Politics
2023: I see hope in Lawan becoming President – Governor Uzodinma
The Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodimma told the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan on Tuesday that he saw hope in him.
Governor Uzodimma made the remarks after Lawan addressed the All Progressives Congress(APC) leaders and delegates from the five Southeast states of Imo, Anambra, Abia, Ebonyi and Enugu who converged at the party Secretariat in Owerri.
Also in attendance were the Southeast zonal leaders of the party.
Uzodimma said it was clear that President Muhammadu Buhari would have to give recommendations and guidance on the succession plans but prayed that the President would see what some of them had seen.
Governor Uzodimma said: “The party is aware that it is only our President, President Muhammadu Buhari who understands the demography and the character of the current national politics vis-a-vis the insecurity, economy and the public welfare and the party will also be guided by his recommendations in managing the succession plans.
“These delegates are still here. They have cried for a very long time against not given sufficient recognition and relevance to the people of Southeast.
“That is why I’m almost certain that they will not be influenced by money nor by any material influence. They will do that which will attract to our people the relevance and recognition nationally that we have been looking for, for a very long time.
“I have listened to you. Very brilliant ideology. I have also seen that you are highly detribalised and nationalistic. I think, in you, I can see hope.
“Therefore, I will recommend very highly that Mr President in his wisdom, guided by the spirit of God, will also see what some of us have seen.
“One assurance that you should take home is that, Northeast and Southeast are bloodly related. Getting no-objection certificate from Mr President, we will not be stopped by anybody.
“So when you go home, greet our brothers and sisters. Before you came, our own brother, the Governor of Ebonyi came to address the delegates.
“And in doing so, he also recognised copiously the relationship between Northeast and Southeast to the extent that he even re-echoed that the two geo-political zones are the most marginalised in Nigeria.
“Therefore, whatever comes to Southeast is as good as it has gone to Northeast. And whatever goes to Northeast is as good as it has come to Southeast. We are with you.
“You are completely loyal to the leadership of our great Party, APC, under the command of President Muhammadu Buhari and I’m almost certain that our decision may likely be guided by his recommendations and counsel.”
Earlier, Lawan who described Uzodimma as the “Lion of the Southeast” said he had been a “major pillar in all my political journey since we started.
“He was at the forefront in 2015, you know he was a Senator, he wanted me to be Senate President. He worked so hard tirelessly.
“But today, to the Glory of God, this our brother, the Governor of Imo state, has worked so hard to also keep this campaign going. Actually, he presented my completed nomination form.”
The Senate President outlined his plans to the delegates if given the chance to fly the flag of his party the APC and if elected as President:
“For me, it is security first. Because you need to secure the people. Even for them to go to their farms or to go to their markets or to go about their local businesses, they need to be secured.
“This is a challenge that this administration has been working so hard to ensure that every citizen is secured.
“I am coming from the Northeast. Coming from Yobe State. We were under the domination of Boko Haram between 2014 and 2015, before President Muhammadu Buhari took office.
“Today we are far safer. Most of the insurgents are coming out to surrender with their families. Their leaders have been killed.
“Of course, before President Muhammadu Buhari took over, about 15 or 16 of our Local Governments in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa were under the full control of Boko Haram. But we still have challenges.
“That is a success story for our administration. That is the kind of story we want repeated in all parts of Nigeria. We are battling so hard in the Northwest and some parts of the Northcentral with the bandits and kidnappers and of course in the south particularly the Southeast which is a recent development.
“The Southeast is supposed to be our South Korea. It’s supposed to be our Japan. It’s supposed to be our America in Nigeria. Very ingenious people. Very enterprising people.
“And therefore, we must never allow our past history, history told by colonialists….we are the same people because whether you are coming from the North or From the South or the East or the West, you are a Nigerian.
“And as a Nigerian, you will pray and work that every Nigerian in every part of Nigeria succeeds and be in peace because what happens here in Owerri affects me in Yobe and what happens in Yobe affects you here.
“So I believe that given the opportunity, and we are already doing something, we must have a national integration policy. National cohesion.
“What does that mean? It is for us to ensure that there is fairness and access to social, economic and political opportunities. This is one way to go because most of the time, the crisis, the conflict is about the resource distribution, opportunity that is available to everyone.
“But I believe that we must continue to work for national integration to give everyone a sense of belonging. If you are a business man you should excel in any part of Nigeria you chose to be.
“Secondly, having secured our nation, we must continue to work for the improvement in our economy. Our economy is already the largest in Africa and that is a feat. We have been able to succeed to maintain the number one position despite two years of COVID 19 that we suffered.
“One thing is that we need to improve to make this economy more productive and more inclusive. That is to say that those at the highest level should not enjoy at the expense of those at the lowest part of the ladder.
“That is to say if you are a small trader, you should have some support. You already have some support, the empowerment programmes by the present administration.
“But what we need to do is to ensure that in areas like the Southeast, where majority of people are business oriented, the Small and Medium Scales Enterprises, will have to be supported. Once everybody has something to do, nobody will like to call for any trouble.
“So I want to make that my mission, that employment opportunities must come through support to SMEs.
“I want to see a situation where our women will continue to play a dominant role but I’m particularly also concerned about our youth, I believe to transform Nigeria, you have to transform our youth. Take them off the streets. Take them to schools.
“We must invest in our education. We have to introduce entrepreneurship development courses so that those who are not able to go to tertiary Institutions should be useful in one trade or the other.
