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BREAKING: Buhari Backs Southern Candidate For President, As 10 APC Govs Ask Northern Aspirants To Withdraw From Race

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The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), has backed the emergence of a southerner as a president in 2023.

He made this known at a dinner with All Progressives Congress presidential aspirants in Abuja.

PorscheClassy had earlier reported that Buhari met with the aspirants on Saturday in the Presidential Villa.

At a meeting with governors on Tuesday, Buhari had called for reciprocity in choosing his successor.

“In keeping with the established internal policies of the party and as we approach the convention in a few days, therefore, I wish to solicit the reciprocity and support of the governors and other stakeholders in picking my successor, who would fly the flag of our party for election into the office of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in 2023.

“I wish to assure you that the consultation process shall continue to ensure that all aspirants and stakeholders would be brought on board right through to the convention.

” This would also ensure that any anxiety occasioned by different factors are effectively brought under control and that our party emerges stronger,” Buhari said.

Apart from Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and former Lagos State Governor, Bola Tinubu, other APC presidential aspirants are the Senate President Ahmad Lawan and former ministers Rotimi Amaechi, Ogbonnaya Onu, Godswill Akpabio, and Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba.

Serving governors who are also aspiring to be president are Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti), Yahaya Bello (Kogi), Dave Umahi (Ebonyi), and Ben Ayade (Cross River) .

Others are former Senate President Ken Nnamani, former House of Representatives Speaker, Dimeji Bankole, and serving senators Ibikunle Amosun, Ajayi Boroffice, and Rochas Okorocha.

President Muhammadu Buhari’s running mate in 2011, Pastor Tunde Bakare, Uju Ken-Ohanenye, Nicholas Felix, Ahmad Rufai Sani, Tein Jack-Rich, Ikeobasi Mokelu are also in the presidential race.

Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, also in May warned the All Progressives Congress against zoning the 2023 presidential slot to the northern part of the country, saying that would lead to a crisis.

According to him, it is the turn of the southern part of the country to produce the next president.

Akeredolu said the agreement reached when APC micro-zoned party’s offices during its National Convention must be adhered to.

The statement read, “Our party, the All Progressives Congress, has started the process which will eventually culminate in the presentation of elected political leaders, who must steer the affairs of the country for another term. We have been able to hold the party’s Convention successfully. New officers of the party have emerged in a process that is widely acknowledged as rancour-free. The level of understanding and maturity displayed by all and sundry has been commendable. Known adversaries have been forced to accept the emerging fact that our party is formidable and ready for the next general elections.

“The current socio-economic crises are surmountable. It is commendable that the Government is addressing these issues without drama. The Federal Government and leadership of our great party will come out stronger. We cannot, therefore, afford any internal bickering which holds the potential promise of causing distrust and militating against cohesion, harmony and the zeal to achieve set objectives.

“The current democratic dispensation is anchored on the unwritten convention driven by a principle of Equity. Political expediency dictates, more appealingly, that while adhering to the spirit and letters of the laws guiding conduct of elections and succession to political offices, we must do nothing which is capable of tilting the delicate balance against the established arrangement which guarantees peace and promotes trust.

“Our party just elected officers on the established principle of giving every part of the country an important stake in the political calculus. The focus has now shifted to the process which will culminate in the participation of our party in the general elections scheduled for next year. All lovers of peace and freedom must do everything to eschew tendencies which may predispose them to taking decisions which promote distrust and lead to a crisis, the end of which nobody may be able to predict.

“The leadership of the party ensured that the principle of rotational representation guided its decision at the just-concluded Convention. The party Chairmanship position has gone to the North. All other offices have been filled on this understanding. This is the time the leaders of the party must make a categorical statement, devoid of equivocation, on the pattern of succession.

“The party Executive Committee has fixed a fee for the purchase of the nomination form for the office. It is expected, fervently, that it will proceed to complete the process by limiting the propensities for disagreement to a region for possible micro-management. It is very expedient that we avoid self-inflicted crises before the general elections.

“It is the turn of the Southern part of the country to produce the next President. The party leadership should have no difficulty in making pronouncements on this very important issue, just as it has fixed various fees for the purchase of forms. This must be done without delay. The principle of Federal Character is enshrined in the 1999 Constitution, as amended. It will be disingenuous for anyone to argue against rotation at this period.

