Politics

Why Attacks On Vice President Osinbajo Are Unreasonable

Published

6 years ago

June 29, 2018 1:43 pm

bodexng

Yemi Osinbajo, professor of law, SAN, is an accomplished professional. Unlike many of our politicians, he has a second address. In other words, outside of government, he can survive, and survive with panache. Before his current position, he was the Attorney-General of Lagos State for 8 years. He performed excellently.

Prof. Osibanjo, is also a senior pastor with the RCCG. He was the pastor in-charge at the Banana Island road branch, Ikoyi, Lagos, of the church. As the senior pastor of the church, he was known for his humility, frugality, and godly virtues. Osibanjo, unlike most of his colleagues who will seat in their high offices and delegate evangelism to others, was always on the roads, accompanied by his wife, Dolapo, preaching the gospel of Jesus. He is a self-effacing man!

VP Osinbajo, was not looking for a job when he was nominated by president Buhari as as running mate. President Buhari, on a mission to rescue Nigeria at the time was looking for a partner who is a man of proven integrity and honesty. He found in Osinbajo, the qualities he was looking for. He wasted no time in naming him after meeting him in Abuja. His choice, was a master stroke. Many Nigerians, received the news of his nomination with joy, and pledged their support. Buhari and Osinbajo were elected as president and vice-president of Nigeria under the APC, a party the opposition PDP, and CAN had described as a Muslim party. Some openly expressed their disdain with Osinbajo for accepting to serve under Buhari, a perceived Muslim extremist. They asked: why would Osinbajo a Christian and pastor, agree to serve under a Muslim?

Osinbajo threw himself into the job with dedication. As a senior lawyer, he knows the limits of the powers of his office. He knows he is not the president. He knows that he must remain loyal to the president, and do the jobs given to his office by the president. With a president on his seat, the only thing he can do is to advice the president. He cannot insist that his advice be followed. In the absence of the president, he becomes the Acting president. We are all witnesses to how he brilliantly and efficiently held the office in the absence of the president. He travelled to different parts of the country to reconcile the government with certain parts of the country. He implemented policies that strengthened the naira against the dollars following the positive outcome of his negotiations with the leaders and militant groups in the SS part of the country. He created a pervasive sense of unity, and remained loyal to the president by attributing everything he did to the president.

Osibanjo, is highly trusted by president Buhari. The president is so comfortable with him that he ceded the management of the nation’s economy to him. For a every critical assignment or mission, he is the go-to-man of the president. He has visited many conflict areas on behalf of the president. Many will remember that he is the first to visit and commiserate with communities that has been attacked by the Fulani Herdsmen. After the attacks on some Benue communities leading to egregious deaths and destruction, VP Osinbajo visited the state more than once in a month. He attended the funerals of some of the victims of the attacks, and gave a heartfelt address on that occasion.

Recently, VP Osinbajo, has come under attacks by some pastors and their supporters. Many are questioning why and how he can still claim to be a Christian and pastor, and remain in the government out to eliminate Christians and Christianity. They are calling on him to quit. This is to say the least, uncharitable!

Many of the pastors, making these calls, will not even consider resigning from their positions in their churches no matter how bad things are. They will also, no brook any opposition from any pastor under them. Any pastor under them that holds a contrary view on issues will be removed on the direction of some spirit. This is the truth! The same people are the ones asking Osinbajo to stand up and confront the president. I’m not against Osinbajo confronting the president, or resigning from his position if he thinks there reasons to do so, that is his call to make. I’m against those attacking for not leaving in pursuit of their narrow and selfish objective. VP Osinbajo, is not in government as a pastor. He is there as an administrator whose actions and inaction, are governed by the laws of the country. He took an oath that imposed a duty on him to be fair and just to all, irrespective of their tribes and religion. He is the vice-president of Nigeria, not of the Christians in Nigeria!

