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  • Wave of endorsements, defections, and statesmanship on global stage

    Wave of endorsements, defections, and statesmanship on global stage

    The past week has undoubtedly been one of the most affirming in the political trajectory of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. What began as a stirring show of party loyalty within Nigeria’s ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) evolved into a symbolic demonstration of national unity and international statesmanship—one that carried President Tinubu from the halls of Abuja to the sacred altars of Vatican City.

    At home, his leadership received a powerful vote of confidence. The APC National Summit, convened under the banner of the Renewed Hope Agenda: The Journey So Far, became a platform for what can only be described as a political coronation. One after the other, every critical organ of government and the party—the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF), the National Assembly leadership, and the National Working Committee (NWC)—stood in a unified chorus, affirming Tinubu as the sole candidate of the APC for the 2027 presidential election. It was not just a declaration of political support; it was a resounding endorsement of the President’s performance and his vision for Nigeria’s future.

    The APC National Summit was more than just a policy review. It was a moment of reckoning. On Thursday, inside the Banquet Hall of the State House in Abuja, Nigeria’s political elite stood still. Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State, who is also the Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF), the rallying structure of governors elected on the platform of the ruling APC, moved the motion that set the political tone: President Tinubu, he declared, should be adopted as the party’s flagbearer in 2027. The motion was not only seconded by Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani but was also met with thunderous applause from attendees—evidence of an unshakable popularity and consensus.

    Governor Uzodimma spoke not merely as a peer, but as a party steward who has watched Tinubu’s reforms with a keen eye. “We are charged to market our federal government policies, to occupy the political space in our domains, and take responsibility for winning all elections in our states come 2027,” he said, encapsulating the APC’s evolving strategic posture—one in which all hands are on deck to deliver on the President’s promise.

    Then came the second wave—arguably even more consequential. The leadership of the National Assembly followed suit. Senate President Godswill Akpabio, his voice charged with conviction, proposed Tinubu not only as the APC’s candidate but as the “sole candidate for the whole Nigerian population in 2027.” Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, representing the House of Representatives, seconded the motion on behalf of 469 federal legislators and 36 State Assembly speakers.

    Akpabio’s words rang with unusual clarity: “Not notice of impeachment… but a notice of confidence, a notice of loyalty, and a notice of reward.” He referenced the difficult decisions taken by the President—particularly the removal of fuel subsidies and the unification of exchange rates—and hailed them as foundational to Nigeria’s long-term economic growth. According to him, Tinubu’s political sagacity had earned him a re-election by merit, not just sentiment.

    Finally, the clincher: Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, National Chairman of the APC, stood to make the declaration official. “As the Chairman of the party and as the only recognized platform to field a candidate in any election, I hereby affirm the endorsement of the President,” he said. The room, once again, erupted in cheers.

    What makes these endorsements even more significant is the timing. President Tinubu is barely two years into his first term. In the political calendar, this is traditionally a period of caution, quiet lobbying, and strategy meetings behind closed doors. But Tinubu has rewritten the script. The party machinery has been galvanized to action. From Delta to Rivers, from Akwa Ibom to Kano, defections from opposition parties—particularly the once-dominant PDP—are not only increasing, they are becoming symbolic victories in regions that historically resisted APC’s growth.

    Delta State, a long-time PDP fortress, has experienced a dramatic political shift. In recent weeks, nearly all the key political players that once sustained the PDP’s relevance in the state have decamped to the APC. These are not mere political opportunists—they are power brokers and grassroots mobilizers who understand which way the wind is blowing. And now, that wind is clearly moving in Tinubu’s favour.

    Similarly, Akwa Ibom and Rivers—states with deep opposition roots—are showing signals of realignment. The gale of defections is no longer a trickle but a stream with growing momentum. As these developments unfold, regional blocs have also begun to adopt Tinubu as their preferred candidate for 2027. North-Central made the first move. Northwest followed. And now, with the APC summit sealing the party’s formal endorsement, the coast appears clearer than ever.

    In his address at the Summit, Tinubu returned the favour with clarity, humility, and a renewed commitment. “The endorsement today, the ‘carry-go’ inspiration; I know road,” he declared in his characteristically direct style. His speech was part gratitude, part vision statement, and part rallying cry.

    Read Also: Defections not Tinubu’s fault, Ex-Osun lawmaker tells PDP, opposition parties

    He acknowledged the harsh reforms he had undertaken—especially those that struck a nerve with vested interests—but emphasized their necessity. “You don’t commit abortion after the baby is born. That’s murder,” he said metaphorically, defending his immediate removal of the fuel subsidy. Tinubu framed his economic interventions not as cruel measures but as corrective actions long overdue.

    On corruption, he was resolute. Citing the EFCC’s recovery of 750 properties from a single individual, he promised no sacred cows. He also urged the National Assembly to pass key tax reform bills, which he described as vital to plugging loopholes and redirecting resources to healthcare, education, and infrastructure.

    And on a more personal note, Tinubu used the occasion to dispel rumours about a rift with Vice President Kashim Shettima. “We’re a tag-team,” he said, offering a symbolic olive branch to those speculating about political friction within the presidency.

    While the events in Abuja underscored his domestic strength, President Tinubu’s trip to Vatican City showcased his growing influence on the global stage. On Sunday last week, he joined world leaders and religious dignitaries at the inauguration of Pope Leo XIV. For a Muslim leader to attend the installation Mass of a Catholic Pope—and do so with grace, reverence, and charm—spoke volumes about Nigeria’s commitment to interfaith harmony and the President’s own political maturity.

    Tinubu didn’t just show up; he made a statement. Exchanging pleasantries with the Pope, sharing a symbolic handshake, and meeting Nigerian bishops in Rome, he presented a portrait of a Nigeria at peace with its religious diversity. “If we use our diversity not for adversity but for prosperity, the country’s hope is stability and progress,” he told the bishops.