“We must not keep our party men and women guessing about the position of the leadership of the party. This is the time to weigh in and take control of the process. No statement must suggest, even remotely, that the party harbours certain sentiments which may predispose it to consider throwing the contest open. This is certainly not the time for equivocation.”

Meanwhile, All Progressives Congress Governors from the Northern part of the country have asked aspirants from the region to resign from the presidential race.

This is as they backed the transfer of power to the South.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the governors on Saturday night in Abuja.

Among the governors who signed a communique issued after the meeting are Aminu Bello Masari of Katsina State; Abubakar Sani Bello, Niger; Abdullahi Sule, Nasarawa; Prof. Umara Zulum, Borno; Nasir El-Rufai, Kaduna; Muhammad Yahaya, Gombe; and Bello Matawalle, Zamfara State.

Others are Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State; Dr. Umar Ganduje, Kano; Abubakar Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State and former Governor of Sokoto State, Senator Aliyu Wamakko.

A statement issued after the meeting read, “APC governors and political leaders from the northern states of Nigeria today met to review the political situation and to further support our Party in providing progressive leadership amidst our national challenges.

“During our discussions, we welcomed President Muhammadu Buhari’s invitation to governors and other stakeholders to contribute to the emergence of a strong presidential candidate for the APC.

“After careful deliberation, we wish to state our firm conviction that after eight years in office of President Muhammadu Buhari, the presidential candidate of the APC for the 2023 elections should be one of our teeming members from the southern states of Nigeria.

“It is a question of honour for the APC, an obligation that is not in anyway affected by the decisions taken by another political party.

“We affirm that upholding this principle is in the interest of building a stronger, more united and more progressive country.

“We, therefore, wish to strongly recommend to President Muhammadu Buhari that the search for a successor as the APC’s presidential candidate be limited to our compatriots from the southern states.

“We appeal to all aspirants from the northern states to withdraw in the national interest and allow only the aspirants from the south to proceed to the primaries.

“We are delighted by the decision of our esteemed colleague, His Excellency, Governor Abubakar Badaru to contribute to this patriotic quest by withdrawing his presidential aspiration.

“The APC has a duty to ensure that the 2023 elections offer a nation-building moment, reaffirming that a democratic pathway to power exists for all who value cooperation and build national platforms.

“This moment calls for the soberest and inclusive approach to selecting our party’s candidate, and we call on all APC leaders to fulfil their responsibility in this regard.”

BIG STORY

Renovated Government House: Osun PDP Mocks APC, Says Opposition Party Hallucinating

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The ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), encouraged by the recently reopened Government House in Osogbo, the capital city of Osun State, after a respectable renovation, has chastised a faction within the Osun APC over a statement attributed to its embattled chairman, Tajudeen Lawal, on the renovated Government House. The party has asked the disorganised opposition group to either apologise for its heinous looting of the state’s common patrimony or cease filling the airwaves with loud music.

It would be recalled that officials of the previous administration led by the then defeated Governor and now Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola, left the Government House virtually empty after callously bolting away with properties in the quarters– an act reminiscent of some mannerless unarmed robbers, who never wished the state well.

A statement released on Monday by the media office of the ruling party and signed by the State Chairman, Hon Sunday Bisi, described the statement credited to Lawal led APC faction as unbridled afront on the collective intelligence of the well enlightened people of Osun State, who are still spoiling for further punishments against the inglorious pilfering of public asset by stalwarts of the APC.

“Granted that Lawal and his conquered hirelings in the APC are in shock over the level of upgrade and innovations in the State Government House, we expected that it would have served the looters better if they had opted for the silence button, instead of classless grumblings over the patriotic efforts of His Excellency, Governor Ademola Adeleke in bringing the state assets up to speed of modernity and dignity befitting of cradle of Yoruba race.”

“APC as a regressive party populated by known thieves in the context of the renovated government asset was just bringing its shamelessness again to the fore by having the guts of any finger of objection to bringing the State House back to life after the edifice was set for desolate with reckless looting of almost all the interior fittings by APC officials, without any iota of consideration of the cost implications on the already mismanaged economy by the prodigal son in chief, Gboyega Oyetola.”

“APC statement about the Government House renovation has shown that Lawal and his faction of mourners are still grieving about the rejection of their discredited party by the Osun people. They have since their woeful loss resort to wailing and craving for attention and public sympathy they’ve lost long ago with no remedy in sight”

“Lawal and his factional members should be grateful for the maturity and exposure of the good people of Osun State by allowing the APC elements to still walk the streets without some pebbles on their heads considering the ungodly level of atrocities committed against humanity in Osun State. While you await your days with relevant security operatives for your sins, you should keep shut and lay low at least.”

