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A former Governor of Abia State and a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, Chief Orji Uzor Kalu, has said the Igbo can be sure of producing the country’s president in 2023 if they support the re-election bid of President Mohammdu Buhari in 2019.

Kalu urged the Igbo to wake up and learn from their past political experience, adding that the future of the tribe in Nigerian politics is brighter now than it has been in the past with the APC.

Kalu spoke in Umuahia, the Abia State capital, on Sunday shortly after attending the Presbyterian Church of Nigeria, St. Peter’s Parish 2017 Annual Harvest and Thanksgiving Service on Abiriba Street, Umuahia.

Maintained that producing an Igbo president is a task every true Igbo indigene must key into, adding that the APC is the best platform to achieve the dream.

He said: “The future of Ndigbo is the brightest today in APC.

“Once Buhari finishes his second tenure, I’m assuring you that either I or any other Igbo man stands a better chance of becoming the president of Nigeria.

“The right thing to do is to work for the presidency.

“We don’t need other thing than the office of the president.

“If you see what I have done in our villages as governor, you will know what will happen if somebody like me becomes the president.

“You know that the entire Nigeria will be developed.

“The future is very bright and Ndigbo will enjoy being in APC.

“That is why we are working very hard to win the Anambra State election and will win the State.

“It is possible to have Orji Kalu in Aso rock, if I am alive and in good health.

“I’m very capable to be president because I understand macro and micro economics of Nigeria.

“I don’t even see any Nigerian more capable than I am to run for the office and work for the people.”

Kalu disclosed that the APC-led Federal Fovernment is already reconstructing the Uzuakoli/ Bende Ohafia Road in the State through his intervention.

He said: “When I was governor, I was busy maintaining that road.

“It is a State Government road.

“But when I left office, it was overlooked and the road became deplorable.

“So I appealed to the Federal Government for an intervention on that road and they are doing rehabilitation work now.

“The rehabilitation is not being done by any member of the National Assembly.

“It was by my request.

“I told the federal authorities that I can’t go to my village anymore and I’m a member of the ruling party because I had once spent over five hours on the road because of its deplorable state.

“I showed Mr. President the pictures and he ordered for immediate rehabilitation of the road.

“We are doing the road to help the people so that our can be happy and stop working on their vehicles all the time.

“That’s what good governance is all about.”

The ex-governor added he tarred almost all the lanes in Umuahia, some roads in Aba to make life easier for people, saying: “It is just that people have refused to acknowledge what is right and good and unless Abians come up to speak the truth we might not see a better day because you cannot hide the truth.

“When I was governor, I gave free education, I gave free medical services, I built roads, and paid workers.

“Paying salaries was a sacrifice I made to help our people.

“It looked like it was an easy thing, but people have realized that it was not an easy job.

“It takes a man with a high level of discipline to be able to do it.

“It takes a good manager and administrator to achieve that and it is really open today and people can see the difference.”

BIG STORY

Road To 2027: Tinubu Not Threatened By Obasanjo, Kwankwaso, Obi’s Talks — APC

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The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), on Sunday, stated that it was not intimidated by the weekend visit of former presidential flag-bearer of the New Nigeria People’s Party, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, and former Cross River State governor, Donald Duke, to the Abeokuta, Ogun State home of ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo “to discuss the political future of Nigeria.”

In recent weeks, there have been growing debates about the 2027 general elections after the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, advocated for the re-election of President Bola Tinubu for a second term.

According to Akume, there will be no vacancy in Aso Rock until 2031, when Tinubu would have completed a second term.

However, the opposition has rejected this notion, insisting that the ruling APC would be removed from power by 2027.

Over the weekend, Kwankwaso and Duke, a 2007 presidential aspirant, visited ex-President Obasanjo in Abeokuta and held a closed-door meeting.

Although the specifics of their discussions remain undisclosed, sources close to the leaders suggested that the meeting was part of a broader effort to strategize for Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.

Obasanjo, a key figure in Nigerian politics, has been actively engaging various stakeholders to explore alternatives to the ruling APC and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party.

The ex-President has recently been highly critical of Tinubu’s administration, condemning alleged corruption and rising debt burdens.

Kwankwaso, an influential figure in Kano State politics, brings significant clout and followership, while Duke, a former governor from the southern region, is expected to offer his unique perspective on governance and national unity.

