Politics

BREAKING: Buhari Backs Southern Candidate For President

Published

3 years ago

June 4, 2022

Editor

President Muhammadu Buhari has backed the emergence of a southerner as a president in 2023.

He made this known at a dinner with All Progressives Congress presidential aspirants in Abuja.

A source privy to the meeting told our correspondent that the Buhari failed to name any consensus candidate.

He also said the president asked the southern aspirants to compete in the party’s primary.

At a meeting with governors on Tuesday, Buhari had called for reciprocity in choosing his successor.

“In keeping with the established internal policies of the party and as we approach the convention in a few days, therefore, I wish to solicit the reciprocity and support of the governors and other stakeholders in picking my successor, who would fly the flag of our party for election into the office of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in 2023.

“I wish to assure you that the consultation process shall continue to ensure that all aspirants and stakeholders would be brought on board right through to the convention.

” This would also ensure that any anxiety occasioned by different factors are effectively brought under control and that our party emerges stronger,” Buhari said.

Apart from Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and former Lagos State Governor, Bola Tinubu, other APC presidential aspirants are the Senate President Ahmad Lawan and former ministers Rotimi Amaechi, Ogbonnaya Onu, Godswill Akpabio, and Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba.

Serving governors who are also aspiring to be president are Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti), Yahaya Bello (Kogi), Dave Umahi (Ebonyi), and Ben Ayade (Cross River) .

Others are former Senate President Ken Nnamani, former House of Representatives Speaker, Dimeji Bankole, and serving senators Ibikunle Amosun, Ajayi Boroffice, and Rochas Okorocha.

President Muhammadu Buhari’s running mate in 2011, Pastor Tunde Bakare, Uju Ken-Ohanenye, Nicholas Felix, Ahmad Rufai Sani, Tein Jack-Rich, Ikeobasi Mokelu are also in the presidential race.

Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, also in May warned the All Progressives Congress against zoning the 2023 presidential slot to the northern part of the country, saying that would lead to a crisis.

According to him, it is the turn of the southern part of the country to produce the next president.

Akeredolu said the agreement reached when APC micro-zoned party’s offices during its National Convention must be adhered to.

The statement reads, “Our party, the All Progressives Congress, has started the process which will eventually culminate in the presentation of elected political leaders, who must steer the affairs of the country for another term. We have been able to hold the party’s Convention successfully. New officers of the party have emerged in a process that is widely acknowledged as rancour-free. The level of understanding and maturity displayed by all and sundry has been commendable. Known adversaries have been forced to accept the emerging fact that our party is formidable and ready for the next general elections.

“The current socio-economic crises are surmountable. It is commendable that the Government is addressing these issues without drama. The Federal Government and leadership of our great party will come out stronger. We cannot, therefore, afford any internal bickering which holds the potential promise of causing distrust and militating against cohesion, harmony and the zeal to achieve set objectives.

“The current democratic dispensation is anchored on the unwritten convention driven by a principle of Equity. Political expediency dictates, more appealingly, that while adhering to the spirit and letters of the laws guiding conduct of elections and succession to political offices, we must do nothing which is capable of tilting the delicate balance against the established arrangement which guarantees peace and promotes trust.

“Our party just elected officers on the established principle of giving every part of the country an important stake in the political calculus. The focus has now shifted to the process which will culminate in the participation of our party in the general elections scheduled for next year. All lovers of peace and freedom must do everything to eschew tendencies which may predispose them to taking decisions which promote distrust and lead to a crisis, the end of which nobody may be able to predict.

“The leadership of the party ensured that the principle of rotational representation guided its decision at the just-concluded Convention. The party Chairmanship position has gone to the North. All other offices have been filled on this understanding. This is the time the leaders of the party must make a categorical statement, devoid of equivocation, on the pattern of succession.

“The party Executive Committee has fixed a fee for the purchase of the nomination form for the office. It is expected, fervently, that it will proceed to complete the process by limiting the propensities for disagreement to a region for possible micro-management. It is very expedient that we avoid self-inflicted crises before the general elections.

“It is the turn of the Southern part of the country to produce the next President. The party leadership should have no difficulty in making pronouncements on this very important issue, just as it has fixed various fees for the purchase of forms. This must be done without delay. The principle of Federal Character is enshrined in the 1999 Constitution, as amended. It will be disingenuous for anyone to argue against rotation at this period.

“We must not keep our party men and women guessing about the position of the leadership of the party. This is the time to weigh in and take control of the process. No statement must suggest, even remotely, that the party harbours certain sentiments which may predispose it to consider throwing the contest open. This is certainly not the time for equivocation.”

Politics

2027: Oyo Broadcaster Oriyomi Hamzat’s Posters Flood Ibadan

Published

10 hours ago

June 11, 2025

Editor

The posters of popular Ibadan-based broadcaster, Hamzat Oriyomi, have flooded the streets of Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State in the build-up to the forthcoming 2027 general election.

The posters with the tag, “2027 Oyo n pe o”, had a portrait of the veteran Yoruba broadcaster in black colour, raising awareness for his preparation in the anticipated election without an indication of the office he is contesting for.

Posters of Oriyomi Hamzat’s portrait in black flooded Ibadan streets. Credit: Oyo n pe o/Facebook.

In a video posted by a support group of the broadcaster cited by our correspondent on Wednesday, the founder of Agidigbo FM was seen jeering to the cheers of the masses at the event he attended, where he was constantly being told that the people of the state are calling him and that he has to answer the call.

