The ancient town of Owo in the Owo Local Government Area of Ondo State played host to prominent politicians from across Nigeria on Saturday during the funeral of Lady Evangelist Grace Akeredolu, mother of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State.

The funeral of the nonagenarian matriarch of the Akeredolu dynasty, who died on September 15, 2022, was another reunion for rivals who briefly put politics aside and relished lighthearted laughter and hearty banters.

At the event held at the St Andrews Anglican Church in Owo, the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, met Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, one of his challengers at the party’s primary in June.

Others at the church service to pay final respects to the deceased include Governors Dapo Abiodun (Ogun) and Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos) as well as former Governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi – all of the APC family in the South-West.

Tinubu and Osinbajo have a long history as political associates. Osinbajo served as Lagos State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice when Tinubu was the governor of the state between 1999 and 2007.

Osinbajo later became the vice-president in 2015 when the former military head of state, Muhammadu Buhari, was elected as President on the platform of the APC which Tinubu was instrumental to its establishment.

However, Osinbajo and Tinubu both jostled for the party’s presidential ticket back in June, a very charged political moment for supporters of both politicians.

More than 2,300 delegates voted in the contest that produced Tinubu at a special convention held in Eagle Square, Abuja in June. The ex-governor of Lagos polled 1,271 votes – over four times the votes scored by his closet rival – former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi who had 316 votes.

Osinbajo, Senate President Ahmed Lawan, and Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State came behind the duo with 235, 152, and 47 votes respectively.

The APC Presidential Campaign Council in September excluded Osinbajo from its list but the spokesperson for the Council, Festus Keyamo, said the President “specifically directed” that he should be left out to concentrate on the governance of the country.

Aside from Osinbajo, other prominent members of the party not included in the campaign council include former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal; and former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, who fiercely opposed the APC same-faith ticket.

Having jumped the first hurdle, Tinubu, 70, is confronted with yet another challenge in February. The ex-governor, who forged an alliance with northern governors to brighten his chances in the north which boasts of numerical voters’ strength, has come under heavy criticism over his choice of a fellow Muslim, Kashim Shettima, as running mate.

Tinubu is in the 2023 contest for Aso Rock’s top job alongside frontline contenders like Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP) in a poll many analysts have described as a three-horse race.

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Nigerians in the Diaspora will play a robust role in my administration – Tinubu

The APC Presidential Candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has said that he would robustly engage the services of the Nigerians in the Diaspora in his agenda to rapidly develop Nigeria and resolve the mirage of problems facing the country. Asiwaju Tinubu was speaking at the 3rd National Convention of the All Progressives Congress, USA Chapter held at the weekend in Newark, New Jersey.

Asiwaju Tinubu, who was represented at the event by Mr. Dele Alake, the Adviser on Media, Communication & Public Affairs of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, said that he will tap into the expertise of the APC Diaspora members and the Nigerians in the Diaspora for the accelerated development of Nigeria. Tinubu said that as a former Diaspora himself, he knows and fully understands the abundance of talents and expertise of the Nigerians in the Diaspora, and that he is uniquely positioned, more than any other candidate, to deploy and apply them to the nation building.

Mr Alake informed the convention of the high premium Asiwaju places on APC-USA and that his principal personally instructed that senior members of his Media team must show up for the convention. Mr. Alake then introduced his team members of Mr. Bayo Onanuga, Director of Media and Publicity, Mr Lanre Issa Onilu, Deputy Director of Strategic Communications and Otunba Biodun Ajiboye to the convention. Mr. Alake thanked APC-USA for the support for Asiwaju and for making Asiwaju Tinubu the focus and the theme of the Convention.

Also addressing the Convention, Hon Abike Dabiri-Erewa, a member of the APC Presidential Campaign Council and the Chairwoman of the Diaspora Women Mobilization emphasized in depth the need for women involvement in the campaign and in politics. She called for equal opportunity for women and advised women to participate in the political process from bottom up. She advised Nigerians in the Diaspora not to lose hope in the fight for Diaspora voting.

Prince Ade Omole, the Director, the Diaspora Directorate of the APC Presidential Campaign Council informed the audience that Tinubu/Shettima ticket is all out for a better Nigeria and for the good of Nigerians both at home and in the Diaspora. He emphasized the direction of the Tinubu/Shettima campaign and made references to the 2023 Renewed Hope (Manifesto) which he described as an Action Plan of the programs the Tinubu/Shettima administration will implement and deliver to the Nigerian people when elected as President and Vice President of Nigeria. Prince Omole assured the APC Diaspora members and the Nigerians in the Diaspora that the Asiwaju Tinubu’s administration will have a robust Diaspora inputs and engagements. He also commended APC-USA for making Asiwaju Tinubu the focus of the convention and promised to carry on the Diaspora campaign from USA to other foreign countries.

