Dons EzePETER OBI REJIGS MEDIA TEAM
PETER OBI REJIGS MEDIA TEAM THE Peter Obi Media Reach (POMR) on Saturday announced the exit of the Chief Spokesperson of the Peter Obi Presidential Campaign, Dr Yunusa Tanko, for another huge challenge. “Dr Tanko has been appointed the interim National Coordinator of the Obedient Movement, a job that will see him coordinate the activities of the Obedient Movement nationally and internationally,” a POMR statement said. It noted that, “The Obedient Movement, a quasi-political movement that was created in 2023 during the electioneering, reflects the philosophy and dreams of our Principal, Peter Obi, whose members are drawn from across all political parties and non-politicians as well as from within the country and in Diasporas who are desiring a new Nigeria that is Possible.” The Peter Obi Media Reach, POMR further announced that, “Dr Tanko will be replaced in POMR by Mallam Ibrahim Umar, another versatile Obidient that is as hungry as Dr Tanko for a new Nigeria.” “We, therefore, appeal to members of the public to cooperate with these Nigerians in their new endeavour as we continue the struggle towards dismantling the gang of political criminals holding our dear nation hostage. New Nigeria is Possible,” the statement added in a tone that is bound to evoke signs of a more intensive media engagement by Peter Obi.
WE’RE NOT BARREN – OBASEKI’S WIFE REACTS TO OSHIOMHOLE’S OUTBURST
WE’RE NOT BARREN – OBASEKI’S WIFE REACTS TO OSHIOMHOLE’S OUTBURST The First Lady of Edo State, Mrs Betsy Obaseki, has advised childless women to see themselves not as barren but as fruitful, potential and proud mothers of children that would come in God’s time. Mrs Obaseki gave the advice on Saturday in reaction to a viral video in which the former Governor of the State, Adams Oshiomhole made remarks about her being childless. Betsy Obaseki, who spoke during a zoom meeting with Edo women in the diaspora, in the company of Mrs Ifeyinwa Ighodalo, the wife of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, reminded women that everyone was created by God for a purpose. While addressing over 200 women who joined the zoom meeting from various countries, Mrs Obaseki said, “I dare to call you fruitful. You and I are potential and proud mothers of children that will come in God’s time. Enjoy the life God has given you. “My words of comfort to you, like myself, who have conceived and experienced miscarriages, painful stillbirths, and evacuations of babies who died in our wombs is that everyone was created by God for a purpose. “And as a result, have no children to show for the pain we have endured; you are not barren. “Take your mind off your challenge, and before you know it, children will start coming,” she said. She, however, opined that her contributions to the society had gone beyond the biological aspect of motherhood. She noted that being fruitful was not limited to childbearing but about impacting lives and creating positive change in the society. “There is no point in feeling bad. Women can fulfill God’s purpose in many ways beyond motherhood,” she added. Obaseki also shared a message of encouragement for women who, like herself, have faced the pain of miscarriages and stillbirths, urging them not to feel discouraged or defined by their losses. On her part, Mrs. Ifeyinwa Ighodalo thanked the women for attending the meeting and promised to continue all of Betsy Obaseki’s programmes for women and the girl-child in Edo if her husband was elected. In her welcome address, the founder of the group, Mrs. Adesuwa Obasohan, promised to support Asue Ighodalo’s candidacy, just as the group had supported Governor Godwin Obaseki.