If the pastors, believe that Nigeria should be governed by Christians only, they can form a Christian party in Nigeria, and contest elections. This is the situation in some European countries. In 2019, VP Osinbajo, maybe on the ticket with Buhari hopefully, and we have the opportunity to decide his fate.

What many may not have adverted their minds to, is what the situation could have been without the moderating voice and influence of Osibanjo. If Mordecai had been in the palace to counsel Esther, the Jews would have been destroyed from the counsel of Hamman.

Let me conclude this piece by advising the pastors and their supporters to, spare Osinbajo from the needless attacks. The Muslim community is standing solidly behind Buhari, who is the leader, and on whose desk the buck stops. We are tearing at our own. The pastors, should devote their energies in raising up righteous men who will takeover the affairs of the country, and set us on the path to sustainable development. VP Osinbajo is not perfect, only God is!

God bless Nigeria.

Politics

Ex-presidential aspirant, Cosmos Ndukwe resigns from PDP

Published

2 days ago

April 29, 2024 11:49 am

BodexNG

One of the 2023 presidential aspirants of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party, Dr Cosmos Ndukwe, has resigned his membership of the PDP.

This is contained in a letter written by the former Deputy Speaker, Abia State House of Assembly, to the Chairman of his Item C Ward in Bende Local Government Area, and copied to the State Chairman of the party, Hon. Asiforo Okere; and the Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, respectively.

The former Chief of Staff to the Governor and Commissioner for Works under ex-Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu, cited “personal reasons, current commitments and aspirations” for his decision to quit the PDP.

He commended the party for giving him the platform to come to political limelight, and wished it success in the state.

The letter posted on his Facebook page on Monday morning read, “I hope this letter finds you well. It is with a heavy heart that I compose this correspondence to tender my resignation as a member and stakeholder in the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Abia State, effective immediately.

“My decision to resign as a member within the party stems from personal reasons and reflections on my current commitments and aspirations.

“After careful consideration, I have come to the conclusion that potting out of PDP is the best course of action for me at this time.

“I am immensely grateful for the opportunities that the PDP has afforded me during my tenure as a Councillor, Deputy Chairman Local Government, Chief of Staff to Executive Governor of Abia State, Deputy Speaker Abia 6th House of Assembly and Presidential Aspirant PDP 2023.

“Serving within the party has been a privilege, and I have valued the relationships I have built with fellow members, as well as the chance to contribute to the party’s objectives and ideals.

” I want to express my appreciation to you, the Ward Executive Committee, and all members of the PDP Abia State for the support and camaraderie extended to me throughout my association with the party.

“While I may be stepping away from my formal role, I remain committed to the principles of democracy and the progress of our great state Abia.

“Please consider this letter as my formal resignation from all duties and responsibilities associated with my position as a member and stakeholder in the PDP Abia State.

“I wish the PDP Abia State continued success in all its endeavors, and I extend my best wishes for the future. Thank you once again for the opportunities and experiences.”

The former Deputy Speaker had in an introductory post to the letter written:

“Good morning friends and well wishers. In life, we all have the past. We all made choices that maybe, weren’t the best ones. None of us is completely a saint,
but we all get a fresh start some day.

“Eccl 3:1-5 summary is on time for everything. To me, this is time to leave PDP family. I am potting out for good, new destination to be announced soon.

“My letter has started its journey to the ward chairman, LG chairman, State Chairman and Ag National chairman”.

The PDP has been hit by the wind of resignation following the exit of former Governor of Imo State, Chief Emeka Ihedioha, and over 20 key members of the party in Imo State including a member of the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT), and zonal officers.

Although the supremacy tussle between former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mr Nyesom Wike, is believed to be at the centre of crisis rocking the PDP, funding by Vanguard show that Ndukwe may be on his way to the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, to assist his kinsman, and the Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu.

Politics

Ihedioha resigns from PDP, says party no longer a credible opposition

Published

1 week ago

April 23, 2024 2:49 pm

BodexNG

Emeka Ihedioha, a former governorship candidate on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Imo, has resigned from the party.

