Politics

Obasanjo Attacking Buhari Out Of Frustration, Presidency Claims

Published

3 years ago

January 4, 2023

…Says former President lied to garner southeast votes

…Obasanjo administration dark days for Nigeria

The Presidency, on Monday, said former President Olusegun Obasanjo is verbally attacking the Buhari regime “out of frustration.”

It also described Obasanjo’s attitude to the President as “vengeful”.

“‘Hell’ for Obasanjo is when a President, any President that comes after him refuses to be his own puppet, to do as he wishes on all matters and at all times.

“He then keeps attacking out of frustration. Obasanjo’s vengeful attitude towards President Buhari is the height of selfishness and little short of moral squalor,” the Presidency said in a statement signed by Buhari’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu.

The statement is titled Morally squalid Obasanjo attacks leaders out of frustration.

Shehu’s statement comes barely 24 hours after Obasanjo described the Buhari-led government as “hell on earth” for Nigerians.

In his new year message, the former President said under Buhari, “Nigeria of today had been dragged down well below Nigeria of the beginning of my Presidency in June 1999.”

While formally endorsing the Presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr Peter Obi for the February 25 election, Obasanjo also urged young Nigerians to ride on the next elections and take their destiny into their hands.

But in its reaction, the Presidency argued that Obasanjo lacked the adequate moral authority to berate the Buhari regime on four grounds.

“President Buhari is ahead of Chief Obasanjo in all fields of national development and to do that is a cardinal sin to Obasanjo whose hallucinations tell him that he is the best ever to lead Nigeria and there will never be another one better than him.

“President Buhari just completed the world-class edifice that is the Second Niger Bridge after three decades of failed promises. It is now awaiting commissioning. Obasanjo laid the sod for the bridge in his first term as elected President and work never started.

“When he sought re-election for his second term in office, he returned to the site to turn the sod for the bridge the second time. When the Obi of Onitsha, forthright and scholarly, reminded him that he had done this in the past, Obasanjo told the foremost Southeast traditional ruler that he was a liar, in the full presence of the Chiefs and Oracles in his palace.

“Obasanjo lied to the Southeast to get their votes. President Buhari didn’t get their votes but built the bridge because he believed it is the right thing to do,” the statement read in part.

Second, the Presidency said Buhari has been stating and restating that he will supervise a better election than the one that brought him to the office and to leave as and when due.

It explained that “Having tried tenure elongation and failed, Obasanjo’s fictitious mind must be telling him that he is the one under attack.

“But he is not on President Buhari’s radar because experience has shown, especially lately in West Africa where there have been at least three successful coups and many other failed attempts, that third term or tenure elongation is a recipe for political instability.

“Furthermore, the totality of African leaders appointed President Buhari the Anti-Corruption Champion of the continent.

“You can’t be an anti-corruption champion if ‘you meddled and bent the rules,’ carrying the putrid responsibility of what happened to national assets in the name of privatization as documented by the Nigerian Senate in 2011.”

Shehu cited several national assets such as Aluminum Smelter Company of Nigeria which was set up with $3.2bn and sold to a Russian firm, Russal, for $130m; Delta Steel, which was set up in 2005, at a cost of $1.5bn, was sold to Global Infrastructure for $30m.

He also noted that ALSCON got back $120m for the dredging of the Imo River, which was never carried out.

Third, the Shehu said Buhari’s rising profile as the Champion of Democracy at home, in West Africa and Africa-wide, must be unsettling for Obasanjo who “destabilised internal democracy by orchestrating impeachment after impeachment of governors who were not compliant with his highly imperial administration.”

“As we said sometime back, Mr Obasanjo’s tenure, 1999-2007, represented the dark days of Nigeria’s democracy due to a slew of assaults on the constitution.

“The former president deployed federal machinery to remove governors Joshua Dariye, Rashidi Ladoja, Peter Obi, Chris Ngige and Ayo Fayose from office.

“They were the then governors of Plateau, Oyo, Anambra, Anambra and Ekiti, respectively, unjustly removed using the police and secret service under his control,” Shehu argued.

It said under the Peoples Democratic Party, lawmaking powers of the Rivers State legislature were transferred to the federal parliament to punish Governor Amaechi for shifting his political alliance.

By contrast, the Presidency said “In Washington a few weeks ago, the US President Joe Biden at a meeting with African Heads of States and Government described President Buhari as a champion of democracy and role model for the leaders of African states.

“Clearly, Obasanjo has become even more jealous by adopting a vengeful attitude.”

Fourth, Shehu said Obasanjo’s aphorism of Nigeria moving from “frying pan to fire” under Buhari should be read as a personal experience for the former President.

“‘Hell for Obasanjo is when a President, any President that comes after him refuses to be his own puppet, to do as he wishes on all matters and at all times.

“He then keeps attacking out of frustration.

“Obasanjo’s vengeful attitude towards President Buhari is the height of selfishness and little short of moral squalor,” said the Presidency.

