Barely a week after the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, released new guidelines on the tenure of Managing Directors and Deputy Managing Directors of deposit money banks, DMB, the Deputy Managing Director of Zenith Bank Plc, Adaora Umeoji, has resigned from her post.
Umeoji, the magazine learnt has spent the maximum 10 years as one of the Directors of the commercial bank, and based on the new guidelines released last week by the CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, she can no longer stay in her position.
Her departure, therefore, has put paid to speculations within the bank that she was being positioned to take over when the current Managing Director retires from Nigeria’s biggest bank.
Announcing her departure from the bank on Wednesday, through a filing with the Nigerian Exchange Limited NGX, the DMB said she has served as DMD since 2016.
Her retirement took effect from February 24, the commercial bank, also, disclosed to the NGX.
“This follows the expiration of her tenure of office as Deputy Managing Director in line with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) circular No.FPR/DIR/PUB/CIR/001/070 dated February 24, 2023,” Zenith Bank said.
Umeoji joined the bank in 1998 and was later appointed as the head, the marketing group, Maitama branch and the deputy zonal head, Abuja Zone.
She became a Board Member of Zenith Bank in October 2012, and thereafter took the role of Executive Director overseeing the Abuja and Middle Belt zones of the bank.
She graduated from the University of Jos in 1996 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Sociology, and later obtained a Master’s in Business Administration in 2003 from the University of Calabar.
On February 27, the CBN released a new guideline limiting the tenure of Bank’s Chief Executives and Directors to 12 years, maximum.
The circular signed by by Chibuzo Efobi, Dirctor Financial Policy and Regulation Department, and titled: “Re: Review of Tenure of Executive Management and Non-Executive Directors of Deposit Money Banks in Nigeria,” said the tenure of Executive Directors (EDs), Deputy Managing Directors (DMDs) and Managing Directors (MDs), shall be in accordance with the terms of their engagement approved by the board of directors of banks, subject to a maximum tenure of 10 years.
The President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, who was the Presidential Candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has countered the claims of Peter Obi, Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party, that he, Obi, won the Presidential election.
Obi had, in a Press Conference on Thursday, 2nd March, 2022, insisted that he won the Presidential election which was held on Saturday, 25th February, 2023, and would prove it, convincingly, in Court with verifiable video and audio evidences, and electoral breaches.
But in a response same day, Tinubu told Obi that he, Obi, won no election, could not have won any election, and that the two of them would meet in Court.
In a statement signed by Bayo Onanuga, Director, Media & Publicity, APC Presidential Campaign Council, Tinubu described the election which produced him as President, as one of the most transparent and peaceful in Nigeria’s election history.
He said: “The 2023 election is one of the most transparent and peaceful elections in the history of Nigeria. It is because the process was credible that made it possible for Mr Obi’s Labour Party to record the over six million votes it got contrary to pre-election forecast.”
The full text of the statement reads:
“We watched with dismay today’s press conference addressed by the Presidential candidate of Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi where he made very weird and wild claims about the outcome of the just concluded Presidential and National Assembly elections, an election in which he emerged a second runner up, according to the result declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
“We welcome the decision of Mr. Obi to seek redress in court as an aggrieved party if he is convinced of the evidences of electoral frauds he will present before the tribunal as alleged.
“Going to court is part of the electoral process and it is the most decent, statesmanlike and civilised course of action to take. We salute the decision. It is surely better than calling supporters to the streets and instigating social unrest.
“Before Mr. Obi goes to court, we consider it necessary to challenge some specific claims in his press address.
“Contrary to his statement, it is not true that the election held 25 February was not free and fair.
“The 2023 election is one of the most transparent and peaceful elections in the history of Nigeria. It is because the process was credible that made it possible for Mr. Obi’s Labour Party to record the over six million votes it got contrary to pre-election forecast.
“That Labour Party and Mr. Obi surprised bookmakers by winning in Lagos State, Nasarawa, Plateau, Delta and Edo where there are sitting governors of either the All Progressives Congress or the Peoples Democratic Party. Those governors have entrenched political machinery. That Obi won attests to the credibility of the election process. In those states, most of the sitting governors contested election to go to the Senate and lost to little known candidates of Labour Party.
“The Labour Party also swept the entire five South East states under the control of either APGA, PDP or APC.
“We believe that the Labour Party Presidential Candidate contradicted himself and exposed himself to public ridicule by suggesting that the election was only credible in states and places his party won.
“We need us to forewarn Mr. Obi, that when he gets to court he should be prepared to tell the world how his party won over 90% of votes in his region of South East while other parties got almost nothing. We have evidence of voters suppression, intimidation and harassment in South East especially of those who came out to vote for our party.
“Also when Mr. Obi gets to court, he will have to convince the court with his allegation of rigging in over 40,000 polling units across the country especially in North West and North East where his party had no party agents and did not sign result sheets as required by law. It is our assumption that Labour Party will enlist PDP agents to prove its fraud claims since it is an affiliate of PDP.
