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Pendulum: My Early Permutations on 2023 Presidential Election

Published

2 years ago

August 27, 2022

Eric

By Dele Momodu

Fellow Nigerians, let me make a few clarifications before going into the nitty-gritty of this epistle.

Today, I’m wearing two caps on this page. I’m a journalist as well as a politician. I have been both for decades, although I remain pre-eminently a journalist. Also, I have been a non-partisan politician for a long time until recently. Even then I have seen it fit to support candidates from the two mainstream political parties depending on the capacity and performance of the ruling government party. Since this is my column, it is expected that it will reflect my personal opinion and not that of any other person. This has always been the case although my opinion may sometimes be shaped by not only the voracious reading culture that I have made the mainstay of my career as a journalist but also the wide consultations and interactions that I continue to have both as a journalist and politician. And opinions can oftentimes be subjective, although I try to be as objective and fair as possible. I am aware that even objectivity and fairness can be relative, but they are standards one must strive to attain, maintain and exist by in life. Equally importantly, I am also brutally frank and open to self-criticism at all times.

Going on to my early permutations for the 2023 Presidential race, let me state categorically that I have at least six good friends in the race, namely, Mr Abdul-Lateef Kolawole Abiola, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Mr Omoyele Sowore, Mr Peter Obi and Alhaji Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso. All six of them are eminently qualified to lead our country Nigeria. They all have distinctive personal characteristics and attributes which enable each of them to be individually considered strong candidates for the position of President. However, each of them cannot be considered in isolation. They must be looked at from the viewpoint of Party, background and relationships. I must therefore establish some methodology for my assessment of what would determine the ultimate winner of the 2023 Presidential contest.

In present day Nigerian Presidential elections, there are certain major factors at play. These factors have become majorly important given the prevailing circumstances in the country particularly those of agitations for restructuring and secession, insecurity, failed economy and poverty, gross unemployment, infrastructure deficit and decay, educational maladministration and maladjustment and parlous health services. These major factors include the following:

One. There were usually two mainstream political parties. In 2023, they will be APC and PDP. A third force is still warming up as a major challenger, especially in the Southern regions. It is not yet known how much power it can garner and galvanise in the coming months. That is the Labour Party. In all honesty, that is as far as my third eye can see for now. I apologise therefore to my three other friends in what I call fringe parties, namely, Kola Abiola, Rabiu Kwankwaso and Omoyele Sowore. Kwankwaso has a chance of doing much better than the other two because of his popularity in the massive electoral cauldron that is Kano State. He also has some following in the North, but I still do not see him making such an inroad as to garner more than 3-5% of the total votes cast.

Two. Ethnicity, or what is called the race factor in the United States of America, will play a major part in 2023. A lot of Nigerians have seen the ethnic factor play out by a division of the country into three large parts, the monolithic North, the South West Edo and Delta States, and an amalgam of the other South South States and the South East States. On my part I do not see a monolithic North as well. The Middle Belt including Kwara and Kogi States have been much maligned and marginalised in this respect. Yet they have their own strong force and voice. I will break down its beneficiaries in the next few paragraphs.

Three. Religion will play a significant role in 2023. We have already seen how this has become a major thorny issue due to APC’s decision to present a Moslem/Moslem ticket. It is also frontloaded as a major factor because of the prevailing distrust and insecurity that is all pervading in the country. This used to be largely a Northern thing with grave vicious violence being unleashed upon one another by Moslems and Christians alike. However, this distrust, and insecurity, has spilled over into the South and is part of the reasons why agitations for restructuring and self-determination have risen to a crescendo.

Four. Money. This has always been a major player in determining who succeeds to the Presidency of the country. The ruling Party has always had an advantage in this area. For starters, as of June 2021 there were almost 180,000 polling units in Nigeria. It is not unusual for additional polling booths to be created a few days to the election. What is constant is that every serious political party has to have at least one agent at each polling unit and these polling agents need to be adequately remunerated and provided with all necessary logistic material to ensure effective and efficient return as a party polling agent. To man all these Polling stations will need at over N20 billion by my reckoning and that is being on the cheap side. Loads of cash will therefore be needed by all of the contestants.