Related Topics:#Obasanjo #Presidency Buhari Garba Shehu

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Politics

Why Bayelsa Gov Delayed Defection To APC

Published

2 hours ago

November 1, 2025

Editor

Facts have emerged on why the Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, delayed his defection to the All Progressives Congress two weeks after resigning from the Peoples Democratic Party.

A senior official of the APC at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja confided in The PUNCH that Diri had requested the Vice President, Kashim Shettima, to hand over the party’s flag to him in a formal reception.

According to the APC official, the arrangement for the official reception delayed the governor’s defection.

Diri had, on October 15, announced his exit from the PDP during an expanded State Executive Council meeting at the Government House, Yenagoa.

The governor said the decision followed “extensive consultations” with key stakeholders in the state, adding, “I am not resigning alone. I am here with Mr Speaker, Deputy Speaker, and all the members of our party in the Assembly who are with me on this. So today, I have formally resigned from the PDP for very obvious reasons.”

According to the APC official, who is involved in the party’s plan to receive Diri, the party is done with the arrangements to welcome the governor.

He said, “Governor Diri is coming to the APC, and he will join us on Monday. The party has put up a reception plan, and it is the wish of the governor that the Vice President hands over the APC flag to him. The national secretariat and the VP’s office have worked that out.

“The governor wants an official and befitting reception, and he deserves it. That is why he delayed his defection. But we are done with the arrangements.”

Similarly, one of the senior administrative officers at the APC secretariat in Abuja disclosed that arrangements were in place to receive the governor into the party on Monday.

“I am aware that the secretariat is preparing to receive Governor Diri on Monday. The governor wants an official reception, and we are working on it. As I am speaking with you, nothing will change the governor’s plan to join the APC,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Bayelsa State chapter of the PDP has insisted that its leadership would not join the governor in defecting to the APC.

The State Publicity Secretary, Ebiye Ogoli, while speaking with The PUNCH, said there was no reason to leave the PDP with Diri, stating that the party’s leadership remained strong.

Ogoli explained that the leadership decided not to defect with the governor because he is in his second term and will not be contesting again; hence, there was no reason to move with him.

“We are not defecting with the governor. We stand by our last statement. The governor did not compel anyone to move with him. Before we took the decision, we considered the fact that the governor is not contesting again and, therefore, there was no reason to move with him.

“The party remains strong. It is not true that we want to defect with him.”

Findings by Sunday PUNCH also revealed that three members of the State House of Assembly — Godbless Oyinke, Ted Elemeforo, and Wisdom Fafi — have refused to leave the PDP.

This is as the Deputy Governor of the state, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, has dragged the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, its Speaker, Abraham Ingobere; the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Matilda Ayemieye; the Bayelsa State Attorney-General, Biriyai Dambo (SAN), the Inspector-General of Police; and the Director-General of the Department of State Services before a Federal High Court in Abuja to avert a reported impeachment plot.

Ewhrudjakpo, who has remained in the PDP, said there was a plot by the lawmakers to impeach him because he did not resign his membership of the party with the governor.

The deputy governor, in an originating summons marked FHC/ABJ/CS/221/2025, according to TheCable, sought interim orders of the court to restrain the State House of Assembly from removing or impeaching him in violation of Sections 188(5)–(9), (11), and 36(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), on the grounds of his refusal to defect from the PDP to the APC or any other political party before the end of his tenure.

Ewhrudjakpo also asked the court to restrain the Inspector-General of Police, the Director-General of the Department of State Services, and the Bayelsa State Attorney-General from withdrawing his security protection as deputy governor, pending the determination of the motion on notice.

(PUNCH)

Politics

PDP NWC Suspends Legal Adviser, Anyanwu, Others Amid Convention Crisis

Published

4 hours ago

November 1, 2025

Editor

The National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party has suspended the National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade (SAN); National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu; Deputy Legal Adviser, Okechukwu Osuoha; and National Organising Secretary, Umaru Bature, for one month following a court ruling that halted the party’s planned national convention.

Disclosing this while addressing journalists, the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, said the decision followed an emergency NWC meeting held on Saturday at the party’s office, Legacy House, Maitama, Abuja.

Ologunagba stated that in line with Section 36(2) of the PDP Constitution, the Deputy National Secretary, Setonji Koshoedo, will assume the role of acting National Secretary, while the National Director of Legal Services, Jacob Otorkpa, has been assigned to manage the affairs of the Legal Department.

He stated, “The NWC has reviewed the party’s activities, especially in the recent past, and some decisions were taken. You will recall that on August 8, 2025, the party issued a reprimand to members over anti-party activities, and from then till now, the party reviewed the activities of some members working against the party, and the NWC reached the following decisions today.

