Politics
Science, Technology minister declares to also run for president
**He is the best man for the job, says Patriots for Dr Ogbonnaya Onu
Minister of Science and Technology, Chief Ogbonnaya Onu has thrown his hat in the ring to slug it out with the array of other aspirants for the presidential ticket of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The former Governor of Abia State while declaring on Friday morning in Abuja said Nigeria can not continue with the ‘cap in hand’ mindset, looking out to foreign countries for its survival.
Onu harped on the fact that Nigeria has the key to unlocking its own prosperity.
He, therefore, asked his party and the electorate to elect him as Nigeria’s “Chief Servant”.
He recalled his days as governor of Abia when the state provided free treatment in public hospitals.
Apart from the health sector, the minister said Abia witnessed development across all sectors of the state.
“As a man of great compassion, and also believing that women are great builders of nations, I did not want any pregnant woman or child to die either during pregnancy or childbirth, which are the most challenging periods in any woman’s life, just because the woman cannot afford to pay hospital bills. Hence, all pregnant women received free treatment in public hospitals,” the presidential hopeful said.
“I want all Nigerians, particularly the youth to know that Nigeria has a bright future. Let there be nothing that can make any Nigerian lose hope about the future of Nigeria.
“The Almighty God that created us, gave our dear nation, everything that she needs to be a leader in the world. Working together, we will make use of the knowledge economy driven by STI to make Nigeria truly great.
“My fellow Nigerians, we have the key to unlocking the prosperity of our dear nation, and this key is a knowledge economy driven by science, technology and innovation.
“This is so, because no nation has ever become truly great, whether in ancient or modern times, without the efficient and effective deployment of science, technology and innovation to nation-building.
I am convinced that I have the knowledge, the experience, the credibility, the education having been trained in one of the best universities in the world, the vision, the integrity, maturity and a man who can be trusted.
“I most respectfully ask my political party, the APC, to elect me as its presidential candidate, and the people of Nigeria to elect me as the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, for me to be the chief servant of the nation.”
Meanwhile, a group under the aegis of Patriots for Dr Ogbonnaya Onu led by Prof Hakeem Fawehinmi had on Thursday paid the minister a courtesy visit in Abuja to prevail on him to join the 2023 presidential race, for the advancement of Nigeria and the improvement of the wellbeing of her citizens.
Fawehinmi who is a professor of clinical anatomy and biomedical Anthropology at the University of Portharcourt observed that Nigeria is going through perilous times and more than ever before needs an experienced and dynamic leader with the capacity to pull her from the brinks.
“We are here today to beckon on a non-sentimental silent achiever, we so much believe in, to throw his hat into the ring and contest for the highest office in the land on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
“While we expect the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a free, fair and credible election that will respect the aspiration of the Nigerian masses, there are key attributes a presidential candidate is expected to possess to make him suitably qualified to occupy this coveted office.
“Nigeria at this precarious time needs a detribalized leader that will foster unity, put the interest of all Nigerians above sectional interest, fight endemic corruption frontally, tackle widespread insecurity pervading the land headlong and prosper the lives of its citizenry through economic emancipation and job creation.
“Amongst the contenders that have openly declared their intentions to contest, these requisite attributes stand you out as the most formidable with sterling performance over the years.”
According to Fawehinmi, the Federal Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation under his watch have made remarkable progress and giant strides.
“On assumption of office in November 2015, you increasingly created awareness on the importance of Science, Technology and Innovation to nation-building through programmes such as the Annual TechExpo, adoption of Science, Technology and Innovation to drive Economic Diversification, Commercializing some of the research findings by your Agencies, Patenting many of them as ways of job creation, reducing capital flight by a reduction in the overdependence on imported goods and thereby strengthening the naira.
“Dr Ogbonnaya Onu has facilitated the signing of Executive Order 5 by the President to boost local content and move the economy to a knowledge-based one. He has revitalized and inaugurated the National Research and Innovation Council (NRIC) to serve as a driver for economic development: and infused Science, Technology and Innovation into the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) of the federal government.
“His Excellency values the youths and has instituted an Annual National Science, Technology and Mathematics Competition in all the 774 Local Government Areas as a way of nurturing young talents and future scientists and award scholarships and start-ups to the brightest minds.”
According to the leader of the group Onu has been an indigene of 3 South-Eastern States (Imo, Abia and Ebonyi) at different times, with a political career that spans over 3 decades and is the most senior political office holder amongst all the aspirants currently jostling for the job.
“During your tenure as the first civilian Governor of the old Abia State in 1991, you meritoriously served as first Chairman Conference of Nigerian Elected Governors.
“His Excellency is sound in mind and body and one of the most educated aspirants having bagged a First Class honours degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Lagos and a PhD from the reputable University of California, Berkeley, USA.
