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2023: ‘It’s my turn’ – How Osinbajo, Amaechi became Tinubu’s foes
With the presidential campaign kicked-off for the 2023 general election, the All Progressives Congress, APC, will no doubt miss the dexterity of former minister, Chibuike Amaechi.
Things have not remained the same between the presidential candidate of the party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and some top shots of the party since after the presidential primary election.
Party leaders such as the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo and the former Governor of Rivers State, Amaechi have gone hibernating from party activities since the primary election.
Amaechi was the Director-General of President Muhammadu Buhari’s Campaign organisation both in 2015 and 2019 elections. He delivered in the two successive elections.
However, that is not the case as the party prepares for the 2023 polls.
While Osinbajo was conspicuously missing from the Tinubu-Shettima Presidential Campaign Council, Amaechi has neither accepted nor rejected his appointment into the campaign movement.
We recalls that after weeks of intrigues and uncertainty, Tinubu polled 1,271 votes to beat his closest contenders Amaechi (316 votes) and Osinbajo (235 votes).
Tinubu was able to get northern governors behind himself after the likes of Simon Lalong of Plateau State, Nasir Elrufai of Kaduna and Abubakar Badaru of Jigawa State had earlier publicly backed Amaechi.
Following the emergence of Atiku Abubakar as the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, the Northern APC governors closed ranks and aligned with Tinubu. They believed that Amaechi had a very slim chance of defeating Atiku.
Badaru, who had openly pledged support for Amaechi, subsequently led the contingent of presidential aspirants who stepped down and asked his supporters to support Tinubu.
And after the presidential primaries, Tinubu claimed he fought to win the ticket, insisting there was a gang-up against his person.
An insider in Tinubu presidential campaign council said the former Lagos helmsman has not yet forgiven all those who contested with him during the presidential primary, especially Amaechi and Osinbajo.
According to him, Tinubu had made it very clear that it was his turn to become President after Buhari. He did everything to ensure that the APC came to power but he was disappointed to see the likes of Osinbajo challenge him to the end. The APC national leader was said to be highly disappointed that Osinbajo did not step down alongside about 8 other aspirants that stepped down for him on that night.
The insider added that Osinbajo sees Tinubu’s emergence as backwardness. He said although the VP knows that his former boss has ideas that could better the country, his age and frail health would be a major drag-back for Nigeria and thus would never pretend to be supporting him.
According to our source, “Most people take it as a mere joke when Tinubu says becoming Nigerian President is a childhood dream. This is something he had dreamt and worked for all his life. He should have been Vice President in 2015 if not this Muslim-Muslim ticket and it would have been easier for him now but he gave that up and nominated one of his boys – Osinbajo for that position
“When the Northern Governors agreed that it was Tinubu’s turn after weeks of intense politicking, he didn’t expect any of the aspirants to contest with him in the primary, that’s the truth. But Osinbajo and Amaechi dragged on and since then, the relationship has not been the same. He’s not the one who included Amaechi in his campaign team. Tinubu was more interested in bringing Governor Nyesom Wike to his side than Amaechi. Amaechi is one person who does not believe in Tinubu and feels betrayed by the outcome of the primary. Amaechi said something a few weeks after the primary and what he said didn’t sink well with Tinubu’s camp. Anybody expecting the former minister to work for Tinubu’s victory is wasting their time. It’s almost like Wike and Atiku only that Amaechi does not talk or behave like the Governor. Also note that it’s not a coincidence that Osinbajo is not named in the presidential campaign council. In fact, he should be one of the persons spear-heading the campaign.
“Before I end, let me say this, when someone says he’s fine, can’t Nigerians just respect that? It’s his health for Christ sake and no one knows better about your health than you. No doubt in my heart that our presidential candidate will win the 2023 presidential election for our great party with or without the support of these people. He has the structures on ground but the truth is it would be easier for us with their support.”
However, while addressing a group in Kano that worked for Osinbajo’s presidential bid, Tinubu insisted he does not have anything against Osinbajo, saying, “I have nothing against him. I’ve been to his house after the primaries.
“I saw him on the day of the goodwill message [at] the retreat organised by the president. If you cannot give forgiveness, how are you asking from Allah? To me, it is over.”
