₦airaland Forum

Really

unclesoyo:
President Muhammadu Buhari, in his response to the a question posed at him, has mentioned that Kano State governor, Umar Ganduje is a responsible leader despite allegations of the governor receiving bribes putting his position in question.

The embattled governor has been in the news over the past few weeks after the publisher of Daily Nigerian, Ja'afar Ja'afar, alleged that he regularly received bribes from contractors handling projects in the state.

In a series of videos in Ja'afar's possession, the governor was alleged to have received a total of $5 million in installments from a certain contrator on several occasions. Five different video clips have gone viral on social media showing the governor accepting bundles of dollar notes from the yet-to-be-identified contractor.

The president has been notably silent over the issue since it first broke last month, but was questioned about it while meeting with the Nigerian community in Paris, France on Monday, November 12, 2018.

According to a report by Channels Television, when one of the participants asked the president what his government was doing about the allegations, he deflected by praising the governor for "doing so much".

He said:

"I commend the governor for doing so much. He once invited me and I went to Kano. The good projects started by Kwankwaso in education and healthcare, Ganduje completed them.

"He completed the projects and now the people of Kano are enjoying the benefit. I think that is very responsible of him."

President Buhari's Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, said last week that the president has no business interfering in the matter in its current state.

https://lailasnews.com/ganduje-is-a-responsible-leader-buhari

lalasticlala

Op attach the video link below


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPrjV5ZdAY8

President Buhari commended H.E Gov Umar Ganduje on his efforts in completing inherited projects initiated by previous administration. The President made the commendation in Paris yesterday during an interactive session with Nigerians living in Paris.




https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPrjV5ZdAY8

President Buhari commended H.E Gov Umar Ganduje on his efforts in completing inherited projects initiated by previous administration. The President made the commendation in Paris yesterday during an interactive session with Nigerians living in Paris.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPrjV5ZdAY8

Good one

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released the list of governorship candidates for the 2019 election in Rivers State.

INEC, in the list pasted at its office in Port Harcourt, recognised the factional All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Tonye Cole, as the party’s standard bearer for the forthcoming election, thereby dashing the ambition of the Senator representing Rivers South East senatorial district, Magnus Abe, from aspiring to governor of the state.

Cole has Victor Giadom, the deputy National Secretary of APC, as his running mate in the election.

Both Cole and Giadom are products of an indirect primary election and are from the camp of former governor and current Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Amaechi.

Also shortlisted are Governor Nyesom Wike and Dr (Mrs) Ipalibo Harry as governorship candidate and running mate for the PDP.

Other governorship candidates from other political parties included: Elem Chinweike for Hope Democratic Party (HDP), Joseph Princewill for MPN, Tamunopriala Jumbo for PDC, Ngoye Benebo for UPN, and Kukang Barine for APM.

http://sunnewsonline.com/rivers-2019-inec-dashes-abes-governorship-ambition/

Oshio baba is back

Oshio baba is back

Oshiomole is back

The presumed winner of October 1st governorship primary election in Imo state, Senator Hope Uzodinma, has said that he remains the authentic candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the 2019 governorship election in the state.

Uzodinma, in a statement issued on Friday by The Hope Uzodimma campaign organisation, reiterated that Sen Hope Uzodimma remains the APC candidate for Imo Governorship, assuring that his name will be published accordingly by INEC.

A statement in Owerri by the Director of Media and Special Duties of the Campaign Organisation, Hon Declan M Emelumba, said the claim by the Okorocha group that they stopped the publication of his name by INEC through a court order was misleading because they never really had any court order,.

He explained that the Federal high Court in Owerri Friday declined to grant the order they sought for, adding that, “There’s no court order. The court declined the order.

Besides Uzodimma is the APC candidate for Imo state by INEC as acknowledge by INEC. So anybody telling you any other thing is not telling the truth. I can assure you that INEC will publish Uzodimma’s name accordingly.”

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/i-remain-imo-guber-candidate-uzodinma.html

Meanwhile....