    The encounter with one of his political rivals, Peter Obi, provided an unexpectedly warm moment. In a scene that quickly went viral back home, Obi—accompanied by former Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi—greeted Tinubu with laughter and mutual respect. “Mr. President, welcome to our church,” Fayemi quipped. “I should be the one welcoming you,” Tinubu replied, drawing laughter from Obi. “I’m the Head of the Nigerian Delegation.”

    This was no mere banter. It was an act of political symbolism—a glimpse of what civility could look like in Nigeria’s fractious politics. For a country yearning for unity and stability, such gestures matter.

    President Tinubu’s current standing—domestically endorsed, internationally respected—positions him as the man to beat in 2027. That his party is rallying behind him so early is a testament not only to his reforms but also to his ability to manage the complex layers of Nigeria’s political landscape.

    But perhaps more importantly, Tinubu is redefining what incumbency should look like: a mixture of bold policy, inclusive politics, and symbolic outreach. Whether meeting a Pope or shaking hands with a political rival, the President is walking a path that blends conviction with pragmatism.

    The winds of 2027 seem to be blowing squarely in his favour. The summit in Abuja may have given him the party’s blessing, but the symbolic scenes in Rome reminded the world that this is a leader thinking beyond borders, beyond factions—towards something larger: the renewal of hope.

    Reform, Recognition, and Renewed Commitment to National Excellence

    Meanwhile, during the past week, President Tinubu continued to demonstrate the full spectrum of his leadership—balancing the demands of governance with the dignity of recognition, the vision of reform with the grace of celebration. While much of the national spotlight remained fixed on his endorsement as the party’s sole candidate for the 2027 presidential election and his diplomatic triumph at the Vatican, President Tinubu’s dedication to national development and celebration of Nigerians stood out in powerful ways.

    A defining moment came on Thursday with the inauguration of the Board of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd). In a ceremony held in his office at the State House, President Tinubu charged the newly constituted board with a bold task: anchor the administration’s economic reform agenda and lead the transformation of Nigeria’s critical energy sector.

    His message was direct and empowering. “It took a while to come up with the kind of character that you represent,” he told the board members. “You have the reputation, resourcefulness, and experience to help the country. It is a call to duty.” He emphasized that the country’s economy—on the rebound thanks to his reform measures—needs a revitalized energy sector driven by innovation, competence, and home-grown solutions.

    “Explore all options for a win-win situation for Nigeria,” he urged, signalling a new era of expectation and accountability. In entrusting such an important portfolio to a board of tested professionals, Tinubu reinforced the seriousness of his administration’s agenda to reposition Nigeria for energy independence and global competitiveness.

    In tandem with his economic focus, the President continued a tradition that has come to define his leadership style—honouring Nigerians of merit across generations, disciplines, and borders. On Tuesday, he celebrated Prince Lawal Obelawo at 95, lauding the elder statesman’s contributions to industrial development and philanthropy as a symbol of enduring patriotism.

    On Wednesday, Tinubu turned his gaze overseas to the UK, where two British-Nigerians—Opeyemi Bright and Jason Jackson—made history as mayors. Bright, only 29, became the youngest-ever Civic Mayor of Barking and Dagenham, while Jackson emerged as the first Nigerian-born Mayor of Islington since 1900. In recognizing them, the President saluted the Nigerian spirit of excellence thriving abroad.

    Back home on Friday, the President’s voice rang with traditional respect and generational appreciation. He hailed the coronation of Oba Clement Adesuyi Haastrup as the Owa Obokun of Ijeshaland, calling on the new monarch to uphold unity and heritage. That same day, he celebrated Professor Modupe Adelabu, former Deputy Governor of Ekiti State, at 75, praising her as a beacon of academic excellence and a role model for women, and Senator Magnus Abe at 60, applauding his contributions to national unity and public service.

    It was a week that revealed President Tinubu not just as a reformer or statesman, but as a leader deeply attuned to the nation’s pulse—honouring tradition, celebrating achievement, and boldly steering Nigeria toward a better future.

    It is a new week, there is no saying what it might hold in store. I can bet though that Mr President will unveil new marvels that we can analyze together. Let’s for what the next will be.

  • 2027: More controversy over defections, opposition coalition

    2027: More controversy over defections, opposition coalition

    • No plans to join APC, says Otti

    • PDP governors can’t stop coalition – Atiku loyalists

    • Rivers PDP NASS Caucus backs Tinubu’s re-election bid

    As controversy continues to rage over the planned coalition of opposition politicians ahead of the 2027 elections and last week’s mass defection of leading lights of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Delta State to the All Progressives Congress (APC), the camp of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar appears resolute to forge ahead regardless of lack of support from governors elected on the platform of the party.

    But Atiku and his supporters are not ruling out the possibility that some of the governors may join the realignment train at some point.

    Seventy-two hours after Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, Atiku’s running mate in the 2023 presidential election, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, and many other PDP stakeholders teamed up with the APC, the Rivers State PDP Caucus at the National Assembly yesterday endorsed President Bola Tinubu for a second term.

    The federal lawmakers said other people nursing aspiration for the office of the president in 2027 should shelve it, describing Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda as the surest path to Nigeria’s prosperity and progress. 

    Atiku loyalist, Tunde Olusunle, was irked by the recent statement by PDP governors distancing the party from the ongoing coalition talks.

    “In a free and fair election today, many of the braggart governors will not taste a renewal of mandate from their people on account of demonstrated performance. So, what are they talking about?” Olusunle, who served former President Olusegun Obasanjo as Special Assistant (Special Services), told The Nation.

    He said the governors were in no position to stop the coalition, adding that some of them might even have lost touch with political realities.

    Also speaking to The Nation, Atiku’s spokesman, Paul Ibe, said the machinery to birth the coalition was effectively in motion.

    He said respect for the PDP governors’ views should not be equated with seeing them as the stakeholders in the party.

    “There will be alignments and realignments. Twenty-four hours is a long time in politics, and when the train gets going, some of the governors would probably meet it at one of the multiple stations,” Ibe said.

