Headline

Why APC May Lose Ekiti Guber Election Plus the Tinubu, Aregbesola Connection

Published

7 years ago

May 12, 2018

Eric

By Eric Elezuo

While a lot of tough talks has been generated from the camp of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as regards the July 14, 2018 Ekiti governorship election, TheBoss can reveal that all is not well with the party, and that the possibility of losing woefully the governorship election is very strong.

From all corners, stalwarts of the party have lent their voices in the optimistic call for a change of the Ayo Fayose government, but the reality on ground has proved that all amounts to barefaced propaganda. This is even as notable chieftains are working underground against the emergence of the party in the state.

The party took the first wrong step when it was impossible for them to trim down the governorship aspirants. A whooping 33 persons were accredited to contest. The move was a clear testament to the ‘desperation’ of most of the party members as testified to by the incumbent Ekiti State governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, in mockery.

As a prelude to the expected loss of the party at the polls, the party was involved in a disgraceful outing on May 5, 2018 when the over 33 aspirants gathered to seek the approval of the over 2000 delegates who were accredited to vote. It only took about four local governments to vote before all hell was let loose, and the exercise was disrupted with skirmishes of casualties recorded.

The aspirants had blamed one of their own, a former governor of the state and the current Minister of Solid Minerals, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, of causing disaffection among delegates and introducing ‘money politics’ into the game. The exercise, which one of the aspirants, Senator Ayo Arise, described as “unfortunate and total embarrassment” was postponed to Friday, May 11, and later to Saturday May 12, by the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) after much deliberations.

But the crisis notwithstanding, most party members remain optimistic that the party will triumph, and flush the PDP government out of office. One of such people is Arise, who represented Ekiti North at the Senate between 2007 and 2011. His optimism, no doubt is not without the element of absolute pessimism.

“What happened was a shame because those who were supposed to conduct a free and fair election couldn’t do it. Some people were allowed to be exchanging cards, money, and promissory notes where being given for collection of cash after voting while the election was going on, and I believe this is the immediate cause of the reactions that we have all seen that has put us in Ekiti in a very bad light,” he said

He continued: “But I want to say that if such anomalies continue, it is very likely that we would still be getting the same result.”

The meeting the aspirants had with the South West leadership of the party did not produce much in terms of compromise as the number of aspirants remained 33, with no one willing to shift ground for the other.

However, after about 48 hours, one of the aspirants, Senator Babatunde Ojudu, withdrew his candidacy during a press briefing, citing his intention to bring about peace. But the tone of his address expresses the fact that all was not well. In his speech, he noted that “…you never can tell the man who will attempt to destroy what many others have built from one who will aspire to elevate that which is thrust into his hands.”

The dust of the botched primary was yet to settle when the hitherto rested new Peoples Democratic Party of 2013, sprung up like a colossus, penning a letter addressed to the party national chairman that portends more crises. In the letter, co-signed by Chief Olagunsoye Oyinlola, who is a South westerner, the group threatened to re-enact their act of 2013 if an ultimatum to address their grievances and draw the president’s attention to them is not achieved in seven days.

The letter proved to be a notice of call to resign from the APC as Oyinlola promptly resigned his Federal government appointment as Chairman of NIMC, and followed it up with dumping the APC. His departure from the party will surely have an adverse effect on the outcome of the Ekiti governorship polls, though Oyinlola is from Osun State.

It is also of great interest to note that for once in the history of South West election, the self-acclaimed kingmaker, and Jagaban of Borgu, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed, has not openly or otherwise supported any of the 33 aspirants. In other words, the former Lagos State governor has no person of interest in the July 14, 2018 debacle in Ekiti State. The implication is that the APC in Ekiti State is on their own as far as this election is concerned. And if the Jagaban is not interested, his cronies will definitely toe his line, and show no interest. And that is where the Governor of Osun State, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, comes in.

Aregbesola is not in any form of dilemma as regards where his loyalty lies in the forthcoming election. If for anything, investigation reveals that the Osun State helmsman has a long standing relationship with the maverick governor of Ekiti State, and will not hesitate to give an arm to see that the candidate of the outspoken governor carries the day. Consequently, with his principal not backing any candidate in the real sense of it, Aregbesola, who is due to leave office later in the year, has no loyalty to any individual candidate.

Many has argued that much as Tinubu had a candidate during the Ondo State governorship election in 2016, he still lost out, and APC won, the Ekiti experience will not be any different. But political followers have said that Ondo issue did not come with much discountenance as is presently being experienced neither were there an avalanche of contestants in the ring.

