Politics

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

An All Progressives Congress (APC) Board of Trustees (BoT) and the National Caucus member from Abia state, Chief Ochiagha Benjamin Apugo, has foretold that the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi and the party’s governorship candidate in Abia, Alex Otti will win the State in the forthcoming general elections.

Apugo stated this in a press statement made available to journalists in Abuja on Sunday. In the statement, he dissociated himself from a report that linked him with the endorsement of the candidate of the APC in Abia state, Chief Ikechi Emenike.

Apugo further explained that he was not supporting any political party in the 2023 general elections but individuals with a track road of performance.

He said “Chief Ikechi Emenike and his team paid me a courtesy visit as a Chieftain of the party to inform me of his governorship ambition as well as the proposed visit of the APC Presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to Umuahia, Abia state.

“I emphatically told Emenike that the APC would lose both the Abia governorship and Presidential elections, and restated my uncompromising support for the Labour Party governorship candidate in Abia state, Dr. Alex Otti and its Presidential Candidate, Mr. Peter Obi.

“APC will fail woefully in Abia State. PDP is already dead. I am supporting Otti. I didn’t endorse him (Emenike). I told him that APC will not win because there is nothing to show APC people. So, forget about endorsement.”

Giving reasons for supporting Obi and Otti, Apugo said ” If you check my political history, you would discover that I have always associated with people of high moral standing and integrity, hence my support for Otti whom I believe will develop this land when he becomes governor”.

Apugo said it would not be politically reasonable to support a party that could not fix the strategic Umuahia-Ikot Ekpene road and the Umuahia-Ohafia-Aro chukwu road respectively, maintaining that both the APC and the PDP have failed Abians and should be roundly rejected.

The elder statesman, widely respected for his candour and firm stance on critical national and state issues, insisted that Otti was the only outstanding personality in the Abia governorship race with proven capacity and passion to develop the state, stressing that though he was a member of BOT and National Caucus of the APC, the development of Abia, including Ibeku land was of paramount importance hence his decision to support the former managing director of Diamond Bank.

He also vehemently refuted the idea of anti-party when reminded about that.

“What is anti-party? What I am telling you is the correct thing. They haven’t done anything here. I am saying it with annoyance. With the position that I held in APC, nothing. I am not talking about myself. I have not gotten even one contract from them. No employment for one single person since 8 years. So, what are you talking about anti-party? They know that what I am talking is the correct thing. They have not done anything to my people here. They didn’t do one single thing here in my home town which is the capital of Abia State. No federal presence”, he said.

APC BoT member, Apugo backs Peter Obi, Alex Otti in February election

BVAS, IReV make northern Govs impotent – Ohanaeze warns Tinubu, Atiku, Obi

By Christiana Ekpa

Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, on Sunday, warned frontline presidential candidates, Bola Tinubu (APC), Atiku Abubakar (PDP) and Peter Obi (LP) against relying on northern governors to win the 2023 election.

Okechukwu Isiguzoro, the Secretary-General of Ohanaeze, said with the introduction of BVAS by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Tinubu, Atiku, and Obi are doomed if they depend on governors in the North.

According to Isiguzoro: “Those presidential candidates counting on the old arrangements of Northern Governors’ scheming moves to manipulate and rig the elections for them on February 25th Presidential elections 2023 will be disappointed with the realities on the ground. The Arewa and Northern Youths led by Yerima Shettima are the street generals that will decide which of the presidential candidates will win the 2023 presidential elections based on the voting strengths of the North.

“Ndigbo has observed that INEC was right in [its] assumptions that 2023 is for the Nigerian youths, as they will play a critical role in whoever will win the 2023 elections.

“Northern governors are helpless to help Tinubu, Atiku, or Obi, to win the 2023 elections, and the Southern governors are in disarray and confusion about the choice of the presidential candidate to work for.

“If Atiku, Obi, and Tinubu are counting on the governors they are doomed, the governors are encountering complications on how most of them will win the senatorial seats of their various constituencies with the introduction of INEC BVAS; only the youths and women will decide what will happen at polling units across the country in the Presidential elections.”