    Olusunle, a lecturer at the University of Abuja, said Atiku’s involvement in the coalition has less to do with his ambition and more with the overall interest of Nigeria.

    He said: “Let me begin by correcting the impression that the concept of the coalition is specifically in furtherance of Atiku Abubakar’s quest for the presidency. Some people seem to betray amnesia when they list occasions when the former Vice President vied for the nation’s number one office.

    “Nigerians always forget, however, that Atiku has always been a team player and a conciliatory one at that, because back in 1993 when the presidential primary of the erstwhile Social Democratic Party (SDP) produced Moshood Abiola, it was Atiku’s personal sacrifice which enabled that process.

    Read Also: North, coalition formation and presumptions

    “There was going to be a run-off between Abiola and Babagana Kingibe, who came first and second in the primary, but Atiku, relatively new to politics, came third and agreed to step down to smoothen the pathway for Abiola’s emergence.

    “He worked assiduously for the victory of Abiola in the general polls even when there were no guarantees of subsequent compensation by way of appointment or patronage if the SDP eventually won the presidential election.

    “Frozen out of the Peoples’ Democratic Party, (PDP) in the run-up to the 2007 presidential election, Atiku ran for President in 2007 on the platform of the Action Congress of Nigeria, (ACN).

    “He did so to deepen democracy. He challenged every allegation and concoction against him in court, won every suit and joined the contest to show the way to upcoming politicians, not because he was desperate to be President.

    “Party and political hierarchies today are less lawless and more inclined towards simulating due process in their internal operations.”

    Oborevwori’s, Okowa’s, others’ defection will strengthen APC in the South-South, says Abe

    Chairman of the National Agency for The Great Green Wall (NAGGW), Senator Magnus Abe, said the defection of Governor Oborevwori and other stakeholders in Delta to the APC would  go a long way in solidifying the party’s support base in the South-South geopolitical zone.

    Abe also hailed Dr Okowa for his decision to join the APC.

    Abe, who spoke in a statement by his spokesperson, Parry Benson, described the move as a signal that Nigeria’s democracy was actually stronger under the APC led by President Tinubu.

    He said democracy is strong where every citizen is allowed true freedom of association, and freedom of choice.

    Abe said: “Under President Tinubu, Nigerians have seen a tremendous increase in the resources available to the states, and serious minded governors have been able to utilise that advantage to the benefit of their people.

    “This is the merit that Sheriff Oborevwori and his team have seen and decided to take advantage of it, to move the people of Delta state closer to the centre to accelerate development. It is a step in the right direction and I commend him.”

    He recalled that former Vice President Atiku dumped the PDP in 2007 as sitting Vice President to contest for the presidency on the platform of another party. Therefore, Sheriff Oborevwori and Senator Okowa’s decision to defect to the APC was in order as it would benefit the people of Delta State and the South-South geopolitical zone in general.

    It’s a game changer in Delta’s political history — Sen. Nwaoboshi

    Senator Peter Nwaoboshi, who once represented Delta North in the Red Chambers, described the defection as a strategic step towards unity, progress and the advancement of the Renewed Hope agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

    Nwaoboshi said it also signified a turning point for governance and political collaboration in the state.

    He said: “As you step into this new chapter with the APC, be assured of my unwavering support and that of many other progressives who believe in building bridges rather than walls.

    “Together, we shall work to consolidate this momentum and build a Delta State that is not only united but strategically positioned to benefit immensely from its new alignment with the Federal Government.

    “We look forward to working together for the betterment of Delta State and in strong support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s visionary leadership.

    “I urge all APC faithful to welcome Governor Oborevwori and incoming members with open arms.”

    Rivers PDP NASS caucus endorses Tinubu for 2027

    The Rivers State PDP Caucus, which is made up of two Senators and seven Representatives, said it was imperative to give the President a second term to consolidate on the visible successes of his agenda.

    In the statement read by Senator Barry Mpigi, the federal lawmakers expressed their “heartfelt gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his trust and confidence in our leader, His Excellency Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, following his appointment as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.”

    They said they were gladdened by the President’s public acknowledgement and commendation of the “exceptional performance of the Minister of FCT, who he described as the ‘Master of Infrastructure.”

    Continuing, they said:“Now, having carefully reviewed the President’s economic policies which are targeted at repositioning our once moribund economy through his Renewed Hope Agenda, and taking into account the massive rot and decadence he inherited on the 29th of May, 2023—including our unenviable debt profile and the terrible inflationary figures occasioned by the printing of N22.7 trillion by the Central Bank of Nigeria through Ways and Means overdraft for the Federal Government between 2015 and 2023 under former President Muhammadu Buhari.

    “And the near-absence of critical infrastructure to support food production; we have come to the conclusion that the President’s economic plan is the surest way out of our country’s social and economic morass.

    “Further, our assessment is firm that the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda is very much on track with already visible results and a credible basis that offers greater improvement in the economic wellbeing of Nigerians if given the necessary time.

    “Still, we are convinced that the declining inflation figures, the substantial reduction in our foreign debt profile, and an IMF-backed promising growth figure all bode well for the economy in the years ahead.”

    Otti: No plans to defect to APC

    Abia State Governor Alex Otti, who was speculated to be on his way to the APC, yesterday denied having any such plan.

    Otti, the only governor elected on the platform of Labour Party (LP) in the last election, said he remained a member of the LP.

    A section of the media had reported that Otti had a meeting with his Imo State counterpart, Gov. Hope Uzodinma to perfect plans to join the APC ahead of the 2027 general elections.

    But Otti, through his Special Adviser on Media, Ferdinand Ekeoma, dismissed the reports as false, baseless, unfounded and completely devoid of substance.

    Giving details of Governor Otti’s meeting with Governor Uzodinma, Ferdinand said: “After the National Economic Council meeting on Thursday, April 24, Governor Otti and a few of his colleagues joined Governor Uzodinma to attend the birthday celebration of his twin daughters, an event that had nothing to do with politics.

