The Ooni of Ife Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi on Thursday prayed for All Progressives Congress (APC) stalwart Asiwaju Bola Tinubu’s presidential ambition to come to fruition in 2023.

Asiwuju, in his ongoing tour for royal blessing, visited the place of Ooni of Ife and Owa Obokun, Oba Gabriel Aromolaran.

Supporters thronged out to welcome Tinubu at the palace of Ooni and Owa Obokun.

Oba Ogunwusi prayed for the presidential aspirant that he will emerge victoriously.

He said: “You are a leader that God has bestowed grace on. You have helped many destinies, you have raised many leaders, one can judge by the massive crowd that joined you here today.

“You have come to the throne of Oduduwa for prayers and blessing. You shall not go amiss. You have never wronged anyone with your affairs.

“You need to be grateful to God who created you to be a special breed. God caused your popularity to be spreading across the country.

“We are grateful that you come here today, we are proud of you, you are our star. God will grant your aspiration, all the ancestors of Yoruba land will aid your dream. Your steps shall be guided by the spirit of our forefathers.

“God has given you a good name and he will stay by you, you shall continue to be relevant. Your creator shall guide your steps to the seat you are aspiring for.

“You shall get what you are asking for with ease, you have acknowledged the Yoruba traditional rulers here in the source of the whole earth, your prayer shall be answered. You shall not regret your aspiration, you shall prosper. The presidential ambition you have, it shall come to fruition.”

Tinubu commended the traditional rulers for their unflinching cooperation and support for national integration, unity and peaceful cohesion, just as he declared his ambition to contest for the President.

He said the visit was to intimate the monarchs in particular and Nigerians in general of his ambition to run for the presidential election, an ambition he described ‘as timely and prompt.”

He said: “I thank you all. I specifically thank the traditional rulers here present, I came here to seek your prayers. I am here for your support and cooperation.

“You have known my intention already. You have known what I am aspiring for; all I need is your prayers.”

“I have been supporting the people here and there. We have moved all over the country for one candidate or the other especially in 2013 when we campaigned for President Muhammadu Buhari after his emergence, we equally supported him in 2019.

“As you all know, what we are doing is to succeed him and I want to vie for President. I want to succeed Buhari and I can’t do it alone without your support.

“I want your continued support. We believe that once Ooni, Orangun, Awujale, Alake, Owa, among others, speak, it becomes ours. With your support, it will come to pass.”

He added: “I am determined, I am prepared and I am ready for it. God that put our traditional rulers in their various thrones will not forsake us. He will put us there. I want to be President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. I want your continued prayers,”

He added, “We have to play the politics of tolerance, is not about faith, tribe. We don’t have to allow conflict and disagreement with each other in this nation.

“We should use the diversity that God gave to us to promote peace, unity and stability. Our nation is endowed, I promise, if you push me forward, I will move it from potential to reality.”

The tension and geopolitical strife between Russia and Ukraine assumed a terrifying dimension after Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a military operation in Ukraine on Thursday with explosions heard across the country.

The Nation reports many countries have called for a diplomatic way out of the current crisis between the two countries, but Putin has intensified further military action.

While there had been tensions between Russia and Ukraine, a former Soviet republic, for a long time, the situation began getting out of control in early 2021.

Here are points to know about the conflict between the two countries:

1. In January last year, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged US President Joe Biden to let Ukraine join NATO.
2. This angered Russia, which started sending troops near its Ukraine border for “training exercises” in spring last year and increased it during autumn.
3. Russia does not want Ukraine in NATO – and has said as much in its list of security demands which were sent to the US last December. The demands included a halt to any NATO drills near Russia’s border.
4. Ukraine is not a NATO member but it wants to be. NATO, which the United States, the arch-rival of Russia, is a part of, is the subject of heightened tension. Meanwhile, NATO too, is open to make Ukraine its member because it is considered a partner of alliance.
5. The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) was created in 1949 by the United States, Canada, and several Western European nations to provide collective security against the Soviet Union.
6. NATO is an intergovernmental military alliance whose purpose is “to guarantee the freedom and security of its members through political and military means”.
7. Ukraine’s growing links with the EU and the West has also been vehemently opposed by Putin.
8. By December last year, the US began to lament about the deployment of the Russian troops and President Biden warned of severe sanctions if Russia invaded Ukraine.
9. This is not the first time tensions between Russia and Ukraine has reached a boiling point.
10. Russia had invaded Ukraine in 2014 when rebels backed by President Putin had seized large swathes of easterrn Ukraine and have fought Ukraine’s army since then. At that time, Russia had annexed Crimea.