Nwosu commends INEC for omitting APC from provisional list

One of the contenders to the governorship primary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Imo State, Uche Nwosu has commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for obeying a court Order restraining it from accepting or publishing any other name as the governorship candidate of the party in the state.

The provisional list of the governorship candidate for 2019 election in Imo state was displayed by INEC on Friday without the name of any candidate for the APC.

Nwosu said the action of the National Chairman as it regards the party primaries was the height of impunity that was capable of undermining the chances of the party.

According to him, “I want to thank the National Chairman of INEC, Mahmood Yakubu for adhering to the rule of law by obeying subsisting Court Order as it concerns the Imo APC.

I did not know why Oshiomole should insist on changing the name of people that won primary elections with that of those that never won.

In my own case I won the governorship primary, I have Police report, DSS report and INEC report affirming my elections as the APC governorship candidate in Imo.

I don’t know why Oshiomole is trying to substitute my name with that of the person that never won election”.

Nwosu was however optimistic that he will reclaim his mandate, stressing, “I am confident that the Court which is the last hope of the average man will dispense justice in this matter and my mandate as the APC governorship candidate will be restored.”


https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/imo-governorship-nwosu-commends-inec-for-omitting-apc-from-provisional-list.html

Angelparadise:
The really need the almighty skills of liar Muhammad to be able to withstand the mountain of allegations pouring on him since in became the chairman of a party that value cow more than human being.

Allegations from greedy politicians who wants to run their states like family enterprise.

Kingosytex:
the hunter is now the hunted

Who is being hunted.... Forget all this.... Them say..... Them say from unknown sources here and there

Adams Oshiomhole, national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), is on his way back to Nigeria from the UK.

The APC chairman travelled out of the country after he was quizzed by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) over allegations of collecting bribe during his party’s primary elections.

More to follow…

https://www.thecable.ng/breaking-oshiomhole-on-way-back-to-nigeria-ready-to-face-accusers


So it is now UK that he travelled to and not US

Man know Man.... That's how to get job in Nigeria

JOB PLACEMENTS OF CONSTITUENTS OF ABIA NORTH BY SENATOR MAO NWACHINEMERE OHUABUNWA IN JUST WITHIN 2 YEARS AND 8 MONTHS.

* Uche I. Uche. Bende LGA, NSCDC/ civil Defense

* Okoro Francis Omenuko. Arochukwu LGA, NSCDC.

* Igodo Chukwuebuka S. Arochukwu, NSCDC.

* Okorie Emilia Ifeoma. ISUIKWUATO LGA, NSCDC.

* Anozie Joseph. Isuikwuato, National Productivity Center.

* Henry Okofor. Arochukwu LGA, BIOTEC.

* MISS COSMOS (MOG) Bende LGA, Biotech.

* Okoroafor. Arochukwu LGA, Surveyor, FCSC.

* Peace Adigo. Umunneochi LGA, Nigeria police force.

* Ngozi Ogbaji. Umunneochi LGA, Ministry of FCT.

* Mary Iro Nkwa. Ohafia LGA, FIRS.

* Chioma Elendu Precious. Bende LGA, Nigerian Army.

* Obi Chukwuemeka. Isuikwuato LGA, Nigerian Army.

* Nnamdi Obasi Kennedy. Isuikwuato LGA, Nigerian Army.

* Onuoha Prosper. Abiriba, Ohafia LGA. Nigerian Navy.

* Okoro Benjamin. Ohafia LGA. Nigerian Navy.

* Wisdom Nzubechi. Umunneochi LGA, Nigerian Airforce.

* Dr. Nchege Chinedum. Ohafia LGA, NASS Medical Service.

* Dr. Ukwa Chukwu. Arochukwu LGA, Nnamdi Azikiwe Teaching Hospital Nnewi.

* Chukwu Adaeze Shalom. Bende LGA, National Biotech Development Agency.

* Ihejirika Chineye. Umunneochi LGA, NAFDAC.

* Mrs. Uwaeme Chidirim Uchechi. Umunneochi LGA, Federal Civil Service.

* Nne Ironkwa. Ohafia LGA, CBN.