“In the academia, you were pioneer Head of Department of Chemical Engineering and Member of Senate and Governing Council of the University of Port Harcourt before your foray into politics.
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“As a foundation member of the All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP) and National Chairman, you carried its flag in 2013 to the union with the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) along others to form the APC.
“When you won the election as the presidential standard-bearer of the APP in 1998, you forfeited this ticket to Chief Olu Falae who contested under the AD/APP joint platform due to your belief in the unity of this country.
“This move was to assuage the feelings of the Yoruba in their yearning for the presidency due to the annulment of June 12, 1993, presidential election convincingly won by Chief MKO Abiola.
“As National Chairman, most of ANPP’s presidential candidates were from the North and your character stands out as one of the very few politicians pre-2015 that remained in the opposition despite its deprivations, because of your diligent and principled nature.
It is noteworthy that of the three major political parties that merged to form the APC, the ANPP stock appears to have been most short-changed in the tripartite power-sharing equation.
“A multicultural society like Nigeria requires a nationalistic leader and technocrats like Dr Ogbonnaya Onu that can be entrusted with its unity and treasury and can provide a transformational leadership devoid of sentiments and rancour.
“You have never had a brawl with the anti-corruption and security agencies, and this gives you the moral justification to fight corruption. His Excellency prefers meritocracy to nepotism as a way of earning the confidence of the people and has the demonstrable capacity to work with every Nigerian irrespective of religious or tribal persuasion.
“This political sagacity, requisite experience, managerial acumen and comportment will earn him the respect of the government and people.
“Egalitarianism cannot be fostered when a major segment of society is nursing a feeling of discontentment.
“His election will assuage the feeling of real or perceived marginalization among the Ndigbo that constitute about a quarter of the population, guarantee their full re-integration into the post-civil war Nigerian state and end their agitation for socio-economic and political emancipation, as happened to the militancy struggle in the South-South with the election of Dr Goodluck Jonathan as President in 2011.
“It will give the civil war veterans including former Heads of State a sense of fulfilment, seeing their dream of a truly unified Nigeria which they have fought for, materialize in their lifetime.
Therefore, political and opinion Leaders should make a clarion call to all well-meaning citizens to synergize, pull resources together, build bridges across party lines and rally support from the various regional interest groups for Dr Ogbonnaya Onu.
“He has been projected as the ideal President for Nigeria come 2023 as he belongs to an endangered species of statesmen who can galvanize all facets of this country and provide the needed modern-day progressive leadership.
“The election of Dr Ogbonnaya Onu as President will sustain the existence of Nigeria as an indivisible entity.
“The APC should therefore put its best foot forward and adopt Dr Ogbonnaya Onu as its consensus presidential standard bearer in its legitimate quest to retain power at the centre post-2023, as he is not only acceptable to the Ndigbo and APC, but to all Nigerians due to his broad appeal for which the majority of voters will coalesce.
“This worthy course if left to slide can only be realised in the next 16 years with the sustenance of the current democracy.
The Patriots are passionate about you taking the mantle of leadership of this great country and piloting its affairs and lead us to the promised land.
We beseech/implore you to declare for the race and urge the ruling APC to adopt you as its consensus candidate as Victor Hugo once said that “there is nothing as powerful as an idea whose time has come” and that is your Excellency’s declaration. We rest our case!”
The presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) for the 2027 general election, Prince Adewole Adebayo, has launched a fresh attack on the All Progressives Congress (APC), describing the Muslim-Muslim ticket of President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima as a political strategy aimed at deceiving Nigerians.
Speaking during an interview on Arise Television’s Morning Show, Adebayo argued that the 2023 presidential ticket was built on religious sentiment rather than competence, insisting that Nigerians are now more interested in electing leaders who can deliver justice, good governance and economic prosperity.
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According to him, the APC’s same-faith ticket has failed to meet the expectations of many Nigerians, including those who supported it because of the candidates’ religious affiliation.
“There is nothing like the Muslim-Muslim ticket. Even when the contraption was brought up four years ago and I was in Kano, I was asked the same question while meeting with the Ulamas.
“I told them that if you are hoping for a Muslim-Muslim ticket in President Tinubu and Vice President Shettima, you will be lucky to even have a single Muslim out of the two.”
Adebayo maintained that leadership in Islam is defined by justice and competence, not by a leader’s religious identity, describing the Tinubu-Shettima administration as a “zero-zero ticket.”
“It turned out now that it’s not a Muslim-Muslim ticket. From the point of view of Muslims in Nigeria, it is a zero-zero ticket because in Islam, what is expected of a leader in Islamic jurisprudence is not the religion of that leader but justice.”
The SDP flagbearer added that Islamic teachings encourage the appointment of only qualified and capable individuals to positions of responsibility.