Read Also: Russia has declared war on Ukraine, Envoy tells UN Security Council

11. As a former Soviet republic Ukraine has deep social and cultural ties with Russia, and Russian is widely spoken there, but ever since Russia invaded in 2014 those relations have frayed.
12. Russia attacked Ukraine when its pro-Russian president was deposed in early 2014. The war in the east has since claimed more than 14,000 lives
13. Russia and Ukraine had signed the Minsk peace accord to halt the armed conflict in east Ukraine, including the Donbas region.
14. But as the conflict has continued, Russia explained that it is sending “peacekeepers” to the region where the conflict is brewing. The West calls it a smokescreen by Moscow to occupy sovereign territory.
15. The new tension between Russia and Ukraine, which also borders the European Union, has repurcussions for the EU. And that’s why the EU, most of who are NATO signatories have joined the US in announcing sanctions, against Russian entities.
16. Ukraine, which was part of the Russian empire for centuries before becoming a Soviet republic, won independence as the USSR broke up in 1991. It moved to shed its Russian imperial legacy and forge increasingly close ties with the West.
17. A decision by Kremlin-leaning Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych to reject an association agreement with the European Union in favour of closer ties with Moscow led to mass protests that saw him removed as leader in 2014.
18. Russia responded by annexing Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula and throwing its weight behind a separatist rebellion that broke out in Ukraine’s east.
19. Ukraine and the West accused Russia of sending its troops and weapons to back the rebels. Moscow denied that, saying the Russians who joined the separatists were volunteers
20. Furthermore, Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly said Ukraine’s aspirations to join NATO are a red line, and expressed concern about plans by some NATO members to set up military training centres in Ukraine. This, he has said, would give them a military foothold in the region even without Ukraine joining NATO.

The adoption of zoning by the All Progressives Congress (APC) has pushed the battle in the ruling party to the states and zones.

It was learnt yesterday that consultations, horse-trading and negotiations have started among governors and party leaders.

The six geopolitical zones have set machinery in motion on how to build consensus on how members of the National Working Committee (NWC) would emerge during the party’s convention on March 26.

A source confirmed to The Nation that governors from Northcentral have met with the pioneer Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), Sen. Abdullahi Adamu, who is one of the seven contestants from the zone.

After several hours of meeting of progressive governors and a parley with President Muhammadu Buhari, the APC leadership on Tuesday announced that it had agreed to zone the office of its national chairman to the Northcentral.

Adamu was speculated to have the ears of President Muhammadu Buhari.

It was unclear last night if governors plan to meet with other chairmanship aspirants from the zone. The aspirants are: former governors Umar Tanko Al-Makura (Nasarawa) and George Akume (Benue);  Mallam Saliu Mustapha (Turaki Ilorin); Sen. Sani Mohammed Musa (Niger); one-time House of Representatives Chief Whip Bawa Bwari  and  the Mohammed Etsu.

Sources said former Senate President Ken Nnamani enjoys the backing of the presidency, most governors and party leaders to for the office of the Deputy National Chairman, which the party has zoned to the Southeast.

But in the Northeast, the governors are battling to impose former Borno State Governor Ali Modu Sheriff as the Deputy National Chairman (North), which has been ceded to the zone.

It was learnt that some governors are opposed to Farouk Adamu Aliyu becoming the National Vice Chairman (Northwest).

One of the sources told our reporters in confidence, said the battle for major offices in APC has started with governors keeping choice posts their loyalists in the.

The source said: “Horse-trading has started at the national and zonal levels of the party with attention paid to strategic positions. The President’s preference for consensus has made governors and party leaders to begin consultations.

“As expected, attention is being paid to key offices like the National Chairman, Deputy National Chairman (North), Deputy National Chairman (South), National Secretary, National Organising Secretary, National Legal Adviser and Treasurer.

“We are hopeful that the same consultative process will be extended to six other aspirants as part of consensus building in the zone.

“Although the Southeast was not enthusiastic about the office of the Deputy National Chairman (South) to the zone, it is clearer that some members of the kitchen cabinet of Buhari, some governors and party leaders prefer a former President of the Senate, Sen. Ken Nnamani for the office.”

As for the Deputy National Chairman (North) which is zoned to the Northeast, some governors have vowed to resist of Sheriff as the choice.

The source said: “The governors in the zone are consulting on who to adopt instead of Sheriff, who has the backing of some power brokers.

“Sheriff, who appears to be in the dark over the situation of APC, has reportedly left Nigeria for London.

“Other party leaders under consideration are the Chief of Staff to the Governor of Gombe State, Abubakar Kari (who was a former National Organising Secretary of APC); the incumbent Borno State Chairman of APC, Hon. Ali Bukar Dalori; and Mustapha Salihu from Adamawa, who is being promoted by some members of the Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC). He was once a National Vice Chairman (Northeast) of APC.

“Yobe State is also trying to present a candidate but since it is presently occupying the position of national chairman, the state ought to allow others in the Northeast to occupy key party offices.”

Regarding the post of National Vice Chairman (Northwest), the source said some governors are uncomfortable with presidential preference for Farouk Adamu Aliyu.

A source added: “It was shocking to Governor Abubakar Badaru that Aliyu, who is not on the same page with him in Jigawa State, will now lord over him at the party level.

“It was a setback for Badaru whose influence looms larger in the party in the last one and half years.”

