Politics

Anglican Church Knocks APC Over Muslim-Muslim Ticket

Published

2 years ago

July 27, 2022

The Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), on Wednesday, gave serious knock on the All Progressives Congress for insisting on a Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket, despite general outcry.

The church said it was irresponsible of the APC to place its political survival over the stability and peace of Nigeria.

The Anglican Bishop of Kubwa Diocese, Rev. Dr. Duke Akamisoko, stated these in an interview with journalists during the 2022 Pre-Synod briefing which was held in Abuja.

He described the party’s same-faith ticket as totally unacceptable to the Anglican Communion; adding that it constituted “a gross abuse of our collective sensitivity as a nation.”

Akamisoko said, “Muslim-Muslim ticket at a time like this is a demonstration of insensitivity to the plurality of religion; the polarised nature of Nigeria; the plight of Christians in Nigeria and the feelings of Christians in Northern Nigeria etc.

“In fact, it is a direct insult on the entire Christendom. The APC has made a choice; it is left to Christians in Nigeria to also make their choice.

“There can never be a rational explanation for such a selfish, greedy and self-centered decision by the APC. It is irresponsible of the APC to take its political survival over the stability and peace of Nigeria.

“The party ought to have taken a cue from the opposition against his vice presidential ambition and how President Muhammadu Buhari opted for a Christian running mate in 2015 instead of the Muslim-Muslim ticket.

“A Muslim-Muslim ticket is the greatest insult on the Christian community, especially in the Northern region. Is APC saying that there is no Northern Christian who is intelligent enough to be its running mate? Is APC saying that there is no Northern Christian who has a political value to deliver victory to it? Definitely, the answer is NO.”

He also spoke on other burning issues of national interest such as the lingering industrial action by university lecturers, insecurity, anti-graft war, the 2023 general election among others.

ASUU Strike
On the five-month-old strike by varsity workers, the Anglican Bishop warned that any country that did not take the education of its youths seriously was already preparing for a dooms day.

“For several months, ASUU, NASU and ASUP have been on strike. This is a very bad omen for our country.

“An idle hand is the devil’s workshop. Youths that are out of school are prone to participate in any act that can breach the peace and security of the country.

“Abandoning our youths in the wilderness of ASUU strike for the past five months is a great disservice to the Nigerian youths and the nation in general.

“The Federal Government should place more premium on the education sector, if indeed we are hoping for a better tomorrow,” he said.

Insecurity
On the worsening spate of insecurity in the country, the Bishop said: “As it is, today, nowhere is safe again. Our roads are no longer safe, the rail is no longer safe. And it is so obvious that a larger percentage of Nigerians cannot afford to travel by air.

“To attend places of worship, to go to market, school, even to stay in one’s house is no longer safe in this country. There has never been a time in this country that insecurity has been at the peak like this.

“We hereby call on the government to be alive to her responsibility of protecting lives and properties of its citizens.”

Anti-graft war
According to him, the Federal Government had failed Nigerians in the fight against corruption.

Akamisoko stated, “The spate at which corruption is growing in the country is alarming. The rate at which public officers are squandering public funds is second to none.

“We call on all the anti-graft agencies to wake up from slumber, imbibe high professionalism.

“We strongly advocate that every corrupt leader be brought to book, as that will serve as a deterrent to others.”

2023 general election
He said, “As 2023 general election draws closer, we call on Nigerians who have attained age of voting to obtain their PVC and go all out to perform their civic responsibility on the day of election.

“Nigerians should know that we can take our destiny in our hands by voting out bad leaders and bringing in visionary leaders that can take Nigeria to its promise land.

“We challenge party candidates who have already started campaigning for our votes, to focus on issues that can make Nigeria better and not irrelevances.

“We want them to know that one day, they shall give accounts of their stewardship to God who is the greatest and final judge of all mankind.

“We call on the Electoral Body to carry out its assignment without favour, bias or sentiment.

“As the body conducts the 2023 election, it should ensure that same is free and fair. This is the only way that the confidence of Nigerians can be built in the nation.”

Poor governance
The Bishop identified bad leadership as the main cause of terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and other vices in the country.

“It is on this premise we challenge leaders at all tiers of government to provide social amenities which can make life comfortable for Nigerians,” Akamisoko stated.

He, however, stressed that as part of the Anglican Church’s social responsibility in Nigeria’s capital city, it has decided to invest heavily in the health and educational development of the nation through the provision of 250-bed state-of-the-art hospital and a comprehensive secondary school.

PUNCH

Politics

Aiyedatiwa, 15 Others Jostle For Ondo APC Gov Ticket Today

Published

1 hour ago

April 20, 2024

Editor

All is set for the All Progressives Congress in Ondo State to pick its governorship candidate today.

The ruling party had announced that 171, 922 members drawn from the 203 wards of the 18 local government areas of the state will take part in today’s primary election.

Sixteen aspirants will be jostling to clinch the ticket to become the APC governorship candidate in the state.

They are Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa; the Senator representing Ondo South, Jimoh Ibrahim; Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Olusola Oke; former President of Nigerian Medical Association, Prof. Francis Faduyile; Dr Funmi Waheed-Adekojo and the APC National Vice Chairman (South-West), Isaacs Kekemeke.

Others are Dr Soji Ehinlanwo, Akinfolarin Samuel, Okunjimi Odimayo, Adewale Akinterinwa, Olugbenga Edema, Gen. Ohunyeye Olamide, Morayo Lebi, Garvey Oladiran Iyanjan, and Ifeoluwa Oyedele.

Aiyedatiwa, who is riding into the fray on the back of incumbency and strings of endorsements from traditional rulers and the majority of state lawmakers, holds the ace.

In an interview with The PUNCH, the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Ebenezer Adeniyan, said, “We are not under any pressure. The primary is just in 24 hours. I am sure by then, everybody will know where they belong.”