    “It’s natural for Governor Otti’s impressive performance, popularity and towering credentials as the Governor of Abia State to attract admiration and permutations from interested parties.

     “However, Governor Otti’s political decisions, especially those that would have huge impact and far-reaching consequences on Abians, would at all times be taken in conjunction with majority of Abians and his allies.

    “Such decisions must be justified and be seen to be in the overriding interest of Abia people.

    “Governor Otti strongly holds the view that though political activities seem to have once again started gathering momentum, it would be unfair to the Abia electorate if politics of 2027, instead of governance is allowed to dominate discussions less than two years into the administration.

    “Finally, we wish to emphatically state that Governor Otti remains a member of the Labour Party and is presently not planning or discussing with anyone to defect to the APC or any other party for that matter as falsely alleged.”

    I’m not joining Atiku’s coalition, says Governor Buni

    Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State said yesterday that he was not joining the coalition spearheaded by Alhaji  Atiku Abubakar.

    The governor’s Director-General, Press and Media Affairs, Alhaji Mamman Mohammed in a reaction to a viral text message that Buni and four other APC governors had concluded arrangements to defect to the opposition PDP and join the coalition before the 2027 general elections, said it was all “baseless fabrication, unwarranted imagination and assumptions that did not cross path with reality in any way, shape and form.”

    He said that at no time was the author of the text ever been close to the governor to think that he could attempt to predict the governor’s political movement.

    “Buni is no ordinary member of APC; he is not just an APC governor. He is APC in all ramifications, with APC flowing in his veins,” Mohammed said.

    He added: “His contributions to building APC as a two-term National Secretary and National Chairman who chaired the party’s convention committee make him unique and whose imagination of leaving the party cannot be speculated.”

  • APC, PDP suffer more defections in House of Reps

    •Amosun’s man Akinlade joins APM

    Three members of the caucus of the All Progressives Congress (APC) defected from the party yesterday.

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) also lost one member to the Social Democratic Party (SDP) but gained another from APC.

    The lawmakers, in their individual letters to Speaker Yakubu Dogara, said their defection from their former parties was due to irreconcilable differences that included high handedness and unacceptable primaries.

    They also said their decision was in due consultations with their constituents.

    Read also: House should recall APC lawmakers, says Eyibo

    The defected APC members are: Adekunle Akinlade (Ogun), for Allied Peoples Movement (APM); Muhammed Ajanah (Kogi), for the PDP, while Salish Koko (Kebbi) left for SDP.

    Rabiu Kaugama (Jigawa) left the PDP for SDP.

    A subtle protest by House Leader Femi Gbajabiamila was drowned in banters and backslapping around the floor.

    Akinlade added a little drama to his defection by handing his APC armband to Gbajabiamila, who later approached the Speaker with it.

    Dogara collected and displayed the armband for his colleagues to see amidst laughter around the floor.

     

  • Defections: Epicures return to the conclave

    President Muhammadu Buhari is such a virulent bug in the cloak of the Nigerian epicures that populate the right wing of the nation’s politics. The great epicure was a veteran patron of pleasures in the Greek philosophy in the 200 BC; the philosophy that has governed the Nigerian ruling class centuries after the Greeks themselves had abandoned Epicureanism for investment in human capital development.

    For the epicures, building for the future is a waste of time. The late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, once moaned that while he was busy all night awake, thinking of how to solve Nigeria’s problems, his counterparts in the conservative wing with epicurean souls and instincts spent the same time burning the candles at dinners with choice wines, telling of the Cupid’s escapades and snoring between the laps of women of easy virtues.

    But the same Awolowo spared them later, divining that they would at a stage in Nigeria’s political history, mingle with the progressives to shape Nigeria even though they would later bolt out of the sail to Nigeria’s progress once they discover that the alliance with the progressives would not allow them access the old wines.

    The real progressives, Awo insisted, would then reshape to a centrifugal alliance to steer the ship of state to the harbour of Nigeria’s progress.

    Even though their trademark gaming in human lives has stopped, Professor Wole Soyinka was once more cynical and unsparing in his epithet, calling the party the nest of killers. Asiwaju Segun Oni once called it a party of crooks. Several top Nigerians called it a party of looters. Yours sincerely once called it the Conclave of Nigerian Epicures, for as a way of life, most members live on the pleasures of the senses.

    Ideologically, they belong to the clouds, building up and melting into shapes that enrich their pleasure principle in an inordinate pursuit of riches. For them, it is easy come, easy go, flowing with the wind where their selfish purposes will be served.

    Granted that Nigerian politicians are a wonderful lot in matters of principle in pursuit of ambitions, the more astoundingly enterprising are the crowds in the right wing who change nests like thicket rats.

    Some of us had argued when Senator Bukola Saraki started orchestrating the break-up of the conservative bloc to hibernate in the progressive fold that the jocund politician was on a mission in a mix that would help him consummate a burning ambition to govern Nigeria. Many Nigerians were not surprised when he launched a pseudo-salvation hunt, rallying his mates in the conservative bloc to undo fellow conservatives that threatened the sail of his ambition boat.

    Saraki, whose tenure as the senate president has been denominated in scandals, succeeded in his plans, and so, the two extreme political ideologies co-habited in what turned out Nigeria’s combustible political marriage ever with its tentative conveniences.

    But some discerning Nigerians warned then that the new converts to the progressive camp had daggers in their smiles with which they would later murder their new-found progressive ideals after consolidating grounds for a more fierce battle to seize power.

    And so spindling his party’s leadership cyclically to unconsciousness in a flywheel of deceit that startled and confounded Buhari, Saraki, in sheer precision of a dexterous marksman, hit the loop, scoring a major in his game of dart to the senate presidency, all in a vaulting ambition that startled and confounded Buhari, a General himself in professional marksmanship.

    Rapidly, others joined the traffic of returnees to their old base as President Muhammadu Buhari turned the furnace against sleaze that has left Nigeria in ruins in the hands of capitalism patrons. As it turned out, the sage’s prediction came to life, shaking Nigerians to the reality that in a capitalist lives a spirit that has little comfort for even distribution of common wealth as Awo had often opined.

