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Nigeria, Obasanjo And A Third Force

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Former President Olusegun Obasanjo raised political dust of monumental proportion when he advised President Muhammadu Buhari to drop his 2019 re-election bid in a letter that was released to the press recently. In the same letter, the erstwhile ruler wrote off the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in favour of a Third Force Movement in the form of a Coalition of Nigerians that share his vision.
As if acting from a prepared script, it took only a couple of days for the Nigeria Coalition Movement (CNM) to be officially launched in Abuja, the nation’s capital city with people like Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Donald Duke and Ahmadu Ali at the forefront. While Nigerians were still speculating about the conspicuous absence at the event, Chief Obasanjo (OBJ) is also known, enrolled into the movement the arrow heads of the Abuja episode superintended over in Abeokuta, capital of Ogun State, Chief Obasanjo’s home state in a matter of hours.
Nigerians have since been divided on whether or not the Third Force Movement is a viable political option that cannot only wrest power at the centre in 2019 but also lead the country out of its current socio-political and economic woods.
Two political activists in their own rights bare their minds on the vexatious issue in Port Harcourt during an interview with The Tide: Excerpts.
Dr. Emmanuel Iruayenama, Management Consultant and Public Affairs Analyst
I’m not sure that what he means is a political party, but if it’s a political party, then it is part of the failures of the existing political parties. Perhaps, what it simply means is conscientised set of Nigerians that will guide either the ruling or any other party that comes to win at every point in time at the national stage.
If, on the other hand, it is a political party he is tinkering with, first, I have had cause to look at who Obasanjo is vis the statement he is making and the persons he expects to form that third force.
However, if it’s a political party, he is tinkering with, it is only going to be one of the existing failed political parties. I don’t see a third force working in Nigeria as it is today. That is, if it’s going to be a political party, it’s not going to work. It is a waste of time.
My thinking is that it is a conscientised set of persons coming around to help shape already existing party in power or a party that would come to power. If that is it, then people could be drawn from all existing political parties to see how they can support government in power; to see how they can direct thinking in government. But to say he wants to form a new political party, I wish him the best, but I know it has failed before arrival.
So far it is laughable. No new persons; seen people. I even saw one Mr. Fixer. For me, they are a group of persons who have failed in the existing political parties and are merely looking for where they can hide their heads. Nigerians know them, so it won’t work.

Andy Akpotive, Public Affairs Commentator
It’s very impossible for man and indeed any being created by God to stop an idea whose time has come. For me, there couldn’t be a better time for this idea to take expression in our country than now.
For too long, we have been managed by people who are completely clueless about what administration of a state should be like. For too long we have had a group of people who at best are supposed to be at the garage, administering the affairs of this country. We have had square pegs in round holes and round pegs in square holes.
So, for the very first time, those who are instrumental to the current destiny that we share as Nigerians, some of them have been able to say that ‘before we die, let us rewrite some of these ills, some of these evils that we have helped to perpetrate.’
One of such persons is actually Olusegun Obasanjo. For me, that man is beyond an enigma; that man is a movement. So, today he is saying that ‘if I have been instrumental to how it came the first, the second time, the third time, I have one more chance, particularly because I’m at the exit lounge right now much more than I was twenty years ago, I have this option to change and turn things around.’
So, for me, this is something that indeed is very exciting, it’s an idea whose time has come so we need to talk about people who are youth, people who are visionary, who have the passion to revolutionise the things that affect us as a people, people who are passionate about putting Nigeria on the map of countries that are developed, countries that are progressive, we can have them come and take center stage and begin to drive this car and leave this place to the destination we need to get to.
As it stands at the moment, it is a movement but it is most definitely going to evolve into that which will create the opportunity for the people whom it supports to get into elective positions. What I am saying is that, most definitely, it will evolve into a political party or it could join itself with other political parties of like minds and throw up candidates that, according to the vision, will be able to give us the ideal that we want from a state.
It is pseudo political party so that he is able to fix the super structure and attract the best of people to give the political party the needed experience. I have no doubt that it is going to evolve into a political party or at worst join with other political parties to support certain people who carry the DNA of the new Nigeria that we aspire to be.
The question is, is it going to be different from the way the APC is currently constituted as a political party that has strange bed fellows? Would it not be something that is going to move in that direction? However, the difference with this one is that it will be a political party that is structured for the youth.
Today, we have a government that is at best a gerontocracy, a government of the old ruling the young. We have a government of people who used certain ideals, knowledge, principles over forty years ago are made to superintend over challenges that would require 2030 wisdom to address.
So, we are talking about an Obasanjo and Olagunsoye Oyinlola who understand that ‘our time is down, our time indeed is out but we can provide the structure for the youth to run on, we can provide the board that can spring the youths to the highest heights so that when we’re long gone, seeing that we’re at the departure lounge, the children that are left behind will say that we were a part of the failure and we were also a part of the success story of the Nigerian project.

