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Tag: Idahosa

  • Edo APC primary: Ganduje congratulates Idahosa on victory

    Edo APC primary: Ganduje congratulates Idahosa on victory

    The national chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Umar Ganduje has congratulated the winner of the Edo state governorship primary election, Hon Dennis Idahosa. 

    Congratulating Idahosa in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Edwin Olofu, the national chairman urged the party’s flag bearer to carry all aspirants along to deliver the party at the September state governorship election. 

    Ganduje equally commended Governor Hope Uzodinma’s election committee, noting that its transparency in the conduct of the election was highly commendable. 

    The chairman then urged all aspirants to put aside their differences now that the primary election is over and join hands with the winner to deliver the party at the election 

    Ganduje said: “I want to congratulate the winner of the Edo State governorship election, I want to equally commend and appreciate Governor Hope Uzodinma’s election committee for their hard work and the transparent manner in which the primary election was conducted. 

    “At this point, I want to call on all the aspirants to bury the hatchet and work for the interest of the party so that our party will emerge victorious “

    The national chairman also commended all the party stakeholders and assured them that the party will do everything possible to ensure that Edo state is delivered. 

  • Idahosa, Okpebholo declared winners in Edo APC’s parallel Gov primaries

    Idahosa, Okpebholo declared winners in Edo APC’s parallel Gov primaries

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State produced two winners in parallel governorship primaries on Saturday. 

    Imo Governor Hope Uzodimma declared House of Representatives member Dennis Idahosa winner of the primary that held at Protea Hotel in Benin. 

    He said Idahosa, who represents Ovia Federal constituency, polled 40,453 votes to defeat Senator Monday Okpebholo who scored 100 votes. 

    The declaration was affirmed by the leader of the elected delegates Mr Charity Amayaenvbo seconded by Charles Oronsanye. 

    But Okpebholo, who represents Edo Central, was declared winner by the other faction which met at Lushville Hotel and Suite GRA Benin. 

    Dr Stanley Ugboajah, the State Collation officer, declared him winner at the  palatial residence of Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu in Benin. Ize-Iyamu, who was the party’s governorship candidate in 2020, withdrew from the race on Friday. 

    Ugboajah said Okpebholo emerged winner with 12,145 votes while Idahosa polled 5,536 votes. 

    Troubles started around 2:52 pm when armed thugs invaded Lushville Hotel and Suites, Gapiona Avenue, GRA, Benin, the initial collation centre to disrupt the process. 

    They damaged property and injured journalists during the invasion that left security operatives at the venue helpless. 

    As at the time of the invasion, the collation officers were on break wit Ughoajah, halting the live transmission by some national television stations.

    Okpekholo, as at the time of the invasion, was leading Idahosa, backed by a former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Adams Oshiomhole, in eight of the 18 local government areas so far collated. 

    Officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were present at the two collation centres.

  • Obaseki made Oshiomhole, not the other way round —Ex-Edo Information Commissioner Idahosa

    For some time now, a quiet but bruising battle has been raging between the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, and his successor governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki, over the control of the political machinery of the state. Their feud has polarised the political class in the state into two camps, with one loyal to Oshiomhole and the other to Obaseki. In separate interviews with OSAGIE OTABOR, two chieftains of the party in the state, Charles Idahosa, a former Commissioner of Information, and Thomas Okosun, a former Speaker of Edo State House of Assembly trade blame on who should be held responsible for the feud. They granted the interviews before a rapprochement reportedly brokered by billionaire businessman, Aliko Dangote, and some Edo stakeholders in Abuja on Wednesday.

    AS a prominent member of APC in Edo State, what do you think is the way to end the feud between Comrade Adams Oshiomhole and Governor Godwin Obaseki?

    Thank you very much. If you would recall, the other time, I called on Oshiomhole to resign for embarrassing the people of Edo State and APC as a party.  For the national chairman of a party to lose five states to the opposition and come out to say his first year was a success is an insult to the sensibility of Nigerians. Oshiomhole lost Edo state as a sitting chairman. He lost the presidential election and shifted the blame on Obaseki. Meanwhile, the feat accomplished by Obaseki was never achieved by him.

