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2023: Tinubu’s success as Lagos Governor makes him best candidate for president – Sanwo-Olu

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Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, on Thursday declared that APC National leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu is the most sellable candidate for the 2023 presidency.

The Governor said Tinubu’s qualification rests on his demonstrated capacity in deploying a mix of genius and statecraft to nurture a city on the brink to a flourishing economy, noting that the progress in Lagos remains a visible experiment initiated by the APC National Leader.

Sanwo-Olu drummed support for the Tinubu candidacy during the formal inauguration of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu (ABAT) Movement’s Working Committees in Ikeja GRA.

The Movement was conceived and set up by members of Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC) in Lagos for the actualisation of the presidential ambition of the former Lagos Governor.

The Governor was in company of his deputy, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, Speaker of the House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, and all members of the State Executive Council.

Also, APC leaders across the State’s 57 local councils and a large number of party supporters thronged the event’s venue to lend their support.

Sanwo-Olu said Nigeria had continued to shoulder the burden of the black race, stressing that the country’s transformation into a stable economy would be a source of pride to the black man.

In 2023, the Governor said the country was in need of a capable leader with progressive ideas to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari and build on the progress recorded by the current administration.

READ  Tinubu's campaign train lands in Ibadan (Photos, video)

Tinubu’s practicable ideas in governance, Sanwo-Olu said, makes him the most qualified successor and salable choice for the job.

The Governor said: “Our country is the most populous black nation in the world and the responsibility that comes with that is enormous. No doubt that the destiny of the entire black race is tied to the greatness of Nigeria. If our country must be great, we have the responsibility to choose the leadership that will bring about true transformation across every facet of our national life. Who is that rallying figure that should lead us in this journey?

“The answer is deeply connected to our mission and purpose here today. That person must be a detribalised Nigerian and a bridge builder, who has been tested and trusted. A thinker who must sustain the legacy our current president is leaving behind. That person is the reason we are inaugurating this Movement for the actualisation of his presidential ambition. That person is our great leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“Let us tell the naysayers and those who are still in doubt that we are ready to work for the realisation of this ambition, because Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is the Number one salable candidate for the president. We will preach this gospel with diligence, dedication and high sense of commitment. Asiwaju is an unfolding success story our nation deserves at this time.”

READ  Massive crowd as Tinubu's campaign train berths in Ondo

Sanwo-Olu said Tinubu’s name is synonymous with growth and development, noting that the APC National Leader possessed a Midas touch to positively turn around the resources of the country for general good.

The Governor said the event was to raise foot soldiers, team leaders and cheerleaders who would pursue the Movement’s objectives and cascade down its messages to every voter at the ward level with commitment and passion.

He charged all selected for leadership roles in the Movement to reflect Tinubu’s political ideals of openness and tolerance in their engagement and mobilisation.

Sanwo-Olu said: “We must see ourselves in line with Asiwaju’s political ideals. To be open to all, tolerate various interests and embrace everyone. We must reflect those ideas of our leader in our utterances and actions. You cannot afford to disappoint us on this mission.”

APC stalwart, Cardinal James Odumbaku, said the forthcoming general election presented another opportunity for Nigerians to make the right choice to keep the country on the path of development.

He said the electorate must get it right by electing a tested and credible leader to steer the leadership of the country, stressing that the movement believed Bola Tinubu remains the right man for the top seat.

He said: “Tinubu is a tested leader to lead Nigeria out of the woods. We will work with passion to ensure he emerge as party candidate and also win the presidential election.”

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GAC leader, Prince Tajudeen Olusi described Tinubu as “a genius” in statecraft, saying the APC National Leader is a salable article in the political market.

“We have to be prepared and determined, because the contest would be a battle of might and strength,” the GAC leader said.

The Movement’s Director-General, Honourable Oyinlomo Danmole, said ABAT structure was different from other support groups set up across the country for the actualisation for Tinubu’s presidential ambition.

Reeling out the organs and structures, Danmole said all cluster groups within the Lagos APC have representation in the movement, with the inclusion of every locality in the State.

The DG said seven-man committee had been set up in each of the 57 local councils in Lagos, with each committee headed by coordinators.

At the ward level, he said the movement maintained similar committee structure of seven persons across the 377 wards, adding that registration to be part of the ward committee would be made open to Lagosians in the coming days.

Other speakers at the event included the former Deputy Governors, Mr. Femi Pedro, and Abiodun Ogunleye, and representative of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Dolapo Badru, among others.

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There were lots of manipulations, fraudulent approvals under Buhari, says ex-minister, Shittu

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A former Minister of Communication Adebayo Shittu claims that there were manipulations and fraudulent approvals under the immediate past government of ex-President Muhammadu Buhari.

 

Shittu served as a minister under the Buhari government but believed many persons close to the former Nigerian president manipulated things to their favour, plunging the country’s economy into a downward slide.

