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Tag: Obasanjo

  • Presidency, Obasanjo: the unending 2019 wars

    STILL stunned by ex-president Olsuegun Obasanjo’s flip-flop over the Atiku Abubakar presidential bid, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and many Nigerians wait with bated breath for the other shoe to drop. They are certain that having excoriated the former vice president, Alhaji Atiku, so brutally and mercilessly in August, describing him as an incorrigible leader and a politician unsuited for the post of president, the former president would once again revoke his recent endorsement of his former deputy. Chief Obasanjo had in early October revisited his August denunciation of Alhaji Atiku, describing him this time as fit for the presidency, and indeed should be rightly addressed as president-in-waiting. For both the public and the APC, Chief Obasanjo’s volte face was too traumatic to be either true or lasting.

    What began as a battle of endorsements and good-humoured criticisms has now become an open and unremitting war. The APC is determined to press the matter and show the former president as unprincipled and hypocritical. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), for which Alhaji Atiku is standard-bearer, is also determined to show that Chief Obasanjo made a u-turn because increasingly, President Muhammadu Buhari’s unsuitability for the exalted presidential seat was becoming apparent. It is true that Chief Obasanjo’s description of his former vice president as incorrigible was harsh and shocking, but his walk-back, about two months later, in which he saw his former vice president as president-in-waiting was even more bewildering.

    As predicted by this column moments after Alhaji Atiku took the PDP nomination early October, the battle for the presidency would become most intense in January. January is around the corner. Not only will the campaigns become fiercely intense, in particular the war (sometimes of words) between Chief Obasanjo and his enemies in the APC will also become horrifyingly sanguinary. President Buhari and his aides know that a loss in 2019 would both bar them access to privilege and constitute personal tragedy to each of them, considering how they have all become accustomed to both the good life and the heady raptures of rosy future and circumstances.

    Chief Obasanjo is of course entitled to change his mind, regardless of how solidly he made it up earlier. When he first denigrated Alhaji Atiku in early August, few believed the former vice president could clinch the PDP nomination. The former president did not also think it possible, and perhaps had hoped that his throaty deprecation would catalyse his private cause of barring Alhaji Atiku from the presidency permanently. At the time, too, and since the beginning of 2018, Chief Obasanjo had preoccupied himself with the chimerical cause of enthroning a totally new leadership paradigm on the country. Between January 2018 when he indulged his damaging asseveration against President Buhari and the country’s political old guard, all of whom he dismissed as expendables, and August some eight months later, the former president was still hopeful he could help midwife a new national reality and political narrative.

    This was why on August 3, 2018 Chief Obasanjo found it supremely easy to derogatorily condemn Alahji Atiku in a manner most pernicious and unsparing. Said he: “How can I be on the same side with Atiku? To do what? If I support Atiku for anything, God will not forgive me. If I do not know, yes. But once I know, Atiku can never enjoy my support. I do not have personal grudges with anyone…If you do not do well for Nigeria, you do not do well for all of us. It is not a question of working with or not working with an individual, If you are working But about four days after Alhaji Atiku took the nomination, Chief Obasanjo dramatically and extraordinarily recanted. He was neither coherent nor persuasive, but his endorsement was enthusiastic and fulsome. Said he on October 11, 2018: “Let me start by congratulating President-to-be, Atiku Abubakar, on his success at the recent PDP primary, and I took note of his gracious remarks in his acceptance speech that it all started here. Yes, when it started, it was meant for Atiku to succeed Obasanjo.  In the presence of these distinguished leaders of goodwill today, let me say it openly that we have reviewed what went wrong on the side of Atiku. And in all honesty, my former vice-president has rediscovered and repositioned himself. As I have repeatedly said, it is not so much what you (Atiku) did against me that was the issue but what you did against the party, the government and the country. I took the stand I had taken based on the character and attributes you exhibited in the position you found yourself. I strongly believe that I was right. It was in the overall interest of everyone and everything to take such a position. From what transpired in the last couple of hours or so, you have shown remorse; you have asked for forgiveness, and you have indicated that you have learnt some good lessons, and you will mend fences and make amends as necessary and as desirable.”

    But when the former president’s zeal seemed to flag sometime last week, as apparently misreported by a section of the media, the combative president vociferously denounced those who thought he had become unprincipled so soon. In responding to the misrepresentation, Chief Obasanjo seized the opportunity, in a press statement issued by his spokesman on December 9, 2018, to again train his guns on his chief enemy, President Buhari, signalling that the 2019 presidential war would be a fight to the finish. Here is how he framed his response, dripping with venom and sarcasm: “It is disingenuous, if not malicious, for anyone to suggest that Chief Obasanjo was being neutral when he chose not to use the Owu (his hometown in Ogun State) convention as a platform for political campaign but instead adopted a communal and familial approach in talking to members of his Owu family. For the records, and as accurately reported by some media organisations, what the former President said at the convention in Owu was that while he would not impose any candidates on them, Nigerians should vote for credible candidates who would drive growth and development and make their lives better than it is now. Chief Obasanjo’s statement did not suggest his neutrality. In fact, the former President believes that only a fool will sit on the fence or be neutral when his or her country is being destroyed by incompetence, corruption, lack of focus, insecurity, nepotism, brazen impunity and denial of the obvious. Chief Obasanjo is no such fool, nor is he so unwise. The former president reassures Nigerians that he will not sit on the fence when he needs to be out and active for people to know where he stands in the best interest of Nigeria.”

