Tag: Tinubu

  • Kaduna Train Attack: Tinubu Donates N50m To Victims

    Kaduna Train Attack: Tinubu Donates N50m To Victims

    National Leader of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Senator Bola Tinubu, has lamented the spate of banditry and terrorism being witnessed in the country, saying Nigeria is bleeding.

    Tinubu, who paid a condolence visit to Governor Nasir El-Rufai, on Tuesday, stressed the need for all hands to be on deck to fight banditry and terrorism.

    He condemned the attack on a Kaduna-bound train last week, describing the terrorists’ action as shameful.

    “We are facing the current challenges seriously and we have to do more. Nigeria bleeds on behalf of everybody. We need to fight the terrorism with all our energy and whatever we have. It’s not shameful for people to be poor, but it’s unacceptable to accept poverty as a norm.”

    “It’s shameful to be callous, wicked and be a bully or terror to instill fear in humanity and it’s not acceptable. I am here on a condolence visit to Kaduna to sympathise with the Governor and people of Kaduna and entire Nigeria.

    “What happened to the people on the Abuja to Kaduna train on Monday for all of us. A sad day. Whatever happens to Nigerians happens to all of us. I understand that some people are still missing. Innocent people maimed, killed, family suddenly thrown into sorrow; it’s frustrating. But we must submit to the will of God.

    “Malam el-Rufai, the Governor, we walk with you in every aspect of the way because you are the symbol of of unity. We cannot forget that in a hurry. It’s a symbol of Nigeria’s unity. It’s about service but if enemy of progress feel they can deter you from that service and human development, we would all say no.”

    Responding, El-Rufai expressed appreciation to Tinubu for cancelling his 70th anniversary colloquium as a mark of honour for the victims of the attack.

  • 2023: If Tinubu, Rochas ticket emanates, I’ll clinch it – Okorocha

    2023: If Tinubu, Rochas ticket emanates, I’ll clinch it – Okorocha

    Sen. Rochas Okorocha ( APC – Imo) on Sunday said that if the possibility of a Tinubu and Rochas ticket emerged ahead of the 2023 presidential elections, he would clinch it.

    Okorocha, a former governor of Imo, said this while fielding questions from newsmen at the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Convention in Abuja .

    “Uncle Tinubu and I are most likely to be.

    “I know that at the appropriate time it may be because he is the one pushing up in the south west and I am in in the south east.

    “So let us see what happens between us, and if that is it ,I will ask him to relax a bit so that we can move this section forward.

    “The people naturally love me and I think it is because they believe I care, they believe I love and have sympathy for humanity ,they believe I am detribalised .

    “They believe I do not know religion or tribe, Muslim Christian, Igbo or Hausa, Yoruba, all I see is a human being and that is what makes the difference on my side.’’

    Okorocha urged Nigerians to use their voter cards well because it was worth much more than they thought.

    He said that 2023 would present an opportunity for them to make the right choices.

    “Whether it is for internal democracy or for general elections, you must ensure that you cast your vote right because the voter’s card contains everything .

    “It is the education of your children ,it is your health , food on the table and security, so I always advise people that the worth of that card in your hand is more than N100 million so do not sell it for N10,000,’’ he said

    Okorocha said the convention was beautiful and looked peaceful and everyone seemed to be excited because they were all trying to see that the much talked about convention came to pass.

    Talking about the party and its challenges, he said that although time was not on the party’s side “ we pray with this exercise coming to completion, we are now sure that we are on track and APC is still a great party in spite of its challenges.

    “However, as you know ,big party big wahala ,it is expected and with the leadership shown by President Muhammadu Buhari, we are beginning to see light at the dark end of the tunnel .’

    Okorocha expressed gladness that the convention was not hijacked, adding that it was much easier for all if the right things were done.

    “That is all we have been asking ,beautiful internal democracy, free and fair where people must be allowed to choose the person they want .

    “That is the beauty of democracy, so anything outside this is manipulation and it is not good for democracy .’’

  • 2023: It’s a Thinking Job Not Bricklaying, I don’t need Physical Strength to be President – Tinubu

    2023: It’s a Thinking Job Not Bricklaying, I don’t need Physical Strength to be President – Tinubu

    The National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, has said that he needs more strength psychologically than physically, to be president in 2023.

    He stated this when he visited the palace of the Ataoja of Osogbo, Jimoh Olanipekun, to inform him of his political ambition on Friday.

