Politics
Ondo: Rtd Army General, Ohunyeye joins race, says he’s most qualified
Retired Brigadier-General Felix Olamide Ohunyeye has joined other aspirants jostling for the All Progressives Congress’ (APC’s) ticket ahead of the governorship primary election in Ondo State.
Addressing newsmen after picking Expression of Interest and Nomination Forms at the party’s National Secretariat in Abuja on Tuesday, Ohunyeye said he’s the most qualified amongst others, adding that he has all it takes to transform the state positively.
The retired Army General said his professional experience and antecedents place him at advantage to emerge as the APC’s flag bearer come 20th April.
In his words, “We are here to pick up the forms and the forms are already with me, with this, there is no doubt about our intentions, this is very affirmative, and it’s a confirmation of the fact that we are in the race to become the governor of Ondo state this year”.
While saluting the courage of other aspirants in the race, Ohunyeye believes that he is the best man for the job.
“I want to put it on record that all the contestants, at least ten in number so far, are my brothers and I want to recognize them on their own rights for being eminently qualified to pick up a form to throw themselves into the ring towards becoming the governor of the state.
“Nevertheless, I want to tell you that
i’m a retired General in the army, and that speaks volume, that possibly places me at an advantage in terms of professional experience of not less than 35 years in active service.
“And that provides a leverage for me to outperform all the other contestants and by the grace of God, the obstacles you see, I’m not seeing them, I believe come April 20, I General Felix Ohunyeye (retired) will be announced as the APC ticket holder for Ondo state,” he affirmed.
Highlighting his achievements, Ohunyeye said he has touched many lives through a series of intervention programs and promised to do better if given the opportunity to serve his people.
“It’s a big deal to serve the nation for 35 years, and that is a commendable service that cannot go unnoticed.
“Having said that, in the last 20 years as a serving military officer, I have interacted with my community as much as allowed by military laws, ethics and procedures.
“We have had a series of interventions in terms of helping the indigent ones, in terms of assisting the farmers with one manner of seedlings or the other.
“In terms of organizing awareness and sensitization campaigns to ensure that businesses of dropout children out of school are reduced, and several other things that time will not permit me to start rolling out.
“By and large, to appreciate what I have done for my society, my community, I was specially welcomed back through a reception by my community and this speaks volume too, that I have done well not only for the Federal Republic Nigeria, but also for the little community in Ondo states, in particular,” 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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