    But every time he hurled his barbs at President Buhari, presidential spokesmen, including the inimitable Information minister, Lai Mohammed, and the pugnacious media assistant Garba Shehu, gave as much as they received from the former president. For instance, on December 10, Mr Mohammed snatched the bottom from the former president’s conviction. “With due respect to former President Obasanjo,” began Mr Mohammed cynically, “it is his constitutional right to support any candidate of his choice and we urge him to go out and campaign vigorously for any candidate he wants to support. He has not hidden his preference for the PDP candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, and we wish him very best of luck. However, I want to assure you that his candidate will be defeated roundly and comprehensively. It is not about endorsement; endorsement does not win election.” This confident response was nothing but a red rag to a bull.

    Chief Obasanjo is a man of many parts. He is as unrelenting against weaklings as he is merciless against his strong-willed enemies. It will not matter how President Buhari and his aides posture, whether as strongmen or weaklings. All that matters to the former president is that he has met his enemies, and he knows them, and he wants them to be subdued. He will stop at nothing to neutralise them. But, unlike former president Goodluck Jonathan who vacillated between courting Chief Obasanjo one day and denouncing him another day, President Buhari and his bad-tempered aides are eager to throw punch for punch, as often as needed. The smoke of the cannonade will only clear after February 2019, when from all indications either the president or Alhaji Atiku is electorally dead and buried. Alas, Chief Obasanjo knows that his political fate is now inextricably tied to that of Alhaji Atiku. So, in February next year, Nigerians will either witness a double coronation, at least figuratively, or a double burial in fact and in substance.

  • Electoral Bill: Obasanjo signed ECOWAS Protocol, says Enang

    With the revelation by the Presidency that former President Olusegun Obasanjo signed the ECOWAS Protocol, which bans any West African country from making substantial amendments to its electoral laws less than six months to its general elections, the row over the Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2018 is set to grow.

    The Presidency insisted yesterday that besides the reasons given by President Muhammadu Buhari for not signing the Bill, it will  also stick to the ECOWAS Protocol in not signing the document.

    There were indications last night that the Presidency and the All Progressives Congress (APC) were reaching out to the party’s caucuses in the National Assembly to resist any plot to override the President’s veto.

    The position of the Presidency was made known in an exclusive chat with The Nation in Abuja by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters, Sen. Ita Enang.

    Enang said contrary to the claims of those opposed to Buhari’s veto, “the President has no hidden agenda in refusing to assent to the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill 2018”.

    He said: “Besides the patriotic reasons given by the President in withholding his assent in the letter sent to the National Assembly, the ECOWAS Protocol prevents Nigeria from amending its Electoral Act less than six months to its general election.

    “The ECOWS Protocol was signed by ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo on December 21, 2001 with about 14  other presidents and Heads of government in ECOWAS nations. Under the PDP administration led by ex-President Obasanjo, the Protocol was signed by 15 countries.

    “The law says no substantial amendment should be made to the electoral laws of member countries less than six months to the date of the election, unless all the political parties/ actors agreed to it.

    “Already, some parties have gone to court, seeking a declaration to stop the President from signing the Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2018 into law. There is no unanimity of opinion by the parties and actors.

    “Therefore, we  are bound by that Protocol. And President Buhari, as the current chairman of ECOWAS, will not take any action to violate the Protocol. He should show example.”

    Responding to a question, Enang said: “As far as the Presidency is concerned, there is no hidden agenda; it is about putting national interest  above any other consideration.

    “If you follow the events in Guinea Bissau, or one other country, the President brought in electoral laws two months to the election and there has been tension.”

    Asked to be specific on the next step by the Presidency, Enang said: “The President has declined his assent, but he will sign if the National Assembly indicates that the effective date for the Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2018 will be after the 2019 polls. The President does not want to cause a crisis.”

    He dismissed the allegations  by the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) that the Buhari administration was out to rig the 2019 poll by withholding assent to the bill.

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    Enang said the PDP administration put 2010 Electoral Act, which was amended in 2014, in place and he could not understand why the main opposition party was complaining about its own laws.

