The Hood – Hearing from your neighborhood

Photos have shown the moment a popular snail seller identified as Iya Dare Onigbin at Owena, Igbaraoke in Ifedore local government area, Ondo State, met with an influential man who used to be one of her frequent customers.

That man is Governor Rotimi Akeredolu.

Local reports show that  the incident happened yesterday. The woman could not believe her eyes as the governor’s convoy pulled over and he stepped out to pay her the surprise visit.

Though the embrace was deeply warm, hugely intense and ecstatic for her; the empowerment and blessing that followed was nonetheless transforming!

Soon, they were posing for numerous pictures together.

It is expected that the governor’s patronage would help boost her snail business beyond her wildest dreams.

A foremost social-political group, Ekiti State, the Ekiti Liberation Movement (ELM), has hailed the emergence of a renowned entrepreneur, Otunba Segun Adewale as the flagbearer of the Action Democratic Party (ADP) for the upcoming governorship election in the state, describing him (Adewale) as the only credible choice for the people in the July 14 poll. 

Adewale, popularly known as OSAPraPra, picked the ADP governorship ticket in a primary held on Saturday, as members of the party elected him as standard-bearer through a process monitored by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security operatives.

In a congratulatory message signed by ELM’s Director-General, Chief Sunday Anifowoshe, the group expressed optimistic that Adewale’s emergence as ADP candidate reinforces assurance of the people of a better choice to choose when they goes to the poll on July 14.

ELM who described Adewale as a choice for Ekiti people to exit induced poverty ravaging the state as a result of poor governance by successive administration, said that the real winner from the ADP primary is the people of the state, who now have choice away from recycling failed leadership.

“The ADP primary have confirmed their credibility because it produced a candidate (Adewale) that the people can invest their mandate on for good governance to reign,” ELM statement reads in part.

“So, we applaud it (ADP) for countering the circle of recycling failed leadership on the state and giving our (Ekiti) people a credible choice that is prepared to serve. 

“We have no doubt that Otunba Adewale’s impressive antecedent as a wealth creator—with a passion for entrepreneurship, education, health, youth development and welfare— placed him ahead any other candidate in the election.

“More so, he (Adewale) represents a departure the failures and disappointments of the past that have left Ekiti State in shamble and not only has he shown deep understanding on the challenges confronting Ekiti, he is he engaging the people on how his plan will restore our (Ekiti) economic and social growth.”

ELM asked the people to demonstrate their resolve for progress by voting Adewale on July 14, noting that it is the only route to reclaiming the state from misgovernance that have left it (Ekiti) in a sordid state. 

He, however, enjoined the people of the state to remain vigilant and shun the antics of those bent on prolonging their sufferings through enticement, saying electing Adewale on July 14 marks the beginning of the restoration of Ekiti state. 

Members of the South West wing of Accord Party have on Sunday in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital, issued a seven-day ultimatum to National Chairman of the party, Alhaji Mohammed Lawal Nalado to resign from office over what they termed gross misconduct and contravention of the party’s constitution.

They made this resolution at the zonal meeting of the party held in Ibadan.

The Chairman of Osun State chapter of the party, Otunba Olusegun Fanibe, while addressing journalists on behalf of his colleagues, declared that Nalado had engaged in activities “that brought disrepute and public embarrassment to the party by unilaterally taking the National Assembly to court without any consultation or approval from the National Working Committee”.

Fanibe added that, “Secondly, he engages in ant-party activities by collecting money from the All Progressives Congress APC to pay the rent of the National secretariat and he confirmed that himself because we knew we haven’t paid for the party’s secretariat for some time.

“Also, the national chairman of this party posted the poster of himself as an aspirant for a vacant senatorial seat in Kastina state without putting the party logo giving the impression that he intends to contest election not on the platform of Accord but he is currently working to be the candidate of another party.

“We have been on this issue for three weeks, we invited him but for some reasons he has been avoiding us, he has been giving one excuse or the other.