    Having more than 24 members in the House of Assembly election was a referendum on Obaseki. The nearest by Oshiomhole was 21 or 22. I seriously feel bad for him to now come out to tell us that after losing five states to the opposition, he has succeeded after one year as chairman. In Zamfara and Rivers states, we could not even field one candidate. He is insulting us and engaging himself in what I called a delusion of grandeur.

    Having said that, I will give a quote by Dr John Henry Clarke: “To control a people, you must control what they think about themselves and how they regard their history and culture. And when your conqueror makes you to be ashamed of yourself, your history as a people, he needs no prison walls or chains to hold you in prison.” And that is where we in Edo South, the biggest zone, have found ourselves.

    It is a shame that our people, who are in the majority, are hobnobbing to harass the governor of the state, so that the progress and development of the state will stop, and this is very sad. To control a people, you make them lose confidence in themselves, to be ashamed of their history. Just imagine, 90 per cent of those launching arsenal against Obaseki are from Edo South. It is very unfortunate. The people of this senatorial districts should think back and have a reawakening.

    There was nothing Oshiomhole did not do in Edo. He impeached Garuba Zakawanu with eight lawmakers. He removed the roof of the house.  In a recent interview, the reporter asked Oshiomhole: ‘Do you have issues with the governor’?’ He said since the governor said there is none, there is no issue. This is not how a statesman should talk. He should be able to say what the problems are. The irony of all this is that nobody has said Obaseki is not performing or working. So, what is the problem?

    We understand that there are overtures from the PDP for Obaseki to defect. How do you see it?

    It is expected. The opposition are making moves on how to snatch him so that he can go to PDP. But we are not surprised. The whole idea is for him to fail so that the development will stop. Oshiomhole did eight years and nobody interrupted him. All the people who brought him in, he paid them with ingratitude. We now know those that are doing this thing for money. A relation of Oshiomhiole is all over the place collecting millions of dollars and naira. His recorded voice is everywhere. Everybody in the tape has been identified. He mentioned it that the Senate President, the Speaker come to hold meetings with them every day at the expense of the development of Edo State. I want to say we are waiting for them. Let them bring the money. I gave the warning the last time and I want to give it again: if by error of omission or commission Obaseki is pushed out of the party, APC is dead in Edo state.

    The issue in the House of Assembly is very clear. We know who is beating the drum. The question is why is Oshiomhole interested in who becomes the speaker when he is no longer the governor? When he was the governor, nobody chose for him. The truth of the matter now is that we now know what is happening.

    Some people are of the view that Obaseki is an ingrate, considering that Oshiomhole helped him to become the governor against more popular aspirants…

    Those trying to portray Obaseki as an ingrate don’t really know the true story. And it is very strange to me. A lot of people don’t have the information on what is going on, so I need to throw light on that. When you start a story from the middle, it is not a proper story. People say he made Obaseki. I am aware that Obaseki went to Eghosa Grammar School where I knew him as a school mate, but I can’t remember him telling me he went to a tailoring institute where they must have met. But I do know that they met before Oshiomhole became the governor, and I have it on proper record that Chief Oseni Elama made the meeting between Obaseki and Oshiomhole possible.

    He took Oshiomhole to Obaseki while Oshiomhole was looking to become governor. Obaseki brought all the people to do a launching of what I will call the seed money, hundreds of millions of naira, to pursue Oshiomhole’s governorship ambition incidentally against me, because I ran the ticket with him. So it hurts me when I hear people say that Oshiomhole helped him. Who helped the other first? Captain Hosa Okunbo, Tunde Ayeni, are the people who package this thing together. Oshiomhole had no dime.  After Obaseki raised this money for him, the Igbinedions, Osagie Ize-Iyamu all moved in to put in their money.  So tell me, out of all these people, who is Oshiomhole’s friend today? Who has he shown gratitude to? So this story that he made Obaseki is not true. Obaseki made him.

    And when he won, Obaseki gave him a blueprint on how he would run Edo State. He couldn’t understand the blueprint, so he pleaded with him to come and be the chairman of his economic team so that he could run the state. Obaseki came to Benin and worked as the chairman of the economic team for eight years without a kobo or allowance. He did it Pro-bono. Oshiomhole himself said that on many occasions that Obaseki was the brain-box and spanner of his administration.  This tag that Obaseki is ungrateful is not true. Why can’t he leave the governor to run the state to his ability, like he did?

