Presidential candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC) and former governor of Lagos State, His Excellency, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Sunday, promised to be fair and just to all, if elected, while reassuring his commitment to progressive leadership.

Mr Tinubu gave the promise during a town hall meeting with Northeast Muslim leaders in Bauchi.

The presidential candidate, in soliciting their support, asked the Islamic scholars to vote wisely. If given the mandate, Tinubu assures that he will remain consistent with the tenets of his Islamic faith.

This latest town hall meeting is among the series of engagements the APC standard bearer is having with religious, business, professional, and community leaders as well as all other stakeholders across the country in his bid for the Presidency.

On occasions like this, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has always echoed his pledge to purposeful and honest leadership. “A leader in a plural society like ours is enjoined to be a leader of all. If elected, I shall govern honestly and democratically, in harmony with our nation’s constitution”, Tinubu maintains.

He also promised to revive the economy and fight corruption and insecurity through the provision of modern equipment for security agencies to tackle peculiar and emerging security challenges in the country. Top on the list of his priorities for the Northeast, are resettlement of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) affected by the Boko Haram insurgency, creating better opportunities for economic prosperity through continues exploitation of the available mineral resources deposited in the region and paying great attention to job creation for teeming youths in a bid to harness potential for greater national development.

Earlier in their remarks, the Vice Presidential candidate of the APC and former Governor of Borno State, Sen. Kashim Shettima and Northern Coordinator, APC Presidential Campaign Council, and Jigawa Governor, Mohammed Abubakar Badaru, dismissed fears of Yoruba-dominated government, if Asiwaju Tinubu is elected President. Shettima is optimistic of rapid development and welfare of citizens under Asiwaju’s presidency, alluding to his principal’s track record and antecedents as Governor of Lagos State.

Governor Badaru stated that there was no caucus meeting of the APC Presidential Campaign that did not include his counterparts, northern governors, and the likes of Malam Nuhu Ribadu, mni, who heads APC Campaign’s Directorate of Stakeholder Relations. Badaru Abubakar said that they would not betray the North.

Governor Badaru also added that Tinubu is healthy and mentally alert and would not let Nigerians down by the grace of Almighty Allah.

Some Muslim leaders who spoke at the occasion, including Sheikh Dr. Gambo Kyari, Sheikh Salihu Suleiman Ningi, and Sheikh Dr. Bashir Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi, among others, declared support for Asiwaju’s ambition as a clarion call.

Distinguished personalities present at the occasion include former governors of Bauchi State, Mal. Isa Yuguda and M.A Abubakar, SAN, former governor of Borno State, Senator Ali Modu sheriff, Speaker, House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, former Speaker Oladimeji Sabur Bankole, APC Deputy National Chairman, Sen. Abubakar Kyari, Bauchi State APC Governorship candidate, Air Marshal (Ambassador) Sadique Baba Abubakar, CFR (rtd) former Minister of the FCT, Dr. Aliyu Modibbo, former federal permanent secretary in charge of State House, Alhaji Jalalu Arabi, former Executive Secretary, Tetfund Dr. Musa Babayo among many others.

*We shall Support Hawwa Say Chikun Women Leaders

* Mammoth crowd attends Hawwa’s Campaign in Chikun

The Candidate For Chikun Kajuru Federal Constituency under the aegis of the African Democratic Party,( ADC), Mrs Hawwa Gambo Abdullahi got a massive boost in her bid to get elected in the forthcoming election.

The endorsement for Hawwa came at the Kataf Township Hall in Sabo Tasha when over 3000 women and youths gathered to express their support for the ADC Candidate .

One of the women leader,Mrs  Monica Gaiya urged the ecstatic crowd to vote Mrs Hawwa as she would be the real game changer when elected. 

“I want you all here today to take the message of Hawwa to the rest of the electorates, she is the only  one that can bring positive change in Chikun and Kajuru .

She further added ,

“I want you the representatives of Mrs Hawwa to understand that we have resolved to vote her to office come February but she should be ready to work , she concluded  

In another presentation at the event, another woman Leader, Rejoice Bulus said the coming of the ADC candidate who  happened to be a Woman was a long awaited opportunity for them because according to them, what a woman can do in politics is far more better than what a man can do.

She  promised to campaign and vote for the ADC Candidate and also  appeal to her to take into Cognizance the enormous challenges facing their community and sponsor bills that will address their plight.

According to the Party Organizing Chairman, Mr. Nuhu Manga the ADC candidate for the Constituency has wealth of experience and very sincere to changing the fortunes of the Chikun/Kajuru Federal Constituency.

Mr. Nuhu Manga noted that the constituency have not benefitted from any project and therefore have not felt the impact of Democratic divident noting that Hawwa Abdullahi Gambo will be the person to change that ugly trend.