“Our chairman is from Daura, very close to Mr President, and also an in-law to the president, so I don’t think he would want to work against his kinsman, every effort by all stakeholders to move the party forward is being blocked and we think this is the time the southwest takes a step’’.

They threatened to leave the party if the chairman did not call an emergency meeting to review the allegations levelled against him.

He said, “The National chairman must resign, we want him to resign within seven days or in the alternative call for an NWC meeting, during which we shall set up a seven-man disciplinary committee to investigate the allegation and recommend appropriate sanction in accordance with the constitution of the party”.

Stakeholders of  Engineer Rasheed Owolabi’s Foundation met earlier today to deliberate on how to impact positively on the grassroot.

The meeting which had stakeholders from six local government of Ogun Central was held at Abeokuta the capital of Ogun Ogun State.

Stake holders who were present at the meeting deliberated in the problems facing the people at the grassroot.

Engr. Rasheed Owolabi (RO) Foundation was established to touch the live of the people at the grassroot.

As part of the moves to oust President Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress in 2019, the major opposition parties and third force elements are expected to hold joint and separate talks in the coming days with a view to forging an alliance and supporting one presidential candidate.

Some of the parties that will participate in the discussions include the Peoples Democratic Party, the Olusegun Obasanjo-backed African Democratic Congress, and the Chief Olu Falae-led Social Democratic Party among others.

Already, the Nigerian Intervention Movement, co-chaired by Dr. Olisa Agbakoba (SAN) and Dr. Abdujalil Tafawa-Balewa, is presently holding alliance talks with the Coalition for New Nigeria, a coalition of 35 political parties.

The NIM said in a statement that it was holding separate and joint meetings with the Labour Party, United Progressive Party, Action Democratic Party, Action Alliance and several others.

It stated, “The NIM Coalition team has just ended a marathon coalition talks separately and jointly in Abuja at various locations with the Labour Party, United Progressive Party, Alliance for New Nigeria, Action Democratic Party, and Action Alliance in a process of setting up a national grand electoral alliance for 2019.

“All the parties have, by and large, agreed to the NIM’s terms and therefore asked to go and reaffirm the endorsement of their leadership organs and structures to avoid future problems.

“The MOU with the prospective coalition party and other parties in the electoral alliance will be signed next week after due consultations with their various leadership organs and the steering committee meeting of NIM must have given its nod and endorsement.”

It was learnt that the SDP was expected to hold talks with the NIM next week as well.

The Obasanjo-led Coalition for Nigeria Movement had adopted the ADC as its party.

The National Coordinator of the Obasanjo coalition, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, had told a gathering on Thursday that there was still room for the ADC to forge alliance with other interested parties to oust Buhari in the next general elections.

Speaking on Saturday, a source close to Obasanjo said the move had spurred others into action, not wanting to be left out.

The source added, “We have just nine months to the elections and the other groups, especially the NIM, were being slow about it. So, Obasanjo felt time was running out. With what he has done, others have woken up and the alliance talks are beginning to move quicker.

“In the coming days, you will see defections and re-alignments as the main opposition begins to take shape.”

When asked why the parties were forging alliances instead of a merger like the APC did in 2013, the source explained that the time was too short, adding that it might not be able to contain the aftermath before the general elections.

The source added, “The Electoral Act states that no new political party will be registered six months to the general elections. That means August is the deadline. With the way politics is today, coupled with the fact that INEC serves an APC-led government, we may not be able to meet up.

“Also, the time is too short for all the political parties to agree. Who will step down for who? How will we conduct congresses in time? So, the alliance is the best bet.”

The source said talks were ongoing with the PDP as the former ruling party begins to consider the possibility of changing its name.

He stated that the PDP was also interested in the alliance.

The Chairman of the Coalition for New Nigeria, Dr. Yunusa Tanko, who is also a former National Chairman of Inter-Party Advisory Council, confirmed to one of our correspondents that over 35 parties were holding talks in order to form an alliance.