    He said: “The allegation of rigging was just invented by PDP. Is it not the same law that was used for 2015 poll? Was the poll rigged?

    “”And even the amendment they are talking about, it only says ‘the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) shall deploy electronic voting and card and such other means’.

    “They should go and prepare for elections under the 2010 Electoral Act as amended in 2014. This was the same law the PDP used in conducting elections which the APC won in 2015.

    “They should also examine that since Buhari came into office, the same Electoral Act was used to conduct governorship elections in Bayelsa, Anambra, Edo, Ondo and Osun states. They all used card readers. These elections were won by APGA, PDP and APC respectively. Why are they complaining about the Electoral Act?”

  • Obasanjo pushing $27b free trade agreement

    Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has advised African leaders to sign  the African  Continental Free Trade Agreement (ACFTA), which promises $27billion investments.

    Obasanjo, who spoke yesterday in Cairo, Egypt at the opening of the Intra-African Conference prior to the unveiling of the first Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF), said the fair was necessary to actualise ACFTA,  which, he stressed,  is vital for the continent’s transformation. “It is, therefore, imperative that all African governments, who believe in Africa’s progress, should not only sign the  ACFTA, but should ratify it at once, making a way for its implementation,” Obasanjo said.

    The first of its kind in Africa, IATF is expected to churn out deals worth over $27 billion. Obasanjo said the event had been designed to drive inter-African trade and support the implementation of ACFTA. He tagged ACFTA    a landmark agreement in the context of its value in economic integration, transformation  and progress in Africa’s development.

    The trade fair, in his words, “will give each participant a platform for sharing in the context of African trade, investment and economic integration, leading to the  transformation and  development  of the continent.

    “It will give opportunities to investors to showcase their goods and services  and share with others the trend and market openings.”

    Obasanjo praised the Africa-Export Import Bank (Afreximbank) and its Chairman, Prof. Benedict Oramah, for its contributions towards bringing the IATF dream to fruition.

    He said: “When we started planning for the project, we did not have any financial resources.  Afreximbank provided significant financial resources, but Professor Oramah and  other senior management members of the bank committed so much of their time and resources with enthusiasm ad conviction that the trade fair would pay-off and would contribute ultimately towards the actualization of the ACFTA, which will play a vital role in driving business and generating employment  across the continent.

    “Afreximbank and the AU have worked tirelessly since the announcement of the trade fair in Kigali in March this year,” he stated.

    Obasanjo said that without uninhibited trading among African countries, intra-African trade fair will amount to a sham.

    “Africa needs to focus on what trade is needed, where the markets are, the size of the markets, and the standards required by those markets; how and where to implement the value chains that serve the market.

    “We also need to fashion out the medium of payment within Africa for intra-African trade expeditions. These factors need to be combined in ensuring that there is commercially viable return and that the markets chosen are sustainable.”

    He said when Africa actualises its potential, it would earn more respect from the human race.

    Oramah said Africa was making history at the IATF by reversing the colonial strategy of divide-and-rule, adding that  the event signalled Africa’s readiness for economic independence. As he put it, “Africa should use the force of history to change the course of history,” he said.

    Some 1,150 exhibitors from 80 countries are to participate in the fair, with close to 40 from outside the continent.

    A large number of exhibitors, many of them from Nigeria, are at the fair. The Managing Director of the Bank of Industry (BoI), Olukayode Pitan, United Bank for Africa (UBA) Chairman Tony Elumelu, BoI Executive Director, Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) Waheed Olagunju are at the fair. Dangote Group, Fidelity Bank, several firms from Europe, Turkey, China, Indonesia, among others, are there. The Prime Minister of the Arab Democratic Republic of Egypt, Mustafa Madbouly represented the Egyptian President at the opening ceremony.

     

  • 2019: Knocks for Obasanjo over anti-Buhari comment

    Ex-president not properly briefed, says govt

    ‘Endorsement doesn’t win elections’

    Former President Olusegun Obasanjo was under attack yesterday for describing President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration as “incompetent”.

    Obasanjo is backing Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate Atiku Abubakar, who the government said “will be roundly and comprehensively” defeated.

    The government said Obasanjo was “not properly briefed” in reaching his conclusion, even as it affirmed the ex-President’s right to endorse any candidate for the 2019 poll. However, endorsement alone does not win elections, it said.

    Information and Culture Minister Lai Mohammed stated the government’s position at a briefing in Abuja against the backdrop of Obasanjo’s vitriolic attacks on Buhari’s administration.

    Mohammed said the administration had fought corruption and introduced anti-graft institutional  reforms  more than any in the history of Nigeria.

    He said: “With due respect to the former President Obasanjo, actually, it is his constitutional right to support any candidate of his choice and we urge him to go out and campaign vigorously for any candidate that he wants to support.

    “I don’t think the former President has hidden his preference for the former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, and I think we all wish him the very best of luck. I want to assure you that his candidate would be defeated roundly and comprehensively.