    There have been concerns from observers over Tinubu’s health status, following his recent medical trip to the United Kingdom.

    However, Tinubu said: “I am not applying for the job of bricklaying or grave digging. I went to school to study accountancy and management.

    “I am applying for a thinking job and I will do it right. The job I want to do is for Nigeria to be greater and to be proud of itself.”

    In his remarks, the Ataoja of Osogbo said Tinubu has the capacity to be Nigeria’s president, and prayed that God would grant his heart’s desires.

  • 2023: Entire North behind Tinubu’s presidential ambition – Ganduje

    2023: Entire North behind Tinubu’s presidential ambition – Ganduje

    Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State has endorsed the presidential ambition of Bola Tinubu, National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Ganduje said the entire North was behind Tinubu’s 2023 presidential ambition.

    He said the time was ripe for the North to pay back Tinubu for supporting President Muhammadu Buhari.

    The Governor spoke on Monday at the inauguration of an office for Northern Youth Professionals for Tinubu in Kano.

    Represented by the Managing Director of Kano Road Traffic Agency, Dr. Baffa Babba Dan’agundi, the Governor assured that Tinubu has the backing of the North.

    “Northern Nigeria has no option but to support the Yoruba race and Tinubu. If I ask you to give the name of one person who supported the Northern candidature of Muhammadu Buhari, it will be Tinubu.

    “It is time for us to show whether we are truly sons of our parents or not. This is the time and we are with Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

    “His Excellency, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje is part and parcel of this struggle, so we’re with Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

    “It was Tinubu who persistently stood firm and ensured that the people of the South-West supported Buhari from the APC primary up to the presidential election where he was victorious,” he said.

    Tinubu recently declared his intention to run for the presidency in 2023.

  • The sad end for Tinubu and Ogbeni Aregbesola

    The sad end for Tinubu and Ogbeni Aregbesola

    By Emma Aziken

    The die is cast today as the once unthinkable fight between Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and Asiwaju Bola Tinubu reaches a climax as the Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC holds its governorship primary.

    Aregbesola is backing Moshood Adeoti while Tinubu is backing the incumbent governor, Gboyega Oyetola.

    Aregbesola who had been accused of projecting Tinubu as next to God in the past, earlier this week came full circle to pour out his frustrations on his one-time mentor and political leader.

    The crux of the dispute between the two men is the re-election of Governor Gboyega Oyetola, a man variously described as Tinubu’s brother, nephew, cousin, or better still, his blood relative.

    And that is where it becomes embarrassing for the national leader of the APC, Asiwaju Tinubu.

    He had all the while claimed Lagos as his ancestry. So how, does he come out openly in the unfolding melee in the battle for the political control of the perceived land of his ancestry?

    How does he claim to be the offshoot of the popular Lagos matriarch, Mogaji Tinubu and at the same time, son of another woman who lived somewhere in Osun?

    The unfolding problem between Aregbesola and Tinubu started a few years ago. Specifically at the time that Aregbesola began his own transition from office after nearly eight years in office.

    It has now emerged that Aregbesola did not want Oyetola as his successor having preferred his SSG, Moshood Adeoti. However, he could do nothing about it.

    The Oyetola camp believes that Aregbesola’s hesitance nearly cost the party the election in 2018. In fact, it is claimed that Aregbesola nudged Adeoti to the Action Democratic Party, ADP where he contested the 2018 election against Oyetola after he lost in the APC primaries of that year.

    Indeed, Oyetola and Tinubu had to make a deal with the ‘political devil,’ that is Senator Iyiola Omisore for Oyetola to win the run-off election that was partly caused by the split votes that arose from Adeoti’s aspiration on the platform of the ADP.

    Omisore who had been a ferocious foe of the Tinubu tendency surprisingly came under the shelter of the Tinubu machine and with it acquired official political status in the state.

    Given that the then national chairman of the APC, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole led the deal with Omisore, it was not surprising that his ‘sins’ were forgiven and the prosecutions in the hands of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC deescalated.

    “I am not surprised that my good friends Senator Musiliu Obanikoro and Senator Iyiola Omisore have got their passports back from the EFCC and are now in America.

    “I do not blame them for joining the ruling party to avoid persecution. Some are strong whilst others are weak. I would rather die than join APC or bow to Buhari.”

    To the shock of Aregbesola, Omisore got a front position in the Oyetola government and has remained a steadying power in the Osun State Government.

