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  • Oshiomhole, Tinubu eulogise Ekere, assure Akwa Ibom of good governance

    National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole and National Leader Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, have assured the people of Akwa Ibom State of better days ahead when the party’s gubernatorial candidate in Akwa Ibom State, Obong Nsima Ekere, becomes Governor in 2019.

    Both APC leaders spoke at the weekend during the presidential campaign flag-off for the South-South Zone in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

    Tinubu, who spoke first, recalled the performance records of the Victor Attah and Godswill Akpabio governments in Akwa Ibom State and assured the people that Ekere would bring back development to the state.

    His words: “Unlike PDP government there now, they keep complaining. They keep drawing us back. Attah came in, performed creditably well. Akpabio came in, you saw development, progress of this state. Ever since, happiness has frozen. We are waiting for Nsima Ekere to take over and bring development and happiness to this state. By the Grace of God Almighty, we are going to get victory.”

    On his part, Oshiomhole who presented the symbolic flag to Ekere and three other candidates in the South-South Zone, said the Akwa Ibom State APC flag bearer was coming to govern the state with a rich experience.

    Speaking on behalf of the other candidates, Ekere assured President Muhammadu Buhari, of victory in the Niger Delta region in the February 16, 2019 presidential election.

    He thanked the APC for their nomination and pledged that they will mobilize massively to ensure victory for all the party’s candidates in the elections.

    The other gubernatorial candidates presented with flags at the rally were Senator John Owan Enoh (Cross River State), Chief Great Ogboru (Delta State) and Pastor Tonye Cole (Rivers State).

     

  • Tinubu commiserates with Shagari family

    Former Lagos governor and All Progressives Congress national stalwart, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has described Second Republic President Shehu Shagari who died yesterday at 93 as a statesman, patriot and political stabilizer who served the country well in different capacities.

    He said Shagari who entered politics in 1951 served the country in different capacities and served well.

    In a statement last night by his Media Office signed by Tunde Rahman, Asiwaju Tinubu said: “Former President Shehu Shagari was a statesman, patriot and stabilizer who believed in and worked for the unity of this country.

    “He served Nigeria in different capacities -administrator, provincial secretary, House of Representatives member, minister in several ministries and president- and in each capacity he did excellently well. He contributed his quota to the growth and development of the country.

    “He particularly helped in advancing our democracy. President Shagari had the temperament for good leadership. He was a decent man.

    “In the Second Republic, as the first executive president, his was a moderating voice, a stabilising factor. Even within the defunct NPN, with all its reputation, he was of a different type.  He wore integrity on his collar like a badge of honour.

    “His background as a school teacher, his maturity and moderation helped to mould his politics. He was true and pure.  He was humble and humane. He led a Spartan way of life. He was modest and unpretentious. Truthful and sincere. He was generally a good man.

    “He saw the good qualities of his political opponent, the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, he gifted him the highest honour in the land, the GCFR award.

    “Although we never wish our elders leave us, it is nonetheless pleasing that President Shagari left us at an advanced age.  My condolences to his family and associates. Our prayer is that Almighty Allah grant him Aljannah Fridaus. May He also grant the family the strength to live without him and to carry on with President Shagari’s legacies of commitment to national unity and excellence in service.

    “I commiserate with Governor Aminu Tambuwal, the government and people of Sokoto State. I commiserate with the Muslim Ulamma in Nigeria and the world.  May our country be blessed with more of people like President Shagari”.

  • Buhari, Tinubu, dons mourn Oluwole

    President Muhammadu Buhari has extended condolences to the Oluwole family on the death of Prof. Sophie Oluwole, renowned philosopher and Nigeria’s first female doctorate degree holder in philosophy.

    Prof Oluwole died on Sunday in her home at Ibafo, Ogun State. She was 83.

    In a statement yesterday by his Special Adviser on Media & Publicity, Femi Adesina, the President joined members of the family, the academia and other close associates in mourning the cerebral philosopher, who through her teachings and works celebrated the Yoruba culture, history and worldview.

    She reminded the world that within pristine traditions are values that promote the ideals of democracy, fairness, equity and justice, the President said of the deceased.

    Buhari said he has the belief that the deceased would be honoured and remembered for her commitment and skill in spreading the word about the good in promoting African tradition, culture, knowledge and languages.

    The President urged all who mourn Prof Oluwole to honour her memory by carrying on from where she left off in her zeal to promote indigenous knowledge, skills and discipline that could help us redefine ourselves as a people and a nation.

    All Progressives Congress (APC) leader Asiwaju Bola Tinubu described the late Prof. Oluwole as a distinguished academic and Yoruba nationalist.

    He said the late philosopher; popularly called Mamalawo (female native doctor) would be deeply missed because of her commitment to the development of the Yoruba culture, tradition and philosophy.

    The former Lagos State governor said: “Prof. Sophie Oluwole was a distinguished academic, pan-African philosopher and Yoruba nationalist. As Nigeria’s first female doctorate degree holder in philosophy, she truly earned her stripes. She believed in and practised what she taught and preached.

