‘Serious Plans To Merge Labour Party With NNPP Is In Progress’ – Yinusa Tanko
The Spokesman National Consultative Forum, Yinusa Tanko has said there are plans to merge the Labour Party and New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) to defeat the APC and PDP in 2023.
In an interview on Arise TV, Yinusa Tanko said he cannot give details of everything, but there are serious plans on merging the two parties.
According to Yinusa Tanko, merging the two parties is an idea they have seen on the ground, and they believe that the Labour Party’s candidate, Peter Obi, who is already grounded in the Southern part of the country, needs to work with people like Kwankwaso, a strong person in the North.
Yinusa Tanko said that both Peter Obi and Kwankwaso, have exhibited character, resilience, and determination while working closely with the disadvantaged.
He urged Nigerians to support Peter Obi and Kwankwaso if the talk about merging the two political parties come through.
In his words: “What I can say is that some of us who have been involved in this arrangement and talking are working very seriously, I don’t want to come out and say ABCD but I want you to take back that we are working on it very seriously, it’s an idea that is still on ground, and we felt that those who are already on ground, are for example comrade Peter Obi who is very grounded in the southern party of the country, need to work with other people who are also more grounded in the north especially Rabiu Kwankwaso, these individuals have shown character, resilience, determination, working with people on the gorund and we are at the down-trodden. I think Nigerians should give them support if our talk comes through.”
Moghalu Resigns From ADC After Losing Presidential Ticket
A former deputy governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Kingsley Moghalu on Monday dumped the African Democratic Congress (ADC) after losing the party’s presidential ticket.
Moghalu announced his decision to resign his membership in a letter addressed to the National Chairman of the party, Okey Nwosu.
It was earlier reported that Moghalu lost his chance of contesting in the 2023 presidential election to Dumebi Kachikwu, founder of Roots Television.
The former Deputy Governor of CBN while stating the reason for leaving the party, pointed to the lack of transparency in the conduct of the party’s presidential primary.
The letter reads, “I am writing to hand in my resignation from my membership of the African Democratic Congress, effective immediately. I have resigned because the process and conduct of the party’s presidential primary on June 8, 2022, at Abeokuta revealed a fundamental clash of values between me and your leadership of the party.
“Despite the circular, you issued a few days to the primary committing the party to provide transportation and accommodation for delegates to and in Abeokuta, which as we agreed would provide a level playing for all the presidential aspirants, the party under your leadership failed to do so.
“Some aspirants, including myself, made donations to the ADC party account as requested by the party for this purpose. This failure, which appeared intentional, created room for massive abuses of the electoral process including delegate capture and financial inducement of delegates.
“This is only one of the numerous inconsistencies and the absence of transparency and predictability in the management of the party that I had progressively complained about.
“As you are well aware, I have consistently resisted pressures to join the APC or the PDP precisely to avoid “cash-and-carry” politics. For me to remain a member of the ADC therefore, after what thousands of party members participated in at Abeokuta, would be to endorse political corruption of a most obscene order.
“I joined the ADC in October 2021 with the best of intentions. Since then, I have put my entire team to work on growing and improving the party, including raising the party’s visibility on all media platforms, recruiting more than 10,000 new members to the party, and providing new offices for various state chapters of the party at my expense.
“It is deeply regrettable that other inducements appear to have played more important roles in determining the outcome of the primary than loyalty to the party.”
IPOB Accuses Security Agencies, Ebubeagu Of Abduction, Organ Trafficking
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) on Monday, accused Nigerian security personnel of colluding with Ebubeagu, a South-East security organisation, to kidnap Igbo youngsters in the region.
The organisation claimed that Nigerian security agents work with Ebubeagu to kidnap, kill, and collect crucial organs from its victims all across the South-East.
The kidnapping and harvesting of organs from Igbo youths has become a lucrative business, according to IPOB spokesman Emma Powerful.
IPOB said in its statement, “We the global family and movement of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) ably led by our great leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu wish to state clearly to all and sundry that the Nigeria Joint Taskforce comprising Ebubeagu, Nigeria Army, Police, Civil Defense Corp and DSS agents representing the image and interest of the evil Nigeria security outfit are evidently known as criminals and armed robbers, kidnap sponsors, Arms runners lenders and murderers of the innocent citizens in Biafraland.
“The JTF kidnapping enterprise established or revamped by evil politicians in Imo State and their new operation spots within where they lay criminal ambush and conveniently abduct for ransom. As their name implies “Task force” they now kidnap all classes of people daily within Okporo, Umuna, Amaifeke, Owerrebeiri, Umutanze and Akata in Orlu LGA of Imo State. They continue their dangerous rape against our females and mothers in Orlu zone of Imo State.