Things you need to know today Sunday 19/03/2023..
1. Governorship and state Houses of Assembly candidates of the different political parties, their supporters and other stakeholders are in anxious wait for the results of the polls which were held on Saturday, even as the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, began uploading of the results on its results viewing portal.
2. A former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has said the All Progressives Congress in Rivers State was not contesting against the Peoples Democratic Party, but against the Independent National Electoral Commission and the Police. Amaechi said this while addressing journalists after casting his vote at Ward 8, Unit 17 in Ubima Ikwerre Local Government Area of the state.
3. A member of the All Progressives Congress has been shot dead in Cross River State. It was gathered that the incident happened on Saturday morning at Ogoja in the northern senatorial district.
4. The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission has arrested four vote-buyers in Sokoto and Katsina states during the governorship and state Houses of Assembly elections on Saturday. The spokesperson for the ICPC, Azuka Ogugua, revealed this on Saturday night in a statement.
5. Governor Babagana Zulum, candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Saturday’s election, has secured the highest number of votes cast in Monguno Local Government Area of the state. While Zulum polled a total of 17,187 votes in the LGA, Mohammed Jajari, his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) rival garnered just 280 votes, leaving a margin of 16,907 votes.
6. Peter Obi, Presidential Candidate of Labour Party, has reached out to his supporters who were attacked during Saturday’s governorship and house of assembly elections. According to Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, Labour Party gubernatorial candidate in the state, an agent of the party was gunned down during the election.
7. A former councillor of Getso ward, Ibrahim Nakuzama, has been reportedly shot dead over alleged ballot box snatching. Nakuzama was said to have been gunned down by security operatives in Gwarzo local government area of Kano, on Saturday.
8. The All Progressives Congress (APC) and the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) in Kano State have asked their supporters to march to collation centres. While Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, NNPP presidential candidate, made the call on his party’s behalf, spokesperson for the Gawuna/Garo Campaign Council, Malam Muhammad Garba, made the call for the ruling party’s supporters.
9. Fire on Saturday razed down parts of the second market in the metropolis, Gamboru Market, in Borno State. This is exactly three weeks after a fire completely razed the largest market in the state, Monday Market, also located in the metropolis.
10. A former President of the United States, Donald Trump, has said he expects to be “arrested” Tuesday over an alleged hush-money payment to a porn star in 2016. He urged his supporters to protest, as prosecutors gave signs of moving closer to an indictment.
Results of the governorship election held across 28 States in the country are being awaited.
Supporters of the various candidates and political parties are soaked in tension as the final announcement of results lingers.
All the serving and outgoing governors are also in hot seats, thinking of what may eventually become of their political career.
Two dominant political parties, the PDP and the APC have candidates in the entire 28 states for Saturday’s election but will have to do more work to win some states where the Labour Party, LP, have candidates.
In Akwa Ibom, Akan Udofia is the APC candidate. Other states are: Abia – Ikechi Emenike, Adamawa – Aishatu Dairu Binani , Bauchi – Sadique Abubakar, Kaduna – Uba Sani, Gombe – Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, Delta – Ovie Omo-Agege, Borno – Babagana Zulum, Cross River – Bassey Otu, Jigawa – Umar Namadi, Kano – Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna, Ebonyi – Ogbonna Nwifuru, Enugu – Uche Nnaji, Katsina – Dikko Umaru Radda, Kebbi – Nasiru Idris, Kwara -AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, Ogun – Dapo Abiodun, Nasarawa – Abdullahi Sule, Plateau -Netanwe Yilwatda, Rivers – Tonye Cole, Yobe -Mala Buni, Zamfara – Muhammad Bello, and Oyo – Teslim Folarin.
The PDP candidates across the country are: Okechukwu Ahiwe – Abia, Umaru Fintiri – Adamawa., Umo Bassey – Akwa Ibom., Ibrahim Mohammed – Bauchi, Titus Uba – Benue, Mohammed Ali Jafari – Borno, Sheriff Oborevwori – Delta, Peter Mbah – Enugu, Muhammad Barde – Gombe, Mustapha Sule-Lamido – Jigawa, Isa Ashiru Kudan – Kaduna, Muhammed Abacha – Kano, Aminu Bande – Kebbi, Abdullah Yahman – Kwara, Abdul-Azeez Adediran – Lagos. David Ombugadu – Nassarawa, Segun Sowunmi – Ogun, Seyi Makinde – Oyo, Caleb Mutfwang – Plateau, Siminialayi Fubara – Rivers, Sa’adu Umar – Sokoto.