    “She loved and celebrated Yoruba tradition and philosophy so much she was nicknamed Mamalawo.

    “Nigeria, the Yoruba race and all those who admire pristine traditions will sorely miss Prof Sophie.  Her teachings and works derived from the Yoruba school of philosophical thought. To her, the ancient African philosopher Orunmila was second to none.

    “I commiserate with the Oluwole family, the academic community, students who passed through her. I pray they have the strength and resilience to continue where she stopped. To the soul of the late Prof, I pray for eternal rest.”

    In the academic, the late professor’s community, her demise was described as a significant loss to Africa.

    The Dean of Arts, University of Lagos (UNILAG), Prof Muyiwa Falaiye, who was late Mrs. Oluwole’s student and later colleague, described her as a brilliant thinker whose work on African philosophy rivalled world-recognised philosophers like Aristotle and Socrates.

    The professor of African Philosophy said: “She was my teacher and PhD supervisor. She was a mentor; we worked together for a long period first as a student, then as co-lecturers.

    “She was a role model, a good woman, an Africanist.  She is a big loss to the academia, not only in Nigeria but internationally.   She is well-known for her noble work on Orunmila.

    “It is significant work.  Many people had thought that no African had the capacity to think but Oluwole showed a lot of wisdom can be got from African philosophers that can rival what European Philosophers like Socrates and Aristotle did.”

    UNILAG’s Vice Chancellor Prof Toyin Ogundipe said the deceased added value in the university where she retired 18 years ago.

    The vice chancellor said: “It is sad that we had to lose her now; but we thank God for her life. She contributed effectively. She was former dean of students’ affairs. In the academic space she contributed very well.  She is a well-respected woman in her department and faculty.”

    Prof Ogundipe said the university’s programme to honour her would be dependent on her family’s plans.

    The Igbara-Oke, Ondo State Prof Sophie Oluwole, was the first woman to earn a doctorate degree in Philosophy in Nigeria.

    She studied History, Geography and Philosophy at UNILAG after which she was employed as an Assistant Lecturer in 1972.  She earned her PhD in Philosophy at the University of Ibadan (UI), Ibadan.

    She taught African Philosophy at UNILAG between 2002 and 2008 and focused on the Yoruba school of philosophical thought that discussed the cultural and religious beliefs of Yoruba land.

    She was recognised for her activism for women in philosophy and education.

  • Farmers/herders clash: Tinubu hailed for sponsoring peace moves

    FARMERS and Herders Initiative for Peace and Development has hailed All Progressives Congress (APC) National Leader Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his sponsorship of peace moves between warring farmers and herders.

    This was as the initiative, which claimed its assignment was responsible for the relative peace among the warring groups, asked the Federal Government to check the activities of those it tagged “illegal vigilance groups” and armed gangs in many states.

    The initiative’s secretary, Alhaji Salim Musa Umar, who addressed a news conference in Kaduna yesterday, said his group had embarked on sensitisation and peace advocacy visitations  to warring communities across the seven Northeast, Northwest and Northcentral states of Nasarawa, Benue, Plateau, Taraba, Adamawa, Kaduna and Zamfara.

    Umar said the engagements sponsored by former Lagos State Governor, which started in July, has recorded a huge success with many issues resolved without recourse to violent confrontations.

    He said the initiatives were responsible for the appreciable level of peace in the states visited, thereby minimising the farmers and herders violent confrontations that were hitherto a weekly incident.

    “The Farmers and Herders Initiative for Peace and Development is desirous of ensuring that peace reigns supreme between our farming communities and the pastoralist in the country, considering the age-long harmonious relationship that existed between them.

    “It is in light of this objective that we embarked on sensitisation, peace advocacy visitations and reach-out to the communities in disputes across the seven states that cut across the Northeast, Northwest and Northcentral states of Nigeria. The states visited are Nasarawa, Benue, Plateau, Taraba, Adamawa, Kaduna and Zamfara states.

    “The engagements started in July 2018 and were a huge success as many issues were resolved without recourse to violent confrontations. You can bear me

    witness that there is an appreciable level of peace in all the states visited, thereby minimising the infamous farmers and herders violent confrontations that were hitherto a weekly incident.

    “All these are made possible through the personal intervention of an elder statesman Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu, the Jagaban of the Borgu , who singlehandedly sponsored all the engagements in all the states.

    “It is important to note that the intervention of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is informed by his personal desire to see the communities live in peace with one another. It is a patriotic act and a humanitarian intervention that is devoid of any political affiliation whatsoever.

    “This of course is unprecedented and his service to humanity is appreciated by all peace loving Nigerians. He initiated and sponsored the engagements quietly without recourse to publicity because of his personal desire to restore peaceful co-existence between the two communities.”

    The Umar noted that the states were carefully selected, considering the fractured relationship and its negative implication for the corporate existence of the country.

