NEWS
UPDATE: Fulanis Drag Jonathan into 2023 Presidential Race
By Edozie Obasi-Eze
The political beats for the 2023 general elections have become more electrified with former President Goodluck Jonathan being formally dragged into it.
Leader, Nomadic Fulani Pastoralists and Almajiri Communities, Ibrahim Abdullahi, on Monday in Abuja told the media that his group has picked the Expression of Interest and Nomination forms for former President Goodluck Jonathan, to contest the presidential ticket under the All Progressives Congress (APC).
He claimed that his group was eager to see Jonathan re-elected so that he can complete what he started.
In his words, “My name is Ibrahim Abdullahi, I represent two of the most vulnerable communities in our country, the nomadic pastoralists, and the Almajiri communities.
“We have decided to purchase this form for our former president, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, to come back and rule this country and continue with the good work he started.”
According to him, Jonathan was the first president since Nigeria’s independence in 1960 magnanimous enough to remember the Almajiri community.
He pointed out that the former president introduced a policy of reformation and integration with which the Almajiri could get into the mainstream education system in the country.
He rolled out the scorecard of the former President that targeted the peculiar constituencies he is championing their cause that made them resolve to part-fund Jonathan’s re-election.
“It was the dream and vision of Jonathan that if that program had continued, it would one day produce from the Almajiri education system, doctors and engineers.
“Unfortunately the program was kept aside as soon as he left office.
“Other parts of the community, the vulnerable community that Jonathan wanted to really give a sense of belonging was the Fulani community and nomadic pastoralist.
“He set aside N60bn in the coffers of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) which was to be used to develop livestock in Nigeria.
“I believe if the government had continued with that program, today, we will have been Denmark, Sweden, the Holland of entire Africa in terms of livestock and beef production,” Abdullahi added.
He lauded Jonathan’s patriotism, fairness and firmness which saw him offer every Nigerian a sense of belonging and led the country right.
He observed that though a lot of interest groups had been urging Jonathan to contest the 2023 presidential election, the Fulani Nomadic Pastoralists and Almajiri Communities decided to pick the forms for him to beat the deadline.
“Whether he agrees to contest or not, we need to purchase these forms for him; Jonathan is for all Nigerians, as a Nigerian, we believe he has the interest in this country at heart; he will accept us,” he said.
Abdullahi explained that the communities raised the fund for the purchase by selling their cows.
He urged Nigerians to support Jonathan so that he will the person to replace President Muhammadu Buhari by May 2023.
He maintained that a Jonathan presidency would unite the country and advance her development.
“I am a Fulani man, coming from the far North, but I tell you, there is no Nigerian today that I can cast my vote for or campaign for except Jonathan.
“For me, Jonathan is the best among all the aspirants, irrespective of where he comes from and religion. He is the best president for Nigeria,” he enthused.
On the permutation of how Jonathan can win the 2023 general presidential elections, Abdullahi pointed out, “We are ready not only to purchase these forms for President Jonathan, but I want to assure you that our community has a voting population of about 9 million youths who can also produce about 5 million votes.
“So, we have about 14 million voters, we have other Nigerians who can give us 2 million votes.”
In the midst of political tensions, the faction of the Rivers State House of Assembly aligned with Governor Siminalayi Fubara has conducted the screening and confirmation of legal expert Dagogo Israel Iboroma, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), as the Commissioner-designate.
Led by Speaker Victor Oko Jumbo, the faction endorsed Commissioner-nominee Dagogo Iboroma on Monday, within the Chambers of the Rivers State Government House in Port Harcourt.
Iboroma is poised to assume the role of Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, succeeding Professor Zaccheus Adangor SAN, who resigned upon his redeployment to the Ministry of Special Duties (Governor’s office) two weeks ago.
According to report, Iboroma received an invitation on Sunday, signed by Dr. G.M. Gills-West, the Clerk of the House, summoning him for screening as the Commissioner nominee and potential member of the Rivers State Executive Council.
Recall that last week, Hon. Victor Oko Jumbo, a factional Speaker aligned with Governor Fubara, was elected after Governor Fubara asserted that the Martin Amaewhule-led lawmakers, loyal to Nyesom Wike, Minister of Federal Capital, ceased to be Rivers State lawmakers in the eyes of the law following their defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Observers speculate that Governor Fubara is pushing forward to instigate governance activities, with more Commissioner nominees expected to undergo screening by the Victor Oko Jumbo-led three-man Lawmakers.
However, our correspondent highlights that the invitation for screening is already stirring controversies.
In a Facebook post by lawyer Oraye St Franklyn, he raised various legal issues.
Former Rivers State House of Assembly Speaker, Edison Ehie has revealed that he was offered money to impeach Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
Ehie, now serving as Chief of Staff to the governor, was previously the majority leader when the first attempt to impeach Fubara took place.
Along with a few others, he opposed the move, leading to a split from the lawmakers loyal to Nyesom Wike, Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Ehie later became the speaker of the faction, which disbanded after President Bola Tinubu intervened and a peace accord was signed between the Wike and Fubara camps.
The peace efforts faltered shortly thereafter, and the two factions resumed their conflict.
Speaking at an event in Ahoada East area of Rivers State over the weekend, Ehie reiterated that he was offered money to oust the governor.
While he didn’t reveal the identities of those behind the offer, he affirmed that he declined it.
He said “They invited me, your son, to impeach the governor and I told them clearly, I was not interested. They gave me all the money that was hidden before, which I rejected. And because I refused, they conspired and declared me wanted.”
Recall that in 2023, the police declared the Chief of Staff wanted in connection with the invasion of the State House of Assembly.
Also, in October 2023, an explosion rocked the state assembly building amidst reports of lawmakers attempting to impeach Fubara.
The lawmakers led by Martin Amaewhule reportedly lodged criminal complaints against Ehie with the Rivers State Police Command over the invasion and arson of the Rivers State House of Assembly chambers by unidentified hoodlums.
Joe Ajaero, President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), led a raucous protest at the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) headquarters in Abuja against the recent spike in electricity tariffs on Monday.
According to report, protesters, including workers from the NLC and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), forcefully entered the NERC complex on Monday.
Workers, supported by the NLC and the Trade Union Congress, besieged various electricity distribution company offices in defiance of the Band A tariff increase.
This nationwide agitation, sparked by the Federal Government’s removal of subsidies and tariff adjustments, threatened to paralyze key power sector institutions including NERC’s Abuja headquarters, the Ministry of Power, and state distribution company offices.
Recall that NERC’s had April 3, announced the electricity tariffs hike for Band A customers from N68/kWh to N225 per kilowatt-hour.
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