APC’s impending doom is also a function of the orderliness with which the PDP has held its own version of the primary. In the case of the PDP, the number was trimmed to three prior to the day of the election, and further reduced to two on the election day when Senator Abiodun Ogunjimi stepped down for the former PDP spokesman, Dr. Dayo Adeyeye, who eventually lost to Fayose’s anointed candidate, and Deputy Governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Kolapo Ishola.

Though Adeyeye has decamped after his loss to Ishola, calling the party Poverty Development Party, the larger than life image of Fayose holds the ace as the decider for the election.

For Kolade Ishola and his fellow contestants, the month of June will definitely be the busiest for them in their entire life, but much as the PDP is favoured to win, all the candidates are wished the best in their quest to sit on the big chair of Ayodele Fayose.

Headline

Aftermath of Visa Revocation: Trump, a Petty-minded Dictator, Soyinka Knocks U.S President

Published

17 hours ago

November 7, 2025

Eric

Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, has sensationally described U.S. President Donald Trump as a “petty-minded dictator” whose rise to power fuelled hate-driven violence and worsened racial tensions in the United States.

Speaking in an interview with BBC News Pidgin on Facebook on Wednesday, Soyinka said Trump’s presidency exposed the “dark side” of America and emboldened acts of hatred, particularly against minorities.

“This is a petty-minded dictator. You see how he deals with his objects of hate,” Soyinka said, barely two weeks after the Trump administration announced permanent revocation of his entry visa to the country.

“We saw that dark side of the American side. There were more killings, extrajudicial killings by the police of black people, of minorities, during that build-up, during the campaign, and on account of hate rhetoric, the hate rhetoric of this individual,” he added.

The Nobel Laureate noted that Trump’s campaign rhetoric normalised hate speech and created a climate of intolerance that had lasting consequences.

Soyinka recalled that he had earlier warned about Trump’s leadership style, predicting that one of his first actions as president would be to target immigrants.

“I saw it and I said, listen very carefully, and you can go and check this, I said, ‘When that man comes to power, the first thing he will do is cancel even the green cards’,” he said.

The literary icon, who has often criticised authoritarian tendencies in global politics, maintained that Trump’s administration reflected a deep moral and cultural decline within American society, particularly in its treatment of minorities.

Headline

Alleged Genocide: Approach Nigeria’s Security Situation with Understanding, FG Tells Trump

Published

2 days ago

November 6, 2025

Eric

The Federal government has again urged United States President, Donald Trump, to demonstrate understanding in his approach to Nigeria’s security challenges.

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, made the call during a press briefing on Wednesday in Abuja, days after Trump threatened military action against Nigeria over what he claimed is a genocide against Christians in the country.

“We call on our American friends and partners to approach the Nigerian situation with an understanding of its complex realities. Nigeria is a vast, multi-ethnic, multi-religious nation, making significant strides in economic reforms and strengthening its security architecture.

“We believe constructive engagement is the surest and most effective way to achieve peace and stability not only in Nigeria but in any part of the world.

“Nigeria welcomes dialogue, we welcome cooperation, and we also welcome support from foreign nations, including the United States of America, in addressing our shared security concerns,” the minister said.

Idris reiterated the current administration’s commitment to tackling the menace of terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, and other violent crimes in the country.

The minister maintained that the Federal government was winning the war against terrorism with major achievements recorded in the North-Eastern part of the country.

“In March this year, a report by the Global Terrorism Index indicated that terrorist attacks were at their lowest in over a decade in Nigeria. The Nigerian government did not say this; it is the international community that has given out this information,” he stated.

“In the last eight months, the Nigerian military has neutralised over 592 terrorists in Borno State alone. Many of them have been sent to their onward beyond.

“Over 11,200 hostages have been freed, and this is still going on. More importantly, over 124 insurgents and their families have surrendered. They have handed over more than 11,000 weapons to the security agencies,” Idris added.

According to the minister, the current administration has made multi-million dollar investments in modernised equipment for security agencies.

Noting that President Bola Tinubu has always supported the nation’s armed forces, Idris said the Commander-in-Chief has increased the budgetary allocation for the military.

He explained that Tinubu has demonstrated the political will to root out terrorism, rampaging bandits, and other criminal elements terrorising Nigerians.

The minister also highlighted military operations in the North-West region of the country, saying that the onslaught against criminals had led to the surrender of bandits in the region.

Idris cited cases where notorious bandit leaders had been eliminated by military strikes in Niger and Zamfara states.
“In the North-West, especially in Zamfara and Kaduna, 11,250 hostages have been freed, and some of the terror leaders that have made life very unbearable for people there have been neutralised.