“We want to state again for the umpteenth time that Mr. Obi didn’t win the presidential election and could not have won under any circumstances. This is because he had no path to winning a national election in a multi-ethnic and multi-religious society like Nigeria where a candidate running in a national election must appeal to the cross-section of our pluralistic society.
“Mr. Obi anchored his presidential campaign on the failed strategy of ethnicity and religion, the divisive and dangerous politics that has hobbled the progress of our country for decades.
“Nigerians simply rejected an ethnic and religious bigot through their ballots.
“Mr. Obi all through his campaign presented himself as the candidate of the Christians and the Church, who wanted to help ‘take back their country” from the Nigerian Muslims.
“His campaign also ran on the engine of ethnicity, inflaming strong Igbo sentiments. He also sought to cash in on the supposed youth discontent in Nigeria, as fuelled by the ENDSARS protest in 2020.
“While Labour Party positioned its candidate as the harvester of the youth votes, its planners forgot that Nigeria does not have a homogeneous and monolithic youth population that can deliver bloc vote to any candidate.
“All the major parties that contested the election also have strong youth appeal and supporters.
“The lesson in Mr. Obi’s defeat in the election is that no politician in Nigeria can win a presidential race by being a sectional and an anointed candidate of any religion.
“God created our country in a way to make it impossible for any part of the country to exist without the other. The framers of our constitution also worked to bind our country together with provisions that will make it impossible for a section of the country and any religion to have political domination over the other.
“What this means is that any aspiring politician for the presidency of Nigeria must have a Pan Nigeria appeal and strong support and must be embraced by adherents of other religions.
“Mr. Obi and his party knew why they failed. They knew they had no path to victory with their negative and dangerous campaign.
“We owe Labour Party and Peter Obi the blunt truth: They failed in the election. No amount of red-herring and misinformation about the election and the outcome can obliterate this reality.
“The President-Elect who was the candidate of our party won a Pan Nigeria mandate in a free, fair and credible election.
“He is ready and prepared to assume office so he can serve the people of our country with sincerity and honour.”
A socio-political group, the League of Ogbaru Professionals (LOP), has called on Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State and the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Professor Mahmud Yakubu, to order the immediate release of result of the House of Representatives election in the area.
“It is shocking that while results for the presidential election held all over the nation has been collated and a winner declared, that of Ogbaru Federal Constituency held on the same day, and time, still hangs in the balance,” the group said in a statement signed by it’s chairman, Dr. Innocent Ezekude.
Collation of results of the Ogbaru House of Representatives election was progressing smoothly, until the wee hours of Tuesday, February 28, 2023 when, allegedly, at Governor Soludo’s behest, the team was directed to take every document concerning the election to Awka, the Anambra State capital.
“We gathered that before the directive came, candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Arinzechukwu Awogu, was trailing the Labour Party flag bearer, Hon. Afam Ogene, with 9,125 votes to 10, 339 votes garnered by the latter.
“Our findings further show that by 9 am on the same Tuesday, February 28, 2023 the quartet of Political Adviser to Governor Soludo, Mr. Alex Obiogbolu, Commissioner for Information, Paul Nwosu, Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Hon. Collins Nwabunwanne and Sly Ezeokenwa, Commissioner in charge of Special Duties, swooped on the INEC headquarters in Awka and remained there till well past 6 pm.
“Besides being close associates of Governor Soludo, Obiogbolu was overheard boasting gleefully that ‘Ogbaru would soon fall to APGA’.
“Although many contend that Governor Soludo may not be directly involved in the scheme, political watchers say his officials may have embarked on the expedition purely for percuniary gains.
“As indigenes of Ogbaru, we cannot stand aloof and watch persons who lost the same elections in their various federal constituencies come to toy with the destiny of Ogbaru people.
“Even the unofficial line by INEC, to the effect that make-up election needs to be held in areas where it’s personnel could not deploy materials makes little or no sense, especially as such make-up elections have been held in several places, including Abia North Senatorial Zone, and results declared.
“In fact, from the grapevine, the story from the electoral umpire keeps oscillating, from an initial 19 units to 33, then 45, and lately 51 polling units where fresh elections are to be held in Ogbaru.
“Regrettably, in the haste to do the master’s bidding, even places where elections have been held, and polling unit, ward and local government collation done and copies collected by agents of different political parties, are inexplicably added to the growing list of places earmarked for new polls.
“It is, indeed, heart wrenching that six days after the conduct of elections in Ogbaru Federal Constituency, no one in INEC has deemed it right to speak to the people, leaving huge tension to hover all over the landscape.
“Conscious of the prevailing security challenges in the area, we call on Governor Soludo to rein in his men, who actually may have been dropping his name, and the National Chairman of INEC, Professor Yakubu, to ensure that the right thing is done,” the League of Ogbaru Professionals said.