* Nnadozie Samuel Kalu. Arochukwu LGA, C- STEMP, Model Skill Trg Center, Bwari, Abuja.

* Okoro Umezurike R. Arochukwu LGA, Ditto.

* Ole Obinna F. Arochukwu LGA, Ditto.

* Nnenna Kalu Ume. Ohafia LGA, Ditto.

* Okpara Ogonnaya. Umunneochi LGA, Ditto.

* Anicho Chidiebere S. Arochukwu LGA, Ditto

* Oji Munachi Chioma. Bende LGA, Ditto

* Emeruwa Ijeoma Deborah. Arochukwu LGA, NSITF

* Mgbo Christian Abuchi. Isuikwuato LGA, NSITF

* Okereke Ezechi. Ututu, Arochukwu LGA, NSITF

* Chioma Otusi. Abiriba, Ohafia LGA, NDDC Scholarship- Overseas

* Njionye Udomiri Rosemary. Isuikwuato LGA, Nigerian Immigration Service

* Alice Uchechi. Bende LGA, Nigerian Police Force.

* Precious Onyekachi Chikezie. Federal Fire Service

* Okafor Chinwe Perpetual. Umunneochi LGA, Nigerian Postal service

* Sunday Emmanuel. Bende LGA, UNN, Lecturing

* Chinedu Ejezie. Isuikwuato LGA, UNN, Lecturing

* Nwankwo Michael. Arochukwu, UNN, Lecturing

* Agbai Mba. Nkporo, Ohafia LGA, National Assembly Service Commission, Abuja

* Ohuabunwa Daisy Ijeoma. Arochukwu LGA, Postal Comptroller 1, Nigerian Postal service

* Dr. Kennedy Ochonma. Arochukwu LGA, Abia State health management Board ( ABHMB)

* DR. Chukwu. Bende LGA, ABHMB.

* Dr. Samuel. Arochukwu LGA, ABHMB.

* Chioma Igboko. Isuikwuato LGA, ABHMB.

* Anaghasim Promise Chioma. Umunneochi LGA, Nurse/ Midwife, ABHMB.

* Plus 348 wrongly disengaged Staffs of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, including many Abia North indigenes being reconsidered and reinstated in to Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike through Senator Mao Ohuabunwa’ s intervention. You can check the report of Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions of February 2018 for Confirmation.


https://puoreports.com/2018/11/09/list-of-abia-north-constituents-offered-job-by-senator-mao-ohuabunwa/?fbclid=IwAR31zuvNv054sbDMS-M65Ur-m6cynCsf47VB4DFFGLNYFfcYo8JWxI9AF3Y

The United States Institute of Peace (USIP) has denied predicting victory for President Muhammadu Buhari in the forthcoming presidential election.

In an earlier report, the organisation was quoted as saying it is less likely for Buhari to be defeated in the 2019 elections.

But the institute says the report, which also analysed the chances of violence marring the elections, was based on its interactions with Nigerians from different sectors.

Reacting in a statement on its website, the institute said it never makes predictions about election outcomes.

The organisation said its only interest in elections is to help avoid violence and not on the outcome.

“USIP never makes predictions about election outcomes and has not done so in this case. The Institute’s work on elections is confined to helping nations avoid electoral violence,” the statement read in part.

“This study is based on interviews across the country with more than 200 Nigerian respondents – election administrators, political party representatives, security officials, civil society and youth groups, the media, traditional and religious leaders, prominent community figures, business people, academics and others.

“The USIP report noted that, in the interviews, ‘some respondents’ discussed their own views of Nigerian public perceptions about an election outcome. A Nigerian news account mis-reported this passage as a USIP prediction of the outcome, and other Nigerian news organisations repeated the error.

“As USIP is a strictly nonpartisan institution, its work on elections focuses entirely on preventing violence.”


https://www.thecable.ng/nigerians-not-us-institute-predicted-victory-for-buhari-in-2019-polls

***Executive to transmit Bill to National Assembly

Workers were excited yesterday over the coming N30,000 minimum wage.