He said the PDP had also approached the other parties for a possible alliance.

“The CNN is a coalition or a group of several political parties but we only form alliances, not mergers. There are alignments and re-alignments happening in some of the parties within our group. One of our members, which is the ADC, was recently adopted by Obasanjo,” Tanko added.

When asked if all the parties would be working together to oust Buhari in 2019, he said, “You cannot rule out anything. As it is now, there are re-alignments of forces and we will see where things we go. The ADC is only one of our members.”

He said the SDP was not part of the coalition, noting, however, that there was room for the party to join.

When asked about the PDP, he said, “The PDP is not yet a member of the CNN but they (party officials) are making overtures towards us and trying to align with our political parties. Some of our members got calls from the PDP and said the PDP told them that they would not be able to work alone and they need to align with other existing political parties. So, the alignments are still taking shape.”

PDP opens discussion with other opposition parties

When contacted on Saturday, the PDP said it had opened discussions with other political parties on how to get Buhari out office in 2019.

Already, it said its committee, saddled with the responsibility of holding discussions with the affected political parties, had swung into action.

The committee, which is known as Contact Committee, and headed by a former Governor of Cross River State, Senator Liyel Imoke, was inaugurated by the party’s National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, about two weeks ago.

The National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan, told one of our correspondents in Abuja on Saturday that the committee was already working on its mandate.

He said, “The committee, which is headed by Senator Imoke, is already discussing with all opposition political parties.

“The task of removing the incompetent Buhari Presidency is not our plan alone; it is that of the entire oppressed Nigerians, even within the ruling party, the All Progressives Congress.

“We will meet with all the political parties that are genuinely committed to true change in the country.

“We expect our committee to brief us soon on its findings and discussions with both the opposition parties and individuals.”

It was, however, unclear if the committee would brief the Secondus-led National Working Committee this week or not. SUNDAY PUNCH, however, learnt that Imoke and his team met with leaders of some political parties last week.

Also, the National Publicity Secretary of the SDP, Mr. Alfa Mohammed, confirmed to one of our correspondents on the telephone on Saturday that alliance talks were ongoing.

Mohammed said the primary objective of all opposition parties remained removing Buhari from the Presidency in 2019.

When asked if the PDP would be part of the alliance, Mohammed said many prominent members of the PDP, like a former Deputy Governor of Osun State, Iyiola Omisore; a former Minister of Information, Prof. Jerry Gana; and many others were already in the SDP.

He added, “In 2015, the SDP adopted the PDP candidate as its own presidential candidate; so, we already have a working relationship. It will not be hard for us to work together in 2019. They may even support our own presidential candidate as a way of returning the favour.”

Attempts to speak with the Chairman of the ADC, Okey Nwosu, proved abortive as his telephone line indicated that it was busy for two consecutive days.

He had, however, said, while welcoming the Obasanjo group, that the ADC was open to talks in order to forge alliances ahead of 2019.

We are not scared of opposition — APC

Meanwhile, the APC says it has no cause to fret over the coming together of opposition political parties, stating that most Nigerians now appreciate its pioneering efforts in setting the nation on the right path.

The National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, said this in a telephone interview with PUNCH, on Saturday.

Abdullahi stated, “Like I have said over time, we are practising a multi-party democracy and in this kind of system, it is the more, the merrier.

“As for parties coming together, they are welcome. We have no reason to feel threatened because we are confident that Nigerians appreciate the credible leadership the President Muhammadu Buhari-led APC administration has provided.”

Source : Punch.

A national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former governor of Lagos state, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has threatened to quit the party.

Sources within the national headquarters of the party said Tinubu flew into Abuja earlier in the week to intervene in the crisis brewing over the ward congresses across the country, which affected his interests.

The crisis over the last ward congress in Oyo State took a new turn on Thursday as Tinubu threatened to leave the party if its control in Oyo State is taken from Governor Abiola Ajimobi.