Though the details of their conversation remain confidential, Kwankwaso’s statement after the meeting suggested a collective intention to challenge the existing political structure and pave the way for a new direction in Nigeria’s political landscape.

Confirming the meeting via his verified Facebook page, Kwankwaso stated, “I was pleased to be in the company of my friend, His Excellency Donald Duke, and other associates to pay a courtesy call on former President Olusegun Obasanjo at his residence in Abeokuta.”

He added, “Deliberations on significant national issues, including the future of politics and governance in Nigeria, defined the conversation. We are grateful to Baba for his warm reception, support, and hospitality.”

However, responding to the development in an interview (with The Punch) on Sunday, the National Publicity Director of the ruling APC, Bala Ibrahim, dismissed the meeting as a potential threat to APC continuity.

Ibrahim asserted that Tinubu’s political stature and relevance in contemporary politics had far surpassed those of the opposition figures and statesmen.

He said, “With due respect, I hold Obasanjo in high esteem. As a former President, ex-Head of State, and an elder statesman, I don’t want to take issues with him. But when it comes to the politics of Nigeria, particularly contemporary politics, Tinubu is not their mate.”

“Tinubu is head and shoulders above them in modern politics in Nigeria. So the combination of Obasanjo, Kwankwaso, Peter Obi, and Donald Duke, who was my schoolmate, does not present a threat to Tinubu. These are people who were trashed in the last election.”

“This is not the first time Obasanjo has rallied around someone, and that person was defeated. Remember, he supported (ex-President Goodluck) Jonathan, who later lost to Buhari. Obasanjo supported another candidate, Peter Obi, in the last election again and Tinubu trounced them.”

“So they can have marathon meetings and meet till the end of time, they will not present any threat to the government of APC. Who among Kwankwaso, Obasanjo, Obi, and Duke was not beaten? If they are bringing angels, it’s a different story. But if it is these same spent forces that will combine and meet, their meeting cannot bring any good outcome.”

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BIG STORY

Rowdy Session As Another LP Reps Defects To APC, Cites Leadership Crisis

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The member representing Jos South and East Federal Constituency, “Alfred Illiya Ajang,” has defected from the Labour Party (LP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

In a letter read by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, “Tajudeen Abbas,” during plenary on Thursday, the now-defected member claimed that the crisis in the Labour Party was the reason for his defection.

The House was thrown into a rowdy session as some lawmakers raised eyebrows over the content of the letter.

Lending his voice, Minority Leader “Kingsley Chinda” says the letter is not in accordance with the constitution of the House and, as such, should be rejected.

He said that as a standing order, any member who wishes to defect must first inform his constituents and party members on the platform on which he was elected before any letter is read.

Chinda argued that since this criterion has not been met, the letter should not be admitted.

The speaker, however, overrode the observation.

Meanwhile, a former Minister of Labour and Employment and now-serving senator “Simon Lalong” was at the House of Representatives complex to witness the defection and give support to his colleague.

The House had earlier suspended its rules to admit Lalong, representing Plateau South senatorial district.

His defection from the LP to the ruling APC adds to the swelling number of federal lawmakers dumping one of Nigeria’s main opposition parties.

A few days back, another lawmaker, “Dalyop Chollom,” representing Barkin Ladi/Riyom Federal Constituency, dumped the LP for the APC. He cited the crisis in the party as his reason.

Some weeks back, four members of the House of Representatives dumped the LP for the ruling party, citing squabbles in the Labour Party.

Following their defection, the LP threatened legal action and claimed their action was unconstitutional.

The Labour Party made inroads in national politics in the 2023 general election years after its formation. It got six Senate and 34 House of Representatives seats.

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BIG STORY

BREAKING: Atiku’s Former Aide Daniel Bwala Decamps To APC

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Daniel Bwala, Atiku Abubakar’s former aide, has decamped to the All Progressive Congress.

This comes weeks after President Tinubu appointed him as his special adviser on media and public communication then later changed his portfolio to SA on policy communication.

In a post on his X (former twitter) page, Bwala posted a picture of him at the APC media centre and captioned it ‘Sweet Home’.

This however, is a fulfillment of the prediction of many after the former PDP apologist accepted to serve the APC government.

Meanwhile, Bwala used to be with the APC before he left for the camp of Atiku’s PDP during the 2023 presidential election campaign.

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