    I remember when we took over government, we had nine ACN members in the House. The first budget prepared by Oshiomhole, the house rejected it. The condition then was that Anenih should approve it. Oshiomhiole, Zakawanu and Phillip Shaibu went to Abuja. Like the real headmaster, the late Anenih brought out his red biro and cancelled many things he did not want. Oshiomhole came back with his marked scripts, with red biro all over it. Oshiomhole called me and spread the paper before me, saying ‘I have never being this humiliated in my entire life.’ And he explained all that happened in Abuja.

    Oshiomhole said he was crippled. He asked: ‘What can we do now?’ I said we had to fight, and that was how we fought and liberated ourselves from godfatherism, which he is bringing back today. At that time, Anenih had four commissioners in Oshiomhole’s government. I told him to sack the commissioners and he said no. I told him, ‘Anenih can’t be doing this to us and we leave his commissioners.’ By Monday, the commissioners tendered their resignation letters. After I addressed a press conference, Anenih summoned them to Uromi to go and tender their letters of resignations, and that was it.

    What I am trying to say is that anything Obaseki does, people try to read meaning to it. But it was Oshiomhole that trained him. Oshiomhole thought him how to fight godfatherism, and that is what the man is doing. He told him not to take any nonsense from anybody. He is just following in his footsteps. One good turn deserves another. The first person that gave the good turn was Obaseki, but most people do not know that.

    So what is the way out of this imbroglio? 

    President Muhammadu Buhari nominated the Senate President and the Speaker. He said I want Lawan. I will not accept Ndume. I want Gbajamibiala, and it was done. The way members emerged in Edo was transparent. The same Oshiomhole took the House of Assembly members to the Government House and started passing laws inside the Government House. There is need to look at ourselves and tell ourselves the truth.

    For so long, we have been bought cheaply. Everybody is looking for appointment at the National Assembly, and our representatives cannot even say the truth because they believe that he will be the one to tell the Speaker who to put there. History has a way of repeating itself. When Oshiomhole took over the house, over 14 of them, including the present speaker, ran to Abuja too to go and meet Anenih. But when the money was running dry, they came back. Nobody is going to stop them from inauguration. What was done is very legal.

    Oshiomhole was the first person who sold Obaseki to me, and as I speak, he has not told me why he doesn’t want Obaseki. The candidate he brought, people like him and are clapping for him, but Oshiomhole is angry. Other political parties are hailing him. PDP is hailing him. So, you people need to ask him. All I get to hear is that I have collected money. In any case, is it sand he should have given me?

  • Idahosa fetes widows, less privileged at 54

    Founder of God First Ministries AKA (Illumination Assembly) Lekki, Lagos Bishop Isaac Idahosa has presented gift items to widows and less privileged on his 54th birthday.

    He also gave out awards of recognition to icons such Nollywood superstars such as Fred Amata, Zeb Ejiro, Monalisa Chinda, Angela Phlips, Racheal Oniga and Tricial Kirry.

    Some of the artistes who thrilled worshippers at the event include Mike Abdul, Monique, Mamuse twins, Psalm 100, Bishop Praise Machine, Mega Praise, Awesome Crew and Lion Dancers.

    The birthday coincided with the launch of his new book Don’t jump up, grow up reviewed by Archbishop John Osa-Oni and Prophet Chris Okafor.

    Some of the icons who received awards of excellence include Actress Rachael Oniga, Prophet Chris Okafor, Azuh Arinze, Azuh Amatus, Tricia Kirry(Bold faces) and General Michael.

  • Idahosa to politicians: Allow INEC do its job

    President, Benson Idahosa University (BIU), Bishop Feb has urged politicians to allow the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) do its job ahead of the 2019 general elections.

    Bishop Idahosa who advised politicians not to make next year’s election a do or die affair, spoke at the inauguration of a 1.2 kilometre road constructed by Rev. Matthew 0kpebholo at the Legacy Campus of Benson Idahosa University as part of activities to mark 50 years anniversary of the church existence.

