The results of the presidential elections in Bauchi state have been announced, with Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), winning.
Prof. Abulkarim Sabo Mohammed, the state’s presidential returning officer from Federal University, Dutse in Jigawa State, made the announcement on Monday night at the Mahmud Yakubu Conference Hall, Bauchi State’s INEC office.
The Retuning officer declared that after collating results from the 20 LGAs of the state, the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Atiku Abubakar won the Presidential election in Bauchi after polling a total of 426,607 votes.
The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and its gubernatorial candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu polled a total of 316,694 while the NNPP and its candidate polled a total of 72,103 just as the LP and its candidate polled a total of 27,373 votes.
He gave the total of Registered voters in the state as 2,749,268; accredited voters: for the Election was 899,769 while the total valid votes was 853,516, rejected votes were 29,030 and total votes cast 882,546.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released the results of 14 states with regards to Nigeria’s presidential election.
All People’s Congress’ (APC) Bola Tinubu has won six states. They are Kwara state, Oyo state, Ogun state, Ekiti state, Ondo state and Jigawa state.
Atiku Abubakar of the People’s Democratic Party has won five states. Osun state, Adamawa state, Gombe state, Yobe state and Katsina state are the said five.
Peter Obi, who is representing the Labour Party has won three states, namely; Lagos state, Enugu state and Nasarawa state.
To win in the first round, a candidate must have the largest number of votes nationwide. Also, he or she must have at least 25% of the votes in two-thirds of the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
Results coming in from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) indicate that candidate for All Progressives Congress’ (APC), Bola Tinubu, has secured 44% of the votes so far.
These are from official results declared in 14 out of 36 states.
The People’s Democratic Party’s candidate, Atiku Abubakar has secured 33% while Labour Party’s Peter Obi, who caused an upset by defeating Mr Tinubu in Lagos has 17%.
Mr Abubakar is a former vice-president who has failed in previous presidential bids, whereas Mr Obi is running for the presidency for the first time.
Mr Tinubu, on the other hand, is seen as a political godfather.
He now wants to be president and take over affairs from President Muhammadu Buhari, who is stepping down after governing for two terms.
As a Democrat, Bola Tinubu, the candidate for the All Progressives Congress (APC), says he must accept the results of the 2023 election.
The former governor of Lagos State also stated that democracy’s beauty can be seen in Peter Obi’s triumph over his Labour Party (LP) rival in the state.
In addition, Tinubu urged his supporters to be calm and uphold peace, saying Obi’s victory in Lagos shouldn’t be a cause for agitation.
“The APC candidate further said that as a democrat he is bound to accept the outcome of any election whether favourable or not,” said a statement by the Director, Media & Publicity of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, Bayo Onanuga on Monday.
Tinubu also expressed serious concern over reports of violence in parts of the state especially reported attacks on some traders of Igbo origin.
The former Lagos State Governor condemned any form of violence against people of any ethnic group in Lagos.
“The fact that the APC narrowly lost Lagos State to another party should not be the reason for violence. As a democrat, you win some, you lose some. We must allow the process to continue unhindered across the country while we maintain peace and decorum,” the statement said.
Obi defeated the former governor of Lagos State, who received 572,606 votes, with a vote total of 582,454.
From 1999 to 2007, the state’s governor was based in Lagos. Obi also defeated Rabiu Kwankwaso of the New Nigeria People’s Party and Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) (NNPP).
Atiku received 75,750 votes and Kwankwaso received 8,442.
Though Tinubu won 11 local government areas in the state Obi won the overall votes in the state, with a landslide victory in nine powerful local governments with numerical strength including Alimosho, Ojo and Oshodi-Isolo, Kosofe, Amuwo Odofin, amongst others.
The accredited votes in the state are 1,347,452, the total valid votes are 1,271,451, rejected votes 64,278 and the total votes cast 1,335,729.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has been dedfeated the polling units of the First Lady’s family and the party’s governorship candidate, Sen. Aishatu Binani in Yola, to the Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The unit, 006 in Mbamoi Ward, was where her younger brother, Modi Halilu and Senator Aishatu Binani cast their votes.
Also, the suspended National Vice Chairman of the APC, North-East, Comrade Mustapha Salihu lost in his unit.