Investigation showed that the next three weeks might be devoted to more horse-trading.

Another source added: “The outcome of zonal congresses may lead to the rejection of some aspirants. Such results may tie the hands of the President.

”A select in-house committee has recommended to that the President should host a session with the National Caucus on his favoured aspirants in order to weigh the consequences of their choices on the party’s fortunes in 2023.

“We don’t know whether or not Buhari will seek the advice of the National Caucus or not.”

The battle for the governorship ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State has shifted to the court.

Moshood Adeoti, who lost to Governor Adegboyega Oyetola in the primary election at the weekend, has asked a Federal High Court in Abuja to declare him winner of the shadow poll.

In the direct primary conducted by a committee, chaired by Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRasak, the governor polled 222,169 votes to beat Adeoti, who scored 12, 921 votes and former House of Representatives Deputy Speaker Yusuff Lasun, who got 460 votes.

Adeoti was supported by Minister of Interior and former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola.

Supporters of the plaintiff had previously challenged the outcome of the ward and local government congresses in court at Osogbo and Ikire. The cases were dismissed.

Many stakeholders have lauded Governor AbdulRasak for conducting a free, fair and transparent exercise.

Before the commencement of the poll, he allowed the aspirants to crosscheck the party membership register to allay any fear of exclusion of their supporters from the register and from voting.

The voting, sorting, counting and poll announcement was also transparent.

Civil society groups who monitored the exercise urged other parties and states to learn from the Osun experience.

But Adeoti prayed the court for a declaration that he was the validly nominated candidate.

Adeoti further prayed the court to declare that Oyetola was not qualified to contest under the party’s constitution, because he is an officer of the party.

He also sought, among others, an order directing the APC to forward his name to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the validly nominated candidate, rather than Oyetola.

Adeoti, the plaintiff, made the prayers in his originating summons in a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/203 filed through his counsel, Chiesonu Okpoko, SAN.

The APC, Oyetola and INEC, who are the 1st to 3rd defendants respectively, are yet to file a reply.

Oyetola swept all the 30 Local Government Areas (LGA) and Ife-East Area Office in the primary.

In his suit, Adeoti raised seven questions for determination, to challenge Oyetola’s victory.

He contended, among others, that Oyetola was by virtue of his appointment by the APC’s National Executive Committee (NEC) as a member of the party’s Caretaker Extraordinary and Convention Planning Committee (CECPC), was an officer of the party.

According to him, Oyetola ought to have resigned his membership of the CECPC and leave office as an officer of the party at least 30 days prior to the date of the primary to qualify for participation in the primary.

He argued that this “refusal and/or neglect to resign his membership of the CECPC, disqualified him as a candidate in the primary.

The plaintiff prayed the court for 12 reliefs, including “A declaration that by virtue of Article 2 of the 1st Defendant’s Constitution (October 2014 as Amended), the decisions of the CECPC or any of its organs or any committee set up by it, cannot override the provisions of the 1st Defendant’s Constitution.

“A declaration that by the combined effect of section 222 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as Amended) and Article 31 (1li) of the 1st Defendant’s (October 2014 as Amended), the 2nd Defendant ought to have resigned his membership of the CECPC and leave office as an officer of the 1st Defendant at least 30 days prior to the date of the 1st Defendant’s Osun State primary election to qualify for participation in the sald 1st Defendant’s primary election.”

A declaration that by virtue of the Oyetola’s failure to resign or leave his office as a member of the CECPC at least 30 days before the Primary he was “disqualified from contesting in the said primary election of 19th February, 2022.

He further sought a declaration that Oyetola having participated in the primary “is a grave violation or breach of the principle of audi alterem partem and Nemo judex in causa sua”

Other reliefs are “a declaration that the 2nd Defendant is disqualified from contesting as an aspirant in the 1st Defendant’s Osun State Governorship primary of 19th February, 2022 in Osun State.

“A declaration that all the votes cast in favour of the 2nd Defendant in the 1st Defendant’s Osun State Governorship Primary of 19th February, 2022 are invalid and/or throw away votes and/or wasted votes., the 2nd Defendant being unqualified to contest in the said Primaries.

“An order restraining the 1st Defendant from sending the name of the 2nd Defendant to the 3rd Defendant as a candidate in the 1st Defendant’s Governorship primary of 19th February, 2022 in Osun State.

“An order restraining the 1st and 3rd Defendants from recognizing the 2nd Defendant as the winner of 1st Defendant’s Governorship primary of 19th February, 2022 in Osun State.

“An order declaring the PLAINTIFF as the validly nominated candidate of the 1st Defendant having polled the highest number of lawful votes cast in the 1st Defendant’s Osun State Governorship Primary of 19th February, 2022.

“An order directing the 1st Defendant to forward the name of the PLAINTIFF to the 3rd Defendant as the validly nominated candidate of the I” Defendant having polled the highest number of lawful votes cast in the I* Defendant’s Osun State Governorship Primary of 19th February, 2022