    “We welcome him. It is not about endorsement. Endorsement doesn’t win elections. We wish him the best of luck; nobody is asking him not to support anybody, but believe me, he will be defeated roundly and comprehensively.”

    To Mohammed, Obasanjo has not been properly briefed about the administration’s achievements. He tabled some statistics and challenged any Nigerian to controvert the figures.

    He said: “The facts are all there: On corruption, this government has done more than any government in the history of this country to fight corruption.

    “Although it is endemic and global, but when you look at the kind of institutional reforms this government has put in place, you cannot doubt its sincerity and commitment to fighting corruption.

    “Corruption is not just about prosecuting and jailing people; it is more about what you have put in place to prevent people from looting the treasury. This is what this government has done, I would say, more than any government in the history of this country.

    “I will start with the Treasury Single Account (TSA). The TSA was not initiated by this government. It is only this government that has the political courage and will to implement it. Before we came in, there were over 22,000 various accounts of government in various banks in Nigeria.

    “Since we came in, it has been reduced to one single Treasury Account. From 2015 to date, N8.9 trillion has passed through that TSA. So, at a glance, you know where every revenue and every receipt of government is going; it makes for transparency and accountability.

    “This government put in place what is called National Anti-Corruption Strategy with a roadmap for all the anti-corruption agencies on how to tackle corruption.

    “There is what is called the non-commission based strategy which helps government to recover looted funds without convicting the people.

    “As of today, we have been able to recover (EFCC alone) N794 billion, $261 million, 8 million Euros, 1,115,000 pounds, about 4,295 vehicles, about 407 mansions  in forfeiture to the Federal Government.

    “In tackling corruption, this government has introduced what is called an Efficiency Unit within the Ministry of Finance. This unit examines every proposal to travel, estacode, date, and it is on record that this government has saved N17 billion from travel expenses, gifts and the likes.

    “Under this government, starting with the TSA, more revenue is now coming to the government than before. For example, JAMB, between 2010 and 2015, paid to the federation account N51 million. In 2017 alone, under this administration, JAMB paid N7.8 billion to the federation account.

    “Another thing this government has done to ensure that there is transparency and we fight corruption effectively is that today, as opposed from what used to happen in the past, N8.1 trillion was missing from the federation account between 2010 and 2015. This was supposed to be paid in by 15 revenue generating authorities.

    “Then, of course, there is the Whistleblowers Policy, which has been hugely successful. Under the Whistle Blowers Policy, the government raked in N13.8 billion from whistle blowers alone, N7.8 billion from corrupt officials.

    “When you look at what we have put on ground as institutional remedies, I believe with us that this government is more sincere and more committed to fighting corruption than any government in history.

    “If the former president says that this government is not performing, I think he is not being properly briefed.”

    Mohammed insisted that the government has records to prove that it has performed and lived up to the mandate given to it.

    He added: “We promised Nigerians that we are going to diversify the economy. One area where we’ve had resounding success is in the area of food security. In the last three and half years, we’ve saved $21billion from food importation, according to the report recently released by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

    “Not that alone, we have been able to grow the level of rice farmers from five million to over 11 million today.

    “First, our food import base has gone down; when you look at the figures, in 2014, Nigeria imported 1.2 million metric tons of rice from Thailand alone. In 2015, it went down to about 680,000 metric tons. Last year, it went to about 22,000 metric tons.

    “We have records to show or, like I keep saying, we are more successful in the SIP, and we touched every family with these and feed over nine million pupils one meal a day. For most of these children, that is the only meal they are assured of. There is no better investment in the future of the country on good infrastructure.”

    Mohammed spoke also on power generation. He said: “I want to remind the former President that when he left, what was the total capacity of all our generating plants? I can quote the figure for 2015 when we came in, power has been privatised. When we came in; total power generated in Nigeria was just slightly above 4,000MW. That today has moved to about 7,000MW.

    “Still talking about infrastructure, there is no state in the federation that we are not building one road or the other. Latest report from the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority(NSIA), said we have paid as of August this year about N33billion to make the second Niger bridge a reality.

    “The latest report is that the pillars today are coming out and each pillar is 10-storey building down. Or are we going to speak about our roads? The 240km road between Enugu and Port Harcourt is progressing. Four major contractors are handling it. The East West road is going very well… “

  • 2019 poll: Knocks, kudos for Obasanjo

    THE stand taken by former President Olusegun Obasanjo on next year’s general elections yesterday attracted mixed reactions from some quarters.

    Renowned medical expert Dr Ore Falomo has advised Nigerians to ignore former President Olusegun Obasanjo in what he described as his campaign of calumny against President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Reacting to Obasanjo’s  statement that he would not be neutral on the 2019 general elections, Falomo said the former President had become the most inconsistent leader in the country. According to him, “Obasanjo lacks credibility to influence political decisions in this country. He has no political clout to win elections even in his local government”.

