Politics

Defectors To APC Chairman: Oshiomhole Will Eat His Words In 2019

Published

6 years ago

July 28, 2018 9:55 am

bodexng

As a sequel to the outburst of the chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, in which he carpeted the defectors from the ruling party, saying they have no electoral value, some of the affected politicians yesterday hit back at the former governor of Edo State, vowing to prove their worth at the next general elections in 2019.

Most of the defectors, who now belong to the main opposition group, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), were of the view that Oshiomhole would know their electoral values in 2019.

Ibrahim: Talk is cheap

First to fire the salvo was the Chairman, Senate Committee on Banking and Financial Institutions, Senator Rafiu Ibrahim (Kwara South). While blasting Oshiomole for dancing back and forth, the senator asked the APC chairman to stop being hypocritical.

“Talk is cheap, February 2019 is around the corner. The chairman has been talking from two sides of his mouth lately. We are in another party now, they should leave us alone and concentrate on the crisis in their party”, he said.

Kwankwaso: Wait till the chips are down

On his part, a former governor of Kano State, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, who spoke through one of his aides, Binta Sipikin, said the APC chairman should not be in a hurry to test their political weight but should wait till 2019 to see what they could prove.

Sipikin, who said her boss’ electoral values would speak out in 2019, said: “Let me remind him on how Kwankwaso nearly emerged the APC presidential flagbearer in 2015, which clearly shows how popular Kwankwaso is. “It is not a fiction that Kwankwaso in 2015 APC primaries in Lagos came second to Buhari which shows clearly in Nigerian politics he is a force to be reckoned with”.

She promised that Kwankwaso and his followers would surely show a political difference under the PDP, which he helped formed. “Let me said clearly that by 2019, we will show to the whole world that Kwankwaso is truly a force to reckon with when it comes to Nigerian poli-tics”.

2019 will decide, says Reps Atunwa Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Justice, Hon. Razak Olatunde Atunwa, who coordinated the defection of members in the lower chamber, has said he will not join words with Oshiomhole.

Atunwa, who described Oshiomhole as a factional chairman of the APC said: “I won’t join words with Adams Oshiomhole. But I am sure you know and the whole world knows the value of the caliber and quality of leaders and politicians that have exited the APC”.

Continuing, Atunwa, who represents Ilorin West/Asa Federal Constituency of Kwara State, said Oshiomhole couldn’t say that of their leaders, who any politician could ignore at his own peril. “In Kwara State, you can check whether the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, is a politician that would lose an election.

Has he ever lost an election? You should also check in Sokoto if Governor Tambuwal is a pushover; you can also go to Kano and check if Senator Kwankwaso, a two-time governor, a former minister and a serving senator does not have electoral value. “So, for anyone to be saying that we are of no electoral value, I will ask them to wait until 2019 and see who has no electoral value.

It is not about shouting on the pages of newspaper” The former commissioner and one-time speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly noted that; “As I said before, our defection is not about individual interests but it is about the people; it is about democracy and it is about good governance.

“If you had listened to Buba Galadima, he said Nigeria is sliding into anarchy. There is impunity and lack of respect for rule of law. We are not in a popularity contest but when the time comes, we will all know who has no electoral value”, he concluded.

Defection has jolted APC –Rep Ossai

Also reacting to Oshiomhole’s declaration, chairman of the House Committee on Ethics and Privileges, Hon. Ossai Nicholas Ossai, said it was laughable that the party chairman suddenly discovered that the defecting lawmakers were of no electoral value.

“It is laughable that Oshiomhole is now saying our colleagues who defected have no electoral value. Is it now that he discovered this? When he was going about begging them and visiting their houses, they were of electoral value?

“The fact of the matter is that the defection has jolted the APC and the chairman has seen defeat starring him in the face so he can afford to describe our members who strayed to the APC but have now come back home. PDP is a party of peace, a party of honour and a party that respects human life and dignity”.

Ossai who represents Ndokwa East/Okwuani Federal Constituency of Delta State said: “I have just been honoured by the people of Benue State with an award. I can tell you that the people are angry with the APC, nobody there will vote for APC.

So, is Oshiomhole saying Governor Ortom is of no electoral value? Why were they begging him not to dump the APC? “I think his outburst is a cry of impending defeat. The APC is disorganised and of course, more defections are expected in the days ahead. But the simple point is change has collapsed”, he stated.

