Politics
2023: Only Elective Primaries Can Ensure Victory For PDP – Aspirant
Otunba Olanrewaju Jim-Kamal, one of PDP’s founding fathers in Lagos State, says only direct primaries can ensure victory for the party in the 2023 general elections.
Jim-Kamal, at his formal declaration on Tuesday for the governorship ticket of the PDP for the 2023 gubernatorial election in Lagos State, said subversion of people’s will in primary election had been affecting the chances of the party in previous elections in the state.
He told newsmen that he would not subscribe to any consensus arrangement where an aspirant would be made to step down for others or imposition of candidates.
“We have not been winning because Lagos PDP has always promoted imposition but our last elective state congress has brought in the light that we can get it right now.
“The best way to go in stemming all these problems is for the party to go for elective primaries in Lagos state like we did in the congress. I opted out in 2015 when I discovered somebody was to be imposed on us.
“Now that PDP has come to stay and the chances are brighter, we should not spoil it. Our primaries should be one man one vote. It should be a free and fair direct primaries,” Jim-Jamal said.
According to him, the PDP leadership must provide a level playing ground while party members are allowed to choose whoever they want to fly the party’s ticket.
Highlighting his agenda, Jim-Kamal, who noted that he was out to do the right things, said this included discussing issues capable of bringing in the change that would actualise the yearnings and aspirations of the people.
He said that his “governance of dynamism” would replace the outdated “progressivism” that had not brought real dividends of democracy to the masses.
“We are out to tell Lagos residents in particular and Nigerians in general the truth and nothing but the truth and then to discuss issues, debate issues and deliver issues through dividends of democracy.
“We are out to change the tide of events in Lagos state, to reduce the suffering of the teeming masses,” Jim- Kamal said.
The aspirant said he would pursue infrastructural and human capital development to curb most of the ongoing social ills in the society that are threatening security of lives and property.
“Infrastructure without giving the teaming youth free and compulsory education, free health, mass employment for youth, women emancipation, availability of subsidised food to our market women, modern day security network devoid of force and mass killing of innocent souls is a waste,” Jim-Kamal added.
He pledged to ensure automated free and compulsory e- education at all levels, automated free e-healthcare facilities, social security, mechanised food production, sports development, modern transportation system and restructuring.
Jim-Kamal said that teachers and school children’s welfare would be a priority, saying that ICT gadgets would be provided in schools for each teacher and students with free feeding.
According to him, intervention in healthcare would ensure provision of well-equipped health centre in each ward and general hospital in each local government.
He promised to create a ministry of internal security with three commissioners and three deputy commissioners managing each of the senatorial districts.
He said that 75 per cent of his cabinet would be for the youth and women comprising 35 per cent for women and 40 per cent for youths.
The aspirant said that he had mapped out designs for more bridges and 200-300 seaters high capacity buses to address gridlock in the state.
Jim-Kamal, who noted that his chances of winning the party’s ticket was bright, called on every stakeholder and member of PDP to be peaceful and remain united.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the PDP chieftain had made several attempts to contest different elective positions from 1988 when he joined politics.
Jim-Kamal, is a technocrat, former school teacher and the Chief Executive Officer of Arco Petroleum and Petrochemicals, Petroman and Petrochemicals and Nigerturk Construction International Company Ltd,, (A consortium of ten Nigerian and Foreign Companies)
The former two-term governor went down memory lane to recall how they founded the APC but were used and dumped.
In his words, “…those calling on us to join APC, we have agreed to join the APC but on clear agreement that protects and respects the interest of my party, NNPP and my political movement, Kwankwasiyya. No state where you go that you don’t have NNPP and Kwankwasiyya. We have gubernatorial candidates, senatorial candidates and others.
“We are ready to join APC under strong conditions and promises. We will not allow anyone to use us and later dump us.
“We were among the founding fathers of the APC and endured significant persecution from various security agencies while challenging the previous administration.
“Yet when the party assumed power, we received no recognition or appreciation for our sacrifices, simply because we didn’t originate from their original faction.
“We are not in a hurry to leave the NNPP; we are enjoying and have peace of mind. But if some want a political alliance that would not disappoint us like in the past, we are open to an alliance. Even if it is the PDP that realised their mistakes, let’s enter an agreement that will be made public,” Sen. Kwankwaso stated.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has dismissed long-standing claims that he once sought to extend his tenure in office, insisting he never pursued a third term.
Speaking at the Democracy Dialogue organised by the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation in Accra, Ghana, Chief Obasanjo said there is no Nigerian, living or dead, who can truthfully claim he solicited support for a third term agenda.
“I’m not a fool. If I wanted a third term, I know how to go about it. And there is no Nigerian, dead or alive, that would say I called him and told him I wanted a third term,” the former president declared.
Chief Obasanjo argued that he had proven his ability to secure difficult national goals, citing Nigeria’s debt relief during his administration as a much greater challenge than any third term ambition.
“I keep telling them that if I could get debt relief, which was more difficult than getting a third term, then if I wanted a third term, I would have got it too,” he said.
He further cautioned against leaders who overstay in power, stressing that the belief in one’s indispensability is a “sin against God.”
On his part, former President Goodluck Jonathan said any leader who failed to perform would be voted out of office if proper elections were conducted.
Describing electoral manipulation as one of the biggest threats to democracy in Africa, he said unless stakeholders come together to rethink and reform democracy, it may collapse in Africa.
He added that leaders must commit to the kind of democracy that guarantees a great future for the children where their voices matter.
He said: “Democracy in Africa continent is going through a period of strain and risk collapse unless stakeholders came together to rethink and reform it. Electoral manipulation remains one of the biggest threats in Africa.
“We in Africa must begin to look at our democracy and rethink it in a way that works well for us and our people. One of the problems is our electoral system. People manipulate the process to remain in power by all means.
“If we had proper elections, a leader who fails to perform would be voted out. But in our case, people use the system to perpetuate themselves even when the people don’t want them.
“Our people want to enjoy their freedoms. They want their votes to count during elections. They want equitable representation and inclusivity. They want good education. Our people want security. They want access to good healthcare. They want jobs. They want dignity. When leaders fail to meet these basic needs, the people become disillusioned.”
The dialogue was also attended by the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Omar Touray, Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah of the Sokoto diocese of Catholic Church among others who all stressed that democracy in Africa must go beyond elections to include accountability, service, and discipline.
The Rivers State House of Assembly yesterday resumed plenary session after a six-month state of emergency imposed on the state by President Bola Tinubu elapsed on Wednesday midnight.
President Bola Tinubu had lifted the emergency rule on September 17, with the Governor of the state, Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and members of the state assembly asked to resume duties on September 18.
The plenary was presided over by the Speaker of the House, Martins Amaewhule, at the conference hall located within the legislative quarters in Port Harcourt, the state capital.
The conference hall has served as the lawmakers’ temporary chamber since their official chamber at the assembly complex on Moscow Road was torched and later pulled down by the state government.
The outgone sole administrator of the state, Ibok-Ete Ibas, could not complete the reconstruction of the assembly complex as promised.
Recall that on March 18, President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers following the prolonged political standoff between Fubara and members of the House of Assembly loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
He subsequently suspended the governor, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and lawmakers for six months and installed a sole administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd.), to manage the state’s affairs.
The decision sparked widespread controversy, with critics accusing the president of breaching the Constitution.
However, others hailed the move as a necessary and pragmatic step.
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