After what looked media trial, a circuses show shortly after handing over as Governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano is now enjoying himself in Houston, USA.
Obiano was arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission after his handover on March 17, 2022. His International passport was seized before he got a court directive that ordered the EFCC to release his traveling documents.
One of the Presidential aspirants who contested the Peoples Democratic Party Primary recently, Dele Momodu, has said that he was not surprised that at the end of it all, he didn’t get a single vote.
Speaking at a question and answer program of the TVC today, June 1, Dele Momodu said that before the commencement of voting, he vowed not to give any delegate a kobo.
According to him, delegates were openly chasing contestants for Dollars and were therefore voting according to the dictate of the Dollars they got from the contestants.
“For me, I was not prepared to give any delegate a kobo. “So, at the end of the day, I paid for nothing and I got nothing, and I didn’t regret it.”
President Buhari visits United Nations World Tourism Organisation Secretary-General in Madrid Spain on 1st June 2022 | State House PressPresident Muhammadu Buhari has said that Nigeria is fully ready to host the first-ever Global Conference on Tourism, Culture, and the Creative Industry in November this year in a conducive environment.
Speaking today, June 1, during a visit to the headquarters of the United Nations World Trade Organization (UNWTO) in Madrid, the Spanish capital at the beginning of his State Visit to Spain, President Buhari described the granting of the hosting rights as a further proof of Nigeria’s support for the vision of the organization and also an affirmation of the confidence reposed in our country by your organization.
He said that the event would provide yet another opportunity for the country to showcase its tourism and creative industry to the whole world.
“It will also serve as an opportunity to extend our warm hospitality to the world and introduce the country’s leisure and business sectors to potential investors. We have not-so-well-known wonders to reveal!”
President Buhari assured participants from across the world of a safe and secure environment as well as excellent facilities, adding: “we look forward to welcoming all participants.”
The President affirmed that the country has been consistent in supporting the organisation since joining in 1975, saying that Nigeria had also been elected Chairman of the Commission for Africa between 2005 and 2007.
The President used the opportunity to thank the Secretary-General for granting 100 UNWTO Online Academy Scholarships on the ‘Introduction to Tourism-Industry Management,’ saying that this will further boost youth empowerment and education as well as address the manpower shortage in the tourism sector.
This was even as the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, whose ministry is facilitating the conference, said that Nigeria was given the hosting rights at the 64th meeting of the UNWTO in Cape Verde in 2021.
“Our plan is to host the event in the iconic National Theatre in Lagos which is currently being massively refurbished for the first time since its commissioning some 46 years ago.”
Lai Mohammed said that since the announcement of the rights, preparations had started in earnest in conjunction with the UNWTO to ensure that Nigeria hosts a world-class event to justify the confidence reposed in the country by the organization
The Minister emphasized that Nigeria intended to leverage on the conference to showcase what makes Nigeria tick in culture, tourism, music, film, gastronomy, fashion, photography and why Nigeria has become a global leader in music and film, especially.
In his remarks, Secretary-General, UNWTO, Zurab Pololikashvili said that the visit of the President is a direct confirmation of how important tourism is to Nigeria, describing Nigeria as “a big country with huge resources in culture, nature and diversity.
“We have a long-term commitment with Nigeria to develop tourism and attract more and more tourists to Nigeria. The numbers are very small at the moment and I think it’s a shame. Nigeria has to receive much more tourists to see the beauty and meet the people.”
He assured the President of his support in promoting the diverse culture of Nigerians and Africans to the world.
Atiku AbubakarPresidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 Presidential Election, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has reminded leaders and members of the party that there is so much to do to win the elections next year.
Atiku, who spoke while receiving the Certificate of Return as the party’s candidate, at the PDP National Secretariat, Wadata Plaza, Wuse, Abuja today, June 1, said: “we must unite and work extremely hard for every single vote in this country. There is so much to do and there is little time to waste. So, let’s get to work.”
According to him, PDP should not take the defeat of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for granted.
Atiku said that while he is excited and happy for the opportunity to bear the party’s flag, “let us all remember that what just happened is a contest within a family to decide how to put our best foot forward. The main contest is the one to win the Presidency of our country for our Party.
“And it requires the entire PDP family and other supporters and sympathizers. We must pull everyone together. Nobody should be excluded. I have already visited some of those who contested against me as a way to lead in that effort to unify the party so that we can face our real opponents, defeat them in the elections and begin the process of rescuing and rebuilding this country.”
Part of his speech is reproduced here:
When I came in April and informed the National Working Committee of my intention to offer myself for consideration as the Presidential flag-bearer of our great party, the Peoples’ Democratic Party, in the forthcoming Presidential Election, I was well received. The NWC assured me that it would be fair and provide every aspirant a level playing field.
