₦airaland Forum

FarahAideed:
Atiku is actually who Nigeria needs but the conspiracy against him has really entered the hearts of the electorate ...The day he allowed Obasanjo to falsely call him a thief without defending himself is where the problem is and gullible Nigerians erroneously associate him with corruption

ON AUGUST 12, 2018

•Mass defection looms as commissioners allege overbearing influence of technocrats in their ministries

•Defection/resignation story a hoax – Gov’s spokesperson

By Dayo Johnson, Regional Editor, South-West

ALL appears not well with the Ondo State Executive Council, led by Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, and the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, in the state ahead of next year’s general elections.

The governor’s style of governance has reportedly left many of his commissioners and party leaders dumbfounded. Members of the House of Assembly are also believed to be sulking over alleged unfulfilled promises of Akeredolu on the purchase of vehicles and constituency allowances.

A source said the governor, who travelled out of the country recently, failed to communicate this to the state House of Assembly. He is accused of running a one- man show as political patronage is not dispensed fully in the 17 months of the administration.

Meanwhile, some of the governor’s friends are said to be highly favoured by the Akeredolu administration.

For instance, one of such friends is alleged to be a consultant to no fewer than four major road contracts across Ondo while the company that secured the contracts is alleged to be owned by a Special Adviser in one of the ministries.

Another friend is alleged to be in charge of the state forest reserves.

Party members are grumbling that about 50 per cent of the contracts for the renovation of primary schools across the state, recently awarded by the state government, were cornered by a privileged few who were nowhere to be seen when the APC was in the trenches.

Also, an influential Special Adviser is alleged to be having an overbearing influence in some major ministries that are said to be lucrative. Many commissioners and party leaders complained that the governor is not accessible as he is said to be not always around in the state and, when around, prefers to engage with his associates appointed as Special Advisers in their ministries instead of them.

While many commissioners are grumbling over alleged overbearing influence of Special Advisers and Senior Special Assistants in their ministries, APC chieftains are raising the alarm over alleged capital flight from Ondo allegedly traced to the allies of Akeredolu who allegedly come from outside Ondo to do government contracts and take the proceeds back to their bases.

The APC leadership in the state, according to party sources, has met with the governor severally on his style of governance, saying however that nothing has changed. In addition, party sources said Akeredolu refused to constitute the boards of government agencies and parastatals to give room for political patronage.

Consequent upon these allegations, it was learnt that many of the commissioners and other political appointees may have been perfecting plans to jump ship. Many are said to have abandoned their constituencies simply because they do not have the financial muscles to oil their structures.

The commissioners and Special Advisers, as a prelude to taking the plunge, plan to contest the APC tickets for the National Assembly seats next year and, if unsuccessful, may bid the party bye.

Those believed to be eyeing the House of Representatives or the Senate include the Women Affairs Commissioner, Wunmi Edet Olatunji, the Secretary to the State Government, Ifedayo Abegunde, a Special Adviser and former Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Victor Olabimtan, Youth and Sports Commissioner, Saka Yusuf, Physical Planning and Urban Development Commissioner, Sola Amodeni, Finance Commissioner, Wale Akinterinwa, Commissioner for Agriculture, Gboyega Adefarati, Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Yemi Olowolabi, Commerce Commissioner, Timehin Adelegbe, Culture and Tourism Commissioner, Ismaila Olurimisi, Housing Commissioner, Donald Ojogo, Commissioner for Natural Resources, Rasheed Badmus, and the Special Adviser on Transport, Tobi Ogunleye.

Sunday Vanguard gathered that Mrs Wunmi Olatunji has been having a running battle with the Special Adviser in her ministry, Titi Adeyemi, who is alleged to have the ears of Akeredolu because she (Adeyemi) is a close ally of the governor’s wife, Betty.

The situation is said to be not entirely different in the state Commerce Ministry where the Special Adviser on Investment, Boye Oyewumi, and that of Multi-Lateral Services, Mrs Bunmi Ademosun, both associates of Akeredolu, don’t relate well with Adelegbe.