    Falomo, who was the physician to the winner of June 12, 1993 presidential election, the late Chief M.K.O. Abiola, said Obasanjo had lobbied to become Yoruba leader but failed because of what he described as a credibility problem.

    “He has the right to say anything but he can’t force his opinion on Nigerians. The 2019 elections will be decided by the people. Obasanjo has only one vote. Nigerians will decide. I think the media should stop celebrating Obasanjo. Here was a man who vowed in 2014 not to participate in partisan politics again and tore his Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) membership card publicly. Now he has returned to the same party and promised to campaign for its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, despite all what he said about him. Nigerians are not fools. Let’s wait for 2019.

    “Nigerians should say no to corrupt leaders that had ruined this country. That is where Buhari  has an edge over every other  politician. He is not perfect but he’s the best we have for now.”

    But Lagos PDP spokesman Gani Taofik hailed Obasanjo for making what he called a timely decision on Buhari’s administration. He said Obasanjo was known for making decisions on issues once he’s convinced.

    Taofik recalled that Obasanjo that led the opposition against former President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015. “Now, he’s convinced that he took wrong decision by supporting Buhari in 2015; only a courageous leader can do that”, he said.

    He said Obasanjo said he could not continue to support Buhari because he had no solution to Nigeria’s economic problems, security challenges, and  hunger. According to the PDP image maker, the situation in the country today is worst than what it was in 2015.

    He advised Presiident Buhari to heed Obasanjo’s advice that he should not contest in 2015. If he goes ahead to contest, it is obvious that he can’t win, Taofik added.

    A public affairs analyst, Malam AbdulKair Isa said Obasanjo’s criticism could not stop Buhari’s re-election. He said: “The former president, like every other Nigerian has the right to express his opinion.  Obasanjo has only one vote, just like other Nigerians. He is not in a position to decide who should contest and who should win. We are in a democracy, not military dictatorship. Nigerians will decide.”

  • 2019: I’ll never be neutral, says Obasanjo

    FORMER President Olusegun Obasanjo has said he will never be neutral in choice of a president for Nigeria in 2019 election in the face of alleged glaring incompetence and brazen impunity.

    He stressed that only those that live in denial would be reluctant to change the present All Progressives Congress (APC)-led administration at the centre to one that would “improve on the economy, regain investors’ confidence and generally drive growth”.

    The elder statesman, who is presently in Cairo for the maiden edition of the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF) of which he is chairman of the Advisory Council, spoke through a statement by his media aide Kehinde Akinyemi.

    He warned Nigerians not to be inactive regarding the forthcoming elections, but make conscious efforts to use the opportunity it offers to elect right leaders in 2019.

    According to him, he would remain consistent in speaking out wherever he sees anything wrong in the governance of the country as is tradition, not minding whose ox was gored.

    The ex-President added that he decided to adopt a communal and familial approach in talking to members of his Owu family in Iwo, Osun State regarding their choice for the 2019 elections.

    Obasanjo, who was reacting to a report by an online media with the headline “Atiku: Obasanjo shifts political gear to neutral,” noted that it was disingenuous, if not malicious, for anyone to suggest that he was being neutral when he chose not to use the Owu Convention as a platform for political campaign.

    The statement reads: “For the records, and as accurately reported by some media organisations, what the former President said at the convention in Iwo was that while he would not impress any candidates on them, Nigerians should vote for credible candidates who will drive growth and make their lives better than it is now.

    “Chief Obasanjo’s statement did not suggest his neutrality. In fact, the former President believes that only a fool will sit on the fence or be neutral when his or her country is being destroyed with incompetence, corruption, lack of focus, insecurity, nepotism, brazen impunity and denial of the obvious. Chief Obasanjo is no such fool nor is he so unwise.

    “The former President reassures Nigerians that he will not sit on the fence when he needs to be out and active for people to know where he stands in the best interest of Nigeria.

    “Chief Obasanjo reaffirms that he is on the side of what is best for Nigeria and what we have currently and as the affairs of Nigeria are being run is not the best for Nigeria, so nobody should fool himself or deceive others about Chief Obasanjo’s position.

    “The former President further urges Nigerians, who are victims of what we have for now to stop just complaining and go out to get beneficial change. They must know that such change will not come if they remain inactive just complaining and complacent and they allow themselves to be deceived by sycophants and enemies of Nigeria.”

    It added: “If they do not become active and get much needed change of the current administration to a government that will improve the economy, regain the confidence of investors and generally drive growth, development and economic progress with security, what is coming will be much worse than what Nigerians currently suffer.

    “On his part, Chief Obasanjo will remain consistent in speaking out whenever and wherever he sees evil as he is known to do no matter whose ox is gored.