Despite securing his polling unit for the APC’s candidate, the Director of Field Operations of the Presidential Campaign Organization, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu lost in Bako Ward to Atiku Abubakar.
Mustapha lost his Unit 001 in Rumde Ward to PDP by 73 votes in the Presidential Election. In Bako Ward, APC polled 1,530 votes as against Atiku’s 2,195.
The highlights of the results are:
Ward: Mbamoi
Unit 006
Presidential
APC: 101
PDP: 129
LP: 2
APGA: 1
ADP: 1
NRM: 1
Senate
APC: 159
PDP: 69
NNPP: 2
ADC: 1
YPP: 11
House of Reps
APC: 148
PDP: 80
Invalid 6
Comrade Mustapha Salihu polling unit
001 Rumde Ward Presidential: PDP (220) and APC 143
Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has expressed confidence that his hard work during the campaign will be rewarded by Nigerians with their votes.
Speaking to journalists after casting his vote at polling unit 085, ward 3, Alausa, Ikeja in Lagos State, Tinubu claimed to have worked harder than any other candidate in the country.
He stated, “I am very confident. I worked hard for it. I traverse the country sometimes four times and attended town hall meetings and various interest groups. I have attended to their request and I have worked hard than any other candidate in this country. I believe Nigeria will reward me, they will reward my hard work.”
Tinubu further declared that if elected, his government would be transformative and work hard to change the economic crisis in the country.
He acknowledged that the economic crisis was affecting the entire world and called for a recalibration.
The former Governor of Lagos State also urged Nigerians to remain respected democrats throughout the electioneering process.
Tinubu was accompanied by his wife, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, as he cast his vote amidst a mammoth crowd at the polling unit, which had a total of 324 voters. The atmosphere was reported to be calm as voters continued to exercise their franchise.
Four days before election day, thousands of people gathered inside the Lagos Teslim Balogun sports facility, giving Tinubu’s nationwide road tour a boisterous climax.
Supporters of Nigeria’s ruling All Progressive Party (APC) believe their candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is fit to fix their country’s problems. Double digit inflation, weak economic growth and mounting insecurity are major issues for voters on February 25 when they choose a successor to incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari, due to step down after two terms allowed by law.
Tinubu, 70, a former Lagos governor and candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress or APC, is one of three frontrunners in an unprecedented competitive race on Saturday to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari who steps down after his allowed two terms.
Arriving in a bus with a slogan “The nation builder”, Tinubu appeared on stage with Buhari and appealed to voters to make him their next leader with a vow of “renewed hope”.
“All the agenda set in our programme, the renewed hope manifesto, will be pursued diligently, vigorously,” he told supporters.
More than 93 million Nigerians are registered to vote in the February 25 election, with their country struggling with growing insecurity and a stumbling economy.
Dubbed the “Godfather of Lagos” for the political influence he wields, Tinubu says his two terms from 1999 to 2007 as Lagos governor give him the experience Nigeria needs.
“I will vote for my father. He is really a father for all of us,” said Motunrato Amuda, 29, a caterer wearing a garment in APC’s green, blue and red.
A crowd of party supporters ferried in buses arrived at the venue in the morning, singing, dancing and waving the party flags as Afrobeats musicians performed.
– Lagos legacy –
Tinubu’s Lagos tenure was credited by many for rapid growth in infrastructure projects, urbanisation and high internally-generated revenues.
But his influence looms large in Lagos state, where he had a hand in choosing his successors and other key appointees since he left office.
“He’s the man for the job,” said Shittu Surajudeen, a 60-year-old businessman at Tuesday’s rally.
“He really improved medical, education, infrastructure, security,” he said.
Saturday’s election has emerged into an unprecedented three-way race.
Tinubu’s rivals are 76-year-old ex-vice president Atiku Abubakar of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and the Labour Party’s Peter Obi, a 61-year-old former governor of southeast Anambra state.
Between them, the PDP and APC have governed the country and dominated the political scene since the end of military rule in 1999.
But Obi, also a wealthy businessman, has emerged as a serious challenger, enjoying huge youth appeal with a message of change from his oldguard rivals.
During campaigning, Tinubu also faced questions over his health as well as over corruption scandals from the past, which he denies.