In the case of Housing Commissioner Ojogo, he is believed to be opting out because the House of Representatives seat may be zoned to his Ese Odo constituency and he is interested in vying for the seat. This is aside from his alleged running battle with the Special Adviser in his ministry and the Works Ministry where Aminu is commissioner.

The Information Commissioner, Olowolabi, is said to be eyeing the House of Representatives but the influence of the state party chairman, Ade Adetimehin, appears to be an impediment. He, however, is said to still be consulting and studying the body language of his political leader, Adetimehin.

Some of the commissioners spoken to confirmed that they were “like lame ducks in our ministries”. But some friends of Akeredolu, who spoke to Sunday Vanguard, absolved the governor of the allegation of rendering his commissioners redundant, saying many of the commissioners “are novices in their ministries whereas the technocrats they are accusing of taking over their responsibilities are the life wires of the ministries”.

It was learnt that in the appointment of the commissioners, their professional callings were not taken into consideration hence the appointment of technocrats into the ministries.

But one of the commissioners punctured the argument, pointing out, “Even if a commissioner isn’t a professional in the ministry he is appointed to administer, does that make the Special Adviser there his boss? Why should the governor prefer engagement with only the SAs leaving the commissioners only to sign contracts documents which they know nothing about?”

A party chieftain echoed the same position, saying: “Most of these people (commissioners) have been rendered useless and the governor seems not bothered and I am confirming to you that some of these men might leave the cabinet soon”.

Meanwhile, the party chairman in the state, Adetimehin, is believed to have been working round the clock to ensure the APC does not implode before or after the state and National Assembly primaries ahead of the 2019 elections.

Reacting to the allegation of commissioners planning to take the plunge, the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Segun Ajiboye, said, “Though some members of the cabinet may be nursing political ambition, that should not disturb or distract them from continuing working for the state”.

Ajiboye described the allegation of overbearing influence of some Special Advisers appointed by the governor on some commissioners in the state as “ridiculous”.

“It is clear that these allegations are not only false but also an attempt to sow the seed of discord to destabilise this government and I am assuring you that the focus of this administration is to deliver dividend of democracy to the people of the state who elected Governor Akeredolu “.

The state chairman of the Mega Party, Biyi Poroye, while reacting to the alleged incessant travel of Akeredolu out of Ondo, asked President Muhammadu Buhari to advise the governor to, “as a matter of urgency, stop gallivanting about and also urge him to face his primary assignment because he’s not always available in Ondo State”.

The state Director of Publicity of the PDP, Ayo Fadaka, confirmed that defections were set to hit the ruling party in the state like a volcano. Fadaka, however, declined to give the names of those already talking with leaders of his party.

Also reacting to the defections of Senator Akinyelure and House of Representatives member, Bode Ayorinde, to the PDP, the state Publicity Secretary of the APC, Alex Kalejaye, said, “Defections are normal in political settings, especially where there are justifiable occurrences. Unfortunately, that is not the case now”.

Appearing on a radio programme last week, Information Commissioner Olowolabi described the Ondo cabinet members’ defection/resignation story as a hoax meant “to distract a performing governor and his officials”.

Olowolabi added that the story was designed to “cause disaffection within government and the APC family in the state”. But his counterpart from the Youth and Sports Ministry, Yusuf, who appeared on the same radio programme, said, “We have some of our colleagues who want to contest and even we have their posters. At the appropriate time, they will make their ambitions official but they should not link all of us together.”

Analysts believe the happenings in the ruling party in the state may turn for the worse if the governor failed to listen to the groaning of those who work for his emergence and are now eating crumbs falling from the tables of the alleged privileged few who have been accused of coming on board after the meal had been served.

Publish Date: Aug 11 2018 3:19AM

The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) seems to be in a difficult political situation with the presence of heavyweight presidential aspirants who all hope to dislodge the governing All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2019.

The defection of strong politicians from the APC in addition to the existing bigwigs has formed a heavy storm in the PDP as majority of those rejoining the party is believed to have axes to grind.