    He appealed to the electorates to vote and ensure that their votes counts to avoid rigging.

    Bishop Idahosa urged the electorate to use the power of the PVC to create the needed change that Nigeria need at present.

    ‘’Nigeria will change if the votes of the people is allow to be counted. If this is allow to be done according to electoral act that it will bring a better transformation of socio-economic and political advancement of the nation.’’

    Vice-Chancellor of the institution. Prof. Sam praised Rev. Okpebholo for contributing to the development of the institution.

    Prof. Guobadia said the university, a legacy achievements left behind by late Bishop Benson ldahosa, has impacted many lives.

    Rev. Okpebholo said he decided to construct the road because things started working for him 25 years after he obeyed late Benson Idahosa words for him to grade some roads in Lagos State.

  • Don’t complain of bad governance without PVCs – Idahosa

    Nigerians without Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) have no moral right to complain of bad governance, General Overseer of God First Ministries Bishop Isaac Idahosa has stated.

    Speaking to reporters in Minna yesterday, Idahosa said prayers will not elect the next leaders of the nation.

    According to him: “It is your PVCs that elect the next governor or President, prayers will not elect these people.”

    He urged church leaders to encourage their members to get their PVCs, adding without living by example, the members will not follow suit.

    “You can preach all you know but you produce who you are. If as a leader in the church, you ask your members to get their PVCs and you do not have one, then you have done nothing. If you do not have your PVC, do not complain of bad governance,” he stressed.

    The cleric decried the incessant killings of Christians in some states, describing the situation as unacceptable.

    He called on Nigerians to imbibe the spirit of tolerance, love and be their brother’s keepers.

    Idahosa called on government at all levels to tackle poverty.

  • Obasanjo’s coalition will fail, says Idahosa

    Obasanjo’s coalition will fail, says Idahosa

    Chief Charles Idahosa, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), is a former Commissioner for Information and Orientation in Edo State. He also served as Special Adviser on Political Matters to former Governor Adams Oshiomhole. He spoke with reporters on partisan issues. Excerpts:

    What is your position on the recent letter writen by former President Olusegun Obasanjo asking President Muhammadu Buhari not to seek re-election

    I think it is most unfortunate that in a country where the percentage of illiteracy is very high that is where people like Obasanjo thrive. To me, it is very depressing, irritating and annoying.

    Obasanjo is the least qualified to advise President Muhammadu Buhari.  Obasanjo is so irrelevant in this country and I find it irritating when I see him parading himself as a kingmaker, who years after leaving office still wants to decide for Nigerians who governs them.

    If Nigerians continue to submit themselves to the dictates of Obasanjo, then we still have a long way to go. Obasanjo was a military of Head of state for four years. He was a coward. He was afraid of becoming Head of State after Murtala Mohammed’s assassination.

    I remember his speech ‘Against My Personal Wish and Desire.’ He had no programme for this country  because he was afraid he was going to be killed. The northerners at that time did not want a situation where they will be accused of dominating power. With Murtala’s death, the next in command is Obasanjo, followed by Danjuma and Yar’Adua. How will they explain to the country why Obasanjo didn’t succeed Murtala?

    So, they forced him to become Head of State and that was why he said ‘against my personal wish and desire’. When the Murtala coup happened, I knew where he was hiding himself off Queens Drive. My father-in-law had a property there and we knew Obasanjo was hiding there after the coup”.

    After he was made head of state against his wish, and because he was afraid of being killed, Obasanjo just left the country for them to loot. That is where the problem of corruption in this country started from. He was just head of state in name while the younger officers who install him were ruling the country. That was why Obasanjo hurriedly handed over power to a civilian president in 1979 to save his neck. He did nothing of benefit for this country during that period.

    Obasanjo came back to power in 1999 and did four years. After his first term because of his dismal performance, the governors were so disenchanted and opposed his second term. I saw him crawl on his knees at Rivers Governors Lodge before Atiku begging for second term. A man that was kneeling down and begging his deputy is now the one writing letter to Buhari asking him not to seek second term.

