Politics
APC Convention: consensus is more of our Democratic tradition- Kalu

By Janet samuel
Consensus is more of the Nation’s Democratic tradition, Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Media and Publicity, Honourable Benjamin Kalu has indicated.
Kalu spoke with newsmen in Abuja on the consensus adopted by the party during its convention on March 26, 2022 convention.
Kalu who is representing Bende Federal Constituency in Abia State in the National Assembly, Said there are option of direct, indirect and consensus as methods of choosing those who will lead us.
He stated that the option of consensus has been used before and it was only an agreement option to harmonize the choices of the people.
“We have the option of direct, indirect and consensus as methods of choosing those who will lead us.
“We have used consensus before now to select our leaders. We are not going to jettison that but I want Nigerians to know this consensus is not imposition. Harmonization birth agreement. General agreement is what brings out the consensus candidate.
It’s a more herculean process to get all the players to agree on a particular candidate, not because others are not good but because one person must lead in the midst of equal”, Kalu stated.
The lawmaker maintained that there’s no better time to hold the convention than when it held.
“We have been waiting for it for a very long time and it came at the right time.
“This is because COVID-19 is over and election is around the corner and this also would serve as a marketing tool for the party.
“Several postponement gave us ample time to catalogue and documents a whole lot of succeses on the issues of national importance.
“This is because internal mechanism that respect leadership and the loyalty of the members has strengthened the party. Also the cohesion among the members and the leadership has made the party more formidable”, ha said.
He added that the style of leadership provided by President Muhammadu Buhari has made it easy for all those interests and aspirations that may not be inline with the general interest of the party to be replaced with the overall interest of the party which seeks to advance the democracy of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“So tomorrow, at the convention, we are going to be celebrating all the accomplishment of this government in different sector.
“Truth be told. This government came in at a time when the price of oil per barrel was 30-50 dollars, but we didn’t allow that to dictate the objective of this government.
“We pushed with the little resources that we have and stabilized the economy. Many people thought that this government was going to go down and the economy was going to be worst than what we are experiencing today.
“But by dedication, discipline and being able to be prudent with resources in government we have been able to cushion the effect of COVID 19. Which affected most economy of the world.
“The, convention has brouggt in crop of leadership that have integrity and we are the party that will be practicing what we preached through the electoral act.
“Everything that the electoral act had proposed was applied in the election of those who will lead us. We have the option of direct, indirect and consensus as a method of choosing those who will lead us” Hon. Kalu reiterated.
He assured that the party has created a healthy platform that will guarantee victory come 2023.
Kalu was the Vice Chairman of the Broadcast Committee under the sub- Committee of Media and Publicity of the APC convention, and he worked on media involvement towards a successful Congress
Politics
Obi did received N850m from Abure, Tanko clarifies

***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’.
Politics
Ondo 2024: Over 250 political structures join forces with Omoluabi Coalition Group

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

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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