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Dele Momodu Drops ‘Bombshell’, Reveals How PDP Abandoned Adeleke; Says Osun Election Was A Civil War

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Publisher of Ovation magazine and former presidential candidate, Dele Momodu, has revealed how the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, abandoned its candidate, Ademola Adeleke in the last governorship election in Osun State.

He made this known in a statement on Saturday in which he also outlined the best strategy for the PDP if it desires to win the presidency in 2019.

Momodu further said no candidate from the core north can compete against, and defeat, President Muhammadu Buhari simply on the basis that he is from the core north.

The statement reads: “What transpired in the State of Osun, as my dear brother, the Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, loves to refer to our State, was not gubernatorial, but a prelude to the presidential election. The interest and resources galvanised for that election demonstrated that it was a civil war and not a civilised election.

“The election was seen and executed as a referendum on the tenure of President Muhammadu Buhari and its wobbly government.

“While the ruling party appeared determined or maybe ‘desperate’ is the appropriate word, to win, the main opposition party looked jazzed and disinterested.

“But for the merciful interventions of former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and the President of the Nigerian Senate, Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki, the PDP candidate, Senator Nurudeen Ademola Adeleke, could as well have been a virtual orphan. It was that bad.

“What manner of opposition would sit at home, arms akimbo, after seeing how the President, Vice President, Governors, Ministers and party Chieftains all invaded, and flooded, Osun as if their lives depended on it?

“I fail to understand how PDP can parade over a dozen presidential aspirants yet only few of them are showing irrevocable commitment to serious party matters while the rest are only pursuing personal agenda.

“Adeleke was just lucky to be blessed with a family that had the means to fund his campaign and in particular a megastar, David Adeleke (aka Davido), who unleashed his monstrous talent on the campaign.

“The ways of politicians are certainly not the ways of ordinary mortals. I could not believe how they turned Osun into a theatre of war because of a few thousand votes. I thought that, by now, Nigeria had passed this disgraceful and embarrassing stage.

“I have no doubt that APC merely used the elections in Ekiti and Osun as dress rehearsals of what to expect in next year’s general elections. I don’t see the APC apparatchik agreeing to vacate power without a truculent fight.

“Many people, Nigerians and non-Nigerians have come to the incontrovertible conclusion that what we currently have is an army of occupation and we should accept our fate with equanimity.

“But no country can afford not to have a virile opposition. This is why it is sad and tragic that those who were in opposition only yesterday are perpetrating the same unfortunate acts we collectively rejected and dismissed not too long ago.

“The PDP that should fight back stoutly to give a good fight is already gasping for breath because of multiple ambitions of individuals who may choose to turncoat at the drop of a hat.

“From the multitude of PDP aspirants and even the cacophony of permutations about who can challenge Buhari to a duel, it is becoming clear, to discerning minds, that there are only two, possibly three serious challengers and no more. Of these three, two currently stand tall.

“One is old and the other is young. It seems patently obvious, from the recent shenanigans that we have seen that President Buhari and his people would do everything humanly possible to avoid confronting either of these two candidates at the polls next year.

“Moving on, let me say with every emphasis I can muster, no candidate from the core North can compete against, and defeat, Buhari simply on the basis that they come from the core North. It is practically impossible.

“The jejune argument that PDP should pick a candidate who can divide the core Northern votes is either a joke carried too far or a deliberate decision to hand power back to the incumbent on a platter of gold.

“What the PDP needs urgently is a candidate who can explode its votes in the entire South and the North Central. This does not necessarily mean such a candidate should come from these regions, but it would be ideal. A candidate with cross-over appeal from the North East and North West would also do well provided he does not believe that his place of origin means he should concentrate his effort in that region or adjunct region.

“PDP should forget the pipe dream of competing favourably against Buhari in the North East and North West. He has consistently won overwhelmingly in those two regions. However, if President Buhari can be restricted to those two zones while opposition locks down the other four zones of the country, then the prospects of the opposition PDP resoundingly beating the APC candidate becomes much brighter.

“70 percent of the electorate are under the age of 45. Opposition requires a candidate who can readily galvanise a multitude of first-time voters. Nigeria is long overdue for a candidate in the mould of Barack Obama, an energetic and cosmopolitan leader. Politics as a game of numbers must be approached meticulously.

“Buhari has stupendous State appurtenances and resources to deploy, his opponent must have access to the similar armoury or have sufficient wherewithal to match the substantial resources of State and not be a scavenger in search of morale, audacity and finance. I’m not sure about what the third force can produce. I have expressed this publicly and privately.

“I think the toughest opposition can still come from PDP if it can rescue itself from certain interests and manage to pick a kamikaze candidate who is not docile and who is ready to fight all the way with everything at his disposal.

“No meek or lily-livered gentleman can fight and conquer Buhari next year. The lesson to pick from Osun, while litigation processes are being cooked, is that the next Presidential election is not going to be the stuff of conventional warfare. A serious opposition must prepare for the use of ballistic and anti-ballistic missiles. This is the reality of what to expect.”

BIG STORY

Nigeria’s Stability More Important Than Our Pockets — Shettima Tells Senators-Elect

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Nigeria’s Vice-President, Kashim Shettima, has charged senators-elect to “vote wisely” when the upper legislative chamber is inaugurated next week.