PDP critics attacked him over a 1993 US court document showing a “drug-related seizure of property” from a US account under his name.
As a political kingmaker, Tinubu was instrumental in getting Buhari elected in 2015, and he now says “It’s my turn” to be president.
But critics in the PDP say Tinubu is equally responsible for the failures of the Buhari government.
A recent cash shortage has heightened tensions after the central bank replaced old naira currency notes with new redesigned ones, causing a shortfall in bills.
After several protests broke out at banks in several cities, APC governors appealed to Buhari over the policy. Tinubu even suggested his enemies in the presidency were trying to scuttle his election bid.
Buhari came to power in 2015, vowing to roll back jihadists who had unleashed an insurgency in the country’s northeast.
But Nigerians say insecurity remains a top concern.
The armed forces are still battling the jihadists, as well as criminal gangs in the northwest and separatists in the southeast.
Inflation is over 20 percent as the country also recovers from the coronavirus pandemic and the economic fallout of the Russia war in Ukraine.
The much-touted lecture at Chatham House in London, England, where the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Party (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, was expected to finally come clean with the Nigerian people turned out a monumental embarrassment. But the press must not fall for its frenzy. It is nothing but a fragment of a long-running scheme. The apparent logic is that the show of shame would rapidly grow to overshadow the prevailing charges against the Asiwaju, especially a drug case.
But the Nigerian masses are no fools.
Like the audience at the Chatham House, the Nigerian masses will not back down from probing the APC flagbearer on the serious allegationsfacing him. These allegations, of course, hover around his biographical details, such as name, age, state of birth and origin, education, career, and the source of his sudden billions. Throw in perjury, bribery, forgery, and so forth… And now the incident at Chatham!
There is also the issue of a failing health. Even blind men could see that the Asiwaju no longer has the physical ability nor the mental stability for any serious leadership position. Further, Nigeria’s misfortune with two ailing presidents—in Umar Yar’Adua and Muhammadu Buhari—is still fresh in our memory. Though both leaders would become largely incapacitated while in office due to ill-health; they never appeared as unhealthy or as impaired as Tinubu before they were elected.
Not to be forgotten is corruption. Running away to a foreign land or dodging the press will not cut it. The masses are keenly aware that despite Nigeria’s sleazy reputation, none of her leaders in history—whether military or civilian—assumed the governance of the country with a background as shady as that of Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Of course, most of these charges have been proven beyond reasonable doubt, and ought to be very disqualifying. However, Tinubu’s montage of mess has lingered up to the point of shaming Nigeria at the Chatham House, because of the prevailing socio-political culture at home. The civil society is as wobbling as the country’s economy. The local press, which is typically vibrant, has become understandably overwhelmed or intimidated and thus appears to be treating anything relating to the Asiwaju with kid gloves.
BUT the allegation of drug trafficking is a new low in the Nigerian presidential politics. Tinubu and his handlers recognize its magnitude. They know it is like none of the other accusations and have been perfecting schemes that could overshadow the crisis. One could notice the pattern of the unending shows of shame in his campaign, including the Chatham calamity. The spirited shenanigan is a page from the Donald Trump political book: ‘The best solution to a crisis is another explosive crisis.’ Be that as it may, the Nigerian press must not allow the drug trafficking issue to be swept under the carpet without full investigation, no matter what.
The consequences are grave.
To refresh, the records show that Mr. Bola Ahmed Tinubu forfeited $460,000.00 to the authorities in the United States of America, allegedly for drugs trafficking and money laundering. The American country is also known to be very unforgiving of individuals who use drug proceeds to gain power in foreign nations. A perfect example is the case of Manuel Antonio Noriega, the former President of Panama.
Like Tinubu, Noriega had amassed a huge personal fortune but had a background tainted with drug allegations. Though the U. S. authorities initially turned a blind eye to the Panama president, allowing him to enter the country as he pleased, they chose the pertinent time to exhume his drug case. They eventually convicted Noriega, removed him from power, jailed him for life, and shamed his country forever.
A similar fate awaits Nigeria if Tinubu is ever to emerge president. Like the incident at Chatham, the world would like to know the Asiwaju. Since the former Lagos State Governor has continued to deny any connection to massive corruption in Nigeria, the logical question becomes: What is the source of this man’s sudden billions?
