2023 Presidency: Northern Christians Won’t Vote For Atiku — Okechukwu

A chieftain of All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr Osita Okechukwu, has said that Northern Christians would not vote for the Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, ahead of the 2023 general elections.

The foundation member of APC from Enugu made this known on Sunday in Abuja through a statement he personally signed which was obtained by Boom House News

Okechukwu, who is the Director-General of Voice of Nigeria (VON), said on Sunday that the APC’s Muslim-Muslim ticket shares their anguish on identity politics and fears, but knows that in the fullness of time, contrary to the speculations of spin doctors, they would not vote for the former Vice President.

He assured that whatever marginalisation the Northern Christians suffered today, they would suffer no more if the APC standard bearer, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, becomes the President in 2023.

He said: “Our first slogan in APC is change. Our mantra is change. We will not remain static, never. We will change whatever is not working. All we ask Nigerians is to give us another 8 years as you gave our sister political party, the PDP.”

“Regarding the Northern Christians outrage over APC’s Muslim-Muslim ticket; if any pundit thinks they will vote for Atiku, my answer is ‘Capital No.’ No matter what, they know he is bringing nothing new to the table.

“Find out, Northern Christians do not trust Atiku. They know his cherry-picking antics as per rule of law and rotation convention.

They also know his ambivalence on religion, as demonstrated in the late Deborah’s imbroglio in Sokoto, which is still fresh in the mind of every Christian.

“Secondly, they know that Tinubu and, by extension, the Yorubas’ DNA is devoid of religious extremism and bigotry. Yorubas celebrate Eid and Xmas together.

“As a matter of fact, without being personal, one was a witness when my dear friend, Babachir Lawal, informed the world during his Thanksgiving Church Service at ECWA Wuse, that Tinubu and Pa Akande were instrumental to his appointment as Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF).

"May one ask, is it possible that neither Tinubu nor Pa Akande didn’t know any Northern Muslim then to lobby for? Or has Tinubu changed 360 degrees?”

“Thirdly, they’re fully aware that Atiku has violently breached the rotation convention of president from north to south and painfully by extension of the PDP’s Constitution. For Atiku, rotation convention is north-south geopolitically benched, only when he wins the president. If he fails as in 2019, the rotation convention goal post must be shifted.

“It is on record that Atiku enjoyed and celebrated rotation convention when in 2018, Governor Nyesom Wike and other Southerners, in obedience to the letters and spirit of Section 3(c) of PDP’s Constitution, allowed only Northern presidential aspirants to contest in Port Harcourt.

“But in 2022 PDP presidential primary election, he fought tooth and nail to jettison the rotation convention, arguing childishly that it is not applicable to PDP? Hence, he breached Section 3(c) of PDP’s Constitution. Some of us Southerners are as hurt as Northern Christians over this willful breach.

“Yes, faith balance is very important in building bonds of inclusion, so is rotation convention which bonds north and south and cements inclusion and corporate existence. This is why I continue to salute APC’s Northern Governors, majority of whom, unlike PDP’s Governors, by this noble patriotism, restored equity, natural justice and national loyalty in our clime.

“If PDP Governors had obeyed rotation convention from north to south, to be honest, there wouldn’t be the imperative of APC’s Muslim-Muslim Ticket. They cannot benefit from their negligence. I stand to be contradicted,” Okechukwu stated, emphatically.

On the anger of the Northern Christians over a seeming premeditated plan to exclude all Christians in both the APC party structure and government, Okechukwu maintained that he shares their plight, assuring that “such marginalisation would not repeat itself under Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as President.

“We are witnesses when Dr Umaru Dikko as Transport Minister, was more powerful than Vice President, when Mrs Diezani Madueke as Petroleum Minister was more powerful than Vice President and recently, how powerful Abba Kyari (of blessed memory) was as Chief of Staff to the President. Therefore, Christians nationwide should give APC another chance.”

He said everybody in Nigeria knows Tinubu’s antecedents as Governor of Lagos State, describing him as a master of sourcing for the best from every creed, tribe and tongue.

“I maintain that the next APC’s Federal Government must, as a matter of urgent national importance, adopt the good policies of the current administration, contain the palpable insecurity in the land and build new bonds of brotherhood,” he added.

He summed up that throughout history; there are no two successive regimes that are identical in every particular matter.

“In fact, it is only President Buhari’s regime that has the credit record of continuity of 98% of abandoned and ongoing roads, rails, and other infrastructural projects in Nigeria, both at federal, state and local councils for over five decades,” he stated.

