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APC Plots To Shortchange Christians, Ex-SGF Lawal Alleges

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Christian politicians in Northern Nigeria would remain steadfast in their stand for justice, equity and fair play in the 2023 political dispensation in the overall interest of the nation, a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, has said.

According to him, any nation or political dispensation built on injustice would crumble because justice and equity settle all other disputes.

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Lawal in a statement he sent to The PUNCH in Abuja on Sunday titled, “Why we are doing what we are doing”, was pleading with Nigerians to understand the position of the Northern Christian politicians on the Muslim-Muslim ticket of the All Progressives Congress in the 2023 presidential election.

He said neither the presidential candidate of the APC, Bola Tinubu, nor his running mate, Kashim Shettima and the political party has ever seen anything wrong in their choice of same faith ticket for 2023 to make peace or assuage the feelings of Northern Christian politicians.

READ ALSO: Muslim-Muslim Ticket Suicide Mission, Says APC Christian Group

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The statement reads, “Quite a number of Nigerians have reached out to Rt Hon (Yakubu) Dogara and I and to some of the leaders in our eminent group of Northern Christian politicians to sheath our swords and instead go for negotiations with the APC.

“I now want to respond to this. We have so far not taken the road to reconciliation because, in the first instance, neither the APC as a party nor its presidential candidate has bothered to seek us out for reconciliation even though early on, our doors were left open for such.

“We only get to learn of their views through vile propaganda in the media courtesy of their rabid attack hogs whom they have procured in abundance.

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“There are of course some “Christian” turncoats and “Judases” who, driven either by moral turpitude, poverty or greed, have hired themselves out as agents and spoilers of this noble Christian course.

“To this group, I wish to recommend the study of the biographies of Judas Iscariot and Ahithophel in the Bible. Be careful to note how their lives ended.

“It seems that Bola/Shettima’s preferred approach is to attempt to counter our position through insults and sponsored fake Christian organizations in order to create the impression that there is a division within the Christendom on this matter.

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“Needless to say, this tactic has failed woefully. They are now the but of jokes in church gatherings all over the country. Unknown to them Church history emphatically records that Christians are more united in terms of adversity and persecution as now being propelled by this Muslim-Muslim ticket of the APC.

READ ALSO: APC Group Protests Muslim-Muslim Ticket, Seeks Shettima’s Replacement

“This approach has also portrayed the duo as arrogant and pitiable people while also exposing them to the public as people with unimaginable deficiencies of noble character.

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“The reality is that for each minute that this same-faith ticket duo have spent on their goebellsian propaganda, they have ended up spending several hours more trying to rebut the controversies that they themselves create in the process.

“Everyone, including some notable Christian haters are now inviting false “Bishops” and “CAN” Leaders to meetings. They are busy fabricating overnight “Christian” organizations that churn out falsehoods to the public.

“It is such a pity that people who intend to lead our country could descend to such low levels of morality and deficiency of conscience.

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“But belying this posture is the reality of their true intentions not to have any roles for northern Christians in their government.

“The unarguable fact is that they intend to offer nothing of significance to any northern Christian in an APC government anticipated to be led by Bola and Kashim.

“The reality of their zoning arrangement is that the North East region is already out of the equation for any other posts because it has the Vice Presidency while the North Central too is out because they have the party’s National Chairmanship.

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“The other key positions, the Senate President, Speaker, Secretary to the Government of the Federation and Chief of Staff to the President, have been zoned to the North West, South South, South East and South West regions, respectively.

“Besides, we all know that there is and will be no ranking christian Senator or House of Representatives member from the North West that could occupy the seats of Senate President, Speaker or even their deputies.

“In any case, it is an open secret that they never allow Christians to occupy such positions in the North West Zone even if there is a qualified Christian.

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“Who then do they think they are fooling with this their “there are other positions in government that could go to the northern Christians” mantra?

“If Kashim Shettima worked determinedly with Bola Tinubu’s acquiescence to deny the northern Christians the Deputy National Chairman (North) position during the party’s National Convention, what magic will then compel them to give a northern Christian any significant posts in their government?

