Former Governor of Kano State , Ibrahim Shekarau, has said Nigeria ’ s next president should come from the Southern part of the country .

He said by 2023 , the President , Major General Muhammadu Buhari ( retd . ) , who is from the northern part of the country , would have been in power for eight years , and “ common sense tells that we should look the other side , to the Southern part of Nigeria ” .

Shekarau , who represents Kano Central District in the Senate , added, “ There is common sense expectation of balancing and giving everybody a sense of belonging and fairness. ”

He , however , said reliable and competent hands should be entrusted with the responsibility of leading Nigeria in 2023.

The All Progressives Congress Senator spoke on Thursday while featuring on a television programme

When asked about his position on the growing call for a South - East presidency in 2023, Shekarau said, “ I don’ t call it zoning , I would rather call it some balancing . There has to be some sense of belonging. There is what I call the constitution of common sense .

“The Constitution of Nigeria or the constitution of any of the political parties didn ’ t say if I am from the North , my running mate must be from the South . It is not written but if today, I am a presidential candidate from Kano and I tell you my running mate is from Bauchi , you will say something is wrong with me .

“The presidency has just been from the North for eight years . Common sense tells that we should look the other side , to the Southern part of Nigeria . We should recognise the North and the South , this is elementary geography and history .

“Perception is what you have to carry along . If you continue to dominate on one particular side , the perception from the other side is , ‘ What about me ?’”

When asked if he has started nursing the ambition to run for president in 2023, the one - time presidential candidate said , “I don ’ t know about that . We haven ’ t gotten there yet , ” but quickly added , “ I am already giving it some thoughts . ”

Vice Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in 2019 elections, Mr. Peter Obi, has said that borrowing progressive business ideas from China will be more beneficial to Nigeria than taking public loans to pump into the economy.

Obi, who made this remark at the 60th Founder’s Day Lecture of University of Nigeria, Nsukka, said China had gone through different stages of national development to arrive at their present level.

He said it would, therefore, pay Nigeria better to copy China’s economic development template rather than running to them for loans.

Obi argued that China that could only boast of a GDP per capita of $960 in year 2000, had grown to a GDP per capita of $10,275 in 2019, with a High Human Development Index of 0.798 in 2019 as against 0.594 in year 2000.

Obi said the huge economic development seen in China is as a result of huge investment in MSME sector, which drastically reduced unemployment and increased government revenue.

In his words: “MSMEs in China which constitute about 95% of Chinese firms, account for 60% of China’s GDP and contributes more than 65% of the import and export business in China.

“They also contributed about 50% of the overall tax revenue of government. MSMEs constitute about 95% of all enterprises in China.

“China’s GDP is today about $14 trillion, which means that 60% translates to about $8.4 trillion— about 21 times the GDP of Nigeria.

“MSMEs account for over 60% of industrial output and provide over 60% of the overall employment and 80% of urban employment in China.

“Talking about the growth of the MSMEs, 10 years down the line, 60% of these MSMEs have shown to become large corporate when compared with Nigeria that 96% are still at the micro stage.

“China has about 840 million people employed (which is 60% of the population), and MSMEs provide 60% of these, which is 500 million people.

“In urban employment, the contribution of MSMEs is even greater; 80% of urban employment is attributed to MSME; of about 500 million people employed in urban areas, MSMEs employ 400 million.

“China had planned to create 50 million jobs from 2015-2020, which is 10 million annually, and is religiously following the plan year-on-year.

“In fact, China has consistently surpassed its annual target. China has an unemployment rate of only 3.7%.”

The event was attended by notable Nigerians, including the principal members of the university.

Obi was accompanied by Professor Stella Okunna, Engr. Patrick Obi, Mr. Ndubisi Menakaya, Mr. Paulinus Aniagbaso, among others.

The die is cast ! The Ondo State governorship election scheduled for October 10 , 2020 remains 72 hours away. Who will be the next occupant of Alagbaka Government House in Akure ? Will Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu popularly known as Aketi be able to retain his seat or will any of the other 16 contestants be able to dislodge him ? Will the Independent National Electoral Commission be able to outperform its Edo State best of September 19 , 2020 ? Will there be better voter turnout in Ondo than the less than 26 per cent voter turnout in Edo ?

