Politics
2023: You’ll Be Shocked; Labour Party Replies People Criticising Obasanjo’s Endorsement Of Obi
Published
1 year agoon
By
EditorThe Labour Party has reacted to claims by the opposition that the endorsement of the presidential candidate of the LP, Peter Obi, by former president Olusegun Obasanjo, was worthless.
The Spokesperson of the Obi-Datti Presidential Campaign Council, Yinusa Tanko, told The PUNCH, that those who said so would be shocked.
He disclosed these on the backdrop of the recent backlash on Obasanjo’s statements at the Nigeria Leadership series, a digital event organised by the Africa Leadership Group on Thursday. The event was monitored by our correspondent.
READ ALSO: 2023: How Previous Presidential Candidates Endorsed By Obasanjo Fared
Obasanjo said at the ALG event that he would neither be joining the campaign train of Obi nor would he be mobilising other former presidents and statesmen for him.
The former president also stressed that he endorsed Obi because he felt that he had an edge over other presidential candidates in the areas of character, track record, vision, and physical and mental ability.
Taking a cue from a viral video of a preacher who asked his congregation to vote for people whose values they would like to have in their children, Obasanjo asked Nigerians to vote for the presidential candidate whose values they would want their children to emulate in the future.
In response to criticism of Obasanjo’s endorsement, Tanko said that his endorsement shows that he is a patriot who was willing to bring the country “out of the woods,” and transform it by making sure that power does not reside with corrupt and reportedly unhealthy persons.
When asked whether Obasanjo has not taken further steps to promote his choice, Tanko said, “He has been more obedient than any other person, so anybody cannot undermine the contribution of Obasanjo.
“The simple fact that he is determined to take Nigeria out of the woods, he reached out. You will be surprised by the level of reaching out that Obasanjo has done. He has reached out to a lot of Nigerians and they are working very hard to ensure that Peter Obi gets all the support he needs.”
He also noted the same people who are trying to diminish the weight of Obasanjo’s endorsement were also “jostling, and struggling,” before his endorsement letter to make sure he endorsed them.
READ ALSO: Obasanjo, Clark’s Obi Endorsement Road To Tinubu’s Victory – Keyamo
While reacting to the statement that Obasanjo could not win his ward for Obi at the general elections, Tanko said, “They will be so shocked with regards to winning his ward, this is somebody that connects both local and international communities.
“He is known for his vision, determination, doggedness, and love for Nigeria.
“He has spoken and the country is already shaking. If he is not that important why would his words make so much tremour nationwide, especially when he is talking to the Nigerian Youth–they appreciate and respect his words. They are ready to go.”
PUNCH
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Politics
JUST IN: Former Deputy Gov, Ajayi Agboola Wins Ondo PDP Primary
Published
7 mins agoon
April 25, 2024By
EditorA former deputy governor in Ondo state, Hon Ajayi Agboola has won the ongoing People’s Democratic Party governorship primary election in the state.
He polled 264 votes of the 621 votes cast during the contest.
The former Scretary General of the Pan Yoruba Socio-Political Group, Afenifere, Chief Sola Ebiseni may come second in the contest.
READ ALSO: BREAKING: Aiyedatiwa Sweeps Ondo APC’s Governorship Primary Election [See results…]
Agboola was the former deputy governor to the late governor Rotimi Akeredolu before they parted ways following irreconcilable differences.
Attempt to impeach Ajayi during the crisis between him and the late Akeredolu failed
Details later.
Politics
Edo Guber: Why I Want To Become Governor – APGA Candidate, Osifo
Published
3 days agoon
April 23, 2024By
EditorBy Joseph Ebi Kanjo
The Edo State All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, governorship candidate in the forthcoming election, Dr. Isaiah Osifo, has said the yearning by Edo people for good leadership propelled him to join the race.
The former Chief of Staff to Prof. Oserheimen Osunbor, who lamented that Edo State has been lacking good leaders for long, promised to deliver good governance if elected into office.
Dr. Osifo stated this during a chat with journalists in Benin City, the Edo State capital, over the weekend.
Rolling out some qualities expected of a good leader, the APGA governorship candidate said: “Many people have asked me why am I contesting? I have several reasons for contesting this election.”
He continued: “What is lacking in Edo State and in African democracy is good leadership. And that is what we’ve been battling with in Africa and Edo State.
“We have an abundance of young men and women, patriotic and talented young men and women that are ready to work. But what is lacking now is good leadership.
READ ALSO: Rivers Crisis: Again, Amaewhule-led Assembly Overrides Fubara, Passes LG Bill Into Law
“It is that good leadership that’s motivating me to contest the election so that I can feel that gap; that vacuum of lack of good leadership. I said this repeatedly, and God has been so wonderful to me.”
“So, good leadership is needed for Edo State to develop. Good leadership is needed for Edo State to have democracy, because we already have the grace of God upon our life.”
Speaking on how some Edo South Elders are making moves to get the best candidate on board, Osifo noted: “When I met with them I told them there are three things that can make a state to be great: The grace of God; hardworking men and women, patriotism, and of course good leadership.”
He said in Edo people’s bid to elect a good leader in the September 21st governorship election, they must look out for three qualifications, viz: legal, political and moral qualifications, boasting that he is the only candidate that possessed all these qualifications.
READ ALSO: Edo Guber Final List : Group Knocks LP, Commends, INEC, Yakubu
He added: “Legal question: Now, you must meet some requirements as a law for you to contest as governor. You cannot go to the Oko prison to go and bring an ex-convict to contest for an election. The law does not allow it. A child that is 30 or 35 years below cannot contest for governor because the law says he must be above 35 years as a necessary requirement. That is a legal qualification.