Oshiomhole ignorant, combative labour style, disservice to the APC –Rep GBillah

Also responding to Oshiomhole’s position, chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Petroleum Resources (up stream), Hon. Mark Terseer Gbillah, said “it is unfortunate that Oshiomhole has come with his combative labour union style into the chairmanship of the APC and is going to be the greatest disservice to the APC”.

Gbillah who represents Gwer West / Gwer East Federal Constituency of Benue State opined that Oshiomhole’s “unguarded comments are only confirming to some of us that there is no democracy in that party.

“When he talks about no electoral value, does he realise that the President did not come to my constituency to campaign? The President came to my state but stopped at the state capital and he forgets that I carried out the campaign for him? When he talks about going back to where we belong, he forgets that some of us have never been members of the PDP.

“I have never been in politics before 2014, but I saw the APC as a decent platform where I could realise my dream of serving my people diligently; but I found out that is not the case.

“What is the APC saying about the imposition that is going on under Oshiomhole as chairman in Bauchi, where the governor has singlehandedly picked somebody to run for the Senate as replacement for the late Senator Wakil? “But all I can say is that when 2019 comes, we shall know who actually have electoral value because it was the president that rode on our backs to win elections in 2015.

“So, for Oshiomhole to think that people who won elections to come here (National Assembly) have no electoral value is very unfortunate and it shows the ignorance of the chairman of the party himself.

“He said he was not losing sleep over our defection yet, he is not sleeping till 2am holding nocturnal meetings. So, he is talking from both sides of the mouth and eroding the credibility that he had in him

Politics

Aiyedatiwa takes commanding lead in Ondo guber poll after winning 15 of 18 LGAs

Published

18 hours ago

November 17, 2024 7:29 am

BodexNG

Lucky Aiyedatiwa, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, is well ahead of his compatriots in the Ondo governorship election.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) commenced the announcement of the results at midnight on Saturday.

So far, results from 15 local government areas (LGAs) have been announced, with three outstanding.

Aiyedatiwa has polled 268,144 votes so far, while Agboola Ajayi of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has secured 79,125 votes and Abbas Mimiko of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) has won 2,365.

The APC candidate, who is the incumbent governor, has won in all the 15 LGAs, including the strongholds of his challengers.

Results from Ilaje, Ese-Odo and Odigbo LGAs are still being expected at the collation centre.

The collation exercise was adjourned till 12pm by the INEC returning officer for the election.

Meanwhile, on the INEC result viewing portal, 99 percent of the governorship election results have been uploaded.

The election, which took place on Saturday, was largely peaceful and devoid of violence in most parts of the state.

However, journalists and civil society organisations observed several cases of vote trading.

“This situation has continued unabatedly and heightened in this election. It is worrying that, despite the high presence of security personnel at the polling units, vote trading went on openly unchecked during the voting hours,” the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room said in its preliminary assessment.

Politics

DSS operatives arrest man with bags of cash during Ondo guber

Published

1 day ago

November 16, 2024 2:11 pm

BodexNG

Personnel of the Department of State Services (DSS) have apprehended a suspected vote buyer in the ongoing Ondo governorship election.

The man was nabbed on election day at ward 4, polling unit 007, outside St Stephen’s Primary School, Akure.

Television footage showed the operatives and passers-by bellowing on the man to open the boot of his Toyota Camry car. Once he did, two ‘Ghana-must-go’ bags were seen sitting pretty.

The bags were not opened before the cameras as a mob encircled.

The DSS operatives then shoved the man into a white bus from where he was spirited away.

Vote-buying has become commonplace in Nigeria’s elections. Civil society organisations continue to bemoan the trend where agents of political parties carry cash to polling units to induce voters to cast their ballots a certain way.

Politics

Outrage as Betty Akeredolu calls Nigeria a zoo

Published

3 days ago

November 15, 2024 9:10 am

BodexNG

Betty Akeredolu, widow of the late Rotimi Akeredolu, former governor of Ondo, has been criticised for comparing the US presidential election to Nigeria’s 2023 general election.

In a post on X on Wednesday, Betty juxtaposed the period it took to count and announce winners in both polls.

She has also been berated for calling Nigeria a zoo while responding to critics of her posts on the elections.

“When dishonesty is prioritised, simple things become difficult,” she said of Nigeria’s election.

“2023 Nigerian Presidential Election: Total Votes Cast: 25 million, Counting Duration: 5 days. 2024 U.S Presidential Election: Total Votes Cast: 155 million. Counting Duration: Approx. 10 hours.”

