Politics

Obidient: What Fani-Koyede Said About Peter Obi’s Supporters [Explosive]

Published

2 years ago

August 22, 2022

WHO ARE THESE OBIDIENTS?

Let me make this clear from the outset. I am a member of the APC and a supporter of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

This contribution does not in any way derogate from that and my analysis is more of an academic and intellectual exercise than anything else.

I am NOT a supporter of Peter Obi and I have NO intention of becoming one. I am however interested on what his supporters represent and stand for and that is the subject of this essay.

They are worthy of my attention only because their rise and relevance in the political configuration of our nation, just in a matter of weeks, is meteoric and phenomenal.

In order to counter and defeat them or to keep them in their place we must at least attempt to understand them and figure out how their minds work.

The following are my findings.

Those that are the supporters of Peter Obi, the Labour Party presidential candidate, are known as ‘Obidients’ and they are EVERYWHERE.

Those of us in the larger political parties like the ruling APC and the opposition PDP, treat them with contempt and ignore them at our own peril.

The truth is that they are far more dangerous to our collective cause as a ruling class than many of us can possibly conceive or appreciate.

Only the discerning can appreciate this and know precisely where this whole thing may be heading.

They may not have structures or elected representatives in the legislative and executive arms of Government but they have IDEAS and VISION coupled with a clear ideological and philosophical bent which can and will endure for far longer than mere political platforms and structures.

Unknown to them as well as virtually everyone else, therein lies their power. As they say, an idea whose time has come cannot be stopped.

Long after we are all gone they will still be here because structures and political alliances rarely endure but IDEAS and VISION last forever.

Again they will outlive and outlast us all because they are not a political party in the true sense of the word but rather a growing national movement which scales and spreads across ethnic, religious, political and regional lines and traditional boundaries.

They also represent a generational and paradigm shift which is increasingly attractive to many and they are bound tightly together by a common purpose, common cause and common objective: namely to rid Nigeria of the old order and usher in the new.

That is really what they want to do and that is the primary and strongest source of their inspiration and motivation.

They are far more dangerous to what the French describe as the ‘Ancien Regime’, the old political class and the entire system itself than anything we have ever seen before because most of them, bar their leader and a small handful of political tried and tested veterans and old war horses around him, are NOT politicians and have never ventured anywhere near the political arena or the circles of power.

In the main they are an innovatively aggressive and frightful array and association of angry and determined young men and women who clearly have the courage of their convictions coupled with the audacity, fury, daring, rage and firm resolve of those that were involved in the Endsars protesters and the fiery footsoldiers that effected the 1917 Russian Bolshevik revolution led by Vladimir Iliyich Lenin.

There is also something Rawlingesque and intimidating about them.

That is to say they are like the late, great and mighty son of Africa and leader of Ghana, President Jerry Rawlings, who also led a successful revolution in his country in 1979 and who, on his second coming in 1981 when he toppled yet another Government said, “if there is no justice there can be no peace!”

That is the spirit that is in the Obidients and that is what moves them.

Yet though they do not like to hear it their chances of winning the presidential election next year, short of a miracle, are very slim and deep down they all know it even if they refuse to publicly acknowledge it.

Despite that they are determined to fight to the end, hope for the best, work hard and give it their best shot and, of course, therein lies their victory.

In this game courage is the key. As they say, ‘he who dares wins’. Again as they say, ‘fortune favours the bold’ and these young people are both daring and bold.

That they can challenge the status quo and vie for the sacred and awesome power that has been shared by the two major political parties or their ancestral variants over the last 62 years is commendable in itself. I am not part of them but I certainly commend and applaud their efforts.

They too have a right to fight for their rights and future and to be heard. They too have a dream and a story to tell and we must never begrudge them that.

Yet if the truth be told they are not only interested in winning an election but, perhaps even more importantly, they are interested in making a profound and defiant statement, registering their protest against the status qou and the powers that be and triggering and engendering a full scale, comprehensive and all-embracing social, cultural and political revolution.

They want a real and fundamental change and not a fake one. They want to pull the whole house and system down with everyone in it and rebuild a new one in their own image, with their own values and on their own terms.

Most important of all they want to see the back of those of us that are in any way associated with the old order or that have been in Government or the corridors of power at ANY point in time over the last 62 years.

That desire and sentiment is the force that is driving and propelling them and that is kindling their fire and swelling their ranks.