“I am fully committed to having a new national Minimum Wage Act in the very near future,” President Muhammadu Buhari said.

He was receiving the report of the committee set up to resolve the wage problem.

Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President Ayuba Wabba led the way in hailing the presentation of the N30,000 minimum wage recomendation report to Buhari.

He said payment of the new wage might be difficult at the beginning of implementation, but “if there is the will, we are certain that there will be a way out.”

He told reporters at the Villa after the Tripartite Commttee submitted its report to the President: “When the N18,000 was actually implemented in 2011, most of the states emptied their treasury. They had difficulty.”

Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry Director-General Muda Yusuf said although the private sector was paying above the current minimum wage, “there may be different challenges for the SMEs as they may adopt different models for engagement. Rather than keep all the staff, they may rationalise them by inviting only those that they need at a particular time. The big corporations have nothing to worry about as they are already paying the minimum wage.”

He praised the government for working successfully with the private sector and labour to arrive at an acceptable figure and averting a strike.

Workers were jubilating over the new wage. In Kano, Ibadan and Abakaliki, they were delighted at the approval of the new pay.

A cross section of the workers who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ibadan said the successful meeting of the tripartite committee was appreciated.

Mr Peter Ojelakin, of the National Population Commission (NPC) said a good welfare package was the wish of every civil servant, adding that a dedicated worker would not have interest in embarking on a strike.

“So, the suspension of the strike that supposed to begin today is a good development,” he said.

Mr Rasheed Abdulwahab was happy over the agreement labour reached with the government but noted that increase in wages, might lead to inflation, a development he said called for an improved economy.

He, however, called on workers to justify the salary increase by putting in their best to ensure the desired improvement in the social and economic development of the country.

Mr Lekan Dojutelegan, a surveyor at the Ministry of Works, Power and Housing, hailed the government for shifting ground on its earlier proposed N24, 000.

Dojutelegan urged civil servants to be more diligent and committed to their duties, saying that optimum performance would enable the government to pay the new minimum wage with ease.

Kano State NLC Chairman Kabiru Ado Minjibir, praised the national leaderships of NLC, TUC and ULC, “for standing firm on the decision of the Central Working Committee and their resilience to protect the interest of Nigerian workers, especially at this trying period.”


http://thenationonlineng.net/workers-excited-as-buhari-accepts-n30000-proposal/

Yyeske:
Peter Obi don kill PDP even before election

I dey tell you.... The guy Na bad market for PDP

yemaldo:
This one don finish pdp already na, wait until campaign starts, na then u go see drama

Ghen Ghen

https://mobile.twitter.com/MemeCentralNG/status/1059313764955275264


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBCVGBZIPCg

President Muhammadu Buhari has withdrawn the nomination of Olabode Akin Mustapha as chairman of governing board of Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) and replaced it with Ronke Shokefun.

Buhari’s request was contained in a letter read by Senate President Bukola Saraki on the floor of the upper legislative chamber on Tuesday.

“The distinguished senate is kindly invited to recall my earlier request for the confirmation of the appointment of Chief Olabode Akin Mustapha as the chairman of governing board of the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC),” the letter read.

“That letter dated 27th March 2018, a copy attached herewith. You may also recall that the nominee is yet to be confirmed by the senate and I write to inform you of my decision to substitute Chief Olabode Akin Mustapha with Mrs Ronke Shokefun as chairman of the governing board.

“The distinguished senate is therefore kindly requested to consider and confirm the appointment of Mrs Ronke Shokefun as chairman of the governing board of the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) as well as other members whose names have earlier been forwarded.

“While I hope this request will receive the usual expeditious consideration of the distinguished senate, please accept, Mr Senate President, the assurances of my highest consideration.”

https://www.thecable.ng/buhari-replaces-nominee-for-chairman-of-ndic-board

Life is unpredictable and anything can happen. But it’s advised that one should not misplace his/her certificate. It should be well safeguarded because it’s usually boldly written at the edge of the certificate that no substitute will be issued if the certificate is lost. The West African Examination Council does not issue a duplicate certificate.