“As a good manager of resources, Governor Adeleke, unlike Oyetola, will continue to inject life into all abandoned assets of the state left to rot away by the immediate past APC administration and this the governor has pursued without compromise”

“Lawal has not only shown unseriousness and confusion about governance but he has also reduced his group to ‘Paperweight, Jesting Desperados,’ merely hallucinating about the steadfast running of the state by the Governor Adeleke led administration.”

“Lawal should tell Osun people how he came about the N1b cost of renovation he quoted. He should be tapped out from his fallacious claim that there is nothing to show in the state in terms of physical infrastructure. Lawal should be reminded that the last time Osun State had a befitting infrastructural investment, like what is ongoing in the state, was under PDP administration, followed by Ogbeni Aregbesola, only for the opportunistic Oyetola to bring the expected progress to a criminal halt after he was spoonfed into office by his predecessor.”

“The only thing Oyetola did in his 4 years in terms of infrastructure was to give Osogbo a substandard, Mungo Park era bridge, which aggravated public anger against him and his acrimonious lieutenants. For Governor Ademola Adeleke, he is making good his promise to give the state a global standard facelift and we are glad the great of the state are right behind him to succeed”

“While the PDP government is open to constructive criticism as enshrined in a democratic society, the APC factional group is however expected to do better by engaging their thinking cap, away from frivolous ranting and wailing without borders,” Hon Sunday noted.

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BIG STORY

Osun APC Berates Adeleke For Renovating Government House With N1b Amid Hardship

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The executive governor of Osun State, Ademola Adeleke, has been berated by All Progressives Congress (APC), for refurbishing Government House with alleged N1billion.

Governor Adeleke had last Saturday opened the newly-rehabilitated Government House in Osogbo with top officials and dignitaries joining him for inspection of the facilities.

A statement by Adeleke’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, said “the rehabilitation covers the main house, the completion of an abandoned multi-bedroom guest house, remodelling of many of the structures, refixing of many derelict facilities and facelift of the entire Government House.”

Reacting, APC through its state Chairman, Kola Olabisi, yesterday described the inauguration as a misplaced priority.

He said: “It is a shame that Governor Adeleke could be involved in flaunting the Government House rehabilitated with N1billion in this austere period and when Osun State has been declared the corporate headquarters of poverty in Yorubaland.”

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BIG STORY

Resign As NLC President To Contest Labour Party Chairmanship, Party’s NWC Tells Joe Ajaero

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Amidst ongoing leadership tussle in the Labour Party (LP), the party’s National Working Committee has accused the National President of Nigeria Labour Congress, Joe Ajaero, of desperately seeking to replace its National Chairman, Julius Abure.

The LP made the accusation in a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, on Saturday.

The statement was in response to an open letter titled: “A misadventure in political mischief, mismanagement and misdemeanour gone too far” written on Friday by the political wing of the NLC—the Nigeria Labour Congress Political Commission.

The commission, in the letter jointly signed by its Chairman and Secretary of the commission, Titus Amba and Chris Uyot, alleged that Mr Abure and the NWC were proposing a ‘secret’ national convention in Umuahia, the Abia State capital, on 27 March that will re-elect the national chairman (Abure) to continue running the (LP) as a ‘sole administrator.’

The commission also alleged that the circular was passed without the input of stakeholders, especially the NLC, adding that Mr Abure had in April last year tried to extend his tenure in office by two years unilaterally but was stopped at the instance of the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, who insisted that the right thing be done.

In its statement on Saturday, the LP said the NLC letter did not come to them as a surprise or a shock, noting that it was long expected, having known that the NLC was going to engage itself in what they described as “misadventure”.

“Unfortunately, the rascality of the current president of the NLC, Joe Ajero, has destroyed the successes already recorded. It must be noted that the NLC and its political commission have become a bundle of contradiction and paradox,” Mr Ifoh said.

He explained that it must be noted that undue interference by the NLC on the affairs of the party has become worrisome and that it has become needful to emphasise the distinction that the LP has a life of its own different from that of the Congress.

“In fact, the 1999 Constitution states clearly that once a political party is registered, it has a life of its own whereby it can run its own affairs without any interference,” the statement said.