A very sad and devastated Atiku Abubakar, Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has lamented his loss at the Presidential Election held on Saturday, 25th February, 2023.
Even though he won the same number of States as the Candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, he lost based on the number of votes cast for the eventual winner. Both three frontrunners – Tinubu, Atiku and Peter Obi won twelve States each. Obi is also claiming victory, and is heading to the Courts with a mountain of alleged evidences and proofs.
In an address to Nigerians at a Press Conference he held in Abuja, Atiku reeled out his struggles for a better Nigeria, and lamented his woes therefrom. They include an attempt to assassinate him and his son, Adamu, during the regime of Late General Sani Abacha, his forced self-exile and the loss of his businesses. He also recalled how, in order to uphold the Constitution and deepen democracy, he stopped former President Olusegun Obasanjo, whose Deputy he was, from getting an unconstitutional third term in office.
But he has not been paid back in same coin though. All his efforts to become the President of the country he said he had sacrificed so much for, has been in vain.
Four times he has tried, and four times he has failed. But none has been as painful to him as the 2023 election. And he is not taking it lightly.
He promises a legal battle as never seen before. He said he was robbed. He said his mandate was stolen. He said the election is the worst ever conducted in the history of Nigeria. But a consolation: The Courts.
Atiku has told Nigerians to keep calm, to keep the faith, that their voices will be heard. Following is the full text of his statement.
Your Voices Will Be Heard
“Fellow Nigerians, it is with a heart full of sadness that I address you today.
“I have in the last three decades devoted my life to the battle to birth and deepen democracy in our country.
“It was a battle that started during the military era. It was a struggle that nearly caused me my life and that of my son, Adamu, in Kaduna. I survived the assassination only by the mercies and grace of God.
“Following that attack, I was forced into exile. But that attack claimed the precious lives of some police officers. That was not all: my businesses were nearly crippled and my signature business was eventually appropriated by the maximum ruler of that era.
“My commitment to enthroning democracy ensured that I joined forces with other compatriots. As a leader of the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP), we fought and won the 1993 presidential election, which was acclaimed as the fairest and freest election in our history. Sadly, Chief MKO Abiola, who embodied that hope for the birth of a new Nigeria, paid the ultimate price
“Our fight to enthrone democracy continued. Indeed, the motivating factor for the birth of the Peoples Democratic Party was to force the exit of the military from government and their permanent return to the military barracks.
“Following the exit of the military and the advent of democratic rule in 1999, I did not rest on my oars. I deployed the same level of commitment to advance and deepen our democracy. I did this because our democracy was bought at a huge price of human lives. My mentor and true Nigerian hero, who this venue in which we are gathered this evening is named for, was one of those who paid the ultimate price in that battle. So, also were Chief Alfred Rewane, Chief MKO Abiola and his dear wife, Chief (Mrs) Kudirat Abiola.
“It was also for this reason that I sacrificed my political aspiration and fought against the actualisation of Third Term. Whether during the military or civilian era, I have, no matter how inconvenient, pitched my tent with the people against dictators. During the military regime, it nearly cost me my life and the near decimation of my businesses. In the civilian administration, it had serious adverse implications on my political life. But I have remained undaunted because I was, and still convinced, that the only reason why I am in politics is to work in tandem with other compatriots in the advancement of the wellbeing of the people.
“The 2023 presidential election presented our nation and its people the greatest opportunity for a reset. We had everything going for us: a legal framework in the 2022 Electoral Act and the BVAS technology. The enthusiasm of Nigerians to turn out and in large numbers was an added bonus.
“However, the dreams and aspirations of Nigerians who braced all the challenges to go and cast their votes on Saturday, 25th of February, 2023, were shattered by the conduct of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which failed to live up to expectations. The weekend election was neither free nor fair.
“Preliminary assessments indicate that it is the worst conducted elections since the return to democratic rule. The manipulation and fraud that attended this election were unprecedented in the history of our nation. I can still not understand why the electoral umpire was in such a hurry to conclude collation and announcement of the result, given the number of complaints of irregularities of bypassing of the BVAS, failure of uploading to the IREV, and unprecedented cancellations and disenfranchisement of millions of voters in breach of the Electoral Act and the commission’s own guidelines. It was indeed a rape of democracy.
“Having consulted with leaders of our party and Nigerians from different walks of life, I have come to the conclusion that the processes and outcome of the Presidential and National Assembly election of last Saturday was grossly flawed in every material particular, and as such must be challenged. This has been attested to by both local and international observers.
“I want to believe that this was not the legacy that President Muhammadu Buhari had promised. For President Buhari, it is not too late to make amends for the good of our country and the future generations and indeed to assure his legacy.
“This battle to right the wrongs of Saturday is not about me. It is a continuation of my battles to deepen democracy and for a better life for our people. It is about the future of Nigerian youths.