He was said to have passed clear messages to the Presidency and the leadership of the party that he would leave if Ajimobi, his ally, is denied the control.

Party sources said Tinubu felt that he would be losing grip of the South West if Oyo State is taken away.

This is because he controls only three chapters of the party: Lagos, Oyo and Osun States, while forces loyal to the Presidency control Ogun, Ondo and Ekiti States.

The loss of Oyo State will reduce his hold to two states, thereby further eroding his influence in the party.

The APC had been engrossed in crisis since Saturday over its ward congress in Oyo State as party leaders square up against one another to retain or extend their influence.

States like Imo, Kano, Kaduna and Oyo had been most hit, with violence breaking out in many of them.

Achalla, Anambra State turned to a carnival city for the one week burial of the billionaire father of Award-winning Nollywood Producer, Lawrence Lurrenzo Onuzulike, Chief Chukwuma Onuzulike, The Orimili 1 of Achalla.

The burial that started on  25th of April, 2018, spanned till the first week of May 2018 at his Orimili’s compound, Udezu Village, Achalla, Awka North Local Gvt, Anambra State.

Chief Chukwuma Onuzulike died on the 5th of December 2017 around 9:30 am at New Hope Hospital, Onitsha, Anambra state, after a brief illness.

Chief Onuzulike, a patron of the iconic People’s Club of Nigeria, whom his praises  were sang by the likes of Osadebe,  Oliver D’Coque, Morocco, Ozoemene Nsugbe and many other Igbo music legends, was one of the first people who imported Georges and Hollandis wrapper into Nigeria before he ventured into real estate. 

To herald the burial carnival, his body left Borromeo Hospital by 7am on the 26th of April, made a brief stop over at one of his houses at Oranye Street, before heading straight to his hometown in Achalla, Awka North Local Government Area of Anambra State. 

On his body’s arrival at Achalla, the people trooped out en masse to convene him to the village square. He was briefly handed over to the people of Achalla who took him to the town’s hall (the Civic center); it was there that the village organised prayers for him and numerous sons and daughters of the town who in one way or the other had benefitted from the late Billionaire briefly shared their stories. 

Shortly after that, his body was given to his family who proceeded to his massive Estate in Udezu Village in Achalla. After his remarkable lying in state,  the late real estate mogul was laid to rest. 

The carnival like ceremony was graced by various Igwes, politicians and other notable personalities such as Chief Chika Okpala (Zebrudaya of the New Masquerade fame), HRH Igwe Alex Nwokedi (former SA to President Olusegun Obasanjo), HRH Igwe Innocent of Agulu Kingdom, Chief Emmanuel Nwakamma (MD N. N. Femms,  makers of Ozone Relaxer and Apple Hair cream). 

Others include; Rita Edochie,  Harry B,  TT Temple,  Chief Francis Nwakamma (MD Franemm LTD, makers of Petals hair cream and relaxer) and many other important personalities.

MC Sacramento from ABS Television compered the event while, music was supplied by Chief Morocco Maduka, Galadima and the official police band.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday said that Nigerians were poorer and more divided under President Mohammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress (APC) than ever before.

Obasanjo also announced the adoption of African Democratic Congress (ADC) as the political platform for his Coalition of Nigeria Movement (CNM) to contest the 2019 general elections.

He declared that the ADC, which is among the 68 registered political parties in the country, would bring about desirable change in the nation’s polity, consolidate democracy and stop the re-election bid of Buhari.

Obasanjo, who spoke at a press conference in Abeokuta, Ogun State, warned Nigerians against joining or voting for both the ruling APC and opposition Peoples Democratic Party PDP) in forthcoming elections.

He accused the APC of gloating and revelling in unrepentant misgovernance and taking Nigerians for fools while also upbraiding the PDP for merely offering apology without disciplining those who set the country on a course of ruin.

