Politics
APC Nat’l Chair: North Central Elders Drum Support For Ganduje
North Central elders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have endorsed former governor of Kano state, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, as the National Chairman of the ruling party in acting capacity.
The elders made their stand known at a press conference held in Abuja, describing Ganduje as the best person for the job.
Representative of the North Central elders, Gen Lawrence Anebi Onoja (rtd), hinged their choice of Ganduje on the effort and genuine desire to sustain the initiatives for good governance.
Members of the forum include former presidential aspirant, Musa Mwanti Bwari, APC Deputy Chairman FCT, Ishaya R. Pam, member APC Presidential Campaign Council 2023 from Plateau, Dr. Mathias Terwase Byuan, former 2023 governorship aspirant in Benue, Salihi Bala, Deputy Controller General of Prisons (rtd), Benard Ochepa, former House of Representatives member, Dr Joseph Azi, former Director, Federal Ministry of Finance/member APC Presidential Campaign Council 2023, Mohammed Isah Lapai.
Others are member APC presidential Campaign Council 2023, Umar Sanda, Engr Alkali Baba, APC Elders Forum Nasarawa State, Danjuma Ali Muhammad, former presidential candidate, Abdullahi Sadiq, Linus Ogba, Suleimon Olola, Dr. Kolo Gene, Zacharia A. Dikko, Tanko Yusuf. J B, Abdullahi M. Kani, and Jummai L. Johnson.
In his address, Onoja said: “Today marks another historic moment for our great party the APC, in its continuing efforts to rejig itself for greater tasks at the next level we all aspire to attain.
“As you are aware, the successes and achievements of our great party like any other organisation is a function of good leadership. That has been our secret all these years.
“Again, as you are aware, there is a vacuum in the leadership of our great party which has led us to election victories and successful transition, following the resignation of the former chairman Abdullahi Adamu.
“In the effort and genuine desire to sustain these initiatives for good governance, the Progressive Governors Forum of our party under the chairmanship of Governor Hope Uzodinma recently decided to act swiftly in endorsing a candidate so as to avoid any leadership gap in the party.
“They did that also in their wisdom, and in line with the approval of the leader of our party, President Bola Tinubu, on the candidate of choice. That candidate is none other than the former Governor of Kano State, Umar Ganduje. They have weighed his leadership capacity, commitment and experience to lead the party well before taking that decision.
“It is not surprising therefore that since the progressive governor’s forum endorsed and announced Ganduje’s candidature, many political interest groups have similarly endorsed him to lead the party in an acting capacity,” he noted.
Speaking further, Onoja said APC elders in the North Central Zone, have in continuation of the series of endorsements also endorsed Abdullahi Ganduje.
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.