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‘We Regret Voting Jonathan Out Of Office,’ Northern Elders Lament

Published

4 years ago

September 22, 2021

The Northern Elders Forum has said that it regretted that it got rid of then President Goodluck Jonathan in the 2015 elections to vote in the incumbent, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.).

The group expressed disappointment that Buhari has let down millions of Nigerians including members of the All Progressives Congress who trusted in his leadership prior to the poll six years ago.

NEF, therefore, said that the next President of Nigeria should be one who would act in the “opposite direction” of Buhari, who hails from Katsina, North-West Nigeria.

NEF Director of Publicity and Advocacy, Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, spoke on Tuesday when he featured on Arise TV’s ‘The Morning Show’ breakfast programme monitored by The PUNCH.

He said, “Is there any Nigerian who is not disappointed in President Buhari including diehard APC people? Is there anybody who would not tell you he wished President Buhari had done much better?

“We raised huge expectations, we told people, ‘Get rid of Jonathan, put Buhari there, he would fix corruption, he would fix insecurity, he would fix the economy’ (but) look at where we are now.

“How can anybody say they are happy with the record of President Buhari, even the people very close to him would tell you that they wished he could have done much better and he could have done much better and he hasn’t.”

The group’s spokesman said Nigeria needs a President who would act in the “opposite direction” of Buhari in terms of economic policies, security, amongst others.

“So, what we need to do now is to get ready to elect another President who would go in the opposite direction, a President who has a vision and a clear idea of what governance involves rather than just being a President. So, I am disappointed and that is why today, I am actively involved in trying to see that a new leader emerges in getting Nigerians a new lease of life,” Baba-Ahmed noted.

With the 2023 elections fast approaching and the clamour for power shift to the South, Jonathan, who has the legal right to one more term as Nigeria’s President as the constitution permits all eligible Nigerians to be in office for two terms of eight years, has been receiving entreaties from the APC.

Many APC chieftains have visited him in recent time, raising the stakes in permutations for the 2023 general elections.

Of late, with the wave of defections swinging in the direction of the ruling party, the National Secretary, APC Caretaker, and Extra-ordinary Convention Planning Committee, John Akpanudoedehe, said Jonathan would be given an opportunity to contest the 2023 presidency on APC platform if he chose to join the ruling party.

However, the former President has not declared any intention to contest in the forthcoming election.

Speaking further, Baba-Ahmed said the north had lived under Southern Presidents — Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan — since Nigeria’s return to democratic rule in 1999.

He, however, said Southern Governors should not make the 2023 Presidency a matter of disagreement amongst Nigerians, noting that they should negotiate rather than demand the number one seat. The 17 Southern Governors at their meetings in Lagos and Enugu lately had insisted that power must return to the South in 2023.

“We have lived under Southern Presidents because we recognise that Nigeria is made up of sections, ethnic groups and interests. We recognise that, we are northerners, pluralism is in our DNA, we accept that, we live with it.

“Don’t make the issue of Presidency a matter over which Nigerians would fight and threaten the country and the democratic process, that is very dangerous for this country,” the NEF spokesman stated.

Baba-Ahmed also insisted that the north has the numerical strength in any election, adding that those doubting the north’s voting power should check the last elections, claiming that millions of southerners voted for northern candidates during the elections.

He, however, said though the north has the numerical strength, neither the north nor the south can solely produce a President without the help of other parts of the country.

‘APC, PDP not answer for 2023’
Also, the NEF spokesman said that Nigeria needs a President who realises the need to rebuild the country, secure Nigerians and boost the economy from the downward slope.

“The nation needs a leader that would do the things that President (Muhammadu) Buhari hasn’t done, create inclusiveness, address resentment and frustration in other parts of the country and in the north and speak and act for everybody,” he added.

The elder statesman, however, regretted that both the ruling APC and the leading opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party, have no answers to what Nigerians want in a candidate in 2023.

He noted that the “smaller parties” should be given the opportunity to field candidates with the character and capacity to lead Nigeria from all her current woes.

(PUNCH)

News

PHOTOS: Obi Meets Commonwealth Chief In London, Urges Youth Empowerment

Published

19 minutes ago

October 17, 2025

Editor

A former Anambra State Governor and Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, has called for deeper investment in education, innovation, and youth empowerment.

This is as he noted that they are foundation for strengthening democracy and driving development across Commonwealth nations.

Obi made the call after meeting with the Commonwealth Secretary-General, Shirley Botchwey, at the organisation’s headquarters in London on Thursday, October 16.

Writing on X on Friday, Obi said the meeting — which he attended with his wife — focused on “promoting democracy, deepening the rule of law, expanding access to education, and empowering young people across Commonwealth nations.”

“With over 2.5 billion of the Commonwealth’s population under the age of 30, young people remain the organisation’s greatest asset and hope for the future,” Obi said.

He stressed that for Nigeria, “a nation richly endowed with human and natural resources, meaningful investment in education, innovation, and entrepreneurship is key to unlocking the vast potential of our youth.”

“When properly equipped, our young people will not only drive national development but also contribute significantly to global progress,” he added.

Obi described youth unemployment as “one of the most pressing challenges of our time,” noting that solving it requires “intentional and practical action — through skills development, access to quality education, and the creation of an enabling environment for small and medium-scale enterprises to thrive.”

The Commonwealth Secretary-General who recently became the first African woman to lead the 56-member organisation, reaffirmed that her top priorities include “education, youth engagement, and employment creation.”