A brief history of the state will suffice here . Ondo State , nicknamed the “ Sunshine State ”, was created from the defunct Western Region on February 3 , 1976 . It originally included what is now Ekiti State , which was carved out in 1996. Ondo State occupies a land area of about 15 , 500 km² ( 6 , 000 sq . ml) with a population of 3 , 441 , 924 people according to the 2006 census . The state has 18 Local Government Areas with each of the three senatorial districts having six apiece, with Akure as the capital city . It has eight House of Representatives seats and 26 state House of Assembly positions and 203 Wards and 3 , 009 Polling Units . It also has 1 , 822 , 346 Registered Voters. However , on Saturday , only 1 , 478 , 460 out of these voters who have collected their Permanent Voter Cards are expected to vote in the governorship 17 political parties fielded candidates . Unfortunately, out of the whole lot , only one of them is a female .

Ondo State is one of the seven states that have off - cycle , off - season governorship elections in Nigeria . This happened as a result of the judicial intervention on the 2007 governorship election petition between Dr . Olusegun Mimiko , then of the Labour Party and Dr . Olusegun Agagu , then of the Peoples Democratic Party . Mimiko triumphed over Agagu at the Court of Appeal in 2008 hence the change in the cycle in terms of governorship election in Ondo State.

On February 6, 2020 , INEC announced the date for the election and subsequently released the timetable and schedule of activities . Some of the activities that have so far held include party primaries and nomination of candidates , campaigns which will end on Thursday , procurement of election materials ( sensitive and non -sensitive ) , recruitment and training of ad - hoc staff that will conduct the election , voter education , activation of Inter Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security , stakeholder meetings , signing of peace accord by the 17 candidates in the governorship election , accreditation of party agents , journalists and civil society election observer groups, political debate for selected candidates as well as training and deployment of security officials.

Unfortunately , INEC could not conduct voter registration and distribution of Permanent Voter Cards ahead of the poll due to the COVID- 19 pandemic . In fact , part of activities INEC had to do was to issue fresh election guidelines and voting procedures which will make the electorate to be in full compliance with COVID- 19 safety protocols . For instance , voters are to maintain physical distancing and wear face masks before they can be allowed to vote . INEC officials are also going to be kitted in Personal Protective gear while there will be use of hand sanitisers for both voters and election officials. It is shocking to note that political parties and candidates in Ondo conducted their campaign in strict defiance of COVID- 19 safety protocols . The All Progressives Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party are guiltiest of this.

On Monday, October 5 , 2020 , I was a guest analyst on “Good Morning Nigeria ” , a news and current affairs programme on the Nigerian Television Authority to discuss the forthcoming governorship election in Ondo State . Other panelists were Governor Akeredolu and Dr . Ismail Bello of Baze University , Abuja. One of the questions I was asked was the comparism between Edo and Ondo states. Interestingly , the two states share a lot in common . They are contiguous states sharing boundaries, cultural affinity and both have 18 LGAs, some of them being riverine areas . The APC is the ruling party in both states until July this year when Governor Godwin Obaseki defected to the PDP after being screened out by the APC. They are both oil - producing states although Edo is in the South - South geopolitical zone while Ondo is in the South - West zone. Both states also have off - cycle governorship elections.

Though there are 17 candidates in the Ondo election , it is largely a three - horse race . The real contenders are Governor Akeredolu , the PDP candidate, the APC ’ s Eyitayo Jegede and Zenith Labour ’ s candidate who incidentally is the incumbent Deputy Governor , Agboola Ajayi. Interestingly , the three of them are lawyers with Akeredolu and Jegede being Senior Advocates of Nigeria . Akeredolu and Jegede have also served as former Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General of Ondo State and are also meeting in the electoral field for the second consecutive time having first vied against each other in 2016 on their different party platforms . Ajayi is a former Councillor , Local Government Chairman , member of the House of Representatives and now , Deputy Governor with the backing of former governor Olusegun Mimiko . He is therefore not a political Lilliputian . Besides, the three political gladiators are from the three senatorial districts of the state . Aketi is from the North , Jegede from the Central while Ajayi is from the South .

Should Akeredolu win his reelection bid on Saturday , he will be the second person to achieve that feat in Ondo State since it was created in 1976 . The first being Mimiko who served from 2008 to 2016. Ahead of the poll , there have been concerns over a number of things. The first was the unfortunate fire which gutted parts of INEC office on Thursday , September 10 , 2020 . The inferno destroyed 5 , 141 Smart Card Readers . Luckily , INEC said it had mobilised SCRs from adjoining states to replace the burnt ones and is ready for the conduct of the poll . Two , there have been worrisome cases of electoral violence in the state with most of the clashes being between the supporters of the APC and the PDP . The campaigns of the two dominant political parties have been spiced with incendiary comments , hate speech and fake news .