But if due to unforeseen circumstances you lose your WAEC certificate, the only available remedy is to get an Attestation of Result from WAEC. Instead of having nothing to prove it. The Council, however, now issues Attestation of Results which are as valid as the certificate. Users who wish could confirm the details on the document with the Council.
Latest requirement updates by WAEC was on 1st March, 2016.

The Attestation of Results is issued to individual candidates or persons for their possession. The Attestation must be collected personally by applicants from the offices of the WAEC council in different regions of the country. For the issuance of the Attestation, applicants will be required to provide the following details:

ISSUANCE OF ATTESTATION OF RESULT

Management has approved the issuance of Attestation of Results as a replacement for lost or damaged certificates.

The requirements are:

1] Police report on lost or damaged certificate.

2] Sworn affidavit for collection of Attestation of Result.

3] Birth certificate or relevant document showing date of Birth.

4] Photocopy of lost or damaged certificate/result [where available].

5] Two (2) recent passport photograph of the candidate.

6] Administrative fee of Twenty thousand naira (N20,000.00) only in cash or draft payable to WAEC.

Application for attestation of result can be received in any WAEC offices nationwide and forwarded to the DR [SED] or DR [PCED] Yaba, as appropriate for processing.

http://www.rexchimex.com/2016/09/how-to-get-attestation-of-result-for.html?m=1

Note:

This news item first appeared on Thursday, September 22, 2016

TonyeBarcanista:
How would an "Attestation Certificate" be issued when the supposed ORIGINAL certificate is still with the "military board"?

Did Buhari claim that his original was missing for them to issue the new one? IF YES, then it amount to perjury for him to LIE under oath that the certificate is with the military board

Since the military board claimed in 2015 that it is not in their custody and that they cannot find it in his file what does that suggest to you? It simply means that it is lost and hence the need for an attestation.

overall90:
What Wike said is that APC and Buhari have failed but he will respect Buhari because of the office he occupies unlike during Gej era when the opposition insulted Jonathan and denigrated the office of the president because of politics.
if you like,twist it as much as you want,those with brain will understand.

Really

Senator Bukar Abba has denied media reports that he said President Muhammadu Buhari will not win in the North East, saying the president would win conveniently in the forthcoming 2019 presidential poll.

Bukar Abba stressed that there is no way the ruling party; the All Progressive Congress (APC) will lose the election.

His conviction, according to a statement signed by his media aide, Mr. Yusuf Ali was based on the great work the president has done in the last three and half years.

Yusuf quoted the senator as saying that: “As far as I am alive, there is nothing that will make Buhari fail in the North East. Not in Bauchi, Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, or Taraba. There is no way he will lose the election. By the grace of God, Buhari will win the election and serve his second term.

“I Bukar Abba, I am in APC now, tomorrow I will be in APC by the grace of God. I will forever be in APC, if they don’t change the party. Nothing will separate me with my party the APC”.

The senator, Yusuf added has vowed to forever be a member of the All Progressives Congress, a party he fought hard to build. He said it was him and Dr Ogbonnaya Onu the then Chairman of the ANPP that first initiated the merger for the mega party of the opposition to form APC and save the country from the PDP.

Describing the Senator as “an Elder Statesman in his own right who does not He deserve to be called unprintable names”, Yusuf said it was obvious the three time lawmaker was quoted out of context, noting that “he has pledged his support for the APC and Buhari in the 2019 general elections.”

http://thenationonlineng.net/i-never-said-buhari-will-lose-in-north-east/

http://thenationonlineng.net/ibrahim-buhari-ll-win-conveniently/

Heard Atiku is planning room to room campaign?

A pressure group, the Progressive Yoruba Youth Congress, has revealed what giving support to the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Atiku Abubakar, will cost the South West in 2023.

According to the group, it will hinder the return of the presidency to the southern part of Nigeria.

Addressing a press conference in Lagos, the national president of the group, Kola Salawu, urged the South West to reject the PDP and its candidate.

The group said, “South West does not need to go back to oblivion again and we must rise up to protect this ongoing progress and support the one who has brought development to the zone.

