Politics
Nigeria, Obasanjo And A Third Force
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo raised political dust of monumental proportion when he advised President Muhammadu Buhari to drop his 2019 re-election bid in a letter that was released to the press recently. In the same letter, the erstwhile ruler wrote off the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in favour of a Third Force Movement in the form of a Coalition of Nigerians that share his vision.
As if acting from a prepared script, it took only a couple of days for the Nigeria Coalition Movement (CNM) to be officially launched in Abuja, the nation’s capital city with people like Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Donald Duke and Ahmadu Ali at the forefront. While Nigerians were still speculating about the conspicuous absence at the event, Chief Obasanjo (OBJ) is also known, enrolled into the movement the arrow heads of the Abuja episode superintended over in Abeokuta, capital of Ogun State, Chief Obasanjo’s home state in a matter of hours.
Nigerians have since been divided on whether or not the Third Force Movement is a viable political option that cannot only wrest power at the centre in 2019 but also lead the country out of its current socio-political and economic woods.
Two political activists in their own rights bare their minds on the vexatious issue in Port Harcourt during an interview with The Tide: Excerpts.
Dr. Emmanuel Iruayenama, Management Consultant and Public Affairs Analyst
I’m not sure that what he means is a political party, but if it’s a political party, then it is part of the failures of the existing political parties. Perhaps, what it simply means is conscientised set of Nigerians that will guide either the ruling or any other party that comes to win at every point in time at the national stage.
If, on the other hand, it is a political party he is tinkering with, first, I have had cause to look at who Obasanjo is vis the statement he is making and the persons he expects to form that third force.
However, if it’s a political party, he is tinkering with, it is only going to be one of the existing failed political parties. I don’t see a third force working in Nigeria as it is today. That is, if it’s going to be a political party, it’s not going to work. It is a waste of time.
My thinking is that it is a conscientised set of persons coming around to help shape already existing party in power or a party that would come to power. If that is it, then people could be drawn from all existing political parties to see how they can support government in power; to see how they can direct thinking in government. But to say he wants to form a new political party, I wish him the best, but I know it has failed before arrival.
So far it is laughable. No new persons; seen people. I even saw one Mr. Fixer. For me, they are a group of persons who have failed in the existing political parties and are merely looking for where they can hide their heads. Nigerians know them, so it won’t work.
Andy Akpotive, Public Affairs Commentator
It’s very impossible for man and indeed any being created by God to stop an idea whose time has come. For me, there couldn’t be a better time for this idea to take expression in our country than now.
For too long, we have been managed by people who are completely clueless about what administration of a state should be like. For too long we have had a group of people who at best are supposed to be at the garage, administering the affairs of this country. We have had square pegs in round holes and round pegs in square holes.
So, for the very first time, those who are instrumental to the current destiny that we share as Nigerians, some of them have been able to say that ‘before we die, let us rewrite some of these ills, some of these evils that we have helped to perpetrate.’
One of such persons is actually Olusegun Obasanjo. For me, that man is beyond an enigma; that man is a movement. So, today he is saying that ‘if I have been instrumental to how it came the first, the second time, the third time, I have one more chance, particularly because I’m at the exit lounge right now much more than I was twenty years ago, I have this option to change and turn things around.’
So, for me, this is something that indeed is very exciting, it’s an idea whose time has come so we need to talk about people who are youth, people who are visionary, who have the passion to revolutionise the things that affect us as a people, people who are passionate about putting Nigeria on the map of countries that are developed, countries that are progressive, we can have them come and take center stage and begin to drive this car and leave this place to the destination we need to get to.
As it stands at the moment, it is a movement but it is most definitely going to evolve into that which will create the opportunity for the people whom it supports to get into elective positions. What I am saying is that, most definitely, it will evolve into a political party or it could join itself with other political parties of like minds and throw up candidates that, according to the vision, will be able to give us the ideal that we want from a state.
It is pseudo political party so that he is able to fix the super structure and attract the best of people to give the political party the needed experience. I have no doubt that it is going to evolve into a political party or at worst join with other political parties to support certain people who carry the DNA of the new Nigeria that we aspire to be.
The question is, is it going to be different from the way the APC is currently constituted as a political party that has strange bed fellows? Would it not be something that is going to move in that direction? However, the difference with this one is that it will be a political party that is structured for the youth.
