Former Niger Delta militant leader, Alhaji Asari Dokubo has made it clear that he will continue to stand by and vote for the Presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu because he was good to him.
Dokubo, in a video clip today, June 10, said that Tinubu was paying the school fees of his children when he (Dokubo) was in prison.
“When I was in prison, Tinubu was so kind to me; he paid my children’s school fees. He gave me a house at VGC. He gave my wife a house at Ogba.
“When Tinubu was taken to the Code of conduct for trial, I trekked miles and when I entered the court, he came to embrace me after the court session.”
Dokubo said that Nigerians will miss a lot if they fail to vote Tinubu, adding that he (Tinubu) has many qualities that would lift Nigeria beyond imagination.
The Youth Progressive Movement in Support of Bola Ahmed Tinubu Solidarity Vanguard (YPM-BATSV) has congratulated the national leader of the APC on his recent resounding victory at the well-contested presidential primary election of the All Progressive Congress, APC.
In a statement signed by the national coordinator and Secretary of the group, Comrade Abdulsalam Waziri, today June 10, described the victory as a victory for Nigerians, and as a turning point in the political history of the country, adding that the national leader has the wherewithal to unite and move the nation forward.
“This victory is for Nigeria and Nigerians. The Joy and feelings of victory shall not be short-lived. Our national leader, Senator Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu has all it takes to unite and move this nation forward. He has done it in Lagos; it is an open fact.”
While soliciting the support of all Nigerians, Waziri said the movement for hard work and cooperation is just beginning.
“Going forward, we shall continue to need your support and prayers to entrust our dear country in the hand of a man who has deep knowledge and solutions to the challenges bedevilling Nigeria’s progress for decades.” Stressing that “the steam of this victory will continue to drive our zeal, passion and conviction till we win the presidential election comes 2023, he said”
Comrade Waziri commended the party leaders, particularly the Northern APC governors and NWC of the party for exhibiting exceptional patriotism before and during the primary election, noting that their patriotic roles will forever unite the party and the nation at large.
He further advised the APC leaders to quickly swing into action of uniting the party more in order to present a formidable front against the People’s Democratic Party, PDP in the forthcoming general election.
Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on special duties, Malam Ya’u Darazo has cautioned the Presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu over some people he described as moles.
In a statement, Darazo regretted the position of the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir David Lawal in a recent interview with the Channels TV, on Muslim-Muslim ticket of APC.
According to him, Babachir’s position is as much regrettable as laughable, “both of which are kept as a subject for another day).
“Tinubu should be cautious of the spoilers and jobbers within.
“An inglorious outing as the SGF, sent B.D. Lawal into political hibernation. Tinubu’s presidential project provided him an opportunity to come back to political life. He quickly started digging his old relationship with the Jagaba.
“Perhaps the same devil that went into the head of Vice President Osinbajo, according to B.D. Lawal, must have had a stop over with B.D too.
“This is because, in his choice of how to come back to the political limelight, B.D. Lawal chose mischievous controversy. It’s suspect who he is working for. He claims to be Asiwaju’s associate. Yet at the time when the political atmosphere was being overheated by the waves of the primaries, he decided to release a social media voice message abusing Hausa Fulani in the name of Christianity. Perhaps only he and his supporters can explain this recklessness.
“Again, when the detractors of Asiwaju misrepresented his Abeokuta Yoruba statement, B.D Lawal, the supposedly Asiwaju’s associate, went to the media evoking sentiments of the North against Asiwaju, instead of defending him.
“The question I want to ask B.D Lawal is—as the Vice Chairman, North East of the then General Buhari’s C.P.C, how many votes Buhari got in Adamawa and Taraba States?
“In spite of running along with a celebrated Pastor, Tunde Bakari, it is curious to note that these States are the immediate political zone of Mr B.D. Lawal, a Christian, a Pastor and the zonal Vice Chairman of the Buhari’s Party.