There is tension in the party, especially as the number of presidential aspirants has continued to increase.

They include; former vice president Atiku Abubakar, governors Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto, Hassan Dankwambo of Gombe, Senate President Bukola Saraki, former Senate President David Mark, former governors Rabiu Kwankwaso of Kano, Sule Lamido of Jigawa, Ahmed Makarfi of Kaduna, Ibrahim Shekarau of Kano, Attahiru Bafarawa of Sokoto, Jonah Jang of Plateau, Donald Duke of Cross River, former Minister of Special Duties Kabiru Turaki, founder of Baze University, Sen. Datti Baba-Ahmed and Chief Alfa Muhammed Oliver.

Atiku Abubakar
Former vice president Atiku Abubakar, the Wazirin Adamawa, is not a new comer in the game. In 2007, he ran for the presidency on the platform of the defunct Action Congress (AC), where he came third behind incumbent president, Muhammadu Buhari, and late Umaru Musa Yar’adua, who won the election. In 2011, he contested for the PDP ticket with former president, Goodluck Jonathan.

He left the PDP to support Buhari against Jonathan in 2015. Late last year, Atiku returned to the party in preparation for next year’s elections.
The former vice president is a proponent of restructuring, a campaign tool that has been embraced mainly in the South-south and South-east.

Atiku is believed to have a wide political network across the country, and enjoys huge support from the two zones.


Aminu Waziri Tambuwal

Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State formerly of the APC before his recent defection to the PDP, is believed to have commenced surreptitious campaigns earlier ahead of 2019 general elections as he once received the blessing of former military president Ibrahim Babangida.

Babangida in April 2013, subtly endorsed Tambuwal for the 2015 presidential race by describing him as a beacon of hope and a representative of a generation that may yet ensure that the labours of the nation’s heroes past are not in vain.

The former military president who spoke in Lagos at the investiture of former Rivers State governor Rotimi Amaechi and Mr Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuode as Vanguard Newspaper ‘Personalities of the Year 2013’, expressed confidence in Tambuwal when he was the House of Representatives speaker.

Last year, former president, Olusegun Obasanjo, who also said Tambuwal won his heart with his performance as speaker, described him as an example of a successful youth in politics. But his political credentials are considered inadequate for the 2015 presidential polls since he has continued to rely on the political structure of former governor Aliyu Wammako.

With his decision to leave the APC, he seems to have expressed readiness for the nation’s coveted job, and there is no doubt that he has contacts throughout the federation.


Sule Lamido

Alhaji Sule Lamido, a former governor of Jigawa State whose presidential ambition cannot be dismissed with a wave of hand, enjoys massive followership. He is a key follower of former president Olusegun Obasanjo who was said to have to preferred him as the PDP candidate in 2015 before Jonathan violated the unwritten zoning arrangement in the party, an action identified as major cause of the party’s defeat in 2015.


Ahmed Makarfi

The main selling point of Senator Ahmed Makarfi, a former governor of Kaduna State, is the role he played in the restoration of peace in the PDP when he was chairman of the caretaker committee. It was under his watch that the party was reclaimed from Ali Modu Sheriff.

Despite the fact that he left Sir Kashim Ibrahim House in Kaduna 11 years ago, he still wields enormous powers in the state PDP. Some stakeholders say he is more powerful in the party than former vice president Namadi Sambo, also from Kaduna State.

Reports say after the party was reclaimed, Governor Nyeson Wike of Rivers State pledged to reward Makarfi with the PDP presidential ticket.

Another factor which favours Makarfi is the fact that he is from the North-west where the PDP is planning to zone its presidential ticket. Makarfi,
62, has a very bright chance of clinching the PDP presidential ticket.

Rabiu Kwankwaso

If the result of the 2014 presidential primary of the APC would be the yardstick for selection of the PDP presidential candidate, Rabiu Kwankwaso stands tall among other aspirants.

