Politics
2023: Equity forbids us to support another Yoruba for presidency – Afenifere
… Explains reasons for supporting Peter Obi
By Paul Eso
The apex Yoruba socio-cultural organization, Afenifere, has once again, reiterated its reasons for supporting the presidential bid of Mr. Peter Obi, the Labour Party, LP, standard bearer for the 2023 general elections.
Pa Adebanjo
Addressing the media at Wheatbaker Hotel in Ikoyi, Lagos, leader of the Afenifere, Pa Ayo Adebanjo, explained that their support was based on equity and inclusiveness.
According to Adebanjo, “equity forbids us for presuming to support another Yoruba person for the presidency in 2023”, after the South West has produced a president and a vice president respectively.
A speech titled: “Why Afenifere Supports South East Presidential Candidate For 2023 Presidency”, and delivered by the elder statesman read:
“After the primaries and the candidates emerge with Asiwaju Bola Tinubu from the South West, APC, Atiku Abubakar on the platform of PDP and Peter Obi on the platform of Labour Party and I announced Afenifere’s support for Peter Obi, not a few Yoruba leaders question why I should be supporting Peter Obi a candidate of Igbo extraction against Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, a Yoruba.
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“I took my time to explain that the presidency is not a contest between the Yorubas and the Igbos and to a large extent I was able to convince many. But ever since social media has been filled with comments tending to ethnicize the campaign instead of making it issue-based.
“Afenifere has therefore decided to address you today and through you educate the public on the ideological and equitable principles which have influenced our decision.
“In the countdown to the 2023 General elections, long before the parties conducted their Conventions to elect their National Executives and candidates, we had insisted and still advocate restructuring before the elections proposing a synthesis of the identical Resolutions of the 2014 National Conference and the APC El Rufai 2018 True Federalism Committee.
“We did this as Afenifere and on the wider spectrum of the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum (SMBLF). We did this, when politicians, in spite of the monumental crises confronting the nation, carried on as if the attainment of power was all that mattered, the SMBLF unanimously proposed that the minimum condition for a peaceful transition from the disastrous 8years of Buhari’s government headed by a President of northern extraction was to have the next President from the South.
“This position was also supported by all the southern governors, irrespective of their political parties at a meeting held in Asaba, Delta State.
“Incidentally, this North/South consideration which is at the very root of our amalgamated federation is also the most important testament of all political parties in Nigeria. The principle of federal character enshrined in the constitution dictates that the government of the federation or any part thereof shall not be concentrated in any ethnic group or a combination of such groups.
“It is therefore preposterous to adopt this principle for employment in public service admissions in educational institutions, political appointment, the composition of the executive committee of a political party only to jettison it in the most important question of rulership of the federation.
“In this quest for peace, based on equity and inclusiveness, the Yoruba took the first turn at the zoning arrangement in 1999, and that led to the emergence of Chief Obasanjo, the current Vice President is a Yoruba man and equity forbids us for presuming to support another Yoruba person for the presidency in 2023.
“The current President is a Fulani from the Northwest and by virtue of the zoning arrangement that has governed Nigeria since 1999, power is supposed to return to the south imminently. The southwest as I have pointed out has produced a president and currently sits as VP, the South-South has spent a total of 6years in the Presidency, but the Igbo people of the South-East have never tasted presidency in Nigeria, and now that the power is due back in the South equity demands that it be ceded to the Igbo.
“We cannot continue to demand that the Igbo people remain in Nigeria, while we at the same time continue to brutally marginalize and exclude them from the power dynamic.
“Peter Obi is the person of Igbo extraction that Afenifere has decided to support and to back, he is the man we trust to restructure the country back to federalism on the assumption of office.
“We will not compromise this principle of justice, equity and inclusiveness because one of our own Asiwaju Bola Tinubu is a frontline candidate.
“It is on this same principle, we condemn the PDP for sponsoring Atiku Abubakar, a Northern Fulani Muslim to succeed General Muhammadu Buhari another Fulani Muslim who will soon complete 8 years of uneventful and disastrous rule. One can imagine such a high degree of political insensitivity.
“On our part, we are certainly not alien to sacrificing personal interests in the quest for a National coalition to put Nigeria on the proper pedestal.
“In this regard, the starting point is Southern solidarity for which we first enacted a handshake across the Niger, which had dovetailed to the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum. We enjoin the labour movement, students, youth organisations, women associations, and every institution whose foundation is built on fairness and justice to join hands in this task of enthroning a democratic government by supporting Peter Obi. If we are sincere and honest about keeping Nigeria together in peace, the slogan henceforth should be: ‘To keep Nigeria one, everyone should be Obi/Datti compliant.’
“In the final analysis, let it be said that we have no apologies but due courage of our conviction that Nigeria can only prosper in righteousness.
“For me, in the twilight of my sojourn on earth at 94, it is too late to derail me on the track of true federalism and National inclusiveness on which I have travelled for over 70 years of my life as one of the few surviving initial prophets, I prefer to ascend on a chariot of fire, fueled by justice and equity.”
