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No proud Igbo son or daughter will vote for a Yoruba man, says Prof. Udenta Udenta

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The Director with the center for alternative policy perspectives and strategy (CAPPS) Abuja, Professor Udenta O. Udenta has indicated that he cannot imagine any proud Igbo son or daughter going out to cast a vote for any Yoruba presidential candidate on any consideration.
He spoke at the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) Press Center Abuja on monday against the backdrop of his support for Governor of Bauchi State, Bala Muhammed Presidential ambition.

Professor Udenta was an arrow head of supporters of the Governor when he visited his boss, former President Goodluck Jonathan to intimate him of his ambition.
Udenta said, “I do not expect any proud Igbo son or daughter to cast a vote for a Yoruba presidential candidate on any consideration.
“Because for those who believe in politics of hegemony, replacing one hegemony you are afraid of in the north with another hegemony in the south does not make sense. “If Obasanjo did 8 years and Osinbajo 8 years what the heck, nobody there who is politically sane should even step out.

“We are ready to do the battle. I am intellectually endowed to do the battle, “I will rather work with the Bala Muhammed who may say after four years he is tired, my partner should step in for me and at most 8years and within that his presidential moment he will mainstream our people as well as the rest of the people to give a balance in democracy and Governance model that will impact positively on everybody.”
“The one I am not going to stand for with my intellectual and moral endowment, is to see my generation after 16 years of a Yoruba Presidency for anybody from that side of town to step out and say he wants to become President that is an insult to our people. 

“It is even diminishing their humanity, it does not show fidelity, compassion, brotherhood. These are things they don’t say in politics but people like us are there to expose them. And that is why I am beginning today to expose the shenanigans.

“On the other hand he said he believes in the idea of Igbo Presidency however he said the Igbos have to be serious. “Many are waiting for the presidency to be zoned to their Local Government before they can have the courage to step out, I am mindful of that because Ibo Presidency is like any other presidency or it sounds like a bargain, the process is not an abstract institution. “Igbo must get up and declare their interest in that project. It is not the position of Udenta to call out those who want to be president. “Buhari attempted three times without success but won at the fourth attempt. He won the fourth time, it’s not like if he was being compelled or pushed.

“People should do that at this stage, if you don’t do it, I am not a wizard to know what you want. As much as I want Igbo Presidency, I am going to work for it but I am not going to ask anybody to come and become President, those who want to become president should meet me and ask me clearly to help them in becoming President, if not how would I know you want to become President?

“You should not presume being Igbo I should have certain capacity and so by right I should join up with you.”

He described zoning as a fraud saying it is the Igbos that are marginalized, when you zone to South it is not specific.

He said he wants Igbo presidency, “That means in principle as a moral imperative, sure I want it, but as a practical necessity in overcoming this predicament you want to create, somebody want to be president, and he said, he wants to include your people in the bargain.

“We dont see much of them, we dont know when the Igbo Presidency is going to happen, by July the primaries are over unlike before when it would be October or Novermber, 

“so we can’t wait, there is no time, you cannot stay in your comfort zone hoping to get the presidency and here is somebody saying he is a friend of my people, he even want his peers in Ibo land to come out. Let us be doing what we are doing whether they will step out at all or not. At that state you can reshuffle and rethink 

“I must embrace what we see

It is morally imperative to say you need Igbo Presidency but for God sake you and I are not aspiring to be President we dont know who is aspiring to be president unless he steps out to say he wants to be President.

“Bala had made some statements in the past here and there nobody took that very seriously until when he went to see Jonathan, a former President and it was in the full glare of the world and Udenta sat beside him, what was he doing there. I am a proud igbo son supporting Bala Muhammed. 

“I want an Igbo president but I am a practical political player I need to get something close enough because if the political calculation does not work is it always happens in Nigerian politics and somebody want to sneak in from the West it is better I support a person that is known to keep to his words.”

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Politics

Obi did received N850m from Abure, Tanko clarifies

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***describes claim as malicious

The Obi – Datti Chief Spokesman, Dr Yunusa Tanko has clarriffied insinuation by one Mr Calistus Okafofor that the National Chairman of Labour Party Barrester Julius Abure, gave the Presidential Candidate of the party, Peter Obi eight hundred and fifty million Naira, (N850million) to prosecute the 2023 election.

Dr Tanko while debunking the clai said Obi did not collect any funds from the party describing the claim as false, adding that the reverse is the case.

He noted that it was Obi who actually gave money to the party severally.
He challenged Okafor to produce evidence, if actually the chairman told him that he gave Obi money for the purpose of campaign during the election.

“His Exellency has been exemplary in his financial conduct in both his private and public life.

“infact he always matain and always demand for Accountability and Transparency from anybody around
him.

He maintaned that anybody around him should not collect any money from anyone that he or she can not account for.