Kwankwaso, the leader of the Kwankwasiyya Movement, came second to Buhari in that contest, a feat that propelled his popularity.
The 61-year-old lawmaker was among those who left the PDP for the APC in the run-up to the 2015 general elections. Like in 2014, he has along with others returned to the PDP.

Since his defection, his supporters across the country have been burning their brooms and embracing the umbrella.

Like Makarfi, Kwankwaso is from the North-west, and except for the PDP governors’ support for Tambuwal, he has a very bright chance. Though unlike in 2015, Kwankwaso no longer controls the Kano State Government House, and has clashed with his former deputy, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje who succeeded him as governor.

Also, founding fathers of the PDP are expressing reservations on his candidature. They are of the opinion that he was one of those who sent the party to the opposition.


Ibrahim Shekarau

Shekarau, a former governor of Kano State and former Minister of Education, worked relentlessly during the 14-month legal battle in the party under the aegis of PDP Ex-Ministers’ Forum.

One of his political allies confided in our correspondent that apart from being in the presidential race, he was asking the party to allow him get some Kano State politicians to fill certain slots including the running mate of the party’s governorship candidate in the state ahead of the 2019 general elections.

He is seen as one of those serious about the PDP regaining power in 2019. He is also seen by many as a force and potent factor to reckon with. But some party leaders say his chances of getting the ticket are slim considering that he is facing trial on money laundering.

Recently, Justice Zainab Bage Abubakar of the Federal High Court in Kano adjourned the trial of Shekarau and two others to October 18, 2018.

He, alongside a former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Aminu Bahir Wali and the North-west deputy chairman of the Goodluck Jonathan Campaign Organisation, Mansur Ahmed, were arraigned before the court by the EFCC on a six-count charge of conspiracy and money laundering to the tune of N950 million. It was recently reported that the PDP is searching for an untainted presidential candidate who would not be challenged by the EFCC.


Attahiru Bafarawa

Bafarawa is a former governor of Sokoto State who has paid his dues in the nation’s politics. He is said to have national clout and eminently qualified for the ticket.

A few days ago, a Sokoto State High Court discharged and acquitted him of alleged N13 billion fraud charges brought against him by the EFCC.
Bafarawa, who was governor from 1999 to 2007, was accused of fraudulent transactions in a case has lasted over eight years. However, sinsiders say the ex-governor may not get the ticket on grounds that the EFCC could appeal the judgment at a higher court.


Datti Baba-Ahmed

He is the founder of Baze University and an economist of high repute who left the APC for the PDP last year. In April 2011, Baba-Ahmed defeated Ahmed Makarfi to clinch the Kaduna North senatorial seat.

He was elected in April 2003 into the House of Representatives from Zaria Federal Constituency. He ran on the platform of All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP). He is popular for his principled activism and being vocal against corruption.

During the administration of former president Olusegun Obasanjo, he was among lawmakers who opposed Obasanjo’s third term bid. In May 2006, he said he would not run for re-election unless action was taken to investigate allegations that members had been bribed to support the constitutional changes needed for a third term presidency.

Baba-Ahmed believes he has what it takes to clinch the PDP presidential ticket, especially considering his age, socio-economic and political experience.

However, some party leaders say his chances are narrow on ground that he does not have the national outlook and clout to defeat President Muhammadu Buhari if given the ticket.


Ibrahim Dankwambo

Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo, a former Accountant General of the Federation (AGF), Dankwambo has been governor of Gombe State since 2011, succeeding Sen. Mohammed Danjuma Goje who used to be his benefactor in the PDP until they parted ways when the latter joined the APC in 2014.

Within the PDP, Dankwambo is seen as a heavyweight who can perform well if given the ticket. His modest achievements in Gombe in the last seven years have spurred him to contest for the presidency.

Dankwambo’s presidential ambition had been a matter of speculation until last week when he officially declared his aspiration. Immediately after his declaration, he began meeting with leaders of the PDP at the various zonal levels.