“I want to assure you that a vote for me is a vote for progress in Nigeria, for stability in Nigeria, for prosperity in our country.
Disturbed by the alleged disdain for the Social Democratic Party, SDP leadership structure by the new entrants, the forum of State Chairmen of SDP has*cautioned its leadership structure must be recognized, respected and not tampered with.
The Forum said, it has confidence the SDP leadership structure, warning some high profile politicians defecting to the party not to move against or alter its core identity.
This caution was contained in a communiqué issued on Thursday at the Green Minds Hotel Conference Centre in Abuja, declaring full support for the SDP’s National Chairman, Alhaji Shehu Musa Gabam, and National Secretary, Dr. Olu Agunloye, adding their effort in repositioning the party was well noted and worth applauding.
Recently the SDP has swollen up with defectors who are high profile politicians, even as the State Chairmen noted that new members must be integrated through proper party channels.
“New members are welcome, but they cannot admit or register themselves,” the communiqué stated, reinforcing that state leadership remains the gateway for party membership.
The forum also warned against any hasty changes to the party’s name, logo, or constitution, insisting that such decisions must undergo thorough deliberation by the National Executive Council (NEC).
Additionally, they rejected any attempts to dissolve democratically elected structures to accommodate new entrants, emphasizing that elected officials must serve their full terms.
Reaffirming SDP’s democratic ethos, the chairmen pledged to resist any moves that could subordinate the party to personal or sectional ambitions.
“The SDP belongs to all Nigerians. It must not be hijacked by any individual or interest group,” they declared.
With elections on the horizon and an influx of political heavyweights into the party, the SDP leadership appears set on preserving its identity while expanding its influence. Whether these internal guidelines will prevent friction or spark further debates remains to be seen.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has congratulated the Governor of Edo State, Senator Monday Okpebholo, and his Deputy, Hon. Dennis Idahosa, on the affirmation of their electoral victory in the recent judgment of the Edo State Governorship Election Tribunal.
In a statement signed by the APC National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, the party said the landmark judgment validates the overwhelming support of the Edo State electorate for the APC’s candidate in the September 21, 2024, gubernatorial election.
The party stated that the Governor’s victory stands as an affirmation of the popular will of the good people of Edo State.
“We applaud the judiciary for its well-reasoned decision in the matter, underscoring its independence, professionalism, and commitment to strengthening democracy in our country.
“Our great Party salutes the good people of Edo State for their massive support of our Party during the past election, and for their patience and sustained support through the litigation.
“Confident that this well-deserved victory will further energize Governor Okpebholo, who is already saturating the state with good governance and dividends of democracy, we urge the Governor to do even more for the Edo electorate, and translate President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda into meaningful benefits for all in the state.
“We remain thankful to President Tinubu, our visionary and dogged achiever, for his exceptional leadership of our great Party”, the party said.
The Chairman of the Unity and Reconciliation Committee of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Federal Capital Territory Chapter, Senator Usman Jibril Wowo has appealed to aggrieved members of the party to building bridges of unity rather than internal crisis that does no one any good.
He said, now is a better time to build bridges of unity in the party through the privilege of APC Reconciliation Committee put in place, hence, party members should speak to each other as brothers and sisters.
Senator Wowo said this in Abuja while felicitating with the Muslim Ummah for a successful Ramadan season which culminated in the celebration of the Sallah.
He called on all members of the party to take advantage of the internal reconciliatory structure of the party to vent their issues, for an amicable resolution so that they can amplify the name of the FCT as the Center of Unity.
He said “let us come together and talk about these differences and forge a united headway towards a bigger APC in the future, we must know that the area councils elections are just by the corner.”
He said it is not an accident that the Christians are also observing the Lent season which is an expression of faith and obedience to God.
Senator Wowo said while it is human to suffer imperfection it is also for man to continue to exercise understanding and forgiveness towards one another where such need arises but this can only come where there are clear communications between parties involved in the conflict.
Wowo said Nigerians in exercise of their grievances should approach conflict resolution with open mind so that parties would make way forward in unity.
The former lone Senator of the Federal Capital Territory said the move by the party to reconcile all grieving parties has become important following the unpleasant performance of the party in the last area councils elections.
He argued that ahead of the next area council elections it was proper for all the grieving parties to come together and share their reservations for an amicable resolution of these differences which can only be resolved by talking together.
According to Senator, Wowo the reconciliation committee is in accordance with he party constitution to retain her members at all time.
Sen Wowo said, “The party has a duty to ‘promote reconciliation, encourage and facilitate the settlement of dispute in amicable manner, among members of the party”
He said any association of humans naturally experiences conflict and this is one of such that can be resolved when they come together to the same table and digest the matter and eliminate those areas of conflict so that they can move forward.
-
Security6 days agoNew Commissioner of Police in Niger, Elleman sends strong warning to criminals
-
News5 days agoAbia: LG Chairman, Iheke accused of using soldiers to detain IRS agent, claims Governor Otti’s support
-
News6 days agoKogi Governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo salutes Tinubu at 74
-
News4 days agoKogi government bans rallies ahead of Natasha’s homecoming slated for Tuesday
-
News6 days agoPlateau LP stakeholders endorses Barr Gyang Zi’s defection to APC
-
News4 days agoIran may secure a deal before Trump’s deadline – or face Israeli strikes in Tehran – analysis
-
News6 days agoAkpabio pays historic visit to office of SA to President on Senate Matters
-
Business6 days agoFCT Minister reveals how he would aggressively pursue revenue collection, tours infrastructure