Flanked by former acting Chief of Staff to late President Umar Yar’Adua, Dr. Gbolade Osinowo, and former Secretary to the Oyo State Government, Chief Olayiwola Olakojo, the former president said ADC remained the platform to move Nigeria “up and forward.”

He explained that the leadership of CNM, which he founded, agreed to adopt ADC after detailed examination, wide consultation and bearing in mind the orientation, policies and direction of the movement. In his address titled: “My treatise for future of democracy and development in Nigeria,” Obasanjo said though he would not join the party based on his earlier vow not to play partisan politics, but he would continue to be “alive and active on Nigerian and African issues and interests” and also offer necessary advice.

The former president, who spoke extensively on the nation’s politics, called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure strict control of campaign funding and transparent accounting of all funds utilised by individuals and political parties for campaigns.

Obasanjo accused the Buhari administration of dividing the country by “playing the ethnic and religious game,” adding that the nation had also been more insecure and unsafe for the citizens.

He said: “I will advise others to join this political party platform (ADC) to usher in a new dawn for Nigeria, but I may not be able to advise anybody to join PDP or APC no matter what window-dressing reformation they may claim.

“Although PDP would seem to have realised its mistakes of its immediate past of the last eight years or so, its present evolution would, by itself, not give confidence to well-meaning Nigerians who are interested in a new Nigeria in the hands of God that will have leadership, governance, development and values within our culture as its guiding principles with the attributes of honesty, integrity, patriotism, love, unity, industry, incorruptibility, good neighbourliness, faithfulness, trust, courage and love and fear of God held aloft.

“PDP offered apology without disciplining those who set Nigeria on a course of ruin and some of them are still holding leadership roles in their party. Nigerians may forgive, but Nigerians should never forget; otherwise they will be suffering from amnesia and the same ugliness may raise its head again. “APC, as a political party, is still gloating and revelling in its unrepentant misgovernance of Nigeria and taking Nigerians for fools.

There is neither remorse nor appreciation of what they are doing wrong. It is all arrant arrogance and insult upon injury for Nigerians.

 “Whatever the leadership may personally claim, most Nigerians know that they (Nigerians) are poorer today than when APC came in and Nigeria is more impoverished with our foreign loan jumping from $3.6 billion to over $18 billion to be paid by the present and future generations of Nigerians.

“The country is more divided than ever before because the leadership is playing the ethnic and religious game which is very unfortunate. And the govcountry is more insecure and unsafe for everybody. It is a political party with two classes of membership.”

While acknowledging that good men and women are still within the APC and PDP, Obasanjo noted that “what must be done is to take what is best from all to come together on a new alliance platform that will take us to the promised land.” He said: “It is pertinent to make the point that PDP and APC are not actually made of men and women who are totally evil.

There are sprinkles of good men and women out there and among them.

 But as political parties and the government they led or they are leading in the last 11 years, they have failed and failure should neither be hoisted for embracement nor reinforced.

“Nigerians must keep their eyes wide open, their ears quite attentive, their minds very clear, their hands very clean and must not remain dumb in the face of atrocities and impunities of the governors against the governed.

“Those who govern us at all levels must be made to realise that it is our collective rights and sovereignty that they hold in trust for us and to be used for the good of all of us and with all of us having interest and having a stake in how we are governed. It is our God-given right and we must not allow the abuse of it.” Also in Abuja, the Leader of CNM, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, at a world press conference, said the decision to move in the ADC was an appreciation of the progressive credentials of the party since its formation and entry into the nation’s politics.

“You will all recall that in January this year, the Coalition for Nigeria Movement, CNM, was formed by some of us across the country as a political platform to create a new generation of leaders for our country.

 National Chairman of African Democratic Congress, ADC, Chief Ralph Nwosu, described the fusion as the dawn of great Nigeria project.

 According to Nwosu, nation building could be a very daunting exercise but with good and committed leaders, the journey could be much easier.