The Ward Chairman of the Party Mr. Tabakwot Friday said though the party is new in the constituency but not new in the country, it’s emergence in the area was spreading so fast because the people want change from old hands who have abandoned them that is why the event witnessed the large turn out.

Responding, Hajiya Hawwa Abdullahi Gambo who was Represented by Madam Ann Gwazah expressed excitement by the massive turn out of the people and promised Women and Youth empowerment programmes among other projects that will better the lives of the constituency 

She appealed to the people to keep to their words by voting her into power so that things will never remained the same with them

Hajiya Hawwa Abdullahi Gambo was invited by the Local Government Party Executives to present her manifesto to the people In Chikun 

A support group, the Obidatti People’s Movement (ODPM) has expressed optimism that Northern Nigeria will be all out to give support to Labour Party’s Presidential Candidate, Peter Obi and his running mate, Datti Baba-Ahmed during the 2023 general elections billed for next month, as well as all the LP candidates vying for various offices

The group expressed this at a press briefing held on Monday January 16, 2023 in Kaduna, ahead of Obi’s campaign flag off billed for Wednesday 18th in the political capital of Northern Nigeria, with the them, “Our Future is Bright with OBI-DATTI VICTORY”

“We sincerely believe that the North will support Obi-Datti campaign to rescue this nation come May 29,” the group said.

According to the text of the briefing jointly signed by Honourable Charles Obiora Anueyiagu (National Coordinator, Obi-Datti People’s Movement Nigeria), Bon Nebo Esq Diaspora Coordinator ObiDatti People’s Movement and Kenneth Chukwu
(Director General ObiDatti People’s Movement), the group assured Nigerians that with an Obi-Datti presidency, all the woes of Nigeria will become a thing of the past within the shortest possible time.

“Our unalloyed support for joint ticket of Obi-Datti is hinged on the following facts;

(1) Character, Capability and Competence.

2) Verifiable track records and accountability.

The first time all Nigerians speaking with one voice irrespective of tribes regions and religions.

3) Transformative agenda. A paradigm shift from consumption to production.

4) Equal opportunities to all Nigerians regardless of ethnicity or religion.

5) An end to corruption and for empowerment of Nigerian youth.

For the first time Nigerians and the rest of the world have a presidential and vice presidential candidate both being loved equally for their ability and competency of good leadership.

(3)Transformation Agenda.
They have records of prudent management and leading by example. And will therefore, be able to transform our civil service, the armed forces, the police force, and all other paramilitary, and governance institutions for good.

(4) Education and Youth Development:
This is also the first time the skills, wisdom and suppressed knowledge of Nigerian Youth comes alive in a high scale dimension. This is a rebirth of hope for our youth who are the future of our nation, Nigeria.

(5) Corruption:
Corruption will die natural death. Only the incorruptible can fight corruption successfully. And only the contented pass through the Nigeria system without being corrupted. We have a duo with impeccable and incorruptible character.

Therefore, our victory in the forthcoming election is the right signal for rebirth of integrity and change of the psyche of our people towards non-corruption characteristics.

(6 ) Nigerians will choose their leaders by themselves not by imposition. This is the greatest opportunity God has given to the populace to decide our future. And we must take advantage of it.

(7) Trust Restored: Their victory will restore hope to Nigerians that democracy works. This victory is our collective victory which guarantees the future for which God blessed our nation abundantly.

(8) Develop Nigeria among world economic power.
They will enhance and increase economics potential global (net export ) and utilize the blessings of God to Nigeria and Nigerians for the good of all.

“With the above, you will all agree that Our Future is Bright with OBI-DATTI victory and together we will achieve by God’s Grace,” the group said.

ODPM said that they have so far, carried out several activities that include the following;

“We created a site named, wheremypvc.com, where we encouraged masses to go get their PVCs, we tell them locations of their PVCs within Rivers State.

“We visited Mile 3 and Mile 1 markets in Rivers State on need to pick up their PVCs and we encouraged them to come out in mass and cast their votes on 25th of February 2023.

“We went all out again to educate people on need to vote for credible leaders, using Peter Obi as our focal point on October 1, 2022 and 8th October 2022.

“Similarly, on January 11, we were at Ogbogoro Town Hall, helping and assisting INEC officials in sorting and giving out PVCS to prospective voters.

“On January 12, we were at Akpor Grammer School, assisting new voters on how to retrieve their data and print out slip for easy collection

“On Friday, we stormed
Ahoda for sensitization.

“Before that, between November 29th to 30th, we sensitized in Port Harcourt City Local Government (PHALGA), we visited ward 17, 8, 1 and 2 we sensitized the whole Eagle Island too.