Five. The Buhari factor. The Federal Government is too powerful as it controls INEC, Police, Army other security agencies, even the Central Bank and so on, to a large extent. This is a major tool for any government which is unwilling to give up the stranglehold it has on power, particularly when it realises that the populace is thoroughly dissatisfied with its performance.

Let me now take you on a tour de force of what you should expect to see next year.

From my crystal ball, I can foresee a straight fight between APC and PDP candidates. In this round one, APC candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu seems to be at an advantage. His party is currently in power and controls all the appurtenances of government. Nevertheless, the strength of APC is also its main weakness. After eight years of monumental failure in office, it has lost most of the attraction that brought it to power in 2015. Its victory in the 2019 Presidential elections is still controversial till this day. Nigerians may wish to punish APC for its terrible performance which has not only seen them more impoverished but also more insecure and afraid for their very lives. Tinubu’s case is worsened by the fact that he has a dilemma in being unwilling to distance himself from this government’s policies which have failed the people so woefully because of the fact that this will be seen as wilting criticism of the Buhari administration. The withdrawal of the support of Buhari apparently still sends shivers down the Tinubu camp.

On the issue of ethnicity, this may be the major clincher in the race. There are two Southern contenders in the Presidential election. The major Southerner is the former Lagos State Governor Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and to a lesser degree, the other Southerner is former Anambra State Governor, Mr Peter Obi. My brothers and friends, Kola Abiola, and Omoyele Sowore, both Southerners as well, have little say in this battle royale which the 2023 Presidential election portends. The principal challenger for Tinubu and Obi will be former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar. In the South East, I believe that the Igbos are likely to back their son, Obi and the Labour Party for the most part. Obi’s Anambra State is a hybrid State presently controlled by APGA. The State does not have a serious Presidential candidate contender. It is noteworthy, that the South East has traditionally been a veritable stomping ground for the PDP. The Party presently controls Enugu and Abia States. This is not likely to change too much, and the PDP may win or come a close second to the Labour Party. Notwithstanding the fact that APC has made some inroads into the South East by virtue of the fact that it controls two States, Imo and Ebonyi, one of which it does by virtue of the defection of the Governor, I still feel that it will come a distant third. My opinion is that the Labour Party is likely to take the lead with about 45 to 50 percent of the total votes cast in the South East because of the Obi factor, even though it presently has no showing in that region at the moment. Atiku will follow with about 30-35 percent and Tinubu 15-20 percent.

In the South South, Atiku will take the chunk of votes because these have always been predominantly PDP States, although in some States like Rivers, Delta and Edo, the crisis in the Party may cause the PDP to lose votes some of its normal votes, if not quickly resolved. Similarly, the defection of Governor Ayade of Cross River State may also cause the PDP’s margin of victory in the Zone to shrink, especially in Cross River State. My belief is that the Zone is guaranteed for Atiku because his Vice-Presidential candidate, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State, comes from this zone. There are usually huge votes from here, although these were emasculated in 2019. PDP is likely to record up to 60 percent in most parts, if Governors Nyesom Wike, Ifeanyi Okowa, Udom Emmanuel, Douyi Diri, Godwin Obaseki and other party loyalists give their all. If the Party’s crisis in the zone is allowed to fester and worsen, the PDP may get no more than 50%. The rest will be split between APC and Labour with APC taken between 20 and 30% depending on how the PDP intra Party mess develops.