“I know that Nigerians, especially the youth, are traumatised by the developments, but I want to urge them to conduct themselves peacefully. Like I have done over the years, I assure you that I will commit the rest of my life in ensuring that true democracy, which affirms the supremacy of your votes and your will, will take firm footing and guarantee a stable, prosperous and peaceful Nigeria. This is more so as Nigeria represents the hope of Africa and the Black World.
“It is my hope that the judiciary will redeem itself this time around and rise to the society’s expectation as the last HOPE. In the end, who wins is not as important as the credibility of our elections and electoral processes.
“I call on all men and women of goodwill to join hands with us in the vanguard to defend our constitution from the brigandage of anti democratic forces.
“Finally I urge Nigerians to remain vigilant and resolute. You have the constitutionally guaranteed right of freedom to choose your leaders. We will not sit idly by and watch your rights taken from you.
“Your voices will be heard.
“May God bless you, and may God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
After seeking for justice for 16 years, Justice Babajide Aladejana a Judge in Ekiti state judiciary, has been reinstated to office.
Justice Aladejana was suspended in 2006 along with the then state Chief Judge, Kayode Bamisile for their roles in the impeachment saga of former Governor Ayo Fayose by the National Judicial Council (NJC).
During the period of his suspension, Justice Aladejana served the state in other capacities as chairman, state electoral commission and chieftaincy review panels.
Justice Aladejana officially resumed work on Tuesday in Ado Ekiti at High Court number two.
It was gathered that this followed the review of his case and subsequent lift of his suspension by the NJC.
He was subsequently allocated High Court number two where he will be hearing cases and performing other judicial functions.
The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has insisted that the declaration of Bola Tinubu candidate of the All Progressive Congress, (APC) by the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) as President elect will not stand the test of time.
The party maintained that it rejected the declaration and return of APC Presidential Candidate as President-Elect
National Working Committee (NWC) of the PDP demanded that INEC immediately should withdraw the Certificate of Return issued to the Presidential Candidate of the APC and cancel the Presidential election declaration in line with its powers under Section 65 of the Electoral Act 2022.
A statement by Debo Ologunagba, spokesman of the PDP in Abuja Thursday added that “The Party insists that INEC in declaring the APC Presidential Candidate as winner, acted contrary to the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), the Electoral Act 2022 and the INEC Guidelines and Regulations for the conduct of the 2023 Presidential election.
“The PDP holds that its Presidential Candidate, Atiku Abubakar clearly won the February 25, 2023 Presidential election having evidently scored the majority of lawful votes cast by Nigerians at the Polling Units.
“Sadly, the election was marred by deliberate malpractices including the non-use of the Bimodal Voters Accreditation System (BVAS) and INEC’s refusal/failure to transmit directly the results from Polling Units to its Server/Website in flagrant violation of Section 60 (4)(b) of the Electoral Act 2022.
“This violation of the Electoral Act by INEC as attested to by political parties, voters, Nigerians of all walks of life as well as local and International Observers, paved the way for the alteration, falsification, switching of results and allocation of figures in favour of the APC.
“Nigerians can recall how on Friday, November 11, 2022, INEC through its National Commissioner and Chairman of INEC’ Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, assured that results will be transmitted directly from the Polling Units to ensure the integrity and credibility of election results in Nigeria.
“In his words, “Our attention has been drawn to reports in a section of the media of alleged plans by the Commission to rig the 2023 General Election by abandoning the direct and real time electronic upload of Polling Unit results to INEC Result Viewing (IReV) Portal…
“By refusing therefore to transmit directly the results from the Polling Units, INEC violated the Electoral Act and its Rules and Regulation, compromised the process and marred the integrity and credibility of the election results.
“The PDP therefore asserts that consequent upon the violation by INEC of Section 60 (4) of the Electoral Act, 2022 and its Rules and Guidelines on the election, the results announced by the INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, having not been earlier transmitted DIRECTLY from the Polling Units before the announcement are ultra vires, of no consequence and cannot stand.
“Consequently, our Party and its Presidential Candidate have commenced action for legal redress to reclaim our victory in the 2023 Presidential election.
“We appeal to our numerous supporters in Nigeria and across the world to remain calm, resilient, resolute and steadfast in the defence of democracy and the victory of our Party in the 2023 Presidential elections.”
FULL TEXT OF PETER OBI’S ADDRESS TO NIGERIANS FOLLOWING LAST SATUTDAY’S PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.
Dear Nigerians,
On 25th February 2023, Nigerians trooped out en-masse to participate in what was promised and expected to be a free, fair and transparent Presidential and National Assembly elections. But in all things, we are enjoined to give thanks.
First to Almighty God for the privilege of making Datti Baba-Ahmed and I, the tools to champion the cause of a New Nigeria that will fundamentally enhance the fortunes of our dear country. Let me also appreciate and thank all Nigerians that participated in our last election especially those who believed and tirelessly worked for a New Nigeria and voted for us. My profound thanks go to the youths, ‘Obidients’ and support groups for your commitment and resilience for a better Nigeria. You truly showed that you can take back your country!