On the mood in the governor’s camp, he described it as normal.

“This is not about mood. The reality will be on the field tomorrow. He is the governor. There is nothing to worry about,” he stated.

Aiyedatiwa, who concluded his campaign tour in three council areas of Akoko North West, Akoko North East, and Akoko South on Friday, had told newsmen that he still enjoys the support of the people.

He said: “Throughout this campaign journey, the immense support I’ve garnered stresses the resounding desire of the people of Ondo State for continuity. This affirmation is rooted in the remarkable progress achieved during the short period we have spent in office. The people of Ondo state yearn for the continuation of this positive trajectory and it is evident that they believe I am the right candidate to lead this charge.

“Therefore, I urge everyone to identify with me in their various wards on Saturday, so that the developmental phase we have embarked on can continue. Let us ensure that our collective voices are heard loud and clear.”

But another contestant, Ibrahim, who spoke at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja few days ago, warned that an endorsement does not win anybody an election.

The senator also said the governor and other aspirants know he is the most qualified, as he has been in the race as far back as 2003 when he contested with the likes of the late former governors, Olusegun Agagu and Adebayo Adefarati.

Another contestant, Akinterinwa, also ended his campaign tour at his Ile-Oluji hometown where he promised to be true to his campaign promises ahead of Saturday’s party primary.

Addressing journalists on Friday, Akinterinwa exuded confidence, saying he expected nothing short of victory at the poll.

He said, “Ondo people want somebody knowledgeable, who has the capacity, somebody who has been around long enough, whom they know and who has been in government that they can fraternise with.

“When we go out, we don’t take crowds from one local government to the other. So, our crowd is organic; it is within that environment. I expect that on Saturday, we will come out as winners of the primaries. By the grace of God, I won’t be surprised if other aspirants start stepping down for me. Some of them (aspirants) are already reaching out to me.”

A female contestant, Funmi Waheed-Adekojo, has announced that she is willing to step down if the APC calls for it.

She disclosed this to journalists at a media parley in Akure, the state capital on Friday.

She said, “I will step down for my loyalty to the party. If the party asked me, I would do so. Wherever the party goes, I will go. I came out based on the passion I have for people. No one asked me to contest. I am not going to bribe anybody.

“Without mincing words, this concept of rotation has regrettably become a hindrance to progress. One of its errors is that it prioritises political permutation over meritocracy and competence.”

Another governorship aspirant, who seems to be defying the odds in the last few weeks, is Oke.

The Senior Advocate of Nigeria is coming into the contest on the back of a string of endorsements from some traditional chiefs and the popular Omoluabi Indigene group.

Two days ago, the campaign organisation of the late Dr Paul Akintelure, who was also a governorship contender until he died on March 24 after a brief illness, collapsed its structure to join forces with Oke’s camp

The move was confirmed in a statement jointly signed by the Director General and General Secretary of the group, Dr. Bello Adeluse Obe and Mrs Usor Eteng, respectively.

The group, which directed all its members across the 18 local government areas of the state to vote for Oke, said the development became necessary to ensure his victory in Saturday’s governorship election.
PUNCH

News

APC Debunks Viral Video, Says Presidency Not After Ganduje

Published

1 day ago

April 19, 2024

Editor

The ruling All Progressives Congress has distanced itself from the report credited to its Kano State chapter of the party that the Presidency may have been behind the move to remove the National Chairman, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, from office.

The National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, Felix Morka, made the rebuttal when he was featured as a guest on Arise TV on Thursday.

The Kano APC through its spokesperson, Ahmad Aruwa, had on Wednesday accused the Presidency of undermining and conspiring against the APC national chairman.

Aruwa made the claims in a viral video circulating on social media where he blamed some forces in the presidency for Ganduje’s travail.

The Kano APC also criticised President Bola Tinubu for not publicly speaking up for the embattled party national chairman, saying Ganduje personally facilitated his presence in Kano even when some grassroots politicians rejected him.

Reacting, Morka said much as he couldn’t tell the context in which Aruwa made the claim, it was a true reflection of things.

He said, “First, I am just hearing about this. I didn’t monitor that information. I wouldn’t say much about it. I don’t know the context or circumstances in which he made those comments. But the national chairman of APC is still the national chairman and we have the leader of the party who is the president, who to the best of my knowledge recognises Ganduje as our national chairman. So nothing has shifted.

READ ASLSO: [JUST IN] Ganduje: Kano APC Sacks Ward Leaders

Politics

PDP Crisis: Drama As Dino Melaye, Ortom Exchange Words During Meeting [VIDEO]

Published

2 days ago

April 18, 2024

Editor

Former Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship candidate in Kogi State, Dino Melaye, was involved in a hot exchange with ex-governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom.

Melaye accused Ortom of anti-party activities during the 2023 presidential election.

Speaking at a North Central zonal leadership meeting of PDP in Abuja on Wednesday, Melaye said Ortom’s anti-party activities led to PDP losing both the presidential and governorship elections in Benue.

He expressed surprise that the former governor could attend a PDP meeting despite his previous disloyalty to the party.

This led to a hot exchange between both PDP chieftains.

During the 2023 election, Ortom had teamed up with the G-5 governors led by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, to work against PDP’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.

While other members of the group worked for President Bola Tinubu’s victory, Ortom backed the Labour Party, LP, presidential candidate, Peter Obi.

Video:

Dino Vs Ortom at PDP North Central Zone leadership meeting.
Melaye expressed surprise at Former Governor Ortom ease in attending a PDP meeting despite his previous disloyalty to the party. The two engaged in a heated exchange during the encounter. pic.twitter.com/Y8WTycJ88q
— Imran Muhammad (@Imranmuhdz) April 18, 2024