Today, we have a government that is at best a gerontocracy, a government of the old ruling the young. We have a government of people who used certain ideals, knowledge, principles over forty years ago are made to superintend over challenges that would require 2030 wisdom to address.
So, we are talking about an Obasanjo and Olagunsoye Oyinlola who understand that ‘our time is down, our time indeed is out but we can provide the structure for the youth to run on, we can provide the board that can spring the youths to the highest heights so that when we’re long gone, seeing that we’re at the departure lounge, the children that are left behind will say that we were a part of the failure and we were also a part of the success story of the Nigerian project.
Opaka Dokubo
Governor Abba Yusuf of Kano State has approved the release of N15.6 billion for the payment of outstanding severance gratuities, accommodation, and leave allowances owed to over N3,000 former councillors across the State’s 44 local government areas.
The approved payment covers councillors who served during the periods of 2014–2017, 2018–2020, and 2021–2024 under the administration of former Governor Abdullahi Ganduje. The entitlements, which remained unpaid for years, will now be disbursed in three installments between April and June 2025.
In a statement issued by the Special Adviser on Information to the Governor, Ibrahim Adam, the administration described the move as a corrective measure to address the neglect of past leadership and fulfil a promise to ensure fairness to public office holders.
“The approval of N15.6 billion is in fulfilment of Governor Abba K. Yusuf’s commitment to ensuring that all outstanding entitlements owed to our dedicated public servants are fully paid. It is a matter of principle and justice to uphold the dignity of those who have served in elected positions”, Mr Adam said.
He noted that the financial intervention reflects the governor’s broader vision of governance rooted in fairness, accountability, and public trust.
“His Excellency recognises the sacrifices and dedication of these former councillors. This action is part of a larger effort to right the wrongs of the past and restore faith in public administration,” he added.
Local government officials and affected former councillors have welcomed the decision, describing it as long overdue and a step toward healing the financial frustrations of many grassroots leaders.
Governor Yusuf’s administration, elected on a different political platform than his predecessor, continues to draw commendation for its proactive efforts to resolve inherited liabilities and improve the welfare of public servants.
As the payment schedule begins, it is expected that this intervention will offer financial relief to thousands and stimulate local economic activity across the state.
Politics
Gunmen Disrupt Political Rally In Bayelsa ….As Turnah, Others Emerge New Associates’Leaders
Scores of spectators and political faithful were hospitalised after a yet to be identified gunmen invaded a rally organised by a group loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Chief Nyesom Wike and President Bola Tinubu in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital.
Part of the activities scheduled to hold at the occasion was the inauguration ceremony of the Bayelsa State chapter of the ‘New Associates’, a pro-Wike political forum.
The Tide which monitored the event reports that trouble started just at the preparatory stages of the event, when the unidentified gunmen launched sporadic gunshots from a farm close to the venue of the event, injuring unsuspecting spectators and party faithful across party lines.
However, calm was restored after a swift intervention by men and officers of the Nigeria Police Force and other security formations which enabled the event to go on as planned.
Speaking to newsmen shortly after restoration of calm, factional South-South zonal Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Chairman, Caretaker Committee of the State’s chapter of the party, Barrister George Turnah, commended security operatives for their timely response.
He noted that the plan of detractors had been defeated as forces loyal to certain individuals in the State never wanted the rally to hold as scheduled.
Turnah, who doubles as Convener of the ‘New Associates’ in the State, commended President Tinubu and Chief Wike for the appointment and facilitating the same for Ijaws across the Niger Delta region.
He said, but for the love of the duo for the Ijaw people of various extractions, the Presidency would not have given preferential political portfolios in the Federal Government’s Ministries Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to Ijaws even though the ethnic nationality produces bulk of the natural resources for the economic mainstay of the nation.
The PDP chieftain reiterated that the reason for the event which was attended across party lines was to say ‘thank you’ to the two political leaders, stressing that to ‘whom much is given, much was expected’.
“For me, I’m of the larger opposition party, PDP. But I’ve decided to support and work for President Tinubu for what he is doing for the Ijaw nation, Niger Delta region in particular and Nigeria in general.