Akeredolu has been criticised by some of his political opponents . Allegations against him range from non -performance , ‘ Owo - nisation ’ of Ondo government, mismanagement of funds meant for Ondo State Oil Mineral Producing Communities, and others. Aketi has debunked these allegations asking his traducers to come forward with incontrovertible evidences.

The governor says he sees the October 10 election as a referendum on his last three and a half years in office . He claims to have done well given the paucity of funds at his disposal . He also highlighted his major achievements in road construction , creation of an industrial park which has attracted several companies to the state , getting accreditation for about 15 courses for the state ’ s University of Medicine , renovation and building of schools as well as ability to raise the state ’ s Internally Generated Revenue from about N 600 m to over N 2bn .

Do the masses of Ondo State believe Akeredolu ’ s sterling performance story ? Do they believe his political opponents who said he is a failure? Only the electorate can pass a verdict on Aketi and they have a golden opportunity to do that on 10 / 10 / 2020 . I enjoin them to go out en - masse to cast their ballots in an orderly manner and in full compliance with COVID - 19 safety protocols . They should shun violence and vote - buying and follow through the outcome of the poll via INEC ’ s new Result Viewing Portal . It is as sure as death that the APC needs a victory in Ondo State badly to shore up its waning electoral influence , more so as the party is still smarting from the loss of Edo. However , the party must not indulge in underhand tactics to win the election . Anyone planning to rig next Saturday ’ s poll should remember what happened in Ondo State in 1983 between Chief Adekunle Ajasin and Chief Akin Omoboriowo as the people revolted when the election was rigged for Omoboriowo thereby precipitating the political crisis that sounded the death knell of the Second Republic .

 

The upper chamber of Nigeria's Legislature earlier today held a valedictory session in honour of Late Sen. Rose Oko. The Late Sen. Rose Oko who until her demise was a Senator representing the people of Northern Senatorial District of Cross River State under the platform of the People's Democratic Party. 

Sen. Rose Oko was born on 27/09/1956 and whose sad demise occurred on the 23/03/2020 following an ailment which took her life in London. She was aged 63.

Sen. Gershom Bassey while speaking on the floor of the Senate stated that the demise of Sen. Rose Oko came as a rude shock to him. The Senator representing Cross River South described Late. Sen. Rose Oko as a smooth political operator, highly Intelligent, beautiful, focused and a woman of substance. The Senator went ahead to condole with the family of Sen. Rose Oko and prayed that her soul continues to rest in the bosom of the Lord.

The Leader of the Senate, Sen. Yahaya Abdullahi moved a motion for a minute silence in honour of the late Senator. The Senate President, Sen. Ahmad Lawan in his closing remarks remarked that Sen. Rose Oko was very committed and disciplined, also stated that she was very dedicated towards working for Nigerians.

The valedictory session had the presence of dignitaries including but not limited to His Excellency Peter Obi(former Governor of Anambra State), His Excellency Sen. Liyel Imoke and wife, Sen. Sandy Onor, Rt. Hon. Jarigbe Agom amongst others.

Five days to the Ondo governorship election, 11 of the 17 registered political parties in the state have merged and collapsed their structure to support the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Eyitayo Jegede.

Their spokesperson who is the state chairman of the Social Democratic Party, 

Dele Ogunbameru said at the PDP state secretariat in Akure that ” the steps became necessary to ensure victory for PDP and Jegede in the election.

The parties include Accord party AP, 

Social Democratic Party SDP, 

African Democratic Congress, ADC, 

All People’s Party (APP), 

All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), 

Allied Peoples Movement (APM), 

New Nigerian People’s Party (NNPP), 

National Resistance Movement (NRM), 

Labour Party (LP), 

Young Progressive Party YPP, 

African Action Congress (AAC) Party.

I have never gone to beg the Chairman for money and will never do because it's not my culture to beg politicians for money, I only work them.

Am not fighting him because my preferred candidate lost the council election.

Am not fighting him because of the faction in Cross River State chapter of the PDP.

Am not fighting him because am supporting one big politician in Akamkpa, please get it Clare.

Am not fighting him because he didn't give me appointment.

Am fighting him because of what happened between us 6 year's ago.

I was nominated alongside a Biase brother to be a beneficiary of the Niger Delta scholarship in 2015.

The criteria for qualification was for the council secretary ( Akamkpa) to sign the world Bank sponsorship form.

When I took the form to Honorable Linus Bassey as the then outgoing secretary of council to help me sign n stamped it for me, he refused with the excuse that he doesn't want to be held accountable for signing fake documents.