MANY BATTLES OF AJURI NGALARE
MANY BATTLES OF AJURI NGALAREA crowd of at least 10 aides trickled into the office of President Bola Tinubu to congratulate him over his victory at the Supreme Court, on October 26, 2023. As they danced and cheered, the president who was seated calmly watched in silence. When it was time to speak, Nigeria’s number one citizen said, “Ajuri, your job is secure.”The presidential spokesperson bowed, smiled sheepishly as he dropped a document in front of his principal. Tinubu perused it briefly, signed, then went on to acknowledge the remarks of the crowd in front of himBut on Saturday, Chief Ajuri Ngelale announced that he was quitting the job alongside the ones he secured after July 31, 2023, when he was named Special Adviser to the President on Media & Publicity. Tinubu had also appointed Ngelale Special Presidential Envoy on Climate Action, and Chairman, Presidential Steering Committee on Project Evergreen.Femi Adesina, Ngelale’s predecessor as official spokesperson of the President, spent eight full years in office. Reuben Abati, who occupied that position before Adesina spent four years in office, hence some persons were surprised over why Ngelale stepped aside in a little over a year.In his announcement, Ngelale predicated his indefinite leave of absence on “medical matters presently affecting my immediate, nuclear family”.Given what Abati wrote shortly after the ocean of change swept Jonathan out of power, one could easily conclude that Ngelale was in the thick of his own battle.In a piece entitled, ‘The Spiritual Side of Aso Rock,’ Abati narrated some mysterious happenings in the seat of power.“I have heard people insist that there is some form of witchcraft at work in the country’s seat of government. I am ordinarily not a superstitious person, but working in the Villa, I eventually became convinced that there must be something supernatural about power and closeness to it. I’ll start with a personal testimony.”“I was given an apartment to live in inside the Villa. It was furnished and equipped. But when my son, Michael arrived, one of my brothers came with a pastor who was supposed to stay in the apartment. But the man refused claiming that the Villa was full of evil spirits and that there would soon be a fire accident in the apartment. He complained about too much human sacrifice around the Villa and advised that my family must never sleep overnight inside the Villa.“I thought the man was talking nonsense and he wanted the luxury of a hotel accommodation. But he turned out to be right. The day I hosted family friends in that apartment and they slept overnight, there was indeed a fire accident. The guests escaped and they were so thankful.“Not long after, the President’s physician living two compounds away had a fire accident in his home. He and his children could have died. He escaped with bruises. Around the Villa while I was there, someone always died or their relations died.“I can confirm that every principal officer suffered one tragedy or the other; it was as if you needed to sacrifice something to remain on duty inside that environment. Even some of the women became merchants of dildo because they had suffered a special kind of death in their homes (I am sorry to reveal this) and many of the men complained about something that had died below their waists too. The ones who did not have such misfortune had one ailment or the other that they had to nurse. From cancer to brain and prostate surgery and whatever, the Villa was a hospital full of agonizing patients.”Abati’s narrative makes it easy to assume that a similar fate has befallen Ngelale. However, this piece focuses on some of the controversies that dogged Ngelale at Nigeria’s seat of power.In…
WHY AJURI NGALARE ‘RESIGNED’ AS TINUBU’S SPOKESMAN
WHY AJURI NGALARE ‘RESIGNED’ AS TINUBU’S SPOKESMAN Fresh facts have emerged as to why the special adviser to the President Bola Tinubu on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, resigned. On Saturday, Mr Ngelale announced that he had taken an indefinite leave of absence to attend to health challenge in his family. “On Friday, I submitted a memo to the Chief of Staff to the President informing my office that I am proceeding on an indefinite leave of absence to frontally deal with medical matters presently affecting my immediate, nuclear family. “While I fully appreciate that the ship of state waits for no man, this agonizing decision — entailing a pause of my functions as the Special Adviser to the President on Media & Publicity and Official Spokesperson of the President; Special Presidential Envoy on Climate Action, and Chairman, Presidential Steering Committee on Project Evergreen — was taken after significant consultations with my family over the past several days as a vexatious medical situation has worsened at home,” Mr Ngelale said. Although Mr Ngelale had cited “medical matters” as the reason for his “leave of absence”, insiders told DAILY NIGERIAN that Mr Ngele was only given a soft-landing to quit as presidential spokesman but he chose to quit all the positions he was occupying. Since Mr Ngelale’s appointment, which was influenced by the first family, there has been internal pressure to replace him with “someone better media relations” among the campaign spokespersons or “someone the president is more pleased with”. We also gathered that Mr Ngelale was also on collision course with other media aides working for the president for allegedly sidelining them in the running of the affairs of the office. According to sources, Mr Ngelale had also chewed more than he could bite, taking a number of roles that affected his primary media relations role. The sources said the tasks of being a Special Presidential Envoy on Climate Action, and chairman, Presidential Steering Committee on Project Evergreen, has created a role strain and gave the cabal a reason to convince the president to replace him. The sources said Mr Ngelale had stepped on some