The South West will be extremely dramatic, and the results may be very shocking. APC controls four States here, Lagos, Ogun, Ekiti and Ondo and PDP, two States, Oyo and Osun.
While Tinubu will definitely win Lagos, his margin of victory may be reduced by the popularity of both Obi and the mass grassroots mobilisation of the PDP Gubernatorial candidate, Mr Olajide Adediran, aka Jandor. This is the only State in the South West that may feature three strong contenders. The Igbo population in Lagos and the EndSars Movement will favour Peter Obi more than it will favour Atiku. The other South West States will witness a tough battle between Asiwaju and Atiku with Tinubu holding the sway because he is a Yoruba man.

Now, let’s move to North Central and start with Kwara and Kogi States. The Saraki factor will help PDP in Kwara. The former Senate President has obviously regained his bounce especially because of the perceived frugality of the incumbent governor, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq. This may give Atiku a major edge over Tinubu here. Kogi may be tougher to win for Atiku because of the young Governor, Yahaya Bello, an APC stalwart, but the two parties will run almost neck and neck. Obi is unlikely to feature significantly in these two States. Plateau State is an APC State but with the Muslim/Muslim brouhaha, APC will face an uphill task because this is a major Christian State in the North. PDP is in charge in Benue and again the Muslim/Muslim ticket of APC is highly contentious here and will swing even more votes to PDP. I feel that most of the Northern Christians may support Atiku for having a more balanced ticket. Though I understand that some people in these parts of the North Central are tempted to consider Peter Obi, but their leaders are reaching out to them and telling them not to waste their votes. Niger and Nasarawa are presently controlled by APC Governors. Obi will not feature in these States. It will therefore be a straight fight between Atiku and Tinubu, with Tinubu winning more than 60% of the votes in Niger State and no more than 55% of the votes in Nasarawa State based on the incumbency of the APC Governors countered by the Atiku factor.

The North East will be very interesting. Many pundits are wondering why Tinubu chose a Kanuri man, Kashim Shettima, from Borno State, as running mate and not someone from the largest voting zone in the North West. Well, as an experienced politician, he probably knows what we don’t know. The PDP candidate, Atiku Abubakar, is a Fulani man from Adamawa, a North Eastern State. The North East has not produced a Nigerian President in a long time and the crave for one favours Atiku sentimentally. I know Atiku will do much better than he did in 2019 because the Buhari factor is absent. And in any event Buhari has performed abysmally. This may spread to Bauchi, a major PDP State, as well as Taraba State which is also a PDP State. I believe that there will be some swing towards Atiku in Yobe State although the State is a prominent APC State now and Shettima’s Kanuri influence will help the APC ticket here. The race will be hotly contested but the result will still be a victory for Tinubu though the margin will be slimmer when contrasted with the massive victory for Buhari and APC in 2019.

The king of voting in Presidential elections remains the North West which is the largest voting bloc in Nigeria. It is almost impossible to become President of Nigeria without winning big in this region. The State of Kano takes the cake in this respect. Kano State alone could close almost any margin that a Presidential candidate is bringing from other Zones. Despite being an APC State with a strong Governor in Umar Ganduje, Atiku Abubakar may likely lead others, namely Tinubu and Kwankwaso, because of his Fulani lineage and heritage. Blood, they say is thicker than water. Having said that Kano is predominantly a Hausa and not Fulani State and this should augur well for Tinubu. What is clear is that Tinubu definitely needs Kano, like a million dollars lifeline, to borrow that popular proverbial cliche. To this end he has worked assiduously to build bridges in this State and other North West States. This is one of the primary reasons that he won the APC Presidential Primaries, and he still count on the people of Kano to vote for him against the Fulani, Atiku Abubakar. In fact, the three Ks of Kano, Kaduna and Katsina are absolutely needed for victory by any Presidential candidate. Kaduna is a bit tricky because of its preponderance of Christian population, but Nasir El-Rufai is a strong no-nonsense APC stalwart who will want to deliver massively for his Party. Sokoto, is a major PDP State and Tambuwal has shown deep loyalty to Abubakar and his cause. Atiku will win easily here. Zamfara and Kebbi States are under the control of APC, but Atiku’s cultural affinity may give him some edge in these two States but maybe not too much as to give him overall victory, which still seems likely to go to APC in these two States, if the 2019 results provide some indication although again, the Buhari factor will reduce APC votes here as in other core Northern States as he is not on the ballot….

