Politics
2023: AFF asks electorate to shun corrupt politicians, vote wisely
Ahead of general elections next year, the electorate in Nigeria have been called upon to shun corrupt leaders and avoid mistakes of the past.
Founder/Chief Executive Officer, Akin Fadeyi Foundation, Akin Fadeyi who gave the admonition at the official media presentation of his agency’s 2023 General Elections Sensitization project tagged: “Put on Your Thinking Cap”, called on citizens to secure their Permanent Voters’ Card (PVC), turn out emmass at the polls to effect the kind of change they truly deserve.
Fadeyi called on citizens to vote wisely this time, shun the vices of election violence and vote buying which he said have left them for years at the mercy of “money bags with their future and that of their unborn children morbidly mortgaged by the pittance politicians often offer to secure their votes.
More than 80 participants joined in the social re-engineering conversation virtually home and abroad with an armful more journalists in Abuja on Thursday.
Speaking from his base in Lagos, Nigeria’s prolific Journalist, Jamiu Mojeed welcomed the initiative even though he said the project may have come a little too late to change the narratives in 2023.
According to Mojeed, with political parties primaries around the corner and with the way the political system is currently structured, the two dominant parties(the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the main opposition, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will continue to hold sway with their tickets firmly tucked in the hands of money bags.
He said only a constitutional amendment that makes provision for independent candidacy can possibly turn the table.
Responding, Social Activist, Petra- Akinti Onyegbule said time has come for positive minded young and vibrant citizens to populate the two major political parties and from within the fold engineer desired change.
Another speaker, Kayode Akinropo from his base in the United Kingdom (UK) agreed in principles with Mojeed. He however pushed the button a notch higher when he blamed it all on Nigeria’s faulty foundation. “How did we get to this point”? He asked, calling on citizens at all levels to be prepared to ask critical questions and demand accountability.
But even more profound is the submission of AFF Board Chairman, Simon Kolawole who simply left the solution in a series of posers: “What is the guarantee that if the people do not collect bribes for votes that they will be rewarded with credible leaders”?.
He asked even further, “How do we know the people who can perform”?
AFF has been in the business of raising citizens consciousness against corruption and other vices since 2006.
The group in 2016 launched its mega Anti-Corruption campaign, “Corruption Not In My Country”. It did in close collaboration with renowned Nollywood actors and actresses to deliver over 30 drama skits it used to pass its message of a corrupt-free society to millions of homes in Nigeria.
AFF followed with a first of its kind innovative technological portal, “FLAG IT” to curb corruption and other social vices that have combined to paralyze institutions and denied citizens assess to freedom, liberty, equity and justice.
According to Fadeyi, its newest initiative, “Put On Your Thinking Cap”, aimed at sensitizing citizens on the need to vote wisely in 2023 will be massively rolled out and taken to every nook and cranny of the country; even as he ruled out chances of the project been hijacked by politicians.
Fadeyi’s most impactful message on the day was to Nigerian intellectuals and influencers who he said are very active on national issues on the “Social Media” to channel same energy to pick up their voters’ cards ahead of elections and ensure actively get the job done in their various localities. “Elections are not won and lost on social media, he said.
The immediate past deputy governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in Rivers State, Dr Emana Ambrose Amawhe has resigned her membership of the party with immediate effect.
In a letter dated 28th March, 2025 addressed to the Chairman of Edem Odo Ward in Akpabuyo Local Government Council of Cross River State, she said, her resignation was with immediate effect.
She pointed out in the letter that her resignation should not be taken lightly, while she reaffirmed her commitment to and readiness to serve the government of Cross River and Nigeria in general in any capacities.
She said, “I am writing to formally resign my membership from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) with immediate effect.
”I sincerely appreciate the opportunity given to me over time to contribute my quota to the growth of the party and the chance to serve as the Deputy Governorship Candidate in the last general elections.
”It was a privilege to be part of the PDP’s vision and engage with our people in meaningful ways. However, after much reflection in light of the current state of affairs within the party, I believe it is time for me to move on.
“This decision was not made lightly, but I remain committed to serving my community and contributing to the progress of our state and nation in other capacities.”
Ambrose-Amawhe was the running mate to Senator Sandy Onor in the 2023 governorship election in Cross River.
She had also contested for the House of Representatives seat for the Bakassi/Akpabuyo/Calabar South Federal Constituency under the PDP.
The Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Rivers State Chapter, Chief Tony Okocha, has defended the emergency rule declared by President Bola Tinubu in the state, citing escalating security threats.
According to Chief Okocha, Rivers State was on the brink of anarchy due to increasing security concerns in various parts of the state.
Okocha made this statement while addressing journalists at the APC headquarters in Abuja on Thursday.
Justifying the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the declaration of a state of emergency, Okocha commended the President for his “timely” intervention and criticized those opposing the decision.
“The state of emergency called by Mr. President saved Rivers State from anarchy. When you see non-state actors brandishing guns and making statements that promote lawlessness, then you should know there is a problem.
“I see some people jumping onto television platforms to cast aspersions on Mr. President and condemn what they do not understand. Mr. President knows more than they do.
“The truth of the matter is that Rivers State was headed towards anarchy. We all know Rivers is one of the states that sustain this country. Some of the same people criticizing the President now would have also condemned him if he had done nothing.”
Chief Okocha also questioned the silence of former President Goodluck Jonathan and the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) when the Rivers State House of Assembly complex was demolished under Governor Fubara’s administration.
“Thank God, President Goodluck Jonathan has been president, General Obasanjo has been president, and they know that every day on their table, they receive security reports.
“I hear the NBA saying the suspension is an affront to democracy. But when the assembly complex was burned and the next day, eleven pieces of equipment were deployed to demolish it, the NBA was silent. They were alive, yet we didn’t hear anything from them”, he said.
Reacting to criticism over why the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, was not sanctioned despite allegations that he contributed to the unrest, Okocha argued that Wike was not involved in the crisis.
He said, “For those asking why the Governor and members of the State House of Assembly were suspended but not the Minister of the FCT—was he in the frame? The answer is no”
Former presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party in the 2023 general election, Adewole Adebayo said, God has told him that the party will produce the next president in 2027 general election.
Speaking over the weekend in Abeokua when he met the members and executive who were led by the State Chairman, Yinka Ola-Williams, said he could confirm that a President of SDP will mount Aso Rock villa in 2027.
“One thing that God is telling me is that there will be an SDP president in the villa in 2027.
“For the first time in a long time, we will have people who care for the people. Let’s remain focused. The problems of Nigeria are our problems, not individuals.
“We are not against Tinubu as a person but we are against hunger, inflation, poverty, insecurity, unemployment. That’s what we are against,” he said.
Buttressing Adebayo’s position on modalities of joining the party, the SDP Chairman in Ogun State, Mr. Yinka Ola-Williams, disowned 30,000 membership cards and registers allegedly being flaunted by one of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) aspirants in the 2023 governorship election in the State.
Ola-Williams said the party’s door is widely opened to anybody who wants to join, but such a person or group, no matter how highly placed, must follow the procedure as laid down in the party’s constitution.
He emphatically stated that the party had nothing to do with the membership cards and registers claimed by the aspirant, who said he got them from the party’s National Secretariat.
“We want people to join us, and we want to work together to provide a better government than what we have now that will remove poverty, provide a better healthcare system for people, improve education and all.
“But not that they come to the party, hijack the party and take the structure away. That’s what we will not agree,” Ola-Williams said.
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