They are like the Robspiers and the Marats of the bloody French revolution between 1789 and 1799 whose battle cry was “liberty, equality and fraternity”, who brought an end to the French monarchy, Royal family and nobility, chopped off their heads and established a proud and strong new order and proud Republic.

Like Robspier’s tiny cabal of French revolutionaries they are led by a small cell of intellectual and idealistic hardliners and are bolstered, girded and supported by a volatile, massive and increasingly dangerous support group and power base who threaten violence and hurl insults at their perceived detractors at the drop of a hat and as a consequence of years of pent up anger and frustration.

If they ever get power many heads will role and many of today’s and yesterday’s leaders will run into exile or go into hiding.

This is especially so of those who have something to hide or who have skeletons in their cupboards.

That is what makes them so threatening and I repeat, those of us that are in the larger political parties or that are members of the existing and ancient ruling class underestimate them, ignore them and display disdain for their firm resolve and rising anger at our own peril.

Most of my political associates, friends and colleagues across party lines tend to dismiss them with contempt.

They regard them as being inconsequential and argue that they only exist on social media. I beg to differ. I see them in the streets and I see them in the Churches.

I see them amongst my staff and amongst those that regard themselves as being amongst the oppressed and downtrodden.i see them amongst the professionals and those thst are bankers, lawyers, doctors and artists.

I see them in the North, West, East and South. I see them everywhere and not only on social media.

I see them as being a very powerful and potent rising force which, if properly managed, will develop into a major political power over the next few years with a strong ideological and electoral foundation and massive structures.

That is the potential that they have and that is how dangerous they can be.

The sooner those of us that are in the larger political parties get off our high horses, display a little humility, try and understand their mindset, reach out to them, take them more seriously, appreciate their anger, restore their hope, make the necessary concessions and try and abate their rage and rising angst the better it will be for us all.

They may not have today but if we do not play our cards right they may end up having tomorrow.

May God help us all.

Politics

‘You Either Sit Up Or Resign’ – Clark Writes Strong Worded Letter To PDP Ag National Chair

Published

1 day ago

April 25, 2024

Editor

A former Federal Commissioner for Information and South South Leader, Chief Edwin Clark has written to the Acting National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Amb. Umar Ililya Damagum to as a matter of urgency, sit up, or do the needful by resigning from the position in order to save the party from collapsing on him.

Clark, who described last week’s National Executive Committee, NEC as a charade and a proof of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCTA, Nyesom Wike’s strange hold on the party, said that NEC members at the meeting showed what he described as obvious weakness by allowing Wike to bamboozle everyone in the meeting as no one was ready to speak truth to power.

In a letter to the Acting National Chairman of PDP, the Leader of Pan Niger Delta Forum, PANDEF who accused Damagum of engaging in Anti party activities especially in his activities in Rivers State, said that he was working for and taking instructions from Wike in his activities in Rivers State.

The letter dated 24th April, 2024 and made available to journalists in Abuja is titled: Open letter on the outcome of the Charade National Executive Committee( NEC meeting of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP: A prove of Wike’s strangle hold on the party.’

According to Clark, it is alleged in some quarters that Wike is very instrumental to his being appointed the Acting National Chairman and he therefore recognises Wike as your “boss, adding that it appears to some people the obvious role the Acting National Chairman embarked upon, playing down the powers of NEC.”

Clark said that It does also appear that the party’s National Working Committee (NWC), is made up of Wike’s men, which include the Acting National Chairman, the National Secretary, the National Publicity Secretary, some leaders such as Chief Dan Orbih, who unfortunately he said is not a cheap of the old block of his father, late Chief MCK Orbih, a great politician whom they were all together in the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) in 1979.

The Elderstatesman said, “Firstly, let me apologise should this letter cause you any form of embarrassment because we have never met nor spoken to each other before. However, I have followed your activities since you took over as the Acting National Chairman of the PDP.

”I issued a press release on the eve of the just concluded NEC meeting of your party, which had not been held for a very long time, that except some courageous and bold actions are taken at the meeting, the party will collapse.

“Unfortunately, my sense of foreboding was confirmed by the actions and inactions of the PDP NEC during the meeting, because at the long-awaited meeting, there was a deliberate attempt to avoid the very serious issues plaguing the party including those expressed by various stakeholders, such as the sixty (60) Members of the House of Representatives.