“It has become imperative to state that the Nigeria Government and her security operatives have turned the Kidnap and killing of IPOB and Igbo youths as a lucrative enterprise through which they generate Revenue for the Nigeria Government. They are also deeply involved in harvesting the organs of our youths in Imo state and other parts of Biafraland.”
IPOB urged Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma and the All Progressives Congress, APC, to put an end to the killing of Igbo youths by security agents.
Security personnel and Ebubeagu have been burning down properties in the Southeast, according to Powerful.
“Governor Hope Uzodinma, his Government, and political party APC are aware that IPOB is a peaceful movement and we call on him to recall the killing machine he assembled to extaminate our people.
“Our demand to him is to instruct the killing squad of “Military and EbubeAgu militia” to immediately desist from the further killing of his people and vacate Orlu and the entire Imo State.
“We the IPOB have had enough of the criminality and murder being perpetrated by these murderous combined government militia because all those politicians behind this devilish activities would soon regret being involved in such wickedness. We demand for an immediate halt to these operations and burning down of people’s properties and houses to avoid equal consequential resistance from IPOB which no one should blame IPOB when it will start because we would not continue to condone such barbarities,” the statement read.
2023: Atiku Speaks On Picking Okonjo-Iweala As Running Mate
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has denied media reports that he is planning to pick the Director-General of the World Trade Organisation, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, as his running mate.
Several reports emerged over the weekend claiming that Atiku met with some members of the international community in Zurich, Switzerland as part of moves to pick Okonjo-Iweala as his Vice President.
Apart from the former Minister of Finance, other names said to be considered for the vice-presidential slot are Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State; Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State; a former Govermor of Imo State, Emeka Ihedioha and former Governor of Delta State, Emmanuel Uduaghan.
In a chat with The Punch, Atiku’s spokesman, Paul Ibe refuted the reports that the former vice president met with some members of the international community in Switzerland regarding Okonjo-Iweala.
Ibe stated that Atiku has stepped up his consultations with stakeholders and party leaders to search for a candidate that will be acceptable to Nigerians and compliment him.
He said: “There is nothing like that; he has stepped up his consultations to search for a candidate that will be acceptable and complement him.”
National Grid Collapse Once Again
The national electricity grid has collapsed once again thereby throwing several cities including the federal capital territory into darkness.
Electricity companies announced that the collapse occurred on Sunday evening just before 7pm.
This is the sixth time the collapse is occurring in 2022.
The Jos Electricity Distribution Plc informed its customers through its Facebook page on Sunday about the interruption in Electricity supply.
“The Management of Jos Electricity Distribution Company Plc wishes to inform the general public that the current outage being witnessed is a result of system collapse,” the head of corporate communication, Friday Elijah, said.
“We hope to restore supply as soon as supply is restored,” he added
Also the Eko Electricity Distribution Company said, “dear Esteemed Customer, we regret to inform you of the system collapse from the National grid. This has affected our entire network and impacted our ability to deliver optimum service.”
“Please bear with us as we are working with our TCN partners on a swift resolution. Power Outage In Our Franchise Due To Grid Collapse,” it concluded.
‘Reject Labour Party In 2023 Elections,’ Umahi Tells People Of Ebonyi
The Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi, on Monday urged the people of the state to vote for All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2023 general elections.
Umahi, who made the call during a meeting with leaders of the Christian Association of Nigeria and traditional rulers at the new executive chambers of the Government House in Abakaliki, urged the people to reject the Labour Party next year.
He said APC has been good to the state, and supports his administration.
The former Anambra State governor, Peter Obi, is the LP presidential candidate in the 2023 election.
Umahi insisted that he owes no one apology for insisting that the state would vote for APC and its presidential candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, next year.
He said: “Our party is APC and not the Labour Party. We will not vote for the Labour Party. We will vote for APC.
“The states that the Labour Party has helped should vote for them. The agenda of God for Ebonyi State is Ebonyi State agenda and that is what you should be telling them when they come to ask you, will you vote for us?
“Tell them do not look for our votes, our votes belong to APC
“Tinubu started with only one state and used it to liberate his people. We need to tell all of them that we have risen.”
President Buhari Celebrates 2022 Democracy Day At Eagles Square
The President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari on Monday attended the 2022 celebration of Democracy Day in the country at the Eagles Square in Abuja.
