Politics

Meet President and Vice President for 2019

Published

6 years ago

August 3, 2018 8:55 pm

bodexng

Next month PDP will be having their presidential primaries to decide who will fly their ticket in the 2019 general elections. Previous week saw high profile defection of top politicians from the APC to the PDP; Three (3) Governors, senators and the senate president decamped. Although, yesterday NEC meeting by the PDP cleared the likes of Musa Kwankwanso (Kano), Bukola Saraki (Kwara) and Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto) to contest for the presidential primaries. Let’s look at the probable candidates for the positions.

PDP Presidential :

Sule Lamido: If loyalty to a party is to be a factor in picking the party ticket for the general elections, then look no further than the Godfather of Jigawa politics. He is among the G34 founding member of PDP in 1998. He is a protege of Aminu kano. He does not believe in Ahmadu bello kind of politics that we see in the north now. He is the first candidate to declare his intention to run for PDP ticket far back in 2016 during his EFCC court trials. He is popular in some states in the North such as Jigawa, Kano, Gombe, Bauchi, Sokoto. He is relatively unknown in north central and southern party t of the country.

Musa Kwankwaso: The Current senator, and former Governor is arguably the second strongest man in Northern politics just behind Buhari. His political clout and movement kwankwansiyya is a force In almost all the Northern states in Nigeria, he surprisingly came second during the APC presidential primary only behind the winner BUHARI. He is also a popular figure to the masses. But this large followership in the north does not transcend to the southern part. As many southeners see him as an ethnic bigot and religious fanatic like Buhari. This may not fetch him the required votes to defeat the incumbent.

Atiku Abubakar: The former vice president of Nigeria for 8 years (1999-2007) is a regular contestant for presidential elections since 2007 where he contested in the defunct ACN and came a distant third with about 3 million votes. He also contested for the PDP primaries with GeJ and lost in 2011, and then contested with Buhari in 2015 for the APC and came third behind Kwankwanso. He has the political structural and National Appeal to me win. His restructuring mantra resonates in the southern region. But his problem might be his inability to pull in the required 25% votes in the Northern part of the country as majority of the citizens see him as an elite and corrupt. His major support is from the Governor of Ekito state, Ayo fayose.

Aminu Makarfi: He is a former commissioner, senator and Governor of Kaduna state. He is also the founder of a popular political and civil group: the centre for peace, and conflict resolution. He was the former chairman of PDP caretaker committee during the crisis regarding the sheriff faction, and he brought peace and tranquillity to th opposition party. The question is does he have the delegates to win the primaries? Apart from states such as Kaduna, Kogi, plateau and Niger. He might find it hard to garner votes from the remaining northern states, plus he has little or no followership in the southern part of the country to help his presidential ambition.

Ibrahim Dankwambo: A professional accountant and the youngest presidential candidate running for PDP. If youth was to be a factor in getting the ticket, then look no further than Dakwambo. He has the backing of few PDP governors such as Okowa of Delta, Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa and Ayo Fayose of Ekiti state. But he is not a popular politician in the North, infact apart from his home state Gombe, It will be an herculean task getting votes in the middle belt and other core northern states. His governor friends and youths in NIGERIA can garner him necessary votes in the southern part. He is the only aspirant that doesn’t have a corruption case on his neck. This can be a factor during campaigns for election.

Saminu Turaki: in terms of political experience, this Kebbi born politician can be said to be the least qualified. He is famously known as the former minister of special duties during GEJ regime. I don’t think he stands a chance during the PDP primaries as he is relatively unknown and don’t have the political network and support for his ambition. He is thought to be the candidate of Goodluck Jonathan.

Bukola Saraki: The 3rd powerful man in the country, the unofficial governor of Kwara state and the current senate president needs no introduction to the political landscape of the country. His political network, national appeal and grassroot support especially in the middle belt region is a factor in the race for the ticket. Although, he may find it hard to gain the votes of the core northern people who doesn’t see him as one of them (yoruba name) and also his attack on the president/APC can count against him in the core north. As the senate president, and former governor. He certainly has lot of help from his former governor colleague and senators representing different constituency in Nigeria regarding the ticket. He is arguably the most popular politician in the opposition party, and was recently awarded the National leader of the party.