“Our dear Jagaban, the battle before you has just began. May God in His infinite Mercy Be with you.”
A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, has reversed itself over the judgment approving a tenure elongation for the immediate past chairmen and their councilors, ordering immediate Swearing-In of the newly elected chairmen and their councillors.
The court, in an earlier judgment on May 18, had suspended the swearing-in of the elected officials, leading to confusion. The legal team of the FCT Administration had to seek redress of the judgment in court.
The court, sitting in Kubwa today, June 9, ordered the immediate reversal of the judgment and asked that the newly elected chairmen and their councillors be sworn in immediately.
Justice Ibrahim Mohammed, who delivered a fresh judgment, said that everybody is in a learning process and that persons are bound to make mistakes and also make corrections.
He said that it is very clear that some mistakes were made and a judgment was entered, which brought a lot of issues concerning the elongation of the tenure of the outgoing chairmen in the six area councils.
Justice Mohammed said that in his wisdom, he has vacated the first judgment that was given by him. He directed that the area council chairmen who were elected and issued a certificates should be sworn-in by the FCT Minister.
The national Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Abdullahi Adamu has made it known to Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu who has been elected as the party’s Presidential candidate, that the leadership and members of the party are now his soldiers.
He said: “We are all now your soldiers. We will follow you to the nooks and crannies of this country. We will not rest on your oars until we have delivered you as president.”
The APC chairman, who led members of the National Working Committee (NWC) and other leaders to felicitate with Tinubu over his victory at the party’s primary election, acknowledged that Tinubu had come a long way in politics.
“You have come a long way; you have seen it all. I can tell you that we have a commitment beyond description, a commitment to deliver you as president. Our party has spoken loud and clear, and delivering the will of the people, our delegates have given you the mandate to lead.”
Responding, Asiwaju Tinubu said: “I am honoured by this visit. We are all members of the same party, and as such, belong to the same progressive family. I appreciate your visit, I truly feel as if I am with family members.
“I want to thank every one of you individually and collectively. You have formed a very dynamic team in a short period of time. You have sent jitters to other parties that our party remains united and you must continue to live up to expectations.
“Today, as I have done throughout my campaign, I assure you that I am ready to reciprocate and vindicate our efforts in making the ultimate sacrifice: relentless public service to our beloved nation.
“We have begun a new story of greatness, prosperity in the history of our nation. You helped me to complete the introduction, we must now work together to etch the substance of the book itself. Our book will not be complete until you have delivered me as president. “
Asiwaju described the APC chairman as a straight-forward, focused and courageous man who he worked together with as a fellow-governor in the Class of 1999 Governors of which he said he was the youngest.
“I thank you and I reiterate my commitment to the greatness of our party. We must work together, we must not let our enemies who want to divide us succeed. We must not allow it. Almighty Allah will crown our work with success as we embark on the journey to a greater Nigeria.”
Among the NWC members who joined the chairman on the visit were Deputy National Chairman (North), Senator Abubakar Kyari; Deputy National Chairman (South), Chief Emma Eneukwu; National Secretary, Senator Iyiola Omisore; National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka; National Organising Secretary, Alhaji Sulaimon Argungu; National Woman Leader, Dr. Betta Edu, and National Youth Leader, Dayo Abdullah Isreal.
Others included National Vice Chairman (South-West): Dr. Isaac Kekemeke; National Vice Chairman (South-South): Chief Hon. Victor Ton Giadom, and National Vice Chairman (North-East), Comrade Mustapha Salihu.
Nigeria’s top security chiefs have narrowed down the perpetrators of Sunday’s church killings in Owo, Ondo State to the Islamic State of West Africa Province(ISWAP).
The security chiefs, who attended a Security Council Meeting today, June 9, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja said that so far, no arrest has been made as investigations and trailing of the terrorists are still ongoing.
Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, who addressed newsmen shortly after the meeting, presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari, insisted that there was no trace of ethnic or religious colouration.