We continue to pray for the repose of the souls of all Nigerians killed during the campaigns and for those that were violently attacked, we pray for their quick recovery. We reiterate our total condemnation of such attacks and continue to demand that security agencies stop further attacks and bring perpetrators to book.
The commitment and resilience of Nigerians, even in the face of unwarranted and barbaric attacks is a testimony that a New Nigeria is Indeed POssible. The Lady, Jennifer Efidi who was stabbed but insisted on exercising her right to vote and indeed all Nigerians who voted during the election are the shinning stars leading us to a New Nigeria!
The election has been conducted and results announced as programmed. It is a clear deviation from the electoral rules and guidelines as we were promised and did not meet the minimum criteria of a free, transparent, credible and fair election devoid of voter intimidation and suppression, and late commencement of voting in some specific states.
This will probably go down as one of the most controversial elections ever conducted in Nigeria. The good and hardworking people of Nigeria have again been robbed by the institutions and leaders whom we trusted.
However, let me humbly and most respectfully appeal to all Nigerians to remain peaceful, law-abiding and conduct themselves in a most responsible manner. Please be assured that for Datti and I, and indeed for all of us, this is not the end, but the beginning of the journey to birth a New Nigeria.
Datti Baba-Ahmed and I remain absolutely undaunted and deeply committed to this project of a New Nigeria that will be built on honesty, transparency, fairness, justice and equity. All of these starts with the process -The process through which people are elected to office is as important (if not more important) than what they do thereafter with the office and authority.
If we seek to be called Your Excellency, then the process through which we are elected should also be excellent or sufficiently credible to generate the required confidence and moral authority to govern and lead. As you all know, the destruction of a society can be a gradual or sudden process through acts such as deliberate refusal to obey the rule of law and via the suppression of the will of the people.
Let me reiterate and assure my good people of Nigeria that we will follow all available legal and peaceful procedures to reclaim our mandate.
I urge you all to continue with your campaigns and troop out on Saturday 11th March 2023 to vote massively again for Labour Party-LP (Mama, Papa and Pikin) in the Governorship and State Assembly Elections. Please do not despair at a time when we can still achieve massive victories in the forthcoming elections on the 11th March 2023.
Thank you all and God bless The Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi held his first press conference since the February 25, 2023, Presidential election in Abuja on Thursday, assuring Nigerians that he would reclaim his stolen mandate.
Obi said that the election of last Saturday fell below standard and lowered the country’s democratic standards, pointing out that the process by which somebody comes to the office is far more important than what he does thereafter. “ If we want to answer his excellency, the process that brings us to office must be excellent”
According to the LP Presidential candidate, the election of last Saturday was conducted and the results were released as ‘programmed’, making it the most controversial election ever conducted in Nigeria’s history.
“The election has been conducted and results announced as programmed. It is a clear deviation from the electoral rules and guidelines as we were promised and did not meet the minimum criteria of a free, transparent, credible, and fair election devoid of voter intimidation and suppression, and late commencement of voting in some specific states.
“This will probably go down as one of the most controversial elections ever conducted in Nigeria. The good and hardworking people of Nigeria have again been robbed by the institutions and leaders whom we trusted.
Obi assured his numerous supporters that this is not the end but rather the beginning of a new Nigeria which he and his Running mate Datti Baba-Ahmad are committed to.
“New Nigeria is possible, Datti and I remain committed to a new Nigeria and with a person like Lady Jennifer, our commitment is total and your support will not be in vain.
He charged Nigerians, especially the youths to come out in the next election on March 11 and vote massively for the Labour Party. “Don’t be downcast and stay away because that is what they want. I am challenging this rascality for your future and our country.
“It’s a long distance journey, no matter how long the night there will be daybreak
We will walk through darkness until day breaks. I will be in front of you until the day comes.
On his hope in the judiciary, Obi said that he has been in court severally and always gotten justice because he always approaches them with genuine cases.
The former Anambra state Governor appealed to all Nigerians to remain peaceful, and law-abiding and conduct themselves most responsibly. Please be assured that for Datti and I, and indeed for all of us, this is not the end, but the beginning of the journey to birth a New Nigeria.
“Datti Baba-Ahmed and I remain absolutely undaunted and deeply committed to this project of a New Nigeria that will be built on honesty, transparency, fairness, justice, and equity. All of these start with the process -The process through which people are elected to office is as important (if not more important) than what they do thereafter with the office and authority.
The LP standard bearer reiterated and assured the people of Nigeria that we will follow all available legal and peaceful procedures to reclaim our mandate because we won the election.
Finally, Obi urged his supporters “to continue with your campaigns and troop out on Saturday, 11th March 2023 to vote massively again for Labour Party-LP (Mama, Papa, and Pikin) in the Governorship and State Assembly Elections. Please do not despair at a time when we can still achieve massive victories in the forthcoming elections on the 11th of March 2023.