 

Opaka Dokubo

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Makinde Renames Polytechnic After Late Ex-Gov

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Oyo State Governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, has renamed The Polytechnic, Ibadan as Omololu Olunloyo Polytechnic, Ibadan, in honour of a late former governor of the State, Dr Omololu Olunloyo.
Dr Olunloyo, who died on April 6, 2025, was the pioneer Principal of the Polytechnic, Ibadan, while he also served as Governor of Oyo State between October 1 and December 31, 1983.
Governor Makinde made the announcement at the state interdenominational funeral service held yesterday in honour of the late former governor at the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, Liberty Road, Ibadan.
Governor Makinde said Dr Olunloyo lived an eventful life, adding that his attainment and personality could not be summarised in one sentence.
“He was not a man we could summarise in one sentence. He was a scholar, a statesman, a technocrat, a lover of culture and, above all, a man of deep conviction.
“While giving the exhortation, I was listening to Baba Archbishop Ayo Ladigbolu and he said in 1983, Baba became Governor of Oyo State. Though his time in office was brief, his election victory over a popular incumbent remains a powerful testament to the trust people gave him.
“I talked about preserving and digitising his library yesterday [Wednesday] as a mark of honour to Baba Olunloyo.
“Today, we will be giving Baba another honour to immortalise him. He was the first Principal of The Polytechnic, Ibadan; that institution will now be named Omololu Olunloyo Polytechnic, Ibadan.”
Earlier in his sermon, a retired Methodist Archbishop of Ilesa and Ibadan, Ayo Ladigbolu, described the late Olunloyo as a role model with intellectual inspiration and unassailable integrity.
The cleric said the deceased also demonstrated leadership in most superior quality during his lifetime.
In attendance were the state Deputy Governor, Chief Abdulraheem Bayo Lawal; wife of a former Military Governor of the old Oyo State, Chief (Mrs) Dupe Jemibewon; wife of a former Governor of Oyo State, Chief (Mrs) Mutiat Ladoja; former Deputy Governor and PDP Deputy National Chairman (South), Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja; and former Deputy Governor, Hazeem Gbolarumi.
Others were the member representing Ibadan North-East/South-East Federal Constituency, Hon Abass Adigun Agboworin; Chief of Staff to the Governor, Otunba Segun Ogunwuyi; Oyo State Exco members; Chairman of Oyo State Elders’ Council, Dr Saka Balogun; Chairman of All Local Government Chairmen in Oyo State, Hon Sikiru Sanda; President-General of the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII), Chief Adeniyi Ajewole; religious leaders and family members, among other dignitaries.

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10 NWC Members Oppose Damagum Over National Secretary’s Reinstatement