    Awo had divined: “For the progressives to be in power, they need the support and collaborations of some conservatives. After attaining power, the conservatives would on their own walk away. The progressives would now build a great party that would move the nation forward.”

    True it happened, as the epicures bolted after helping the progressives to power. Buhari is now in charge of the real progressives flank to lead the salvation mission of a nation on crutches after merry-makers and revellers that held the keys to Nigeria’s treasury made a clean slate of the nation’s till.

    And for the men in the progressives’ body but the soul of the conservatives, the progressive sedatives that Buhari’s morals had forced in their veins to a freezing point would take just a little time to thaw. And it melted rapidly, as the new converts began open sabotage activities that would promote their interests to the shock of Buhari, the man in charge of all flanks to give hope to Nigeria that a new nation is possible where all Nigerians can live their dreams.

    Soon, so soon, Awo’s words manifested, as the conservatives beat themselves back to their old bloc. But like other mortals, they miscalculated and the price has now proven prohibitive for hagglers in the market place of political ideology.

    First to taste the bitter pill of a fluid political ideology for personal advantage is the leader of the mob, Senate President Saraki, when in a fit of fury over his conduct anger seized his people on the streets of Ilorin, as supporters in APC and enemies in PDP forged alliance to rail at the strongman of Kwara politics in a fashion never seen before in a state seen as the Saraki vassal enclave.

    After scandals, including alleged assets declaration fraud, alleged Panama Island cash blues and Offa banditry saga that dogged his senate presidency, in an unprecedented manner and in a fashion reminiscent of a community ranged against a common tormentor, almost all the state, local and ward executive members of PDP in what looked like a public rebellion renounced their membership of the party and moved to APC, vowing never to have anything to do with Saraki and anything he represents.

    In Bauchi State, House of Representatives Speaker Yakubu Dogara, Saraki’s ally in political pole vault contest, watched in disbelief as Bauchi people voted Lawal Yahaya Gumau of APC in the Bauchi Senatorial bye-election shortly after the much celebrated defections of 15 APC senators to PDP.

    In Sokoto State, the senatorial bye-election also turned a disaster for the defectors, including the defecting Governor Aminu Tambuwal, as APC leader in the state, Senator Aliyu Wamakko, few days after Tambuwal led distressed APC members to defect to PDP, hit Sokoto metropolis with thousands of supporters singing praises of Buhari in unprecedented show of support to condemn the treachery of the defectors.

    In Kogi State, Haruna Isa of APC trounced PDP candidate in the House of Representatives bye-election that  Senator Dino Melaye and his men had projected to be won by PDP candidate.

    In Katsina State where the defectors had hoped to make the highest mark to signal that Saraki and his ilk are here for real, Buhari made a mincemeat of the defectors, consolidating grounds for APC in Katsina where Ahmed Babba-Kaita emerged winner in a landslide in the senatorial by-election to seal the hope of PDP that seizing the nation again for maximum pains is a tall dream in the realm of a nightmare.

    In Kano, after landing in his own trap, PDP owls hawked at Senator Musa Kwankwaso in his misadventure to perch on the party to seize the state’s leadership again, even as support for Buhari and APC in the state grows to the chagrin of political predators who are always on the prowl hunting for power.

    Now that the epicures have returned to the conclave in political monastery again in apparent resumption of the old order of dispensing miseries to Nigerians, the options for Nigerians are: choose between the road to perdition with the epicures or set sail with Buhari on a mission to national redemption.

     

    • Olujobi, a journalist writes from Ado-Ekiti.

     

  • ‘Defections will not affect Buhari’s second term bid’

    Abdulmumin Jibrin is a member of the House of Representatives representing Kiru/Bebeji Constituency, Kano State. The lawmaker has suffered some legislatives bruises. He was suspended for 180 days by the House for criticising alleged budget padding and sundry expenses. Abdulmumin spoke to reporters in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), on the gale of defections, President Muhammadu Buhari’s second term bid and other partisan issues. Abuja Deputy Bureau Chief Onyedi Ojiabor was there.

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has witnessed a number of defections in the last few weeks. Do you think it would affect the performance of the party in the forthcoming general elections.

    Personally, I think if the APC would be presenting another candidate other than President Muhammadu Buhari, I would have been a bit jittery but there is this consensus within the party and we are just waiting for the timetable just to do the formalities and adopt Buhari as the candidate. With Mr. President as the candidate of the APC, we are not threatened by all the people leaving the party. For so many reasons, we are so lucky that we have Comrade Adams Oshiomhole as the Chairman of the party. He has been doing extremely well. He has been reaching out to everyone, holding a series of meetings, and persuading people to stay. The Chairman and the National Working Committee of the party, the President and all our leaders in the party have been able to keep within the party.

    During election period, these problems are normal. It is not unique to APC alone. That was also the case in 2011, 2007, and 2015. All the time, when there is a buildup to the general elections, you have these kinds of problems. To say that the APC would disintegrate or crumble is absolutely false. As people are going, people are also coming in. But because it is news that people are leaving the ruling party, they make it big news. A lot of other people from even the opposition are coming in. At the moment, not less than four to five PDP governors are working in a cross-party arrangement, working to support the APC.

    There has been a lot of inflow from the South-east. You have people like Orji Uzo Kalu and a lot of prominent people in the South-east that are coming to APC. They also understand that it is an opportunity for the South-east to put up a good show for the APC and stand a chance of competing for the presidency after Buhari serves his second term. So, I am very confident that APC is going to confront any challenge.

    You appear to exhibit a lot confidence over the gale of defections. Are you not worried that these things may bounce back and affect the party negatively as it did to the PDP in 2015?