    He added: “The aim of the engagement is to mitigate armed conflicts among the communities as well as provide a platform for engagement where all contentious issues are brought forward for ventilation and amicable resolution of disputes.”

    Hailing President Muhammadu Buhari and his deputy Prof. Yemi Osinbajo for the enabling environment to carry out the assignment, Umar also lauded the resilience of the communities.

    On the vigilance groups, Umar appealed to the Federal and state governments to intensify efforts in taming the activities of such groups operating with impunity in many states.

    “They are responsible for cattle-rustling and burning of herders’ hamlets, including outright shooting of cattle. This groups are posing a serious threat to peaceful coexistence as they are mostly engaging criminal activities that are provoking negative emotions and reactions,” he said.

  • Tinubu: APC targets over three million votes in Lagos

    Lagos All Progressives Congress (APC) members got a challenge yesterday —to target three million votes in next year’s elections.

    Party stalwart Asiwaju Bola Tinubu said this is to reinforce its relevance in the Centre of Excellence.

    “We have six million votes in Lagos. Your target should be half; three million or the entire six million. We must deliver over three million votes in Lagos,” he said.

    However, to succeed in the exercise, the former governor urged members to renew their faith in reconciliation, embrace peace, work for unity and embark on the aggressive mobilisation of the electorate.

    Tinubu spoke at the APC stakeholders’ meeting, which was held at the party’s secretariat on Acme Road, Ogba, Ikeja. The meeting was attended by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, his deputy, Dr. Idiat Adebule, the governorship candidate, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, his running mate, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, House of Assembly Speaker Mudashiru Obasa, members of the APC Gubernatorial Advisory Council (GAC), party officers, and flag bearers for parliamentary elections.

    In a show of magnanimity, Ambode, who said the party is supreme, reiterated his endorsement of the Sanwo-Olu/Hamzat ticket by raising up the hands of the candidate and his running mate, urging other aggrieved aspirants to emulate his example.

    He called for what he described as a platform for continuous reconciliation and compensation for aggrieved aspirants, who should be assured of “promissory notes”.

    Dr. Adebule, who predicted failure for the PDP, alerted party members to the danger of voided votes, advising them to thumbprint the ballot paper with their index finger.

    Sanwo-Olu promised a government of continuity, if elected, urging Lagosians to vote for a party of progress.

    Frowning at Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate Jimi Agbaje’s remark that Lagos State was in bondage, Hamzat said the state was liberated from bankruptcy 19 years ago when former Governor Tinubu worked assiduously to increase its internally generated revenue from N600 million to N31 billion.

    At the meeting were party chairman Tunde Balogun, his deputy, Prince Sunny Ajose, vice chairmen Ashipa Kaoli Olusanya (Lagos East) and Chief Funso Ologunde (Lagos West); Secretary Dr. Wale Ahmed, Southwest APC Women Leader Mrs. Kemi Nelson, State Women Leader Jumoke Okoya-Thomas, Publicity Secretary Joe Igbokwe, his deputy, Abiola Salami, Prince Tajudeen Olusi, Chief Rabiu Oluwa, Prof. Tunde Samuel, former House of Assembly Speaker Joko Pelumi, Senator Ganiyu Solomon, House of Assembly members Rotimi Abiru and Gbolahan Yishawu, Ademorin Kuye, Cardinal James Odunmbaku, Yemi Alli, Hakeem Bamgbola, Shamusideen Olaleye, Mrs. Toun Adediran and State Legal Officer Demola Sodiq.

    Tinubu, who thanked the party leaders, particularly Ambode, for respecting the wish of the party, prayed that the governor will live long. He also expressed gratitude to party elders for their reconciliatory moves.

    Thanking the party faithful for their love, loyalty, support and commitment, he said: “Party supremacy and party discipline have been demonstrated. We came out of the GAC meeting where we decided on direct primary and you endorsed it.”

    The former governor explained the delay in launching the official campaign, saying that the chapter was waiting for the release of the list of candidates by the electoral commission.

    Reiterating the importance of the polls, Tinubu said: “Where we are going is more important. Here in Lagos, we must maintain a strong outing for APC, a party of progress, development and economy. We must differentiate between a developmental economy and a container economy. We will not accept to get Nigeria corrupt again.

    “We suffered 16 years of their failure and fake promises. We have made progress in Lagos We have become the fifth largest economy in Africa. We have six million votes in Lagos. Your target should be half; three million or the entire six million. We must vote en masse for President Muhammdu Buhari and Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, our governorship candidate, senators, House of Representatives and Assembly candidates, and later, our chairmen and councillors.”

    The party leader said the task before members is to gird their loins and use their votes to resist the PDP’s plot to capture Lagos, instead of regressing to intra-party quarrels and bickering.

    He said: “Don’t fight. Some are going to Accord. Go and call them back. Anybody who betrays will be destroyed by that act of betrayal. Some people have gone to other parties, but they cannot beat us. It is important for you leaders to hold meetings. Local council chairmen and councillors and other leaders at the grassroots should hold meetings with those who are aggrieved.

