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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

2027: Obasanjo, Atiku, And Others’ Meeting Poses No Threat — APC

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The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) stated on Monday that a potential alliance between former President Olusegun Obasanjo and the 2023 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, would not pose a threat to President Bola Tinubu’s re-election in 2027.

In an interview (with The Punch), the National Secretary of the APC, Senator Ajibola Basiru, responded to a meeting held by Obasanjo and his former deputy, Atiku, in Abeokuta, Ogun State, on Monday.

Atiku led a prominent delegation that included former Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal, former Cross River State Governor Senator Liyel Imoke, and other political leaders to the meeting.

The delegation arrived at Obasanjo’s residence in Abeokuta, located within the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library precinct, at precisely 12:37 pm. They were welcomed by Otunba Oyewole Fasawe.

While the specifics of the visit remained unclear at the time of the report, it was speculated that the meeting could be related to Atiku’s ambitions for the 2027 presidential race. In response to questions about his intentions, Atiku stated, “I am here on a courtesy call. I am not here to talk politics.”

The meeting sparked rumors of a potential coalition, with Obasanjo possibly playing a leading role. A source familiar with the discussions confirmed, “Yes, we are trying to see how we can collectively work together to salvage this country ahead of 2027.”

Basiru, however, dismissed the gathering as insignificant, calling it a meeting of “indolent and lazy” politicians. He emphasized that the APC was focused on governing and preparing for the November 8 Anambra State governorship election. Basiru added, “We don’t react to other people’s acts as a political party. We only do our own things. Presently, our plate is full.”

He further downplayed the significance of the meeting, saying, “How can people who are in disarray be a threat to a solid political party like the APC?”

This is not the first time Atiku has sought to build alliances with opposition figures. In November 2024, he appealed to opposition parties to unite against the APC. Obasanjo had previously endorsed Atiku for the 2019 presidential election.

On the subject of coalitions, Labour Party’s presidential candidate Peter Obi expressed openness to the idea, provided it aligns with his principles of transparency and good governance. However, the Labour Party stated that forming a coalition was not on their agenda at the moment.

In contrast, the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) indicated they would be open to forming an alliance under a credible leader like Obasanjo.

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BIG STORY

Road To 2027: Atiku Meets Obasanjo In Ogun For ‘Coalition Talks’ [PHOTOS]

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Former President Olusegun Obasanjo and Atiku Abubakar recently met in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

Abubakar, who served as vice-president under Obasanjo from 1999 to 2007, was accompanied by Liyel Imoke, the former governor of Cross River State, Aminu Tambuwal, ex-governor of Sokoto State, and Senator Abdul Ningi, representing Bauchi Central.

Paul Ibe, Abubakar’s media adviser, confirmed the meeting to TheCable, stating that the two leaders met on Monday afternoon.

Report has it that the discussion is part of ongoing talks for a coalition ahead of the 2027 general elections.

“The meeting is related to the coalition talks,” the source revealed.

Abubakar, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the 2023 election, has been actively pushing for coalition discussions in recent weeks.

In November 2023, Atiku called for opposition parties to unite in a coalition, emphasizing that Nigeria needs a strong opposition to prevent the All Progressives Congress (APC) from “turning” the country into a one-party state.

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BIG STORY

NNPP Factional Chairman Agbo Major Defends Lagos Convention, Says Kwankwaso’s Expulsion Stands

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Agbo Major, the factional national chairman of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), has defended the party’s recent convention in Lagos, calling it legal and legitimate.

Major was on Tuesday elected as the national chairman of the NNPP at a convention held at the RockView Hotel in Apapa, Lagos state. The event was attended by delegates and party officers at both national and state levels.

However, notable party figures, including Abba Yusuf, the governor of Kano state, and Rabiu Kwankwaso, the ex-presidential candidate of the NNPP, were absent from the convention.

In response, Ajuji Ahmed, another factional national chairman, criticized the convention, declaring it “illegal” and asserting that the NNPP remains under his leadership.

At a press conference in Abuja on Saturday, Major explained that the convention provided an opportunity to ratify key decisions, including the expulsion of the Kwankwassiya group. He also stated that the convention ratified the expulsion of Kwankwaso and rejected the purported new logo of the party.

“The recent judgement of the Abia High Court dated 1st November 2024 unequivocally compelled INEC to hand our party to its board of trustees led by Dr Boniface Okechukwu Aniebonam pending the resolution of all issues in courts,” Major said.

“You also recall that the same judgement mandated the BOT to activate all other organs of the party as contained in the party’s constitution (2022 as amended) to enable it to run seamlessly.

“In total compliance with this court judgement, all necessary correspondences were made with INEC and on the 13th of January 2024, the congresses commenced with Wards nationwide. It continued days after with the local government and states as well as the zones.

“However, the national convention which was to be held on 22nd January 2025, was temporarily halted due to an interim order of an FCT High Court.

“It was, however, concluded on the 4th of February 2025 at the Rockview Hotel in Apapa Lagos after the lifespan of the interim order elapsed.”

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