Politics
2023 Presidency: Kalu chickens out, says without zoning, he will stay put in the senate
Having come to terms with the reality that the South East and its quest for the presidency can not be achieved without the support of other regions, former Abia State Governor Orji Uzor Kalu has shelved his presidential ambition.
The senator had earlier indicated interest to run for the presidency on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) with a proviso that the Ruling Party zones it to the South East.
In a statement, the senator personally signed and made available to newsmen on Tuesday he acknowledged that the situation in Nigeria is that without the support of other regions, it would amount to a shadow chasing for a South Easterner to be President.
“This is the reason I have been in the frontline of the call that the two major political parties, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) should zone their presidential tickets to the South East as they did for the South West in 1999.
“In the absence of this zoning, I shall return to the Senate and stay away from the presidential contest. The reality is that the North is more advantageous to win elections in this democratic setting.”
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“It is my desire and intention to run for the Presidency of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. I am committed to this pursuit, but I can’t make an official declaration to this regard without the full support of other regions. “Everywhere in the world, politics is situational and that of Nigeria is exceptionally situational.
The situation in Nigeria is that without the support of other regions, it would amount to a shadow chasing for a South Easterner to be President.”
This he said is the reason he has been in the frontline of the advocacy for the two major political parties, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) should zone their presidential tickets to the South East as they did for the South West in 1999.
In the absence of this zoning, he said he will return to the Senate and stay away from the presidential contest. “The reality is that the North is more advantageous to win elections in this democratic setting.”
He expressed dismay with the array of aspirants coming from the South West and the South-South.
“It is embarrassing that these aspirants (APC and PDP) have no single respect and concern for the South East. I had thought they would think about the southeast; I thought they would support us.
“The amount of money being spent by these aspirants is alarming and they have forgotten that money alone cannot buy the presidency.
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“It has become a joke to an ordinary Nigerian who hears Southern commentators and aspirants rooting for a Southern President on the premise of fairness, equity, and justice.
“How can you talk about these morals when you are not even fair to your own brothers?
“If there is anything like “fairness”, “equity” and “justice”, it should be the entire South pushing for a president of southeast extraction. Anything less than that is “hypocritical”, “unjustifiable” and “inordinate”.
“Some ‘persons’ are even claiming God’s anointed choice in 2023. Unfortunately, it is not all prayers that God answers; at least not inordinate ones.
“What moral justification does a Southerner who refused to be fair to his brothers have against a Northerner running for president? It will be very insensitive, unreasonable, and disrespectful for any Southern man to criticize a presidential aspirant from the North on the ground that the North has done eight years and power should return to the South.
“The South West and the South-South have successfully completed their tenures as ‘President and Vice President’.
“They should have the courage to support their brothers from the South East. If the next president after President Muhammadu Buhari does not come from the South East, there would be nothing unfair and unjust if he/she comes from Daura.
“This country belongs to all of us and the unity of the country should be paramount. If not for selfishness and greed, how can you say that where a president comes from does not matter simply because you don’t want to support a president of
Nigeria from the South East, but turn around to clamor for a power shift to the South? “How do we explain this to the younger generation? Let the wise and courageous stay firm on their convictions and not swing on the two sides of the Atlantic.
If you are convinced that where a president comes from does not matter, let Nigerians not hear you clamor for a power shift. Be brave to encourage everyone to run, including President Buhari’s kinsmen. But if you have a conscience and believe in equality, then you should support the South East region that is yet to produce a president. That is what I consider fairness.
The two regions that are yet to produce President he said are South East and North East.
“If this means anything to Nigerians, the APC and PDP should be fair enough to prioritize these regions.
“If power should come to the South and not the South East or North and not the North East, the essence for which the six geopolitical zones were created is long dead.
“To Pa Ayo Adebanjo, Chief Edwin Clark, Deji Adeyanju, and a host of others who has stood firm in their support for their brothers in the South East, posterity will be kind to you.”
Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke has warned against attempts to destabilize the peace and security of Igbajo by some group of people led by Prince Gboyega Famodun through conflicting Oroke festival days.
He directed security agencies to deal decisively with any trouble maker.
According to a government statement, issued in Osogbo, reports at the disposal of the government indicated an attempt by a faction belonging to Famodun to create conflict at Igbajo by fixing a different festival date from the one officially announced by the legal and officially crowned king of Igbajo, Oba Ademola Makinde.
An effort, it noted was designed to create violence and crisis in the peaceful town of Igbajo.
As a government, the statement added, we reiterate that the Monarch of Igbajo today is Oba Ademola Makinde and the May 23rd already fixed for the Oroke Day Festival remains the sacrosanct date for the popular cultural and traditionally significant event.