Members of Abuja Original Inhabitants Youth Empowerment Organisation AOIYEO olin collaboration with the FCT Admimistration led by their President, Amb. Issac David (left), during the their ongoing PVC collection sensitization campaigns across FCT, yesterday in Gwagwalada area Council Abuja. Photo; AOIYEO

Rivers PDP Chieftain, Dike says party’s guber candidate better than APC’s Cole

By Musa Baba Adamu

Achieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State, Princewill Dike, has told the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, Tonye Cole, to leave Sim Fubara alone.

Dike, who is the Secretary of the New Media Directorate of the PDP Campaign Council, described the party’s governorship candidate, Siminialayi Fubara as a man of action.

Dike in a statement on Sunday, reacted to Cole’s invitation to Fubara to address Rivers people on radio or television, promising to foot the bills.

He said “Nothing can be more hilarious, or should we say, ludicrous than that public dramatisation. Must everybody be loquacious? Does speaking on radio or television make a good political leader?”

“Unlike Cole, Fubara is a man of few words, but action filled. The Great Abraham Lincoln of evergreen memory asserts that ‘actions speak louder than words’. Back home, our own Kongi, Prof. Wole Soyinka in the Lion and the Jewel opines that the strength of the lion is not in its mien but in the tail.”

Dike said instead of chasing shadows, Cole should dissipate his energy explaining how he became a billionaire and furnishing details of how he used his company, Sahara Energy, to purchase state assets such as the Olympic Hotel [and] the gas turbine among others at the expense of the people.

Dike argued that Fubara remained poles ahead of Cole in popularity explaining that while the APC candidate is an alien, his PDP counterpart is a thoroughbred Rivers man.

He said: “Fubara grew up here, had all his schooling here, worked here, retired here, joined active politics here. A Port Harcourt homeboy, a grassroots fellow.”

PAGE 16 POLITICS

By Christiana Ekpa

President Muhammadu Buhari will today lead the presidential and governorship campaign of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bauchi, according to a campaign programme released by the secretary of the Presidential Campaign Council, James Faleke.

A statement issued by Director, Media and Publicity, APC Presidential Campaign Council, Bayo Onanuga said Buhari will be at the rally scheduled for 8.30am to 11.30 am.

“The rally will take place earlier than other rallies, as Buhari is also expected in Lagos on Monday to begin a two-day visit.

“In Lagos, he will commission the Lekki Deep Sea Port, a PublicPrivate Partnership (PPP) venture, involving the Federal and Lagos State governments and a private company, Tolaram.

“Buhari will also commission the 32-metric tons per-hour Lagos Rice Mill, one of the largest in the world and the 18.75-kilometer

Yoruba Leader tasks politicians on electioneering promises

By Usman Shuaibu

The Otunba of Yoruba community in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Dr Wasiu Tunwase, has charged Nigeria Politicians who are seeking for political offices to fulfil their campaign promises when elected in 2023 general elections.

He also urged the elected politicians in 2023 to remain committed in providing gains of democracy for the people in the country.

Tunwase gave the charge while speaking with Peoples Daily correspondent to mark the new year celebration in his residence in Zuba, further tasked Nigerians to pray for the nation for peaceful election in 2023.

He then called on the youths to shun any act capable of causing rancor and acrimony in the country during the 2023 election, pointing out that nobody is above the law of the land.

He solicited the co-operation of the traditional rulers to counsel their subjects for the smooth conduct of the 2023 general elections, while advising the parents on moral upbringing of their children in order to shun act of thuggery in the society.

Dr. Tunwase, however, appealed to Yoruba people to come out in 2023 election to vote for the candidates of their choice and described the Yoruba people as peace-loving citizens everywhere they live.

Commenting on the security challenges confronting the country, Otunba asked Nigerians especially the youths to join hands with the security agents to fish out the bad eggs in our communities.

Buhari to rally for Tinubu/ Shettima today in Bauchi

6-lane rigid-pavement Eleko Junction to Epe Expressway.