    After second term, this same Obasanjo started sharing N50m each to National Assembly members to allow him do a third term. Though he has denied it now, he said he needed third term to complete most of his projects that the two terms of eight years is not enough. What he cannot do in eight years, he wanted Buhari to do in two and half years.

    What is your perspective on the Obasanjo’s Coalition of Nigerian Movement. Do you think it is something APC leaders should worry about?

    Did you see anybody talking about that coalition again? I repeat, Obasanjo is just embarrassing himself. I saw the former Cross Rivers state governor, Donald Duke, a very successful young man as part of the movement and I laughed. Where was Obasanjo when Duke wanted to be Vice- President in 2007? Why didn’t Obasanjo pick him? Goodluck Jonathan was  just comfortable with being the governor of Bayelsa but Obasanjo went for him because he has an ulterior motive.

    What is your take on the controversy surrounding the statement made by former Military president, Ibrahim Babangida asking President Buhari to quit in 2019?

    We all know IBB as Maradona and he has done another Maradona again this time around.  They are now pushing Afegbua, his spokesman here and there. Here was a man that elevated corruption to an official level in this country. He bought Peugeot 505 for all officers so that they can stay in power. Dele Giwa’s death is still a mystery today as well as the C-130 crash in Ejigbo. We knew how Buhari fought corruption to a standstill in 1984 and people were scared of engaging in corrupt acts. This country had a direction then but Babangida and others who were uncomfortable with his war against corruption toppled him and detained him in Benin prisons for 40 months.  As far as I am concerned Buhari has done well. Just look at the award conferred on him by African leaders as the anti-corruption czar of Africa.  Other African leaders are impressed with what he is doing and they are inspired by his leadership. The only ill luck we had was that he fell ill and this prevented him from doing a lot of things but thank God now that he is back and better.

    Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has been appointed to head APC’s reconciliation by President Buhari. Do you see that as a step in the right direction?

    I think Tinubu is a very smart person. In my last interview, I said I am tired of talking about John Oyegun and his leadership of the party. Look at all these things. If we had a party and national working committee yet there is no cohesion. Today, they are pursuing (Bukola) Saraki, DSS is fighting EFCC and this is the same presidency. These are things PDP used to do in their heydays which they called ‘a family affair’. Anyone telling you all is well in APC is just deceiving himself and I hope Tinubu will be able to bring everyone together on board. As far as I am concerned, the PDP is not tough anymore and is not playing its role as Nigeria’s major opposition party.

    Can you imagine a PDP that is being headed by a Wike, Fayose and Secondus? A party that was formed by the statesmen like Alex Ekwueme, Solomon Lar is now like a children’s party. But the APC itself we are not putting our house in order. We cannot hold meetings, no conventions, no programmes, everybody is just stuck.

    What is your take on the reordering of the election timetable by the National Assembly?

    I don’t think that action will stand because we never elected them to go and carry out their personal interests.  From what I have seen, it is so clear their action is buoyed by selfish interest. Because of the cacophony of voices against Buhari, they believe Buhari’s rating has dropped and so they should quickly do their election so that if Buhari lose, there will not be the bandwagon effect on them.  I believe they are just wasting their time. I read that INEC has vowed to challenge that action at the Supreme Court. So, let’s wait for the decision of the courts on the matter.

     

  • How Atiku missed chance to be president in 2003, by Idahosa

    How Atiku missed chance to be president in 2003, by Idahosa

    Hon. Charles Idahosa, All Progressives Congress (apc) chieftain and Political Adviser to former  Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole, speaks with EMMANUEL OLADESU in Lagos on former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s defection to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and why President Muhammadu Buhari deserves a second term in office.

    Former Vice- President Atiku Abubakar recently dumped the APC for the PDP. What is your reaction?