“We note further that the Head of Igbajo traditional institution remains the present Owa of Igbajo, Oba Ademola Makinde and he is therefore empowered and entitled to fix the day for the Oroke festival. Actions of the Famodun faction is therefore against tradition and law and is therefore a nullity.
“In a bid to forestall breakdown of law and order and in line with my responsibility as the Chief Security Officer of Osun state, I direct security agencies to enforce the holding of the Oroke festival on the official date of May 23rd and to ensure no gathering is held on May 19th set by any other faction.
“The above directive and actions are taken to maintain peace and protect the ancient town from those hell-bent on manipulating the traditional institution to destabilize the state”, the Governor was quoted as saying,” he cautioned.
Adamawa State High Court’s Justice Benjamin Manji Lawan has issue an arrest warrant for suspended INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner Barrister Hudu Yunusa Ari.
The court instructed the Inspector General of Police to promptly apprehend Barrister Ari and present him in court to face trial on three charges.
This directive followed an application filed by the Adamawa State Government on April 16, 2024.
During the proceedings, Chief L. D. Nzadon, representing the complainant, informed the court that they were seeking an arrest warrant against the defendant.
Referring to Section 20, Subsection (1j) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law (ACJL) 2018, Chief Nzadon urged the court to utilize its authority and instruct the Inspector General of Police to apprehend the defendant, regardless of his location.
He explained that attempts to serve the defendant were unsuccessful, as the court’s bailiff had been in Bauchi State from May 2nd to May 4th, 2024, but couldn’t locate him.
In his ruling on the application, the judge noted that this was the third instance the case had been mentioned without the defendant present in court.
He acknowledged the complainant’s counsels’ explanation regarding their inability to serve Ari, suggesting that it seemed he was deliberately avoiding
The executives of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Igbotako Ward II, Okitipupa local government area of Ondo State, have officially suspended Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, who represents Ondo South, citing alleged anti-party activities and insubordination.
The suspension notice was jointly signed by several ward executive members, including Omotoye Olusola, Bakere Usuf, Tore Obwoselu, Oloyinmi Idowu, Borewaye Louyomi, Oladipupo Bose, Alkimbobola Seyi, Lawal-Babatunde, Aritawe-Ademole, Akinkuoju Olarewaju, and Fabioye Ajoke.
Ibrahim’s suspension follows the recent APC governorship primary election in the state, where he faced defeat. Citing Article 21, Section A of the APC Constitution, the party executives justified their decision to suspend Senator Ibrahim.
The 16-member Executive Committee made this decision during a meeting held on Monday, May 13, 2024.
Additionally, the party recalled a prior meeting in Abuja, convened by the APC National Chairman, Alhaji Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, where all governorship aspirants were urged to cooperate with the party’s candidate and incumbent governor of the state, Hon. Lucky Aiyedatiwa.
Despite the suspension, Senator Jimoh Ibrahim proceeded to file a lawsuit against the governor and the APC, disregarding the party’s directives.
The letter, made public in Akure, the state capital, on Wednesday, states: “We, the members of the APC Executive Committee of Igbotako Ward II in Okitipupa Local Government Area of Ondo State, convened a meeting on Monday, May 13th, 2024.”
“During our meeting, we deliberated extensively on various issues affecting the progress and development of our party, notably indiscipline and insubordination among some members.
“We have found Senator Jimoh Ibrahim’s actions and activities to violate the party’s constitution, particularly his decision to sue the party as well as his anti-party activities.
“As such, we have resolved to take appropriate disciplinary action against him as outlined in the party’s constitution. Senator Jimoh Folorunso Ibrahim is hereby suspended from the All Progressives Congress (APC) with immediate effect for acts of insubordination and anti-party activities By Article 21, Section A of the APC Constitution.
“It is worth recalling that the National Party Chairman of APC, Alhaji Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, met with all Ondo State governorship aspirants on April 25th, 2024, in Abuja
“During the meeting, he urged them to cooperate with the party’s candidate and incumbent Governor of Ondo State, Honorable Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa. Despite this, Senator Jimoh Ibrahim Folorunso proceeded to sue the Governor and APC, blatantly disregarding party instructions.
“Additionally, he has engaged in anti-party activities by urging his supporters in Igbotako and Ondo State to join NNPP, claiming he will soon receive the gubernatorial ticket from them.
“Senator Jimoh has openly declared his intent to disrupt APC before leaving the party, as evidenced by his actions in the Federal High Court in Abuja and his derogatory remarks about APC in various media outlets.
“For emphasis, Senator Jimoh Ibrahim Folorunso has been suspended from the All Progressives Congress (APC) with immediate effect, and he is hereby prohibited from participating in any APC activities nationwide.” the letter added
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