Bukola Saraki

Saraki, Nigeria’s Senate President, has been nursing the ambition of becoming president since his second tenure as the governor of Kwara State. However, when it became apparently impossible for him, he settled for the senate in 2011. He contested and won election to represent Kwara Central that year.

Saraki, along with other notables, became embittered in the PDP and ultimately left the party in 2014 to join the APC on which platform he won re-election to the senate in 2015.

After he became senate president on June 9, 2015 against the wish of his party, the APC, Saraki went through a lot of trials, including the alleged false assets declaration trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) and the latest one, an alleged link to an armed robbery incident in Offa in April.

The senate president finally rejoined PDP about a fortnight ago, ending months of speculation.

Like Tambuwal, Kwankwaso, Atiku and others, Saraki’s quest to become president is not a hidden agenda, although he said on Wednesday at a world press conference that he would speak about his presidential ambition at the right time.

Analysts however believe that he is only just delaying it, just as he did with his defection to the PDP.

As the number 3 citizen in Nigeria, Saraki is a force to reckon with in terms of putting in a decent fight for the PDP presidential ticket. Apart from having Kwara State politically, it is believed that he has used his office in the last three years to reach out to top politicians in different parts of the country.

It is believed that part of his consultations to contest for the PDP ticket was his meeting with Ibrahim Babangida in Minna on Wednesday.


How PDP will handle the primary

There are fears that the PDP may end up in a difficult situation if meticulous measures are not adopted to manage the various interests. But the party said it would deploy all democratic means possible and open opportunities to all returning members to on a level-playing field.

The National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, told Daily Trust that the returnees would be accorded due consideration in the build up to the elections.

Ologbondiyan said there would be no crisis after the primary, adding that the mission is to collectively seize power from the APC and “rescue” the nation.

“Be rest assured that they will be accorded their dues and rights as members of the PDP,” he said.

The party at its 81st National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting last Thursday, paraded an array of presidential aspirants and opened the space for those who just returned to the party to also join the race.

A member of the Board of Trustees (BoT) who pleaded anonymity said, “In a very hot contest, the party will have no option than to allow delegates to make a choice.

“When the delegates speak in a free, fair and transparent process, aspirants who lose the primary will not be left in the scheme of things, they will be carried along by the party.”

AUGUST 10, 2018 4:27 PMIN NEWS, POLITICS

Alhaji Rabiu Kwankwaso, the 61-year-old former Kano state governor, who recently defected to Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has again been booed by members of the public.

At the close of Jumat service in Kaduna on Friday, the politician seeking presidential ticket of PDP, walked into the waiting hands of hostile crowd who chanted “Sai Buhari’’.

As he waved, the jeering crowd surged shouting “Sai Buhari’’, an indication of his rejection. The twitter video of the incident is succinctly captured by the twitter handle of APC United Kingdom.

He was similarly humiliated at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, where passengers and onlookers booed, shouting “Sai Buhari’’.

Kwankwaso was two times Governor of Kano State from 1999–2003 and 2011–2015 and he was the first governor of Kano State in the fourth republic who was elected under the platform of People’s Democratic Party (Nigeria).

Kwankwaso lost re-election bid in 2003 to Ibrahim Shekarau and was in July same year appointed Defense Minister by President Olusegun Obasanjo.

In 2015, Kwankwaso unsuccessfully contested the presidential primaries nomination under the opposition All Progressive Congress, but lost to Muhammad Buhari. He then swapped to contest the senatorial seat for Kano Central Senatorial District.

He recently defected again to PDP, causing some ripples in APC.