    I am not jittering for some reasons. There are certain things that will help the APC to retain power and ensure that President Buhari wins. He has massive electoral value and his stronghold states are still there like Sokoto, Kebbi, Zamfara, Kano, Kaduna, Jigawa, Katsina, Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Plateau, Kogi, and of course the South-west is a no-go area. This is because they have positioned themselves to take the presidency after 2023. So they don’t want to make any mistake about that. Do you hear any party making any noise in the South-west? Lagos, Ondo, Ekiti, Osun, Ogun, and Oyo are all for Buhari. Edo is already there; in Delta we are making a significant inroad and very soon you will hear a lot of people that would decamp to the party. You know we lost Rivers State just by the whisker. We have Senators and people like Chibuike Amaechi and Dakoko Peterside and I can assure you that Rivers would also come home. The APC is standing firm and President Buhari is also standing firm.

    The president is naturally connected with the masses. Nothing has tampered with that. Buhari is a man of the masses particularly in the north-central where he has a stronghold. Those who are against Buhari in this country are just a section of the elites. They don’t have any electoral value. The next election would be an election of a section of the elites versus the masses.

    On the area of governance, Buhari has done tremendously well. The reality of the matter is that the capacity of Buhari setting up a team, giving power to the central bank, giving power to the Ministry of Finance, setting up an economic crack team to battle the economic recession that would have brought Nigeria to ground zero, is enough for Buhari to contest the next election. That was what gave Obama a second term when he came back in 2012. After the economic crisis of 2008, Obama was able to bring the USA back on board. When that happened, it was all he used to get his re-election. People are suffering and it isn’t Buhari’s fault. The previous government didn’t save and this country relies on crude which determines the value of our currency and the foreign reserve of our country. By the time crude went down, there were no savings. When Buhari came, crude oil price went down and he went into the purse of the country and discovered that the government didn’t save. When the price of crude went down, it gave a hard hit on our currency. The foreign reserve went down and it gave rise to inflation. These things affect every aspect of the economy, commodity, infrastructure, banking, everywhere is affected. Buhari has been able to ensure that at the level of the state where we have civil servants, we would continue to give bailout to states to stabilize them. No government has ever done that but because of the economic strategy to ensure that the country stands on its feet, that was done. Today, inflation has gone down. In the last one and a half years, from about 18 percent, inflation has gone down to 12.5 percent. What indices are people using to say that the economy is terrible?

    In the first quarter of 2018, we have registered growth of about 1.95 percent and these things would be sustained. We have reduced domestic borrowing to loose all the resources in banks for the sectors to be able to borrow. Look at the massive growth in the agricultural sector. Agricultural export has recorded about 500 percent growth.

    What about anti-corruption fight?

    Also, on the issue of anti-corruption, which President on an election year, seven months to the election would sit down and not try to lobby the judiciary to ensure that they step down on the issue of anti-corruption or the EFCC? The EFCC is still arresting prominent Nigerians everywhere. Two members of our party were jailed. People are asking if Buhari knows what he is doing, he cares about the next generation and not just the election.

    What about security?

    On insecurity, today, everybody looks happy and bright because there is security. In Abuja, Kaduna, Kano, and other places, several bombs have exploded. Buhari came, motivated the army, invested heavily in equipment and expertise, and we were able to dissipate Boko Haram.

    On the issue of killings, everybody is angry including myself. I would disagree where people are laying blame on Buhari. Buhari is reactionable. When there is crisis, he is deploying the army, the DSS, the police and the rest. But, the responsibility of preventing all of that lies in the hands of politicians. It is high time we told ourselves the truth.

    I don’t agree with trying to make the President take the fault. When you come to the preventive level of that crisis, it is the fault of politicians. They are the ones instigating these crises. What are we telling ourselves in mosques and churches? It is high time we told  ourselves the truth. These are the things that incite people and create the crisis that we see. Who has more army, DSS or police than the politician?

    There is the preventive stage and there is the reactionary stage, the most important stage is the preventive stage and the responsibility of preventing it is not the DSS, police or the army but we the people led by politicians, community leaders, youth leaders, women leaders, we are the ones instigating these crises. When such happens, it is what the politicians want and they take it to the press and rub it on the President’s face because some incompetent people do not want him to win the next election. I can tell you that President Buhari would win the 2019 elections. I do not have any doubt.

    Considering the caliber of people leaving the APC for PDP, do you still believe that the people leaving wouldn’t make any difference?

    In politics, everybody has value and Oshiomole has never said that they don’t have value. Buhari has never said that they do not have value. In politics, you have electoral value and political value. Electoral value is when you have the votes and political value is someone who has access to the media, one who can network with the people, who mobilizes resources. So, everybody has his value. You cannot compare the electoral value of Atiku and Buhari, but Atiku has political value. We have not seen the kind of defection by all the prominent people that are leaving the party that can affect the fortunes of APC or that of Buhari because the strategies that we have to make up for whoever we lose or whatever we lose is far more effective. When you talk of electoral value, there is nobody that has the electoral value of Buhari. Tell me one person that can match the electoral value of Buhari among all the people contesting the presidential election.

    When it comes to the little thing they have in terms of political value, the party has its own way. In Kano, we are going to give not less than two million votes to Buhari. Assuming Saraki would go with his 300,000 votes in Kwara which is practically impossible, we have the extra two million votes in Kano. Our strategy in APC now is to work extra hard to ensure that more of our supporters come out to vote.

    Would the story still be the same, if Buhari should decide not to contest?

    We are facing reality. Buhari has said that he would contest and we have all adopted him. The governors have all adopted him, the party and youths have also adopted him. By the grace of God, Buhari will rule this country until 2023 and he would leave a good legacy.

