Politics
Tinubu’s Campaign List: Onoh Excuses Nnamani

Former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governorship Aspirant in Enugu State, Dr. Josef Onoh, has given reasons for Senator Chimaroke Nnamani’s inclusion in the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential campaign council of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
According to Onoh, even though Nnamani belongs to the PDP, he had come to share affinity with Tinubu in many ways, particularly since both of them became governors of their respective states between 1999 and 2007.
He recalled that Tinubu and Nnamani commenced the Southern Nigeria Governors Forum which has now crystallized into a major political force for balancing of power in the Nigeria federation. He further recalled that it was at the same Southern Governors Forum meeting hosted by Governor Ifeanyi Okowa in Asaba that took a decision that the next President of Nigeria should come from Southern Nigeria, despite any political party affiliation.
Onoh said that he however regrets that the initial host of that Southern Governor’s meeting, Okowa, capitulated, sold out a decision taken in his house and went behind to negotiate for a selfish vice presidential slot at the detriment of the entire Southern Nigeria.
“Despite this, what is more worrisome is the PDP fatal error of negation of its own written constitution to elect a candidate of Northern extraction bearing in mind that the North has held power in the past seven and a half years.
“There is a caveat in the PDP constitution which says that zoning should be respected for the purpose of giving a sense of belonging to all members of the party and for all-inclusiveness except and only when a resolution of the National Executive Council (NEC) decides otherwise. Secondly, Section 7 (2) (c) of the PDP Constitution, states that in pursuance of the principle of equity, justice and fairness, the party shall adhere to the policy of rotation and zoning of party and public elective offices, and it shall be enforced by the appropriate executive committee at all levels,” Onoh said.
Exonerating Senator Nnamani of any wrong doing in his choice of which presidential candidates to support, Onoh said that it was up to Nigerians to determine their choices.
“If this problem of PDP governors led by Governor Nyesom Wike continues and it’s not resolved amicably, taking cognizance that Wike as a heavy pillar has stood by the PDP through thick and thin, more surprises await PDP in the buildup of elections. Wike was one of the standing pillars of PDP, when the party needed a messiah, he was the Moses that led the PDP, but unfortunately, when the PDP got to the land flowing with milk and honey, it decided to dump the ship it used in sailing across, and in the instead chose to use a speed boat.
“If the crisis is not resolved amicably for wisdom to prevail, more shockers await PDP that would be beyond the issue of Asiwaji Tinubu incorporating Chimaroke Nnamani into his campaign council. Nnamani is only running for Senate under the PDP and not for the President. Most of the PDP Governors have fallen out from the PDP presidential campaign and it’s only when the Wike crisis is resolved that the party can say it has a direction and so it’s only then that anybody can have recourse to Chimaroke Nnamani,” Onoh said.
However, the Tinubu Campaign has said that the inclusion of the name of Senator Nnamani in its campaign council was error.
Politics
Kwankwaso Agrees To Rejoin APC, Gives Terms, Conditions
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.
Politics
I Would Have Gotten Third Term If I Wanted – Obasanjo
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.
Politics
Rivers Assembly Resumes Sitting After Six-Month Suspension

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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