[BREAKING: KWANKWASO ROASTED AGAIN!] Second time within the week:

Sen. Kwankwaso got the SAI BABA treatment AGAIN at Jumu'a Mosque in Kaduna after the Abuja airport 'roasting' earlier in the week!@OfficialAPCNg @fkeyamo @DeeOneAyekooto @dgebis @hbgumi @gebusites @ToksAfikuyomi pic.twitter.com/NY5VsYBbcS

— Renewed Hope United Kingdom (@RenewedHopeUK) August 10, 2018

[BREAKING: KWANKWASO ROASTED AGAIN!] Second time within the week

Sen Kwankwaso got the SAI BABA treatment AGAIN at Jumu'a Mosque in Kaduna after the Abuja airport 'roasting' earlier in the week! #SaiBaba@Ayourb @Mofiobafemi @abikedabiri @GarShehu @akandeoj @femigbaja @trueNija pic.twitter.com/VOKClbr2lf

— Renewed Hope United Kingdom (@RenewedHopeUK) August 10, 2018

ozo13:
firstly thanks for sharing the pix.but u don't have to start using the word "ignorance" here

Secondly in as much as Atiku will try to spoil PMB vote blocks in d core north, the SW and NC will not too support Atiku as Atiku isn't a sellable candidate
Atiku isn't a" marketable" candidate. Baba no fit enter USA cos of corruption charges against him.we All know all d ppl involved in that scam have bn jailed and odas are still serving dr jail term.All i need do during campaign period is jus to send an Email to those prosecutors in USA and Gbam dey will reply me if all d allegations against him as per the corruption charges r true or not.ur guess is a good as mine if the electorates will vote him after knowing such...
Look below what google showed me .imagine me that am not too interested in the case ooo.lol.u know APC will use ds single thing to finish Atiku during the campaign

ozo13:
please show me a picture of the crowd Atiku ever pulled

ozo13:
hehehe.so this is how u want campaign for atiku and expect ppl to vote for him.is ok

Treading on Twitter today is the #NeverBelieveOBJ used by many Nigerians who took to their Twitter handle to either support or tackle former President Chief Olusegun Obasanjo over an interview he granted PremiumTimes where he said that “Atiku is politically dead if Obasanjo is still around.”

“How can I be on the same side with Atiku?” “To do what?” “If I support Atiku for anything, God will not forgive me. If I do not know, yes. But once I know, Atiku can never enjoy my support,” .

“I know Atiku very well. And I have mentioned my position with Atiku. My position has not change’ “on political ground, my position has not changed. If I support Atiku for a political office other than the one I supported him in the past when I did not know him,” maybe, but not “now that I know him, God will not forgive me.” Some of the Tweets on #NeverBelieveOBJ include:

sexy74:
many brother, another man dey fuvk am.

By Dirisu Yakubu

With barely eight months to the 2019 general elections, there are indications that the main opposition party in the land, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) may pick former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar as its Presidential flag bearer. Atiku, who in December 2017 ended his romance with the All Progressives Congress for a return to the PDP is now set to make his formal declaration of intent having completed his consultation amongst critical stakeholders of the party.

Earlier in the week, the former Vice President was a guest of the Forum of former Presiding Officers of State Assemblies in Abuja, where he availed them of his plans for the nation if given the nod of the party to fly the flag in the 2019 Presidential election. The meeting which held at the Gombe Jewel Hotel behind closed doors lasted for about 30 minutes with Atiku evading questions on what transpired between him and the ex-lawmakers.

Saturday Vanguard however gathered from one of the former lawmakers that Atiku gave a good showing of himself while presenting his plans to reposition the fortunes of the PDP preparatory for the big test in 2019.

According to him, there is no doubt that the Wazirin Adamawa has all it takes to defeat whoever the All Progressives Congress (APC) would field at the polls, saying the benefit of having work in government for long in a democratic epoch is a factor in the armoury of Atiku.

“Basically, we were impressed with his plans for our party and Nigeria. And maybe he was a Vice President for eight years and participated in key decision making; he is ahead of others in the pecking order today. But until we hear from all the Presidential aspirants on the platform of our party, it would be too early in the day to say we have settled for Mr. ABC or what have you,” he stated.

While not ruling out the possibility of the party delegates to pick the former Vice President, the lanky fellow who hails from the North-West geo-political zone tasked the PDP on the importance of settling for the right man, adding that now that the party would be going to the elections as an opposition; no effort should be spared to eliminate errors capable of working against the interest of the party.