“For all these anti-party activities as contained in the constitution of the party vis-à-vis the activities of those individuals, what we have identified as majorly constituting the offences under our constitution is that anybody who breaches any part of the constitution or manifesto, or says or does anything under Section 58 any member that says or does anything that will bring the party to disrepute, hatred, or contempt, disobeys or neglects to carry out lawful directives of the party or any organ or officer of the party, or engages in any conduct likely to cause disaffection among members of the party, or likely to cause disaffection in the conduct of the business of the party.

“The NWC considered these and other actions in line with the constitution of the party and came to the following decisions: The National Legal Adviser, Kamal Ajibade (SAN), is suspended for 30 days and is referred to the National Disciplinary Committee of the party. The Deputy National Legal Adviser, Barr. Okechukwu Osuoha is also suspended for 30 days in line with the constitution and referred to the Disciplinary Committee as may be necessary. During the period of suspension, they cease to function in the capacity of their respective offices.

“The National Organising Secretary, Hon. Umar Bature, is suspended for a period of one month and referred to the National Disciplinary Committee. The National Secretary, Sen. Samuel Anyanwu, is suspended for one month and referred to the National Disciplinary Committee. In the case of the National Secretary, pursuant to Section 36(2) of the Constitution as amended in 2017, the Deputy National Secretary, Hon. Arc. Setonji Koshoedo, shall act as National Secretary.
In the case of the Legal Adviser and Deputy Legal Adviser, the Director of Legal Services has been empowered and directed to oversee the department during the period of suspension.”

Recall that despite the plan to hold its National Elective Convention in Ibadan, Oyo State, on November 15 and 16, the Peoples Democratic Party remains engulfed in internal tension.

Supporters of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, continue to express dissatisfaction with the leadership of the acting National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Iliya Damagum.

Their discontent stems from unresolved disputes over the South-South zonal leadership and the control of party structures in states such as Cross River, Akwa Ibom, and Plateau.

There are also deep disagreements over the micro-zoning formula ahead of the convention, further widening the rift within the party.

These lingering issues eventually escalated into a legal showdown aimed at stopping the convention from taking place.

On Friday, the Federal High Court in Abuja issued an interim order restraining the PDP from proceeding with its planned convention in Ibadan until further notice.

Presiding over the case marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2120/2025, Justice James Omotosho ruled that the convention must be suspended until the party aligns its actions with the provisions of its constitution, the 1999 Constitution, and the Electoral Act 2022.

The case was instituted by three aggrieved members of the PDP, Austin Nwachukwu, the Imo State PDP Chairman; Amah Abraham Nnanna, the Abia State PDP Chairman; and Turnah Alabh George, the PDP Secretary for the South-South zone.

They petitioned the court to halt the convention, arguing that it contravened both the Electoral Act and the party’s internal rules.

According to them, the PDP failed to conduct valid congresses in 14 states before issuing the notice for the convention.

In his final judgment, Justice Omotosho found merit in their claims.

He held that the PDP violated its own constitution, the 1999 Constitution, and INEC’s guidelines by failing to conduct proper state congresses and by neglecting to issue the required 21-day notice to INEC. Consequently, he ordered that the planned convention be stopped until the party rectifies all internal irregularities in line with the law.

Politics

JUST IN: PDP Factions Emerge, Anyanwu Group Suspends Damagum, Others

Published

4 hours ago

November 1, 2025

Editor

L–R: Chief Dan Orbih, Senator Samuel Anyanwu (PDP scribe), and Hon. Umar Bature during a press conference following a factional PDP National Working Committee meeting in Abuja on Saturday.

The Peoples Democratic Party has plunged deeper into crisis as fresh divisions emerged within its leadership, with a faction backed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, announcing the suspension of the Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, and five other members of the National Working Committee.

Briefing newsmen in Abuja on Saturday on behalf of the factional NWC, the PDP National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, announced the party’s National Vice Chairman (North Central), Mohammed Abdulrahman, as the Acting National Chairman.

He stated, “Unfortunately, some people may say that the National Secretary, National Organising Secretary who has the responsibility of monitoring everything and the National Legal Adviser, who is responsible for all legal issues, were purportedly suspended.

“On this note, we decided to suspend the National Chairman of the party, Ambassador Ilya Damagum, for incompetence, financial misconduct, and disregard for court judgment. He has been suspended for one month and should face the Disciplinary Committee.

“Secondly, we also suspended the National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, for issuing statements without the party’s approval, and the Deputy National Vice Chairman (South), Taofeek Arapaja, has also been suspended.

“The National Financial Secretary, Daniel Woyenguikoro, who has been involved in alleged financial misconduct, has also been suspended.

“The National Youth Leader, Sulaiman Kadade, and the Deputy National Secretary, Setonji Koshoedo, have also been suspended for 30 days. All of them will be sent to the Disciplinary Committee to show cause why they should not be expelled.

“Therefore, we are announcing the National Vice Chairman (North Central) to serve as the Acting National Chairman, Mohammed Abdulrahman.”

Earlier, the NWC under Damagum’s leadership announced the suspension of Senator Samuel Anyanwu, National Legal Adviser Kamaldeen Ajibade (SAN), and two other members.