    The reasons Atiku gave for leaving APC can be likened to the old adage that  says ‘you give a dog a bad name in order to hang it’. I think he left the APC because he wanted to give a last shot to his presidential ambition and he strongly believes that that opportunity may not come if he remains in APC considering the fact that in the last presidential primary of the party in December 2014, he came a distant third.  That is the major reason why he left APC. Every other thing he said about his leaving APC because of lack of internal democracy and no future for Nigerian youths does not hold water. He needed to go but you don’t expect him to tell Nigerians that ‘I am leaving APC because I want to contest for presidency elsewhere’.  If you remember, he said the APC will be his final bus stop in 2014, meaning that he will not join any other political party again. Atiku is a man I know very well and I have great respect for. I have worked with him before in the company of other notable Nigerians like Chief James Ibori, the late DSP Alamieyeseigha and others. We tried to work for him in 2003 to realise his presidential ambition, but he missed it at that point.

    How did he miss the opportunity?

    Atiku was a protégé of the late Shehu Musa Yar’Adua. He has  a political machinery that cuts across the country. When Yar’Adua was in prison during the Abacha era, he confided in some of his lieutenants that in case he dies in prison, they should ensure they draft in Olusegun Obasanjo in order to compensate the Southwest for what happened to the late MKO Abiola.  Yar’Adua’s key man then was Atiku so Obasanjo was forced to work with him.  When Obasanjo was contesting as president, he had no money. Atiku provided all the funds. I know all this because I was part and parcel of the whole thing. Having agreed on Obasanjo, they needed people to execute the project. It was Atiku that called Chief Anthony  Anenih to lead the campaign of Obasanjo. I was the first person Chief Anenih took from Benin in 1998. We usually meet in one very popular hotel in Abuja. That was where the whole plans started before we went to Jos for the convention.  Atiku had already won election as governor of Adamawa State because that was his ambition then. But, Obasanjo insisted that he wanted him as his running mate. So,  he contested so he contested as running mate to  Obasanjo, despite his position as the governor-elect of Adamawa State. According to sources available to us that time, Obasanjo said he will do a single term but after that, he decided to go for second term. I was physically present at Rivers State Governor’s Lodge when the heat became too much and Obasanjo in the presence of all of us knelt down in front of  Atiku, begging him to allow him do a second term.  I think that was how Atiku missed the opportunity by agreeing to Obasanjo’s plea. He thought at least if Obasanjo completes his second term, he will handover to him but you all know the story of third term and that was how they fell apart. Atiku had the best opportunity to become president in 2003 and lost it. He had the support of PDP governors then.  Now, in the process of jumping from one place to another to realise his ambition, he has lost woefully.

    But, do you see Atiku as a threat now that he is in the PDP?

    Atiku is not a pushover.  The political machinery of the late Yar’Adua is very awesome and still intact. But Atiku as I speak today cannot be a threat to APC or President Muhammadu  Buhari if the president decides to run which I believe he will do.  We must understand that it is easier to destroy than to build.  Buhari is taking Nigeria through a building process and he is doing a great job. I once granted an interview that what we are seeing in Nigeria today is a result of corruption fighting back. What pains me today is the fact that we have a presidency that is disunited. EFCC fighting DSS. DSS wrote a report to the Senate against Magu, Acting EFCC Chairman and that report was used in rejecting his confirmation by the Senators. Yet, both EFCC and DSS are agencies under the presidency.  That is why at times I am sick and tired of attacking the leadership of the APC. When I criticise, I am only trying to help the party because I don’t have any other party to go to. If I retire from APC today, I just go home and that is goodbye to politics. I have no intention of going to any other party. It is unfortunate that we are not putting our house in order and this is a very crucial time for us because the election is just around the corner.

    You said you don’t see Atiku as a threat to President Buhari. What if the votes of the Southsouth and  Southeast goes to PDP and both Atiku and Buhari share the votes from the Northern region and  Southwest in 2019?

    Yes, it is going to be a very difficult election. There is no doubt about that. I have been part and parcel of these things for a long time, so I understand the political narratives in these areas you mentioned.  One thing we must understand is the fact that the 2015 election was easy for APC because it was  Jonathan.  Jonathan does not have any idea of governance. He was just fortunate to become Deputy Governor,  Governor, Vice- President, Acting President and President. The  North was really frustrated because  Jonathan broke the accord he had with PDP governors. One thing we must understand that this time around, it is not going to be North vs South.  If Atiku gets the PDP ticket and Buhari gets that of APC, it will be  North vs North and it will be a very difficult battle for APC. But  Nigerians are going to look at their track records and vote for the best candidate. It will not be a matter of APC or PDP.

