Politics
Abia Governor says G-5 phenomenon is beyond 2023

***Security is not the greatest problem of Nigeria but mutual suspicion
The Abia State Governor, Dr Okezie Ikpazu has indicated that the phenomenon of the G-5 governors is beyond the 2023 general election as being perceived in many quarters.
Speaking on Thursday at the Yaradua Center in Abuja after the public presentation of a book “The biochemistry of the environmental pollution’ he co-authored with a lecturer from the University of Portharcout, Dr Kalu Kalu Igwe, he reiterated that the G-5 governors’ grouse against the national leadership of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) is to ensure that everyone’s interest is protected, especially at the national level irrespective of tribe or zone.
The PDP has been enmershed in an internal crises over party leadership with the presidential candidate, Alh. Atiku Abubakar and Governor Wike of Rivers state, Southern Nigeria, having opposing views with Gov. Wike calling for the removal of the party’s National Chairman, Senator Iyorchia Ayu for the South to produce the party’s next national chairman.
Ikpazu who dismissed the notion that the G-5 is no longer relevant said their agitation is about inclusiveness the lack of which has been holding the country at the jugular which he said was being reenacted by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
“Let me say this to us, how I see G-5 is that what we try to bring to the fore is beyond 2023 elections
It is about inclusiveness, it is about what we think is at the root and jogular of what we think is with Nigeria.
“If I come to a point in my life as a politician and you produce two or three critical officers of my party and they are coming from one particular geo-political zone, I will still agitate, even if , it comes from my geo-political zone.
“I am talking about, how do we bring everybody on the table. If you exclude Igbos I will protest, if you the same to northern Nigeria I will ask the question, I will also protest. If you exclude people from western Nigeria, I will still Protest.
“For me, it is about including everybody, the youth, the women. People from the North, People from the South.
“All of us, we need to do social mobilization in order for us to solve the economic problems of this country.
“Social mobilization to solve the security problems of this country, you do have to put the cart before the horse.
“The greatest problem of Nigeria Today is not security, neither is it economic. It is lack of cohesion. It is disunity. It is because there is mutual suspicion, lack of mutual respect.
“We must come together, women, youth, people from the south, people from the North stating that this country belongs to all of us under one God.
“The parameters must be the same. A criminal in Zamfara, must be seen as a criminal in Abia. A criminal in Enugu must be seen as a criminal in Lagos. So G-5 is what it is because it is beyond 2023.
On the book presented to the public and it’s relevance in the academic circles he said, “You have heard the professor if environmental studies in the university of Portharcourt declared Publicly that he has been teaching that subject for 20 years without any material for teaching and I needed to fill that gap.
“It is a very strong inspiration and drive to stop that gap. It was a very strong inspiration and drive to ensure that, that gap is filled. The essence of our being, here, is to solve problems.
“My study and sojourn in the area of biochemistry will be in vein, if I cannot contribute to the body of knowledge. It is this drive that propelled me to keep at it till I achieved it.
“When I came over to the flip side of public service, to serve as governor, I thought that, that would have been a point of divergence and disconnection from my first love – Biochemistry,
Each time, I look at every issue, and every problem from the perspective of biochemistry.
“In 2013, I had the opportunity to serve as the deputy general manager of Abia State Environmental Protection Agency. As we were managing domestic waste I also saw the dimension of Biochemistry in terms of trying to explain the causes and the diseases and the derailment we suffer everyday because of the pollutants in the environment, so Biochemistry refuse to leave me and I had to go back and pick it up.
He said he feels very fulfilled because it was a journey that he started over 20 years ago.
“It is not easy at all. To write a book on biochemistry does not leave me with too much choice, because there are rules, there are principles which you must reflect in your interventions. For me it is the icing on the cake, as an academic. I feel fulfilled I feel very happy.”
The chairman of the book presentation HRH prof James Ayatse who is a professor of biochemistry and the To Tiv said people can make contribution to knowledge in any topic they have chosen irrespective of the other challenges.
What is important about the book is contribution to knowledge rather than what ever will come out of it in terms of financial reward.
He said it is not for the purpose of making money that the book is being presented, it is to have a wonderful contribution to knowledge in the area.
He commended the governor who he said was his student for combining the rigors of governance with intellectual venture
“Ikpazu, I am proud of you as one of your teachers. You have gone where I couldn’t make it, you know I dived into politics.
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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