“Okiki (Hamzat), Oyo is calling you. answer their call.”

Also, a statement on the official page of the ‘Oyo n pe o’ social media pages addressed criticisms directed at the broadcaster’s transition from media to politics.

It read in parts, “The claim that ‘governance is more than speaking into a microphone’ reflects a misunderstanding of leadership. Broadcasting is rooted in communication, empathy, and connection—traits that are fundamental to good governance.”

“Those who reduce Oriyomi Hamzat’s potential to his profession are either misinformed or biased. Leadership is not defined by profession but by vision, courage, and commitment to service.

“We call on Dr. Oriyomi Hamzat to respond to this clarion call to serve.”

In another trending video, a popular Ibadan-based influencer, Funny Thinker, was seen telling Hamzat that the people of Oyo are calling him to answer their call in 2027.

“He said he won’t rest if we don’t, Okiki, the son of Hamzat, we are calling you, please answer us in 2027,” Funny Thinker said.

The veteran broadcaster responded, “You will all be alright.”

While Hamzat is yet to speak on whether he wants to contest in the much-anticipated election, he has also not debunked the popular mantra pushed for him in preparation for the 2027 poll.

However, efforts to speak with him on the posters making rounds proved abortive as he was not reachable for a comment as of the time of filing this report.

Politics

JUST IN: Seek True Peace To Avoid Impeachment, Rivers APC Tells Fubara

Published

2 days ago

June 10, 2025

Editor

The Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress has warned suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara that only sincere reconciliation efforts can prevent his impeachment.

Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Tuesday, Chairman of the APC Caretaker Committee, Tony Okocha, stated that the suspended governor has yet to initiate any meaningful steps to reconcile with the duly elected lawmakers in the state.

On March 18, President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers State due to the ongoing political deadlock between FCT Minister Nyesom Wike and Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

Following this declaration, the President suspended Governor Fubara and the State House of Assembly, appointing retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas as sole administrator for a six-month tenure.

While the Peoples Democratic Party Governors have challenged the President’s actions in court, recent meetings involving Tinubu, Wike, and the suspended governor indicate the beginning of possible reconciliation.

Okocha’s warning was issued amid rumours that President Tinubu may use the June 12 anniversary to reinstate Governor Fubara.

He stated, “I can confirm that there is no reconciliation effort currently underway in Rivers.

“The suspended Governor, Fubara, has not made any move to reconcile with the lawmakers.

“Only genuine reconciliation can save him from impeachment, as the Supreme Court judgment stands.”

Details shortly…

Politics

Edo Senator, Neda Imasuen Defects To APC, Says LP In Shreds, No Direction

Published

4 days ago

June 8, 2025

Editor

Chairman, Senate Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct and Public Petitions, Senator Neda Imasuen, who represents Edo South Senatorial District, has concluded plans to dump his party, the Labour Party, LP, for the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.

Imasueu, who disclosed this on Sunday, said he would formally declare for the APC on Thursday, June 12 in Benin-City, Edo State capital, saying that he took the decision to decamp to the APC because the LP, in the true sense of it, has lost total direction, with no leadership that could be pointed at.

The senator noted that the party is in shreds, saying, “As we speak today, the Labour Party, LP has lost direction, is a party that you cannot really say who is the Chairman of the party, the party has lost direction. I heard from some quarters that with the crisis in the Labour Party, it may be difficult for the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC to download the name of the candidate because of the issue of who is the authentic national Chairman of the party.

“Over the past months, it has become increasingly clear to me that the Labour Party as it currently stands, has become disconnected from the aspirations of the very Nigerians it seeks to lead. Internal divisions, lack of ideological clarity, and inability to provide a credible, forward-looking agenda have made it difficult for leaders like me to pursue the reform of the political party.”

According to him, he was leaving the party because of the courage of President Bola Tinubu who has courageously taken some steps and carried out policies that will help in the growth and development of the country, just as he said that the President must be supported in all its ramifications following his vision for the country and what he is doing on behalf of Nigeria, for Nigerians, for the youths.

Imasuen said that it became imperative for him to join the APC, to work with President Tinubu as part of his contribution to the development of the country, adding, “The APC offers a more viable platform through which i can develop my national interest. The APC is a platform through which I can effectively serve my constituents. Advocating for progressive policies, I help move Nigeria forward.”

He said, “I am also very happy that we have somebody like the President, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who is steering the ship of affairs today. I say so because of his courage. It takes courage to be able to do what he has done, and what he continues to do. He has brought about certain policies that I believe that, as a matter of time, will begin to yield dividends. He’s not afraid to take on those issues that many of his predecessors stayed away from, just because they are interested in elections. And for that, I salute him, and that is why I admire him because of that courage that he has to push the ship forward.”

With the movement of Imasuen, APC senators in the 10th National Assembly have increased to 69, strengthening the party’s majority in the upper chamber.

Following the defection, the updated composition of the Senate now stands as follows: APC 69, PDP 30, Labour Party 4, NNPP 1, SDP 2 and APGA 1.

Also with the defection of Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to the APC, two PDP senators from the state also followed him.

They are Senators Sampson Ekong, PDP, Akwa Ibom South and Etim Bassey Aniekan, PDP, Akwa Ibom North-East.

When they formally announce their movement to the APC at the hallowed chamber of the Senate, APC senators will be 71, PDP 28; LP 4; NNPP 1; SDP 2 and APGA 1.