    “Nobody should manipulate Chief Obasanjo’s position, particularly on the 2019 presidential election and what he said in Iwo to perpetrate or perpetuate continued destruction of our country.”

  • Obasanjo inviting God’s anger, says Oshiomhole

    FORMER President Olusegun Obasanjo is “inviting God’s anger”, All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman Adams Oshiomhole said yesterday.

    The APC chair attacked the former president for backing his former deputy, Atiku Abubakar, for president after telling the world that God will not forgive him if he did that.

    Obasanjo reversed himself  after Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese Matthew Hassan Kukah and other clerics reconciled the leaders.

    Oshiomhole, who spoke while receiving APC women leaders from Edo State and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), lashed out at the former President, saying he was inviting God’s anger by backing Atiku.

    The APC chief faulted also the decision of Governors Rochas Okorocha (Imo) and Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun) for encouraging their supporters to pursue their political ambitions in other parties after losing out in the APC primaries.

    Both governors have promised to support President Muhammadu Buhari’s re-election bid but that they would stop at nothing to ensure the victories of their choice candidates in other parties.

    Okorocha’s supporters have defected to the Action Alliance (AA). Amosun’s have joined the Allied Peoples Movement (APM).

    Oshiomhole said yesterday that both governors were behaving like poor students of their own history, adding that Okorocha and Amosun had forgotten they lost elections before winning on the APC platform.

    Oshiomhole was, however, confident that the APC remains stronger in Imo and Ogun states, despite the grievances of their governors as a result of the outcome of the party’s primaries where their preferred candidates lost.

    He said: “The real headline today is that we will win in Ogun State and we will deliver Hope Uzodinma in Imo State.  Our popularity in Imo today is increasing. What we don’t know and Nigerians always make this mistake that once you are a governor, you have electoral value.

    “Yes, we have overwhelming majority of APC governors who have electoral values and we also have some few electoral liabilities. I can tell that in Imo State today we will have more votes.

    “Politics is about numbers and I am looking at the average Imo voters because on that the governor will have one vote and his son-in-law will also have one vote. Those market women, artisans, mechanics and farmers will also have their vote.

    “Those who think our political future is tied to them; they are poor students of their own political history. Some of these people who talk as if they are invincible, they have forgotten that they have run elections in the past and lost until they abandoned their parties and joined us. So if they return back, history will repeat itself.

    “In Imo State today, APC will win more votes. My focus is on ordinary Imo voters because on that day, the governor would have only one vote, his son-in-law would have only one vote while his Commissioner for Happiness would have only one vote.

    “But artisans, traders, teachers and workers whose salaries are not being paid have the same weight of vote and they are excited about the renewed possibility of a new government coming with fresh ideas free of all the encumbrances of the present system. So, in Imo I’m very confident.

    “Vice President Yemi Osinbajo is from Ogun State. The state is one of the most enlightened states in Nigeria. They have a huge history; they are not in a political kingdom headed by one person.

    “If they were looking for true reconciliation, they wouldn’t have done what they did (defection of aides). That is not how democracy works. Nigeria must grow beyond this syndrome –  ‘I’m the governor, I will decide.’ You have only one vote. With due respect, I was once a governor. Overall, APC is much stronger now.”

    On Obasanjo’s decision to back Atiku, Oshiohmole said  the former president should remember he swore that God should punish him if he ever support his former vice to become the president.

    He said: “We know there are people across the divide who are fighting back. There is a gang up by those who are used to sucking the system without adding any value but Nigerians will not allow that.”

    According to him, next year’s elections will be a smooth sail for President Muhammadu Buhari and the APC because the ethnic and religious sentiments that characterised the 2015 election lost by former President Goodluck Jonathan had become irrelevant.

    He said: “The two candidates are from the North and they are both Muslims. People are now going to look at character. Nobody has ever said Buhari is a thief. But who said the other person is a thief? It was his boss.

    “When you are working with me and I said you are a thief, God will punish me if I support you. And when you are confused because your supply line has been chopped off, you now turn around to support the same person.

    “That God that you called with your name to punish you if you support the person is about to go to work. And He will go to work in February and He will punish him thoroughly and the person he is supporting, in favour of Nigeria.”

    Speaking further on Buhari’s chances in 2019, Oshiomhole said: “My hope is that Buhari will win. He will have more votes than he got before because some of those who misused religion; for that was the most potent weapon that was used very recklessly, by people who had no issues in 2015.

    “This time around, they will have to speak to the issues because the two main candidates are Muslims. Again, the issue of North-South; Buhari maintained the key support in the North and that was because people voted on the basis of son of the soil. This time, the two main candidates are from the North so these things will not be there. We are now going to look at character.

    “Who can’t say Buhari is a thief; nobody has ever said so. But who said the other person is a thief? it is the person he was working with.”