toes as he expanded the scope of the Special Presidential Envoy role to garner more influence in the power circle. “When the powers around the president realised that he has too many irons in the fire, they asked him to choose between being a presidential spokesman and Special Presidential Envoy on Climate Action. “They thought Ajuri would choose the climate role because of his passion for climate campaign, but he chose to remain as presidential spokesman. “Dissatisfied with Ajuri’s choice, the presidential cabal therefore directed him to completely quit the media role and become a full-time climate ambassador. “So when Ajuri realised that the cabal does not want him as spokesman for the president, he decided to quit the roles altogether,” said a source familiar with the power play. We gathered that the president may pick his former chief of staff, Sunday Dare, as Mr Ngelale’s replacement. Efforts to get the reaction of Mr Ngelale on the issue were unsuccessful as his known phone number was switched off at the time of filing this report. He has also yet to respond to SMS sent to his phone line. –
PDP RECEIVES REPORT ON ANTI-PARTY ACTIVITIES AGAINST WIKE, UGWUANYI, MAKINDE, OTHERS
PDP RECEIVES REPORT ON ANTI-PARTY ACTIVITIES AGAINST WIKE, UGWUANYI, MAKINDE, OTHERS The Peoples Democratic Party National Disciplinary Committee has received reports on alleged anti-party activities of the Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and others from the National Working Committee.The committee, led by a former Foreign Affairs Minister, Tom Ikimi, was set up to address and manage all disciplinary matters.Wike, a former governor of Rivers State, and others were reportedly summoned by the party to appear before the panel following a series of petitions against them bordering on allegations of anti-party activities and sabotage during the 2023 elections.Five former governors of the PDP, led by Wike, allegedly worked against the party and its Presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, during the 2023 election.Wike, Seyi Makinde (Oyo State), Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu State), Samuel Ortom (Benue State), and Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State fell out with Atiku over the refusal of the former National Chairman of the party, Iyorchia Ayu, to relinquish his position to a southerner.The PDP Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Ibrahim Abdullahi, revealed that Wike, alongside former members of the G-5, and others who were accused of anti-party activities were being summoned to face the panel.“People are not getting these things; Nigerians have been saying that there is no opposition and that PDP is not active, but now we have constituted two committees to probe the alleged involvement of members in anti-party and sabotage on the party’s chances.“One of the committees is to reconcile and the other is to discipline where you find defaulters. None of them has sat; what I said previously was that the committees had commenced work. They are doing a letter to Wike and several others that have been petitioned so that they can come and explain their roles as alleged in the elections, pre and post,” Abdullahi said.When asked if other former G-5 members would also be probed, Abdullahi said, “Yes, if Wike will be summoned, I do not know why others will be exempted. If Wike who is still holding a federal appointment and is even the leader of the ring will be called upon, then it suffices to say that those ones (other G-5 members) are automatic.”The PDP chieftain insisted the probe of Wike and the others would not cause division in the party but rather instill discipline among members and prevent future reoccurrence of anti-party activity.Meanwhile, a senior member of the PDP NWC, who requested anonymity due to lack of authorisation to comment, confirmed that the NWC had submitted the report on anti-party activities of Wike and others to the Ikimi’s committee.The source, however, said the panel had yet to invite Wike and others for the probe.“Yes, the NWC has handed over reports on anti-party activities and other relevant information to the disciplinary committee chaired by Ikimi.“But I don’t think they have invited Wike or anybody. You should ask Ikimi, or anyone who told you to provide evidence that Wike has been invited”, the source added.However, when reached out to the secretary of the panel, Eyitayo Jegede, he declined to comment and referred our correspondent to the chairman of the committee.When contacted, Ikimi also declined comment, saying he was occupied with the Edo governorship election campaign.“I am not even in Abuja; we are campaigning (for Edo governorship election). So, I can’t talk”, Ikimi said.An ally of Wike, Senator Olaka Wogu, described the purported invitation of Wike by the panel as speculation.He said, “The panel has not invited him (Wike); nobody invited the man. Why should they say he has been invited when he has not been invited.”A member of the National Executive Committee, Timothy Osadolor, confirmed that the call for Wike’s suspension was strong.Osadolor, the Deputy National Youth leader of the PDP said members of the…
APC, BUHARI, TINUBU, OTHERS DESTROYED NIGERIA – LUCKMAN
