Politics

Igbo Already Projecting For Actualisation Of Igbo Presidency In 2023 -Ezeife

Published

5 years ago

October 19, 2020

A former Governor of old Anambra, Dr Chukwuemeke Ezeife has said that the people of the eastern region were already projecting some persons for the actualisation of an Igbo president in 2023.

He said this at a news conference yesterday in Abuja while speaking on the need to have an Igbo president in 2023 which he said was long overdue.

The conference was organised by the Global Movement for Igbo President in 2023.

Ezeife said it was not true that having an Igbo president might remain a mirage because the people were not united as was being speculated.

He added that contrary to the speculation, the Igbo were the most united among other erthnic groups in the country.

“The Igbo are prominent people, individualistic and not under the command of any traditional ruler, but we are more united than any other ethnic group in Nigeria.

“We have been out of central power for decades, not being President or Vice President, but if something is required, we can easily come together as one to speak,” he said.

He said he was happy that the issue of Igbo presidency was being raised.

Ezeife added that although the Igbo were united on the issue of presidency, some persons were sell out and not Igbo enough to represent the region.

“We don’t want ‘sellable’ people, we don’t want people who can sell their country for money, we don’t want people who are too selfish to help others.

“If you mention some names, they are not Igbo enough and are not acceptable to us because we know they will sell out.

“So we will bring somebody who will show love to all, show love to Hausa, Yoruba and to his Igbo brothers and to all Nigerians.

“It is too early to name names, but we are projecting some people already,” he said.

On the need to restructure the country, the former governor said if Nigeria was well organised, everybody would be happy.

He added that Nigerians of Igbo extraction would be the happiest because they want the largest market possible to trade in.

Also speaking, Mr Godfrey Azu, Media Officer of the Global Movement for Igbo President in 2023, maintained that the eastern region was long overdue to produce a president for the country.

He added that leaders of the region would use as a scapegoat, any politician from the region who betrays the people in 2023.

He further added that leaders of the region were ready to go after any Igbo politician that disrupts the political waters come 2023.

According to him, some politicians take joy in disrupting political waters and stiring it so nobody will drink from it.

“We have told them, we know them, many people we spoke to told us that the biggest problem of Ndi-Igbo is Ndi-Igbo.

“We are saying to Ndi-Igbo wherever they are both in the Diaspora and in Nigeria that we have begun this discourse and have progressed with this dialogue and getting to the point of reaching an answerable report.

“We will not want to find any man among them that goes to stir the waters.

“We call upon everyone of them, they know what their plans are and their secrets, but we are saying enough is enough,” Azu said.

He noted that Igbo were so engrossed with their businesses, going after making money, building the best mansion, estates and hotels every where in the country and across Africa.

He added that they, however, forgot that money without political power was a waste of time in the journey of life.

This, he said, was the reason he was calling upon them not to only be regional politicians, but to begin to understand national politics.

Azu added that politicians of Igbo extraction should begin to play key and pivotal role in national politics if they still believed they were part of the country.

“The issue is believing you are still part of this Nigeria and acting to play a key role in deciding the faith of Ndi-Igbo within the country’s national politics.

“We can’t be part of the tripod that formed Nigeria at independence and two of the tripod are deciding the faith of everybody in this country.

“Two of the tripod decide what economy we make and what social life we leave and who becomes who in the politics.

“We are saying in the Diaspora that enough is enough and we are telling our brothers to rise to this challenge,” he stressed.

He added that he was happy that Nigerian youths were beginning rise, haven watched their #endsars protest on television in the last few days.

Politics

Hoodlums Disrupt LP-ADC Defection Event In Lagos

Published

2 days ago

February 2, 2026

The Tide

Activities marking the defection of members of the Labour Party (LP) in Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) were violently disrupted on Saturday after unidentified hoodlums invaded the venue.

The event, jointly organised by LP and ADC to publicly acknowledge the movement of party members, was first scheduled to hold at the LP secretariat in Idimu.

However, chaos erupted when more than 100 suspected thugs reportedly stormed the premises, forcing party members and officials to flee.

Eyewitnesses said the attackers, some armed with knives, canes and other dangerous objects, assaulted individuals they encountered during the invasion.

The assailants were also heard chanting hostile slogans, declaring that LP and ADC were not welcome in Lagos State.

Several party members sustained injuries in the process, while party property, including furniture and flags, were vandalised.

Despite the disruption, officials of both parties quickly relocated the programme to an alternative venue, the Eco Centre Event Hall in Egbeda, in a bid to continue the ceremony.

Speaking on the incident, the LP Chairman in Alimosho, Mr Olanrewaju Olushola, popularly known as Heritage, condemned the attack, describing it as unprovoked and alarming, especially with the 2027 general elections approaching.

“What is most painful is that most of my members sustained varying degrees of wounds. This is in spite of the hoodlums going into our party secretariat in Alimosho and destroying our furniture and flags,” he said.

Mr Olushola clarified that the defection itself had already taken place, stressing that Saturday’s gathering was merely a symbolic ceremony to inform the public of their decision.

According to him, nearly all LP members in Alimosho, including the party’s leadership structure, had collectively agreed to move to the ADC.

Also speaking, the party’s Secretary in Alimosho, Mr Moses Akujuobi, explained that plans for an open defection ceremony had earlier been halted by the police, who cited the absence of formal approval.

He said the organisers had reached out to the Area M Commander, ACP Abaniwonda, who reportedly informed them that only the Commissioner of Police could authorise political events in the state.