    Read also: Fayose squandered N18b Paris Refund to Ekiti, says Fayemi

    “What is important are not rallies; we hold rallies in the rain and under the sun. But, the mobilisation at the wards are very important. The people should know where they are to vote. If they are annoyed, beg them. If they have complaints, report to us who are leaders. Councillors and chairmen have a lot to do. We must deliver over three million votes in Lagos. Party members will attend rallies. Others in the neighbourhood may not come. You need to mobilise them.”

    Tinubu reflected on the plight of the APC in Osun State during the recent governorship election, lamenting that out of 49,000 votes voided by polling officers, 42,000 were cast for the party.

    To avert the danger of vote voiding, he urged members to use their index fingers for thumb-printing on the small space on ballot papers on election day.

    Tinubu lauded Sanwo-Olu for his bold reconciliatory moves, noting that he has been meeting with aggrieved aspirants who lost out during the primaries with his message of hope.

    Tinubu, who called on volunteers to embrace party work, advised Lagosians not to sell their votes because the election is about their future.

    He also warned against the danger of expecting transient political gains, stressing that the concrete gains of politics consist in spreading dividends of democracy, including good roads, schools, hospitals and other people-oriented welfare programmes.

    Tinubu warned against subversion, saying that “anybody who has gone to the court to sue our party is not a committed member”.

    Chiding the PDP flag bearer, Agbaje, for making unguarded statements about the liberation of Lagos, Tinubu said: “Those who said they wanted freedom should go and learn tailoring and vulcanising and we will do freedom for them later. They do not have the people. He was in the contest for the first and second times. He is in the contest for the third time. He will fail again.”

    Ambode urged aggrieved aspirants and members to spare a thought for the party’s future, stressing that the party is supreme. He had requested that his deputy, Sanwo-Olu and Hamzat should speak before him so that “I will cap everything with my blessing”.

    He said: “We need a greater party, a greater reunion and a greater country for us. Our leaders and candidates have shown that they are ready for the campaigns. We appeal to our aggrieved members to find a place in their hearts, to do the way I have accepted the greatness of our party. The party is supreme.”

    The governor called for continuous reconciliation and compensation for aggrieved aspirants, who he said should be assured by the promise made to them by the party leadership.

    He said: “We are one party and one family. if we are one party and one family, we should proceed to make APC the reigning party at the cente and in Lagos. I seek the cooperation, solidarity and support for all our candidates-President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on February 16 and for the Sanwo-Olu/Hamzat ticket in March. They will take over from me in good health.”

    Mrs. Adebule, who stressed the need for vote training, particularly the use of the index finger for thumb-printing, predicted success for the APC at the poll.

    He urged women to brace for the challenge of mobilisation, campaigns and voting, which they have always done to the credit of the party.

    In her view, “Agbaje is a familiar rival who is very easy to defeat because of his weak platform and lack of popular support”.

    The deputy governor said: “Women of Lagos State, we are committed to the cause. Yes. The cause of delivering the state to APC. The women will lead this campaign and deliver in 2019. Sanwo-Olu and Hamzat have shown that they are committed and competent to lead our party to victory.

    “We should go from house to house, street to street to campaign and mobilise. The ballot paper is smaller now. We should use the index finger, the second finger, to thumb-print, to avoid voiding of votes.”

    Sanwo-Olu believes Lagosians are ready to vote for APC candidates because of their belief in the party and what it stands for.

    Urging party members to prepare for the days of decision-making, he said: “The work is just starting. We should go out there to deliver all our candidates. We should hold our hands in unity. It will be a government of continuity.”

    The flag bearer berated Agbaje for what he described as a shortfall in historical perception, saying that his promise to free Lagos from bondage underscored his lack of understanding of the progress made in the last 19 years.

    Sanwo-Olu said: “Are we in the 18th century? Are we in the 19th century? How can they say we are under bondage? Lagos is the fifth largest economy in Africa. Lagos contributes over 50 percent of the VAT to the Federal Government. We are not people of the past, but people of the future. We have seen them before. We will defeat them again.

    “Let us prepare for the elections. We are not a party that has corrupted the country. We are a progressive party. We have come out of recession. For us in Lagos, we will always work for progress, development, infrastructural development. We will resolve  the power challenge and traffic snarl.

    “From N600 million, we now generate N31 billion. We are not in bondage.”

    The flag bearer admonished party members to put the primary behind them, adding that the challenge of the election is more than the shadow poll.”

    Hamzat said: “The election is easy to win. You know why? For 16 years, PDP Federal Government did not construct a road. The Port-Harcourt-Enugu Road, the Second Niger Bridge, Aba-Onitsha Road were completed by the APC Federal Government. They are thieves.

    “What is their role in the development of Lagos; only to be coming out to seek for votes. When we sought approval for federal assistance, what role did George and Agbaje play? In 1999, Lagos was a bankrupt state with n600 million IGR monthly. The salary was N1 billion.

