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Presidency: Obasanjo woos North for Obi/Baba-Ahmed

Published

10 months ago

July 31, 2022

A former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo is said to be making efforts to market the presidential bid of the candidate of the Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi in the Northern part of the country ahead of the forthcoming general elections scheduled for early next year.

Competent sources in the know told Saturday Telegraph that Obasanjo has in recent past met with various individuals and critical groups in the North with a view to making the region look in the direction of the former Anambra State governor to succeed incumbent Muhammadu Buhari of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

“It is true that former President Olusegun has commenced visits to numerous personalities and groups in the North to drum up support for the Peter Obi and Datti Baba- Ahmed presidential ticket in the North. This fact I can confirm,” says a chieftain of a prominent socio-political group in the North who pleaded not to be mentioned.

According to the source, Obasanjo has been using two important points in his bid to get the buy-in of his hosts but the source added that the efforts have only yielded minimal fruits as many people in the North are said to wary of the possibility of an Obi Presidency to the long time interest of the region (North).

“Baba (Obasanjo) has been visiting people here in the North to market the candidature of the Labour Party, telling the people and the groups that he has visited to consider the likelihood of the Presidency going to the South East next year. “He has been telling us that Obi would not do anything to injure the interest of the North if considered by our people to become the President. He told us that a similar thing had happened in the past that didn’t injure the interest of the North,” the source said.

Our source stated that the ‘similar thing’ under reference was the emergence of former President Goodluck Jonathan who became the president via the intervention of Obasanjo and other stakeholders in 2010. “Our people told Baba that the issue of secessionist agitation in the South East is a source of worry to them.

Baba replied by saying the militant agitation in the South South died down and has never reared its head again since Jonathan became president. He (Obasanjo) told stakeholders that the emergence of Obi would halt the agitation,” the source said.

The selling point Obasanjo has been using to push the former governor include Obi’s perceived frugal approach to governance, which he (the former president) says is a positive score considering the state of the country’s finances which is believed to be so precarious and worrisome.

Another source said Obasanjo is not making serious headway in his efforts owing to what he termed age-long suspicion that the North has for the South East but that “things might eventually change before the election. We still have several months ahead before the election.”

Findings by our correspondent reveal that the efforts of the former President resulted in the emergence of a former member of the Upper Chambers, Senator Datti Baba-Ahmed as the running mate to Obi.

When contacted, the media aide to the former President, Mr. Kehinde Akinyemi feigned ignorance of the move but promised to get back to our correspondent after consulting with his boss. “I don’t know if anything like that has happened. As I speak to you now, Baba (Obasanjo) is currently in Lagos”, he said. (New Telegraph)

Related Topics:Peter Obi Peter Obi-Datti Baba

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Enugu govt threatens to shut down institutions, businesses obeying sit-at-home

Published

9 hours ago

June 3, 2023

Advocate News Nigeria

The Enugu State Government has called on residents of the state to ignore the sit-at-home being enforced by some members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafria, IPOB.

The government directed all schools, markets, banks, retail outlets, hospitals, transporters, and malls to operate every day of the week, including Mondays.

It warned that defaulters of the directive may be forced to shut down with immediate effect, stressing that the states’s taskforce would be moving around to check compliance.

According to a statement issued on Saturday by the state government, the call followed a recent ban and cancellation of the sit-at-home in the state.

The statement reads, “This is to inform all schools, markets, banks, retail outlets, hospitals, transporters, malls and the general members of the public that, in view of the recent ban/cancellation of Mondays’ sit-at-home by the Government of Enugu State, in all nooks and crannies of the state, they have been directed to go about their normal businesses and activities every day of the week, including Mondays.

“The above-mentioned bodies and others alike are required to comply with the directive as adequate security measures have been taken to guarantee their safety.

The statement noted that members of the government’s taskforce will be moving around to monitor compliance. Any market, transport outlet, or any other body that fails to open for business risks being shut down immediately.

News

Ebonyi: Governor Nwifuru appoints SA on Street Light, 20 others

Published

9 hours ago

June 3, 2023

Advocate News Nigeria

Governor of Ebonyi State, Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru

Governor of Ebonyi State, His Excellency Rt. Hon. Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru has appointed 21 aides as Senior Special Assistants and Special Assistants.