“Similarly, on November 11th and 12th 2022, we visited Orie Umuogb

“On 7th November to 9th of November, we sensitized some areas in Obioakpor Local Government Area, like Ogbogoro, Ozuoba, Choba, St John Market and Mike 3 Market.

“From September 13th to 15th 2022, we sensitized Akpajo, onne, Eleme Market all In Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State.

“Between October 3rd to 5th, we sensitized Ikwere Local Government and areas we visited were IPO, Omerelelu, Big Elele Market.

“A car rally took place at university of Port Harcourt on Friday 16th of December 2022. It was a weekly outreach for two months.

“We also visited University of Science and Technology on 13th September 2022, as well as embarked on sensitizing eligible voters at Elechi Amadi polytechnic on 12th of September 2022.

“In all our sensitization outreaches, we made use of stickers of various sizes, aprons, tote bags dummy ballot papers and wrist bands as sensitization and voters education materials.

“On 18th of January 2023, our principals Peter Obi and Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed will be visiting Kaduna State.

“Same activities were carried out in other states of the South East and South South, as well as Lagos in the South West.

“We therefore, ask all the executives and coordinators of this honourable group and the Obidients all over the North West to be present in Kaduna for this very important campaign.

“We plan to use this opportunity to show the world our abilities, and also to identify with our principals in Kaduna,” they explained.

According to them, some notable names of their members in the North include,

1. Alhaji Umar Farouk Ibrahim
2. Alhaji Mannir Rabiu Katsina
3. AIG Hadi Zarewa Rtd
4. Engr Mike Ayuba Auta
   5 Hon Jonathan Asake
5. Hon Bashir Idris Aliyu Zangon Aya
6. Hon MS Ibrahim
7. Alhaji Audi Makama
8. Alhaji Maitama Danmasani Kano
9. Hon Auwal Tafoki

“We therefore, encourage everybody to be there and be a part of this history making political event seeking to liberate and promote the Nigerian people,” they said.

The Delta State governorship candidate under the platform of Social Democratic Party (SDP), Chief Olorugun Kenneth Gbagi is undoubtedly the best among the rest as his outstanding achievements is speaking loud and clear in his favour as the man the good people of Delta State need as their governor at this juncture.

As a minister for State For Education, under his tenure, 13 Federal Universities were created, while numbers of educational reforms were introduced which saw to heavy government funding of tertiary, secondary and primary schools. By and large, these reforms have helped increased the access of millions of Nigerians to education at all levels.

According to Fabian Idehin, a journalist, “Mr Gbagi within that short period as a minister introduced series of reforms that triggered the positive growth of the educational sector in the country.

“He made sure that the federal government invested heavily in primary and secondary schools across the country with the aim of bringing secondary and primary schools closer to the masses and it worked”.

Idehin added,
“It was the efforts made by the former minister that led to the creation of 13 Universities in country.

“He also instituted reforms at the tertiary levels which led to more enrolment of candidates into universities, polytechnics and monothenics. Furthermore, students were given more access to loans and scholarships while tertiary institutions enjoy more fundings from local and international partners

“At the homefront, Mr Gbagi ensured that a Federal Girls College was established at Ughelli South to cater for the need of people from that areas”.

Before he became a Minister, the first Military Administrator of Delta State, Colonel Bassey Asuquo, had appointed him Chairman of Delta Development and Property Authority (DDPA) due to his capacity, sincerity and commitment to serving humanity in all honesty.

Chief Gbagi didn’t operate below the confidence reposed on him as within that short period, he came up with a revenue formular that saw the DDPA, which had a zero account balance when he assumed office, to have over N800 million in its accounts from issuance of Certificates of Occupancy.

It was testified that “As a businessman and an industralist who has employed hundreds and provided opportunities to numerous Deltans, Gbagi has the leadership qualities and what it’s takes to lead Delta State to the promised Land. As he had demonstrated and shown capacity while as Minister of State for Education and has a successful entrepreneur and industrialist.

Mrs. Mary Daniel, a house wife and residence of Asaba opined that

“The former Minister has invested his resources in generating employment opportunities within the state by building and setting up businesses to provide employment for jobless Deltans.

According to her, “If Olorugun Gbagi is elected as the next Governor of Delta State, for the first time, Delta State would have the highest private investor and employer of labour in the state, and incorruptible leader rolled into one, as a governor”.

Therefore, the best that the good people of Delta State can do at time is to queue behind Chief Kenneth Gbagi, give him all the supports he needs and massively vote for him to emerge as the next governor of Delta State.

Real reasons why Binani will be woefully trounced in Adamawa Guber poll

 by IBRAHIM MADA,

From all indications, the quest of governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri to succeed himself in the March 2023 Gubernatorial election has been sealed as the Gubernatorial ambition of his arch rival, Sen Aishatu Dahiru Binani keeps wobbling over serious contentious issues and moral questions staring her in the face.

