Politics
Anambra Ex-Chief Judge Emerges APGA’s Presidential Candidate
A former Chief Justice of Anambra State, Prof Peter Umeadi, on Wednesday emerged as the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in the 2023 election.
Umeadi, who was unopposed, clinched APGA’s presidential ticket at the party’s convention held in Abuja and was attended by its leaders and members from the nation’s six geo-political zones.
The Tide source reports that the party delegates affirmed his candidacy by a voice vote.
APGA National Chairman, Dr Victor Oye, who expressed optimism that Umeadi would be sworn in as President in 2023, said that the party would also produce more than 30 senators.
Oye said that APGA would take Nigeria by storm, adding that Umeadi having served in the judiciary for 35 years was well equipped and was the candidate to beat in the presidential election.
“APGA is a realistic party; we do not build castles in the air. the emergence of Umeadi shows that APGA is united and would spring surprises by being elected president by Nigerians in 2023.
“We are here to do the needful. APGA does not believe in imposition, we gave everybody a level playing field to come and purchase the form.
“At the end of the whole process, our brother former Chief Judge of Anambra, a life changer, a man of irrepressible character, a man who has shown capacity in many ways intellectually and otherwise is today being presented to all of us for affirmation as our candidate,’’ he said.
Oye reiterated that there was no crisis in AGPA, pointing out that no faction existed because his leadership was the one INEC recognised.
In his acceptance speech, Umeadi said that he was stepping out with the triple banner of rule of law, separation of power and due process if elected.
He also promised to make Nigeria a great country which every Nigerian would be proud of.
“Our triple banner should form the structure for a new Nigeria which an APGA government at the centre under my watch would bring about.
“Uppermost in my mind is how to reconcile Nigerians across the length and breadth of our dear country.
“In a new political culture, I undertake to galvanise the old, young, rich, poor, literate or not, from different religious persuasions and from all six geopolitical zones, to deliver a new Nigeria where justice would reign for all citizens equally, irrespective of tribe or status.
“Our next task as a political party is to secure votes at the polls from the majority of Nigerians. We would work hard to secure as many legislative seats as possible across the country. Nigerians should respect the ballots, “he said.
Umeadi urged Nigerians to allow only valid votes to count and, in the most vocal manner possible, enforce the extant laws such that no person below the age of 18 years is allowed to vote.
He expressed worry that Nigerians were traumatised daily by wanton killings, displacements, and disorganisation of business and social life with attendant difficulty to sustain economic, commercial and domestic life.
According to him, Nigeria can not achieve economic, educational, scientific, sporting or food sufficiency breakthroughs when the citizens are hungry, insecure, and unstable.
Also in attendance were a former Minister of Information, Frank Nweke Jr, who emerged the APGA governorship candidate for Enugu State, and a former Senate Minority Leader, Enyinayya Abaribe, who recently defected from the PDP.
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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