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2023: Obasanjo Lobbies Political, Tribal, Religious Leaders

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…Summons 2-day Meeting

As political permutations for 2023 begin to take shape, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, is taking a proactive step to galvanise former political leaders, tribal and religious leaders to play active roles in the next political dispensation.

The former President, it was learnt, is mobilising the major stakeholders to a two-day strategic political consultation with top leaders drawn from all parts of the country between December 14 and 15, 2021 in Abuja.

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READ ALSO: Trump Slams Netanyahu For Congratulating Biden On Electoral Victory

Before delving into the politics of 2023, Sunday Vanguard learnt that the former head of state, wants to use the first meeting to sensitise the participants on the state of insecurity in the country and then latch on their response to fire some salvo.

A top source close to the meetings, confirmed to Subday Vanguard that letters for the meeting had already been despatched to some of the key the stakeholders but that the security agencies were concerned about the timing of the meetings given the heightened tension in the country.

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The planned meetings are coming after an earlier meeting in August during which a communique was to be delivered to incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari.

Inexplicably, the outcome of the August barley was merely shared with some former heads of state and other religious and tribal leaders across the country.

But the source is certain a definite message will be delivered to the government after next week’s meeting of the religious, tribal and political leaders in Abuja.

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It was not clear as at the time of filing the report last night if security agents had cleared the meetings though a source said Nigeria is a democratic nation and everyone is free to meet and discuss freely.

 

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APC Defeats NNPP In Kano Re-run Election

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The All Progressives Congress (APC) has defeated the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) in the Ghari/Tsanyawa supplementary re-run election in Kano State.

Announcing the result on Sunday, the Returning Officer, Prof. Muhammad Waziri of Bayero University, declared APC’s Garba Gwarmai winner with 31,472 votes, ahead of NNPP’s Yusuf Maigado, who polled 27,931 votes.

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The supplementary election was conducted after the initial poll was declared inconclusive.

READ ALSO:By-election: INEC Staff, Politician Caught With Huge Cash In Ogun [VIDEO]

Hon. Gwarmai’s 3,541-vote lead marks a significant victory for the APC, further consolidating its political foothold in the state.

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According to Tribune Online, the All Progressives Congress (APC), Kano State Chapter, had expressed concerns over alleged irregularities in the rerun elections for Ghari/Takai and Bagwai/Shanono Constituencies.

 

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Obi Blames Tinubu For 70% Investment Crash

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The 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has accused President Bola Tinubu’s administration of presiding over what he described as “a collapse in foreign direct investment.”

He blamed what he called “poor leadership, weak governance, and uncoordinated reforms” for the country’s economic woes.

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Obi, in a statement shared on official X (formerly Twitter) handle on Friday, noted that going by fresh figures from the National Bureau of Statistics, FDI into Nigeria plunged by about 70 per cent in the first quarter of 2025, falling to $126.29m from $421.8m recorded in the last quarter of 2024.

While the President, ministers, and other government officials continue their global galivanting in search of FDI, our poor performance in key governance indicators – such as rule of law, regulatory quality, government effectiveness, and voice and accountability – continues to prove that you cannot attract sustainable foreign investment with poor leadership and governance,” Obi wrote.

READ ALSO:Jonathan, Obi Can’t Match APC’s Strength For 2027 – Mustapha Salihu

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While noting that the country’s investment inflows were largely speculative, Obi said, “Of the total capital importation of about $5.64 bn in Q1 2025, FDI accounted for only about 2.24 per cent, compared to 8.2 per cent in Q4 2024.

“Disturbingly, about 90 per cent of the imported capital went into speculative money market instruments, with negligible impact on industrial growth or job creation, given the ease with which such ‘hot money’ can exit the economy.”

He argued the sharp drop in manufacturing inflows further underscored the lack of investor confidence in the country.

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Capital flows to the manufacturing sector declined by 32.1 per cent, falling to only $129.92 million in Q1 2025 from $191.92 million in the same quarter of 2023. There is no better confirmation of the lack of trust in this government, whose reforms remain uncoordinated and largely reactive,” he said.

READ ALSO:One Dead, Five Injured In Kogi Road Crash

The former Anambra State governor further compared the country’s performance with other African nations that recorded major gains.

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In 2024, while global FDI flows declined, Africa’s FDI rose by about 75 per cent to $97 billion,” he stated.

Egypt alone attracted $46.58 billion. Ethiopia received $3.98 billion, Côte d’Ivoire $3.80 billion, Mozambique $3.55 billion, Uganda $3.30 billion, DR Congo $3.11 billion, South Africa $2.47 billion, Namibia $2.06 billion, Senegal $2.02 billion, Guinea $1.83 billion, and Morocco $1.64 billion.”

According to him, Nigeria has been left trailing far behind.

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READ ALSO:Presidency In Nigeria Should Be Five-year Single Tenure — Peter Obi

Most disappointingly, our dear nation, the so-called ‘Giant of Africa,’ received only $1.08 billion – about one per cent of Africa’s total FDI – representing a decline of about 42 per cent from 2023. Worse still, after that 42 per cent drop between 2023 and 2024, FDI to Nigeria has further declined by 75 per cent between Q4 2024 and Q1 2025,” Obi lamented.

He warned that unless Nigeria fixed its governance problems, it would continue to lose investment to more stable African economies.

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We cannot achieve sustainable growth and development with ineffective leadership and a weak government,” he said.

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By-election: Edo Deputy Gov Lauds Credible Process, Encourages Voters

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Edo State Deputy Governor, Dennis Idahosa, on Saturday commended the impressive turnout of voters in the ongoing by-election for the Ovia Federal Constituency seat in the House of Representatives.

Idahosa gave the commendation after casting his ballot at Unit 3, Old Education Board, Iguobazuwa West Ward, Ovia South-West Local Government Area.

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He described the process as seamless, peaceful, and encouraging.

Edo Deputy Governor, Dennis Idahosa, on the queue at the Ovia Federal Constituency to cast his vote.

READ ALSO:By-election: PDP, APC Exchange Words Over Alleged Plan To Disrupt Poll

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“I must commend the people for coming out in large numbers to vote. So far, everything is going well. We are expecting free, fair, and credible elections. Ovia people will be happy with the outcome. I am calling on more voters to come out and perform their civic duties.

“I just voted and I am going home while I wait for the result,” he said.

Meanwhile, at Okada West Ward Units 1, 4, and 6, voters were seen in long queues waiting to cast their ballots.

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