Any serious attempt to answer the above question must peep into Tinubu’s evasive past. The drug case that once led to his forfeiture of $460,000.00 will automatically take center stage.
Some legal commentators have argued that the narcotics case is barred by the Statute of Limitation and Double Jeopardy Clause of the Fifth Amendment to the US Constitution. But they are merely glancing the gist from a foggy lens. The objective fact is that the very nature of this high-profile case still presents prosecutors clear legal avenues to explore the Separate Sovereigns Doctrine to seek Tinubu’s indictment. Yes!
Nigeria has endured all manners of stigma in the comity of nations. The last thing the country would wish is a president who is globally seen as a corrupt kingpin cum drug lord.
Instead of addressing the drug charges, the Tinubu campaign has deployed a cocky cocktail of coercion, intimidation, distractions, and deceptions, heaping insults on the media organizations, and going as far as threatening them with baseless lawsuits. In short, the APC flagbearer has been doing everything humanly possible to avoid being held accountable for his past or present. The man dodges press interviews. He dodges town hall meetings. He dodges presidential debates. He dodges the truth. Thus, the hullabaloo at the Chatham House was not unexpected.
THE PRESS must not succumb to the sheer arrogance and political chicanery. The men and women of the press should live up to their constitutional obligations and thoroughly interrogate the former Lagos State governor on the drug allegations. Please!!
Importantly, there must be consequences for bad behavior in the relationship between the press and politicians. The media organizations must not be seen to be promoting an anti-democratic character—in this case Mr. Bola Tinubu—who continually circumvents an integral role of the press, which is to not only ensure that people in a democracy are free to receive information and ask questions, but also to investigate individuals seeking public office without fear or favor.
SKC Ogbonnia writes from Houston, Texas
Source: Sahara Report
DISCLAIMER: Independentghana.com will not be liable for any inaccuracies contained in this article. The views expressed in the article are solely those of the author’s, and do not reflect those of The Independent Ghana
Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde on Sunday sent a subtle solidarity message to the presidential candidate of the All Progressive Congress(APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu in the 2023 general election.
This was made known by the Deputy Governor of Oyo state, Bayo Lawal who represented Seyi Makinde in Ondo State at the reception of Tinubu by the leader of Afenifere, Pa Reuben Fasoranti.
Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde on Sunday sent a subtle solidarity message to the presidential candidate of the All Progressive Congress(APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu in the 2023 general election.
This was made known by the Deputy Governor of Oyo state, Bayo Lawal who represented Seyi Makinde in Ondo State at the reception of Tinubu by the leader of Afenifere, Pa Reuben Fasoranti .
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Afenifere leader, Fasoranti prays for Tinubu
Recall Vanguard had earlier reported that Tinubu will be visiting Fasoranti and the leadership of Afenifere, the Yoruba cultural and political organisation to present his Action Plan on how he intends to tackle the economic and other problems the country is grappling with.
Lawal noted that though separated by political affiliation, but united by strong ethnic bonds.
Seyi Makinde and four other PDP governors believed to be aggrieved over party leadership tussles have been at loggerheads with the Chairman of the People Democratic Party, PDP, Senator Iyorcha Ayu over the zoning of the party’s chairmanship seat.
Makinde and notably, Rivers state governor, Nyesome Wike boycotted Atiku’s campaign launch in Akwa Ibom state including a recent campaign held in Edo state, moves believed to have heightened tensions in the camps of Atiku’s loyalist
Political pundits predicted defections with many believing the five aggrieved PDP governors, including Makinde might pitch their tents with the APC presidential candidate, Tinubu.
Speaking in the Yoruba language at the event, the Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Mr Bayo Lawal who represented Gov Makinde, stressed that the people of his state will stand with the decision of Yoruba leaders as regards the 2023 presidential election.
His words: “ Since Makinde became governor, he doesn’t joke with anything that concerns the Yoruba people, whenever baba (Pa Fasoranti) calls him, he is always available.
“Whenever there is an event, either organized by Afenifere or any other Yoruba group, Gov Makinde will always be supportive. Though we are not of the same political affiliation, but we are bound by ethnicity”.
