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Buhari’s In-law Quits APC, Cites Impunity, Injustice

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Sani Sha’aban, a former governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress in Kaduna State and an in-law to the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), on Monday quit the party.

Sha’aban, whose 17 children bought the N50 million Expression of Interest and the Nomination forms for him to contest the 2023 governorship election, cited impunity and injustice as reasons for dumping the ruling party in the state.

He also added that he decided to dump the party because it has no regard for the rule of law.

The governorship aspirant shortly after the May 2022 primary of the APC in the state, approached the Federal High Court in Kaduna for exclusion from the election where the incumbent Senator representing the Kaduna Central, Uba Sani, was declared the winner.

But the court presided over by Justice Mohammed Garba Umar threw out the case in early November, declaring that the court has no jurisdiction over the matter.

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READ ALSO: FG Gives Reason For High Cost Of Fertiliser

Sha’aban, however, proceeded to the Court of Appeal where he vowed to pursue the case to a logical conclusion despite leaving the party.

While addressing a press conference through the Director of Sani Mahmoud Sha’aban Campaign Organisation, Mr Joshua Danladi Ephraim, the Governorship aspirant, insisted that he had no business with a party that has no respect for the rule of law.

In the resignation letter dated November 28, 2022, and addressed to the APC Chairman of his ward, Hanwa,

in Sabon Gari Local Government Area of the state continued that recent developments within the party had compelled him to reconsider his membership of the party, adding that with “best efforts, admonition and best intentions, the party has become alienated from the masses.”

When asked about his next political move, he said he would have to consult “those who have to love us of where next to move to.”

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Sha’aban in the letter partly said, “Recent activities and events within the APC in Kaduna State, in particular, have compelled me to reconsider my membership of the APC. Despite all our best efforts, admonitions and best intentions, it is disheartening to note that the APC has become more alienated from the masses, and father than foster peace, social cohesion and integration in Kaduna State as we envisaged and worked for, the APC in Kaduna State is now seen as synonymous with hardship, division and with total disregard for human lives, communal and family values.

“Rather than work to bring the dividends of democracy closer to the masses, some few elements in the APC in Kaduna State have hijacked the party structure and turned it into their personal estate to serve their personal greed and avarice, for the benefit of only their families, friends and cronies. They have no regard whatsoever for the feelings, yearnings and sensibilities of even the many members of the Party who supported them, and the general populace of Kaduna State.

“As one who strongly believes in God, and in the belief that the commonwealth of the land is for the common benefit of all, I have found myself unable in good conscience, to sit back and allow this reign of impunity to go on without a voice of dissent. At various times, I have had cause to express my displeasure with the policies and actions of the APC in Kaduna State to you.

“As you are aware, my stance on good governance, Rule of Law, Social Justice and Equity has caused us to be treated with disdain, and to be seen as a Pariah to those who are personally benefitting from the skewed realities present in the APC. My many admonitions, protests, actions and best efforts at salvaging the Party to bring it back into focus to achieve the set objectives of forming the Party have been severally ignored by you. There is, however, a limit to what I can do as a Member of the Party.

READ ALSO: Nigeria Requires $410bn By 2060 To Address Energy Constraints, Policy Flexibility – Sylva

“I believe I have in all conscience before God, done my possible best to stave off the inevitable but to no avail. I have come to the firm conclusion and resolve that in all good conscience, I cannot remain a member of the APC under the present state of affairs, where the interest of the majority of common folks is little regarded.

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“I cannot remain in a Party that has little or no regard for human lives, social integration, peace and our time-valued and cherished Communal and traditional values. I cannot remain in the APC when the Party has no respect for the Rule of Law and the simplest of the laws of the land.

“Therefore, effective immediately, I officially and formally resign my membership of the All Progressives Congress at all levels.”

 

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How I Was Drafted Into The Pro-democracy Struggle – Edo PDP Guber Candidate, Ighodalo

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By Joseph Ebi Kanjo 

The Edo State governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Asue Ighodalo has disclosed how he was drafted into the pro-democracy struggle.

Ighodalo said he was actively involved in the fight to end military rule in Nigeria as a young professional.

The governorship candidate stated this in his goodwill message at the close out ceremony of the British Council sponsored and European Union backed Agents for Citizens-Driven Transformation (ACT) .

Ighodalo, who called on civil society organizations and non-governmental organizations to engage the governments more on policy formulation and implementation, promised to engage civil society organizations if elected as governor of the state.

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He urged civil society groups to educate Nigerians on their rights and engage the government on their responsibilities to the people.

Ighodalo promised that as a product of the civil society, he would run an open policy that would not in any way be injurious to the people.

READ ALSO: Edo Guber: PDP Names Ighodalo’s Running Mate

He said: “We had Concerned Professionals and Dr. Beko Kuti helped us to organise ourselves. We had many professionals; bankers, lawyers, engineers, architects who were truly concerned that the military could not just wake up one morning and dictate for us. So, we got together as concerned professionals agitating against military rule.