“He is expected to commission the first phase of the iconic Blue Line on Tuesday, as well as the John Randle Centre for Yoruba Culture and History.

“For the APC, the presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu will take his campaign on Tuesday to Abia state and Ogun state on Wednesday.

“It will be a busy week of electioneering as the candidate and his running mate, Senator Shettima, will also canvass for votes in Benue and Taraba on Thursday.

“While the Benue rally is billed for between 10 a.m and 1pm, Taraba’s will take place between 2.30pm and 4.30pm.

“The campaign train returns to Abuja on Friday for the launching by the vice-presidential candidate, Kashim Shettima, of the All Farmers Progressive Association and commissioning of tractors for members.

“On the same day, Shettima will hold a Town Hall meeting with Livestock Development Group.

“The APC in its Action Plan pledges to consolidate on President Buhari’s huge investments in agriculture by setting up commodity exchanges and agricultural hubs in Nigeria’s six geo-political zones.

“Zamfara state, where all the APC tendencies in the state have united, will host the last rally of the week on Saturday in Gusau, the capital”, the statement said.

AMAC Chairman drums support for PDP candidates

By Usman Shuaibu

The Chairman of Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Hon. Christopher Zakka Maikalangu, has charged the women as well as the party supporters to vote for the presidential candidate of PDP, Alhaji Abubakar Atiku in the forthcoming general election this year.

He also urged the women and his supporters to come out in mass to vote for the senatorial candidate of PDP in the FCT, Hon. Philip Tanimu Aduda as well as the candidate of PDP representing AMAC/Bwari federal constituency at the National Assembly, Hon. Micah Y. Jiba during the polls.

Maikalangu, who gave the charge while addressing the PDP women ward leaders in politics at a meeting held at Apo Resettlement town hall in Abuja on Tuesday.

He assured the women that his administration would not hesitate to put smiles on the faces of the women, and thanked them for their support in all ramifications.

His words: “With the challenges we are facing now, we cannot give up, l am being denied some things, maybe because I am in PDP”.

While fielding questions from newsmen after the occasion, the Chairman frowned at votes buying during the polls.

Maikalangu, however, advised the entire residents of Abuja to shun any act capable of generating tension during the election.

Also speaking, the candidate of PDP representing AMAC/ Bwari federal constituency at the National Assembly, Hon. Micah Y. Jiba said if elected into the House of Representatives for the second term, he would provide purposeful leadership for the people of his constituency.

Enugu State Governor and candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for Enugu North Senatorial District, Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (2nd left) with the Deputy Governorship Candidate of the PDP, Barr. Ifeanyi Ossai (3rd left), Chairman of Udenu Local Government Area and PDP candidate for Udenu Constituency, Hon. Solomon Onah (left), being cheered by teeming supporters when the governor visited his kinsmen and constituents in Udenu LGA to seek their blessings preparatory to flag off of campaign for the forthcoming elections in the state, yesterday.

2023 presidency: No alternative to Tinubu, Yahaya Bello insists

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi and

Christiana Ekpa

The Governor of Kogi, Alhaji Yahaya Bello has said that the Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu remains the most credible presidential candidate, and that there is no alternative to him.

Yahaya Bello spoke as Guest on Channels Television programme on Political matters yesterday.

He also described report of his withdrawal from the APC Presidential campaign as ‘desperate concoction of political jesters’ which should not be taken seriously.

Yahaya Bello, while making case for the emergence of Tinubu also disclosed that Northern governors are ready to deliver massively for his success in the February presidential election.

Meanwhile, the All Progressives Congress (APC), has denied report that Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi state has withdrawn his support for Sen.Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the APC Presidential Candidate for the forthcoming general election.

This was made known in a statement made available to newsmen by the National Publicity Secretary, All Progressives Congress (APC), Barr. Felix Morka.

Morka stressed that the publication is a fake news and a figment of imagination of it’s author and sponsors.

