Politics
Obasanjo Denies Writing UK Over Nigeria’s 2023 Election
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has denied planning to scuttle Nigeria’s 2023 elections.
Some publications claim he wrote to the United Kingdom to back off the polls and allow Nigerians to decide the outcome.
Obasanjo allegedly warned the UK authorities against interference, adding that it will not be business as usual.
The former Head of State allegedly recalled that in 2002, the British government wanted to remove him.
He allegedly said the European nation wanted to install a Fulani man whom they can control, but he overpowered them.
Obasanjo allegedly told the UK that the problems Nigeria is facing is a result of the Fulani man they emplaced.
A statement Thursday night by his media aide, Kedinde Akinyemi denied the purported letter.
“The trending story on the alleged plan by the former President to collude with the electoral body in the Presidential election of February 25 is completely false”, he noted.
The spokesperson added that apart from the January 1 letter to youths, and the other to Prof. Toyin Falola on his 70th birthday, “there has been no other public or private letter written to anybody”.
“The reading public is for the umpteenth time reminded that only a statement duly signed by Chief Olusegun Obasanjo or by his Media Assistant, Kehinde Akinyemi are to be allowed into the media space.
“If need be, necessary checks can be made to confirm the authenticity of such documents before publication to avoid any embarrassment”, the statement added.
Meanwhile, over 30,000 politicians primarily from the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) in Sandamu and Maiadua Local Government Area of Katsina State on Wednesday defected to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
The defectors were received by both the Director-General, Lado Campaign Council, Mustapha Inuwa and one of the party’s factional chairmen, Lawal Magaji into PDP during their campaign tour to the area on Wednesday.
While addressing the crowd of supporters that turned out for the rally, Dr Mustapha the erstwhile Secretary to Katsina State Government, presented the key figures among the defectors to the mammoth crowd that graced the occasion.
Among the defectors were Alhaji Shaibu Danjuma, Maamuda Ado, Sabiu Uli and Maria Lawal, a women leader from the area.
The former Secretary to Katsina State Government commended the decampees for rejecting the APC, describing it as a wise and bold decision.
Mustapha commended the defectors for the display of courage assuring them that they won’t regret their decision.
He equally urged them to remain resilient in the bid to end the hardship initiated across the country over the last seven years by the APC led government, assuring that it will end in the next 44 days.
In the same vein, the Lado Campaign Director General, thanked the pool of supporters for the love shown the PDP and its candidates, particularly, the governorship candidate, Sen. Yakubu Lado and the Senatorial Candidate for Daura District, Ahmed Baba Kaita,
According to erstwhile SSG turned Katsina PDP Campaign DG, “The pool of supporters at the rally were there on their own free will and not compelled unlike in APC.”
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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