“President Tinubu has given Bayelsans and other Ijaws across the Niger Delta region several juicy political appointments. He appointed our brother and son, Heineken Lokpobiri as Minister of Petroleum even though former President Muhammadu Buhari had previously appointed a Bayelsan as Petroleum Minister in his government.
“Apart from the Petroleum Minister, Tinubu has also appointed Ijaw sons, Chief Boma Iyaye as Executive- Director, Finance, and Dr Samuel Ogbuku as Managing-Director and CEO of the Niger Delta Development Commission.
“Though former President Buhari had appointed Ogbuku initially in Acting capacity, when President Tinubu came, even after sacking all board members of the Commission, he still kept our brother, the MD and upon the completion of his tenure in Acting capacity, the President again reappointed him as substantive MD/CEO.
“But there’s one man who has made all these appointments for Ijaws possible. He is the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike. Ijaw people, Bayelsans are we not enjoying these appointments?
“Has the NDDC not lit up the entire Niger Delta region? Are you not feeling the impact of the Ogbuku-led NDDC? So for me and all the members of the New Associates we’ve decided to support President Tinubu for a second tenure so that our state and region can benefit more from his government”, he said.
“We want Governor Douye Diri to tell us his stand on the forthcoming 2027 general election. He should tell us whether he is supporting the President or not. If he’s supporting the President, we’ll work with him. After all, Diri was the first Governor from the South-South zone that benefitted from the President’s magnanimity during the 2023 elections and even in terms of infrastructure projects and appointments of Bayelsans at the Federal level”, Barr Turnah added.
In his remarks, Chairman of the occasion, and leader, Rivers Ijaw Peoples Congress (RIPCO), Senator George Sekibo, lauded President Tinubu and the FCT Minister for their love and friendship with the Ijaw people.
Represented by former Chairman of Akuku-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State, Dr Roland Sekibo, Senator Sekibo said the ‘New Associates’ political forum was to galvanize support for the President for his 2027 election.
He said while President Tinubu had performed well as Nigeria’s leader, the FCT Minister had continued to show leadership from the federal level after showing the same in Rivers State while serving as governor.
“I like to thank the convener of the ‘New Associates’ political forum in Bayelsa State, Barr. George Turnah (MON) and the Coordinators for standing firm in spite of threats from highly placed political leaders not to hold this event.
“Love is not theoretically, but must be expressed, which explains why they have gathered to celebrate their Excellencies, President Tinubu and Barr. Ezewon Nyesom Wike for the various roles they have played and have continued to play to ensure the appointment of Ijaw sons and daughters to positions of trust and authority at the federal level.
“The ‘New Associates’ is in synergy with President Tinubu and will continue to follow directives from the FCT Minister who has openly declared support for Mr. President”, he said.
Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa
The Publicity Secretary of the Labour Party (LP) in Enugu State, Mr Titus Odo, has defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Mr Odo defected to the PDP on Wednesday alongside the former Commissioner for Chieftancy Affairs in the State, Emeka Mamah, who was the state Coordinator of the Peter Obi Presidential Campaign in the 2023 presidential election.
The duo dumped the PDP during the 2023 general elections for the Labour Party.
Receiving the defectors at the party’s state secretariat, the state PDP Chairman, Martin Chukwunwike, expressed happiness over their decision to return to their former party.
He explained that Governor Peter Mbah gave them the directive to do everything possible to bring back aggrieved party members who left the party.
“We are happy to have them in our midst, and God has set this party on a good footing, as 2027 is already assured,” he said.
The PDP chairman, however, called for unity within the party to package themselves ahead of the 2027 elections.
Speaking during their presentation to the party state chairman, Mr Odo expressed joy for returning to his former party, revealing that Mr Mbah’s massive development in the State informed his decision.
“I am happy to tell you that I am back to my home. I came back because of the giant development strides of Governor Mbah and I say kudos to him.
“The second reason is the defection of my immediate boss, the LP governorship candidate for the 2023 election in Enugu State, Dr Chijioke Edeoga.
“Another reason is that the council chairman in Igboeze North, Mr Uchenna Ogara, is turning the council area into a township,” he said.
Mr Mamah also thanked the PDP leadership in Igboeze North, Enugu North Senatorial zone and the state chapter of the party for receiving him back to the party.
He extolled Mr Mbah for extending hands of fellowship to those who had left the party, saying, “Personally, I am pleased with the performances of our governor.”