Quotes From Obi’s Press Conference
We won the election and we will prove it…… Peter Obi
You can’t build peace on a faulty foundation…. Peter Obi
Go out on Saturday 11th March 2023, vote for Labour Party….. Peter Obi
Am not going away, I will be with you till the day breaks…. Peter Obi
Am challenging the process and I have not called anybody….. Peter Obi
They will be here, the corrupt structure, on the daybreak….. Peter Obi
If you want to be called Your Excellency, you will first of all go through an excellent process….. Peter Obi
This is a long journey, but I will go with you and victory is assured….. Peter Obi
I neither flaunt nor use the title, but I am a Princess of an over 150-year-old Royal Home. So, by tradition, I usually don’t bow for, or courtesy before most people. I was told not to do so because “you are Royal.” However, I make exception before some Clerics, some, not all. There are too many fake and lying Clerics that one is tempted, at times, to ask God: ” Almighty, why are you patient with these fake guys?”
But today, for Peter Obi, the Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party in the just concluded February 25, 2023, Presidential Election, I bow. I salute. And as Politicians would add, I tremble.
I forget the exact time, but I think it was about 3.30am, Tuesday, Nigerian time, when a friend/brother called me. Being, sadly, on the other side of the Atlantic, I asked what he was doing awake at that time of the morning when sleep, God bless it, is most sweet.
I was preparing to go to bed when the call came. As, I guess, it was with most Nigerians across the globe, I hadn’t slept since the night of February 25. I was following the Presidential Election bumper to bumper, switching from one Television channel to the other, working the phones, reading and writing and commenting. These Politicians will not kill us!
But, Tuesday, I told myself: ‘Comfort, listen to your doctors, your healthcare providers, and go to bed early.’ More important: I was not expecting any activities from INEC at that time of the day. INEC Chairman and Commissioners, I thought, would be in their houses that time, awake, thinking of how they bungled the most important date in Nigeria’s 2023 Calender.
But the call came. The caller wanted to discuss the State of the Nation, and I, suddenly, came alive. Midway into our discussion, he asked me to pause, and listen. He said INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmoud Yakubu, who, like the Governor of the Central Bank, Godwin Emefiele, has registered as one of the most hated human beings in Nigeria, was speaking.
My heart did a somersault. And began to palpitate, something my doctors warned me is extremely dangerous. “Call 911, or go to Emergency Room if you experience it”, they warm me each time I visit for check-up. Those guys, very great as they are, can scare one into sudden death. With God on the throne, I manged to arrest the situation by calming down, completely.
Professor Mahmoud was reeling out the final results of the Presidential election.
I had seen the figures earlier in the day. So, I had an inkling of where victory was headed to. But you know, having an inkling is not the same as having It officially confirmed. I was not expecting any drastic change in the numbers. But I strongly expected the Chairman to cancel some results from some areas in a couple of States and reschedule the election.
Top on my list was Rivers State where video and audio evidences confirm the unimaginable, the most bizarre and the unprecedented happened. I also had Edo and Delta States in mind. And there is Lagos State. And a couple of States in the North where children – five to eight year olds – voted in their thousands. When we come out of our present, dicey situation, it will be nice to investigate how these children get registered, which INEC officials collude with whoever brings them to register them. For now, let me just say ‘shame’ to the Police Commissioner who, instead of doing his job, argued that the kids could be adults with “stunted growth!” Just imagine!!
In a number of States, what we had on Saturday was the shame of a Nation.
There were brazen malpractices. Snatching of ballot boxes. Stuffing of ballot boxes. Mass thump-printing of ballot papers. Violence. Intimidation of voters. Deliberate disenfranchisement of voters. Dumping of thump-printed ballot papers inside bushes (LP bore the brunt of this wickedness, this unpatriotic act, comparable to treasonable felony ). Breaching of the Electoral Act by INEC itself. Deliberate Shortage of ballot papers. I thought the results from those areas were going to be canceled and election rescheduled. But no, Professor Yakubu thought otherwise.
Finally, excuse this cliché, he hit the nail on the head. He declared Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, the winner. He was followed by the Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Atiku Abubakar, who performed below one’s expectation. Atiku was very closely followed by the Candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, the star of the 2023 Presidential election.
I took a deep breath, and suddenly began to clap. I was clapping for the refreshing Candidate Obi, the man who has just changed Nigeria’s political architecture. The man who has just changed Nigeria’s Political map. And, I said to nobody in particular: “Peter Obi, thank you Sir. I salute you. I bow and tremble before you. Great guy. Great Nigerian.”
In one fell swoop, Obi destroyed many myths. In one fell swoop, he disrupted Nigeria’s voting pattern. In one fell swoop, he united Nigeria. And Nigerians. In one fell swoop, he told us that we are one people, that we have the same problems, that we feel the same pains. In one fell swoop, he told us that in building a Nation, neither religion nor ethnicity matters. In one fell swoop, he gave Nigerian youths a voice. Unprecedented!