    But, I strongly believe that the APC still has to do a lot of homework because I am very scared. I read an interview by Ahmed  Makarfi  recently where he said the PDP is expecting a harvest of defection after Atiku’s move from the APC.  He now said and I quote “As a strategic reason, we don’t expect a lot of people to move to the PDP now. People are in APC for different reasons. Wait for the time when anybody will be on his own, you will see the influx of people into the PDP”. He said some of Atiku’s men are still in APC for strategic reasons. That is my fear. There are so many of Atiku’s supporters who will stay behind in the APC and leave at the last minute. Don’t forget what Aminu Tambuwal did to PDP. As Speaker of the House of Reps, he waited till the last minute before joining the APC.

    These Atiku’s supporters who are staying behind in the APC, do you think their intention is to sabotage the party?

    Of course! I just quoted what Makarfi said now.  He said some of his supporters are still in APC for strategic reasons. He also said there are those who are still in APC and didn’t move with Atiku for different reasons. So, the APC needs to be careful. Some people are in there to do havoc. We must understand that there are some corrupt people who don’t like what President Buhari is doing and they are APC members. They will do everything possible to make sure the president does not return in 2019.  Many of them believe if Buhari could do this in four years, what will he do if he now gets another four years?  So, we have to watch it in APC and put our house in order.

    If you look at the series of defections have done all in his bid to become president, do you see a man who is passionate about changing Nigeria for better or man who is driven by personal interest to rule Nigeria at all cost?

    I think Atiku has an inordinate ambition to be president at all cost. If he is in one party and he  knows his chances are not bright, he moves to another party and so on. Maybe, he has a reason why he believes he must be president, I don’t know but as far as I am concerned, he is in a better position to tell Nigerians why he wants to be president having been a vice-president for eight years. I think he is just being driven by the ambition to become the president of Nigeria and will stop at nothing to realise that dream.

     You don’t seem to get along well with the APC National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun. Why? I am a founding member of APC and for those who know me; they know I am always for the truth. I say things the way I see it no matter whose ox is gored.  I don’t even bother myself about people’s reactions. What did I say in the interview? I said Oyegun is a sycophant who is always telling Buhari what he wants to hear in order to help him keep his job. Is that not what happened at the last caucus meeting of APC in Abuja? Was it not President Buhari that saved Oyegun from being removed when he called Asiwaju Bola  Tinubu and some governors for a meeting before they went for the caucus meeting? Even Oyegun himself knows what I said is the truth. All I am saying is forget the messenger and listen to the message.  Those saying I am angry because he didn’t carry me along don’t know me. Carry me along to where? They should go and ask Oyegun himself.  Since he became national chairman, have I ever called him one day to do me any favour or give appointment to anybody because I don’t need it. I  am not going to talk about Oyegun again. I have made my point and it is there for the records.

    Do you think President Buhari deserves an automatic ticket or should be subjected to primary?

    I think Buhari deserves an automatic ticket because in developed democracies, he has the right of first refusal as a sitting president.  But, I think the Buhari I have studied will like to go through primary so that he can set an example of real democratic process.  But, in my personal opinion, I think he should be given an automatic ticket so that we don’t waste money and energy conducting primaries, since we already know that he is entitled to eight years. But like I said, I think Buhari will like to test his popularity and I believe he will get the party’s flag.

    What is your assessment of Governor Obaseki’s one year in office?

    There is no doubt that Obaseki has done well. We are very happy with him; he has not let us down. He has brought sanity to the system. The way they now collect tax is more civil, nobody is being harassed anymore. The school system is being reformed. The only area we, as party leaders, are not too happy is that he should carry us along in the sense that the infrastructure he is developing across the state, he should also develop our stomach. He is a strong governor and honestly there is nothing he is doing today that he did not say he was going to do during his campaign. But my advice is that the developmental efforts should be gradual because most of the things he is doing now are for the future. He has an idea of where he wants to take Edo to and he has said he does not want to be distracted and that is why he decided to steer clear of party leaders. But I think that after one year now, he has been able to lay a solid foundation that will take the state to the next level. Like the Alaghodaro Economic Summit that he organized, only few people in the urban areas understand the idea behind the project and it is we leaders that will always pass the message or the idea to our supporters in the rural areas. He is thinking of the Edo of the future. But the truth is that Oshiomhole over-pampered us as politicians and that is why it seems we are feeling left out by Obaseki. But we now understand his style; it is not as if he does not want to see politicians, he only does not want to be distracted which is good.