“Let us make no mistake; these guys will persecute us to no end. They are very well practiced in this.

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READ ALSO: Don’t Vote Muslim-Muslim Ticket, Northern APC Christians Tell Nigerians 

“My dear Christians, it has been clear to us from the onset that APC, Bola and Kashim never had the intention or plan that offers the Northern Christians any sense of inclusion through any tangible roles in their government.

“Those with major political influence on them are mostly religious bigots of the hegemonist flavor and some self-centered sycophants of the evil kind.

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“So instead of reconciliation which would involve offering some important positions to Northern Christians, they have decided to go for broke and ignore the interests of Christians of the north.”

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Edo Central Stakeholders Chide Shaibu Over Attempt To Blackmail Obaseki To Abandon Zoning Arrangement

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The people of Edo Central Senatorial District have called on thevstate deputy governor, Comrade Philip Shaibu to exercise restraint and stop the “incessant blackmail of governor Godwin Obaseki, in a bid to pressure the governor to yield to pressure to disregard the senatorial zoning arrangement to produce the next governor of the Edo State.

In a press briefing in Benin city, the convener of Esan Advocate For Good Governance, Comrade Bartholomew Okoudo said the deputy governor ‘s frequent tirade is to get the Governor to endorse his candicacy for the governorship election holding next year.

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“This is the singular reason he is employing different tricks to box the governor to a corner and extract a committment,” he added.

He stated that Shaibu’s attempt to curry public sympathy is aimed at armtwisting the governor.

He said: “The frustration he is expressing is only a coy way to make it seem as if he is being victimised, but everyone knows he is intoxicated by his inordinate ambition.

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READ ALSO: 2023: Atiku, Peter Obi Gave Victory As Donation To Tinubu – Soyinka

“Shaibu thinks everything must be by force. It is on record that the people of Edo North Senatorial District produced Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, who is also from Etsako West Local Government Area, as the current Edo State Deputy Governor. He served for eight years between 2008 and 2016 before handing over to the incumbent governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, a Benin man who was produced by the people of Edo South Senatorial District.”

Comrade Bartholomew Okoudo declared that, lot to produce the next governor according to the zoning arrangement is on the Edo Central Senatorial District who has never had the opportunity to produce the governor of the state except the short reign of Prof. Oserheimen Osunbor between May 2007 and November 2008.

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According to him, “The shenanigans by Comrade Shaibu aimed at blackmailing the governor in pursuit of his unreasonable and desperate ambition to become the next governor at all cost will not work and must be resisted by all well-meaning Edo people.

“During the administration of Chief Lucky Igbinedion between 1999 and 2007, the Deputy Governor at the time was Chief Mike Oghiadomhe from Etsako in Edo North Senatorial District. He also served for eight years.

READ ALSO: Tension Mounts As Forces Plot To Sack Akpabio

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“This was followed by Oshiomhole also from Etsako West as Governor and now Comr. Philip Shaibu, from Etsako West who is almost completing eight years tenure as deputy governor.

“How then can he be aspiring to be next governor? Is this fair and equitable? What is the fate of the other local government areas and senatorial districts in the State? (Sic)”

The Esan Advocate For Good Governance convener who stated that the deputy governor has his right to aspire for any political position in the State and Country, urged him to stop “these charades to pressure the governor into neglecting the zoning arrangement. His agitation runs against the spirit of fairness and equity.”

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He continued: “We also charge Nigerians not to be deceived by all these tantrums, blackmail and display of entitlement by the deputy governor which are failed attempts to force the governor to yield to pressure so that Comrade Shaibu can have his way and become the next governor of Edo State.

READ ALSO: IG Orders Lagos CP To Probe Mohbad’s Death

“From Shaibu running to the Federal High Court in Abuja, asking for a restraining order to stop Governor Obaseki from impeaching him to spreading falsehoods about the Governor preventing him from performing his roles as deputy and causing various scenes at public events and public places, it has all been an engineered charade to make the Governor seem unapproachable.

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“The most recent of this is his attempt to force his way into the personal office of the governor along with his security aides at the Dennis Osadebey Avenue, GRA, Benin City.