“When President Muhammadu Buhari’ s tenure ends in 2023 after he wins the 2109 elections, power will return to the southern part of Nigeria and that is just some four years away.

“We never can tell what will happen then as the highest ranking person in this government from the south is Vice President Yemi Osinbajo. It may just be his turn.

“We urge all sons and daughters of the South West to be politically awake and choose wisely in the forth-coming elections as the decisions we make will determine if the region will continue to enjoy the true benefits of good governance or we go back to the days of total neglect.

“During the last PDP-led Federal Government, the South West was completely neglected. The area with the highest number of intellectual professionals was denied any meaningful position in the top hierarchy of political office holders.

“At some point, there was nobody from the South West occupying any of the top ten positions in the country.

“They pushed for alliances with other political parties across the country to form the new All Progressives Congress (APC).

“They mobilised the South West to vote the new party which ultimately resulted to victory the APC at the polls.

“Politically, the APC has taken care of the interest of the South West tremendously. The Vice President and the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representative is from the South West. There are 68 ongoing road projects in the zone.

“It is obvious to all that there is a huge difference in what the South West got under the previous PDP government and what they are getting now.

“The master stroke was the recognition of June 12 as Democracy Day and the honor given to Chief MKO Abiola, something that even the Olusegun Obasanjo government refused to get done.

“To our amazement, when the PDP were going to have their convention in 2017 to pick their new party executives, the party agreed to zone the party chairmanship position to the South West but alas, that did not happen, the position was given to the South- South.

“After their party presidential primaries where Atiku Abubakar emerged candidate, he picked Mr. Peter Obi from the South East geo-political zone as running mate.

“It was reported in the news media that the PDP has decided to give the position of Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) to the South West. This is very laughable.”

http://dailypost.ng/2018/10/30/2019-presidency-south-west-will-lose-supporting-atiku-yoruba-group/

About 5,000 members of the Kwankwasiya group in Kebbi State have defected to the All Progressives Congress from the Peoples Democratic Party.

Kwankwasiyya is the political structure of Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, who represents Kano Central senatorial zone in the National Assembly, and was an aspirant in the recent presidential primaries of the PDP that was won by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.

Members of the group were received by the Deputy Governor of Kebbi State, Alhaji Samaila Yombe, at the APC Secretariat, Birnin-Kebbi on Tuesday

Speaking on behalf of the defectors, the group’s former State Organising Secretary, Abdullahi Nayalwa, noted that they took the decision because of the landmark achievements of President Muhammadu Buhari and Governor Abubakar Bagudu in agriculture and other sectors.

“We have finally dumped PDP and joined APC because APC administration is the only government that can bring change and unity in the country.

“We have gone to the market and the market was not favourable. We decided to return home with over 5,000 of our members and more are coming by God’s grace”.

Receiving the defectors, Yombe commended them for taking the decision to return to the APC and assured them of equal treatment.

The deputy governor, who described their return to the party as timely, also said that they had chosen the right path.

https://punchng.com/5000-kwankwaso-supporters-join-apc-in-kebbi/

How promise of vice presidency to multiple candidates caused a storm

Igbo leaders demand agreement on single term

It has emerged that the immediate pushback by South-east leaders against the choice of their kinsman, Mr. Peter Obi, as running mate to the presidential candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in next year’s election, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, was due to an alleged multiplicity of persons promised the same post. Atiku was said to have promised about five people from the zone the same position, but settled for Obi without running it by the others.

Thus, rather than elicit excitement, Atiku’s eventual pick of Obi caused unexpected rage among the political elite in the South-east, as a majority of them considered his decision without consultation a betrayal.

Among those believed to have been promised the vice presidential position were the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu; Chairman, South-east Governors Forum and Governor of Ebonyi State, Chief David Umahi; Obi himself; and two others, whose identities could not be immediately ascertained at the time of going to press.


THISDAY learnt that Atiku was advised by his campaign team to promise as many people as possible the vice presidential position, which was exactly what he did as a way to corner the South-east votes at the convention. It was on the basis of this that many of the potential picks went to work and campaigned vigorously, mobilising the South-east states to support Atiku’s presidential bid and at the same time committing huge personal resources in the hope that an Atiku win would automatically catapult their political career.