He assured that Governor Bello who serves as the National Youth Coordinator of the TinubuShettima Presidential Campaign Council, is a solid, resourceful and committed campaigner for the Party’s Candidate.

He stated,”Our attention has been drawn to a front page report in Sunday Tribune of today, January 22, 2023, that the Governor of Kogi State and member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council, His Excellency, Yahaya Bello, has “tactically” withdrawn support for our Presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu over imagined political permutations on the Kogi State Governorship election scheduled for November.

“The story is maliciously false and a figment of the imagination of it’s author and sponsors.

“Governor Yahaya Bello who serves as the National Youth Coordinator of the TinubuShettima Presidential Campaign Council, is a solid, resourceful and committed campaigner for our Party’s Candidate, leading a massively successful outreach to youth voters across the country.

“This FAKE NEWS, ostensibly intended to float an imagined rift between Governor Yahaya Bello and Honourable James Faleke, Secretary of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, is the desperate and disgraceful conjecture of opposition elements unsettled by our Party’s giant campaign strides. Both loyal Party men are unquestionably committed and working tirelessly for the resounding victory of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu in next month’s presidential election.”

Morka urged party compatriots and all Nigerians to disregard what they described as fake news.

“We urge our Party compatriots and all Nigerians to disregard this fake news.,” he stated.

POLITICS

Shehu Abubakar, Maiduguri

The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) in Borno State has complained of the persistent destruction of its campaign structures and attacks on its candidates in the state, allegedly by the governing All Progressives Congress (APC).

“The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) Borno state chapter finds it highly imperative to draw the attention of the good people of Borno to the dangerous political trends capable of plunging our dear state into wanton violence and disruption of the emergent fragile peace that we have collectively fought for,” the party complained in a statement signed

I’ll return Kano to trade and industry hub if elected - Obi assures electorate

By Musa Baba Adamu

The Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi and his campaign train arrived at the North’s commercial nerve center, Kano on Sunday, where he assured the people that Kano will regain its old enviable status in trade and industry.

Obi told the jubilant crowd in the ancient city that he drove round Kano before coming to address them and he found all the industries in the City shutdown, promising that if elected in February, he and Datti will restore them.

He said that the trading status of Kano will return and will remain the center of cash, adding “Before, if you want cash, you come to Kano, but what you see today is poverty everywhere. Datti and I will restore the old glory of Kano.

“We will secure and unite Nigeria where people will be proud to say I am a Nigerian. We will kill the sentiments of tribes and religions which they have been using to deceive us.”

The former Anambra Governor told the people amidst shouts of ‘Sai Obi’ that under the Presidency of he and Datti, there will be one Nigeria where the people will be free to move and do their business unmolested.

Obi said that they will be able to do what they are preaching because they have done it in public and private sectors and succeeded, referring to his record in Anambra state where he was governor for eight years and no kobo was missing.

“Datti and I will not allow wastages. We will do exactly what we are saying”, Obi stressed.

He told the people that this election is going to be about character you can trust not people who will come to talk about religion and tribe which they have been using to deceive us.

2023: Borno NNPP alleges APC

destroying its campaign structures

by its State Chairman of the party, Barr. Mohammed Mustapha, and circulated to newsmen.

“On Friday, January 20, 2023, the campaign billboards of our Presidential candidate, His Excellency Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, and that of the Borno Central Senatorial candidate, His Excellency Attom Magira Tom, were violently attacked and destroyed in strategic locations across the Maiduguri Metropolis and other major communities within the constituency,” the party said.

“This attack on our campaign structures was coming barely two weeks after similar destruction was carried out on the same number of billboards,” the party complained further.

“As law-abiding members of a party whose principles have resonated with the electorates, we did not call for counter-violence,” saying, “Instead, we urged our teaming supporters to remain calm and law-abiding while the leadership of NNPP reported the matter to the concerned security agencies.”

The party expressed shock that “The Friday incident of an attack on our billboard was carried out in a coordinated fashion on the night of the very day we replaced our duly authorised billboards.”