I was also assured that once a candidate emerged from our primary election you would all support that candidate and work very hard to ensure our victory in the Presidential election and of course the governorship and legislative elections across the country.
I am honoured and quite humbled to receive this Certificate of Return, having emerged as our party’s Presidential Candidate in our just concluded Special Convention. This victory is a victory for all of us, for our party and for the vast majority of Nigerians suffering under the misrule of the APC. It was a collective effort, and I am very grateful for everybody’s contributions.
Let me first thank the Organizing Committee for the Convention under the leadership of the rock-solid Senator David Mark, for putting together a rancor-free and successful Convention. I want to specially thank the National Working Committee of our Party, led by the National Chairman, the unflappable Senator Iyorchia Ayu, for the excellent way that it has steered the affairs of this party, including overseeing the successful Convention.
I am particularly grateful that you kept your word and gave us contestants fair treatment despite your likely varying sympathies and what must have been a pressure-laden and difficult situation. Your integrity and even-handedness must be commended. I commend our party’s National Executive Committee for putting our party and our country first in its deliberations and decision-making.
I thank all those who assisted my campaign in a variety of ways to enable me to crisscross this vast country and make my case to our delegates and other party elders and members.
To all those who volunteered their time to help with organizing the Convention, as well as all the security personnel and agencies who ensured an orderly event and the safety of the attendees, I say thank you very much.
I also thank my family for putting up with my demands and the disruptions this quest to serve obviously bring about.
The Leader of Southern Middle Belt Leaders Forum and the leader of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Chief Edwin Clark has accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of foisting another Northerner, Atiku Abubakar on the party for the 2023 Presidential election.
In a statement today, May 31, Clark blamed virtually everybody, including the PDP national chairman, Senator Iyorchia Ayu; Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State and others for the emergence of another Northern to be the party’s flag bearer.
He began by asking Senator Ayu to resign from office over the conduct of the national convention of the party, even as he expressed worry over the outrageous financial inducements of delegates and the cynical dollarization of the electoral process.
“Even worse, in the extreme, was the action of the national chairman of PDP, Senator Iyorchia Ayu, in his open visit to Governor Tambuwal to congratulate and hail him, in his words, as “the hero of the convention”. This clearly reveals his partiality and predilection in the processes leading to the baffling conclusion of the PDP presidential primary.
“His undignified and parochial conduct, to please his northern principals, is not only a big disgrace to the office he occupies but, also, a sad display of lewd subservience to the political subjugation of one ethnic group, in a diverse country like Nigeria.
“We had earlier suspected that he was in favour of a northern candidate, when on the day of his inauguration as national chairman, last year, he, needlessly, said during his speech, that he would resign if a Northerner emerged as the presidential candidate of the party.
“Senator Ayu has failed to realize that what we are fighting for affects all minorities in Nigeria. The Southern Nigeria relationship with the Middle Belt is well established, dating back to the First Republic, during the period of Dr. J. S. Tarka, from today’s Benue State, a founding member of the then, United Middle Belt Congress, and the strong alliance with Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s Action Group. The relationship subsisted during the Second Republic, when the Minorities of the South and the minorities of the North combined to fight for a common course; the inclusion, and full participation of all Minorities in the politics and governance of the country, of which I was the leader.
“Senator Iyorchia Ayu’s appalling, thoughtless and unpatriotic public conduct bears grave negative consequences. He should, therefore, no longer consider himself fit and proper to retain his position as the National Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), and should resign now.”
According to the elder statesman, what happened at the convention gives strong warnings of, more likely, deleterious outcomes of the 2023 general elections, mainly the presidential, and their aftermaths.
“Most disturbing is what happened at the special national convention of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), in Abuja, on Saturday, 28th May 2022. I followed the live broadcasts of the proceedings, keenly, until about 12.30 am on Sunday, the 29th. I was quite impressed by the efforts of the Convention Committee, which was headed by former Senate President, Senator David Mark, and his assistants, particularly, the Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri. But, sadly, the outcome of the election leaves much to be desired; it was very unjust and rather unwholesome. It will definitely impact severe, adverse ramifications on the future unity of the Country.
“I was alarmed by the outrageous and Machiavelli manner in which Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, Governor of Sokoto State, was so apparently “arranged” to announce his withdrawal from the contest, at the last minute; his speech changed the mood of the event. That was done in order to foist another Northerner as the party’s flag bearer; having regard to the fact that Governor Aminu Tambuwal was the only aspirant from the whole of the North West, which had about 192 delegates at the Convention.
“What Tambuwal did was not only dishonorable but also a serious electoral abnormality and a tragic betrayal of national patriotism for hidebound interests.
“Another Northern aspirant, Mr Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, a businessman from Borno State, had, earlier, also suddenly, withdrawn from the contest, citing its obscene monetization as his reason; but we now know better. It is now widespread understanding that there were pressures mounted on Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, and former Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki, to also withdraw, while Tambuwal deliberately delayed his action till the last minute. By doing so, unduly swept his North West votes to Atiku Abubakar.