    Turning to the women, Oshiomhole said: “Yes, the women are going to play a key role in the elections, they are going to compare notes. Those of them who were about 20 year’s old in 1999, by the time they were 36 years, they know all that has happened.

    “They won’t forget that the PDP promised that in six months they will provide stable power, in 16 years, they did not. They will not forget that PDP spent $16 billion; they will not forget that PDP spent so much money on rail and workers will not forget that under the PDP industries have been shut down.

    “Some people recently said that Atiku was one of the most powerful Vice Presidents Nigeria ever had, so he would not say that he didn’t know what was going on in government. So, he was a central player and you know all the issues of corruption in government then, especially the allegation that sums of money ranging from N50 million were being shared to National Assembly members for the third term, all coming from the system. So we can return to those eras of locusts.”

  • Obasanjo talks tourism

    Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has stressed the need to explore Nigeria’s huge tourism potentials as a way to boost the country’s revenue and grow its economy.

    Obasanjo was speaking in Sokoto, seat of the caliphate, at the inauguration of the multi-million naira International Conference Centre completed by the administration of Governor Aminu Tambuwal.

    The former President noted that there were competing demands and requirements in terms of infrastructure and social amenities, but also pointed out that in many parts of the world, conference tourism is a major source of revenue.

    Obasanjo said, “There is no reason why it should not thrive in Sokoto and Nigeria as an important tool of sustaining the economy.”

    He described Sokoto as a historic hub with uniqueness and speciality.

    “No one can dispute this landmark fact. You have what will attract tourists to Sokoto for learning and understanding its uniqueness as a caliphate,” he said.

    The former president who was in Sokoto on a two-day visit to Chair the ‘Zero Hunger Strategic Forum’ initiative, further commended Governor Tambuwal for his foresight and commitment to actualising the befitting project and ancillary facilities for local, national, African and International tourists to benefit from.

    Obasanjo was expected to visit and inspect no fewer than five other projects and project sites aross the state.

    Governor Tambuwal said the project was 100% executed by his administration while recalling that it was contracted out by the immediate past administration without mobilising the contractor.

     

  • Oshiomhole: Obasanjo planning to rule by proxy

    ANY attempt by former President Olusegun Obasanjo to return to power by proxy will be resisted, All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole said yesterday.

    He dismissed as “empty” the former leader’s boast that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will unseat the APC-led administration from Aso Rock.

    Oshiomhole spoke in Kano where he led other APC stalwarts to receive hundreds of members of the PDP and the Kwankwasiyya Movement, who defected into the ruling party at the Sani Abacha Stadium.

    ”Obasanjo’s dream to rule Nigeria by proxy will not succeed,” Oshiomhole told the crowd of supporters.

    He said: “It is a wonderful day that all the progressives have come together to reinforce power to sustain our democracy. Never again should this country be governed by opportunists.

    “President Muhammadu Buhari’s constituency is the army of the poor. We are building a country where those who work will be able to eat, not those who use telephones to make billions without working for it.

    “We are waiting for the message and shall respond appropriately to their message. This country must move forward. It does not belong to those who have a history of taking so much out of the system even as they cannot show what they have put into the system.

    “We have to fix all the problems; we did not come in to fix them overnight. What they did not do in 16 years cannot possibly be fixed in three and half years. But I believe we have shown the most important quality that we need in a leader – to have a man of honour, a man of integrity, a man that you can trust; and that is President Muhammadu Buhari.

    “Whether in America, they appreciate him, in Britain, they appreciate him, and other Africa Heads of State appreciate him. And, of course, we the ordinary people appreciate him. But those who make money without work, they don’t like him. As far as they are concerned, he will not stay one day long.”

    Oshiomhole replied to criticism by the PDP of the electoral process. He said: “Let me also use this opportunity to appeal to our opponents in PDP that they seem to be crying before the election takes place. When they win, everything is perfect; any time they lose, nothing is right. I see them writing a letter to the United Nations (UN) and I’m asking who is going to carry the letter.

    “Nigerians will not forget that it was PDP under President Olusegun Obasanjo who introduced what he called do-or-die politics. They remember when he said the election of 2007 was a do-or-die for him.

    “Fortunately, we did not die; fortunately, he is still alive. He would be alive to see a country that grows from strength to strength, that is detained by the bitterness of the past.

    “But his (Obasanjo) dream to rule by proxy will never succeed. Nigerians can never go back. We must move on. In another mandate for President Buhari, we will witness sustainable growth, development and happiness for the good of the average Nigerian.”

    The party chief praised Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje for his steadfastness in sustaining the manifesto of the APC, saying: “Thank you so much, Your Excellency. You have made a statement. Politics is not about social media where one man can recruit 2000 young men to just be posting fake stories.