Speaking on the theme of the Convention: Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu: the President NIgeria needs at this time, the Guest Speaker, Professor Olarewaju Fagbohun, SAN, extolled the uncommon leadership qualities and vision of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Professor Fagbohun, who is also a former Vice Chancellor of Lagos State University (LASU), concluded that Asiwaju Tinubu is the President NIgeria needs at this time to tackle and resolve the mirage of problems confronting NIgeria from poverty, to insecurity and corruption. He advised his audience and Nigerians to read his book on Asiwaju which he believes captured the man Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Other speakers at the convention included Senator Lawal Shuaibu, the former Deputy National Chairman North of APC, Mr. Tunde Doherty, the APC UK Chairman, Mr. Dayo Israel, the APC National Youth Leader who also represented the National Chairman Senator Abdullahi Adamu and Mr. Kayode Opeifa, a former commissioner in Lagos State. They all spoke about the man Asiwaju and how Asiwaju will transform and restructure the country and make it work for all Nigerians.

The Elective Convention produced new national officers of the party including Professor Adesegun Labinjo who was re-elected as the National Chairman of APC-USA. Prof Labinjo reiterated the commitment of APC USA to work tirelessly for the election of Tinubu/Shettima presidential ticket in the February 2023 presidential election. He said that APC-USA was the first Chapter of APC to inaugurate a presidential campaign committee for the purpose of ensuring victory for the party’s presidential ticket. He said the APC USA has since started to engage and incentivize the Nigerians in the Diaspora to travel home and vote Tinubu, and also sell the APC presidential ticket to their relatives and family members living in Nigeria. Professor Labinjo said that APC-USA will soon take its campaign to Nigeria to drum up support for the APC flag bearers at all levels and to donate campaign materials to the APC Presidential Campaign Council. Prof Labinjo assured the Convention that the APC-USA will deploy its technological resources to closely monitor the 2023 elections to ensure that they are free and fair, and report any malpractices before, during and after the elections, and expose and hold accountable any person or group of persons that engage in unwholesome activities.

Other national officers elected at the Convention and immediately sworn in by Judge Dele Alade are: Chief Emeka Molokwu, Deputy National Chairman South, Mr. Abdullahi Gambo, Deputy National Chairman North, Mr. Ademola Tijani, National Secretary, Dr. Ismaila Maigyara National Publicity Secretary, Ayo Olashege, CPA, National Treasurer, Dr. Umo Ekanem National Financial Secretary, Ken Nwele, Esq. National Legal Adviser, Mr. Folly Coker, National Organizing Secretary, Mrs Elizabeth Olagunju, National Women Leader, Mr. Oyakilome Bello, National Youth Leader, Mrs Emem Asikpo, Deputy National Secretary, Ms. Ololade Salvador, Deputy National Organizing Secretary, Mrs. Khairat Animashaun-Ajiboye
Deputy National Publicity Secretary and Mr. AbdulJabbar Surajo Guga, Deputy National Youth Leader.

Prominent attendees of the Convention included Mr. Tony Isama, Mr. Tayo Alawiye, Mr. Nojeeb Agunbiade, Prince Henry Adesanya, Mr. Kunle Masha, Mr. Adeleke Lamoriyu, Dr. Biodun Dada, Mr. Bisoye Oladejo, Alhaja Adenike Oyejide, Alhaji Shehu Suleiman, Mrs. Dupe Ayangbesan, Ms. Saratu Garba and many others.

Tinubu Campaign spokesman, Festus Keyamo has said: “Tinubu did not attend the Presidential Debate organised by ARISE TV on Sunday, November 6, 2022, for the following reasons

“Firstly, many radio and TV networks in Nigeria have indicated interests to host such debates and out of deference to other TV and radio stations, our candidate will not be making selective appearances in some networks, whilst ignoring others. As President of Nigeria, by the special Grace of God, he intends to treat all persons and businesses fairly and equally.

“Secondly, the busy and hectic campaign schedules of Asiwaju Tinubu will not permit him to honour all such invitations by different radio and TV networks, hence our decision for him not to start with one TV station and later ignore others.

“Thirdly, our candidate had long before now realised the importance of speaking directly to Nigerians and shortly after unfolding his Action Plan as President embarked on town hall meetings, beginning with his interaction with the Business Community and other stakeholders in Kano followed by the town hall meeting and presentation by experts last week in Lagos. Next, he will be interacting with Agro and Commodity Groups in Minna, Niger State.

“Whilst we thank Arise TV for the invitation, we want to assure Nigerians that we shall continue to hold these debate groups and Nigerians in high esteem. Nigerians will hear from our candidate loud and clear through other forums.

The noisome pest, Femi Fani Kayode, characteristic of his style to harvest opportunity in the possible feasting that Kashim Shettima might possess, has again in his boisterous and fugitive leeching demonstrated his shallow and tepid understanding of the dignity of silence.

He probably has not been exposed to the Biblical admonition in Proverbs 17:28, which teaches that ‘Even fools are thought wise when they keep silent; with their mouths shut they seem intelligent’. It would have been better if Femi Fani Kayode pretended to be wise. No penalty for such self assessment.