2023 Presidency: We’re Investigating Source Of Monies For Nomination Forms – EFCC Says

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has said it is working with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to investigate the monies used in the purchase of nomination forms ahead of the 2023 elections.

EFCC Chairman Abdulrasheed Bawa said this on Friday, May 6, in a chat with Channels Television.

According to him, “When it comes to the issue of monitoring election funds as well as candidates’ funds, that has to do with the work of INEC in this regard but, of course, we are working hand in gloves with INEC and other related agencies in that field to ensure that we follow the money, we know the source, whether it is legitimate or illegitimate because that is what concerns us.

You know that we are concerned about good governance. We are concerned about transparency; accountability. We are also concerned about ensuring that corrupt elements are not given leadership positions in this country.

That is one of the things we are working behind the scene to ensure that at least we make our positions known on some certain actors within the political space in this country.”

This comes following the outcry that greeted the prices for the nomination forms for the major political parties. Recall that the All Progressives Congress (APC) pegged the presidential nomination form price at N100million, while the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is N40million.

2023 Presidency: I Didn’t Blast, Northern Elders, Reject PDP Consensus Candidacy — Obi

 

Former Governor Peter Obi has dismissed a viral story where it was alleged that he blasted the Northern Elders and also rejected Peoples Democratic Party consensus candidacy for the 2023 presidential election.

This was contained in a statement on Sunday from Obi’s Media Office, signed by his Media Adviser, Valentine Obienyem.

The statement said Obi did not at any point “blast” or reject the consensus candidacy position of PDP.

Obienyem said: “Anyone who has followed Peter Obi”s political journey will agree that he sticks to issue-based politics. He does not go around criticizing people, organisations or institutions blindly.

“He invests his focus, energy and time on preferring solutions to the myriads of challenges burdening our nation, Nigeria.

“As a loyal party member, Peter Obi has always abided by the rules, regulations and decisions of the party.

“He cannot possibly criticize the party’s decision in public.”

Reacting to the viral video where it was alleged that Obi rejected the consensus candidate position of the party, Obienyem said: “I just read through it and they claim ‘Peter Obi addressed reporters after paying a visit to AIT office.’

“But they failed to provide the where and when, which are fundamental elements of verifying any credible news report.

“If the medium based their report on what Obi said after one of his consultations, then they might have, out of mischief or incompetence or both, deliberately misrepresented Obi by reporting him out of context.

“Obi simply stated that Nigerians care less about whether a consensus candidate emerges or not, but they desire a competent, credible and capable leader who will rescue the nation from all round decadence and position it on the path of progress.

“Therefore, as a party faithful, Peter Obi will neither stand against nor publicly criticize any progressive decision taken by the Peoples Democratic Party.

“Beyond party politics, he desires for a candidate willing and capable of serving Nigeria at the highest level, and piloting the nation out of its present deplorable state.

“That is what he desires, whether the candidate emerges through consensus arrangement or not.”

Obienyem advised media practitioners to avoid telling unverifiable stories capable of heating up the polity.

Atiku Storms Obasanjo’s House Over 2023 Presidency

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar is currently in a closed-door meeting with his former boss, President Olusegun Obasanjo in Abeokuta,  Ogun State.

Atiku arrived the penthouse residence located within the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL), Abeokuta, around 10am and went straight into a closed door meeting with Obasanjo.

Atiku, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential candidate in 2019 election is yet to officially declared his intention to contest the 2023 presidential election.

But, the meeting may not be unconnected with the former Vice President’s 2023 ambition.

It was learnt that Atiku had commenced consultation ahead of his planned declaration of his intention to run in 2023, hence, his meeting with Obasanjo.

He had vied for the presidential seat in 2007, 2011 and 2019.

The former Vice President had on Friday stormed Abeokuta in company of his aides ahead of Saturday’s consultation.

Apart from meeting Obasanjo, Atiku and some PDP members are also expected to meet the Alake and Paramount ruler of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo.

We’ll Sue Tinubu If He Fail To Contest 2023 Presidency – Disciples of Jagaban Group Threatens

A group, The Disciples of Jagaban (DOJ) ,has threatened to drag the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to court If he refuses to contest for the Presidency in 2023.

National Coordinator of DOJ, Comrade Abdulhakeem Adegoke, said in an interview with journalists that the reason why Nigerians have to take him to court was because suffering in Nigeria was enough and they know Tinubu’s capacity and strategy for change.

“We know his capacity to change the scenario, his capacity to change things from negative to positive. “

“He has done it in Lagos state which supposed to be the headquarters of criminals and bandits, but he turned them into good persons.