According to Obi, Botchwey “spoke passionately about the need to build inclusive societies that promote democracy, good governance, justice, and equal opportunity for all.”

“Her visionary, reform-minded leadership continues to amplify the voices of developing nations within the Commonwealth and inspire greater cooperation among member states,” Obi wrote.

He quoted the Secretary-General as stressing that “empowering young people is not only vital to sustaining democracy but also indispensable to shaping a stable, peaceful, and prosperous future for all Commonwealth citizens.”

Obi described Botchwey as “a trailblazer whose dedication to education, youth empowerment, and democratic ideals strengthens the global Commonwealth community.”

“I remain confident that with leaders like her, the Commonwealth will continue to serve as a beacon of unity, hope, and shared progress for its member nations,” he said.

Meanwhile, checks by The PUNCH shows that the body is yet to issue an official statement on the meeting or related developments.

News

How To Spot Fraudulent Online Vendors

Published

3 hours ago

October 17, 2025

Editor

Over the years, there has been a rise in online shopping because of its convenient and its wide reach across the globe. Likewise, there has also been a rise of fake vendors who hide behind glossy photos and too good to be true prices.

Here’s how to identify and avoid them before you become their next victim.

1. Check their digital footprints

A legitimate vendor will usually have a visible and traceable online presence. You can start by checking their business name on Google and social media platforms. Check if they have a website, or the consistency in the use of their social media platforms. Fraudulent vendors often change username frequently or use poorly designed pages with few details about who they are.

A trustworthy vendor typically shares verifiable contact information, customer reviews, and business registration details. if the page is new, appears just a few weeks ago and it already boasts hundred of “sales”, that is a red flag. You can also use online tools to verify website legitimacy.

2. Unrealistic prices and Urgent promos

If the prices looks too good to be true, it probably a scam. Scammers often lure buyers with huge discounts, flash sales or with the popular “limited stock”. the urgency in the way they present their products makes you pay before you think twice. You can start by comparing prices with known online store and see if the difference is extreme. It it is, you need to pause and think twice in your purchase.
You can further watch out for statements or messages like, “Offer ends in 30 minutes!” or “Pay now to avoid losing your slot!.” This common emotional tricks embodied in words rush unknowing buyers to make payments.

3. Read customer reviews and comments

Reviews reveals the product and services that has been purchased. It reveals what the vendor might not say. However, fake vendors write reviews or pay people to write reviews for them. Genuine reviews tend to be specific. It mentions the delivery time, packaging, and the product quality. The fake reviews tend to sound overly generic or identical across posts. It usually praises the product and and the vendor. You can check the social media page of a review. Silence or restricted comments often signal something fishy.

4. Payments method and delivery options

Reputable online stores usually offer secure payments gateways or pay-on-delivery options. Fraud vendors, on the other hand insist on full payment before delivery, often to a personal account instead of a registered business name.
Before you transfer money, confirm if the account name matches the business name.

5. Watch out for poor communication and grammar

Professional vendors take their branding seriously. Frequent spelling errors in content write ups, unprofessional replies, or inconsistent messaging indicate carelessness, unprofessionalism, or worse deceit. If the vendor cannot clearly explain product details or return policies, take it as a warning sign.

6. Trust your instincts

Sometimes you might have to go with your gut feeling. It is usually the best fraud detector. If you feel something off: whether it is a pushy tone, inconsistent information, or just that uneasy sense about a product or service or its vendor, you might need to end further transactions. There is always another vendor offering the same product legitimately.

It only takes extra minutes to verify a vendor and saving you from months and years of regret. Stay curious and cautious and always double-check before you click, “pay now”.

News

Drama As Kwara Housewife Faints In Court After Husband Insists On Divorce

Published

4 hours ago

October 17, 2025

Editor

There was drama at the Area Court Centre, Igboro, Ilorin, Kwara State, on Wednesday, after a woman, identified as Mulikat Yusuf, fainted when her husband, Ishaq Abdulganiyu, rejected her plea for reconciliation and insisted on ending their marriage.

According to The PUNCH, the incident happened during proceedings before Judge Toyin Aluko, where Abdulganiyu told the court that he was no longer interested in remaining married to his wife.

“I’m tired of the marriage, My Lord,” Abdulganiyu reportedly said. “We’ve had several misunderstandings, and I don’t see any reason to continue.”

But in a tearful plea, Mulikat appealed to the court to intervene, saying she was not ready to accept a divorce.

“My Lord, please help me talk to him,” she said. “I have nowhere to go. I have given birth to six children for him, and I still want the marriage to work.”

However, her plea did little to change her husband’s mind, as he restated his decision to proceed with the separation.

Moments later, the distraught woman left the courtroom in tears but suddenly slumped outside, causing panic among court officials and onlookers.

Sympathisers quickly rushed to her aid and revived her by pouring water on her face.

A court official, who did not want to be named, told The PUNCH on Thursday that Mulikat regained consciousness after a few minutes and was later assisted to a bench to rest.

“She fainted immediately after the man confirmed he would not change his decision,” the official said. “People quickly gathered around her, and she was revived with water.”

Presiding judge, Toyin Aluko, advised Mulikat to make every effort to reconcile with her husband and resolve their differences amicably.

The matter was adjourned till December 10, 2025, for a report on the reconciliation or continuation of the hearing.