Politics
2023: Deliver Yourselves, PFN Challenges Nigerians
Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) has issued directives on how Nigerians should choose and vote for the presidential candidate of their choice in the 2023 poll, saying the time has come for Nigerians to deliver themselves.
Its National President, Bishop Francis Olubowale Oke, made the disclosure when he spoke in his capacity as President of the Sword of the Spirit Ministries and National President of PFN.
He was addressing the nation during the first service in the new Ministerial Year of the Sword of the Spirit Ministries, Olaogun, Ibadan, Nigeria.
“Our nation is at a very critical crossroads. Electioneering campaign by sundry political parties has started. And politicians will begin to dish out their empty promises that they don’t intend to fulfil, they only want our votes, they only want power.
Most of them don’t have any clue about what to do with the problems of Nigeria. I want to say this: Nigerians deliver yourselves. Your future is not in the hands of politicians. Your future is in your hands. That your voter’s card carries great powers. Don’t sell your vote, not for any amount. If you sell your vote, you have sold your future. If you sell your vote, you have mortgaged your future, and the future of your children’s children. Vote your conscience.
“In my capacity as the National President of Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, I am not telling you to vote this party or don’t vote this party, that is not my duty. It is not and that is not my intention. But please know that your future is in your hands. Your destiny is in your hands, being represented by the voter’s card in your hand. So, don’t sell it for anything. If they bring you N50billion or US$50, say no and vote your conscience, deliver yourself. The opportunity for Nigerians to deliver Nigeria has come.
gulation. You are only earning a tiny fraction of what we used to earn some 10 years ago. But with your voter’s card, you can deliver yourselves. Now, deliver yourselves from economic and educational strangulation…
“Consider the people that are canvassing for your votes and consider each party, look at their track records and decide. The party or individual that will not guarantee your tomorrow, vote them out,no sentiments, no tribal or religious sentiment. Nigerians, deliver yourselves. Deliver yourselves from national division. I am close to 70 years old. I have never seen Nigeria as divided as this. There is so much mistrust, tribe versus tribe, north versus south and like that. Is it fair that some particular tribes want to dominate others? Of course, they cannot dominate you without your consent. So, we are dealing with very serious issues. Your power is in your hands; deliver yourselves from national division. Let us deal with the issues. Deliver yourselves from tribal domination. Deliver yourselves from religious dominations.”
The Tide source reports that the committee, reportedly backed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Chief Nyesom Wike, is making moves to reclaim the Wadata Plaza headquarters months after it was sealed following a violent clash between rival factions of the party.
Senior officers at the FCT Police Command told our source that while they had not received an official briefing, police personnel would be stationed at the secretariat and other key locations to maintain peace.
The Acting National Secretary of the Mohammed-led committee, Sen. Samuel Anyanwu, announced last week that the secretariat would reopen for official activities on Monday (today).
He dismissed claims that ongoing litigation would prevent the reopening, saying, “There are no legal barriers preventing the caretaker committee from resuming work at the party’s headquarters.”
However, the Tanimu Turaki-led National Working Committee (NWC) has fiercely rejected the reopening move, insisting that Sen. Anyanwu and his group remain expelled from the PDP and have no authority to act on its behalf.
Speaking with The Tide source, the committee’s National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, declared: “They are living in fool’s paradise. The worst form of deceit is self-deceit, where the person knows he is deceiving himself yet continues with gusto.
“Even INEC, which they claim has recognised them, has denied them. They are indulging in a roller coaster of self-deceit.”
Mr Ememobong further revealed that letters had been sent to both the Inspector-General of Police and the FCT Commissioner of Police, stressing that the matter was still in court and warning against any attempt to “resort to self-help.”
“The case pending before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik was instituted by the expelled members. They cannot resort to self-help until judgment is delivered,” he said.
He warned that reopening the secretariat would amount to contempt of court.
A senior officer at the FCT Police Command, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed that officers would be deployed to the area to avert a repeat of the November 19 violence that led to the secretariat’s initial closure.
“The command would not stand by and allow a breakdown of peace and order by the party or anyone else. Definitely, the police will have to be on the ground,” he said.
Another officer added, “There will definitely be men present at the secretariat, but I can’t say the number of police officers that would be deployed.”
When contacted, the FCT Police Public Relations Officer, Josephine Adeh, said she had not been briefed on the planned reopening and declined to comment on whether officers would be deployed.
Asked to confirm whether the secretariat was initially sealed by police, she responded, “Yes,” but refused to say more about the current deployment plans.
The Kano State House of Assembly has debunked the purported impeachment plan against the Deputy Governor, Aminu Gwarzo.
The Tide source recalls that the Kano State Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Ibrahim Waiya, recently sparked controversy during an interview session with a local radio station.
Mr Waiya called on the deputy governor to resign for failing to follow his principal, Gov. Abba Yusuf, in defecting from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
However, the spokesperson to the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Kamaluddeen Shawai, while addressing journalists in Kano on Saturday, described reports circulating in some media outlets about Mr Gwarzo’s impeachment as baseless and misleading, emphasising that no such plan is underway.
Mr Shawai further stated that the House remains focused on its legislative duties and oversight functions rather than engaging in speculative political manoeuvres.
The spokesperson urged members of the public and the media to verify information before sharing it, stressing the importance of accurate reporting in maintaining political stability in the state.
He said, “There is absolutely no motion or initiative within the House to remove the deputy governor.
“These reports are false and should be disregarded by the public. The deputy governor continues to serve in his capacity with full support from the House.
“Our priority is good governance and serving the people of Kano, not circulating rumours.”
She made the declaration during an interview with Nigerian football legend, Mr Segun Odegbami, during a live radio interview on Saturday.
Prof. Obasanjo, who is also former commissioner in the state, ruled out a return to the Senate, stating that her focus was firmly on the governorship race.
“So, moving ahead, I’m not going to be Commissioner. Like I said, I’m not even going back to the same party because I think that’s old and I don’t see the use of it. And I’m not going to go back to the Senate,” she said.
“Like the Americans would say, there’s no need. And this is what I told my associates, when this all started. I said, the only thing I’ll come back to do is the governorship.
“And we have started that journey. We are going to see it through. And so that’s the journey I’m on. And we are very serious about it. I mean we are very dedicated to it.”
The politician also confirmed that she recently joined the APC, explaining that her return to active politics followed persistent calls from supporters.
“Like I told you, a group of people who I did not bring together, have been working, I think, for two years now. And then they started talking to me about a year ago, saying, ‘Look, we think you are the best candidate. We want you back,’” she added.
Her declaration sets the stage for what may become a keenly contested governorship race in Ogun State ahead of the 2027 elections.
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