    “Lagos has been liberated. We have freedom in Lagos. That is why they are able to contest. The PDP government spent N1.7 trillion on power. They ordered containers and hid them for 10 years until we opened the gate. Their umbrella has torn. It is leaking.”

  • Tinubu hails Ambode, others for accepting party supremacy

    National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has commended the courage of Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode and others for accepting the outcome of the primaries of the party.

    He stated their act of sportsmanship deserved to be appreciated.

    Tinubu said Ambode, his deputy, Dr. Idiat Adebule and all the leaders and members of the party had done commendably well in accepting supremacy of the party.

    Addressing a stakeholders meeting on Monday at the Acme, Ikeja secretariat of the party, Tinubu said: “I want to say thank you to all of you and God bless you.

    “I thank all of you for respecting the party, particularly the present Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode and his deputy, Idiat Adebule. May God continue to bless you and guide you and you will live long with everlasting progress.

    “Thank you to all our leaders, the Government Advisory Council (GAC) of Lagos State and the membership of the party who had embarked on reconciliation efforts to appeal to all our members who are initially aggrieved.

    “The party supremacy has been demonstrated; the party discipline has been demonstrated. You are our leaders and we respect all of you,” he said.

    While recalling that the direct primary option adopted for the shadow election of the party was taken after a GAC meeting, Tinubu said it was gratifying all members of the party accepted and endorsed the decision.

    He said:  “I want to thank you for maintaining peace, harmony, unity and love.”

    The former Lagos governor said having crossed the hurdle of the primaries, it was now time for all members of the party to unite and maintain a strong outing for APC during the 2019 general elections.

    He declared APC remains committed to Nigeria’s progress, development and economic transformation.

    Other leaders at the meeting are the State’s Deputy Governor, Idiat Adebule; Speaker Mudashiru Obasa; State APC Chairman, Alhaji Tunde Balogun; GAC members led by Prince Tajudeen Olusi; Chief Lanre Razak, Senator Ganiyu Solomon, Chief Kemi Nelson, Cardinal James Odumbaku, former Speaker of Lagos State House of Assembly, Jokotola Pelumi, among others.

     

  • Why we wanted Lawan as Senate President, by Tinubu

    •Says Oyo won’t return to PDP

    The National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, yesterday revealed the reason the leadership of the party preferred Senate Leader Ibrahim Lawan to other contestants in leading the Senate.

    He explained that the senator is a great example of a very consistent and intellectually resourceful leader the country needs. He lamented that those he referred to as political prostitutes denied him of the opportunity to serve Nigeria in that capacity because of their selfish interest.

    Tinubu who was giving a goodwill message at the Abiola Ajimobi Roundtable held in Ibadan, yesterday, lauded the Senate Leader for staying consistent in spite of what happened; stressing that it was one of the qualities that stand him out.

    At the Roundtable with the theme: ‘The Imperative of Building Institutions for Lasting Legacies’ , the former Lagos State Governor said: “Senator Lawan, thank you very much. It will come from you as the institution. You are a great example of a very consistent and intellectually resourceful leader that we have in this country. We saw in him, these leadership traits and the qualities we wanted in the Senate President. We know you are qualified and competent to be, that you would have led the most important arm of our government more effectively but the political prostitutes and their robbers and their collaborators denied you of it because of selfishness and selfish aggrandisement. But instead of fleeing, you remained constant and consistent, seeing this institution as a place for truly lawmaking that we the people and you have remained consistent and constant ever since on a progressive stand. Thank you.”

    While commending Governor Ajimobi for changing the fortunes of the state in the last seven years, Tinubu said his success would have been incomplete without a worthy successor. He hailed his choice of Adebayo Adelabu, who he believes would build on his exploits.

    His words: “To the discussants, we have facilitated this important topic, it is all about you as a thinker and a doer and that is what Nigerians need all over – thinking and doing. The capacity to pick the right kind of people to think out the need for our society; that institution that you represent, translate it to vision and be able to do it. Unless that you have the rare combination of thinking and doing you cannot succeed as a leader and that is what you have done for Oyo State.

    “The third and most critical element: yes we have seen all the roads, the infrastructural renewal, reforms and re-engineering of Oyo State coming up from you. Establishing the infrastructure is critical to development and to economic regeneration of the state. You have been doing that, we have seen you in brick and mortal form. I have commissioned projects for you but have you succeeded? No. Not yet. We have seen demolition, we have seen emotions, we have seen expressions, we have seen reforms, even of traditional institutions. Yes a leader must lead and face the pain, and critical evaluation of his steps but courage, if it’s lacking, you have failed. You don’t lack that, you have exhibited that and I salute you.

    “The last one is what has just been mentioned.  You can be successful as a leader if you have the capacity to construct and develop the road infrastructure and housing estates as bricks and mortals but, one critical element is that how many other leaders have you developed, particularly those who can succeed you? Otherwise, as you move, the empire crumbles. And you have critically done that. If they say I am involved in choosing your successor, it is part of human qualities as a leader to consult and find out or do due diligence about somebody’s background.