“Today, our great country with 200 million population is in a dysfunctional state. Our biggest resources in human capacity and diversity seem to be weighing us down and tearing us apart.”

Awwal Abdullahi Aliyu is a prominent Nigerian of KADUNA/JIGAWA extraction, a Nigerian who has acquired knowledge at different forms/levels. He served his people and Nigeria in different leadership positions, he served in the Armed Forces for  some years before voluntarily retired. 

Awwal has been involved in civil/human right activism and he is still active, he is involved in politics and have contested election at various levels, he has gone round the federation for one reason or the other, met different kind of people in his life.

AWWAL ABDULLAHI ALIYU is an home based personality who is known very well by his people and Nigerians. 

A clarion call to serve His fatherland, he is simple, and humble.  He is a nobody the son of nobody that want to become somebody and of the opinion that they’re so many sons of no body’s out there that wish to become somebody, irrespective of tribe or religion and Nigeria will not get it’s required development until the sons of nobody become somebody without necessarily knowing or lobbying anybody in Nigeria.

AWWAL’s BRIEF ACTIVITIES

He formed Kaduna Aspirants and Contestants forum and became its Secretary. Withing that period he became the Acting Chairman of DPP in Kaduna. In 2008 During the Flag off of second re-election bid of the then Governor of Sokoto state. AWWAL ABDULLAHI ALIYU with his other senior colleagues in the party, Assembled Gubernatorial, Senatorial, Federal and state houses of Assembly candidates from 22 State of the Federation in sokoto where they all Decamped to PDP. That Marked the End of DPP. 

At sokoto in the presence of Late President Umaru Musa Yar`adua of Blessed memory, ORGANIZATION FOR THE PROPAGATION OF THE ACTUALIZATION AND SUSTENANCE OF MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS (MDGs) AND THE 7 POINTS AGENDA OF PRESIDENT UMARU MUSA YAR`ADUA (OPAMSA) was formed.  AWWAL ABDULLAHI ALIYU Emerged the NATIONAL CHAIRMAN (non governmental). The mission was to create awareness/public enlightenment on MDGs/7 POINTS AGENDA, the role of government and that of the followership. AWWAL ABDULLAHI ALIYU structured the organization across 36 state and Abuja, as well as 774 LGAs of the Federation.

In 2013, comrade AWWAL ABDULLAHI ALIYU led a group of Youths and Intellectuals under  northern people union (TAGGED, OCCUPY BUHARI, BABANGIDA AND ALL NORTHERN LEADER’S FOR ONE VOICE AREWA), to  hold meeting  soliciting for support to have all northern leaders come together in unity ,understanding, forgiveness and co-operation so that power can shift to the north. And if the leaders refuse to cooperate, then he will lead an occupy protest agaist them.That advocacy took comrade AWWAL ABDULLAHI ALIYU and his team to every part of Northern Nigeria, where he spoke one on one with almost all leaders that matters in the north, former and some serving Governors, Ministers, Senators, members of house of representatives, Emirs, former heads of governmental and security organizations, Leaders and Elders of northern origin, including Gen Buhari, Gen Babangida, , Gen. T Y Danjuma. etc. He also Addressed ACF on same issue.

AWWAL ABDULLAHI ALIYU also embarked on massive mobilization of Youths, through Radio,Television, hand bill, town hall meetings etc. They were at various times harrased, intimidated e.t.c the rest today is history. 

At the moment, Comrade AWWAL ABDULLAHI ALIYU is the Executive director centre for youth reformation and leadership development initiative. He is presently the chairman of Non Governmental Organizations in Kaduna (Kaduna NGOs forum).

Comrade AWWAL ABDULLAHI ALIYU holds the Title of Sarkin Yakin Kanya Babba in jigawa state and Dan Massnin Milgoma Shika zaria in Kaduna State.

Comrades, we present to you, Nigeria Presidential hopeful AWWAL ABDULLAHI ALIYU