  • Paying tithes is about love, not law – Idahosa

    The President of Benson Idahosa University, Bishop Faith Idahosa, has stepped into the raging debate on tithing.

    Christians, he said, should pay tithe as a matter of love towards God, not necessarily because of compulsion or law.

    He charged them to avoid being misled by certain individuals who think paying tithe is wrong.

    Idahosa was reacting to the debate on social media triggered by a popular On Air Personality (OAP) to the effect that tithing is an Old Testament practice that has no relevance in modern days.

    But speaking with our correspondents at the premises of the university in Benin, capital of Edo State, Idahosa said anti-tithing persons like Freeze are antagonising the church because they think the church is taking advantage of people.

    He said: “Tithing is a matter of love between men and God. There is a very long discourse on tithing which we cannot really deal with unless to discuss from the scripture one by one.

    “Tithing is something that people are asking questions about and they need to understand fully how it works.

    “Tithing should not be an issue where someone is forced to tithe because the truth is if you don’t tithe today, the church would not die.

    “We have as part of our core values in the church that we tithe to show our commitments to God and show His commitments to us, to supply our needs.”

    He continued: “For me, I tithe because I love God and I do it because I trust Him to supply my needs.

    “I give Him a part of my income which could be 10, 20 or 30 percent. There are pastors who give 40 percent of their income as tithe, not to other pastors but they inject it back into the church.

    “My father was giving 90 percent of his income to the ministry. He wasn’t giving it to one person. And he lived on 10 percent, which was enough to take care of our home needs.”

    Idahosa went on: “Tithing is a matter of love and not law. If you want to talk about law then people get to fall under certain laws.

    “Law will eventually fall apart but love is the one that will not fall away.

    “There is a certain blessing that God has promised for those who pay tithe, so that’s the promise I am tapping on when I pay my tithe.”

    He, however, said non-tithers will not die or suffer misfortunes as threatened by some pastors.

  • Buhari delayed in dealing with Kanu, says Idahosa

    A chieftain of the All Progressive Congress in Edo State, Hon Charles Idahosa, has said that President Mohammadu Buhari delayed in dealing with several issues especially Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

    Hon Idahosa said current agitations across the country and the call for restructuring were diversionary.

    Speaking in an interview to mark his 64th birthday, Hon Idahosa stated that there was a plot to distract President Buhari from achieving his desire for the country.

    Idahosa insisted that Kanu was being sponsored by individuals who looted the country during past administration.

    He noted that it was absurd for Kanu to have money to buy equipment for radio stations thereby putting the lives of Igbos at risk.

    The former Edo Commissioner for Information and Orientation noted that the fight between APC leaders over irrelevances was because a cabal is fighting themselves for the control of power inside the system.

    His words, “Buhari missed it immediately he won and the whole world was giving him the accolade. The money stolen during the PDP time was so much. The money in the hands of individual is so much and you do not expect them to just fold their hands at the rate President Mohammadu Buhari is going, looking at his antecedents, looking at his records, he wants to set up special court to be trying corruption.

    “What you are seeing right now is corruption fighting back, nothing more, nothing less. It just that we are a country of very many unserious people. This thing could have been tackled in a way that nobody would even know that such a thing happened.

    “We made Nnamdi Kanu important. A 36 years old boy who never saw the Civil War. I saw war. I know what war is and I am sure none of you  here saw war. When you see war, mother will deny her child, father will be running to different direction while the children will be running to different direction.

    “You people do not know what is called war. Children like Kanu and his cohorts are talking rubbish because people are pumping money to them, even people that are supposed to be enlightened.

    “All these agitations here and there, they are being sponsored and stage managed to distract the APC federal government led by President Mohammadu Buhari of getting to where he wants to get Nigeria to.”