As the Special Guest of Honor, President Buhari inspected the Guards during the 2022 Democracy Day Celebration at the Eagles Square, Abuja.
The celebration was also attended by several government officials, diplomats, students and other dignitaries including the 2023 presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu.
Also in attendance were the nation’s service chiefs, cabinet members and legislators.
June 12: Why I Served In Abacha’s Govt – Kingibe Opens Up
The running mate to late MKO Abiola in the 1993 presidential election, Babagana Kingibe, has revealed why he served in the Sani Abacha government.
In a chat with reporters in Maiduguri on Sunday, Kingibe said his decision to serve in Abacha’s government was due to his love for national interest and not personal gain.
He stated that he jettisoned his own personal interest to serve in the regime of the late dictator, adding that his decision was in line with the teachings of the Islamic faith.
He said: “When we think of the collective good there are times when we have to sacrifice personal interest and join hands in rebuilding society and bringing peace and harmony to our people: I have addressed this issue of why did I join Abacha’s government and so on.
“I know we won the elections on June 12, 1993, I know that injustice was done when those elections were annulled but there is always one guiding principle in my public life which is that the national interest supersedes any other consideration and all my actions have been informed by this consciousness of what is best in the national interest.”
Kingibe commended Governor Babagana Umara Zulum of Borno State for the June 12 celebration in the state to mark the new Democracy Day.
He said the celebration signifies love and solidarity towards him as a son of the soil and a key player in the events of that year.
He said, “I don’t think the celebration on the actual 12th of June 1993 was any greater than the celebration of the first democracy day on June 12; And for that I have to thank the Governor who gave the leadership, thank the people of Borno not only for celebrating June 12 as democracy day per se, but I know that they also had in mind that one of their own, their own son was also a critical player, I appreciate the confidence and love.”
Group Urges APC To shun Temptation Of Muslim-Muslim Ticket
The National Stakeholders Forum of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Monday warned the party’s leadership against pairing the presidential candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, with another Muslim in the 2023 election.
The Convener of the group, Aliyu Audu, who made the call at a programme to mark the June 12 Democracy Day, urged the APC leaders to reject the temptation of presenting another Muslim as a running mate to the former Lagos State governor.
He asked the party leaders and the Progressive Governors’ Forum to narrow their search for the vice presidential candidate to a northern Christian.
There are speculations that the APC was considering a Muslim from the core North as running mate to Tinubu in a bid to secure the bulk votes from Northern Muslims who are the majority.
Audu said: “Why we are conscious of the fact that religion should not be a determining factor in our leadership selection process. The peculiar circumstance the nation finds itself calls for reflection on the decisions we take, so long as they bother our national lives.
“Today, the country is deeply divided within our fault lines of ethnicity and religion and we cannot afford to jettison this sensibility in critical decision making.
“This is why we think that the All Progressives Congress must be guided by the sense of these sensibilities in the selection of the Vice Presidential Candidate of the party.”
2023: Keyamo Sells APC To Moghalu After Dumping ADC
The Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo on Monday pleaded with former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Kingsley Moghalu to join the All Progressives Congress.
This is coming after Moghalu resigned his membership from the African Democratic Party (ADC) after failing to clinch the presidential ticket of the party.
Moghalu announced his decision to resign his membership in a letter addressed to the National Chairman of the party, Okey Nwosu
The former Deputy Governor of CBN pointed to the lack of transparency in the conduct of the party’s presidential primary as his reason for dumping the party.
Recall that the founder of Roots Television, Dumebi Kachikwu beat Moghalu to the presidential ticket of ADC.
Keyamo while reacting to Moghalu’s decision said the so-called Third Force are some untested Nigerians who may just be worse off.
Moghalu in a post on his Twitter account wrote, “My dear brother, @MoghaluKingsley, you’ve just seen that the so-called Third Force are just some untested Nigerians who may just be worse off.
”They’re not from the moon; they’re NIGERIANS. It’s all sound & fury & nothing more. Welcome to the REAL WORLD. Please, join us in APC.”
Federal Govt Finally Recognizes MKO Abiola’s Deputy, Babagana Kingibe As Vice President
The President Muhammadu Buhari-led government on Monday recognised Babagana Kingibe, the running mate of the acclaimed winner of the 1993 presidential election, MKO Abiola, as a former Vice President.
It was gathered that Kingibe was referred to as former Vice President during the Democracy Day celebration at the Eagles Square.
Kingibe was invited to join President Buhari, former President, Goodluck Jonathan and the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan for a group photograph on Monday during the celebration.