“The NEC showed obvious weakness by allowing Mr. Nyesom Wike to bamboozle everyone in the meeting. No one was ready to speak truth to power. Therefore, emphasis was put on reconciliation committee and not on the disciplinary committee which was earlier set up under the chairmanship of His Excellency, Emmanuel Udom, immediate past Governor of Akwa Ibom State.

“It was therefore, unfortunately, Wike’s day, and a confirmation of Wike’s earlier claim that PDP approved his joining President Tinubu’s cabinet as Minister. One wonders the sincerity of the PDP when they criticise and condemn some of the policies of the government at the centre, when their “strong man and financier” Nyesome Wike is a major player in the government of President Tinubu. Especially, when viewed against the back drop of his leading the 7-man Caretaker Committee of the APC in Rivers State, led by his nominee, Mr. Tony Okocha.

“To imagine that the NEC and the NWC of the party, turned blind eye to all that is happening in the PDP in Rivers State, because it is said you have a paymaster controlling you, is unbelievable. This is a clarion call on you, Mr. Acting National Chairman, to either sit up, or do the needful by resigning from the position, so that the party does not collapse on you.”

The Leader of Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum, SMBLF further said, “I listened very carefully to my most respected friend, Air Commodore Bode George’s interview on the television after the NEC meeting and I laughed at the picture he painted of the PDP as a great party with wisdom. But with due respect to him, I completely disagree with him. of course, I know his position before and after the elections of 2023. At that time, he was one of us who believed that the presidency should be zoned to the southern part of the country. Bode George, no doubt, is sympathetic with the G5, headed by Nyesom Wike on the strength that the north cannot produce the presidential candidate and at the same time the National Chairman of the party. I know as a party statesman he would prefer a reconciliation of all members of the party.

“It is alleged in some quarters that Mr. Wike is very instrumental to your being appointed the Acting National Chairman, and you, therefore recognise him as your “boss”. So, it appears to some people the obvious role you embarked upon, playing down the powers of NEC. It does also appear that the party’s National Working Committee (NWC), is made up of Mr. Wike’s men, which includes your good self as Acting National Chairman, the National Secretary, the National Publicity Secretary, some leaders such as Chief Dan Orbih, who unfortunately is not a cheap of the old block of his father, late Chief MCK Orbih, a great politician. We were all together in the National Party of Nigeria (NPN), in 1979.

“Mr. Acting National Chairman, let me outline some of your activities which are viewed in some quarters as anti-party activities. For instance, in Rivers State, it is a well-known fact that Chief Wike had one trusted ‘brother’ in the State, and that is Siminalayi Fubara whom he chose as Accountant General during his tenure as Governor of the State, to help him look after the monetary affairs of the State. This was 23rd December 2020.

“You are aware also that Mr Wike as a result was said to be exercising some strong control over the finances of Rivers State, both from FAAC in Abuja and the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).

“In order to be in firm and total control of all, you are also aware that Mr Wike bought forms for every contesting member of the party in Rivers State; right from the Governor to the members of House of Assembly including the members of National Assembly.

“No doubt, Mr Wike did his best in keeping the party financially when the party was sailing topsy-turvy. He also majorly championed the course of Sim Fubara to become Governor of Rivers State, while other colleagues seriously opposed him. Mr Wike was able to bulldoze his way through, and installed Sim Fubara as Governor. Having installed him, he gave him ‘directives’ on how to run the State; I also learnt that he entered into some agreements with him, which were not in the interest of the Rivers People. As a result of these secret arrangements between master and servant, all the appointments into Governor Fubara’s Government were made by Hon. Wike and this is a well-known fact all over the country. Mr Wike decided where and who the Governor should visit, who should and should not come to the Government House, etc.”

He also contributed largely to the success of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in Rivers State; for which he has now been compensated by President Tinubu as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.

“Today, almost all the members of the G5 were not carried along by Nyesom Wike. Apart from Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, the others have gone into oblivion. In his usual selfish ways, he did not carry along with him the other members of the G5 and apart from Governor Makinde of Oyo State, the others have gone into oblivion.

“But by the Grace of God, Governor Fubara is managing to disentangle himself from the chains placed on his feet by Mr Wike and gain his freedom; and by extension freedom to the people of Rivers State.