Unfortunately, while they were still celebrating Atiku’s victory and the hitch-free convention that brought him, the news broke on the social media that Atiku had settled for Obi, a former governor of Anambra State, as his running mate.

According to one of the former vice presidential hopefuls, who preferred anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the issue, he was shocked by the news.

“I thought it was fake news, when I first heard it on the social media,” he said. “I was shocked. It hit me so hard I couldn’t believe it, not even the courtesy of one phone call to let me know things had changed and that the promise earlier made to me was no longer feasible. At least, I would understand.” Another person said to have been promised the same post also lamented the way Atiku eventually made his pick without recourse to them.

He said, “Many of us were disappointed. We expected that having emerged as the PDP candidate the running mate pick would go through a process that would eventually lead to his pick. But that was not the case. We had even thought of involving APGA to get their buy-in so that the entire South-east would be involved in the selection process, which would have put us in a very strong position going into the election.

“Right now, Atiku does not have APGA on his side and this is critical if we must mobilise the entire South-east to turn out massively to vote. Don’t forget Goodluck Jonathan lost by about two million votes, if South-east had turned out massively to vote, the story would have been different.

“So, the strong resistance from the South-east leaders wasn’t so much a rejection of Peter Obi, but more about the disappointment by some of those that Atiku had promised the same position and the lack of consultation that led to the eventual pick of Obi.”

The choice of Obi as running mate seems to have particularly affected the political career of Ekweremdu, presently the highest political office holder from the South-east. Should Atiku win the presidency in 2019, Ekweremadu, assuming he goes back to the senate cannot remain Deputy Senate President since Peter Obi would be the Vice President. The position of Deputy Senate President would naturally be zoned to another region to maintain balance and representation. So what is there for Ekweremadu?

Many are of the view that Atiku bungled the process of picking his running mate and, ultimately, watered down the momentum his emergence had generated. Multiple sources close to opinion moulders in the South-east have expressed fear that should Buhari strike a deal with the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), it may create problems for Atiku.

Already, many of Atiku supporters are believed to be worried about South-east mobilisation in next year’s general election, especially, since the governors, who are unhappy with the current situation, are effectively in control of their people.

Many stakeholders are now of the view that if the Atiku/Obi ticket is to have the kind of acceptance expected from the zone, Atiku and his team would have to properly manage the situation without giving the impression that “there is nothing they can do about the decision he has taken”.

THISDAY has also learnt that Igbo leaders are demanding an agreement from Atiku on his offer to do just one term of four years which was one of the selling point to get South-east support.


https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2018/10/28/why-atikus-peter-obi-pick-divided-south-east/?amp

Deputy National Publicity Secretary of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youths, Dr. Okey Nwachukwu, has said the group has not endorsed the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi, as his running mate, contrary to news making the rounds.

They called on all Nigerians to disregard the purported endorsement of the Atiku/Obi ticket, and count it as the ranting of impostors using the name of Ohanaeze Ndigbo for dubious intents.

In a press statement he issued to newsmen, made available to Daily Sun in Umuahia, Nwachukwu, warned that the media should investigate, properly, the source of their news before feeding the public with it.

He called on politicians and Nigerians to be weary of impostors who are using the name of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youths to defraud and deceive people.

He insisted that Ohanaeze Ndigbo youth wing has not endorsed any presidential candidate, neither are they planning for any two million-man march endorsement for Atiku and Obi ticket. He called on security agents to fish out, arrest and prosecute those behind the act.

He reminded the public that the youth group was never consulted on the choice of Obi as running mate, hence, there was no way they could have gone ahead to endorse the duo.

“This is the handiwork of impostors, whom we demand their arrest. We are open to all presidential candidates from all political parties, including the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for consultations, insofar as Igbo interest will be protected,” they said.


https://sunnewsonline.com/weve-not-endorsed-atiku-obi-ohanaeze-youths

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