APC, BUHARI, TINUBU, OTHERS DESTROYED NIGERIA – LUCKMAN An erstwhile National Vice Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress, Salihu Lukman, has alleged that the APC and the duo of former President Muhammadu Buhari and incumbent President Bola Tinubu ruined the country. Lukman, who said this in a statement on Saturday in Abuja, also stressed that 2027 presents a golden opportunity to replace them. The former APC stalwart noted that it would not be enough to merely replace the APC, adding that Nigerians have to work hard to entrench a system whereby the new political party that would produce the next leaders, has the power to put elected officials in check. He lamented that the current crop of leading opposition politicians are working at cross-purposes as they are each focused on their presidential ambitions, rather than subsuming their narrow interests under the broader national interest of rescuing the nation from the vice-grip of current political hawks. According to him, unknown to key political opposition leaders, the strength or confidence of President Tinubu is derived from their inability to open themselves and honestly commence negotiations to build a united front ahead of 2027. He said key opposition political leaders like Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Mr Peter Obi and Sen. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso have paid their dues and are still actively nursing ambitions to become President, even though they were Presidential candidates in the 2023 election. Lukman said while the opposition leaders all agree that the performance of President Tinubu in the last year since his assumption of office has been disastrous, unfortunately, their agreement falls short of making them accept to work together towards building a common platform, capable of mobilizing and uniting Nigerians towards defeating President Tinubu and APC in 2027. He said it is quite worrisome that notwithstanding the dangers before the nation, key opposition leaders believe in a business-as-usual approach to politics whereby the most important thing in politics is the management of their ambitions to become President. Lukman said; “At this point, it is important to appeal to our key opposition leaders to wake up and try to be compassionate and appreciate the gravity of the dire situation facing citizens. “The big question is whether, on account of personal ambitions, we want to continue to mismanage our reality and sacrifice every opportunity, which ideally a democratic system offers. “The opportunity that the democratic system offers is that any government, which fails its citizens should be voted out. No doubt, by any standard, both President Tinubu and APC have failed Nigerians. It is quite disheartening that a party, which came with all the promises of changing Nigeria for the better has ended up ruining the country. “From the economy to problems of insecurity and corruption, which were the three cardinal challenges APC and former President Muhammadu Buhari promised to tackle in 2015, what we had in 2015 is a child’s play today. “The hard truth is that both former President Buhari and President Tinubu have turned out to be self-centred and unable to produce the needed leadership to pull the country out of its current challenges. “Certainly, all of us who were actively in support of these leaders never imagined that they would be such colossal failures.”
I WAS NOT ARRESTED BY TORONTO POLICE – AMAKA
I WAS NOT ARRESTED BY TORONTO POLICE – AMAKA Amaka has refuted recent media reports claiming she was arrested and detained by Toronto police. According to Amaka, she was not charged with any crime. Instead, she was invited by the police following a report from the Nigerian government. During her interaction with Canadian authorities, Amaka presented video evidence demonstrating that her actions were in response to threats against the Igbo nation in Nigeria from some people of Benin and Yoruba descent. After reviewing the evidence, the police concluded that she had no further questions to answer and allowed her to leave. At the same time, the Canadian government used the opportunity to call on the Nigerian government to address its internal tribal issues through peaceful and amicable solutions.
WHY WE DECLARED PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION RESULT AT 2 AM – INEC
WHY.WE DECLARED PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION RESULT AT 2.AM – INEC The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has broken its silence on the timing of the result declaration in the early hours of March 1, 2023. Recall that there were concerns and criticisms from some Nigerians over the announcement of President Bola Tinubu’s victory by 2 am in March 2023. However, several months after, INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, has clarified that the country is treated as a single constituency during presidential elections, requiring a detailed and meticulous process of collating results from polling units to wards, local governments, states, and the national level. This process, he explained, involves waiting for 36 returning officers from across the country to present their results in Abuja as required by law. Chief Press Secretary to INEC Chairman, Rotimi Oyekanmi, further clarified that the constitution or electoral act does not specify a particular time for declaring election results. He stated, “In a presidential election, the country is treated as one constituency. Results are declared at polling units, then collated at the ward, local government, and state levels before being presented in Abuja to the Chief Electoral Commissioner. This process is time-consuming and requires patience and understanding from the public.” Oyekanmi noted that the Chairman had to wait for all returning officers to present their results, a process that took time due to the distant locations of some officers. He added, “The electoral act requires that results be brought and the returning officers be interviewed. The chairman questions the returning officers and, if unsatisfied, sends them back. This process ensures the accuracy and integrity of the results.” The INEC spokesperson said that the delay led to claims that the commission declared results in the middle of the night, but pointed out that even in the 2015 presidential election, results were declared around 4am by former INEC Chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega. “The constitution does not prescribe a specific time for declaring election results. We understand the concerns of the public, but we assure them that the commission followed the law and ensured the integrity of the process,” he said.