The coming days promise a lot of intrigues in the Ondo State political circle with the former Governor, Segun Mimiko, set to play a big part.
Biztellers reports that delegates of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) on Wednesday, in Akure, chose Abass Mimiko as its candidate for the November 16 governorship election in the state.
It was gathered that Abass is Segun’s younger sibling.
He was reported to have been chosen through affirmation in the party’s primary election at its Secretariat.
On emergence, Mimiko assured that if elected governor of the state, his priorities would be education, health, economy, and security.
On if his older sibling would be supporting his ambition, with both of them being in different political parties, Abbas revealed that the former governor would be rooting for him to become Ondo’s next governor.
According to him, “My brother is happy that I am coming out because he knows I would build on his achievements.”
In a show of solidarity, the 37 chairmen of the All Progressives Congress (APC) expressed support for the party’s national chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, despite reports of his suspension by his ward in Dawakin-Tofa local government area of Kano state.
The chairmen representing 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) conveyed their vote of confidence during a visit to Ganduje at the APC national secretariat in Abuja on Tuesday.
Acting chairman of the APC state Chairmen Forum and Lagos State chairman of the party, Cornelius Ojelabi, stated that those behind the purported suspension were not recognized by the party.
He said, “We are here to let you know that we are solidly behind you. The purported suspension is not from members of the party but coming from people that want to derail the party.
“We’re here to show our solidarity and sincere commitment to appreciate what members of the National Working Committee have been doing in standing by you by giving you a total support.
“We feel it’s important that the act of that solidarity should not be limited to members of the NWC alone.”
In his retort, Ganduje pointed fingers at Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf, accusing him of orchestrating the purported suspension by impostors.
He derided the move as nothing more than a theatrical spectacle, likening it to scenes one might expect on Africa Magic’s Nollywood channel.
He said, “We were so astonished when we heard the news but we were not surprised when we discovered that the great threat that APC overwhelmingly poses to other parties is real and Kano State is not an exception.
“The government in Kano State is behind this drama. Even the drama is one kind of drama that is called Africa Magic. This is Africa Magic and it is not leading democracy anywhere.
“It is a negative innovation where members who belong to a different political party, not even our members, let alone being elected executive members of either the ward or to the highest level at the state.
He added “Our party cannot be distracted, we assure you. Our attention cannot be diverted. We are focused. We know where we are heading to. We know our objectives and we know to achieve our objectives.”
At the same time, the Ganduje-led National Working Committee of the APC has officially received the report of the party’s Ondo Governorship Committee, headed by Kogi State Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo.
In a formal handover ceremony, Ganduje commended Governor Ododo for his exemplary leadership and acknowledged the committee’s diligent work.
He expressed pride in the governor’s successful execution of the party’s first national assignment under his stewardship.
Ganduje said “This is your first assignment and we are happy that you did well. I was in our Situation Room watching you live while you were declaring the results and I am proud of the way you handled it.”
In his earlier remarks, Governor Ododo expressed gratitude to the APC national leadership for entrusting him and his committee members with such a crucial national assignment.
He highlighted that the committee’s report meticulously documented all events surrounding the primary election, offering comprehensive recommendations to address the aftermath.
Governor Ododo emphasized the importance of these recommendations in fostering party unity and preparing the APC for success in the upcoming November governorship election in Ondo State.
In a display of legislative power, the Rivers State House of Assembly has overridden Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s veto to pass the Rivers State Local Government (Amendment) Bill into law.
Despite the governor’s initial refusal to assent to the bill on March 13, 2024, the assembly stood firm in its resolve, led by Majority Leader Hon. Major Jack, to fulfill its constitutional duties.
Following the procedures outlined in Section 100(5) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended, the Rivers State House of Assembly exercised its authority to override Gov Fubara’s veto by a two-thirds majority vote.
Speaker Rt. Hon. Martin Amaewhule facilitated the decisive moment, paving the way for the enactment of the bill into law.
In a separate development, the House undertook the screening and confirmation of nominees for key positions within the Assembly Service Commission.
The confirmed nominees include Barr. Sampson Worlu as Chairman, along with Hon. Abinye Blessing Pepple, Mrs. Blessing Belema Derefaka, Mr. Gbaranen Robinson, and Madam Dorcas Amos as members.
On March 22, 2024, the Rivers State House of Assembly passed the Rivers State Assembly Service Commission (Amendment) Bill into law, granting itself the authority to appoint the Chairman and Members of the Assembly Service Commission.
This legislative action marked a significant shift in the appointment process for key positions within the commission.
On a somber note, Speaker Rt. Hon. Amaewhule sadly announced the passing of Mr. Lucky Amadi, the husband of Hon. Emilia Lucky Amadi, the honorable Member for Obio/Akpor Constituency II.
In a gesture of solidarity and support, Members expressed their condolences and announced plans to pay a visit to their grieving colleague, reflecting the assembly’s sense of camaraderie and compassion during times of loss.
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