo from the South, and in 2011 and 2015, President Goodluck Jonathan from the South contested with Buhari from the North; one begins to wonder because if rotation of the Presidency between the North and the South is a tradition as alleged, situations where a Northerner would contest against a Southerner would not arise.

“When such groups who profess to be jaunty face of democratic values begin to rewrite history in furtherance of their preferences, it means such groups can redefine democracy premised on triple foundation of justice, liberty and common decency in furtherance of their preferences.

“I say this because if such groups regard themselves as embodiment of national ideals and moral values shared by most Nigerians, they are at liberty to cause their preferences of politics of identity to become national consensus which are binding on the political parties rather than rewriting history.

“In the absence of such national consensus, they should design their winning game plans and use it to canvass for the needed electoral mandate. After all, the constitution does not make it possible for any region’s vote alone to produce the President.

“This is because the President must not only get majority vote but meets the requirement of spread by getting at least 25 per cent of the votes in each of at least 25 states. The North has only 19 states and the South only 17 states, which means the two regions must necessarily come together to produce the President.”

The PDP has since thrown its Presidential ticket open in total negligence of calls to have it zoned to the South. Although, it appears the APC may go south; the Abdullahi Adamu-led National Working Committee of the party is yet to take a firm stand on the issue.

VANGUARD.

Related Topics:ACF Adebanjo Clark Zoning

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Politics

Group Says Court Would Rectify LP Primary Infractions In Favour Of Imansuangbon

Published

14 hours ago

May 9, 2024

Editor

A pressure group under the umbrella of Shine Your Eyes Group, (SYEG) has asked Edo Labour Party in the state to save the party and its candidate, Olumide Akpata, from legal embarrassment over the weighty allegations as contained in the petition filed against his emergence by Barrister Kenneth Imansuangbon, than attacking the SYEG over it position.

The group said the major issues before the court for determination among others is whether in substituting his deputy Alufokhai Oluyinka Faith he complied within the time limit and the constitution.

In a statement endorsed by the group’s coordinator, Comrade Jonah Ifada and Secretary Osagie Omoregie, said INEC should not be blamed for any perceived infraction by the party, adding that the electoral body did not nominate Alufokhai for the LP in the first place.

Ifada argued, “What Imansuangbon in his application is asking the court to determine is whether the party followed the normal National Working Committee, NWC’s approval?

“Whether the mandatory signatories by Abure and the National secretary was obtained and if the answer are in the negative then Akpata does not have a substitution and therefore not a candidate of the LP in the eyes of the law.”

Ifada said the APC and PDP are keenly watching and waiting in the wings for the party to make this grievous mistake adding that the Supreme Court judgment in Bayelsa was very explicit and in line with section 29 of the electoral act.

“We want to say with due respect to our judges that the world is watching and that if Donald Trump can be brought to trial before the watchful eyes of the world Olumide can’t use the court to legitimate his error and Nigeria need to move with the rest of the world and respect of rule of law and democracy.

“Olumide among others pledged oath of allegiance to another country called Vanuate which is against Section 182 of our constitution. Imansuangbon is not contending that he was born in Germany but our Country is against his voluntary oath of allegiance to another country.

“We want to remind him that he cannot appropriate and reprobate at the same time. In the coming days, activities in Vanuate will be revealed to Nigerians and the world,” he added.

It further noted that it is not the turn of Edo South and that was why the APC and PDP went to Edo Central to nominate their candidates.

The group also reminded the LP publicity secretary, Comrade Sam Uroupa that Shine Your Group he attempted to deride in his watery statement is an existing body that includes all ‘mama, ‘papa, pikin and those who want a better Edo state are members of the body and are in the majority.

Politics

Edo Poll: PDP Gubernatorial Aspirant Resigns From Party

Published

2 days ago

May 7, 2024

Editor

Felix Akhabue, a former gubernatorial aspirant for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the September 21, Edo State election, has resigned from the party.

Akhabue was among the 10 aspirant who contested the party’s primary election in February and protested against the conduct of its ward and local government congresses.

Akhabue, a former, chairman of Esan West Local Government Area as well as Commissioner for Wealth Creation, Cooperative and Industry in Governor Godwin Obaseki’s first tenure, dumped the party in a letter dated May 6, 2024, and addressed to the Ward 7 chairman of the party in Esan West local Government Area.

Politics

Edo Poll: Akoko-Edo PDP Leaders Meet Deputy Gov, Pledge Massive Votes For Ighodalo

Published

2 days ago

May 7, 2024

Editor

Leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Akoko-Edo Local Government Area of Edo State Tuesday assured the Deputy Governor of the state, Marvellous Omobayo, of their preparedness to deliver block votes to the party’s governorship candidate, Barrister Asue Ighodalo in the forthcoming September 21st governorship election.

The leaders who came from ward (4), (3) and ward (5) was led by Comrade Princeswill Ogunnubi (ward 4), said Akoko-Edo, since the appointment of their kinsman as deputy governor, Akoko-Edo is a no go area for the opposition All Progressives Congress in the state, just as he predicted victory for the PDP.

Ogunnubi, who spoke during a courtesy call on the deputy governor at his office on a solidarity visit, noted that the visit was imperative to assure the number two citizen of the state of their readiness towards the continuity of the PDP in the state beyond 2024.

He said. “We are not just here today in solidarity with you on your appointment but to also assure you of our unalloyed support to deliver on the political trust and confidence reposed in you by the governor on your appointment.

“You can see that since your assumption as the deputy governor the youth of the state that forms majority of the voting population are excited and solidly behind you to see that you succeed and as a people are eternally grateful to Governor Godwin Obaseki.

“It is on record that we have never had it this good apart from the statutory elective political offices. The time has come for us to compensate the governor by delivering Barrister Asue Ighodalo as the next governor of the Edo State.”

Also on the visit, Mr Ernest Akpaja, another leader, stressed on the need for all party members to close rank and join forces in the task ahead.

“This appointment is a testament to the Governor’s commitment to diversity and inclusiveness. We believe Deputy Governor Godwin will make significant contributions to advancing the governor’s development agenda,” Akpaja said.

Omobayo who was elated at the visit, appealed to the leaders to sustain the unity of purpose in ensuring that Akoko-Edo is solidly “PDP and PDP is Akoko-Edo.”

While thanking the leaders remarked, “Without mincing words, I can assure you that Akoko-Edo will get more positions under the PDP if voted back into power. More better days ahead for our people.”