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Civil Society Groups make case for ministerial slot to be ceded to Southern Borno

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The All Progressives Congress (APC) needs to reassure Christians and minority ethnic groups that Nigeria is a secular state, where merit and unity rather than religion and tribe will be the basis for national development, Civil Society Groups for Good Governance (CSGGG) have said.
The President of the group Comrade Ogakwu Dominic Ogakwu said such parameters are needed for facilitating national integration, peaceful coexistence and harmonious relationships that will engender a prosperous Nigeria for all.
This is coming against the backdrop of the cacophony that greeted the Muslim-Muslim ticket of the APC president-elect and vice-president-elect and the need to cede the ministerial slot fir Borno State to Borno South that has consistently been abandoned in the scheme of things at the State and Federal level.
He said as Nigeria braces up for yet another democratic administration at the nation’s center and the All Progressives Congress (APC) should do the needful with respect to appointments of federal ministers, so that ethno-religious balancing and inclusion is seen to be done for critical socioeconomic development.
Speaking of the ministerial configuration he urged the President-elect Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice-President-elect Kashim Shettima, to be seen to deliberately institutionalize equity, fairness and justice, so as to wean itself from the current baggage of nepotism that characterizes federal appointments in the outgoing APC government.

“It is against this backdrop of call for balancing and inclusivity, that concerned Nigerians under the aegis of coalition of civil societies, hereby throw their weight behind the appointment of a Southern Borno person as a federal minister in the incoming administration of senators Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Kashim Shettima.”
He said their position is because, for decades the southern senatorial district of Borno has suffered political inequality, injustice and exclusion in terms of state and national affairs.
“It is on record that southern Borno has suffered and continues to suffer national and State marginalization till date. “The more politically advantaged Central and Northern Borno cabal, have such a stranglehold on the political equation in the state, that they continue to hijack all political offices in the state – especially the plum job of the state governorship, which has eluded the people of Southern Borno for decades despite their aspirations and contributions.
“A cursory look at the line-up of former state governors reveals a worrisome trend of exclusion and instituted conspiracy 1979 – 1983, Mohammed Goni (North)
1983 – 1984 Ashiek Jama (Central), 1991 – 1993 Maina Ma’aji (Lawan (north) 1999 – 2003 Mala Kachala (Central)
2003 – 2011 Ali Modu Sheriff (Central) 2011 – 2019 ashim Shettima (Central)
2019 till date Babagan Zulum (North)

According to him, only two senatorial districts – Central and Northern Borno – have produced governors in the state. “Does this list reflect equity, fairness and justice in a state having three senatorial districts with Southern Borno being the most populous, educated and religiously tolerant, with evidence of peaceful coexistence between the Christians and Muslims?
“Your guess is as good as mine!
As if history has not punished the people of Southern Borno enough, the current government in the state has almost relegated southern Borno to the periphery, with lopsided appointments which are skewed in favor of Central and Northern Borno as indicated in the current political appointments in Borno state

GOVERNOR – KANURI
SPEAKER OF ASSEMBLY – KANURI
CHIEF JUDGE – KANURI
GRAND KHADI – KANURI
CHIEF OF STAFF – SHUWA
SSG – SHUWA
BOSU VC – KANURI
BOGIS – KANURI
BOSEPA – KANURI
BOSIRS – KANURI
HMB – KANURI
BOCOLIS – KANURI
CSC – KANURI
LGSC – KANURI
BOSIEC – KANURI
BORMA – KANURI
SUBEB – KANURI
BRTV – KANURI
PILGRIMS BOARD – KANURI
SHEMA – KANURI
BORNO EXPRESS – KANURI
EDUCATION TRUST FUND – KANURI
AGENCY FOR MASS LITERACY – KANURI
COLLEGE OF NURSING – KANURI
COLLEGE OF HEALTH TECHNOLOGY – KANURI
ACCOUNTANT-GENERAL – KANURI
AUDITOR-GENERAL – KANURI
RAMAT – KANURI
TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT AGENCY – KANURI
COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE – KANURI
APC CHAIRMAN – KANURI

“All the above-mentioned appointive and elective offices in Borno state are manned by persons of Kanuri and Shuwa extraction – all from central and northern Borno.
“However, ours is not an ethnic agitation nor a religious protest, but a ‘moralsuation.’ We are only appealing to the humanity which binds all of us and calling the good people of Central and Northern Borno, led by Vice-president-elect Kashim Shettima, to ‘be their brothers keepers’ this time, by backing a Southern Borno person for appointment as a federal minister, for balancing, inclusion and participation.

These he said are key criteria for political equity, fairness and justice.
“Considering the current political setup in the state, we are particularly calling on the president-elect Bola Ahmed Tinubu to lead the charge for sociopolitical and socioeconomic integration, by appointing a person from Southern Borno as a federal minister – since they have already been schemed out of the political equation in Borno state in particular and Nigeria in general.
“Just as the current administration in the state schemed southern Borno out, they were equally not featured in federal ministerial appointments, with the current federal minister of state for Agriculture hailing from Borno Central, instead of using that ministerial appointment to compensate Borno south for their marginalization in the state.
Vice- President-elect Kashim Shettima is now the political father of all in the state, since he is about to become the vice president of everyone – not only his own people.
“As civil society, we are appealing to him to leverage on his influence in the party to mend the broken fences and build a bigger, better and more united Borno State and Nigeria, by throwing his weight behind Borno South for federal ministerial appointment, to compensate and bring them into the fold as one family.
“Considering that southern Borno is predominantly Christian and non-Kanuri, we believe that if vice-president-elect Kashim Shettima heed this ‘moralsuation’ and facilitate the inclusion of southern Borno in this federal government, it will send a strong message across the nation and the world, that the Muslim-Muslim ticket is not a prelude to religious intolerance nor a threat to Christians or other religions, but rather a government founded on equity, fairness and justice.”

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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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