“One can now appreciate the reasons given by Mr Peter Obi for his withdrawal from the PDP, both as a member, and as an aspirant, a few days before the party’s primary.
“And I would think that what he did was, without doubt, in respect, or obedience, to the position of the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders’ Forum.
“Unfortunately, some aspirants from the south believed that, with the resources and facilities at their disposal, their elders no longer matter, and disregarded, with impunity, the patriotic advice on the need to be steadfast on the position of the zoning of the Presidency to the south.
“They never minded that what we have been advocating was in their interest. They proved themselves to be selfish and arrogant, and thought they could win on their own steam. They failed; I can only hope that they have, now, learned their lessons.”
President Muhammadu Buhari has solicited the support of the the governors of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) as he picks the person who will succeed him in the next year’s elections.
“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 President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in 2023.”
The President spoke today, May 31 at a special meeting he had with the APC governors and other stakeholders at the Presidential villa, Abuja.
Buhari reminded the governors that APC had successfully established internal policies that promote continuity and smooth succession plans even at the state and local government levels.
“For example, first term Governors who have served credibly well have been encouraged to stand for re-election.
“Similarly, second term Governors have been accorded the privilege of promoting successors that are capable of driving their visions as well as the ideals of the party.”
President Buhari stressed that the national Convention of the part coming up shortly is a very significant process and that its outcome should prove to the world, the positive quality of the APC regarding democratic principles, culture as well as leadership.
According to the President, the Party has remained strong and united, saying: “it is also needed to improve our electoral fortunes by ensuring that it retains power at the center, hold the great majority in various legislative chambers and also gain additional number of states at state levels.
“In pursuit of the foregoing objectives, the Party has successfully established internal policies that promote continuity and smooth succession plans even at the state and local government levels. For example, first term Governors who have served credibly well have been encouraged to stand for re-election.”
He appealed to the governors and stakeholders to allow their collective interests to converge and to remain on the changing dynamics of the nation’s environment, the expectations of the citizens and the global community. “Our objective must be the victory of our party and our choice of candidate must be someone who would give the Nigerian masses a sense of victory and confidence even before the elections.”
He assured them 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 recalled that APC came to power at the center in 2015 through a cohesive machinery, notwithstanding its status as the opposition party.
“Similarly, in 2019, it was returned to power under my leadership, because of the dividends of democracy delivered to Nigerians irrespective of their political leanings.
“The Party has since grown in strength and capacity to govern. The key to both electoral successes is the ability of the party to hold consultations and for its members to put the nation above other interests.”
He reminded the stakeholders the most successful Political Parties globally have always relied on their internal cohesion and a strong leadership brand to achieve bigger electoral fortunes.
“Our party, the APC, shall not be any different, more so as we are still implementing the blueprint for a more prosperous nation.
“As I begin the final year of my second term as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and leader of the Party, I recognize the compelling need for me to provide stronger leadership to the Party under this transition process and to ensure that it happens in an orderly manner.”
Prince Ned NwokoBarring unforeseen circumstances, a former member of the Federal House of Representatives, Prince Ned Nwoko, is set to establish Sports University in Idumuje-Ugboko, Delta State.
The Federal Government has since approved the issuance of a provisional licence to 12 new universities, amongst which is Nwoko’s Sports University of Sports.
Information has it that had, when he was a member of the House of Representatives, sponsored a bill for the establishment of an institution of this kind in order to bridge the gap between sport and education.
Nwoko wanted a university that would offer both conventional and specialised courses, where students would graduate with double honours.
He believed that if founded, the sports university would be a veritable ground for selection of sportsmen and women who would represent Nigeria at local and international competitions.
The focal point of the university is excellence in sport: 80 per cent sport and 20 per cent study. It will serve as home to persons who want to do sport and be educated enough to express themselves. It is the first of its kind in the country.
What has come to define the personality of President Muhammadu Buhari, apart from his acclaimed integrity and incorruptibility, has been his ability to listen to people, and above all, appreciate the good thing others have done for him.
As a matter of fact, it is believed that about 85 percent of his personal staff (special assistants and others) in the Presidential Villa or outside it, are those who had in one way or the other glued to him at the time he was struggling to rule this country through ballot, and democratically: those who had maintained faith in him at the time some fair weather ones had deserted him.
When he first came out in 2003 to campaign for the Presidency, there were many who are today in his government that really suffered all sort of personal discomforts, including Sarki Abba, Abba Kyari, Ya’u Darazo, and a host of others. Amongst such personalities are two journalists who stuck to him, though they were attached to his campaign team by their organizations, but they also suffered a lot of personal and material discomfort.