“The reason why Muslims get involved in politics is to have a just society, and there are guidelines in Islamic jurisprudence regarding politics. In Islam, it is expected that if you are a good Muslim, you do not give public office or responsibility to anyone who is not fit for that.”
He further alleged that the Muslim-Muslim ticket was introduced to manipulate voters through religion instead of presenting credible leadership.
“The whole concept from the beginning was just to defraud the populace by using religious sentiment. What the North and all Nigerians are looking for is a righteous leader, no matter the person.”
Adebayo also criticised the current administration over the country’s socio-economic challenges, arguing that the religious composition of the presidency has not translated into justice or improved living conditions.
He referenced former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, saying even one of the prominent advocates of the Muslim-Muslim ticket has recently been seeking justice.
“So when you say you are looking for a Muslim-Muslim ticket and there is no justice anywhere, even one of the proponents, El-Rufai, who was celebrating it, he and his family are now crying for justice. That is the biggest irony you can have.”
He concluded that Nigerians ahead of the 2027 general election are more concerned about competent leadership, fairness and better governance than the religious background of presidential candidates.
The Ebonyi State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called for a thorough investigation into an incident involving security personnel attached to the convoy of Governor Francis Nwifuru following the circulation of a viral video on social media.
The video purportedly shows a confrontation between members of the governor’s convoy and occupants of a civilian vehicle along the Centenary City–Chiboy Motors axis of the Afikpo-Abakaliki Road.
According to available information, the incident occurred after a Toyota Camry reportedly collided with a motorcycle rider attached to the governor’s convoy, leaving the rider injured. The ensuing confrontation allegedly resulted in damage to the civilian vehicle.
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Reacting to the development, the PDP’s State Publicity Secretary, Prince Darlington Peter Onwe, called on the Ebonyi State Police Command and the Department of State Services (DSS) to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident.
He urged security agencies to identify and interview those involved and determine the circumstances surrounding the confrontation.
The party also called on the Ebonyi State Government to provide clarification on the incident and disclose the identity and conduct of the security personnel involved.
In addition, the PDP urged relevant authorities to review the operational procedures and rules of engagement for security personnel attached to official convoys to ensure the safety of other road users.
Onwe said the party believes the public deserves a full account of what transpired and urged eyewitnesses and other persons with relevant information to cooperate with investigators.
Responding to the controversy, the Special Assistant to the Governor on New Media, Leo Ekene Oketa, said “the viral video captured only part of the incident and did not present the complete sequence of events.”
He appealed to the public “to refrain from drawing conclusions until all the facts have been established.”
Oketa explained that official convoys, like ambulances, fire service vehicles and other emergency responders, are required to move swiftly in the interest of public safety and national security.
He noted that motorists are expected to comply with lawful traffic directives issued by police officers and convoy personnel to ensure the safe movement of official convoys and prevent accidents.
According to him, “Governor Francis Nwifuru remains committed to professionalism, respect for the rule of law and the protection of lives.”
He added that the circumstances surrounding the incident were being reviewed and urged road users “to remain patient, obey lawful traffic instructions and cooperate with emergency and security personnel in the interest of public safety.”
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has officially unveiled David Amapakaye Okumgba as its deputy governorship candidate for the 2027 general elections in Rivers State.
The announcement was made on Tuesday by the Rivers State Chairman of the party, Chukwudi Dimgba, who confirmed that Okumgba will serve as the running mate to the party’s governorship candidate and former Secretary to the Rivers State Government, Dr. Gabriel Baritulem Pidomson.
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In a statement issued to journalists, Dimgba described Okumgba as a seasoned politician with extensive leadership experience in both the political and private sectors, expressing confidence in his ability to help drive the party’s vision for the state.
According to the party, the Pidomson-Okumgba ticket represents competence, experience, inclusiveness and a shared commitment to delivering good governance, accountability, economic growth, security and equal opportunities for all residents of Rivers State.
The ADC chairman highlighted Okumgba’s political credentials, noting that he previously served as South-South Zonal Secretary and South-South Zonal Publicity Secretary of a major political party.
He also chaired the Appeal Committee for Senatorial Primaries in Edo State and had earlier contested for a seat in the Rivers State House of Assembly.
The party said Okumgba’s political experience, organisational capacity, interpersonal skills and deep understanding of Rivers State’s political landscape make him an ideal choice to partner with Pidomson ahead of the 2027 governorship election.
Dimgba stated that the party believes the governorship ticket reflects the aspirations of Rivers people and offers the leadership and integrity needed to move the state forward.
He called on party members, supporters and residents of the state to embrace the Pidomson-Okumgba ticket and join the ADC’s campaign to build what he described as a government that truly serves the people.
The Rivers ADC chairman also assured that under his leadership, the party would continue to unite its members, inspire public confidence and work towards building a better future for the state ahead of the 2027 elections.
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