The appointment was contained in a public service announcement signed by Dr. Monday Uzor, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor.

Below are the list of those appointed into various positions:

Emerike Chinedu – SSA Security, Ebonyi North
Felix Okemini – SSA Security, Izzi LGA
Sunday Ogbonna – SA Security, Abakaliki LGA
Mbam Emmanuel Obinna – SA, Internal Security, Ebonyi LGA
Ogbonna Tobias – SA, Internal Security, Ohaukwu
Chukwuemeka Nwokpo – SA, Internal Security South

Godwin Okum – SA, Internal Security Ezza North
Desmond Edeke – SA, Internal Security Ikwo LGA
Easy Okike-Uzo – SA, Internal Security Onicha LGA
Chukwu Godwin – SA, Internal Security Ohaozara
Obinna Oko-Enyim – SA, Internal Security Afikpo North
Chima Nnachi Okoro – SA, Internal Security Afikpo South
Cletus Nga – SA, Internal Security Ivo LGA
Dr. Boniface Nwankwo – SA Documentation
Leo Ekene Oketa, – SA New Media

Mrs. Ifeoma Agwu – SA, Primary Education
Dr. Sabinus Nwibo – SA, Primary Health Care
Pan Christ Ikechukwu Eze, – SA, Capital City
Sylvester Nwamini – SA, Streetlight
Nnanna Nwangele – SA, Airport Security
Franklin Nkemjika Enyi – SA Airport SecurityAccording to the Statesmen, the appointees will be sworn-in on Monday, 5th June, 2023.
Time: 10 a.m at the Executive Council Chambers, Government House, Ochudo Centenary City, Abakaliki.

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Tinubu’s government temporary — Atiku

Published

10 hours ago

June 3, 2023

Advocate News Nigeria

Tinubu and Atiku

Defeated presidential candidate of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the last general elections, Atiku Abubakar has expressed confidence that he will reclaim his alleged stolen mandate at the court.

He, therefore, referred to the President Bola Tinubu-led APC administration as a “temporary government”.

Atiku Abubakar who addressed elected officials of the PDP during a stakeholders meeting held at the Government House Banquet Hall in Bauchi on Saturday, charged members of the National Assembly of the PDP not to be “rubber stamp members of the National Assembly”.

He added; “You are there to serve as a formidable opposition to this temporary administration.”

According to him, “Based on the results announced by the INEC and pending the determination of electoral challenges in the court, our members elect are not the majority in the National Assembly.

“So, for the time being, they have to prepare to work as an effective, constructive opposition while also preparing for possible roles of the majority party when the cases are resolved. A Government in waiting, so to speak.”

Atiku Abubakar stressed that, “In the recently concluded elections, our party campaigned on specific things, Nigerians are therefore expecting you to work on how to fulfil those campaign promises. That you are not among the INEC selected members is not an excuse not to perform, you must collectively work to put the temporary government on the right direction to serve Nigerians. Don’t be part of rubber stamp.”

He continued; “As you know, the PDP remains the only political party that is led by all its members, not a political party that is led by a few political godfathers. No one individual or group of people are bigger than the party in the PDP. You are Representatives of the party, do not be tempted to leave your party just because of INEC induced temporary setback.

“In the end, the truth shall triumph over falsehood and evil. Therefore, you must please remain resolute, do not work in isolation from one another, you are a team and should always work to together as a team in order to achieve meaningful results and also remain connected to your roots, your constituents and other stakeholders.”

The former Vice President explained that, “Retreat such as this, is like a meeting you will have with someone or a group about to embark on a very important journey or mission.”

“It is to discuss what we expect from the journey, how to prepare adequately for that journey including pieces of advise on how to handle various challenges that might be encountered along the way and also at the destination,” he further added.

He, however, charged the members-elect not to lose hope.

“Don’t ever lose hope, the role of the opposition is holding the government in majority party to account. And in doing so, you demonstrate that you and your party are ready to govern at the shortest possible time,” he said. (STribune)