    There is an aspect that people tend to forget. When we take the aspect of governance out, politically there is the issue of zoning and that of generational shift that would work naturally for Buhari. The issue of zoning is not a joke. If anybody other than Buhari is elected from the north as President, they are going to do eight years. The south-easterners have woken up and it is time for them to have the presidency. This country must be one. They have realized that the fastest way they can get that is through a Buhari second term. They would support Buhari and the APC to be able to compete for power. The south-west believes that naturally, it is going their own way. For now, they are ahead in the race. By the time you give Buhari a second term, power leaves to the southern part of the country. Spends eight years in the south and by the time it comes back to the north, the whole generation of leaders have retired. That is why you see the whole tension going on now. Even after 8 or 12 years when power comes back to the north, some of them may be in their 60s. Those who are 25 or 30 today would be the ones in the House of Reps, Senate and Governors. They have more chances to take a shot at the Presidency than you who is already out of the system. The issue of Buhari’s second term has a monumental implication on the issue of generational shift.

    You have talked about the electoral value of the President. Apart from his anti-corruption stance, what other issues are his selling points. Also, don’t you think this particular two million votes in Kano is under threat considering the fact that Kwankaso has defected to PDP.

    Buhari’s votes in stronghold are all insulated. They can get some votes but it doesn’t affect Buhari’s votes in anyway. I can assure you that those people cannot tamper with the votes of Mr. President.

    Most of the people that defected to PDP have serious ambition for the Presidency. Do you think that they can collate into a single force to produce one so they can give Buhari a real fight

    Many people have raised that issue. I have dealt with almost all of them personally, just a few I haven’t really dealt with from a close range. 2015 is different from 2019. In 2015, we have a situation of an opposition that has been struggling for 16 years. You have a ruling      party that has continually offended the people, the masses and the elites, for 16 years. The anger became very chronic then the purpose was one.

  • Defections and the interest of the nation

    THE events of the past few weeks in Nigeria’s political environment bear the imprint of a ruling class that has failed to learn from history.

    It is reminiscent of the events preceding the 2015 General Election in the country when the then ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) suffered a lot of casualty.

    Now, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has in a space of less than two weeks lost many key politicians elected on its platform to the major opposition PDP.

    But just as many thought this political hemorrhage would continue along that line, some key politicians have now began to defect from the PDP to the APC, a development that has left many watchers confounded.

    In 2013, in what many political analysts called an earthquake, five aggrieved governors of the PDP, in one fell swoop, joined the then newly-formed APC after staging a walkout on the PDP National Convention in Abuja.

    Governors Rabiu Kwankwaso of Kano, Aliyu Wamakko of Sokoto, Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara, Murtala Nyako of Adamawa, and Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers States were soon joined by the current Senate President, Bukola Saraki, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Abubakar Baraje, a former Acting National Chairman of PDP, Sam Sam Jaja, a former PDP Deputy National Chairman, among many others.

    Consequently, most of the House of Representatives members and senators from the states of the defecting governors also joined the APC. It was a deadly blow that the PDP is yet to recover from.

    The first notable politician to defect in the ongoing unfolding episode was former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who, earlier in the year announced his withdrawal from APC.

    Alhaji Atiku ended up returning to the major opposition PDP. This is the third time that the former Vice President has returned to the party after defecting to other parties. He was a founding member of the PDP in 1998.

    However, Carpet-Crossing is not a new phenomenon in Nigerian politics. It is a practice that has been with us since the First Republic in the decade leading to independence of the country.

    The first recorded incident of carpet-crossing was in 1951 in the defunct Western Region House of Assembly when several members of the now defunct National Counsel of Nigeria and Cameroon (NCNC), led by Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, popularly known as the Great Zik of Africa, overnight decamped to the old Action Group (AG), led by the Great Sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, to deny Zik, the crucial majority in the Western Region House of Assembly, which led to the AG forming the Government in the defunct region and Dr. Azikiwe beating a tactical retreat for relevance home to his native Eastern Region to form the ruling government.

    It is instructive to note that this singular political event, according to political historians, is the root of tribal politics in Nigeria. Many still hold the view that it led to permanent mistrust, not only between the two great and illustrious nationalists, Awolowo and Azikiwe, but even amongst their kinsmen which they say still persists.

    Prior to that cross carpeting in the then Western Region, all tribes lived and related in the area as one loving Nigerian people.  It was a mini Nigeria where things worked. But the introduction of tribal politics destroyed all that.

    As negative and counter-productive that experience was, it was still not as banal and pedestrian as the current approach of the political class which has even deteriorated to merchandising and clear negotiations, hinged on selfish interest.

    Reports of financial inducement amidst these flurry of defections is a development that portray many politicians in this clime as fundamentally lacking in integrity and character.

    If anyone must cross carpet, it should be because of what his people stand to gain and for the greater good of all, not for pecuniary, narrow or banal interests.

    Defections should be on grounds of what constituents will get and this should be the issue guiding actions, discussions and negotiations.

    So, as Nigerians analyse or view these defections they should see it against the backdrop of what will benefit them and not the selfish politicians.

    One fundamental ingredient of democracy is the ideological base. The current pattern of defections lacks this very important element and therefore a threat to our democracy. People must be known for what they stand for and what they represent. This vital plant is now obviously lacking.

    Therefore, the current mercantile dimension should be condemned by all.

    Such practices should be jettisoned or our politics will pay dearly for this infraction.

    On their part, journalists should strive to abide by the high ethics of the profession and good moral conduct to safeguard the nation’s democracy.

    They should not lose their sense of clear perception amidst the current rising political intrigues and tensions in the country.

    As the 2019 polls get closer, more of these unwholesome intrigues would occur, but journalists must see these moves for what they really are and not be carried away.

    They should always remember their responsibility of transmitting only healthy information to the public.

    Journalists must not forget  that the  survival of Nigeria’s Democracy rested largely on their reportage and therefore should always be above board.

    More importantly, the leadership of political parties must to be wary of these defection moves by desperate politicians.

    Most of these defections are dangerous and may be cancerous to the party.

    Parities should be built on a strong foundation of discipline and anti-corruption which should not be undermined by the feeling of ‘all comers affair.’

    Party leaders must always resist the temptation of building their structures around individuals.

    The time to check this ugly trend is now!

    • Okpala, a public affairs analyst, wrote in from Enugu.