“Mr Chairman, you are aware of the drama that took place in the Rivers State House of Assembly on 30th October, 2023, where the house was factionalized; one group supporting Mr Wike while the other group were for the Governor. Those against the Governor formed themselves into a force and on the control and directive of their master at an ungodly hour at about 7am, the members, about 23 of them signed the impeachment motion. These same members led by the Speaker of the House, Martins Amaewhule, assembled on Monday 11th December, 2023 where they declared to be members of the APC, singing the President Tinubu’s song, “on your mandate we shall stand” and waiving the APC flag.

“The other faction that did not defect elected Edison Ehie as speaker and the members who defected were removed from office. They later went to court to confirm it. It happens that you did not view it on any TV station or read it in any newspaper. The 27 members of your party were in control of the House of Assembly and in fact the Executive headed by Governor Sim Fubara. Your party was in power. We are fully informed that the defection from PDP to APC was carried out by Chief Nyesom Wike and yourself. One may ask further, where were you when the PDP Governors under the leadership of Sen Bala Mohammed, Governor of Bauchi State pleaded with Mr Wike to give peace a chance in Rivers State?

“The 1999 Constitution of Nigeria did not define what the quorum at the House of Assembly should be and it is generally agreed by majority of senior lawyers in Nigeria. The defection of the 27 members automatically meant that their seats in the House are forfeited. The defection of the members did not close the House down because five (5) of the members did not defect with them and remained members of the House. The Rivers State House of Assembly continues to function with an acting speaker, Edison Ehie and the rest is history.

“The Acting National Chairman of a party could not visit the State to find out what was happening.

The Rivers State Appropriation Bill 2024 was passed by the faction with the Governor and signed into Law by the Governor. It will therefore be a breach of the Constitution for the Governor to re-present the Appropriation Bill to none existing members of the Rivers State House of Assembly. Of course, you are aware it is unconstitutional and this matter of the presentation of Appropriation Bill has several cases in court and it will be improper for Governor Sim Fubara to disobey the constitution and the courts.

“At this juncture Mr Acting National Chairman, I repeat, one may like to know your reaction to the defection of the twenty-seven (27) members of your party who defected to the APC, even when their defection was supported by Mr President. Take note, Section 109 (1Bii) of the 1999 Constitution as amended is binding on all Nigerians, no matter the position they hold. One would have expected you to take action to contact INEC to fix a date for an election but because you and your master Mr Wike have set out to destroy PDP and the collateral damage caused is already affecting the unity of PDP.

“We are aware of the fact that Mr Wike using you, muscled the legitimately elected Members of PDP in Rivers State with Chief Desmond Akawor as the State Chairman of PDP. Chief Akawor has now been appointed as Federal Commissioner representing Rivers State in the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission. Mr Wike has refused to deal with the Acting Chairman of the State, Mr. Chukuemeka Aaron.

“The so called twenty seven (27) members who were members of the Rivers State House of Assembly until their defection to APC, have been seating, holding illegal meetings without mentioning APC or PDP. It is clear now that the so called twenty-Seven (27) members took court action against the National Assembly, the Governor of Rivers State and the former Speaker of the House of Assembly now Chief of Staff to Fubara; they were sued by the none existing House but in obedience to the President declaration in the 8-point pace deal, the so called House of Assembly refused to withdraw their actions while the Governor and the former Speaker, withdrew their defense which they had earlier filled as directed by Mr President leading to the Justice Omotosho’s Judgment which is currently being appealed against. In some quarters. The Judgement automatically made the Rivers State House of Assembly completely independent from other arms of Government. Which is unconstitutional.

“In all these issues, you remained silent, you refused to oppose and take any legal action against the new members of APC. Your Publicity Secretary merely made two (2) public statements and that was the end.

It could be recalled that it was the Labour Party in Ondo State that took a member of the Ondo State House of Assembly to court when he defected to ADC.

“The NWC and the NEC of PDP are fully aware of Wike using APC members to form the caretaker committee of the various Local Government areas in Rivers even though the existing members’ time was extended by the same party, PDP, for three (3) months; this has led to the Governor and well-meaning PDP members resisting this act and he is not aware that he is dancing naked in the market place. Mr Wike cannot, I repeat, eat his cake and have it. He is either a PDP man or an APC man. He must therefore be called to order.

“HOW NYESOM WIKE PREVENTED SOME PROMINENT LEADING MEMBERS OF PDP NEC FROM ATTENDING THE NEC MEETING ON 18th APRIL 2024.

