Politics

Gale Of Endorsement, Testament Of Ighodalo’s Public Acceptance

Published

1 year ago

February 19, 2024

Political analysts have described the gale of endorsement of Dr. Asue Ighodalo, a frontline aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party ahead of the Edo Sept. 21 governorship election, as true testament of his acceptance by the people from the three Senatorial District of the State.

Having etched his name in the golden books of jurisprudence and in the business world, Ighodalo, fondly called by his sobriquet, “AI” from his intelligence and business savvy expertise, his foray into Edo State political arena, only provided him the opportunity to subtly showcase his allround socio-political and economic sagacity that continue to leave everyone who has come across him in great awe.

Little wonder members of Edo South Vanguard for Justice and Equity, recently endorsed and gave his governorship aspiration a boost , describing him as the best fit and most qualified to be the state’s next helmsman.

Leader of the group during a well attended press conference in Benin, Ms. Joy Osareimen from Oredo Local Government Area, said the group resolved to endorse Ighodalo based on his antecedent, credibility, pedigree and unalloyed commitment to the development of the state and its people.

According to them, no better aspirant deserves the massive support especially, in the spirit of fairness, justice and equity than Asue Ighodalo.

She said, “As we take our time to critically consider the socio-political history of the State since the beginning of the current democratic dispensation in 1999 and we arrived on the equitable resolution that it’s fair that Edo Central is allowed to govern the State in 2024.”

And like the golden fish, Ighodalo, who hails from Okaigben, Ewohimi, Esan South East LGA of the, state, also caught the eyes of the leaders and members of the most politically conscious LGAs in South Senatorial District; Uhumwode, Orhionmwon and Ikpoba-Okha, respectively.

Their endorsement of Dr. Asue Ighodalo as their consensus aspirant for the forthcoming gubernatorial election in the state, speaks volume of his wide reach and, acceptance by all and sundry.

Political analysts, especially political watchers, across the 18 LGAs of the state, have described that single episode as the tacit public endorsement of Asue Ighodalo by Edo South Senatorial District.

The leaders and members of the party said such endorsement became only possible following the undisguised and transparent aspirant’s track records of excellence in the various capacities he has served humanity.

Little wonder the motion for Ighodalo’s adoption in Uhumwode was moved and seconded by no mean personalities than former Senator Roland Owie and Mr. Charles Egbe amid wide acceptance and jubilations.

Addressing the people, Ighodalo appealed to the people to nominate him as the PDP flag bearer for the September 21 governorship election, maintaining that with his capacity and proven track records, he remains the best aspirant for the election.

He blamed bad governance in Nigeria over the years on the wrong choice and sentimental voting of the people, noting that Edo State will have no reason not to be developed if the right aspirant is chosen as the governor, which he said he represents.

Asue Ighodalo said: “Edo has no reason not to be developed if the right leaders are chosen to lead the state.

“I am the leader that will take the state beyond the next level, hence, my appeal for your nomination and support.

“Let us choose who can help us, knows the developmental road to lead Edo State and in doing so, we will have good roads and other basic amenities.

“I work hard to stardom and today, God has blessed me as I have created one of the biggest law firms in Africa. God made me chairman, Nigerian Breweries, Sterling Bank and others.

“God has helped me and in return, I try to help people but I believe the best help you can render is when you are in public service which is governance where you will be opportune to help millions of people.

“So, I am appealing to you all to give me the opportunity to help our people in Edo State.

” I promise you all that I will help the people and remove them from poverty. I will bring succour to homes and improve standard of living during my time as governor.

“I will be governor for everybody, operate an open-door-policy, accessible to the people. We are going to govern Edo State together as one man can not do it alone. So, together, we will create a better Edo State and Nigeria.”

As Edo people get set for the march again, searching and looking for Mr governor, Asue Ighodalo’s choice, will obviously be the right choice.

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Politics

Coalition: Otti Speaks On Report Of Leaving LP

Published

5 hours ago

July 2, 2025

Editor

Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has denied rumours suggesting he is planning to defect from the Labour Party to either the All Progressives Congress or the proposed opposition coalition party ahead of the 2027 elections.

Speaking at a dinner in Umuahia on Tuesday to mark the start of the 2025 mid-year retreat for government appointees, Otti reaffirmed his commitment to the Labour Party, insisting he has not attended any coalition meeting and remains focused on delivering his mandate to Abians.

‎He said, ‎“I will just spend a few minutes talking about what some members of the Global Economic Council have been asking me. One of them is the report about five governors decamping to the APC. I’m still a member of the Labour Party and I’m not looking for where to decamp to.