  • Defections: God’ll chase away criminals from APC says Buhari

  • Defections: Sokoto agog ahead of Wamakko’s, other APC leaders’ arrival

    THE All Progressives Congress (APC) camp in Sokoto State was in a festive mood yesterday preparatory to the arrival of the APC leader in the state, Senator Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko, today.

    Wamakko, who is expected to be accompanied into town by Deputy Governor Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto and Senator Ibrahim Abdullahi Gobi, will address party supporters who have been massing in the state capital awaiting his arrival.

    The former governor had said, earlier in the week, that those who were writing off the APC, following the defection of Governor Aminu Tambuwwal and 18 members of the state’s House of Assembly to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), should wait till this weekend when he returns to Sokoto and see whether the APC is still in control or not.

    Over the last few days, a lot of Sokoto residents have been expressing support for President Muhammadu Buhari openly, chanting pro-Buhari slogans.

    Women and youth in particular displayed their joy amidst “Rarara’s” musical songs “Masu Gudu, Su Gudu (those who want to go can go).”

    Similarly, posters of President Buhari, Senator Wamakko are displayed in many parts of the state capital.

    Also accompanying Wamakko to Sokoto today are seven members of the House of Representatives from the state; the chairman of APC in the state, Alhaji Farouk Malami Yabo, and Alhaji Sadik Isah Achida, among other notable politicians.

  • Buhari ‘not bothered’ about defections in APC

    President Muhammadu Buhari has he is not bothered about the defections in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

    The President spoke on Sunday at a session with the Nigerian community in Togo at the Nigerian Embassy, Lome, Togo.

    Malam Garba Shehu, the President’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, who in a statement in Abuja yesterday, quoted the President as saying that most Nigerians appreciated the performance of his administration.

    President Buhari said: “I am not bothered about the defections. Ordinary Nigerians have developed confidence in us and are defending us.

    “I assure you, majority of Nigerians back home are appreciative of our efforts.”

    Delighted at seeing the Nigerians who had travelled from the five regions of Togo to welcome him in Lome, President Buhari said he was pleased to hear them commend his administration.

    He assured them that his administration had remained steadfast in keeping to its three campaign promises of providing security, improving the economy and fighting corruption.

    The President noted that if past governments had utilised even 25 per cent of the huge oil revenue available to them, Nigerians would not be complaining today.

    He cited the $16 billion reportedly spent on electricity and yet Nigerians could not see the power.

    He, however, restated his administration’s commitment to providing critical infrastructure and loans to farmers – a step that has led to cutting rice importation by more than 90 per cent.

    President Buhari said all recovered illegally acquired assets would be sold and the money paid into the treasury in the administration’s renewed anti-graft campaign.

    On security, he said: “I assure you that we are making progress in security as some displaced farmers are returning to their farms.

    “We will continue to work very hard for our dear country.”

    Nigerian Ambassador to Togo Joseph Olusola Iji, said the close to two million Nigerians in Togo were law-abiding and peaceful.

    He, however, drew the President’s attention to the inability of the Nigerian Mission in Lome to issue Nigerian passports, making applicants to go to Ghana or Benin Republic.

    Representatives of top bank executives, who spoke at the event, praised the economic policies of the Federal Government, especially the Ease of Doing Business, agricultural revolution and anti-corruption campaign,

    According to the presidential aide, other leaders of the Nigerian community at the event also lauded the discipline, transparency and accountability that the current administration has introduced into governance.

    “They also called for government assistance towards the completion of community’s on-going school building project in order to overcome the lack of good English schools in that country,’’ he said.

    The APC Togo Chapter told President Buhari not to be worried about the defections from the party, assuring him of its support in the 2019 presidential election.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the meeting with the Nigerian community was the President’s first official engagement on arrival in Lome ahead of the Joint ECOWAS/Economic Community of Central African States Summit,

    President Buhari will also be participating in the 53rd Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, among others.

  • Dialectical dilemma of defections

    Dear reader, here is a caveat: Hardball is totally befuddled today. So, read this with utmost care. But blame him not; he is apparently caught up in the current, dizzying political whirl. To be best conceived as politics of divide, division and fission, live imagery would be required here to make plain this seeming dialectical dilemma.

    Chinua Achebe in his classic novel, Things Fall Apart, brings cheery elucidation to the moment, albeit unwittingly. Writing on the Feast of the New Yam, Achebe tells the story of “a wealthy man who set before his guests a mound of foo-foo so high that those who sat on one side could not see what was happening on the other, and it was not until late in the evening that one of them saw for the first time his in-law who had arrived during the course of the meal and had fallen to on the opposite side. It was only then that they exchanged greetings and shook hands over what was left of the food.”

    Let’s bring this illustration home and to Nigeria’s current political shenanigans. Consider a great divide of foo-foo and imagine politicians back-flipping from one side of the divide to the other. Look at it as the great Chinese wall of foo-foo but with the accompaniment of different variety of soups. If you didn’t like the soup on this side, for instance, you could flip over to the other side and join the feasting therefrom.

    This must explain such headlines as “Defectors have agreed to work for Buhari while in PDP – Presidency.” In other words, you are privileged to be attacking the foo-foo from one side of the divide and your interest is being taken care of on the other side! Didn’t they say gluttony is evidenced by the size of the tummy?

    Hardball can only surmise that Nigeria’s politics of the moment is a big feast. It presents a wholesome dialectical ofala (Igbo for royal feast) for people of ideas to gorge on for many weeks on end (while people of no ideas eat the fruit of the land). The current dubious political temperament presents a cartoon of political stalwarts not unlike monkeys jumping from fence to fence and making the best of Nigeria’s ides of anarchy.

    As general election approaches early next year, the ruling All Progressives Congress, (APC) is caught up in the throes of a non-dialectical schism (if there is any such thing). Tenuous tendencies which helped the party wrench power are disgruntled and are flipping from one side of the great foo-foo divide to the other.

    A ham-fisted presidency has been run ragged by a circus group that suddenly finds it wields powers of political life and death… and on and on. (Please see opening sentence!)