On one hand, the only female Gubernatorial contender is facing humongous integrity questions over her past misdeeds including alleged theft of public resources and perverse immoral acts when she was a student.

The issue of her suitability in the eyes of many Islamic scholars also poses a great threat to her ambition as conservative Muslims in Adamawa and beyond are hell bent at ensuring that a women did not hold executive position in a Muslim dominated state like Adamawa.

Again, her ambition is facing another litmus test from her own party over intractable and unresolved differences that emanated from the contentious gubernatorial primaries that pitched the former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Malam Nuhu Ribadu against the Gubernatorial candidate which metamorphosed into a legal tussle between the two gladiators.

Another issue facing the APC candidate is the no love lost between her and the Adamawa State Presidential Campaign Council superintended by the former deputy governor of Adamawa State Martins Babale. 

Right now the two sides do not see eye to eye because of this gaping cleavage which snowballed into a media war between Binani’s supporters and the members of the PCC.

Another reason for the envisage loss of Binani has to do with allegations of substance abuse which made most of the elites in the state to treat her ambition with a pinch of salt as they believe that if she emerged as governor, Adamawa State is going to loss substantial goodwill on account of electing a substance abuser.

Based on the foregoing, elites in the state are meeting surreptitiously to form a bipartisan front to ensure that the move of Binani to govern Adamawa State is truncated at all cost as that will set the clock of Adamawa’s development in the reverse direction as the state will lose both its goodwill and credibility before the committee of states.

Another serious issue that will dog the Binani quest to become Adamawa State governor is her herd line posture against a large creme of members of state working committee of APC whom she has since declared as enemies for taking sides against her during her legal tussle with Ribadu.

Again, the fear of a backlash if she wins the general election will make many amongst the members of the state working committee to resort to anti-party as many are of the opinion that if Binani win the election she is going to bring back her man Friday and stooge in the person of Ibrahim Bilal the former state chairman of the party who was removed over alleged humongous financial malfeasance.

A number of disgruntled party stalwarts including officials of the party at state and national levels have vowed to support governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri to finish his second tenure for the expediency of preventing what they consider as taboo from happening to Adamawa State.

Already some of these people are working seriously behind the clock to ensure Binani’s dreams and larger than life ambition is scuttled for its debilitating consequences. While some are working behind the curtains to ensure her ambition did not see the light of day some have openly indicated that they will never support her ambition.

One of the stalwarts that has resolved not to support Binani is the immediate past governor of the state Muhammadu Jibrilla Bindow who during a meeting with development area administrators in Mubi has resolved to support Fintiri in the Gubernatorial election.

Another APC stalwart that has towed Bindow’s line is his former commissioner for local government and chieftaincy affairs, Prince Mustpaha Barkindo Aliyu Mustapha who seems by all means and purporses is ready to take sides with his boss.

With the litany of issues dogging the ambition of Binani, her woeful defeat and the convincing victory of governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri come March 2023 is secured and sealed and it is only a matter of time for that dream to become a reality.

The gubernatorial candidate of Social Democratic Party (SDP) for the March 2023 election in Delta State, Chief Olorugun Kenneth Gbagi and his campaign team got a big endorsement from the Bishop of Anglican Diocese of Ughelli on Wednesday when the Governorship candidate visited the cleric.

The Bishop of the Anglican Communion Diocese, Right Rev Cyril Odutemu who conducted the New Year Annual Prayer Service at the Anglican Girls Communion School ground endorsed the ambition of Chief Gbagi to become the next Governor of the state.

The Cleric prayed for the success of Olorugun Gbagi in his quest to become the next occupant of the Delta State Government House in Asaba, while presenting him to the congregants.

The Cleric further blessed the gubernatorial candidate asking that God should grant him the power and will to do as he promised.

Speaking earlier, Olorugun Gbagi urged the people of Delta State to vote him as their next governor based on his track record as a former minister, administrator and human capacity developer.

The popular and energetic politician said, during his tenure as a Federal Minister he created 13 Federal Universities across the country, “within that short period, I brought the Federal Government Girls College to Ughelli South and I’ll do more”, he added.

He continue by urging the good people of Delta State to take their fate in their hands and liberate their states this 2023, “if we don’t liberated ourselves then we are in trouble. Hence, my conscious efforts in creating facilities that would generate employment opportunities”.

He further promised to initiate Local Government reforms that would make Local Governments autonomous and viable.
“I promised to pay unemployed youths in Delta State N30,000 every month till they are gainful employed”.

According to political observers, the endorsement of Kenneth Gbagi by Bishop Odutemu is a major milestone that would greatly increase his chances at the polls. It could be recalled that community leaders from Ughelli South and other great leaders from communities across the state have been endorsing Gbagi as the next Governor .