‎“The second point is about coalition, and a lot of people have been asking me, are you a member of the coalition? And my response is, have you seen my name? Have you seen me attending the coalition meeting?

‎“We are just busy doing the work that Abia people have given us. So, we are not attending any coalition meeting, I have not attended any one, and nobody has invited me.

‎“I am happy where I am. Yes, we had issues. If you don’t have issues, you are dead So, you wake up and there is one problem or the other, you solve the problem. You don’t run away from a problem and pretend to have solved it.”

The governor added that while the party had faced internal challenges, those issues were resolved at the Supreme Court.

Otti also dismissed claims that his administration had been borrowing to run the state, saying Abia has not taken any new loans since he assumed office in May 2023.

‎Otti said, “There is nothing wrong with criticising the government, but you must criticise with facts. Opinions are free, but facts are sacred.

‎“Some people have come out to say that we are borrowing; they are lying. Did I borrow from them? I saw a report yesterday that says that 26 out of the 36 states have actually reduced loans in the last 12 months, and Abia came first, having reduced its debt profile by 57.20% in one year.
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‎“So, when we say we have not borrowed, we know what we are talking about. But that we have not borrowed doesn’t mean we will not borrow. We will borrow when we need to borrow. We will borrow for regenerative investments. We will not borrow to eat. We will not borrow to consume. We will borrow for capital expenditure.”

The governor announced that providing potable water is the next major focus of his administration, with projects set to be flagged off in Aba and Umuahia in the coming weeks.

“We want to get to that level where you open your tap and you have public water running. In the next few weeks, we are going to flag off the water project in Aba around CKC. There is also another one in Umuahia and a lot of other places. We will get there,” the governor added.

He said a new Project Implementation Bureau has been established, headed by Onyinye Nwosu, a former General Electric employee in Canada who returned to contribute to Abia’s development.

The event also marked the first anniversary of the Abia Global Economic Advisory Council, a 20-member team of professionals guiding the state’s development strategy.

Earlier in her speech on behalf of the Council, the Co-Chair of the Abia Global Economic Advisory Council, Prof. Ms. Arunma Oteh, said that it was a pleasure to serve in the Economic Advisory Council.
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‎The Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Kenneth Kalu, thanked the members of the Council for their sacrifices to help the administration succeed.

Some members of the Council present during the event were Prof. Ms Arunma Oteh – Co-Chair, Mrs Ifueko Okauru – Chair, M&E Committee, Mr Victor Onyenkpa – Chair, Financing/roadshow Committee, ⁠Mrs Ezinwa Okoroafor – Member, Mr Chidi Ajaegbu – Member, and Dr Olugbenda Adesida – Member, including members of the State Executive Council and political appointees.

Politics

Coalition Won’t Be Easy, But We’re Ready – Mark

Published

6 hours ago

July 2, 2025

Editor

The newly unveiled National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress, David Mark, has acknowledged that the efforts by the 2027 coalition to unseat President Bola Tinubu will be challenging.

However, he emphasised that they are ready to make sacrifices for Nigeria’s survival and progress.

Mark made this statement on Wednesday at the Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja during the unveiling of the ADC as the 2027 opposition coalition platform to challenge Tinubu.

He said, “This coalition goes beyond seeking power; it is about rebuilding Nigeria.

“We are under no illusion that it will be an easy task. However, we are ready to embark on this journey as a sacrifice for our fatherland.

“This coalition aims to prevent our country from descending into a one-party state.

“Today marks the beginning of what we believe will be a long, difficult and tedious journey.

“However, it is a journey that we are prepared to undertake, united in our collective belief that no price or sacrifice is too high in the service of our fatherland.”

Mark and former Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, were unveiled at the event as interim national chairman and interim national secretary of the ADC respectively.

Their appointments followed the resignation of the party’s founding National Chairman, Ralph Nwosu, and other national officers to pave the way for the coalition’s takeover of the party structure.

Mark said, “The blatant destabilisation and infiltration of all major opposition political parties is aimed at achieving only one objective: to enhance total state capture and leave Nigerians with no alternative or options in 2027.

“This coalition is to prevent our country’s descent into a one-party state.

“We have never seen a government so much at home with corruption, a government that disdains accountability in all ramifications. A government more concerned with the next election rather than the survival of the ordinary Nigerians.

“A government so totally consumed with politicking that governance is abandoned, while the majority of our people wallow in hunger and poverty.