    “Politics is on the ground and it is played by real people. When you promised to deliver five million votes I know you will do so because people of Kano State belongs to President Buhari; and President Muhammadu Buhari belongs to the people of Kano State.

    “It will interest you to know that during the primary election, President Buhari had 14.6 million Nigerian APC members voting for him freely to nominate him. Compare this to what my dear friend (Goodluck Jonathan) did in PDP in 2014 when they collected signatories to ask a sitting President to re-contest.

    ”I think we have changed the game, and the game can never be the same again. Nigeria can now grow from strength to strength. I want to ask you (Ganduje) to have faith. We shall be victorious at the end.”

    Presenting the defectors to Oshiomhole, Ganduje said: “Today, APC is the greatest party in Nigeria, and in Africa. APC is the only party in Kano State. We have the highest number of party members; our intention is to provide the highest number of votes for APC in Nigeria.

    “If you can recall, we promised President Muhammadu Buhari that we will give him over five million votes. Mr. Chairman, we assure you that APC is united in Kano. Kano is the home of progressives.

    “The late Malam Aminu Kano was a progressive, the late Sabo Barkin Zuwo was a progressive, and the late Abubakar Rimi was a progressive. Now, what do you expect in Kano – if not a progressive government, a progressive administration, a progressive voting. That is why we are ready to give President Buhari over five million votes.”

    Speaking on behalf of the defectors, two-time governor Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau said: “Today is a moment to reckon with history. On behalf of all my supporters, well-wishers far and near who have joined us to move into APC, it is a great pleasure for us to be part of APC.

    “I have this great honour to be one of the mid-wives of APC, history is repeating itself. In 2014, we stepped aside, and today, we are coming back to APC. I want to thank the national chairman and Governor Ganduje who have embraced us today.

    “We are happy to be part of APC. It is our sincere prayer that God, in His wisdom, come 2019 will grant APC victory from Presidency, governor, senator, House of Representatives and State House of Assembly. Insha Allah, it is going to be a total success.”

  • Obasanjo, Jonathan, Saraki, others honour Atiku at turbaning as Waziri Adamawa

    A CROWD of dignitaries watched yesterday as former Vice President Atiku Abubakar  was decorated as the Waziri Adamawa in Yola.

    Former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan, Senate President Bukola Saraki and House of Representatives Speaker Yakubu Dogara were some of the dignitaries.

    Obasanjo was the chairman of the ceremony, which took place at the palace of Lamido Adamawa Alhaji Muhammadu Musdafa.

    The title was conferred on the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate last year.

    Governors Ibrahim Dankwambo (Gombe), Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto), Darius Ishaku (Taraba) and Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa), Rabiu Kwankwaso, many other senators and several PDP leaders, led by the party’s National Chairman Uche Secondus, attended the event.

    With the turbaning, Atiku is formally the 7th Waziri Adamawa, following a line of succession that began in 1872 when the first Waziri, Alim Alkasum, was turbaned.

    Obasanjo, who said Atiku deserved the honour, added that the Waziri Adamawa would carry his new office with dignity and respect.

    “Atiku will make you proud,” Obasanjo told the Lamido Adamawa.

    Referring to Atiku, Obasanjo said: “I do know that by every standard, you are a cultural and cultured person. I do know too that when we were in Abuja dealing with national and international affairs, you didn’t joke with cultural issues at home. So, you more than deserve this elevation.”

    In his goodwill message, President Muhammadu Buhari wished Atiku a successful event.

    Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Mohammed Bello, who represented the President, said Buhari appreciated Atiku’s invitation, which the PDP presidential candidate personally signed.

    “He mandated me to convey his good wishes for you to have a very successful coronation as Waziri Adamawa,” Bello said.

    Lamido Adamawa Muhammadu Musdafa eulogised Atiku, saying he was conferring on him the second most important position in the Adamawa Emirate Council due to his contributions to the growth of the emirate, Adamawa State and the country.

    The paramount ruler cited establishment of the American University of Nigeria (AUN), Adama Plast, Faro water and juice, Gotel Communication and other companies as some of Atiku’s landmark achievements.

    Atiku thanked God and those who assisted him from a humble background to great heights.

    He said: “I give my gratitude to the Almighty Allah for the opportunity and honour he has bestowed on me from the humblest background to the very venerable position of Waziri Adamawa. Allah has been so kind and generous to me as only He can be. I also thank my beloved country for the education and opportunities it has given me to rise above my circumstances.”

    The PDP presidential candidate said he was grateful to the late Lamido Adamawa, Aliyu Musdafa, for making him Turaki Adamawa some 35 years ago and to his son, the present Lamido Adamawa, for the elevation to Waziri Adamawa.

    He said he accepted the noble traditional title, which is next only to the Lamido Adamawa stool, with gratitude and that he would serve the office dutifully.