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Rotational presidency is constitutional says Igbo Elders Forum

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***Warns, it will sanction any Igbo son that stoop to take VP position

The Igbo Elders Consultative Forum has declared that rotational Presidency is constitutional by virtue of the provision of the Federal character principles in the constitution.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja at the situation room in Okwadike Close, Asokoro in Abuja on Wednesday, the secretary of the Forum Professor Charles Nwekeaku, said

“Legally, morally and strategically it is the turn of the South East to produce the next president of this country as the other zones have been given the opportunity to serve Nigeria in that capacity

Section 14[3] of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria provides thus:

‘The composition on of the Government of the Federation or any of its agencies and the conduct of its affairs shall be carried out In such a manner as to reflect the Federal Character of Nigeria and the need to promote national unity, and [also] to command national loyalty, thereby ensuring that there shall be no predominance of persons from a few states or from a few ethnic or other sectional groups in that Government or in any of its agencies.’

“The above provision implies that South East should be allowed to occupy any of the following positions at any point in time, President, Vice-President, Senate President, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chief Justice of the Federation, Secretary to the Government of the Federation [SGF]
Other positions he wants the Igbos to also be given fair opportunity to occupy are the Chief of Army Staff, Chief of Naval Staff, Chief of Defense Staff, Chief of Air Force, inspector General of Police, Chairman of EFCC, Chairman of ICPC, among others.

He also canvassed same for some Key ministerial portfolios, such as, Minister of Defense, Minister of Finance, Minister of Works and Housing, Minister of Petroleum, Minister of Education, Minuster of Internal Affairs are inclusive.

However, he alleged that the South East has no representative in any of the aforementioned positions, which he said is a clear breach of the principle of Federal Character.
“We decided to search for that section of the constitution because some people will come out and say there is no rotational presidency in the Nigerian constitution.
“We are saying that section 14(3) that provides for federal character implied that the rotational presidency is also in the constitution.”
The South East is strategically favored to produce the next president in 2023 for the fact that it has only occupied the position for only 6 months under Gen J. T. U. Agutyi ironsi, and has not come close to it since the current political dispensation that started in 1999
According to him, “A Nigerian President of South East extraction will bring out the Igbo spirit of ingenuity creativity, entrepreneurial, cooperative and economic disposition to rebuild Nigeria.
He said, numerous well established Igbos in Diaspora will be encouraged to come home and invest massively in the country to facilitate the economic recovery of Nigeria

“The 2023 Presidential election is the best time to fully address the injustice, marginalization and integration of the Igbos, as the Presidency is expected to rotate to the North after eight years

“Denying South East the opportunity of producing President of Nigeria in 2023 will not only aggravate the unprecedented separatist agitations across the country, but also amount to perpetuation of injustice, deprivation, discrimination and gross marginalization of the Igbos in Nigeria
“South East has many distinguished professionals, technocrats, economic and political leaders that are presidential materials, who are available and ready to make Nigeria work again for the benefit of all sections of the country
“The-unity of Nigeria: will be better guaranteed if the South east is allowed to produce the next President of Nigeria in 2023 for the sake of justice, equity and fairness

“The Igbo Elders Consultative Forum is aware of the orchestrated subterranean moves by some professional, but amateurism political jobbers and unpatriotic elements to change the popular demand of a spectrum of well-meaning and patriotic Nigerians that the Presidency of Nigeria in 2023 should be zoned to the Southern part of the country, preferably South East, by standing logic on its head.
“We maintain unequivocally that any political party that does otherwise will not get the votes of the South, and, will, ultimately lose 2023 Presidency.
“We are waiting for them, as they will meet their political waterloo this time if they insist on shortchanging the South East people this rare opportunity of producing a credible, patriotic, detribalized and dynamic president of Nigeria in 2023.
He used the occasion to warn against any Igbo son that will betray the agenda by stopping to take the vice presidency position.
According to him, such a fellow would be sanctioned.
The chairman of the forum Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife called for prayers for the Indigenous People of Biafran Leader Nnamdi Kanu who was being arraigned in court same day.
“Our son is again in court there and we are not expecting anything serious from the court except they add some charges but what we should do is to seriously go to God for prayers so that Nmamdi Kanu is released in very quick time.
“All powers belong to God, whatever power we are holding on earth.
He expressed gratitude to the young men and women in Nigeria who do not belong to those who have buried their consciences but have been advocating for power to shift to the South East.

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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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