“The message he sent me to deliver here is that, whatever you are doing in Yorubaland, Makinde, Oyo people are in support of it.”
After ending his speech at the event, Lawal sang a song Yoruba song, “…Asiwaju ni wa, Asiwaju ni wa” which literally means “We are the one who leads” and the same song can be interpreted as a pledge to Tinubu (Asiwaju)
Vanguard reported that Bola Tinubu visited Afenifere leader, Pa Fasoranti where he unveiled his action plan and was blessed by the Yoruba leader who dismissed Ayo Adebanjo to labour party’s candidate, Peter obi.
The presidential campaignteams of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, and main opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, were at each other’s jugular, yesterday, as Messrs Festus Keyamo and Dele Momodu fought dirty.
Keyamo is the chief spokesperson of the Tinubu/Shettima APC Presidential Campaign Council, PCC, while Momodu is the director of strategic communications of the Atiku/Okowa PDP Presidential Campaign Council.
The duo exchanged brick-bats over the manifestos of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Alhaji Atiku Abubakar. While attacking themselves they also rubbished the chances of Tinubu and Atiku in the 2023 presidential poll.
Momodu had dismissed Tinubu’s 80-page manifesto as “APC manifesto of lies” while the APC countered that Atiku’s manifesto was not original and merely copied President Muhammadu’s projects.
Momodu, Publisher of Ovation Magazine, in his response said Keyamo’s attack was “erratic vituperation” while on a counter Keyamo described Momodu as “a hopeless owambe clown” who has begun “his dance of shame in the open.”
Keyamo’s erratic vituperation — Momodu
The Ovation magazine publisher attacked Keyamo saying that Keyamo has failed as a minister and ought to have resigned. He also attacked Tinubu describing him as a leader who uses and abandons his followers.
“I have just read Festus Keyamo’s response to my critique of the APC Manifestoof lies. I’m not surprised that all he could do was yell as usual without examining or practically addressing the content of my article.
“Let me take a few minutes to educate this young friend of mine who has since become a shadow of his old self since he was offered an appointment that makes him look so incompetent, by President Muhammadu Buhari. Any self-respecting soul would have since resigned but Festus Keyamo was not at home the day shame came visiting. The Ministry in which he’s a mere figurehead is in total shambles and only a Bola Tinubu would have given the job of a spokesperson to such a certified nuisance.
“What did Festus say I did wrong? He quoted copiously from an article I wrote about two years ago, which the Tinubu media teams have been using to campaign endlessly because they have no stronger voice of their own. I’m indeed flattered.
There is no doubt that I love Tinubu the Man but I disagree vehemently with Tinubu the Politician. This is not the first time I will say it publicly. Since I now have the opportunity of presenting the bones of my disagreement with Tinubu, courtesy of Festus Keyamo, I will lay them bare.”
He continued: “Tinubu has declined in the last few years. I used to see him as a man of his people but no supposed generalissimo would ever abandon his people in days of trouble and tribulation. None of the people around him could tell him the truth for pecuniary reasons. He knows it himself but he desperately wants to be President of Nigeria, by fire by force, after he has lost most of his formidable foot soldiers, and now relying on outsiders to activate and actualize his lifelong ambition for him, which is his legitimate right. But Nigerians have the right to scrutinise his action plans
Recalling Tinubu’s hard-line posture and maltreatment of loyalists, he said: “When he (Tinubu) was to be impeached for some infractions, and many of his so-called loyalists were washing off their hands clean, like the Biblical Pontius Pilate, my very dear friend, Tokunbo Afikuyomi, stood by him like the Rock of Gibraltar. But how did he repay Tokunbo who took all the bullets? This shameless Festus Keyamo was one of those who wanted to run Tinubu out of town. Nduka Obaigbena and I had to step in at some point before he could consider Tokunbo for anything. Tokunbo had wanted to be the Governor of Lagos State and Tinubu goaded him on and allowed him to waste his resources. It was when I got Chief Harry Akande to give Tokunbo the ANPP Governorship ticket for Lagos State that Tinubu suddenly realised he had offended his “suicide bomber!
