Politics

Obaseki Warns Against Politics Of Lies, Manipulation

Published

2 years ago

October 5, 2023

…says politicians must work to earn public trust to win elections rather than rely on courts

The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has warned against politics of lies, manipulation and blackmail, noting that politicians must begin to put in deliberate efforts to earn the trust of the people to win elections rather than relying on court judgments for political power.

Obaseki gave this advice during the inauguration of Senior Special Assistants (SSAs) and Special Assistants (SAs) in Edo Central Senatorial District, in Irrua, Esan Central Local Government Council.

The SSAs and SAs were drawn from Igueben, Esan West, Esan South East, Esan North East and Esan Central LGAs of the State.

Obaseki said, “One of the criteria used for this appointment is that you must reside in your wards and if not, we will withdraw your appointment. Any SSA or SA working outside the local government or operating from Benin City will be dropped immediately.

“You are supposed to give a report monthly which will be reviewed to improve the lives of the people. You are a very important plank of our administration.

“We have just gone through our local government election and you campaigned with me and I thank you for what you did, which made it possible for us to have achieved the results we achieved during the election.”

On winning and losing elections by politicians, he noted, “I heard that some people are complaining that they lost the election. I wonder why they will win the election when they didn’t come out to campaign. Well, that is the nature of our politics as they believe that the Court will appoint people into power. They rely on the Court for political power rather than hoping on the people for political power.

“Politics is being played on lies, misinformation, and rumours as a way to get political advantages. They want to confuse our people but your job is to put the record straight, letting the people know the truth.

“We have Chairmen and Councillors who will administer the local government councils but those we are swearing in today are officers responsible to the Governor of Edo State as your role is different from that of the local government.

“We have done a lot across the State, particularly in Esan land. EdoBEST has brought confidence in our children and we will be grateful in years to come. When these children will be occupying big and important positions across the world, we will appreciate the investment in education.”

He added, “We have done a lot and tried to make changes in the progress of the State and your job is to let me know what is happening in your locality. We are working to ensure the wards across the State have first-class Primary Healthcare Centers as we are training health workers to man our primary health care centers.

“I need to know what is going on in terms of security and creating economic opportunities for our young people. You must continue to keep us updated as you are the eyes and ears of the governor in the various wards you come from. We will train you and have an onboarding session with you in line with our government’s vision to make Edo great again.”

Politics

FLASHBACK: How Tinubu Blamed Jonathan For Killing Of Christians In 2014

Published

8 hours ago

November 1, 2025

Editor

As allegations of an ongoing ‘Christian genocide’ in Nigeria intensify, a 2014 statement from President Bola Tinubu condemning former President Goodluck Jonathan for failing to protect Christian worshippers has resurfaced, drawing sharp parallels to criticisms now leveled at Tinubu’s administration.

In January 2014, Tinubu, then an opposition leader, lambasted Jonathan over attacks by Boko Haram in Borno and Adamawa states that targeted Christian communities.

“The slaughtering of Christian worshippers is strongly condemnable. It calls into question the competence of Jonathan to protect Nigerians,” Tinubu stated at the time.

By April 2014, amid escalating violence including the Nyanya bombing in Abuja, Tinubu doubled down, emphasising the president’s non-negotiable duty to ensure citizen safety.

“My heart bleeds for our people and the country over the deaths in Nyanya. A government unable to protect its citizens deserves to be queried,” he said.

Eleven years on, Tinubu’s words are being repurposed by critics amid reports of widespread violence against Christians across northern and central Nigeria.

According to a recent report from the International Society for Civil Liberties and the Rule of Law (Intersociety), at least 7,087 Christians were killed in the first 220 days of 2025 alone—an average of 32 deaths per day.

Advocacy groups like Open Doors and International Christian Concern describe the attacks by Islamist militants, including Boko Haram and Fulani extremists, as targeted persecution amounting to genocide, with over 7,000 Christian deaths recorded in 2025 and thousands more displaced or kidnapped.

The Nigerian government has denied claims of religious targeting, insisting the violence stems from broader security challenges affecting all communities.

The crisis gained fresh international spotlight on October 31, 2025, when U.S. President Donald Trump declared Nigeria a “Country of Particular Concern” over the “existential threat” to Christianity there. In a Truth Social post, Trump stated: “Thousands of Christians are being killed by radical Islamists in Nigeria… The United States cannot stand by while such atrocities are happening.”

He urged Congress to investigate and affirmed US readiness to protect global Christian populations, echoing calls from allies like Senator Ted Cruz, who has described the violence as a “religious genocide.”

Opposition figures and faith-based organisations in Nigeria have invoked Tinubu’s 2014 rhetoric to demand urgent action, arguing that the same standards of accountability he once applied to Jonathan now apply to his own leadership.

Security experts caution that while the violence has complex ethnic and resource dimensions, the failure to curb targeted attacks on Christians risks further eroding trust in federal institutions.

The Tinubu administration has not yet responded to the renewed scrutiny or Trump’s designation.

Source: Nigerian Tribune

Politics

Court Stops 2025 PDP National Convention

Published

19 hours ago

October 31, 2025

Editor

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday halted the planned 2025 National Convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) until the party complied with the statutory requirements of the party, the Constitution and the Electoral Act.

The suit was filed by three aggrieved members of the party namely, Hon Austin Nwachukwu (Imo PDP chairman), Hon Amah Abraham Nnanna (Abia PDP chairman) and Turnah Alabh George (PDP Secretary, South-South) seeking to stop the convention on the ground of violation to the Electoral law.

Delivering the judgment, the Judge also restrained INEC from accepting report on the outcome of any national convention of the party without following the due process of the law as well as its guidelines and regulations.

The Judge held that INEC is not entitled to give effect to the convention a party not done in accordance with the Constitution, Electoral Act and the guidelines/regulations of political parties.

The plaintiffs instituted the suit seeking to stop the planned November 15 and 16, 2025 National Convention of the PDP scheduled for Ibadan in Oyo State where new National Officers are expected to be elected on the ground of breach of the party’s Constitution.

The nine defendants are, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC); PDP; Samuel Anyanwu, National Secretary of the party; Umar Bature, National Organizing Secretary of the party; National Working Committee (NWC); and National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party; Ambassador Umar Iliya Damagum; Ali Odefa; and Emmanuel Ogidi.

Politics

2027: Why Jonathan Can’t Run For President – Appeal Court Ex-President

Published

19 hours ago

October 31, 2025

Editor

Former President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Ayo Salami, has clarified why former President Goodluck Jonathan cannot contest the 2027 presidential election.

According to Salami, the Nigerian Constitution explicitly bars any individual from holding the office of President for more than eight years, making Jonathan ineligible to run again.

He explained that Jonathan had already completed the tenure of the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua before serving his own full term, which constitutionally disqualifies him from seeking another.

In an opinion piece, Salami argued that any attempt by Jonathan to contest and win in 2027 would amount to a violation of the law, stressing that such a victory would be nullified by the courts.

“It is painstakingly and dispassionately demonstrated that the ambition of Goodluck Ebele Jonathan to contest for the office of the president in the 2027 general election is effectively and undoubtedly shot down,” Salami stated.