The senate will elect its presiding officers for the 10th assembly on Tuesday.

Speaking during the ninth senate’s valedictory session on Saturday, Shettima told the lawmakers that the stability of the country is greater than that of their pockets.

There have been allegations that some senate president hopefuls are using money to woo senators-elect to vote for them.

Although the All Progressives Congress (APC) has nominated Godswill Akpabio, a former minister of Niger Delta affairs, for the position of senate president, Abdulaziz Yari, a former governor of Zamfara, and Orji Uzor Kalu, chief whip, have insisted on vying for the position.

The vice-president said the country’s interest should inform who they elect as senate president and deputy.

“To my incoming colleagues, I will leave you with a parable, ‘the stability of this nation is superior to the stability of our pockets’. On Tuesday, let us vote wisely, let us vote for the Nigerian nation,” he said.

The number two citizen described his colleagues as “friends who have become an integral part of my history”.

“We have served shoulder to shoulder in the face of adversity and worked relentlessly for the betterment of our nation,” he said.

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BREAKING: DSS Confirms Godwin Emefiele’s Arrest [VIDEO]

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The Department of State Services (DSS) has confirmed the arrest of suspended Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor, Godwin Emefiele.

It was earlier reported the arrest of Emefiele by the DSS, shortly after he was suspended by President Bola Tinubu.

But on Saturday, the Service, on its Twitter handle said Emefiele was not in its custody.

Despite the denial by the DSS, report has it that the former CBN chief was in the custody of the secret police.

But confirming the report on Saturday evening, DSS spokesman, Peter Afunanya, posted: “The Department of State Services (DSS) hereby confirms that Mr Godwin Emefiele, the suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is now in its custody for some investigative reasons.”

 

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Talking Frankly On Removal Of Fuel Subsidy By Babajide Fadoju 

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Now that subsidy is gone, what is the plan?

Subsidies play a significant role in shaping economic policies in many countries, including Nigeria.

Subsidies are government incentives that aim to support specific industries or sectors by reducing the cost of goods or services.

However, the effect of subsidy removal on the Nigerian economy has been a subject of much debate and analysis.

Subsidies have long been used by the Nigerian government to support various sectors primarily the energy sector.

These subsidies are intended to stimulate economic growth, encourage investment, and alleviate the burden of high costs on consumers.

For instance, fuel subsidies have been implemented to ensure affordable prices for petroleum products, as Nigeria heavily relies on oil for its revenue.

Due to several imports, the subsidy on petrol has to be removed. For one the federal government cannot afford the subsidy payment anymore.

By removing subsidies, the government can redirect its spending towards more productive sectors.

The funds that were previously allocated to subsidies can be channelled into infrastructure development, healthcare, education, and other critical areas that can foster long-term economic growth.

The removal of subsidy is good for the industry; growth will be engendered as several players can now play competitively, efficiency will become the cornerstone to build on and this will aid product delivery to the end users.

The removal of subsidies can promote economic efficiency by allowing market forces to determine prices and allocate resources more effectively.

When subsidies are in place, they can distort market signals, leading to inefficiencies and suboptimal resource allocation. By removing subsidies, the government can create an environment that encourages competition and innovation, driving economic growth in the long run.

That is just one way to look at it, according to economic analysts, the removal of subsidies will trigger a temporary spike in inflation as the prices of essential commodities rise. However, over time, the market will adjust to the new price equilibrium, and inflationary pressures may stabilize.

One of the primary concerns surrounding subsidy removal is its impact on low-income households. These households often heavily rely on subsidized goods for their daily needs.

When subsidies are removed, the cost of living may increase, posing challenges for vulnerable segments of society.

To counter this, the government is prepared to review several areas of the fiscal economy. The government is prepared to review the minimum wage and provide palliatives for the most vulnerable.

More importantly, the money recouped from subsidy will be reallocated into infrastructure development and social programs, fostering sustainable economic growth.

It might be hard at first, but we will cross this rubicon and the country will be better for it.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. When was fuel subsidy removed in Nigeria?

Contrary to popular opinion, the subsidy regime was ended by the assent to the Petroluem Industry Act by the then president, Muhammadu Buhari in February of 2022. However, the nation was not ready and the budgetary allocation continued into May of 2023 – the end of the Buhari administration.

2. How does subsidy removal impact inflation?

Subsidy removal can lead to short-term inflationary pressures as the prices of subsidized goods or services increase. However, over time, the market can adjust to the new price equilibrium, and inflation may stabilize.

3. Are there alternative measures to subsidy removal?

Yes, there are alternative measures that can be considered before resorting to subsidy removal. These include subsidy reforms, targeting subsidies to specific populations, improving subsidy delivery mechanisms, and implementing fiscal consolidation measures.

4. What are the potential social implications of subsidy removal?

Subsidy removal can have social implications, particularly for low-income households. The increased cost of living may pose challenges for vulnerable segments of society. However, by redirecting resources, the government can implement targeted social welfare programs to mitigate the adverse effects.

6. What are the long-term benefits of subsidy removal?

The long-term benefits of subsidy removal include improved fiscal sustainability, increased government revenue, reduced corruption opportunities, economic efficiency, and the reallocation of resources to critical sectors.

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