“We have never seen this level of insecurity across the length and breadth of our nation. Bandits and kidnappers kill Nigerians at will and on a daily basis. Yet, this ongoing tragedy has not moved the government to any action that would stop these mindless killings and stem the tide of needless bloodshed.”

Mark stated that Nigerians deserve a government that ensures their safety and makes them feel secure in their own homes.

He added, “Equally disturbing is the total emasculation of the legislative institution. Never in our history have we witnessed a National Assembly where legislators, the trustees of the very bastion of our democracy, saddled with the sacred duty to protect Nigerians from misuse of executive power, are reduced to cheerleaders and praise singers of the President, head of the executive arm.

“Without doubt, the transformation of Nigeria’s National Assembly to a mere appendage of presidential authority is a dangerous conspiracy against the Nigerian people.

“It is the reason why the government is able to get away with various whimsical, unconstitutional policies and actions or inactions that have reduced more Nigerians to abject poverty and widened the boundaries of insecurity and fear.”

The ADC Interim National Chairman accused the APC-led government of undermining the sacrifices of Nigeria’s founding heroes and affirmed that the coalition party belongs to all Nigerians.

He stated, “This coalition is determined to offer Nigerians a path to security, prosperity, peace and progress.

“Coming from various party affiliations, we are united in our resolve to present a constructive alternative to the hardship, insecurity and waste that has become the hallmark of the current APC government.

“As we proceed this day, we acknowledge the practical implications of imminent bye-elections and one state governorship election for some of our coalition partners in their respective legacy political parties. However, all of us remain firmly united under the ADC banner for the 2027 general elections and beyond.”

Among those present at the unveiling and involved in the coalition effort are the 2023 presidential candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar and the Labour Party, Peter Obi.

Other key figures include the National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, Victor Umeh; former PDP National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus; Labour Party’s 2023 Vice Presidential candidate, Datti Baba-Ahmed; former APC National Chairman, John Odigie-Oyegun; and former Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar.

Others present include Senator Dino Melaye, former Youth Minister Solomon Dalung, former Ekiti Deputy Governor Kolapo Olushola, media mogul Chief Dele Momodu, Senators Enyinnaya Abaribe, Suleiman Nazif, Lee Maeba, and Alhaji Kashim Iman.
(PUNCH)

Politics

Coalition: Why ADC Leaders Stepped Down — Nwosu

Published

6 hours ago

July 2, 2025

Editor

The founding National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress, Ralph Nwosu, said leaders of the party voluntarily resigned to allow former Senate President, David Mark, and ex-Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, to take charge and lead efforts to reposition both the party and the country.

Nwosu stated this on Wednesday at the unveiling of the ADC as the platform for the 2027 opposition coalition to challenge President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

The event was held at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja.

Mark and Aregbesola have been announced as the interim National Chairman and Secretary of the ADC-backed coalition, respectively.

Nwosu stated, “We all decided to resign so that Mark, Aregbesola and others can lead us to the Villa.

“We also approved Mark as National Chairman and Aregbesola as the National Secretary of the party.

“When you look at the two of them and their commitment to this country, you’ll see that this is a new beginning. They will reposition the party and Nigeria.”

Coalition leaders at the venue of the meeting on Wednesday, July 2, 2025
Nwosu said the opposition coalition was not about seeking power but moving Nigeria to “global reckoning.”

He added, “The ADC has always been about the rejuvenation of Nigeria and Africa. This journey started about 18 months back, and we have had over 12 NEC meetings.

“When we were consulted, we said we have also been consulting because we are a party that believes in coalition.

“A day like this shows that we are ready to sacrifice anything for Nigeria. We don’t have any doubt in the man, we all have decided to resign.”

Among those present at the unveiling and involved in the coalition effort are the 2023 presidential candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar; the Labour Party, Peter Obi; and former Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola.

Also in attendance were former Governors Nasir El-Rufai (Kaduna), Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers), Gabriel Suswam (Benue), Abdulfattah Ahmed (Kwara), Aminu Waziri Tambuwal (Sokoto), Oserheimen Osunbor (Edo), and Celestine Omehia (Rivers), along with former Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, and former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal. Others present include Senator Dino Melaye, former Youth Minister Solomon Dalung, former Ekiti Deputy Governor Kolapo Olushola, media mogul Chief Dele Momodu, Senators Enyinnaya Abaribe, Suleiman Nazif, Lee Maeba, and Alhaji Kashim Iman, among others.
(PUNCH)