“They include Ali Kachalla, Boderi, Halilu Sububu, and many others. All these have been sent to where they belong. Only this August, the military intercepted and killed in one operation over 400 armed bandits who had converged to attack a village in Zamfara State,” he stated.

Last Friday, Trump said Christianity faces an existential threat in Nigeria, describing the alleged killing as a “mass slaughter”.

“Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria. Thousands of Christians are being killed. Radical Islamists are responsible for this mass slaughter,” he wrote.

The US president added that the United States “cannot stand by while such atrocities are happening” and directed Congressman Riley Moore and House Appropriations Chairman Tom Cole to investigate the matter.

“I am hereby making Nigeria a ‘country of particular concern.’ But that is the least of it. When Christians, or any such group, is slaughtered like is happening in Nigeria (3,100 versus 4,476 Worldwide), something must be done!

“I am asking Congressman Riley Moore, together with Chairman Tom Cole and the House Appropriations Committee, to immediately look into this matter and report back to me.

“The United States cannot stand by while such atrocities are happening in Nigeria and numerous other Countries. We stand ready, willing, and able to save our Great Christian population around the World!” Trump wrote.

Headline

CPC: Dele Momodu Advises Tinubu to Quit Playing Politics, Suggests Top Diplomats for Ambassadorial Positions

Published

2 days ago

November 6, 2025

Eric

By Eric Elezuo

Chairman, Ovation Media Group, Chief Dele Momodu, has weighed on the ongoing discourse regarding the redesignation of Nigeria as a ‘country of particular concern’ by the Donald Trump-led United States of America government, calling on President Bola Tinubu to take the threat seriously, and hasten up to appoint ambassadors.

Momodu registered his advice via his verified social media handles, suggesting names of prominent technocrats with diplomatic backgrounds capable of representing Nigeria at the highest level of diplomacy.

Some of them, according to Momodu are Babatunde Raji Fashola, Shehu Sani, Oby Ezekwesili, Joe Keshi, Fola Adeolu, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, Ibikun Awosika, Yakubu Dogara, Donald Duke and Foluke Abdulrazaq among others.

The veteran journalist encouraged Tinubu to rein in his loyalists from unwholesome comments, quit playing with the lives of Nigerians, and rise to the occasion by resuming governance. He further accused Tinubu of propaganda and concentrating on his reelection in 2027 instead of giving attention to governance.

Chief Momodu’s statement is presented in details below:

MY KOBO ADVICE FOR PRESIDENT TINUBU…

Mr President, I have chosen to write this open letter to you as a patriotic Nigerian. This is not the time to play politics with the lives of our citizens, because whatever affects one touches all. While confessing to not being an expert in International Diplomacy, my journalism career has made it possible for me to interact with world leaders. The current hoopla about the categorization of Nigeria as a country of serious concern by President Donald Trump should not be dismissed so casually. As such, I have the following observations and suggestions to make without partisan considerations. I wish to state categorically that I SEEK nothing from your government except the PEACE and PROGRESS of Nigeria, lest your ubiquitous acolytes begin to ascribe motives to my mission:

SEEK YE THE TRUTH SIR. President Trump did not lie against Nigeria. He reacted to the information available to him. His help was sought from within Nigeria by some helpless Christian leaders from States like Benue, Plateau, Adamawa, Taraba, Kaduna and others who have become easy and relentless targets for bandits. This has gone on for far too long despite endless promises from government and stupendous budgets for security and defense. Sir, please, caution some of your noisy aides who are already trying to put the blame on some groups like the IPOB.

Even if it is true that Muslims have also been victims, unless they’ve reached out for help in Washington, we cannot blame TRUMP for not recognizing their pitiable plight in some affected parts of Nigeria. We need to focus less on semantics and seek urgent cooperation of our foreign partners in finding a lasting solution to the deadly insecurity across Nigeria.

Sir, your inability to appoint Ambassadors in over two years has made our situation precarious and untenable. One would have expected serious investments in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs but rather we’ve seen so much attention on propaganda for your re-election in 2027.

I wish to appeal to you not to politicize the appointments as usual. Nigeria deserves the best at this time. Please, reach out and engage responsible and respected people:

Please sir, consider the following calibre of Nigerians: Babatunde Raji Fashola, Shehu Sani, Oby Ezekwesili, Joe Keshi, Fola Adeolu, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, Ibikun Awosika, Yakubu Dogara, Donald Duke, Foluke Abdulrazaq, and some distinguished career diplomats.