Mr Obiora said the LP will be going ahead with its programme and that the convention will be held as scheduled.

“We have consulted with our stakeholders and the consultation is ongoing and we will continue to consult until March 27, when the new leadership of the party will emerge. We have advised the NLC before now that party politics is played at the Ward level and not at the national level,” the statement said.

It said: “If NLC is interested in taking the leadership of the party, they should go and engage in the mass mobilisation of its members to join the party at the grass-root.”

Before now, the LP had been engulfed in a leadership crisis with a faction led by Lamidi Apapa laying claim to the Chairmanship of the party.

The Court of Appeal had on 6 March confirmed Mr Abure as the party’s chairman.

Read the full statement of the LP below:

The attention of the leadership of the Labour Party has been drawn to a Press Release titled ‘A misadventure in political mischief, mismanagement and misdemeanour gone too far’ written by the NLC’s Political Commission as an agent of the Nigeria Labour Congress.

The NLC letter did not come to us as a surprise or a shock, it was long expected before now, having known that the NLC was going to engage itself in this misadventure.

Nigerians will recall that in 2014, NLC has been involved in a war of blackmail and attrition against the Labour Party and its leadership. It was only recently, following the civil and diplomatic approach adopted by Barrister Julius Abure when he assumed leadership that he was able to get the then President of the NLC, Ayuba Waba and the then President of the Trade Union Congress, Olaleye Quadri to a truce where the NLC, TUC and Labour Party agreed to work together in harmony.

Unfortunately, the rascality of the current president of the NLC, Joe Ajero has destroyed the successes already recorded. It must be noted that the NLC and its political commission have become a bundle of contradiction and paradox.

The Nigeria Labour Congress has written several letters to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC and to the party on the need to conduct a national convention. In fact, the NLC has queried even the rationale behind the one-year extension which was graciously granted by the NEC in session in Asaba, which is in line with the party constitution.

The leadership of the party in its wisdom has decided to yield to their agitation for a convocation of a national convention.

Article 14:4b of our party constitution mandates the National Secretary in consultation with the National Chairman to issue notices of meetings of the National Convention, NEC, NWC amongst others. It is in the exercise of this power that the national chairman and national Secretary have called for the convention following the decision of the national executive council of the party.

It is therefore ironic for the same NLC which has been agitating for a convention to now be demanding the rationale for the call for a convention.

At this point, the leadership of the party wants to ask the NLC, what exactly do they want? If Joe Ajero is interested in the leadership of the party, he is therefore advised to resign as the President of the NLC and join in the contest for the National Chairmanship of the party that is scheduled for the convention on the 27th of March, 2024.

We must note that undue interference by the Nigeria Labour Congress on the affairs of the party has become worrisome and it has become needful to emphasise here the distinction that the Labour Party has a life of its own different from that of the Nigeria Labour Congress. In fact, the 1999 Constitution states clearly that once a political party is registered, it has a life of its own whereby it can run its own affairs without any interference.

The Electoral Act and the Constitution provide that no organisation can own any other organisation. The NLC as an organisation can not claim the ownership of the Labour Party. The constitution of the party is clear that it is only those who subscribe to the party and those who are financial members of the party who are the owners of the party and therefore can have a say on the affairs of the party.

The interference of the present leadership of the NLC on the party is really choking and we can hardly breathe. It is this NLC leadership which pressured the Party not to give His Excellency, Alex Otti the governorship ticket for the 2023 general election on the ground that he was allegedly not workers’ friendly when he was a Chief Executive of a bank. But today, that same Alex Otti is doing the Labour Party proud with the work he is doing in Abia state.

Again, the same NLC attempted to prevail on the leadership of the party to upload a different candidate other than Senator Athan Achonu after he won the Imo state party primaries under the Labour Party.

It will shock Nigerians to know that members and officials of the NLC are not even card-carrying members of the Labour Party. All over the country, NLC members have been found to be supporting either the APC or the PDP.

It is again of importance to make certain clarification as to the so-called judgements that were referred to by the NLC, we must indicate clearly that the Labour Party is not in default of any court judgement whatsoever. The agreement reached by the NLC to call for a convention is what we are following, we have fully implemented that agreement and the convention is in line with the agreement. We are therefore not in any default of court judgement as erroneously implied by the NLC.

We therefore want to advise the NLC and its commission that it should focus only on its statutory responsibilities of defending the workers and the workers’ rights.