TINUBU GOVT INCOMPETENT, CLUELESS, RUDDERLESS – NORTHERN GROUPS
TINUBU GOVT CLUELESS, INCOMPETENT, RUDDERLESS – NORTHERN GROUPS Following the recent massacre by terrorists in Plateau State, northern Christian groups have declared President Bola Tinubu’s administration as clueless and incompetent. After a two-day engagement in Jos, the Plateau State capital on Thursday, the groups comprising Christian Youth Initiative (CYI) and Northern Nigeria Unity Initiative (NNUI) called on the region to take its destiny in its own hands; citing security collapse and endemic poverty. In a communique issued at the end of the two-day engagement, the groups lamented that the hardship inflicted by the Tinubu-led government has deprived many Nigerians a right to one square meal per day. The statement further denounced the latest escalation in the retail price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), or petrol, to a record-breaking high of N897 per litre, characterising the government’s move as woefully “insensitive” to the plight and emotional distress of the citizenry. The communique reads in parts, “The essence of the meeting is to encourage inclusiveness, and people-centered governance in the Northern region and the nation as a whole, and to address the ongoing insecurity, the economic hardship that plagued our country, especially in our region. “Having deliberated extensively on the precarious situation of the country and apparent lack of focus and cluelessness of the present APC-led government, and have the following recommendations as follows that: “Participants decried the insecurity situation of the country and condemned the apparent lack of concerted efforts to tackle the menace of the kidnapping, banditry and farmers/herders crisis and wondered why despite the huge resources deployed to defend and arrest the perpetrators, they (terrorists) are busy occupying the social media space and continue to have a free aid. “The participants condemned in strong terms the continuous deteriorating security, hardship faced by Nigerians and the high costs of foodstuffs and other basic necessities which are biting harder every day with millions of Nigerians finding it difficult to afford a single meal per day. “Worst still, the stakeholders decried the insensitivity of the present administration led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the increase of pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) to an all-time high price of N897 per litre. “The undersigned organizations, in collaboration with prominent personalities from the North who are committed to a new Nigeria where no tribe, religion, ethnicity, or region takes precedence over our shared purpose, humanity, and nationhood have resolved to withdraw support for this government.” The meeting which was attended by 150 representatives drawn from 19 northern states called on other democratic actors like Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Omoyele Sowore, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and others to close ranks to redefine the nation’s destiny in 2027. The communique was jointly signed by Rev. Dr. Samaia Joshua Asake, Evang. Aliyu Ibrahim, Eld. Mark Wosi and Comrade Yunusa Suleiman.
NIGERIANS ARE SUFFERING UNDER TINUBU – YORUBA COUNCIL OF ELDERS
NIGERIANS ARE SUFFERING UNDER TINUBU – YORUBA COUNCIL OF ELDERS The Yoruba Council of Elders has lamented that there is severe hardship in the country. This position was communicated in a statement by its General Secretary, Oladipo Oyewole. They noted that although it had hope of a positive turnaround in the country, “there is, presently, a lot of suffering in the land.” The statement reads: “The YCE remains hopeful that Nigeria will have a turnaround. “However, going by scanty information available on Government pursuits and activities, there is, presently, a lot of suffering in the land. “Be that as it may, we of YCE stand on our strong position that the interest of the masses to live a good life should be given full attention. “Without regular supply of electricity and with the official announcement of an increase in the price of Petroleum Products (PMS), the current hardship cannot but be increased in daily living by Nigerians. “The Federal Government ought to immediately pursue every avenue to make available to our people, the dividends of democracy. Not through the distribution of palliatives (that does not seem to filter to the bottom) but by putting in place avenues to enhance proper/quality living through effective governance administration.” “Indeed, Nigerians are suffering deeply at this time, no light, no fuel, no food,” it said. The YCE urged President Bola Tinubu to “without delay, revisit his drawing board to attend to the short-term needs of Nigerians (the immediate needs of the people) whilst pursuing the long-term vision of making Nigeria a better place for growth and development”. It said, “As Elders, YCE wants immediate succour for the people to boost the welfare of Nigerians so that all can live in comfort and harmony. “As far as this Elders Council is concerned a lot of administrative work by government is (absolutely) required for the masses of this country to live, stay alive as respectable and responsible people.” The group also urged Tinubu’s administration to intervene to ensure that Nigerians enjoy better governance than what is enjoyed currently.