 

“Let me tell you, there were a lot of manipulations and we even heard that a lot of the so-called approvals did not emanate from President Buhari,” he said on Tuesday’s edition of Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily while responding to comments that the previous government was printing money to run the economy.

 

“There were a lot of manipulations and fraudulent approvals which did not emanate from the President.”

 

“I am telling you confidently that a lot of it did not get his attention,” he insisted. “There were a lot of people around the President who exploited their relationship with the President and conspired with the then-CBN governor.

READ  When Oshodi stood still for Tinubu (Video)

 

Approvals Without Signatures

Shittu’s claims corroborated that of presidential spokesman Ajuri Ngelale who said many approvals for releasing funds within the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) under Godwin Emefiele did not have Buhari’s signature.

 

“President Bola Tinubu has come out several times in fairness to him (Buhari), to say, ‘Look, this is what happened under the previous administration’. I think we have to acknowledge the fact that he (Tinubu) understands more than anyone that many of the approvals within the CBN that brought us to this point have no signature to President Muhammadu Buhari and had no knowledge of President Muhammadu Buhari,” Ngelale said.

Ex-President Goodluck Jonathan appointed Emefiele as the CBN governor. However upon assumption of office in 2015, Buhari retained him as the apex bank boss.

 

He, was, however, removed in June and is being tried for charges bordering on corruption.

Shittu therefore wants Nigeria’s anti-corruption agency the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to wade into the matter and “probe properly”.

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“I hope the EFCC will probe properly as to how these things happen without the President knowing,” Shittu said.

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Suspended Edo assembly lawmakers hired herbalist to plant charms in complex, says speaker

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Blessing Agbebaku, speaker of the Edo state house of assembly, says the three lawmakers suspended during plenary on Monday engaged in “nefarious acts”.

On May 6, the speaker announced the suspension of Donald Okogbe (PDP Akoko-Edo II), Bright Iyamu (PDP Orihonmwon south), and Adeh Isibor (PDP Esan north-east I).

Okogbe, one of the suspended lawmakers, is an ally of Philip Shaibu, former deputy governor of Edo. He was the only lawmaker who did not sign the petition that led to Shaibu’s impeachment.

 

Agbebaku accused the lawmakers of attempts to change the leadership of the house through diabolical and other means.

He added that the closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras on the house premises exposed the spiritualist and the lawmakers who hired him.

“They are being influenced to cause chaos in this house by planning to change the leadership of this house. But to God be the glory, they were exposed,” the speaker said.

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“They brought in a spiritualist into the Anthony Enahoro complex and dropped fetish items.

 

“They brought a herbalist into this house of assembly premises to plant some charms in the compound by 1am in the morning without knowing that the CCTV cameras will expose their nocturnal act.”

A rowdy and rancorous session ensued in the house after the speaker announced the suspension of the lawmakers, with the affected legislators accusing Agbebaku of acting “unilaterally”.

As tempers flared amid the pushing and shoving, plenary was abruptly adjourned.

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“You don’t exist… I determine your existence”, Fubara tells Rivers assembly members

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Governor Siminialayi Fubara of Rivers state says the existence of members of the state house of assembly is based on his recognition.

Fubara spoke on Monday when some political and traditional leaders from Bayelsa state visited him at the government house in Port Harcourt, the capital of Rivers.

The Rivers governor said members of the state assembly do not “exist”, adding that he decided to “give them a floating” through a peace deal initiated by President Bola Tinubu.

Fubara said he accepted the peace accord on the understanding that there was a relationship between him and members of the state house of assembly.

 

The Rivers governor said he has shown restraint in the political crisis rocking the state despite his powers, adding that the other party did not show such.

He lamented that daily, his supporters suffer intimidation and attacks in the state.

 

“Those group of men who claim that are our assembly members are not assembly members — they are not existing,” Fubara said.

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“I want it to be on record. I accepted that peace accord to give them a floating. That is the truth.

“There was nothing in that peace accord that is a constitutional issue. It is a political solution to a problem.

“It has gotten to a time when I have to make a statement that they are not existing.

“Their existence is me allowing them to exist. If I de-recognise them, they are nowhere.”

 

FUBARA VERSUS RIVERS LAWMAKERS

In the past few months, members of the Rivers state assembly and Fubara have been at loggerheads.

In October 2023, the assembly commenced impeachment proceedings against the governor.

 

The impeachment notice was later withdrawn in December 2023.

 

On several occasions, the assembly has overridden the decision of Fubara not to sign certain bills passed by the lawmakers led by Martin Amaewhule, the speaker.

In January, the Rivers assembly overrode the decision of Fubara not to assent to four bills earlier passed by the lawmakers.

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In March, the assembly again overrode Fubara on the passage of some bills.

 

In April, the assembly did the same for the local government amendment bill.

 

On Monday, the assembly overrode the Rivers governor on the passage of the public procurement amendment bill.

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