The party alleged: “It is even more saddening to note that the APC and its thugs did not only destroy our billboards, but they also went ahead to replace the banners on them with those of some of their own APC candidates, even though we have paid the Borno state government all the required fees for the advertisement permit.”

The party listed some of the locations where its billboards were destroyed within the Maiduguri metropolis alone.

“For the avoidance of doubts, we want the public to fact-check our claims by visiting the WestEnd Roundabout, the Dandal Police station Roundabout, the Post Office Roundabout, Opposite Metro Police Division, the Adjacent Government College Maiduguri, Adjacent FGC Monguno, Adjacent Umaru Shehu General Hospital, Airport Roundabout, LM Bakery Junction at GidanMadara, Bulunkutu YanNono, Bama Road/Lagos Street Junction, Adjacent UBA along Sir Kashim Road, and host of many other places to verify our claims.”

NNPP alleged further: “We want to kindly remind the general public that this attitude of violence by the APC and its government did not start today.”

Cross River State governor/ Candidate for APC North Senatorial district, Prof Ben Ayade during his campaign tour of the Senatorial district at weekend in Ogoja Township stadium.

Ogun declares holidays for PVC collection ahead of February, March general election

By Christiana Ekpa

The Ogun State Government has declared Tuesday and Wednesday as work-free days for workers in the state public service.

This is to enable them to visit the offices of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) or other designated places to collect their permanent voter’s cards.

According to a statement issued on Sunday by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Kunle Somorin, the declaration followed the extension of Permanent Voter Cards collection till Sunday, January 29, 2023 by INEC.

“Governor Dapo Abiodun has graciously approved two days – Tuesday, 24th and Wednesday, 25th January as work-free days to enable public servants to collect their PVCs from their respective local government,” Somorin said.

He stated that Gov Abiodun enjoined all heads of public markets and private establishments in Ogun to allow flexibility in their schedules for residents to have the opportunity to go and get their PVCs.

Lack of grassroots politics affects political development in Nigeria – Sheikh Gumi

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

AKaduna-based Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has identified lack of grassroots politics as a major problem affecting political development in the country. According to the Islamic cleric, for grassroots politics to succeed, politicians need to build a strong contact with people at the rural areas in order to carry them along of the political system in Nigeria.

Receiving the delegation of the Kaduna Governorship candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), led by Isa Mohammed Ashiru, the state gubernatorial candidate of the party in his residence, he opined that there was the need to have connection with the people at the grassroots level for any leader to understand the problems facing the people.

He explained, “Kaduna needs leadership with the grassroots connection. You don’t govern people on papers, you must have contacts with the grassroots. Lack of grassroots politics is what brought these problems in the country.”

Sheikh Gumi advised the next governor of the state to look at the insecurity in Birnin Gwari and other parts of the state with a view to tackling it for the peaceful coexistence of the citizens.

2023 is time for North to repay Tinubu’s support – Shettima

By Musa Baba Adamu

The vice presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Kashim Shettima said President Muhammadu Buhari would not have been the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria without the support of Bola Tinubu.

Shettima stated this while addressing supporters at the APC presidential rally in Dutse, the capital of Jigawa at the weekend.

He said 2023 is a payback time for the northern part of the country for what the APC presidential candidate did to the region in the past.

Shettima explained that since 2007, Tinubu has been supporting northerners.

According to him: “Tinubu in 2007 backed Atiku; he also supported Nuhu Ribadu in 2011, and in 2015, if Bola Ahmed Tinubu didn’t support Buhari during the APC presidential primary election, he would have not been the president,” he said.

He said that 2023 is a payback time and northerners must prove that they are promisekeepers.

Shettima said Nigeria needs somebody who has vast experience and can solve all the problems of the country like Tinubu.

He said President Buhari has done remarkably well in the development of the country and Governor Mohammed Badaru Abubakar has also achieved a lot, therefore, they need somebody who will continue from where they stopped.

The APC vice presidential candidate urged the electorate in the state to vote for all APC candidates as a token of appreciation for what the APC administration has achieved in the last seven years.