    “So, for your choice of a successor, I will campaign and support and contribute to the success of Adelabu. He is a man who has worked in the private sector. I am from the private sector background, a man who has worked on the economic prognosis at macro and micro levels in the country as CBN Deputy Governor of Nigeria, is now trying to succeed you.

    “The All Progressives Congress (APC) will support you, that is part of the leadership qualities that you have exhibited to protect that legacy and to build on it. You are just a foundation engineer who has just reconstructed Oyo State institutionally, who has reconstructed Oyo State infrastructurally.

    “I say thank you and congratulations and I don’t feel bad if they say I have been associated in the process. If you do direct primaries again like you did, I will vote for your choice of successor because reform, reengineering and reinvigoration of institution can only continue beyond us and if the foundation is bad, the house will crumble.

    “I saw in the debate yesterday, you could see the difference between a developmental economy and a container economy. Oyo State is going APC, Oyo State is APC, it is progressive politics. Our Moses has crossed the Red Sea, no going back to Egypt.”

    In his speech, a former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon, showered encomiums on Ajimobi. He said he possesses high leadership qualities having known him since the 1990s.

    In his vote of thanks, Ajimobi expressed satisfaction that those celebrating him are the icons of his time, stressing that the commendations did not come after his demise.

    He praised Tinubu for his vision and qualities, recalling that the top politician has been ahead of all his colleagues since they were together in the United States (US) in the 1970s.

    He said the Roundtable was borne out of his deep belief that no meaningful developmental achievement is possible without intellectual base. “We believe most sincerely that knowledge and intellectualism must precede development. We are making a template of the leadership already established by Asiwaju Tinubu in Lagos State. I thank him for setting the Lagos template.” Ajimobi said.

    Earlier, discussants hailed Ajimobi for having offered sound leadership in virtually all spheres of life.

    Lead discussant, Prof. Tunji Olaopa, said Ajimobi is not a typical Nigerian politician. He pointed out that the vision and courage he brought to governance stood him out, stressing that he has raised the bar of governance in the state.

    Other speakers including Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi 111 also commended Ajimobi for his astute management ability. They all posited that building institutions rather than individuals will change the development track of the country.

    Also at the event was the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi; members of the National Assembly, Health Minister Prof. Isaac Adewole and many other traditional rulers. The US Ambassador Stuart Symington addressed the gathering on telephone.

     

  • Tinubu never imposed Adelabu on me, Ajimobi insists

    GOVERNOR Abiola Ajimobi has said that the National Leader of the ruling All Progressive Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu did not impose the party governorship flagbearer in the 2019 election, Mr Adebayo Adelabu,on him or the state.

    Reiterating that it was God’s guidance and leading that resulted in the emergence of the party’s choice, Governor Ajimobi said the opposition party’s flagbearer making the insinuation should be more worried about a non-Yoruba in the person of the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who chooses and determined the party’s choice for the election.

    This is coming even after the governor also debunked media reports alleging that he got a whopping sum of $10million from the APC governorship candidate as gratis before handing him the party ticket.

    The governor spoke at flag-off of the governorship campaign rally at an event which held at the Oke Ado state party secretariat, Ibadan.

    The event was largely attended by party leaders, elders, party faithful and candidates for all elective positions, including the governorship flagbearer and his running mate, the three senatorial candidates, 14 House of Representatives candidates and the 33 House of Assembly candidates. The governor also handed over the party’svflag to Adelabu and his running mate, Mr Samuel Egunjobi.

    While explaining how the choice of Adelabu was made, the governor insisted that it was God who already predestined the former CBN deputy governor to succeed him but only used him (Ajimobi) and the party leaders to achieve it.

    He called on the people to give him the needed support to ensure his emergence, noting that the party’s choice has the required knowledge and wherewithal to take the state to the next level of development.

    He also appealed to all other aspirants, who jostled for the ticket with the flagbearer to forgive him and embrace him to achieve success at the polls. He assured them that the party’s flagbearer will deliver and take the state higher.

    The governor also stressed that one of the signs that worked in favour of the choice is God’s directive for him to go for the youngest of

    all the aspirants when he was in dilemma about who to support for the ticket.

    He said: “Before I said Adelabu would be the governor, God spoke to me. And some people said it was Tinubu who told me. Please is Tinubu living in Ibadan with us? Even if Tinubu had even told me, is it not better than Secondus, who is an Igbo man, to tell them who should be their flagbearer?

    “You all should know that with all these that we are doing, God is really with us because when we started, what we asked God was that if we will do well, God should help us to get there and if we won’t do well, he shouldn’t allow us to get there. How many politicians can say that? It is almost eight years and you all can see how well we have done.

    “Before we came into power, when they tell you someone is an NURTW member, do you stay close to him? How well do you pass through Iwo road and other places around town? Is it not in fear and anxiety? But the story has changed. There is peace and even the NURTW members are now peaceful and gentle people.

    “God sees my heart. It is God who made us choose Adelabu. All those who aspired for the ticket, there was nobody among them who was not qualified. We had people with first class and second class in various fields, but the scripture must be fulfilled.