    Even worse for Aregbesola was the fact that many of his legacies in government, many of them controversial and half-baked have been reversed by the Oyetola government.

    While party operatives in Osun State were forced to choose between Oyetola and Aregbesola, outsiders interested in breaking the Tinubu – Aregbesola unity were also quick to move in.

    Many in Lagos again began to question why Aregbesola should continue to maintain one of the most formidable political groups in Lagos, that is The Mandate Group, and also uphold similar foothold in Osun State.

    Aregbesola brought the increasing dissension between himself and Tinubu to fore when he celebrated his 63rd birthday with a virtual colloquium in May 2020 that involved Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, a well-known critic of Tinubu.

    In his remarks El-Rufai drove home his spite for Tinubu saying:

    “I want to congratulate my brother, Ogbeni (Aregbesola), on his birthday. You know I’m your man any day. I’m not Asiwaju’s man and you are Asiwaju’s man, but I am your man any day. Asiwaju and I have differences but you and I have no differences.”

    Days after that, the powerful Governance Advisory Council, GAC which controls the politics of Lagos under the de facto leadership of Tinubu dissolved the Aregbesola led Mandate Group along with all other groups.

    The move according to the GAC was to remove all sorts of friction within the APC in Lagos.

    However, nearly everyone knew that Aregbesola was the target as it denied him of his base in Lagos. Meanwhile, in Osun State, Oyetola was rubbishing all that was remaining of his legacy.

    To be fair to Aregbesola, before this week he had not openly come out to chastise Tinubu. However, snippets of criticism against Oyetola were being picked up here and there, now and again.

    When Asiwaju was in London recovering from ill-health, Aregbesola was not listed among those who visited. Even more, despite being the engine room of the two elections which brought Tinubu to power in 1999 and 2003, Aregbesola has been very distant from the Tinubu presidential campaign.

    Indeed, for months those with ears to the ground have been hearing of postulations of Aregbesola being used to decimate Tinubu by foes within the APC.

    Whatever, his innuendo this week of having served (Tinubu) almost like a god and being left in the cold is reflective of his frustration. However, having for much of his political career survived on dialectical postulations, the reality is that except a miracle happens today, it will be a sad ending for Tinubu and Ogbeni Aregbesola.

  • Tinubu returns to Nigeria after 10 days of ‘consultation’ in UK

    Tinubu returns to Nigeria after 10 days of ‘consultation’ in UK

    Bola Tinubu, chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has returned to Nigeria after a week of “consultations” in the United Kingdom (UK).

    The former Lagos governor arrived the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos on Sunday.

    Daybreak had reported that the 69-year-old politician travelled overseas last week to hold some meetings and further consultations in line with his 2023 presidential ambition.

    There were speculations that he had travelled again to London on health grounds but his spokesman debunked it, saying his principal was “vibrant”.

    Tunde Rahman, Tinubu’s media aide, later said his principal went to the UK for “meetings and consultations”.

    While in London, he had meetings with the UK chapter of the APC.

    In January, Tinubu visited President Muhammadu Buhari during which he announced his intention to contest the presidency in 2023.

  • I’d defeat Tinubu as APC candidate if PDP fields me – Fayose

    I’d defeat Tinubu as APC candidate if PDP fields me – Fayose

    A former of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, has described as heresy or loose talk the claim that he has pledged to support the presidential ambition of the national leader of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

    Instead, Fayose, who said he might consider joining the 2023 presidential race, boasted that should the People Democratic Party pick him as presidential candidate and Tinubu gets the APC ticket, he would trounce the former Lagos governor at the polls.

    Fayose added that Nigerians would be doomed if they fail to replace the APC with the PDP in Aso Rock come 2023.

    The ex-governor spoke in an exclusive interview with Saturday PUNCH.

    Responding to a question on his alleged pledge to back Tinubu’s presidential ambition, Fayose said, “I have said it over and over, Asiwaju remains a Yoruba leader; I remain a Yoruba leader. We are in different levels of leadership. But if I am being misquoted for the fact that I said Asiwaju is a Yoruba leader, I am saying I am a Yoruba leader, but Asiwaju in his own Yoruba leadership is in the APC; Ayo Fayose in his own leadership is in PDP.

    “Who has told you that I don’t want to be President? Who has told you that if the PDP picks me that I will not defeat Asiwaju? Who has told you? You don’t know maybe I will still contest. If I come out and they zone it to the South-West and they say it’s Fayose, if they pick Asiwaju, I will defeat him!”