It is ridiculous to Femi Fani Kayode to say, for want of substance, that Shettima is a refined, decent and godly man who wants to help his country. The country in context must be a reference to the Bandits’ Empire, otherwise, how could a godly man harbour Kabiru Sokoto who bombed worshippers on Christmas Day at St Theresa’s Catholic Church at Madala on the fringe of Abuja in December 2013? It means then that with godly people like Shettima hell is their paradise.

What a sardonic humour to also award Shettima the undeserved award of a helper of Nigeria? Where is the record of that service? Where was Shettima when the Chibok girls were hauled into Sambisa Forest? Attempting to compare the unlike to the like in such manner is a reprehensible pretence by the indecent.

Like a man always wanting to hug the limelight, Femi Fani Kayode is always eager to use any tangential opportunity to frolic around the name of Atiku Abubakar, even when it’s unreasonable. Atiku Abubakar is the real refined and decent man, who fears God and love humanity.

It is possible that Femi Fani Kayode is mistaking Atiku for his Boss and Area Father, Senator Ahmed Tinubu who is reckoned for his Area Boys politics and whose artistry is currently on display as he progresses in error to destroy, demystify, denigrate and destructure the Afenifere, which ideally should form the bastion of his support, if truly he’s the South West Political Godfather as he often bandies around. This is the serious issue that should concern Femi Fani Kayode at the moment, not the rent seeking and unconscionable defence of an untutored demagogue masquerading as poster boy of the sahel.

My brotherly counsel for Femi Fani Kayode is to always be in a good frame of mind, which could offer him the alertness to know what to say, when to say it, who to say it to and when to say it. Another bad outing for an unguarded parrot.

Senator Dino Melaye Spokesperson PDP Presidential Campaign Management Committee

A middle-aged man whose name has not been revealed has been electrocuted while destroying a campaign billboard of Adebayo Adelabu, a former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

Adelabu is the governorship candidate of the Accord Party in Oyo State.

It was gathered that the victim, identified as a member of the Park Management System (PMS), had climbed a pole at the Challenge area in Ibadan on Friday without knowing that the billboard was connected to a live wire close to it.

While the victim was fighting for his life, his colleagues fled the scene of the incident before the arrival of police officers.

A video of the incident which has gone viral, showed the victim lying on the ground while passersby watched his lifeless body.

The leader of the Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, Chief Ayo Adebanjo has accused the presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu of bribing some people to create the impression that there is conflict in Afenifere.

Tinubu, who met the group’s national chairman, Pa Reuben Fasoranti, and other leaders in Akure, Ondo State, submitted an 80-page Action Plan paper outlining how he wants to address the country’s economic challenges and other concerns.

During the visit, Fasoranti stated that Tinubu previously requested his blessings in April, but that he had advised him to first obtain the party’s ticket before asking for his blessings.

Reacting to this development, Pa Ayo Adebanjo, in a tweet on Monday, said he would not entertain those who support Tinubu’s candidacy because he had thrown his weight behind Labour Party’s presidential candidate, Obi.

“Tinubu bribed some people with little money to put up a show that there’s a division in Afenifere. I won’t engage him and those he gave money to because we have already made our position clear that Peter Obi is our candidate,” he tweeted.

The presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, met with officials of the US State Department officials.

Stating in his twitter handle, Atiku said the US would announce sanctions for electoral malpractices ahead of Nigeria’s election.

Atiku said, “Yesterday, at the meeting at the State Department led by Molly Phee, Assistant Secretary—Bureau of African Affairs, the focus of our discussions were on the critical need to seek collaborative solutions to our local issues on democracy and governance, our deteriorating security and the economy.

“Most importantly, we secured commitments to support for free and fair elections in Nigeria, an announcement of a sanction policy before the elections to deter anti-democratic forces and commitments for continued partnership with Nigeria in areas of security and development.”

Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom yesterday appeared to withdraw his support for the Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar.

He accused the PDP candidate of dishonoring him as Governor and working against the interest of Benue residents.

His comments came after a group of elder statesmen in Benue, Minda Leaders of Thoughts, also withdrew their support for Atiku over alleged hate speech and profiling of Benue people.

Ortom appeared to have been incensed over Atiku’s comments on the recent killings by suspected herdsmen in Benue state.

He accused Atiku of working with Miyetti Allah, a herdsmen group with a militant arm.

Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom on Tuesday appeared to withdraw his support for the Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar.

“It was not correct for a presidential candidate who is seeking to rule the people to say that kind of thing,” Mr Ortom said on Tuesday at the Chapel of Grace, Government House, Makurdi.

The Minister of Interior, Raud Aregbesola, a former governor of Enugu and serving Senator under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr Chimaroke Nnamani have both been removed from the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council list. Kassim Afegbua, a former commissioner for information in Edo State.

The list was signed by Iyiola Omisore, national secretary of the party, and released on Wednesday.

The initial list released by James Faleke, a House of Representatives member and secretary of the council, had elicited displeasure among top members of the party.

It had the senator of the opposition party representing Enugu East Senatorial District.

Also Orji Uzor Kalu, a former Governor of Abia and current Chief Whip of the senate, and Aregbesola, Minister of Interior, whose were on the previous list, were no longer visible.