Politics
Diplomats To Meet Political Party Leaders, January 10
Leaders of political parties are expected to meet with the diplomatic community in Nigeria on January 10, 2023.
This is contained in a press release jointly signed by Amb. Gani Lawal, President, and Amb. Ridhwan Mustapha, Secretary-General, Association of Foreign Relations Professionals of Nigeria AFRPN on Monday.
The meeting which will be hosted by the AFRPN is aimed at “deepening the understanding of the input-output system that has informed the Nigerian foreign policy options in the international arena.”
According to the press release, four political parties will be invited for the parley which will take place in the Foreign Affairs Ministry.
It read in part, “Aware of the pivotal role party politics plays in the formulation, articulation and implementation of Nigeria’s Foreign Policy, the AFRPN, in line with its mandate to impact positively the foreign policy of Nigeria, has invited formally the leadership of four of the contending political parties for the office of the President to rub minds with the diplomatic community as a way of deepening the understanding of the input-output system that has informed the Nigerian foreign policy options in the international arena which has served the nation well to become a leading player in Africa and the World at large.
“The AFRPN is the foremost Nigerian diplomatic forum consisting of major stakeholders on Foreign Relations issues. Its membership spans across several institutions that deal with matters that transcend the frontiers of the nation’s borders such as serving and retired diplomatic staff and Ambassadors of Nigeria, Nigerian officials in international organisations and institutions that deal with foreign relations matters. Nigerians in the Diaspora, University professors, lecturers and students of International studies and political science, are also members of this association.
“The ‘Meet the Diplomatic Community’ parley will take place at the Rotunda of the Foreign Ministry at Balewa House, Federal Secretariat at 3p.m. on 10th of January, 2023. Our audience shall in addition to our members include the foreign envoys of all countries accredited to Nigeria. Each candidate will have 15 minutes to speak and 10 minutes to field questions.
“The chairman of the occasion is the pioneer VC of the Sokoto State University, former VC of the University of Abuja, Professor Nuhu Yaqub, OFR, the recipient of the Global Award for Academic Excellence and pioneer President of the Society for International Relations Awareness; while the Moderator is Amb Dr. Boladei Godknows Igali, OON; former Nigerian Ambassador to the Scandinavian countries, retd., Fed Perm Sec and the Pro-Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Akure.
“The event is expected to attract a large audience with attendant rewarding deliverables and takeaways.”
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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