“The Deputy Governor who has worked with Governor Obaseki over the past seven years should know him better that no amount of pressure to blackmail him will force the governor to support him in his inordinate quest.

“We the people of Edo Central Senatorial District are calling on him to stop this charade and toe the path of peace in the spirit of equity and fairness.

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“There is peace and security in Edo and we urge the Deputy Governor not create the scene that there is none in Edo through his actions and desperate moves.”

Okoudo who declared that it is the turn of Edo Central to produce the next governor of the state, added that anyone working contrary to such plan is anti people as it relates to the zoning arrangement.

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Edo 2024: Former Edo Assembly Speaker, Ebea, Nears Conclusion of Statewide Consultations For APC Ticket

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Chief Festus Odianosen Ebea, the Obarisiagbon of Ubiaja and former Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, has disclosed that he is on the verge of concluding extensive consultations across the state as he contemplates vying for the All Progressives Congress (APC) ticket in the forthcoming 2024 Edo Governorship elections.

Ebea, a prominent figure in Edo State politics, recently embarked on this strategic move to gauge the pulse of the electorate and the sentiments of party stakeholders as he weighs his chances in the highly anticipated gubernatorial race.

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Sources close to the former Speaker revealed that his consultations have covered a wide spectrum of the state’s political landscape, including meetings with party leaders and officials, grassroots leaders, opinion molders and various interest groups.

READ ALSO: JUST IN: Obaseki, Shaibu’s Rift Gets Messier As Deputy Prevented From Entering Govt House

The sources further ddisclosed that Ebea has alsobdiligently engaged in conversations aimed at understanding the concerns and aspirations of Edo State residents.

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Speaking at Ubiaja about his progress, Chief Ebea expressed confidence in his ability to secure the APC ticket,

He stated, “I am humbled by the positive reception I have received during my consultations. Edo State is at a crucial juncture, and I believe I have the vision and commitment to take our state from Hope to Higher Ground. This is my vision.”

According to report, Ebea’s aspirations have gained momentum in recent weeks as more APC members rally behind his potential candidacy.

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READ ALSO: 2023: Atiku, Peter Obi Gave Victory As Donation To Tinubu – Soyinka

Reports saybmany supporters believe that Chief Ebea’s experience in state governance, having served as the Deputy Speaker and later Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, positions him as a strong contender for the party’s nomination.

Nevertheless, the race for the APC ticket promises to be highly competitive, with several other aspirants also actively pursuing the nomination.

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The party’s primary election will be closely watched as it unfolds in the coming months, setting the stage for a thrilling contest in the 2024 Edo Governorship elections.

As Chief Festus Odianosen Ebea inches closer to concluding his statewide consultations, Edo State residents and political observers eagerly await the final decision on whether he will officially throw his hat into the ring for the APC gubernatorial ticket.

The 2024 Edo Governorship elections are expected to be a defining moment in the state’s political landscape, and Ebea’s potential candidacy adds an intriguing dimension to the contest.

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JUST IN: Obaseki, Shaibu’s Rift Gets Messier As Deputy Prevented From Entering Govt House

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The fight between Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki and his Deputy, Comrade Philip Shaibu, on Monday took another twist as the deputy governor was prevented from entry the State Government House apparently on the order of Obaseki.

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It was learnt that gate to the former office of the deputy governor located in the Government House and the main entrance leading to the storey building was locked with chains and heavy padlocks.

Shaibu and his aides, whom it was gathered waited for about an hour without success to access the facility despite frantic effort made by him ( deputy governor) to reach the governor on phone failed left the premises unintended to.

Sources revealed that Shaibu had some discussions with the state commissioner of police and the Director of State Security Services, DSS alerting them of how he was locked out from his office.

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READ ALSO: Edo: Phillip Shaibu Moves Out Of Govt House Despite Withdrawing Suit Against Obaseki

Shaibu was said to have summoned the government house camp commandant, Ibrahim Babatunde, (SP) and asked him why he was locked out of his office.

SP Babatunde, was alleged to have said that the directives to lock out Shaibu from the facility was an order from above, adding that the CSO in government house, Wabba will be in a better position to explain.

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