I will be back with more updates in the coming months…

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Ighodalo to Sue Oshiomole over ‘False, Defamatory and Malicious’ Comments, Demands N20bn

Published

3 days ago

September 17, 2024

Eric

The governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo, Mr. Asue Ighodalo, has asked his lawyers to institute a suit against Adams Oshiomhole, senator representing Edo north, over defamatory allegations.

Ighodalo said Oshiomole had accused him of involvement in “Planwell,” a ponzi scheme that surfaced in Edo state in the early 1990s.

“People of my age and even younger have not forgotten how Asue Ighodalo and all his associates were involved in what they call Planwell,” Oshiomole said during a campaign rally on Saturday.

“Planwell was set up as an institution where you deposit 10,000 in the morning by tomorrow it becomes 15,000, and after six months, people were defrauded, and the institution disappeared. And they became rich, and Edo people became pauperised.”

In a response to the allegations through his counsel, Ayo Asala, a senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Ighodalo described Oshiomole’s comment as “false, defamatory, and malicious”.

“It is sad to note that despite your status as an elder and holder of a public office, you appear to have developed a pattern of spewing false statements in the public domain purely for the achievement of your political ends,” a letter by Ighodalo’s lawyer and addressed to Oshiomhole reads.

“This baseless, unfounded, false, and malicious allegation has become another in a long line of such defamatory fabrications and statements made by you in respect of our client in the recent past.

“Our client is an accomplished Nigerian legal practitioner and a corporate leader whose impressive resume from birth up till the current day is entirely in the public domain, and our client has absolutely no connection with and could never have been involved in any manner whatsoever with the purported ‘Planwell’ scheme with which you have seriously defamed our client’s reputation.

“It is clear that the fabrication of the unfounded and false story regarding the purported involvement of our client in the said ‘Planwell’ scheme or any other financial scheme whatsoever is a figment of your imagination and a story fabricated purely for the purpose of denigrating the good character and reputation of our client for the achievement of the political purpose of advancing the sinking fortunes of your political party and candidate in the forthcoming Edo state gubernatorial elections.

“Our client has been inundated with calls and other contacts from concerned members of the public who heard your said allegations on electronic and social media, as a result of which our client has suffered enormous unwarranted reputational damage arising from the lies and baseless fabrications of which you have become the purveyor.”

Ighodalo is demanding “an immediate and unqualified retraction and apology for your false, defamatory, and malicious statements, which should be published in at least two national television networks and three nationally circulating newspapers”.

“Pay to our client damages in the sum of 20 billion Naira for your false, defamatory, and malicious statements referred to herein,” the letter further stated.

“Take notice that it is our client’s instructions that we immediately institute appropriate proceedings against you for damages in the sum of twenty (20) billion Naira (N20,000,000,000.00) for your said false, malicious, irresponsible, and damaging statements made against our client without any foundation whatsoever in fact.

“Further take notice that such action will be instituted without further notice or correspondence to you in that regard whatsoever.”

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The World Celebrates Chief Gabriel Igbinedion at 90

Published

4 days ago

September 16, 2024

Eric

By Eric Elezuo

It was that time of the year again when the world gathers in their numbers in the ancient city of Okada and Benin to celebrate a man of immense achievement.

The town of Okada and the beautiful city of Benin were agog one more time as the month of September approached. It was the birth month of one of the most brilliant entrepreneurs the Nigerian nation has ever produced. It was the birthday of the Esama of Benin and pioneer patriarch of the Okada Dynasty, Chief (Sir) Gabriel Osawaru Igbinedion CFR, CON, KSJI, who clinched the nonagenarian trophy in grand style.