There is concrete evidence that the same Mr. Wike sponsored some miscreants to obtain a court injunction against some of the leading members of PDP NEC. Is it not madness, ridiculous and mischievous for one selfish and greedy man to encroach upon the rights of fellow members of the party? I was even surprised that the NEC members were not aware of the absence of these prominent PDP members; former National Chairman, of PDP Prince Uche Secondus; Sir Celestine Omehia; Rt. Hon Austin Okpara who was Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives; Dr Abiye Sekibo, former Minster of Transportation; Sen Lee Maeba; etc.

“The Acting Chairman of PDP in Rivers State, Mr. Chukwuemeka Aaron, was also prevented from attending the NEC meeting. I wonder if this is how the unity of the party is going to be maintained.
These are very important members of NEC and one of them was a National Chairman of the Party for about four (4) years. Chief Uche Secondus was the trusted political associate of Wike and it was through close association that Wike rose to become a notable PDP party man, but when Wike finally developed his ambition to become president of Nigeria, he sacrificed Secondus because the President and the National Chairman cannot come from the same region.

“In his usual vindictive and mischievous manner, sponsored some persons in Secondus’ Ward to suspend him from the party and went to court to confirm it. Now he has barred him from attending PDP NEC meeting by restricting him with a court injunction.
Similarly, as earlier mentioned, you have also prevented other notable Rivers State PDP politicians who were members of Wike’s kitchen cabinet who according to him were on fat monthly allowances and were also beneficiaries of contracts.

“Apart from these colleagues of Wike, it was reported in the Punch of Friday April 19th 2024, that Hon Sokari Goodboy, a member of the Rivers State House of Assembly, representing Ahoada West, who did not defect to APC, was arrested on 18th April 2024, outside the venue of NEC meeting in Abuja.

“Just two days ago, after the so-called NEC meeting, and without having regard to the Governor’s Forum and the NEC’s appeal, the party was slammed with an ex-parte order issued by a federal high court in Abuja, barring the PDP NWC from reviewing Rivers State Caretaker Committee list. What is happening to our reputable judiciary, when it is clearly stated by the Supreme Court that internal affairs of political parties, should be left for the parties to handle? If the PDP NWC and other members of the party are sincere, honest and actually believe in the party, they should go to court to challenge this baseless interim order that seeks to interfere with internal affairs of the party.”

Politics

Edo Guber: PDP Unveils 200-member Campaign Council

Published

1 day ago

April 25, 2024

Editor

The Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has launched the Campaign Council for the September 21 2024 Governorship Election in the State.

In a statement, the PDP State Organizing Secretary, Tony Anenih (Jnr.) said members of the Campaign Council are versatile members of the PDP who have been carefully chosen to deliver the party’s candidate, Dr. Asue Ighodalo.

He noted that the Campaign Structure has an Advisory Council to be headed by the Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki; a Management Committee; a State Campaign Council made up of 200 eminent members of the PDP; the women wing to be headed by the Edo State First Lady, Mrs. Betsy Obaseki and Mrs. Ifeyinwa Ighodalo, and the youth wing to be led by the Deputy National Youth Leader, Timothy Osadolor.

Anenih explained that the selection process was carried out under the direct supervision of the leaders of the party headed by the State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki.

He added, “I do not have any doubt whatsoever in my mind, that this group of very versatile members of the PDP that have been carefully chosen will deliver our erudite, intellectually sound and broad-minded candidate, Dr. Asuerinme Ighodalo.”

According to him, the Campaign Structure has the following unique features: “The advisory council has 7 eminent members of the state, with His Excellency, the Governor as Chairman; the Management Committee is made up of the Director General and 13 Deputy Director Generals for Finance, Contact and Mobilization, Media/ Publicity Field Operations, Security, among others; the State Campaign Council is made up of 200 eminent members of our Party; the women wing to be led by Her Excellency, the first lady of the Edo State, Mrs. Betsy Obaseki with the wife of the PDP candidate, Mrs. Ifeyinwa Ighodalo, and the youth wing to be led by the Deputy National Youth Leader, Timothy Osadolor.”

On the youth and women wing, the State Organizing Secretary further noted, “Though these two very critical wings will be working independently, its relationship with the other Directorates will be symbiotic.”

He added, “On behalf of the party, I congratulate each and every one of you that have been selected, and the party hopes and expects you to hit the ground running.”