Aregbesola said that security channels has zeroed the suspects to the ISWAP, saying: “Council is quite concerned about the violent attack in Ondo state and we have been able to locate the perpetrators, we have zeroed it that ISWAP did it, the animals in ISWAP wanting attention are responsible, we have asked security personnel to go after them and bring them to justice”.
The meeting had the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Secretary to the Government of the Federation; Boss Mustapha; the Chief of Staff to the President, Professor Ibrahim Gambari and the National Security Adviser (NSA), retired Major General Babagana Monguno in attendance.
Others in attendance include the Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor, Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Farouk Yahaya; Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo; and the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Isiaka Oladayo Amao.
Also in attendance are the Inspector-General of Police, Alkali Baba Usman; the Director-General of the Department of State Service (DSS), Yusuf Bichi; and the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ambassador Ahmed Rufai Abubakar.
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has given the presidential and governorship candidates of the 18 registered political parties in the country to submit the lists of their running mates in the next eight days from today.
The INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, who gave this ultimatum today, June 9 at a meeting with the Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) said that parties were supposed to have started shopping for running mates to the Presidential flag bearer immediately after the conventions.
“For the next one week from tomorrow, 10th June, all political parties are required to submit their list of candidates for national elections (presidential/vice presidential, senatorial and house of representatives) latest by Friday, 17th June.
“For state elections (governorship/deputy governorship and state houses of assembly), the list of candidates shall be uploaded from 1st to 15th July as already provided in the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2023 General Election already released by the Commission.”
Professor Yakubu said that all political parties are required to upload the details of their candidates for each constituency to the INEC Candidate Nomination Portal (ICNP).
The INEC boss said that to achieve this objective, four officials recommended by each of the 18 political parties were trained in the procedure for uploading the nomination forms to the dedicated web portal.
“Confidential Access Codes to the portal have already been given to each Political Party to facilitate the uploading of its nominations.
“For emphasis, the commission wishes to remind Political Parties that only the names of candidates that emerged from democratic primaries as provided by Sec. 84 of the Electoral Act 2022 shall be submitted to the commission,” he said.
He added that the list of all presidential and governorship candidates must be accompanied by the names of their running mates (that is vice presidential and deputy governorship candidates) without which the nomination is invalid, warning that all nominations must be uploaded to the portal on/or before the deadlines.
He said, “All nominations must be uploaded to the portal on/or before the deadlines. The portal will automatically shut down at 6.00pm (1800hrs) on Friday, 17th June 2022 for national elections and 6.00pm (1800hrs) on Friday 15th July 2022 for state elections.
“With this innovation, the commission has eliminated the physical interface between party officials and INEC staff for the purpose of submitting the list of candidates for the 2023 general election.”
Yakubu said that a nomination centre has been set up at the commission’s headquarters to receive and process all nominations by political parties, including dedicated telephone lines to serve as help desk for any party that may need assistance.
Journalists later visited the nomination centre, where the INEC boss said that each of the 18 registered political parties were expected to submit 1,520 nominees or 27,360 total for all the parties.
On the Continuous Voters Registration (CVR), Yakubu said that the introduction of the online pre-registration system and the new INEC Voter Enrollment Device (IVED) helped to reduce the long queues witnessed in the previous registration exercise in 2017 and 2018.
He said that INEC also created additional registration centres and deployed more machines.
“In three states (Anambra, Ekiti and Osun), the exercise was devolved to Ward level to give more citizens the opportunity to register ahead of their off-cycle governorship elections. Similarly, on weekly basis since 5th July 2021, the commission has been giving weekly detailed updates on fresh registrations nationwide.
“Unfortunately, in some places the exercise was disrupted by general insecurity. In other places, our Local Government Areas offices were consistently attacked resulting in the suspension of all activities, including voter registration.
“A number of IVED machines were snatched and uncollected Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) destroyed. Worse, our registration officials were violently attacked. Some of them were abducted but later released. In one sad incident, an official lost his life. Despite these challenges, the CVR has continued nationwide.”
