Politics
National Confab: Crossing The First Hurdle
The first two weeks at
the National Conference was no doubt a trying period for delegates as proceedings were stalled following sharp disagreements on the voting mode to be adopted to arrive at decisions.
The particular issue in contention is Order VI Rule 3 of the Procedure Rule.
It provides that: “Any question proposed for decision in the conference shall be determined by consensus and when this is not achievable, it shall be by a three-quarter majority of the delegates present and voting.”
While majority of the delegates wanted the conventional two-third majority to be adopted in arriving at decisions, some others wanted the three-quarter majority to be retained. The issue plunged the plenary into rowdy session, as delegates moved to engage in “a free-for-all,” but at last, order was restored.
Charting a way forward, Mr Fola Adeola, a delegate representing Ogun State, advised the leadership to use “identified geo-political zone leaders” to resolve the issue.
“When a matter becomes heated and emotional, it is very difficult for 492 people to negotiate. You (leadership) should seek the services of the leaders of the different zones.There is a lot more that we would need to negotiate over; consensus, we have all agreed, is far superior to voting.
“I am hoping that if we break into our different zones, we can talk to ourselves, we can ask ourselves what are our concerns.
“The difference between two-third and 75 per cent is 41, to some people, it is the whole world, to some people, it is very few.
“Negotiations will always be give and take, and I believe that a smaller number is better and able to reach a reasonable conclusion than 492 people, because emotions are just being whipped,” he said.
Analysts say President Goodluck Jonathan seemed to have foreseen the divisive tendencies, when in his inaugural speech, he charged delegates to pursue only a Nigerian Agenda.
“I know the task before you is onerous; but there must be only one winner, and there can only be one winner if we do everything right, and that winner must be Nigeria.
“I urge you therefore to focus strictly on the Nigerian Agenda,” the president advised.
Speaking further, Jonathan said: “We must not approach issues with suspicion and antagonism, rather we should be open-minded and work to achieve what is best for Nigeria.
“Even though you come to the conference as representatives of different interest groups, I urge you to make a united, stronger, indivisible and prosperous Nigeria your preoccupation and reference point,’’ he added.
In spite of the views expressed by many delegates before the conference, tones of delegates at the inaugural meeting showed they were ready to pursue a Nigerian agenda.
When the Secretary, Dr Valerie Azinge announced that delegates would sit in alphabetic order, the delegates overwhelmingly supported the arrangement. Raising their voices in unison, the delegates said that they were at the conference as Nigerians.
“I think I have come here as a Nigerian. We should sit in alphabetical order. If any group wants to confer on anything, they can do that after the plenary.
“I did not come here to be Yoruba; I want to be able to interact with others and see how we can have a pan-Nigerian discussion,” said Chief Segun Osoba, former governor of Ogun.
Mr Steve Aluko, a delegate representing the Coalition of Civil Society Organisation, said he was impressed that most delegates “have come to this floor to speak the Nigerian language, on how to move Nigeria forward.
“My joy is that a good number of the delegates also applaud the Nigerian issue, not ethnic or religious sentiments. I think if this is what will drive the national conference, we might be setting a better pace for the future generation to step in,” Aluko said.
However, many Nigerians were disappointed on the utterances of some prominent citizens when the issue of voting modality was debated on the floor of the conference. Divisive tones resurfaced, which nearly divided delegates along ethnic lines and interest groups.
To resolve the impasse, the leadership constituted a 50-man consensus group, cutting across geo-political zones, to confer with the principal officers on the contentious issue.After series of meetings, the group adopted 70 per cent, which was unanimously adopted by the delegates.
Conference Chairman, Idris Kutigi, said the best means to arrive at decisions at the conference was through consensus.
Kutigi said consensus is better than voting, adding that delegates would only resort to voting when all measures to reach a consensus over any matter has been exhausted.
“The most important in arriving at any decision in this conference is consensus.It is when consensus fails that we will go for the 70 per cent, and the chairman can adjourn twice or thrice to allow delegates to exhaust measures to reach a consensus before voting.
“We are trying to bring Nigeria closer to consensus as much as possible,” Kutigi said.
Analysts say breaking the voting impasse through dialogue is commendable and reinforces the hope that Nigerians can reach a consensus on many issues confronting the nation.
Mr Dare Atoye, a public affairs commentator, advised delegates against rigid positions but urged them to always employ dialogue to reach consensus on issues.
He urged them to heed the appeal of the President not to canvass selfish agenda that could further polarise the country.
“Indeed, I am quite worried when I hear people say that some participants in this national conversation are coming here to defend and promote ethnic or clannish agenda.It is very regrettable that there are persons who believe that we cannot undertake any collective task in our country without recourse to ethnic rivalry, even after 100 years of nationhood.This conference gives us an opportunity to prove such persons wrong and I believe it will.
“As we start a new century of nationhood, we have an obligation to reshape and redirect our country for the benefit of our children,’’ he stressed.
The conference has started on a good note, as it resolved the issue of voting through consensus. The delegates should imbibe that spirit in all their deliberations, so that the recommendations of the conference will be a “ win-win’’ solution to national problems.
Arobani writes for the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
Prudence Arobani
Politics
Makinde Renames Polytechnic After Late Ex-Gov

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.
Politics
10 NWC Members Oppose Damagum Over National Secretary’s Reinstatement
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.”
Politics
Presidency Slams El-Rufai Over Tinubu Criticism …Says He Suffers From Small Man Syndrome
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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