“Nigeria is looking for a President, with compassion and competence, not an Emperor! Tinubu is a man who loves to bait the Masquerade with a goat but will never release the rope. That’s why he kept losing his best friends like Musiliu Obanikoro, Ambode, Muiz Banire, Opeyemi Bamidele, Rauf Aregbesola, Fuad Oki, Yemi Osinbajo, etc.”
A hopeless Owambe clown begins open dance of shame — Keyamo
Responding, Keyamo said: “After reading through Mr Dele Momodu’s rather emotional outburst in response to otherwise salient points raised in the statement we issued asking him to point out specific areas of plagiarism in Asiwaju’s Action Plan, my feeling oscillated between delirious laughter and outright pity for the pathetic wreck his life has actually become. Here is a miserable fellow who having previously overrated himself, crashed down like a wingless bird from a futile presidential ambition (for which he got zero votes in the PDP Presidential primaries), and ended up as a hyperactive hireling and attack dog of perhaps the worst serial loser in Nigeria’s electoral history.
“Funnily enough, the only curriculum vitae he truly possesses to even make an attempt at the Presidency is no more than mere photo ops with celebrities and the high-and-mighty in society. This is the sad story of a hopeless clown in his 60s who is desperately looking to pick whatever pieces are left of his life by shamelessly worming his way into the pockets of Atiku Abubakar and making himself available to execute dirty jobs against his long-standing benefactor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“Mr Momodu’s epistle of lamentations is again a re-affirmation of his manifest lack of rigour. In his latest rambling piece, he failed again to redeem himself on the gross theoretical deficiency identified in his earlier writing. One would have thought he would seize this “second chance” to copiously point out portions or areas plagiarized by the Tinubu/Shettima Campaign Council from MKO’s 1993 campaign manifesto named “Hope 1993”.
“Typically, what the readers were then subjected to was another orgy of almost interminable name-dropping of socialites and the likes in Nigeria. But he seems oblivious of the fact that not many serious-minded Nigerians are easily swayed by such tabloid show-boating.
“For instance, this time around, Mr Momodu was quick to don the toga of ‘freedom fighter’ on behalf of Akinwunmi Ambode for not getting a second term ticket in APC in 2018 ahead of the Lagos governorship polls in March 2019. Well, let us pretend that we do not know the open secret that he was a well-serviced ‘PR consultant’ to the same Ambode. “
Keyamo a mere attention seeker — Momodu
Countering, Momodu described Keyamo as an attention seeker, saying among others: “You and I never interacted much other than on occasions when you needed free publicity as always and would do anything for attention.
“You will recall that you practically photobombed yourself into our picture the day I walked into Major General Muhammadu Buhari’s apartment in London because it was an opportunity for you to trend. You’re a media creation and we supplied you with oxygen regularly.“
A group, Bola Ahmed Tinubu (BAT) Ambassadors, says that the biggest threat to any candidate from the Southwest geopolitical zone becoming a national leader has always been from the zone.
Chief Afolabi Ekungba, Interim NationalCoordinator of BAT Ambassadors, made the remark on Sunday in Lagos during an interview with newsmen.
Ekungba was speaking on the electoral chances of Sen. Bola Tinubu, the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, for the 2023 elections.
According to him, the problem of the zone in national politics is that the zone often pursues ideas that are never realistic.
“The people of Southwest will want to set standards that don’t politically work anywhere as if they are angels.
“They will always come up with different methods to shoot down their own.
“What they did to Chiefs Obafemi Awolowo and MKO Abiola, are good examples.
“We, therefore, need a group that is adequately strong enough to address this,” Ekungba said.
Ekungba, a former governorship candidate in Ondo State, explained that BAT Ambassadors was formed, primarily to address misgivings from the Southwest zone.
He noted that the political support group had devised two major strategies, including mass movement strategy of room-to-room campaign.
“We plan to reach every Yoruba man and woman, boy and girl one-on-one,” he said.
Ekungba said the other strategy was to use the social and conventional media to engage the people.
“This is to meet the challenges of the youth who are always glued to their handset and various social media handles,” he said.
Ekungba said that the Tinubu and Shettima joint presidential ticket represented practical and demonstrable evidence of performance.
He said, if allowed to be replicated at the national level, the ticket will in the shortest possible time produce the desired national growth and development.