The journalists are Mammanga Ibrahim, who was attached to Buhari campaign team by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) and Yusuf Ozi-Usman, who was also attached to the campaign team by Media Trust Limited, publisher of Daily Trust and Sunday Trust.
During the 2003 campaign, there was nothing like day or night. In fact, the campaign team was on the road 24 hours. Members of the team used to sleep either in their vehicles as the vehicles sped through villages, towns and cities across the country or in lodges for just two or three hours at best.
The campaign team, for instance, arrived at Malam Madori in Jigawa State at about 3.00am while the team arrived at the palace of Alafin of Oyo at about 4am. Buhari’s campaign team stopped over to address supporters at a village between Jaji and Kaduna town at about 4.30am before the team proceeded to Jos, arriving in Jos at about 6.58am.
The vehicle conveying the journalists had a near fatal accident at Zaki Biam in Benue State, as the team headed to Wukari in Taraba State. It was around 6.30 in the evening. Buhari was kind enough to stop the convoy, came out of his Prado Jeep to give directive that the injured journalists should be taken to the nearest medical facility for attention. The journalists were promptly treated after which they immediately joined the campaign movement.
The vehicle conveying the journalists was also attacked by supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Mubi, Adamawa State when they left the convoy to rush to a nearby cyber cafe to file stories to their head offices.
Yasallam wrote in from Kaduna.
Two Brothers, Different Fate, By Obiaruko Christie Ndukwe
Since the concluded PDP presidential primaries, there have been different narratives canvassed in the media space for and against the aspirants. One of such who has attracted more attention than the eventual winner of the election is Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State.
Back home, the age-old rivalry between his camp and that of his former boss and predecessor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi has triggered a new frontier of arguments.
While Wike and Amaechi come from Rivers State but belong to different political parties, PDP and APC, respectively, there has been an attempt to put them on the same scale on the premise that what affects one will almost likely affect the other.
The governor went into the PDP battle with a full war chest financially and without a known loyalty to any godfather or political leader. He owes no one any allegiance; rather, he was upbeat about his attempt to secure the grand prize of his party, PDP.
His style was a crass display of brute force against any dissenting voices, not excluding the media where he publicly told his host on a Television programme that he is the candidate for the PDP and not an aspirant. Wike urged Seun Akinbalode of Channels Television to congratulate him in advance since he was sure to win the ticket.
The delegates in some states were not left out as they were made to believe that only a Wike candidature could help the party defeat the ruling party. Governors and aspirants also felt the pang of Wike’s unnerved theatrics during his consultation around the country. Everyone, including non-PDP members, had a good dose of laughter or anger, listening and watching the Rivers Bulldog unleash at every doubting Thomas. There was no one to stop the governor or take the mic off from him. The PDP seemed to be in his pockets, having successfully dislodged his kinsman, Uche Secondus, as National Chairman of the party for an Iyorchia Ayu who is an avowed Atiku loyalist.
But, the result of the primaries showed otherwise that the party remains in the clutches of the North.
The gang up against Wike by the governors of the South can best be described as a payback for his indecorous manner while addressing them. They blame him for the exit of some PDP governors who joined the APC.
While Wike may have come very close to the ticket considering his intimidating ability to match a supposedly richer Atiku Abubakar money for money, his ambition to become the next president was punctured by those who never saw themselves less than him. The governors from the South are his contemporaries, and so do not amount to his loyalists.
Wike’s fate lay on his brothers.
On the other hand, Amaechi is also a frontrunner in his party, APC, for the presidential ticket. The story of this former Speaker and Governor needs no elucidation as every Nigerian knows that he played a key role in the presidential aspiration of General Muhammadu Buhari in 2014 primaries of the APC. Amaechi, like Wike, is also strong-willed, but his style of politics since becoming a Minister under Buhari has changed considerably.
The Rivers born politician understands political diplomacy where everyone who aspires to be in authority must be under authority.
The APC has a sitting President who, by their Constitution, is the leader of the party. All party leaders and members owe him allegiance. Amaechi knows that as much as Buhari is a Democrat, he has not also ceased being a military General.
The President has told the sitting Governors of the party that he would nominate his choice of successor for the party. He also said consultation will continue amongst stakeholders and aspirants.
Amaechi is not expected to toe the same path as Wike with a party that has an overall leader with whom he enjoys a deep affinity. It would amount to political suicide for Amaechi to adopt the dollarized kind of campaign beyond what is considered normal.
There would be no need to threaten anyone who is perceived not to be in support of his ambition. While on his tour of the states, Amaechi did not dissipate energy and financial resources to visit leaders and members of the opposition PDP.
With a leader like Buhari, there is a place for endorsement and eventual consensus. If Amaechi gets the nod of the President, which is 80% likely, his fate would surely not be the same as Wike.
Obiaruko Christie Ndukwe is an Abuja based political analyst @beamnews@yahoo.com