“Session 182 of the constitution is so clear that if you have sworn to an oath of allegiance to a foreign country or to a foreign power, you are not qualified to contest for any public office.
“Ethically, a politician or a public servant who has sworn to an oath of allegiance is a traitor. Because patriotism is what defines citizenship. So, if you go and swear to an oath of allegiance to a foreign power, it shows you are a traitor. The Nigerian constitution forbids it. And that if you have sworn to an oath of office to a foreign power or country, you are not qualified to hold any public office.
READ ALSO: Edo Guber: Labour Party Faults INEC Final List
“If you have sworn to an oath of office to foreign power and are still going about telling Edo people to vote for you, you are not going to be a good leader, because you have already lied, liars are not good leaders.”
He continued: “Political qualification: Franchise is defined as a right to vote and to be voted for. For you to be a candidate, you must be a voter here in Edo State. Now, if you have never voted in Edo state, and you are now trying to struggle to get a fresh voter card or to do a transfer, politically you are not qualified to run in this election.
“Moral qualification: I come from a cultural background, whereby a popular adage says you don’t use a stranger to make a head of a community. If you are an Edo man but you have not lived here before as an adult, your family is not here, your children don’t attend any school here, your wife does not go to any market here in Edo State, and you want to be governor, governor over who? “
Politics
Edo Guber Final List : Group Knocks LP, Commends, INEC, Yakubu
Published
3 days agoon
April 23, 2024By
EditorA youth group within the Edo State Labour Party (LP), on Monday, commended the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and Professor Mahmood Yakubu for adhering strictly to the rule of law in deepening democracy particularly in the party’s candidates list ahead of the September governorship election.
in Edo State (SYEG), Tuesday has commended the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC and Professor Mahmood Yakubu for adhering strictly to the rule of law in deepening democracy in Edo State Labour Party’s candidates list ahead of the September governorship election.
The statement by SYEG came in reaction to an earlier statement by the Edo State chairman of LP, Kelly Ogbaloi who faulted INEC’s listing Oluyinka Faith Alufohai as the running mate to Olumide Akpata.
A statement signed by chairman of the group, Comrade Jonah Ifada and Secretary, Osagie Omoregie also knocked the Edo State chairman of the party over his rejection of INEC final list and reminded the party that what the electoral body has done was in accordance with the law, hence deserves commendation.
READ ALSO: Edo Guber: INEC Releases Final List Of Candidates
The body under the umbrella ‘Shine Your Eyes Group’, also noted that what has become the lot and tragedy for the Labour Party in Edo State was a clear reflection of the shambles primary it conducted in the state where the “wishes of party’s faithful were subverted by those entrusted to run the affairs of the party.”
Ifada in a widely circulated statement in Benin noted, “Our attention has been drawn to the ranting by the Edo State chairman of the Labour Party, Kelly Ogbaloi, rejecting the nomination of Oluyinka Faith Alufohai in INEC announced final list of candidates as ludicrous.
“We want to state equivocally and remind Ogbaloi that INEC is not like the Labour party and that what INEC has done was in line with the rule of law and deserves commendation for being vigilance and thorough.
“We had warned the Labour Party to play by the rules of the game but they choose to bow to the weight of naira and dollars to subvert democracy and the wishes of our people.
READ ALSO: Edo Guber: Labour Party Faults INEC Final List
“As stakeholders, we are however confident that the abnormality by the party would be corrected by the court as we have it on good authority that one of the aspirants, Barrister Kenneth Imansuangbon has gone to court to seek interpretation of the constitution as regards issues in the party’s primary.”
Recall that Imansuangbon in his petition stated that Barrister Olumide Akpata committed a horde of offences ranging from giving false information to the acquisition of citizenship of another country, which is a grand departure from the Nigerian Constitution’s accepted norms.
On the allegation of false information, Barrister Imansuangbon alleged that Barrister Akpata, while filling INEC form EC 9 “stated his name to be Akpata Olumide Anthony which is different from and not the same as Akpata Olumide Osaigbovo” which he earlier stated on oath to be his name and under which he contested and reportedly won the primary election of the LP.
Imansuangbon wanted the court to determine whether Akpata “has not supplied or otherwise given false information to the INEC within the meaning or contemplation of the provisions of section 29(5) of the Electoral Act 2022 read together with section 182(1) (a) and (j) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).”
READ ALSO: Okuama-Ewu identifies 11 persons Killed By Military, 413 Houses Destroyed
On Akpata taking an oath of allegiance of Vanuatu, an independent and sovereign nation, Imansuangbon wanted clear interpretation of the Nigerian constitution to know if Akpata’s “claim on oath, in the said INEC form EC 9 that he has not voluntarily acquired the citizenship of another country is not or does not amount to false information, within the meaning of the provisions of section 29(5) of the Electoral Act, 2022, read together with section 182(1) (a) and (j) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria(as amended).”
On Oluyinka Faith Alufokhai, “who is parading herself” as the running mate of Barrister Akpata, the petitioner cited some information that she supplied in INEC form EC 9 which do not add up. The information includes that “she was born in 1981 and that she obtained her First School Leaving Certificate in the same year of her birth.
“Her name is Alufokhai Oluyinka Faith while her former name was Ikheafe and she obtained three certificates namely OND, HND and PGD the same year, 2005.”
JUST IN: Former Deputy Gov, Ajayi Agboola Wins Ondo PDP Primary
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