Politicians from across the North had converged on Kaduna Saturday, under the aegis of The Disciples of Jagaban ( DOJ) ,to flag of sensitization of the electorate to the continuous voter registration ( CVR).

Comrade Abdulhakeem Adegoke ,said their aim was to boost the support base of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC.

He said as far back as 2019,they resolved that if Tinubu refused to come out for the Presidential race in 2023,they would take him to court.

He said the DOJ was in support of good governance and would continue to encourage Nigerians to support Tinubu.

” Presently, the DOJ remains the first and the most widely accepted political institution for Tinubu’s 2023 Presidential ambition. We however, appreciate all other groups that cane after us because we cannot do it alone, especially with the deluge of resistance and opposition towards our principal, “he said. “

“EndSars and the Yoruba nation agitators, those who focused on our principal but hidden under something deference entirely, some of us relocated back to the South West, to make sure where ever they move to we were there to preach unity, love and harmony to all other tribes living in the Yoruba land, Today we give all glory to Almighty God all the fake and fabricated journey has come to an end, “

“As at then, some Nigerians believed it was too early; but we went ahead all the same. With the support of many trained intelligentsia and many men of God in both Faith’s in our midst, we prepared for all the attacks that happened before the criminally-minded perpetrators carried them out.”

“Just a month before the botched EndSARS protests of October 2020, DOJ called for a national prayer for our principal; but, some were looking at the request as if we did not know what we were doing at that time. When the attacks began, we stood by our principal, defending him against the hijackers of the protests that many innocent Nigerians ignorantly got involved in, without knowing the real devilish mission of some of their sponsors. We thank the Almighty God for His mercies on our principal despite the evil-minded attacks.”

“When the agitation for Yoruba nation was brewing, DOJ realized that this is going to be a completely Yoruba affair; so, we moved down to Yoruba land under the umbrella of Yoruba Welfare Group (YWG) to take effective steps to counter the attackers in Yoruba land; some innocent Yorubas were also involved because it started, hidden under the umbrella of fighting against kidnapping and banditry across Yoruba land. We followed them gently and ended up preventing them from mixing the bitter truth with their fabrication of lies. We were already aware that all these would be coming.”

“We are now calling on all Tinubu supporters to get prepared because some more are still coming. Instead of trying to manipulate others if we the leading one

are not grumbling not to see other behind us, why must those who are just coming want to swallow those who have been labour before your establishment of your own. Please let all Tinubu groups be focused and stop manipulating ourselves,

Today we in DOJ appreciate seeing many springing up behind us, we welcome you all,” he said.

Various groups and associations were represented on the occasion.

Distinguished personalities at the occasion were Senator Mohammed 
Sani Saleh, Engineer Muhammad Namadi, Alhaji Dangulguli, Alhaji Lawal Meyere, among others.

Speaking in an interview with journalists on the sidelines of the voter registration sensitization exercise, Comrade Abdulhakeem Adegoke said as far as they were concerned, they believed they needed more foot in the North.

According to him, “From our findings, we found that millions of youths have refused to come out for the voter registration. With that, we are not safe. We need to let these young Nigerians realize that when you need a good governance, and you did not participate in the registration of those who will chose a good leader, this is totally zero. “If there must be positive changes that we are talking about, its already identifying the good among the bad among us, in person of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. “

“We are not adopting Tinubu because he is a Muslim or Christian or Yoruba. We adopted him because he is a leader, based on his past experience, his past achievements and past involvement…..we adopted him based on that and there is nothing.”

“Many people come out to say why Tinubu. But they’ve not come out to say this is a candidate better than him,” he said.

Alhaji Meyere said on the occasion that if the youth are not sensitised to register, the nation would be losing a colossal number of the voting population.

Engr. Namadi said they’ve plead with the traditional ruler and others who were not happy with the current political arrangement, to come out and be part of the process.

Senator Sani Saleh stressed the Importance of the voter sensitization exercise, pointing out everything they do might come to naught if at the end , the youths are not registered to vote.

According to him, they were out to raise the quality of participation in politics.

He said leadership needs experience which is acquired over time.

“Power belongs to the people, what is that power, it is the voter ‘s card, ” he said.

The Woman leader, Maryam Baba urged women and youths register and be active participants in the political process, come 2023.

Major General Hassan Usman, retired, said on the occasion that even though he is a security consultant, the current situation in Nigeria gave him sleepless nights.

He therefore advocated that all hands should be on deck to ensure that the youth who have reached the voting age, register and elect a good leader in 2023.