The INEC boss said that, however, as the deadline for the suspension of the current exercise approaches, the commission has received reports of a surge in the number of prospective registrants that daily throng its state and local government area offices as well as designated centres in many States across the country.
“I wish to reassure Nigerians that the commission remains committed to ensuring that all citizens who wish to register are given the opportunity to do so. This is one of the reasons why this meeting has been convened.
“Already, some of the Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) have requested for more voter registration machines to ease the congestion. The commission will deploy additional machines to areas of need immediately.
“Thereafter, the commission will meet to review the progress of the exercise and take further decisions. We will always respond positively to the needs of Nigerians and therefore appeal to all citizens to be patient with the commission as we strive to serve them better. We appreciate the desire of Nigerians to register as voters. Let me reassure all eligible registrants that no one will be left out.”
An Elderstatesman, Alhaji Isa Ozi Salami, who was Kidnapped exactly two weeks ago today, by unknown gunmen, has remained freedom. Information reaching us at Greenbarge Reporters online newspaper, showed that Isa Ozi Salami was released in the early hours of today, June 9. He was Kidnapped on Thursday, May 26. He was Kidnapped at gunpoint on his way to join congregation in a nearby Mosque for the early morning prayer at Ogaminana in Adavi Local Government Area. Isa Ozi Salami is a board member of the Hydroelectric Power Producing Area Development Commission (HYPPADEC). However, the Elderstatesman could not pick a call by our Editor-In-Chief/Chief Executive Officer to his phone this morning. We however felicitate his release and wish him good health and comfort henceforth.
Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has confirmed that without President Muhammadu Buhari, he would not have become the flag bearer of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), which ended a three-day special National Convention today, June 8.
Said Tinubu: “I also offer my sincere gratitude to President Buhari for his calm and prudent leadership throughout this process. I thank him, also, for his steadfast determination to ensure a level playing field and a free and fair primary process for every aspirant.
“Without him, I would not be standing here today as the new flagbearer of Nigeria’s party.”
The APC Presidential candidate described the special convention which threw him up as a candidate of the ruling party as “a shining moment in the evolution of our party and the life of our nation.”
He also thanked all the party members for making him the standard-bearer of the party, saying: “I humbly accept the nomination of this convention to be the presidential candidate of our enlightened, humanitarian and great party, the All Progressives Congress.
“I thank the governors for their invaluable contribution to internal democracy and unity.
“I commend the party leadership and organizers for the conduct of a successful convention.”
Like him or hate him, Yahaya Bello, the Governor of Kogi State has come to be reckoned with in the contemporary Nigerian political realm. Within a very short span of his political sojourn, the Agassa-born Ebira politician has miraculously secured his name in history.
While many Nigerians express reservations about his style of politicking, including yours’ sincerely, his ability to challenge the status quo and penetrate hazardous Nigeria’s political environment within a very short period put him ahead of his contemporaries. Besides providence, his audacity to change the narrative and infuse fear in the minds of the acclaimed political gladiators in Nigeria requires special recognition.
The young politician has been viewed differently: some describing him as controversial and others seeing him as a role model, even as others regard him as an asset to the Nigeria.
But, from whichever side of the prism you view him, one fact that cannot be denied of him is that his name is resonating across the length and breadth of the country. However, it is very pertinent to quickly highlight some of his activities and actions, (though some may be controversial) that have pushed him into the limelight.
Mysterious rise to power: When the young politician declared to contest for Kogi State’s number one position in 2014, very few believed his competence. Some even described him as a political novice who had no experience and no single structure in the state. But he remained resolute and fought to secure the second but ended up with first position in the party’s primary. But six years down the line, certain circumstance threw him up as governor of the state, and such circumstance has remained a mystery to Nigerians till tomorrow. That alone, popularizes his name and boosts his profile.