As always, the ebullient community leader, meticulous mentor and businessman extraordinaire left no stone unturned to treat himself to the best entertainment, drawing the who is whos in politics, entrepreneurship, entertainment and religion to the grand events making his 90th birthday.

Again, the Esama used the occasion of his birthday to centre all eyes on him, and did not hesitate to take up the opportunity to create another sizzling razzmatazz in hosting dignitaries and providing top notch treats; the type that would not only be mouthed, but proclaimed from the mountain tops for a long time to come.

According to former President Olusegun Obasanjo, “Judging by the mammoth crowd that came to celebrate the occasion, his (Igbinedion) legacy in history is assured.”

It was a carnival-like event that ran a month long with preparations and activities that told a tale of a great man, gathering people of different class and creed from all parts of the world to celebrate the great Esama of Benin Kingdom.

A philanthropist of no mean repute, business mogul, and politician, Chief Igbinedion pulled all stop to ensure that this year’s celebration tagged “Jubilation”, and drawn from the Bible book of Psalms 126:3 sustains the carnival-like identity it has always been known for, while reflecting on testimonies of his numerous achievements in life.

With wholesome lineup of activities, the birthday celebrations held in various locations including his Benin palatial home and the prestigious Archangel Gabriel Catholic Church, along Sapele Road, where a thanksgiving mass was held.

Among the earliest callers at the Igbinedion residence were members of the governing council of the Igbinedion University, where notable officials took turns to eulogised the pacesetter of private universities in Nigeria. Among the officials present were the Pro Chancellor and Chairman, Governing Council, Prof Sheik Ahmed Abdulla, the Vice Chancellor, Prof Lawrence Ezemonye, and the Chief Medical Director, IUCH, Dr Yau Abubakar Garawa.

Kicking off the activities as the occasion dovetailed into a weeklong event, on September 10, the residence of the Esama of Benin, who is also the Honorary Romania Consul to Edo and Delta States, became a beehive of activities with celebrations as different groups including the Igbaboleme Dancers under the aegis of Esan Congress led by Goodluck Imonite, St John the Army Catholic Church led by Rev Alfred Agbolahor, and Parishers of St. Jude’s Catholic Church led by Very Rev Father Paul Edegware, entertained the Esama and his visitors who came from far to be part of his birthday celebration.

As always, the celebrant Chief Sir Dr Gabriel Osawaru Igbinedion, was accompanied by his wife, Lady Cherry Igbinedion, his son and former governor of Edo State, Chief Lucky Igbinedion and his siblings, a retinue of members of the Igbinedion Dynasty among other dignitaries arrived the Archangel Gabriel Catholic Church, to a warm reception by the members of the Church community with band parade, in a distinct ceremony tagged “The Early Morning Dew”

The birthday celebration began with Service of Praise and Thanksgiving at St Gabriel, The Archangel Catholic Church, Sapele Road, where adoration was offered unto the Creator as coordinated by the Rev. Fr. Augustine Ehigie and church officials.

During the conventional Mass, which has become a tradition in the House of Igbinedion, the guest speaker, and President of Nigerian Baptist Convention, Reverend Israel Akanji, preached a sermon encouraging all and sundry to live their lives, and have the mindset of a child.

“The childlike spirit must not die; the spirit must remain, and if there is a challenge for our papa at 90, the challenge is that even in old age, you are to continue with the heart of a child,” Akanji said.

Also praying for the nonagenarian, a former Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafo, lauded his philanthropic gestures, and declared that heaven will recompense him.

“As you have identified with everyone, heaven will always identify with you. May God increase you on every side,” he said.

Tom Amekhianam of the Christ Embassy also offered prayers for the latest member of the nonagenarian club, asking for more of God’s wisdom and honour upon him and his family.