Today the minimum wage is N30.000 while a bag of rice is N80.000. We hear about NLC talk about the ethos and ethics of the Labour movement and the Labour Party, this is also an NLC that cannot call or sustain a strike for one or two days without calling it off. This is an NLC which cannot think of calling a protest and sustaining it in order to get the attention of the government for the interest of the workers.

The present NLC should take time to listen to the opinion Nigerians have formed about them. Can the NLC of today in any way be compared to NLC of the then Hassan Sumounu, Adams Oshiohmole and a few others in the past?

We must at this point appreciate the Trade Union Congress, TUC and it’s Political Commission under the leadership of Comrade Festus Osifo who stoutly refused to sign the Press Release with the NLC on the ground that it was baseless, frivolous, unrealistic and an evidence of power thirst, which to them was not necessary at this time considering the successes already achieved at the Labour Party.

We equally want to advise Joe Ajero to emulate the leadership of Ayuba Waba, Olaleye Quadri and Osifo in working closely with the party.

The ill-intended Press Release by the Political Commission also made a reference to spurious allegations made by the suspended National treasurer, Oluchi Opara and it attempted to give it some credence. This clearly exposes the mischief by the NLC to hoodwink the people. We have stated clearly that the total money received by the party was N1.3 billion and no other report has contradicted it. So for the NLC to be quoting spurious allegations goes to show that they are part of the challenges the Labour Party has been facing.

We are shocked that NLC which was a victim of a recent harassment, threat to life and brutalization of its president would express shock over similar treatment meted to our chairman, Barrister Julius Abure who was brutalised for political reasons and nothing more. The NLC statement has it that Abure was arrested for fraud even when the police stated that the arrest was for attempted murder, which of course was a fabricated falsehood. We are shocked that the NLC which its President suffered the same fate, with bloodied face in Imo state will in one breath speak of Abure in this manner. This goes to portray the desperate characters in the current NLC.

We must also state clearly that our leader, Peter Obi made reference to the audit of the campaign account and not the forensic audit for the Labour Party. In any case, we have stated clearly that the Labour Party is open to forensic audit of its accounts. We are even calling on the NLC to send its own external auditors to check our financial books. We are also calling on Peter Obi to expedite action on the auditing of our accounts. And for the NLC to be using this as cheap blackmail is to show their high level of desperation and mischief.

The conclusion of the NLC’s Press Release is laughable it didn’t come to us as a surprise. It will interest Nigerians to know that the NLC has through some proxies gone to court severally to fight the leadership of the party, the most recent being the case filed by one Ado. Passing a Vote of no Confidence in the leadership of the party is laughable. It clearly shows that they neither have nor read the constitution of the party.

Article 17:1 of the party constitution is very clear on how the national chairman of the party can be removed from office. We must state clearly that it is only the National Convention that can pass a Vote of No Confidence in the leadership of the party and not the NLC who are not even members of the party. Ironically, members of the so-called Political Commission who are being used by the NLC are not card carrying members of the Labour Party. I wonder how people who are staying outside a house are hoping to interfere in what is happening inside. They simply do not have both the power and the capacity to do so.

Members of the Labour Party appreciate the leadership of Barrister Julius Abure who has taken the party from obscurity to the enviable position it found itself now. It is under his leadership that the party has found the limelight. Today in the Labour Party, we have a governor, senators, house of representatives and assembly members amongst others. Today, the Labour Party is the major opposition political party in Nigeria.

We therefore urge the NLC to go and learn from other developing democracies across the world, how the Labour movements have given support to Labour Parties across the world in Australia, and Brazil amongst others who have captured power in their countries. Such intellectual exploration has become necessary so we can collectively work towards the good of Nigerians. There is a need for us to come together and collectively fight the ruling class that has held the nation down for so long and has impoverished the nation. It makes no sense for us to be fighting ourselves.

In conclusion, we note that the Labour Party will be going ahead with our party programs, and our convention will hold. We have consulted with our stakeholders and the consultation is ongoing and we will continue to consult until March 27, when the new leadership of the party will emerge. We have advised the NLC before now that party politics is played at the Ward level and not at the National level. If NLC is interested in taking the leadership of the party, they should go and engage in the mass mobilisation of its members to join the party at the grass-root.

SIGN

Obiora Ifoh
National Publicity Secretary
Labour Party

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