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Hon. Zacharias debunks ‘Assassination Threat’ on Mustapha Audu

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Member representing Idah/Ibaji/Igalamela-Odolu/Ofu Federal Constituency of Kogi State, Hon. David Idris Zacharias has debunked insinuations that he threatened Prince Mustapha Mona Audu, with assassination.

He described the claim that was published in some news outlets as mischief taken too far.

The lawmaker noted that the late Abubakar Audu’s son, working in cahoots with some individuals, were doing a hatchet job in order to distract him from the ongoing APC primary election processes.
Reacting in a statement on Wednesday which he signed and made available to journalists, the lawmaker noted that Mr Audu was aware of his rising political profile since his assumption of office at the lower legislative Chamber in 2019, hence, he resorted to blackmail and falsehood peddling to pull him down at all cost because of his own 2023 political interest.

Zacharias said the field of politics is open, stressing that everyone is at liberty to test his popularity, adding that smear campaign and propaganda which his rival has chosen should not be the alternative to getting to the top but capacity to effectively compete with others.
The statement reads: “One of the greatest weapons of losers in every contest is their damage tactics with which they use to distract their opponents. Worst still, is the fact that people who lack capacity to effectively compete with their counterparts especially in political contests resort to blackmail, fake news, disinformation, propaganda and other tools to press home their ponts.
“Unfortunately, this does not work with every person, especially those that had the singular opportunity to be politically tutored, nurtured, cooked, baked and mentored by one of Nigeria’s greatest and experienced political tactician of blessed memory, Prince Abubakar Audu, under whose tutelage Hon. David Zacharias acquired practical political and leadership orientation for several years of political apprenticeship.”
The lawmaker stressed that he would have ordinarily ignored the publication, but for unsuspecting public who didn’t know how Mustapha Audu has taken to ungodly ways of pursuing his political career, it became pertinent for him to outrightly debunk his claim.
“Prince Mustapha Audu, deliberately aimed at smearing the hard earned reputation of Hon. David Zacharias and to distract him from the last minute permutations ahead of his primary elections.
“But to even think that Mustapha Audu, considering the level of dignified training his father must have offered him will go so petty simply because he wants to occupy a political position tells how far people can throw away morality for political gains.
“The response that is being provided here is to guide men and women of goodwill, supporters and party members of good conscience to be wary of the deflection tactics deployed by Prince Audu and his  associates who are already grappling with the realities of the failure that awaits them at the primaries.
“Before setting the records straight, let it be on record that, all the contents of the letter being circulated with the accompanying news item are blantant lies from the pit of hell.

Part of the statement reads,

Hon. David Zacharias received a phone call from Prince Mustapha Audu on 14th May 2022 when the party was holding screening for a set of its aspirants at Fraser Suites Hotel, Abuja requesting to see him. Knowing full well that he, Mustapha is his constituent who has had such courtesy visits previously, obliged him to meet him at the venue where he was to see the governor.

At that meeting, Mustapha Audu told Hon. David Zacharias the relationship that existed between the national chairman of the APC, His Excellency, Alhaji Abdullahi Adamu and his late father, Prince Abubakar Audu. He noted that his father and the APC chairman were good friends and that now that Adamu Abdullahi has emerged chairman of the party, Adamu told him he wants to reward Prince Abubakar Audu by making sure Mustaph Audu, late Audu’s son occupies a political position in Kogi State.

He went further to allege that the APC national chairman had already hinted the Kogi State governor His Excellency, Alhaji Yahaya Bello and the APC National Chairman that both are already on the same page about his ambition and that he seeks to contest the Idah federal constituency position which the APC national Chairman already ceded to him.

According to Mustapha Audu in that meeting with David Zacharias, he came to speak to Zacharias to pacify him to allow him, Mustapha contest the position since he was already sure of clinching the position. He went further to boast that, to pave way for him, the APC national chairman who is an uncle to his wife, ensured that his wife emerge as zonal women leader of APC to pave way for his emergence.

In his characteristic nature and for those who know David Zacharias, will attest to his gentleness, meekness, welcoming, lovely and calm manner of addressing issues. Having appreciated him for the courtesy accorded him, Zacharias in his exact words said: “Since it is a contest, stepping down for you would not be necessary. Let us go to the pools, if you win, I will give you my support and if I win, then you support me”.

“The duo cracked jokes and both of them parted ways that day and nothing was said after this. Not even mentions of the national chairman from Zacharias, talk more of alleging to kill the national chairman.
“This is coming from a man who wants to assume a leadership position by causing disaffection, disunity, crises and unnecessary tension.

“Even by the poorly scripted, uncoordinated manner of presentation of lies and the incoherent nature the story appeared in public space, it is already crystal clear that Prince Mustapha Audu needs to save himself of the shame and embarrassment caused by the publication which rather than attracting sympathy, has made him an unserious comedian before Kogites and those he seeks to get sympathy from.

“On the allegation for assassination attempt on him, one begins to wonder the person that drafted the poorly acted script. It is important therefore to review some of the lies told in the letter sent to the police and subject the same to public scrutiny and testimony.

In the letter, Mustapha alleged that Hon. Idris Zacharias threatened his life, the life of his wife and his fellow colleague that was in the meeting. He went further to allege that Zacharias said he was going to use fetish means of attack or derail his project and has so far been bragging that he has begun his attack.

“These allegations are very childish and have no bearing to Hon. David Zacharias by any means.
“David Zcaharias is a good Christian who is not just a church goer, but has a personal relationship with God. It is wise to say that Mustapha should be ready to provide concrete audio-visual proofs to the allegation of threat to life and other forms of lies being told to attack unnecessary and undesirable sympathy.

“It is also important to state that the Joint Task Force who intervened by informing Mustapha and his team ahead of time of a planned assassination attempt on him should do further and provide the security agencies with well verified, empirical and acceptable intelligence of his report or claims.

“As a law abiding, responsible and father to many, David Zacharias will be disposed at all times to provide insights to these allegations when invited, but wants the general public to be wary of a man who wants power at all cost.
“The memories of the blackmail in 2019 when Mustapha wanted to be governor at all cost, the planned dethronement of the party’s caretaker extraordinary convention planning committee which led to his suspension from his Ogbonicha ward and other acts of grandstanding are not new to David Zacharias.

“Rather than appreciate, pray and commend the man whose four years in office is littered with plethora of infrastructural development, women and youths empowerment and other developmental indices, the Pull Him Down syndrome is now on display here.

Finally, we wish to remind Mustapha Enemona Audu of his own words when in 2019 he came to honour David Zacharias’ first massive empowerment that “ I came to join you in celebrating the good thing you are doing for our people because you are the first lawmaker in the history of this constituency that is thinking like my father by providing for the people”

Going further, Mustapha said “I am providing free scholarship to some students under my scholarship scheme in support of your good work and we will collectively fight any one who fight you”

“So, the question is what has changed! Mustapha must be conscious of the fact that leadership comes from God and that no man takes it by force because nobody knows tomorrow.

“We therefore urge the general public to be wary and by this rejoinder, completely, totally and honestly disregard the lies, concussion, false narratives, misinformation, antics and schemes to distract and discredit the previous work done by Zacharias and take his mind away from the success coming ahead.

“We urge Mustapha to be aware that he is bringing the principles of the chicken, “what it does not eat, it scatters”
“Leave this antics and let’s meet at the polling unit where real men are distinguished from boys.”

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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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