Speaking on behalf of the family in response to all the prayers and goodwill showered on Chief Igbinedion, the son of the celebrant, Mike Igbinedion thank guests and well wishers as well as appreciate the celebrant for being a father in deed.

Dignitaries that attended the Mass were the Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, prominent religious and traditional leaders, high profile politicians and High Commissioners and Representatives of High Commissions so from over 15 countries.

It was a total conglomeration of the best of Nigerians in respect of a man who has given more than enough to the economic, industrial, political, academic and social development of Nigeria.

Also in attendance were the traditional rulers and title holders from the Benin Kingdom.

The highpoint of the event was the thanksgiving procession by Chief Igbinedion and his immediate family members, amid soulful renditions from the Saint Gabriel the Archangel Parish choir.

Speaking on behalf of some of the dignitaries that graced the occasion the representative of the South African High Commission in Nigeria and the Representative of the King of Ashanti, Ghana among others, described the celebrant as a Man who has added value to the lives of many.

Guests at the birthday thanksgiving Mass were later hosted to a lavish reception at tastefully decorated country home of the Esama of Benin Kingdom where music was supplied by a host of upcoming artists, live band, cultural troupes among others.

The colorful event was rounded off with the cutting of the 90th birthday cake of the Esama of Benin Kingdom His Excellency Chief Sir Dr Gabriel Osawaru Igbinedion, surrounded by members of his family siblings and selected dignitaries.

The event reception which was held at the residence of this unequivocally brilliant mind witnessed a potpourri of the nation’s high and mighty as they trooped out in their numbers to appreciate the goodness of the creator upon his praise-worthy life.

Wishing the Esama a life where he will never mourn the death of any of his children, HRM Oba Oyetunde Olumiluwa Ojo, Ogunbodun I Olono of Ada, Osun State, assured him of longer life and more fruitful living.

Also the Enogie of Ukhiri, HRH (Barr) Godwin Aigbe described the celebrant as a legend at 90, just as a daughter of the House of Igbinedion and former First Lady of Edo State, Mrs Eki Igbinedion showered encomium, describing as a gift to his generation.

In her word, the Cuban Ambassador to Nigeria, Miriam Morales, thanked the Esama for being a worthy personality and a human being with a face.

The reception was another form of banquet, coming with all the trappings a superiority. The crowd was unprecedented with security agencies of different creed mounted at various corners. One would not be wrong if they call the event a fantasy brought to reality. Everyone who was someone was either present or represented.

It was reported that over 22 food and beverage vendors were busy with different local, African and intercontinental cuisines and beverages, attending to the large crowd of audience as the grand reception swept way into the night.

Among special personalities that were present at the well attended banquet were past and present governors, politicians and industrialists. Some of them were former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo; Bayelsa State governor, Senator Douye Diri, Osun State governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke; Constitutional Lawyer, Prof Mike Ozekhome SAN; former governor of Akwa Ibom State, Obong Victor Attah; former governor of Imo state, Chief Achike Udenwa, former governor of Ekiti State, Niyi Adebayo; former governor of Delta State, Mr. James Ibori; former governor of Adamawa State, Boni Haruna and former governor of Cross River State, Mr. Donald Duke.

Others were ING Nana Poku Aygeman, who represented the King of Ashanti, Ghana, High Commissioners of South Africa to Nigeria, Tami Mseluku, Engr Elvis Obaseki of ITV and Radio, E. J. Agbonayinma of APC, former Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Mr. Peter Obi, and Labour Party governorship for Edo State, Barr Olumide Akpata, who was a former Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).

The family also set aside a day for all those born in the House of Igbinedion to meet, fratenise and bond with one another. Members of the family from.across the world including the United Kingdom, the United States, Germany and more were present. They sang, made merry and cut a huge birthday cake in honour of the patriarch.

Mabel Amadin, who spoke on behalf of the children of Igbinedion said that ‘my father’s tentacles have gone worldwide’, and it was only natural that all the children, grandchildren, great grandchildren use the opportunity of his 90th birthday to reignite their brotherhood.