Perpetual victory: The mystery behind Yahaya Bello’s political journey is numerous. When he miraculously became governor in 2016, most Nigerians never believed that the circumstance that threw him up will ever pass any judicial scrutiny. But alas! He did not only emerge victorious, but went ahead to defeat a round of electoral petitions filed by other political parties. Apart from the legal cum political challenges he fought and emerged victorious, numerous other hurdles he passed through cannot be fully detailed in write up.
Chorus re-election bid: Despite the fact that his first tenure was adjudged by some analysts as disastrous, coupled with the baggage of challenges facing his re-election bid, it was believed in many quarters that he will be a pushover. But the fearless politician bet his life to secure another term with even a wider margin. The rest, they say, is history as Nigerians bear witness to what transpired before, during and after that election in the state.
Bizarre Covid stand: When the virulent pathogen struck in early 2020, the world panicked. World leaders were on edge, too on how to properly handle the deadly virus. As the virus spread rapidly, leaders around the world adopted strategies used by countries which were first hit by the disease without considering the consequence. Lockdown. Restriction. Social Distancing among others became a global standard and recommended strategies for controlling the virus. But one man, in one enclave in Nigeria, vehemently refused to acknowledge the existence of the novel virus and also denounced the global measures for controlling the pandemic. In a now deleted viral video on social media, Governor Yahaya Bello described the reported virus in Nigeria as a grand strategy to scam Nigerians billions of naira by politicians and warned of the consequence of the global strategies of total lockdown.
As the pressure mounted on him, he retracted some of his statements, but maintained his ground about the adopted strategies against the virus and refused to enforce similar measures despite mysterious death across his state. As the negative impact of the lockdown emerged in Nigeria, Bello’s popularity swelled across the country as his message aligned well with many Nigerians, particularly youths who were increasingly becoming discountenance by the government measures.
Leadership style: There is no doubt that rising poverty in Kogi state among other leadership challenges have combined to becloud Governor Yahaya Bello’s unique leadership style in the state. His pro-activeness on security; his unmatched inclusive governance; his capacity to stabilize the hitherto volatile political environment in north-central Nigeria despite his age and experience; his exploit of political issues in Nigeria; his contributions to national cohesion and unity (especially the recently resolved South-North confrontation); and his exceptional application of intellect in handling political opponents and critics alike, no doubt endear him to many Nigerians and in turn, elevated him to the limelight.
Political audacity: Just like in 2014, when Kogi state’s assembly members announced in December 2020 that they have voted unanimously to support and sponsor their state’s Governor, Yahaya Bello to the contest for the 2023 Presidential election, Nigerians viewed it as a joke taken too far. But little was known that the fearless politician, Yahaya Bello had his eyes already fixed on the number one seat of the country. He took the call as a divine voice.
Fast forward, the energetic politician has made significant inroads into the hearts of many Nigerians despite a mountain of odds on his way. As a matter of fact, since the creation of the State in 1991, there is no single politician that had ever dared to make such an attempt. This alone echoes his name across the country and beyond.
Though the preliminary battle for the next president of Africa’s most populous nation may have been fought and won by the most famous aspirant, the young Kogi born politician, Yahaya Adoza Bello has ensured that his name is firmly featured in the history of Nigerian politics. And his contributions to the discourse of Nigerian project can never be ignored and will be remembered for generation unborn.
Adavize, a Political analyst and researcher writes from Abuja. | deenadavize@gmail.com
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Former Niger Delta militant leader, Alhaji Asari Dokubo has made it clear that he will continue to stand by and vote for the Presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu because he was good to him.
Nigeria’s top security chiefs have narrowed down the perpetrators of Sunday’s church killings in Owo, Ondo State to the Islamic State of West Africa Province(ISWAP).
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has given the presidential and governorship candidates of the 18 registered political parties in the country to submit the lists of their running mates in the next eight days from today.
Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has confirmed that without President Muhammadu Buhari, he would not have become the flag bearer of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), which ended a three-day special National Convention today, June 8.
Yahaya Bello’s Place In History, By Deen Adavize