Dr Tanko declared that he was in the forefront of the campaign and privy to most of the expenses during the campaign and to the best of his knowledge, the party never provided any money directly to Obi to support his campaign rallies across the country.

The Campaign spokesman further stressed that Obi and his supporters were quite aware of all the campaign of calumny being orchestrated of recent from various quarters against the LP leader just to paint him in bad faith by those scared of his rising acceptance by the Nigerian people.

“We are aware that people are already scheming for 2027 and it is unfortunate that certain individuals have chosen to divert attention from the high rate of insecurity and poverty that are currently threatening the very existence of our nation by constantly attacking the personality of Peter Obi.

“Those are the enemy of Nigeria and Nigerians but l know that God will disappoint them and rescue our country from their grips whether they believe it or not’.

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Ondo 2024: Over 250 political structures join forces with Omoluabi Coalition Group

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Some political groups and structures of governorship aspirants in Ondo State numbering over 250 have joined forces with the Omoluabi Coalition Group ahead of November Governorship elections in Ondo State.
This took place on Monday 27th of May 2024 at an expanded Exco’ meeting held in Ore, where the President of the Yoruba Council- YCW; the apex umbrella body for all Yoruba socio cultural groups Aare Barr. Oladotun Hassan received the groups executives from all the 18 local governments across the sunshine state.

Aare Hassan in his welcome address admonished them to remain steadfast, and always imbibe Omoluabi ethos in their conducts.
He stressed the need for the remaining political structures in the state to join forces with Omoluabi Coalition to decide who will govern the State for the next four years, as this governorship election “is not about political party but the candidates”.

The DG Omoluabi Coalition Group Tunji Balogun emphasized the importance of voters card, as he urged those yet to collect theirs to go to INEC offices in their respective local governments for collections.

He said the groups’ target across the state is 200,000 votes. whereas the compilation of registered voters cards at the moment is still 124,678 which is far below target.
He therefore mandated the new members to register their voters cards on the group’s portal for proper documentation.

The woman leader, Yeye Atunluse Oodua Alhaja Tawakalitu while welcoming the new affiliated groups explained that Omoluabi Coalition Group is an independent apolitical and sociocultural group in Yoruba land committed to good governance, aimed at strengthening the democratic process.
She also gave her admonition and assurances that come November governorship election in Ondo state, the choice of Omoluabi Coalition would emerged as governor.

Other speakers included the youth leaders, and state commanders who also corroborated the statements earlier made by the group leaders.

In his closing remarks, the DG Omoluabi coalition advised all members to remain focused and loyal, stressing that the leaders are in consultation with leaders of thought and stakeholders in the State with assurances that “we shall come up with the right choice in the interest of our dear state”.

Omoluabi souvenirs were freely distributed to new members, while the inauguration of streets captains in all 203 wards would come up at a later date.

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I withdrew suit against APC, Aiyedatiwa after Tinubu’s intervention, says Jimoh Ibrahim

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The Senator Jimoh Ibrahim representing Ondo South said he has withdrawn his suit against the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa after President Bola Tinubu intervened.

Senator Ibrahim had dragged the APC candidate in the forthcoming governorship election in the State Lucky Aiyedatiwa and the party before the Federal High Court Abuja where he challenged the gubernatorial primary election of the APC held recently in Ondo state.

Ibrahim had alleged that there was no voting in his Senatorial district and a larger part of the State.

Following the suit, the executives of the APC in Igbotako Ward II, Okitipupa local government area of Ondo State, suspended Ibrahim from the party over alleged anti-party activities and insubordination.

However, Ibrahim at a briefing at the Senate on Tuesday, said he withdrew the suit in deference to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu who waded in the issue.

Ibrahim in his statement in Abuja titled: “Presidential intervention and notice of withdrawal suit No.

FHC /ABJ/ CS/588/2024,”said: “The suit is now withdrawn due to the intervention of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR.

“The President called me, had a meeting with me, and assured me that he will as the leader of the party improve on internal democracy within our party, and i will need to withdraw the case to enable him to chart a way forward.

“The Governor of Ondo state, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, earlier visited my Asokoro residence for several hours after another unsuccessful visit to my hotel room in Akure.

“I cannot disobey the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria because the issue am fighting for is not personal.

“It is simply to improve internal democracy to which the President has promised improvement. My respect for the President is absolute!

“Let me use this opportunity to thank Mr. President for the words of wisdom and encouragement during my meeting with him which lasted over one hour and his various interactions with me on the telephone during which he emphasized his commitment to internal democracy over and over again. Thank you, Mr. President.

“The withdrawal of this legendary suit coincides  with the first anniversary of Mr. President’s incredible performance in office, and this is my gift of the ‘cake’ of the first anniversary”

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