Aminu Tambuwal: The former speaker of the house of reps, and current Governor of Sokoto state is a political collosus in his own right. It is known that the sultan of Sokoto, Emir of Kano and the governor of Rivers state is tacitly supporting his ambition. He is the second youngest aspirant and is relatively popular in the northern region. He was famously touted as the presidential candidates of the APC before the emergence of buhari at the last minute. He is loved by the southern region as they do not regard him as an ethnic bigot.

Vice presidential:

Ayo Fayose: The outgoing governor is a force to reckon with in PDP, he is currently the chairman of PDP governor forum, he is regarded as the second in command after Nyesom Wike. His candidate got the National publicity secretary of the party during their recent National convention. Last year he offered himself to contest for the presidential ticket of the PDP. But many see that as a strategy to be picked for vice presidential slot. He was also thought to be the arrowhead of the National chairmanship position not going to JIMI Agbaje/south west due to his personal ambition. The VP ticket is zoned to the southern part, but south south region is out due to the chairmanship position coming from there. He is touted as Atiku candidate.

Ike Ekweremadu: The Current deputy senate president was the highest ranked member of the party and the National leader before the defection of Bukola Saraki. He is said to be jostling for the vice presidential slot for a while now. He is very popular among the governors, also with the ambition of his boss Bukola Saraki to be the presidential candidate. There might just be a union of Saraki/Ekweremadu candidature in the PDP. Moreover the position is zoned to the south east/west region.

Peter Obi: The former Governor of Anambra state is an astute and humble gentleman, his work during his reign as the Anambra state Governor still speaks for him till this day. He is th only vice presidential aspirant that doesn’t have a corruption case hanging on his neck, his business acumen and erudity can be of benefit to the ticket with whoever he emerges with. Also, the thought of Igbo being a vice president of the country for the first time in this civilian dispensation will gain massive support for the party, of course with the hope of Igbo ruling the country very soon.

Politics

DSS operatives arrest man with bags of cash during Ondo guber

Published

10 hours 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

2 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

Politics

Okpebholo fires permanent secretaries, dissolves boards

Published

3 days ago

November 14, 2024 8:18 am

BodexNG

Twenty-four hours after his swearing-in, Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, on Wednesday, approved the dissolution of the executive of all boards, agencies and parastatals in the state public service with immediate effect.

The directive affected all permanent secretaries appointed outside the civil service.

The governor also ordered contractors in the state to return to sites, asking them to immediately fix all failed portions within the Benin metropolis.

In the same vein, he ordered the immediate and indefinite suspension of the collection of all revenues in the state, especially in motor parks, until further notice.

In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Fred Itua, the governor ordered all affected appointees to hand over all government properties in their possession to the most senior public officers in their respective ministries, departments and agencies.

The statement read, “It is hereby announced for the information of the general public that the Governor of Edo State, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has approved the dissolution of executives of all boards, agencies and parastatals in Edo State Public Service with immediate effect.

“In addition, all permanent secretaries appointed from outside the state public/civil service and all political appointees are hereby relieved of their appointments.

“Accordingly, all affected appointees are to hand over all government properties in their possession to the most senior public officer in their respective ministries, departments and agencies.”

In another statement, the governor ordered the state Commissioner of Police to arrest anyone who flouted the order on revenue collection suspension.

The statement read, “The Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has ordered the immediate and indefinite suspension of the collection of all revenues in Edo, especially in motor parks and others, until further notice.

“The governor said he would review the issues surrounding the collections soon and decide on the way forward.

“The collection of revenues in the state has been suspended indefinitely. Anyone seen collecting revenues on behalf of the state government will be arrested.

“The Commissioner of Police is hereby ordered to arrest anyone who flouts the order and collects any kind of revenues on behalf of the state government.

“The governor will soon address the issues and concerns raised. He will issue new directives soon. Until then, no one is authorised to collect revenues on behalf of the state government.”

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