“I will only advise the leadership of our party not to forget that we are going into this election from a position of weakness. We were voted out in 2015 and to bounce back, you need the best candidate not only for the Presidential election but across all elective positions on offer. The forum will evaluate all aspirants and take an informed decision in the interest of the party and Nigerians,” he added.

Atiku according to findings by our correspondent is seeking to get bloc votes from the forum whose members numbering over 200 are statutory delegates of the party. Atiku in a brief chat with newsmen had described the forum as “A force to be reckoned with based on their numbers and their experiences,” a remark that was to be re-echoed by Inuwa Garba, former Speaker of the Gombe State House of Assembly, who said: “We as former Presiding officers of State Assemblies have a platform of over 200 delegates and the aspirants are coming to us to tell us what they will offer Nigerians. It is not going to be business as usual. This time, we are not just going to anoint any person as our candidate without knowing his capacity and without the assurance that he has a good track record and the vision to be able to bring Nigerians out of this terrible situation. We are interacting with the aspirants as envisaged candidates on our party platform.

“And the fact that we are among the statutory delegates of the party, we are in the process of interacting and listening to them to know and hear what they have for Nigerians. Former Presiding Officers of State Assemblies will vote in bloc based on our understanding and firm belief that the aspirant so chosen is the best and would be able to deliver success to the party to meet the yearnings and aspirations of Nigerians. We are out for a candidate that will unite this country for the better,” Garba stated.

Obasanjo Factor

It appears Atiku’s quest to secure the sole ticket of the PDP to confront the APC is bringing him closer to his former boss, President Olusegun Obasanjo. The two have endured a frosty relationship following allegations of disloyalty on the part of Atiku while serving as Vice President (1999-2007). In his widely publicized memoir, “My Watch,” Obasanjo portrayed his former deputy not worthy of trust, detailing how acts allegedly perpetrated by the former number-two man got him (Obasanjo) worried.

However, all these seem to have been laid to rest following moves to have both men buried the hatchet in the interest of the nation. As it were, neither Obasanjo nor Atiku is happy with the state of affairs of the Nigerian state under the three years of Buhari. At every public fora, both men continue to sermonise on the need to bring on board a new leadership personified by a President that is everyone but Buhari. As a result, talks of Obasanjo support for Atiku’s bid is gaining currency by the day. Last week, Atiku met with the Ota farmer at a forum organised by the Gusau Institute on “A New Era for China-Africa Cooperation” at the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja.

Besides that public outing, Atiku was said to have met with Obasanjo at an undisclosed location in Abuja with fresh talks set to continue. Should the ex-Head of State formally close ranks with his one-time political associate and forge a common front to tackle the APC in 2019; Atiku may be on the driving seat to secure the ticket of the PDP for the big test; having failed to realise his ambition since quitting public office in 2007.

Obasanjo is currently leading a coalition against Buhari; an idea the PDP says it is ready to embrace in the overall interest of Nigeria and her people.

akeentech:
Meet the next Governor of the state of Osun.

Akogun Dr. Lere Oyewumi, the tested trusted and the credible man for the seat.

WisdomFlakes:
If this is true then Fayemi has to come out and clarify that because it will be dangerous if Ekiti creates cattle colonies that are being rejected all over the country. It will be totally absurd.

The All Progressives Congress, APC, in Ekiti State has said States Anti-Grazing Law pioneered by the Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose and farmers should be blamed for killings by Fulani herdsmen, maintaining that the only way to end the killings of Nigerians by Fulani herdsmen was the creation of Cattle Colonies in all the 36 States of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

CilicMarin:
[s]After Ekiti Fraudulent election. APC guarded against it in Osun by relocating almost all its powerful members to Osun. Hence they were not able to rig Aregbesola out.

Don't cry yet. The same way Fayose closed down Akure airport, blocked Amaechi and other APC governor's from entering Ekiti, will be the same he and his corrupt PDP governors would be handled.[/s]

uboma:
I concur.


Kwankwoso seems to have lost his relevance in the helm of affairs.