Ihedioha conveyed his resignation from the party in a letter dated April 23 and addressed to the PDP chairman of Mbutu ward, Aboh Mbaise LGA of Imo; and the national chairman.

Ihedioha said the party has failed to offer “credible opposition to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC)”.

The politician said he has contributed his quota to the “development and transformation” of the PDP since 1998.

“All these years, I have taken pride in the fact that the PDP is a party that will always look inward for internal reforms and provide credible leadership for the people, whether in power or outside power.

“I have had the benefit of serving and benefitting from the party at various levels. Regrettably, in recent times, the party has taken on a path that is at variance with my personal beliefs.

“Despite my attempt to offer counsel, the party is, sadly no longer able to carry out internal reforms, enforce its own rules or offer credible opposition to the ruling All Progressives Congress.

“It is in the light of the foregoing, that I am compelled to offer my resignation from the People’s Democratic Party effective immediately.”

Ihedioha said while the decision to leave the party was “difficult to take”, he believes that it is “the right one”.

He said despite his resignation, he will always be available to offer services “towards the deepening of democracy and good governance” in Nigeria.

Ihedioha was elected governor of Imo in March 2019 on the PDP platform.

Politics

Lucky Aiyedatiwa wins Ondo APC governorship primary election

Published

1 week ago

April 22, 2024 8:16 am

BodexNG

Lucky Aiyedatiwa, governor of Ondo state, has clinched the All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial ticket for the November 16 election.

Usman Ododo, Kogi state governor and chairman of the election organising committee, declared Aiyedatiwa as the winner of the party’s primary in the early hours of Monday.

Ododo said Aiyedatiwa secured 48,569 votes to defeat his closest challengers — Mayowa Akinfolarin who had 15,343 votes and Olusola Oke who polled 14,915 votes.

Aiyedatiwa won in 16 of the 18 LGAs in the state while Oke won in Ilaje local government area.

The election was cancelled in Ifedore LGA due to issues of violence.

CONTROVERSIAL PRIMARY ELECTION

The APC primary election, which started on Saturday, was marred by allegations of irregularities while there were demands for cancellation by the leading contenders.

Several aspirants alleged that no election took place in most parts of the state.

TheCable reporters who monitored the election in Akure failed to witness voting in several wards in the Ondo state capital.

Olusola Oke, Olugbenga Edema, Wale Akinterinwa, Dayo Faduyile and Jimi Odimayo are among the governorship hopefuls who kicked against the conduct of the exercise.

Folakemi Omogoroye, a female governorship hopeful, described the election as a “complete rape of democracy”.

“I am not going to accept it, and now, I am calling for cancellation and if this is not done, maybe we’ll meet in the court,” Omogoroye said.

Despite the criticism and controversy surrounding the election, the Kogi state governor insisted that the process was transparent.

The primary election took place across 203 wards in the 18 LGAs of the state.

The election was rescheduled in all 13 wards of Okitipupa LGA over the late arrival of materials. The rescheduled election, held on Sunday, recorded a low turnout of voters in some wards.

Members of the party staged a protest in Akure on Sunday evening over the conduct of the governorship election.

Adeniran Oyebade, director-general for Olusola Oke campaign organisation in Ondo central, described the primary as “daylight robbery”.

Bodex F. Hungbo, SPMIIM is a multiple award-winning Nigerian Digital Media Practitioner, Digital Strategist, PR consultant, Brand and Event Expert, Tv Presenter, Tier-A Blogger/Influencer, and a top cobbler in Nigeria.

She has widespread experiences across different professions and skills, which includes experiences in; Marketing, Media, Broadcasting, Brand and Event Management, Administration and Management with prior stints at MTN, NAPIMS-NNPC, GLOBAL FLEET OIL AND GAS, LTV, Silverbird and a host of others