In one fell swoop, Obi galvanized the youths. He reminded them of their importance. “You are the salt of the nation”, he told them. “There is no Nigeria without you.” He told them “Nigeria’s future is in your hands”. He gave them a sense of belonging. He gave them a platform. He gave them a voice. He told them that they hold his political future, Nigeria’s fate. He told them to wake up and take back their country, a country so blessed by God, but a country so badly managed by its leaders. He galvanized Nigerians in the Diaspora. “You are needed in Nigeria to pull your country out of the dustbin”, he told. For the first time, many of our brothers and sisters in the Diaspora, irrespective of tribe and religion, flew down to Nigeria to vote. Almost, effortlessly, by being himself, Obi started a movement, a movement that will outlive him.
Entrenched interests fought hard to pull him down. But he stayed put like the rock of Gibraltar. He laughed off the darts thrown at him. They said he had no structure. He laughed that off, and had an appropriate answer. “The people, especially, the youths are my structure. They insulted him. They laughed at him. He trudged on, focused on his mission. And so was his running mate, Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed. What a great pair they make. And he endured unbelievable attacks and betrayal from his own people. Again, he had an appropriate attitude to that. “I am not an Igbo candidate. I am a Nigerian candidate of Igbo extraction.”
Of the five Governors in Obi’s South-east, none backed him. Nor did most of the elite from the region. They fought him. His State Governor, Professor Charles Soludo, was the worst culprit. He gave the impression that he was elected into office to pull down Obi. He laughed at him for daring to run for the office of the President. Soludo looked down on Obi and looked down on the Igbo race.
Soludo said Obi would make no impact. That he would come a distant fourth. So, Governor Soludo, the question today is: “how now?”
Peter Obi
See, Obi and his Labour Party have taken over Anambra. They defeated Soludo all round. Even inside Government House Awka, Soludo was routed. In his Senatorial Zone, Soludo was routed. And of the three Senators in Anambra, Obi’s Labour Party has two. Soludo’s now comatose APGA has none. The LP, also, has the majority in the Members of the House of Representatives. In case Soludo does not understand the implication of what has happened, he has lost Anambra to hurricane Obi. He needs to work extra hard hard to get a second term in office. The structure he boasted of, and taunted Obi for having none, has been pulled from under his feet by Obi’s Labour Party.
Those who laughed at Obi, especially, in the South-east, are hiding their faces in shame.
Of course, naturally, nobody expected them to abandon their own parties and support Obi. But nobody, also, expected them to drag him into the gutter, or push him out to be devoured by lions. Much of their behavior, most people say, is a product of envy and jealousy. You know, why should Obi be the one? It was the same attitude they had towards him in 2019 when he was running mate to the now demystified Atiku Abubakar. Why should it be Obi? They worked against their brother. But now, where are they? Nobody would mention their names, in politics, before Obi’s anywhere in the world.
Many of them have either been retired by Obi and his Labour Party and/or made irrelevant in the South-east. For the Zone, Obi is number one. He has become the most important politician in the Zone.
All those who laughed at him are wondering what happened. The Arthur Ezes, the Rev. Father Mbakas, his colleague-Governors in the South-east (serving or former) who neither gave him a chance, nor received him decently when he visited their States for his Campaign Rally. They refused to allow Obedients to rally. Governors Dave Umahi, Ebonyi, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Enugu, Ifeanyi Okowa, Delta, Nyesom Wike, Rivers, Abdullahi Sule, Nasarawa, Godwin Obaseki, Edo, Soludo, whose Government removed Obi’s Posters, the foul-mouthed Nasir El-Rufai, Kaduna, who Atiku routed, and who lost all the Senatorial Zones in his State, just like Soludo.
Amongst the Governors in the South-east, only Imo’s Hope Uzodinma was decent to Obi. When they met at Imo Airport, he invited Obi over to Government House. He, also, approved a Campaign Rally venue for him, belated as it was. But he did. And there are many other top politicians in Igboland who yabbed him. Obi didn’t give a damn. He was a National Candidate, not an Igbo candidate. Now, look at where they are, and look at where Obi is.
Reno Omokri, Deji Adeyanju, strong supporters of Atiku, both of whom didn’t give Obi a chance to win anywhere, except a couple of States in the South-east, and/ or garner 25% anywhere outside the Zone are shocked. They are taken aback. Verify this: Peter Obi won 12 States, as did Tinubu and Atiku. Unprecedented! And, this is a man who just, a few months ago, picked an almost dead Political Party, and proceeded to give it a larger than life image. Unprecedented!
His movement has vanquished Soludo’s APGA, and is hot on the heels of the PDP. In the South-east, the PDP has to work extra hard not to be completely vanquished by the LP, thanks to Obi. Suddenly, the LP has become a National Party. The Third Force, they call it, has emerged.