    Further rubbishing the claim that he had pledged his support for Tinubu’s ambition, Fayose wondered what he stood to gain from Tinubu’s presidency as a member of the opposition party.

    He added, “I have never seen the quote. It is impossible. How do I claim to be the husband of a woman in another man’s house? It is all heresies. Loose talks! Listen, PDP government is far better than the APC government in Nigeria. Would he (Tinubu) leave the APC people and come to give me appointments or will he make me vice president, such that I work for the APC? It is not possible. Tinubu is for the APC, I am for the PDP. All these insinuations are just to call the dog a bad name so as to hang it.”

    On his claim that the PDP is Nigeria’s brightest choice in 2023, Fayose said, “If the PDP does not win the 2023 election, then Nigerians are doomed. From what I have seen since 2015, Nigerians are doomed. The kind of leadership that Nigeria has witnessed – insecurity, the economy.

    “Don’t forget that the impact of these things is more felt by the masses. It is the people that are at the receiving end. The cost of diesel today is about N400 per litre; during President Goodluck Jonathan’s (PDP) time, it was N140, N145. Whatever we are saying, it is either Nigerians want to remain in perpetual poverty or they save themselves. It is about Nigerians themselves.”

  • 2023: APC leaders split over Tinubu; South-East may get presidential ticket

    2023: APC leaders split over Tinubu; South-East may get presidential ticket

    Governors and top leaders of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, are split over the presidential aspiration of the party’s National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

    The division is affecting zoning of National Working Committee, NWC, and National Executive Committee, NEC, offices ahead of the February 26 National Convention.

    A top party source revealed this weekend that contrary to perception, Asiwaju Tinubu is not desperate to become president in 2023 but wants agreements to be honoured.

    “Top founders of the party know that President Buhari promised to hand over to Tinubu in 2023. Now if they don’t want to fulfill that promise, they have to sit down with Tinubu and discuss.

    “Tinubu has to be respected. You can’t treat him as nobody and expect him to keep quiet and do nothing. He is a democrat,” the source said.

    Although the APC governors have taken charge of the party, they are yet to agree on Tinubu and a chairmanship candidate. “Some of the governors are for Tinubu and are watching to see how things unfold.”

    According to the source, President Buhari is not averse to a South-easterner succeeding him and may be eyeing a minister from the zone as his successor.

    President Buhari, penultimate week, said his choice of ‘favoured successor’ would shock people, a reason he said he would keep the identify of the person secret.

    ‘Likely successors’

    Some names have been mentioned as the likely favoured successor. They include former president, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan; Transportation Minister, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi; Labour and Employment Minister, Dr Chris Ngige; Dr Akinwunmi Adesina; Timipre Sylva and Mr Emeka Nwajiuba, among others.

    On 2023 presidency, the source said the party must find a way to assuage the feelings of Tinubu and some founders of the party, who are gunning for the presidential ticket because “promises were made to them during the formation of the party.

    “If the party cannot fulfil the promises in 2023, the party has to meet and plead with them.

    “If the party treats them with contempt, they are ready to stand their ground and it will affect the party in 2023 elections.”

  • Why Tinubu travelled to London – Aide

    Why Tinubu travelled to London – Aide

    Tunde Rahman, a media aide to the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Bola Tinubu, has cleared the air on why his boss jetted out to the United Kingdom, UK.

    Recalls that the social media was stirred up yesterday with reactions from Nigerians over the London trip as many alleged that Tinubu went to the UK for his usual medical attention.

    Recall that the former Lagos State Governor returned to Nigeria from the UK in October, after undergoing knee surgery.

    However, in a statement issued on Friday by his media aide, Tinubu, a 2023 presidential candidate was said to have travelled abroad to attend some meetings regarding his political ambition.

    According to the aide, the Asiwaju of Lagos would be back in the country next week after his consultation meeting with stakeholders in the UK.

    He said, “Asiwaju Tinubu is in fine health and excellent spirits. The speculations in a national newspaper and on social media are just what they are: unfounded and untrue speculations.”

    “Asiwaju’s trip to the UK is not to rest or because of any illness. While abroad, Asiwaju is maintaining a vigorous schedule of meetings and consultations on a range of important matters.

    “Whether at home or abroad, the daily schedule of Asiwaju is vibrant and full. Most people couldn’t sustain his high level of activity. Asiwaju will return to Nigeria next week once this set of meetings and talks abroad is completed.”