“The country needs a man with the courage to steady the ship of the country; sustain achievements of the past and project the country into achieving its full potentials as desired by the people.
“We see in Tinubu, the demonstrable evidence of that type of courage. We mean the courage to take hard decisions where it will hurt for the benefit of the nation.
“We need a man with an unequal passion for the federal system of government.
“It is only when Nigeria returns to federalism that our peaceful co-existence can produce a geometrically exponential social-economic development.
“We see in Tinubu, the un-repentant commitment to the ideas of true federalism
“We need a man that can consistently follow ideas agreed upon, not a fair-weather personality that will jump from boat to boat as it will suit his personal desire or those of his cohorts,” Ekungba said.
He pointed out that more than 90 per cent of the members of the BAT Ambassadors are people that would otherwise not be ready to touch politics and politicking in Nigeria with a very long spoon.
Ekungba said the reality on the ground had forced them out of their shelves.
Presidentialcandidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has asked the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Abubakar Atiku to step down for him (Tinubu) ahead of the February 2023 presidential election.
Tinubu stated this while speaking at an interactive session with some Northern leaders under the auspices of Arewa Joint Committee on Monday.
He said, “I was one of the youngest strategists with Shehu Musa Yar’adua. I started here in the North. Atiku met me with Yar’adua after he left Nigeria Customs freshly. He met me strategizing for Yar’adua… ask him.”
Tinubu asked Atiku to reciprocate the “gesture” he accorded him when he contested for the presidency under the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in 2007.
The APC presidential candidaterecalled that he dropped his ambition and endorse him (Atiku).
The committee, comprising the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Northern Elders Forum (NEF), Sir Ahmadu Bello Foundation (ABF), Arewa Research and Development Project, and Jamiyyar Matan Arewa had invited some presidential candidates for an interactive session in Kaduna.
The programme, which started on Saturday, was attended by Atiku Abubakar, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Kola Abiola of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), and Adewale Adeboye of the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
Tinubu and Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP) attended the event in Kaduna today (Monday).
The meeting, according to organizsers, was part of a wider interaction with selected presidential candidates to discuss their plans for the region ahead of the 2023 general elections.
Recall that Atiku, had on Saturday, asked Northerners to vote for him in stead of Igbo or Yoruba candidate in the 2023 presidential election.
He said, “What the average Northerner needs is somebody who’s from the North and also understands that part of the country and has been able to build bridges across the country.
“This is what the Northerner needs. It doesn’t need a Yoruba or Igbo candidate. I stand before you as a pan-Nigerian of northern origin,” Atiku said in a viral video.
Meanwhile, Atiku’s comments had since triggered mixed reactions from many Nigerians and presidential candidates including the ruling Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party.
The United Kingdom Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has said that Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, the party’s presidential candidate, is hale and hearty, contrary to speculations on social media.
Joseph Adebola, Chairman, APC UK Presidential Campaign Council (PCC), said this in a statement on Thursday in Abuja.
He described the speculations that Tinubu was sick and went abroad to seek medical attention as untrue.
“Unfortunately for them, their evil thinking against Tinubu will not come to pass because they are not God, the giver of life.
“For the records, Tinubu had been having strategic meetings with APC critical stakeholders here in the UK and had remained his vibrant and confident self.
“In one of the recent engagements in London, the APC Presidential Candidate, Tinubu held a strategic meeting with some members of his campaign planning team.
“The team included Alhaji Ibrahim Masari, Sen. Tokunbo Afikuyomi, Deputy Director of the PCC planning committee, Chief Pius Akinyelure, and a host of progressives, political gurus, here in the UK,” Adebola said.
He said that the meeting was convened primarily to take decisions on some lingering issues, ahead of the APC presidential campaign.
He added that the meeting concluded with a photo session at the venue, which was currently trending on social media.
“One of the viral photos on social media showed Asiwaju and his team walking back into the house from the garden.
“The session is a further confirmation of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu’s active state and daily engagements.
“We, however, will not be distracted by negative propaganda against Asiwaju and the APC as we are determined to move on, believing God and the Nigerian electorate for the enthronement of Tinubu presidency in 2023,” Adebola said.
He advised the naysayers to get themselves busy with more profiting ventures in their interest.