In another post, she said, “I made an honest but harmless observation on Nigerian and US presidential elections. Twitter is now on fire. Truth hurts and hurts with tribal colouration”.

“If the 2023 election presidential benefitted you as an individual or group, was that the best Nigeria could offer? Alas, they turned it into a tribal war of words. Nigeria is irredeemable! So sad,” she added.

“Very bitter indeed! Who will rescue Nigeria? What a zoo country!”

One Adegoke Adebisi said counting of votes continues in the US despite the announcement of Donald Trump as president-elect.

“This is not factual. The election was determined in 10 hours but counting continued till Friday, but results were posted live,” Adebisi said in response to Betty’s post.

“Grandma doesn’t even know what electoral college is, she thinks they count each ballot in the US election to declare Trump. You don’t even have the moral justification to criticise a system ur husband benefited from,” another post reads.

Here are a few more posts.

https://twitter.com/drdebodun/status/1856744000608236008?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1856744000608236008%7Ctwgr%5E610290c57da8066b2fca89158d8fe9ca93d32190%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thecable.ng%2Fsame-country-that-made-you-outrage-as-betty-akeredolu-calls-nigeria-a-zoo%2F

https://twitter.com/Montero1016/status/1856742131454431616?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1856742131454431616%7Ctwgr%5E610290c57da8066b2fca89158d8fe9ca93d32190%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thecable.ng%2Fsame-country-that-made-you-outrage-as-betty-akeredolu-calls-nigeria-a-zoo%2F

https://twitter.com/Olalekanakogun/status/1856732313867989117?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1856732313867989117%7Ctwgr%5E610290c57da8066b2fca89158d8fe9ca93d32190%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thecable.ng%2Fsame-country-that-made-you-outrage-as-betty-akeredolu-calls-nigeria-a-zoo%2F

https://twitter.com/bigmorsh/status/1856955340027265067?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1856955340027265067%7Ctwgr%5E610290c57da8066b2fca89158d8fe9ca93d32190%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thecable.ng%2Fsame-country-that-made-you-outrage-as-betty-akeredolu-calls-nigeria-a-zoo%2F

https://twitter.com/AndinoAsuquo/status/1857236820884378041?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1857236820884378041%7Ctwgr%5E610290c57da8066b2fca89158d8fe9ca93d32190%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thecable.ng%2Fsame-country-that-made-you-outrage-as-betty-akeredolu-calls-nigeria-a-zoo%2F

https://twitter.com/Yakbel/status/1856982179915468879?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1856982179915468879%7Ctwgr%5E610290c57da8066b2fca89158d8fe9ca93d32190%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thecable.ng%2Fsame-country-that-made-you-outrage-as-betty-akeredolu-calls-nigeria-a-zoo%2F

https://twitter.com/xybox/status/1856754083534712983?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1856754083534712983%7Ctwgr%5E610290c57da8066b2fca89158d8fe9ca93d32190%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thecable.ng%2Fsame-country-that-made-you-outrage-as-betty-akeredolu-calls-nigeria-a-zoo%2F

https://twitter.com/bolagy/status/1856749039435296911?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1856749039435296911%7Ctwgr%5E610290c57da8066b2fca89158d8fe9ca93d32190%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thecable.ng%2Fsame-country-that-made-you-outrage-as-betty-akeredolu-calls-nigeria-a-zoo%2F

https://twitter.com/tru_th_finder/status/1856751774981292493?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1856751774981292493%7Ctwgr%5E610290c57da8066b2fca89158d8fe9ca93d32190%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thecable.ng%2Fsame-country-that-made-you-outrage-as-betty-akeredolu-calls-nigeria-a-zoo%2F

https://twitter.com/TemmyAjayi1/status/1856999762458812578?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1856999762458812578%7Ctwgr%5E610290c57da8066b2fca89158d8fe9ca93d32190%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thecable.ng%2Fsame-country-that-made-you-outrage-as-betty-akeredolu-calls-nigeria-a-zoo%2F

https://twitter.com/MisterAdigun/status/1856978908266090986?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1856978908266090986%7Ctwgr%5E610290c57da8066b2fca89158d8fe9ca93d32190%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thecable.ng%2Fsame-country-that-made-you-outrage-as-betty-akeredolu-calls-nigeria-a-zoo%2F

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