    “Among all those who contested for the ticket, God told me that I should pick the youngest person in age and when you look at the bible for the story of David, you will understand better.

    “Please, the remaining of you that you contested for the post, I beg you to forgive me. Adelabu did not put himself there, God put him there. He only used us to get there and I assure you, he will not misuse it.”

    While assuring on the party’s victory at the forthcoming polls, Governor Ajimobi said the signs had been there for all to see.

    Earlier in his address, the state party chairman, Chief Akin Oke, said the party had begun another journey, like “we began in 2011 and at the end of the journey, it was a victory for all our candidates. Today, we are beginning another journey for all our candidates and this journey will also end in victory for all our candidates in 2019. We are sure we will win.”

  • Southwest: Buhari and lessons from Tinubu, Ambode by Shettima

    Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima, who heads the All Progressives Congress (APC) reconciliation committee in the Southwest, has hailed party stalwart Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode for their selflessness. He said Tinubu and Ambode were more interested in the party than in personal gains, urging others to emulate them.

    The deadline for both submission and substitution of party candidates has elapsed. So as I said to our other party members in previous hearings, some people may therefore wonder, of what use is the APC national peace and reconciliation committee for the Southwest?

    Fellow party men and women from Ogun and Lagos, some, if not many of you are aggrieved with the outcome of the APC primaries. But as we know, party politics is sometimes unpredictable. However, we must summon the courage to fight our instincts by looking into the wider picture. As I cited in Ekiti on Monday, if we are to go  back to the formation of the APC, I think the first victim of the party’s negotiations and compromises is Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. We all know what Asiwaju had put into the APC but when it was time to determine the running mate of President Muhammadu Buhari he had to painfully compromise his interest for overall interest of the party.

    Again as I said in Ekiti and Ibadan yesterday, the Governor of Lagos, His Excellency, Akinwunmi Ambode who is our host and member of our committee, is for me, the natural winner of Nigeria’s politician of the year award. He has acted very un-Nigerian.

    I will be right to say that from 1999 to date, I do not think any Nigerian politician has demonstrated his level of courage in the way he has handled the outcome of the governorship primaries in Lagos. Ambode is a Governor who has worked very well in Lagos but as I said, politics sometimes comes with unpredictable outcomes. Our courage in reacting to situations like Governor Ambode has displayed, is what separates boys from men.

    I think anyone of us who is unhappy with the outcome of the APC primaries should draw inspiration from Governor Ambode.

    So, fellow APC members, we are here to make all of you recognize that each and everyone of you is very important to the APC. You can’t be disregarded as if your feelings do not matter.

    If we are to go by Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy of human needs, majority of persons who aspire for public offices have gone beyond their basic needs of safety, food security and companionship . Yes, people aspire for public offices to serve their people but that aspiration comes with what falls under Maslow’s human need for recognition, self esteem and self actualization.

    We are here not only here to respect your individual self esteem and console you but also to look into possible ways we can recommend for the party to placate aggrieved members through immediate windows or future opportunities.

    Ladies and gentlemen, it is possible to take everything from a human being and get away with it. But one thing you should never attempt doing is to deny a human being his or her self esteem. We do recognize and respect that you are all men and women of honour. Men and women who, with dignity, have mass followers  in your respective constituencies.

    The dangerous thing any political party will do is to completely ignore any of you in the believe that you either do not matter or that you will always remain in the APC out of loyalty.

    We are of the opinion that the worst politics on earth is to take the loyalty or tolerance of anyone for granted. Loyalty begets loyalty. Loyalty begets compensation.

    We are here to share your individual feelings. We are here to listen to you, console you  and know how best to make recommendations to the party headquarters. There are rooms for a party in government to create opportunities through which members can serve their people.

    I know this is not an academic hearing but I am former University lecturer, I had escape academics. Besides, of all our six geo-political zones in Nigeria, none is as educated as the southwest. So, permit me to draw inspiration from a  writer, who once said that “everyone of us can be smart but none of us is smarter than all of us”. Another writer said and I quote that “the difference between success and failure is a great team”.

    Ladies and gentlemen, the implication of what these two writers are saying is that none of us can deliver APC alone at any level of the general election.

    Nigeria currently has about one hundred and twenty thousand polling units and for a Presidential candidate of any party to succeed, he or she will have to depend on good team work from 120,000 polling agents of his party and these are people he mostly doesn’t know and may never know. To work with these 120,000 polling agents, the president will have to rely on party executives at the state, LGs and wards (level). He has to principally rely on serving and former governors, deputy governors, serving and former national and state assembly members, aspirants amongst other key stakeholders in each of the 36 states and the FCT.

    Governorship candidates themselves will have to rely on party executives and stakeholders in local government areas. These local government stakeholders will also have to rely on others at the ward levels. The ward stakeholders will have to rely (on) polling agents and those in charge of clusters of polling units. Importantly also, all steps would require one form of mobilisation or the other.