“Incidentally, we could not reach the CP, but we informed the DSS, after which we went ahead since it wasn’t a rally but a quiet ceremony,” Mr Akujuobi said.

He added that the situation became more tense upon arrival at the initial venue.

“When we got to the venue this morning, we were shocked to see police vans with heavily armed policemen. They informed us that we cannot hold the event and referred us to the police commissioner.

“While we were at it, the hoodlums besieged the place and began to beat people, leading to our deserting the venue,” he explained.

Mr Akujuobi said party officials subsequently contacted members by phone to proceed to the second venue in Egbeda, where the programme resumed briefly.

“We, however, began to contact our members through phones to move to the second venue, which is the Eco Event Centre, and everyone witnessed what took place here.

“The hoodlums got wind of our second venue and equally attacked us, beating up our members again,” he added.

He noted that the decision to defect to the ADC was driven by internal leadership challenges within the Labour Party and protracted legal disputes affecting the party.

Shortly after the hoodlums vacated the second venue, several police vans carrying armed officers reportedly arrived at the location.

Politics

PFN Rejects Call For INEC Chairman’s Removal Over Genocide Comments

Published

2 days ago

February 2, 2026

The Tide

The Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) has strongly rejected calls by the Supreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria seeking the removal of the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, over comments he allegedly made on genocide.

The Fellowship described the demand as unjustified and a threat to constitutional freedoms.

In a statement signed by its National Secretary, Bishop David Bakare, the PFN insisted that Prof Amupitan, like every Nigerian, has the constitutional right to express his views on matters of national concern, irrespective of the public office he occupies.

According to the PFN, the comments attributed to the INEC Chairman were made in his personal capacity and had no link whatsoever with his official responsibilities or electoral duties.

The Fellowship stressed that elections and electoral activities were not involved in the matter, arguing that there was no basis to connect the alleged comments to Prof Amupitan’s role as INEC Chairman.

“We strongly oppose such calls because Prof. Amupitan, as a Nigerian, has the right to make comments on what he observes to be happening in the nation, regardless of his appointment or assignment,” the statement read.

The PFN said it condemned “in every ramification” the suggestion that the INEC Chairman should be removed from office on the basis of his personal views, warning against attempts to punish public officials for expressing opinions outside the scope of their official duties.

The Tide source reports that the Fellowship also cautioned against what it described as a growing tendency to interpret national issues through religious lenses, noting that such an approach only deepens divisions and undermines peaceful coexistence.

“We must resist the temptation of profiling or judging people based on their religious beliefs or positions. Prof. Amupitan has a right to bear his mind, and this should not be at the cost of his job,” the PFN added.

The PFN called on all stakeholders to exercise restraint, understanding and mutual respect in national discourse, particularly on sensitive issues.

It emphasised that unity and peace must remain paramount in addressing national challenges.

The Fellowship reaffirmed its commitment to fairness, justice and mutual respect, urging that these values guide public engagement and responses to issues affecting the country.

Politics

Removal From INEC’s Portal, Abure-Led LP Faction Mulls Legal Action

Published

2 days ago

February 2, 2026

The Tide

The Julius Abure Faction Of The Labour Party (LP) Has Reacted To The Delisting Of The Sacked Executives Of The Party By The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

In A Statement Issued On Saturday, Mr Obiorah Ifoh, The Factional Spokesperson, Described The Decision Of The Electoral Body As Strange.

Mr Ifoh Also Said The Sacked Factional Leadership Of The Party Will Protest The Action Of INEC.

Stating That Judgment Of The Court And The Decision Of INEC Will Not Stop Its Members From Putting Up A Strong Appearance In The Forthcoming 2027 General Election, Mr Ifoh Noted Legal Redress Would Be Sought By LP.

He Said, “Some Persons Who Are Applauding The Impunity By Some Politicians Should Retrace And Do Some Introspection, Because This Was How In The Past They Applauded Injustice In Our Democracy Because They Were Beneficiaries.

“At The End Of The Day, When Their Enthroned Leaders Began To Abuse Power, They Started Complaining.

“For Us In Labour Party, Our Faith Is Strong That The Appellate Court Will Do The Right Thing And Therefore We Advise Our Members To Remain Calm. We Will Continue With The Struggle To Take Our Party From The Godfather,” Mr Ifoh Said.

He Also Stated That The Labour Party Is A Party Formed On The Basis Of Social Democracy Where No One Man Is Permitted To Appoint Everybody.

According To Him, It Is Against The Party’s Principles For “One Man To Sit At A Place And Gather Everybody And Appoint Everybody From The National Working Committee To The State.

“That Is Impunity Of The Highest Order. This, I Believe, Negates The Principles Of The Party.

“If We Say There Is No Party Ideology In Nigeria, This Is How It Starts. We Are Very Sure That It Will Be Quashed On Appeal,” He Added.

Mr Ifoh Also Described The Celebration And Excitement Showcased By Senator Nenadi Usman And The Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti As Temporary.

He Said Dr Otti, Senator Usman And Their Cohorts’ Names Which Were Already Listed On INEC’s Portal Will Be Short-Lived.

“It Is For A Short Time. Their Victory Is Pyrrhic And There Is Nothing To Celebrate Because Doomsday Is Closer Than They Will Imagine; Which I Believe Will Be Very Catastrophic For Them.

“Moreover, It Is Very Clear That The Appointment Of The Caretaker Committee Did Not Go Through The Normal Procedure. Proper Notice Was Not Given In Line With The Party Constitution And The Electoral Act,” He Said.