Other dignitaries at the event that were invited for the photograph include the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, the Chief Justice of the Federation, Ibrahim Tanko, and the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Adamu.
Recall that President Buhari’s administration in 2018 had changed the celebration of Democracy Day from May 29 to June 12 to honour Abiola whose Presidential election was annulled by the then military Head of State, Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida.
Until today, Kingibe was not publicly recognised as a former Vice President in Nigeria.
This year’s Democracy Day would be President Buhari’s last celebration as the leader of the country.
A new government would have taken over in 2023 during the next celebration of Democracy Day at Eagle Square.
Tinubu Says Manifesto Circulating Online An Incomplete Document
Former Lagos State Governor and the 2023 presidential flag bearer of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has denied a purported campaign manifesto circulating on the social media, saying the documents are fake as he is yet to release any for now.
The National Leader of the APC who made the denial in a statement issued on Sunday by the Director of Media and Communications of the Tinubu Campaign Organisation, Bayo Onanuga, said the document in circulation was not his 2023 campaign manifesto and was not endorsed by him.
The statement explained that the document was a mere draft proposal and suggestions on the programmes he should implement if elected President and not a complete manifesto that he would work with and present to Nigerians at the right time.
“I want to place it on record that the manifesto being circulated via social media platforms and already published by a section of the mainstream media is not the official manifesto of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and APC for the 2023 general elections,” the statement said.
“We want to clearly state that the document is an unofficial document and Tinubu cannot be held accountable on any of the issues raised in the document.
“The presidential candidate and APC are currently working on an all-embracing manifesto that will inspire the confidence of Nigerians.
“When the official policy document of Tinubu is ready, it will be formally presented to Nigerians and our candidate will be in a position to defend every word that will be contained therein.”
No Evidence To Show ISWAP Is Responsible For Owo Attack – Fayemi
Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State has rejected the claim by the Federal Government that the Islamic State West in African Province (ISWAP) is responsible for the attack on St Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State.
Recall that some unknown gunmen had on June 5 attacked St Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo state, and killed over 40 worshippers and injured many others.
Reacting to the gruesome killings on June 9, the Federal Government claimed that the attack had been linked to ISWAP due to the terrorist group’s imprint found on the scene of the attack.
The Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, revealed this while addressing State House correspondents after a meeting of the National Security Council presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari.
He said the security agencies had been ordered to go after the perpetrators and bring them to book, adding that the church was not attacked based on ethnic agenda.
But in an interview on a Channels Television programme, on Monday, Fayemi said the claim by the federal government is purely speculative and not substantiated.
The governor stated that there is no shred of evidence that substantially links ISWAP to the heinous attack in Owo.
Fayemi stated that the gunmen have committed a heinous crime and demonstrated the maximum capacity to cause damage to the people of the region.
He, therefore, said South-West governors will do all in their capacity to ensure such a sad incident does not happen in the zone again.
He said: “As far as I’m concerned, the statement about ISWAP or Boko Haram or whatever other institutions are responsible for this is purely speculative at this stage.
“I haven’t seen any evidence that concretely puts this in the corner of any of these rogue elements.
“And really at this stage, it doesn’t matter, they have committed a heinous crime and demonstrate the maximum capacity to cause damage to our people, our duty is to ensure that this does not occur again and we go after elements of this nature, whichever organisation they represent.”
Recall that Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State had also rejected the claim by the federal government that ISWAP is responsible for the gruesome Owo attack.
You Were All Deceived – Oyedepo Laments About Buhari Government
General overseer of the Living Faith Ministry, David Oyedepo has tagged Buhari administration the worst in Nigerian history.
He stated that the government had deceived Nigerians with talks of fighting corruption but were not making the country better in anyway.
The clergyman insisted that this was the most corrupt government in Nigeria’s history.
Oyedepo shared his disappointment with the Buhari-led administration during a church programme, Special Prayer for The Nation, on Monday.
He added that the government claims to be fighting corruption, yet their officials are also corrupt.
He said: “Many children are out of school, there is nothing to pay to get them back to school. We saw some folks in Covenant University that we had to help out to graduate. First-class students can’t get N30,000 to pay under this wicked government, selfish, self-centered.
“What a fight against corruption? You were all deceived, you can’t be in corruption and be fighting corruption. This is the most corrupt regime in the history of Nigeria.
“You heard of Auditor General who stole N80 billion, all they need to get the university up and running is less than the N80 billion but they are not interested because their children are not there.”
PUBLISHED BY LEADERSHIP SCORECARD MAGAZINE