Take a look at the States Obi won outside the South-east Zone. Lagos, Abuja, Delta, Plateau, Nasarawa, Edo, Cross River State. And in just eight months. Unprecedented!
Yet, these achievements pale before what he has done for the Igbo race. For the first time since democracy in 1999, a serious candidate of Igbo extraction surfaced. A major candidate of Igbo extraction emerged. A candidate of Igbo extraction was one of the three front runners. And he won the same number of States as the other two Candidates – Tinubu and Atiku.
Obi put back the Igbo race smack at the centre of Nigerian politics. He gave the Igbo a sense of belonging in Nigeria. He rubbished ethnicity, religion and money politics. He gradually veered off political rallies and debates from irrelevant, elementary issues to serious issues.
Dear Mr Obi, the results have been announced. According to INEC, Asiwaju Tinubu won. Pending what you and your running mate and Party and millions of supporters plan to do, just know, and you know, that in defeat, you are a winner. You are the greatest. A phenomenal. From being “structureless” eight months ago, your Party, as I write this, has about 86 members in the National Assembly. Imagine what could have happened if INEC and Security Agencies had played their roles.
You are the rallying point for the Youths, the poor, the oppressed, the masses. In you, they are at home. They see hope. They see a future, a great future. You are the pride of your people, of Nigerians.
No serious politician or political party can ignore you henceforth. It will be at their own peril. And nobody can wish you away. You have shown the world the decent side of Nigeria’s politics. You never, personally, insulted anybody all through the Campaign period. You focused on issues. Millions of Nigerians are proud of you.
One day, Nigerians will get there. They will get to that point which you have in mind, where nobody, anywhere, will look down on Nigerians, and where Nigerians will be proud of themselves, and of their country.
Congratulations! Okwute (Rock)!! You rocked in this election. I salute you. Great son of the East. I bow (and tremble).
There is rekindled hope for the people of Ekiti state to enjoy more stable electricity supply going by the federal government’s resolve to complete work on the 132 KVA serving the state from Akure, Ondo state capital.
The 132 KVA line, on which work has been completed but yet to be energized, is among those that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved N39.6 billion on Wednesday at its sitting in Abuja.
The amount is for various transmission line contracts in the power sector across the country.
The approval of the amount by the council meeting, presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, followed a memo by the Minister of power, Abubakar Aliyu.
Briefing journalists at the end of the meeting, the Minister said the various projects comprise several amounts, including an offshore component of $53 million and an onshore component of N15.6 billion.
“I presented three memos to the council today and I got approval for the three memos.
“The first memo sought the council’s approval for the procurement of transmission line materials for reconductoring works for the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) in favor of Messrs Legacy Power in the sum of $6 million; that’s the offshore value.
“The component for the onshore is N145 million inclusive of all the taxes and 12 months of completion.
“The second memo sought the council’s approval for the award of a contract for the construction of a “15 kilometres turn in-turn outline of the existing Akure-Ado-Ekiti 132 single-circuit transmission line at Akure; 330,132, 33 sub-stations of the TCN in favor of Messrs Legacy Power Limited in the sum of $2.5 million for offshore component and N988.5 million for the onshore component.
“The sub-station in Akure, which has been completed over two years ago, is a 330 sub-station, and we could not energize the sub-station because of lack of line.
“The line is supposed to originate in Benin, where a new line is currently being constructed.
“I have spoken to (sic) this project here several times; it is the project that has a problem of right way, which we are dealing with gradually, and the line is supposed to energize the Akure sub-station, which was completed over two years ago.
“The line is coming from Benin north to Oshogbo, which will pass and energize the Akure sub-station.
“So, this project is 132 lines from the Akure sub-station going to Akure-Ado-Ekiti which is simultaneously going on with the Benin north-Akure line.
“By the time we are able to energize the Akure line, this project would have been completed so that the whole area will have no problem with electricity.”
The minister explained that the project, which had also been approved by the council, would be completed in 12 months.
Aliyu said the last memo presented sought to design, supply, and install a total of 132 32KV (kilovolts) substations and transmission lines across the country.
“The last memo, which has five projects on it, sought to design, supply, and install 132 32KV substations and transmission lines across different locations in the country for TCN in favor of several contractors for a total of $53 million. This is the offshore. Then, the onshore is N15.6 billion.
“The projects are all similar –design, supply, and install 2 by 60MVA 132 33kV transmission substation across the country as I stated earlier.
“We have one in Misau local government area, Bauchi state. We have another one in Mashi local government in Kastina state. We have the third one in Benue state, which is Api, and the North Bank in Makurdi.
“Then we have the fourth one in Ebonyi state, 60MVA transformer at a university in Ebonyi state; then, we have the other one at Ebonyi airport; then, the fifth one is a line of 30 kilometre at Rimin Zakara to Kayin in Kano.
“So, these are the various projects that constitute the various amounts — offshore of $53 million and onshore component of N15.6 billion.”