But the LP have serious contenders in some states- Lagos- Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, Abia- Alex Otti, Enugu- Chijioke Edeoga, among others.
We reports that the exercise witnessed voter apathy in all the states of the federation, a development blamed on the outcome of the February 25 presidential and National Assembly elections.
However, many die hard supporters still made it a point of duty to file out for the exercise.
While the election was violent in some states, it was relatively peaceful in a few States.
Lagos, Delta, Benue, Osun, Niger, Rivers, Bayelsa, Abia, Kaduna, Ebonyi, Enugu, Imo, among others, are some of the states where thuggery and shootings took the centre stage.
As of the time of filing this report, the outcome of the polls is still too close to call in most of the States.
In Lagos, Kwara and Oyo States, the incumbent governors are believed to be on their way to victory. However, in Enugu, Abia, and Benue States, the ruling party, PDP, are said to be struggling, with LP, APGA and APC, respectively, in early lead. Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State is still uncertain of victory.
For Ebonyi State, it is a close call between the APC, APGA and the PDP. However, the two opposition parties are crying out over alleged hijacking of voting materials by the Governor David Umahi-led APC administration.
In Rivers State, Governor Nyesom Wike is said to be succeeding in his move to install a successor, with the former transport minister, Rotimi Amaechi crying out that his party, the APC was contesting against the PDP, the INEC and the police. He added that there was a total failure of governance in the country.
Kaduna, which is one of the states of interest remains undecided, with the PDP accusing Governor Nasir El-Rufai of massive vote buying.
In the next hours, governors-elect would have emerged across the 28 States, bringing to an end weeks of anxiety and tension.
Results are currently trickling in from polling units in the ongoing governorship election in Lagos State.
INEC officials have concluded voting and sorting of results in some polling units while ballot counting has also commenced in the presence of voters.
We gathered that the governorship election is keenly contested by candidates of the All Progressives Congress, APC, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and the Labour Party, LP across the State.
George cast his vote at PU002 Cameron Road, Eti Osa Local Government Area, in Ikoyi.
Recall that the PDP leader and others endorsed the LP candidate.
Governorship
LP — 115
APC — 95
PDP — 4
APC — 97
Funke Akindele Loses Polling Unit to APC
Polling Unit 019, Ita Aro Square, Àga/Ijimu Ward, Ikorodu LGA
GOVERNORSHIP
APC: 77
PDP: 19
LP: 1
ADC: 2;
Jandor wins his Polling Unit
LGA: OJO
PU: 001, OSOLU SEC, SCHOOL, IREWE
ADP: 01
APC: 66
LP: 01
PDP: 87
LGA: ETI OSA
PU: 011, IGBOGUSU
APC: 107
LP: 43
PDP: 1
VOID: 5
LGA: Ikeja
Ward: Alausa
PU: 085
APC: 43
LP: 5
PDP: 0
APGA: 1
Invalid: 1
LGA: Ikeja
Ward: Alausa
PU: 085
APC: 43
PDP: 0
LP: 5
NRM: 1
LGA: Oshodi/ Isolo
Ward: Oke-Afa/ Ejigbo
PU: 49, Aigbedion Street
ADC: 0
APC: 26
LP: 7
PDP: 2
LGA: Oshodi/ Isolo
Ward: Oke-Afa/ Ejigbo
PU: Junction of Adebayo Oyelana/Demuren/Ailegun Road
ADC: 2
APC: 48
LP: 89
PDP: 0
LGA: Alimosho
Ward: Ipaja South
PU: Daru Salam School/ Ejigbo Block
ADC: 0
APC: 6
LP: 0
PDP: 0
LGA: Eti-Osa
Ward: Victoria Island II
PU: Water Corporation Rd. Opp. Enterprise Hubs
APC: 3
PDP: 2
LP: 3
Things you need to know today Sunday 19/03/2023..
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