“We were young, we risked our lives, and everyday we were in the public space; we were in the media; we were campaigning. But despite all our best efforts, we all know what happened at the end of the day, the military prevailed.

“Fast forward, NADECO was established. NADECO wanted representation from all the civil society organizations that were agitating for the restoration of Abiola’s mandate, and they asked us to send representatives to NADECO.

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“So, lo and behold, my colleagues in Concerned Professionals nominated me, I don’t know why. So I found myself now being with the people I read about in the newspapers everyday, involved in the history of Nigeria.

“Again, many of us know what happened through that process. The agitations by NADECO; the works that were done; the loss of lives; loss of livelihood; loss of resources; loss of time by the group that was truly agitating with one or two other groups for the restoration of Chief Abiola’s mandate.

READ ALSO: Edo Guber: Okpebholo Defects to PDP, Mobilizes For Ighodalo

“I spent about five or six years of my life running all over the places with organized civil society, trying to ensure the restoration of what we thought was right.”

To underscore the importance of civil society groups in democracy, Ighodalo said: “I think in an emerging democracy, there must be those who are the true safeguards of that democracy.

“There must be because if you don’t have the true safeguards of democracy, democracy will not grow well; will not grow strong and will not go well for the benefit of the people of the country of the states.

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“It is only civil society in all its strength, and intellectual capacity that can achieve this.

“So, in looking at it over time, we are asking a lot from civil society because if civil society doesn’t do it, who will?

READ ALSO: IWD: Ighodalo Salutes Women, Calls For Increased Investment In Education, Entrepreneurship For Women

“Most of our citizens are poor; most of our citizens feel oppressed? Most of us citizens do not have the capability to then start getting involved in the process to ensure governance is effective.”

He added: “I can assure you that if by the grace of God Almighty, I am elected as the governor of the state through the will of the people of the state, I will continuously engaged the civil society.

“We will run a transparent and accountable government. We will dialogue; we will be accessible; we will speak because one of the most important things is to ensure the development of this state and by God’s grace, our goal is to move Edo state from where it is.

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“You can only have a prosperous state when you have a well run state, running in accordance with the tenets of democracy.

“I will ensure that we stay in communication. I will be accessible in the government. We will speak and we will exchange ideas.

“And we may have disagreements, but we will agree to disagree. Our disagreements will be on processes of execution, it will not be on policy or good governance processes.

“I keep telling people that since 1956, the money earned by this country is enough to build four or five Dubais.”

 

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Edo Guber: PDP Names Ighodalo’s Running Mate

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The Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has nominated Osarodion Ogieas the running mate to Dr Asue Ighodalo in the September 21st governorship election in the state.

This decision was taken after several months of consultation with critical stakeholders, it was gathered.

Ogie, who is presently the Secretary to the State Government, SSG, will compliment Asue with his experience and political sagacity that has spanned over 2 decades.

He hails from Ikpoba Okha LGA, which is one of the most populated LGAs in the entire state.

According to some political analysts and watchers from the other parties, the emergence of Ogie shows that PDP is putting its initial challenges behind it and are forging ahead with purpose.

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READ ALSO: Edo Youths, Women Will Play Prominent Role In My Government, Says Ighodalo

No doubt, Ogie will be accepted by the youth demography across party lines because over the years, he has acted as a stabilizing factor in the PDP.

He was a peacemaker at the trying times of the party and has no known controversy around his name.

With the Asue/Ogie on the ballot for PDP, oxygen has been injected into the campaigns with victory as the only outcome.

 

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Atiku Denies Quitting PDP, Slams Tinubu

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Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has dismissed reports that he has dumped the Peoples Democratic Party.

Atiku described the report as “pure mischief, devoid of truth.”

According to an X statement by Atiku on Tuesday, the claims that he has left PDP were false and from mischief-makers.

In the post, Atiku said he has been inundated with calls from PDP party members, supporters, and concerned Nigerians about a published report alleging that he has left PDP.

Let me be unequivocal: this is pure mischief, devoid of truth. I reaffirm my unwavering loyalty to the PDP while advocating the swift merger of opposition parties. The urgency of this consolidation cannot be overstated,” he said in the post.

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He also slammed President Bola Tinubu, accusing the president of prioritising personal ambitions over the nation’s welfare.

“Tinubu’s relentless pursuit of personal agendas at the expense of national governance is glaring. His myopic focus on 2027 betrays a disregard for the pressing needs of the populace. It’s high time he ceased his bumbling escapades and prioritised the welfare of the people,” he said.

The former vice president revealed that his media team is actively countering the false claim that he was leaving the PDP.

My media team is vigorously countering his baseless claims. Let this be a wake-up call to all: the pursuit of power must not overshadow the imperative of effective governance. Together, let us propel Nigeria forward, leaving behind the antics of political charlatans,” Abubakar wrote.

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