The weeklong grand ceremonies rounded off with a thanksgiving service at the Saint Gabriel the Archangel Church, where dignitaries also trooped out in their numbers to thank God for His mercies, and for seeing the family and friends through the activities.

In another development, a former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar,Ed many other dignitaries to pay homage to the nonagenarian, describing him as a rare breed that can only be seen once in a century. In his entourage were the Minister of Steel Development, Prince Shuaibu Audu, former Chief of Defence Statf, General Martin Luther Agwai, who prayed that God will continue to keep Chief Igbinedion so that humanity will continue to tap from his wealth and well of knowledge.

The highpoint of the 90th birthday celebration was the special visit of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) delegates, led by former Vice President and Waziri Adamawa, who was the party’s presidential flag bearer in the 2023 elections, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, to pay homage to the Esama.

In their various speeches, the former Vice President and the host Governor, Obaseki, praised the Esama for his laudable contributions to the Nigerian nation and his philanthropic gestures to all and sundry, wishing him a happy birthday and many happy returns.

They delegates supported the celebrant in cutting his birthday cake in the presence of his wife, Cherry Igbinedion, and conducted by the former governor of Cross River State, Mr. Donald Duke.

The members present were the party’s Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, former governor of Delta State, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, former governor of Sokoto State, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, Rivers State governor, Sim Fubara, Delta State governor, Sheriff Oborevwori; former governor of Bayelsa, Senator Seriake Dickson; former governor of Cross River State, Leyel Imoke, Chief Ben Obi, High Chief Tom Ikimi, Edo Deputy Governor, Marvelous Omobayo; former governor of Edo State, Chief Lucky Igbinedion and Osun State governor, Senator Adeleke, who displayed his singing and dancing talents while wishing the Esama a happy birthday.

Chief Gabriel Osawaru Igbinedion was born on September 11, 1934, and has been a beacon of entrepreneurial excellence since he embraced career trajectory. He is known to have pioneered many Enterprises including the first to own a private airline; Okada Air and private university; Igbinedion University.

From all us on The Boss Newpaper, we wish the Esama a glorious 90th birthday, and many more healthy years in view.

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Edo Election: Police Acting in Interest of APC, Says Obaseki

Published

1 week ago

September 12, 2024

Eric

The Edo State Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki, has called out the Nigerian Police Force, saying they are working in the interest of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the buildup to the 2024 Edo Governorship Election. He added that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) may not sign the Peace Accord for the September 21 election.

The accord is an official agreement among political parties to be of good conduct before, during and after election.

Obaseki said the agency, the Police, responsible for enforcing the accord, have through their actions, shown that they are acting in the interest of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and waging war against the PDP.

He expressed worry that “the Police under the manipulation of the APC, has arrested not less than 10 PDP chieftains, who they perceived would be strong political opposition to them in the coming election.”

The governor who spoke when he received the Chairman of the National Peace Committee (NPC) and former Military Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar said those arrested include a serving Local Government chairman, Hon. Collins Aigbogun.

He stated that the party chieftains were arrested and whisked to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

Obaseki queried: “how do one enters a peace accord with an umpire who, from the onset has shown bias in favour of one of the parties in the election.”

He added: “you are very conversant with the politics of Edo State. You were here in 2020 and we had a very heated election. You know this is an off-circle election and there is a lot of attention.

“Unlike 2020, I am very worried with the developments in the State today. The party met yesterday and we might not likely sign this agreement.

“The opposition party in the State, the APC has always argued that they may not be as popular and didn’t win in the last election, but however promised to use Federal might to determine the outcome of the election.”

He added: “We thought it’s just rhetoric. But in the last four weeks, we’ve had a situation where from the office of the IGP, armed gang policemen have come into Edo State to invade, arrest and take away PDP members.”