Politics
SDP Presidential Candidate Consults Obasanjo, Rules Out Alliance With Other Parties
The presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party, Adewole Adebayo, on Friday night held a closed-door meeting with former president, Olusegun Obasanjo, in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
Adebayo, who was accompanied by the leaders of the party, met Obasanjo at his penthouse residence in the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, Abeokuta.
Adebayo also held separate meetings with the Alake and paramount ruler of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, and the Olubara of Ibara, Oba Jacob Omolade, at their palaces in Abeokuta.
The closed-door meeting with Obasanjo lasted for about two hours.
Obasanjo had two weeks ago endorsed the Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, as his preferred candidate.
The SDP candidate told newsmen after the visit that the meeting with Obasanjo “was more of a family visit and not political nature.”
When asked on how he felt about the endorsement of Obi by Obasanjo, Adebayo said he was not bothered by the former president’s endorsement of Obi, saying Obasanjo has the right to do so.
He said, “We looked at him as a (former) Head of State. He is a Nigerian. He is also a free person who has the right to go with anybody. So, we don’t feel that way. The election is still far.
“The essence of democracy is getting people to change their minds by talking to people. Even when we win the election, we still have to negotiate with Nigerians. You still have to get the people who are not on your side to be on your side. So, it is a continuous exercise. We don’t have any problem at all.”
Addressing his loyalists during the Flag off of the presidential and governorship campaigns at the Ake palace ground in Abeokuta on Saturday, Adebayo ruled out working with the All Progressives Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party.
He described the leading political parties as confused.
Adebayo admitted that some candidates may step down for one another, but, foreclosed alliance with other presidential candidates.
He said, “You can take this to the bank, we will never work with APC or PDP. Nobody who loves Nigeria at this time will want those people the way they looked confused, to come back at all. APC is a confused party.
“And I am not saying it as an insult, they are confused. They are in power and they are saying they are going to change the government when they are in power.
“PDP will never repent. God doesn’t mind sinners, but the job of sinners is to repent.
“If you were in government for 16 years and you have been out of federal power for eight years, and you are still sluggish as before, as fraudulent as before, as deceptive as before, as comical as before, then you never change.”
Speaking on alliance with Peter Obi, he said “Let me make it very clear, when I mentioned APC and PDP, it includes Peter Obi because he is still PDP. He is just borrowing Labour Party for one week.”
Politics
Why I Won’t Help Tinubu’s Govt Overcome Economic Challenges – Sanusi
The 16th Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II, says he would not help President Bola Tinubu’s administration to correct the administration’s policies affecting the citizens.
Emir Sanusi spoke on Wednesday in Lagos as the chairman of the 21st Anniversary of Fawehinmiism (Gani Fawehinmi Annual Lecture 2025).
The emir stated that while there were “a few points” he could offer to explain the trajectory the administration had taken and how such decisions were predictable, he chose not to do so because “they don’t behave like friends.”
He said explaining the government’s policies would help the government, but he did not intend to assist them due to the way they had treated him.
“I can give a few points that are contrary, that explain perhaps what we’re going through and how it was totally predictable, most of it, and maybe avoidable. But I am not going to do that.
“I have chosen not to speak about the economy or the reforms or to even explain anything because if I explain, it would help this government, but I don’t want to help this government,” the emir said while addressing some of the points made by speakers about the economy.
He added: “You know they’re my friends, but if they don’t behave like friends, I don’t behave like a friend. So I watch them being stooges. And they don’t even have people with credibility who can come and explain what they are doing. I am not going to help. I started out helping, but I am not going to help. I am not going to discuss it. Let them come and explain to Nigerians why the policies that are being pursued are being pursued.
“Meanwhile, I’m watching a very nice movie with popcorn in my hands. But I will say one thing: What we are going through today is, at least in part, not totally, but at least in part, a necessary consequence of decades of irresponsible economic management.
“People were told decades ago that if you continue along this path, this is where you’re going to end up, and they refused to open their eyes. Now, is everything being done today correct? No.”
Emir Sanusi, who was deposed as the 14th Emir of Kano in 2020 by then-Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, the current national chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), was reinstated as the 16th Emir of Kano in 2024 by the New Nigeria People’s Party-led Kano State Government.
His emirship has faced ongoing challenges from forces believed to be backed by the federal government, including federal officials’ continued recognition of his predecessor, Emir Aminu Ado Bayero.
Last month, the police barricaded his palace, with the state government accusing the federal government of orchestrating the action to stir unrest in the peaceful state.
Politics
Reps Loses Deputy Chief Whip
The Deputy Chief Whip of the House of Representatives, Rt Hon. Oriyomi Onanuga, is dead.
Also known as Ijaya, Rt Hon. Onanuga, who was the member representing Ikenne/Sagamu/Remo North Federal Constituency, is said to have died following a brief illness.
This was confirmed in a tweet on the official X (formerly Twitter) account of the House of Representatives, on Wednesday night.
Rt Hon Onanuga, who was born in Hammersmith, London, to Nigerian parents on December 2, 1965, was a politician and entrepreneur. She held the position of Deputy Chief Whip in the Nigerian House of Representatives since 2023.
She contested and won a seat in the House of Representatives under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2019. She also served as the Chairperson of the House Committee on Women Affairs and Social Development.
Politics
Aiyedatiwa Dissolves Cabinet, Retains Finance Commissioner, Attorney-General
Gov. Aiyedatiwa, however, exempted two members of the cabinet from the dissolution due to the critical nature of their duties.
The two commissioners exempted include the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Dr Kayode Ajulo, SAN, and the Commissioner for Finance, Mrs. Omowunmi Isaac.
This was contained in a statement issued by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Ebenezer Adeniyan, in Akure, the Ondo State capital.
Mr Adeniyan said in the statement that “All the affected cabinet members are to hand over all government properties in their care to the accounting officers of their respective ministries.
Gov. Aiyedatiwa thanked the executive council members “for their service and contributions to the development of Ondo State under his administration and wished them well in their future endeavours”.
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