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Ten members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Working Committee (NWC) have countered the Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, on the reinstatement of Senator Samuel Anyanwu as National Secretary.
The dissenting members, led by the Deputy National Chairman ( South), Taofeek Arapaja, in a joint statement, said no organ of the opposition party could overturn the decision of the 99th meeting of the National Executive Committee (NEC).
The dissenting NWC members include Arapaja; Setonji Koshoedo, Deputy National Secretary; Okechukwu Obiechina-Daniel, National Auditor; Debo Ologunagba, National Publicity Secretary; Ologunagba; Woyengikuro Daniel, National Financial Secretary and Ahmed Yayari Mohammed, National Treasurer.
Others are Chief Ali Odefa, National Vice Chairman (South East); Emmanuel Ogidi, Caretaker Committee Chairman (South South); Mrs. Amina Darasimi D. Bryhm, National Woman Leader and Ajisafe Kamoru Toyese, National Vice Chairman (South West).
The group also insisted that contrary to the position of the acting National Chairman, the 100th NEC meeting of the party would be held on June 30 as earlier scheduled.
The statement read: “The attention of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been drawn to a press briefing by the acting National Chairman, Amb. Umar Damagum, today Wednesday, June 25, wherein he attempted to overturn the resolution of the 99th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting which scheduled the 100th NEC meeting for Monday, June 30.
“The acting National Chairman in the said press briefing also reportedly announced that Senator Samuel Anyanwu has been asked to resume as National Secretary of the party contrary to the resolution of the 99th NEC meeting, which referred all matters relating to the office of the National Secretary to the 100th NEC meeting.
“The pronouncements by the acting National Chairman have no foundation as no organ of the party (including the NWC), individual or group has the power to cancel, overrule, veto or vary the resolution of the National Executive Committee (NEC) under the Constitution of the PDP (as amended in 2017).
“For the avoidance of doubt, the NEC is the highest decision-making organ of the party, second only to the National Convention. By virtue of Section 31 (3) of the PDP Constitution, the resolution of the NEC to hold its 100th meeting on Monday June 30, is binding on all organs, officers, chapters and members of the party and no organ, group or individual can vary or veto this resolution of NEC.
“Furthermore, the claim by Damagum that Sen Anyanwu has been asked to resume office as the National Secretary of the party is, therefore, misleading being contrary to the resolution of NEC.
“In the light of the foregoing, the 100th NEC meeting as scheduled for Monday, June 30, has not been canceled or postponed.”

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Presidency Slams El-Rufai Over Tinubu Criticism …Says He Suffers From Small Man Syndrome

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The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, has fired back at former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, following the latter’s scathing criticism of President Tinubu’s administration and his 2027 re-election prospects.
In an interview on live television, Mallam El-Rufai said it would take a “miracle” for President Tinubu to be re-elected in 2027, citing an internal poll that purportedly shows a 91 percent disapproval rating for the president across key regions in the country, including the South-East and the North. He also claimed that President Tinubu’s disapproval rating in Lagos stood at 78 percent.
Reacting on Wednesday via a post on X (formerly Twitter), Mr Onanuga took a swipe at the ex-governor, quoting a harsh assessment of Mallam El-Rufai’s character from former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s memoir, My Watch.
“Nasir’s penchant for reputation savaging is almost pathological,” Mr Onanuga wrote, citing Chief Obasanjo’s words. “Why does he do it? Very early in my interaction with him, I appreciated his talent. At the same time, I recognised his weaknesses; the worst being his inability to be loyal to anybody or any issue consistently for long, but only to Nasir El-Rufai.”
The presidential adviser emphasised Chief Obasanjo’s remarks that Mallam El-Rufai often tries to elevate himself by diminishing others. “He lied brazenly, which he did to me, against his colleagues and so-called friends,” Mr Onanuga continued, quoting the former President. “I have heard of how he ruthlessly savaged the reputation of his uncle, a man who, in an African setting, was like a foster father to him.”
Chief Obasanjo, who appointed Mallam El-Rufai as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory between 2003 and 2007, did not mince words in the memoir, describing Mallam El-Rufai as suffering from “small man syndrome.”
Mr Onanuga’s post is seen as a direct rebuttal to Mallam El-Rufai’s recent criticism and growing opposition role. The former governor is reportedly playing a central role in forming a new coalition to challenge President Tinubu in the 2027 general election.
In March 2025, El-Rufai officially dumped the All Progressives Congress (APC) and joined the Social Democratic Party (SDP), intensifying speculations about his 2027 political ambitions.
As the political rift deepens, Mallam El-Rufai remains one of the most vocal critics of the Tinubu administration, while Mr Onanuga and other presidential allies continue to push back against what they describe as “reckless” opposition rhetoric.

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