    Fellow party men and women, in politics, everyone is dependent on the other. No one is independent. To succeed in politics, there is no alternative to genuine unity and inclusiveness.

    Let me also add that in politics, we do not necessarily have to be liked. It is not a must that everyone must like our beautiful, handsome or perhaps very ugly faces like mine. What we need are genuine commitment and readiness to deliver results. Politics requires pragmatism. We must be able to dance to the changing beats. Yes, politics requires loyalty. But it equally demands tolerance and compromises. At all times, those of us who exert influence must never forget that none of us is God. Only God has absolute control of who gets power.

    Let me share my own experience.  Ahead of the APC primaries in Borno, there were some people I didn’t support but they won the primaries. If one is to argue that those people may have spent money on delegates, the truth is that they certainly can’t be richer than the collective. The truth is that while I did not like them, they were more popular with delegates and they won the primaries. I accepted the outcome and I refused to make the slightest attempt of substituting any of those I didn’t support.

    Read also: Court okays nullified Rivers APC congresses

    Fellow party men and women, one of the things we must never forget is that in politics, no one person gets his way all the time. Even a President doesn’t have his way sometimes. Politics requires tolerance and compromises.

    I am very proud to say that regardless of whether anyone emerged with or without my support at the primaries, I am 100 percent  in support of all APC candidates in Borno State and I will support every one of them. I will also count on their support. After spending good time having frank conversations with Governor Ambode, I am more than confident that he is 100 percent in support of all APC candidates in Lagos, particularly His Excellency, Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu.

    I will like to once again thank each and everyone here who are aggrieved for not leaving the APC. Our committee thank and commend you for keeping faith.

    Perhaps, I should also tell that you have applied political wisdom by not leaving the APC.

    Your Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, from the ground realities of ongoing political permutations, President Muhammadu Buhari will insha’Allah win his reelection come February, 2019.

    The APC started working on President Buhari’s reelection six months earlier than the PDP.

    On 9th of April, 2018, President Buhari declared intention to seek re-election and by that, the APC already had its potential candidate. We all began underground work for the President’s reelection. There is a difference of about 180 days between when the APC had a potential candidate and the 7th of October when the PDP got its Presidential candidate.

    There is a Yoruba proverb that says Atete sun, ni Atete ji. If you sleep early, you will wake up early.

    So, no one should deceive you with a fake analysis and prediction. Remain in APC and let’s solve our in-house problems, work for the APC, win the election and move Nigeria to the next level.

    Shettima, Governor of Borno State addressed APC stake-holder and aggrieved members  from Lagos and Ogun State at the opening of an interactive hearing in Lagos, organized by the party’s national peace and reconciliation committee for the Southwest, which the Governor chairs.

  • Doha award confirms Ribadu’s role in anti-corruption crusade, says Tinubu

    ALL Progressives Congress (APC) stalwart Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has congratulated former Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Chairman Mallam Nuhu Ribadu for winning the global lifetime award for anti-corruption.

    The award, according to the former Lagos governor, was a testament to the former EFCC chief’s dedication to the battle against graft.

    The award administered by Doha, a Qatar-based think-tank, Rule of Law and Anti-corruption Centre (ROLACC), celebrates corruption fighters, academics and campaigners from around the world.

    It was conferred on Ribadu at a ceremony held over the weekend at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre in Malaysia.

    In a letter to the former EFCC chairman signed by Asiwaju Tinubu and titled: “Global Lifetime Award for Anti-Corruption,” the APC leader reminded Ribadu that his work is not finished yet and that he still has much to give Nigeria and the world.

    The letter, released by the Tinubu Media Office, reads: “Congratulations for winning the Global Lifetime/Outstanding Award for anti-corruption.  The award is a testament to your singular dedication in fighting corruption in order to make ours a more excellent country and to restore our national reputation.  The award shows that a person of integrity and commitment can make a difference and indeed be successful without sacrifice of principle or ethics.

    “In recognition of your intrepid work as the first chairman of EFCC and for your contributions to good governance and anti-corruption worldwide, the award was more than warranted. It was richly deserved.  You personify the best of our nation.

    “As EFCC chairman, you erected the necessary law enforcement architecture for the fight against corruption. The excellence and importance of your work is recognised by President Muhammadu Buhari who has carried on the anti-corruption campaign with zeal and determination by further strengthening the EFCC and making the anti-corruption fight a pillar of his administration.

    “With this award, you make your fellow Nigerians proud because the award is also recognition that we are a land of intelligent and honourable people and that corruption is not intrinsic in our national character. With the award you also secure your place among the most respected anti-corruption fighters and law enforcement figures in the world.

    “Dear brother, you must also remember what this award does not say. While it recognises you for work excellently done it does not mean that your work is at all finished. You still have much to give Nigeria and the world.

    “Your unique expertise and compassion for our people means you must continue to help build progressive good governance so that our people may soon have the just and prosperous nation they deserve.

    “Continue to be a leader of resolve and a role model to the next generation”.