Politics

Obi: Anti-Ihedioha Protest Rocks Abia

Published

3 years ago

October 10, 2022

Editor

The controversy over the recent comments by former Governor of Imo State, Chief Emeka Ihedioha, against the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr Peter Obi, is not over as a coalition of pro-Obi groups in Abia has given conditions for Ihedioha to be forgiven.

Obi’s supporters, who staged a protest on Monday in Umuahia, said the former governor must publish unreserved apologies to Ndigbo on national dailies and via national television and radio houses before his apologies would be accepted.

The group, which met on the platform of Coalition for Peter Obi (CPO), expressed disappointment and shock over the remarks credited to Ihedioha.

Ihedioha had, in a viral video while addressing his Mbaise kinsmen during their New Yam festival in Ghana, allegedly said that “any Igbo who votes for Obi or against Atiku Abubakar of the PDP is a saboteur.”

He was also quoted as saying that only PDP and APC are the serious political parties in Nigeria, and that only the emergence of Atiku as Nigeria’s President in 2023 would pave way for the actualisation of a President of Igbo extraction thereafter.

The former Speaker, House of Representatives, has since denied making such remarks, claiming that he was quoted out of context.

However, Obi’s supporters have dismissed the denial as an afterthought and cosmetic, insisting that the former governor’s remark was “a general insult to Ndigbo and millions of Nigerian youths who believe in Obi.”

The coalition, which gathered opposite Umuahia North Local Government headquarters, had placards with various inscriptions such as: “Ihedioha must atone for his sins,” “We are disappointed in Ihedioha,” “Ihedioha is the real saboteur” among others.

They said it was too shameful that a former governor and a high profile Igbo politician who had hitherto been held in high esteem could easily speak against the interest of his fellow Igbo because of selfish gains.

Speaking during the protest, Abia State Coordinator of CPI, Madam Matilda Anyamele, said that Ihedioha had lost the goodwill of Nigerian youths who had all along thought he was for the masses.

She said that the anti-Obi comment had revealed his true identify as a self-centred politician, who could easily sacrifice the interest of his people for a pot of portage.

“His comments are products of selfishness, sabotage of his own people and a confirmation of his love for stomach infrastructure,” she said.

The coalition declared that the swelling nation-wide support for Obi was based on his antecedents, and vowed to mobilise voters for him in 2023.

CPO cautioned Igbo politicians against unguarded utterances against Obi’s political ambition, declaring that the masses are ready for a political revolution that would give birth to a new Nigeria in 2023.

According to the coalition the two major political parties in the country have both failed Nigerians, hence, the growing clamour for change and a new normal.

Politics

CSO, PDP Bicker Over Fagbemi’s Stand On Osun LG Crisis

Published

20 hours ago

June 27, 2025

Editor

An Osun-based civil society group, The Osun Masterminds, has urged the State Government to respect the opinion of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, regarding the leadership crisis rocking local government areas in the state.

The group said Fagbemi, being the number one law officer of the federation, his opinions on issues relating to law are not just official, but are also binding.

This was disclosed by the Executive Director of the group, Prof. Wasiu Oyedokun-Alli, while speaking with journalists at the monthly media briefing of the organisation held in Osogbo on Friday.

Oyedokun-Alli, who said accused the state government of disregard for, not just the Appeal Court, but also the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, adding that the group has studied several legal positions on the Osun local government disputes and came to the conclusion that the government was swimming against the tide of clear court pronouncements.

“We are to point out, however, that the utter disregard for, not just the Appeal Court, but also the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, by the Osun State Government is a matter of grave concern. Where we understand that the Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, is the number one Law Officer of the Federation, we must realise that his opinions are not just official, they are also binding.

“We have studied several legal positions on this matter, especially from highly revered silks who have dissected the pronouncements of the Court, and one thing remains obvious – the Osun State Government is swimming against the tide of clear Court pronouncements.

“The question that begs answers, however, is why the Osun State Government is so unwilling to work with Local Government Chairmen elected under a different political platform. Where we respect the principles of separation of powers, should we not be willing to work together even if the political parties are not the same? Has the APC-led Federal Government refused to work with the Adeleke Government because it is of the PDP?”, Oyedokun-Alli said.

Calling on the stakeholders to prevail on the Osun State Government to end the LG crisis, Oyedokun-Alli, however, urged the residents, regardless of party affiliation, to cohabitate in peace.

Responding to issues raised by the group, the spokesperson for the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, Oladele Bamiji, said TOM was a partisan organisation that has consistently supported the All Progressives Congress in the state.

Bamiji further said, “Their so-called ‘civil society’ posturing has long collapsed under the weight of its hypocrisy and shameless servitude to the dictates of APC in Osun and beyond, and it is sad they are dead to their dented image out there.

“TOM has again confirmed to the people of Osun that it is nothing but a busy body propaganda irritant of the APC, issuing monthly rankings, not out of civic concern but to earn its monthly stipend from its political sponsors.

“We find it laughable and frankly disturbing that any group claiming to possess civic literacy would hold binding the personal opinion of a political appointee like the Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, over and above the ruling of a competent court of law.”
(PUNCH)

Politics

BREAKING: Confusion As APC Chair, Ganduje Resigns

Published

1 day ago

June 27, 2025

Editor

National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, has resigned from his position, Saturday Vanguard has learned.

Although the exact circumstances surrounding his resignation remain unclear as of press time, a senior party official confirmed the development, stating simply, “Yes, it is true. He has resigned.”

Sources revealed that Ganduje’s personal belongings were earlier moved from his office at the APC national secretariat, further fueling speculation.

The development has thrown the party’s headquarters into confusion, with staff and visitors visibly shocked by the unexpected news.

Politics

‘Peace Has Returned To Rivers’ — Wike, Fubara Speak After Meeting Tinubu

Published

1 day ago

June 27, 2025

Editor

After months of political tension and division in Rivers State, Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, have publicly declared an end to their rift, assuring residents that peace has finally returned.

The truce followed a meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa on Thursday night, where both leaders, along with other stakeholders, reached a resolution to work together for the state’s progress.

Speaking to journalists after the meeting, Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, expressed gratitude to God for the breakthrough.

Wike said, “I want to give God the glory that today is the 26th of June 2025, that peace has finally returned to the state. We all agreed to work together with the governor, and the governor also agreed to work together with all of us. We are members of the same political family.”

He acknowledged that disagreements are part of politics but emphasised that the resolution marked a fresh start for the state.

He said, “Just like humans, you have disagreements, and then you also have a time to also settle your disagreements, and that has been finally concluded today, and we have come to report to Mr President that is what we have agreed.

“So for me, everything is over, and I enjoin everybody to work together with everybody. There is no more acrimony; there is nothing to say. We have disagreed; we have all agreed on everything, so thank God. For me, it’s a day we have to thank almighty God.”

Governor Fubara, who also spoke to journalists, said the return of peace is crucial to the state’s development.

He said, “For me, it’s very important that this day has come to be. What we need for the progress of Rivers State is peace, and by the special grace of God this night, with the help of Mr President and the agreement of the leaders of the state, peace has returned to Rivers State.”

Fubara pledged to do everything within his power to sustain the peace, describing it as a step toward lasting stability and governance in the oil-rich state.