Before I could run around to sign the form, it was already late and the Biase boy was selected against me as qualify as I was then.

People of God, as I write this piece now, that boy is doing his final in law Cambridge University London and Ofutane Joseph is still suffering with the dilapidated academy environment of Nigeria.

Since then I vow never to forgive Honorable Linus Bassey even he's elected president of Nigeria.

Ask him, he's aware of the story.

The Kogi state Governor, His excellency Alhaji Yahaya Bello has approved the appointment of one Mr Anthony Edogbo, an undergraduate medical student of Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki as his Technical Assistant on Private Sector/Digital Economy.

The appointment letter was signed and convened today October 1, 2020 by the secretary to the Kogi State Government, Dr. Ayoade Folashade Arike. The Governor hailed the young man for his intelligence, creativity and patriotism.

Governor Bello said his appointment was based on his tremendous contribution to the development of Kogi state especially in the health sector where he was involved in the development of COVID - 19 Rise Assessment App and the role he played in COVID -19 prevention awareness in the state.

Meanwhile, the Governor congratulated Mr Edogbo and urges him to be committed in the discharge of his new assignment.

Congratulations to the young vibrant youth for this feat.

Thank you.

Former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and 2019 PDP Governorship Candidate, Senator Gen. Jeremiah Useni (Rtd), has advised the national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to quickly resolve internal wranglings in the state chapters of the party to bounce back to power in 2023.

Useni gave the advice while addressing the gathering of aspirants who had boycotted elections into various of ces of Plateau chapter of the party, held at his residence in Jos, Plateau State.

He said: “I advise the national leadership of the PDP to see ahead, use wisdom and quickly move to resolve internal crises in different state chapters before the 2023 general elections in Nigeria as “laying something on nothing, expecting something, will amount to achieving nothing”

Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo state on Friday met with the President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

He was accompanied by his deputy, Philip Shuaibu, on the ‘Thank You’ visit to President Buhari following their re-election on 19 September.

Shortly after meeting with the President, the governor spoke to State House correspondents where he was asked if he would return to the All Progressives Congress.He however noted that it would be immoral for him to return to the APC after winning the election on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The incumbent governor beat Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu of APC by more than 80,000 votes to be re-elected governor of the Edo state.

More to follow…

September 26, 2020

A chieftain of the People Democratic Party, PDP Femi Fani-Kayode has reacted over the suspension of the the governor of Ekiti state, Gov Kayode Fayemi. According to report from other online news platform, the suspension on Gov Fayemi, is due to his anti-party activities.

Reacting to this, the the former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode who aired his mind via his verified Twitter handle, believes that it was his visit to the governor that resulted to his suspension. FFK explained that he knew Fayemi for long and both have been friends for over 30 years. 

Is it "anti-party" to apttempt to engender peace in our nation & to build bridges across regional, ethnic, religious and party lines? Is it "anti-party" to practice politics without bitterness"?

"We must accept the fact that talking to those thet we do not agree with politically is something that ought to be encouraged. Politics is not war"!

The Edo election has been won and lost, at least for now. It is now time to shift attention to that of Ondo that is just around the corner.

Opinions abound regarding what caused the defeat that the All Progressives Congress suffered in the just concluded governorship election in Edo state. But an undeniable fact is that, it is a conglomeration of factors.

In this piece we want to draw attention to an important issue that may have contributed to the APC's defeat that many stakeholders seem to be oblivious of. If the APC wants to boost their chances in the fast approaching Ondo governorship election, they should better start thinking about how to address the issue.

The current economic hardship in the land which the hike in electricity tariff and fuel pump price has aggravated, as well as the insecurity in the land are making Nigerians angry with the APC government. This anger against the APC may have contributed to the ruling party's (at the national level) defeat in the Edo polls.

Many Nigerians are concerned that the APC government is not doing enough to address the challenges of development that confronts the nation. Lately, there is a spike in industrial disputes and this is usually a sign of uneasiness in the polity. It is a sign that the government needs to do more to reassure and win the confidence of the masses.

It is not rocket science to understand why the ruling party will have to struggle hard to win elections at a time like this. Since the issues in question are at a national scale, then Ondo APC is certainly immune from the backlash. Who knows, the issues may have an impact on the voting pattern in the upcoming election in the Sunshine state.

It is in the interest of the national ruling party to do something urgent to start building the confidence of Nigerians in the government's ability to address the plethora of challenges that confronts them. If things don't improve or probably gets worse before the Ondo polls, the party may be shocked by the outcome of the election.

The party and government should therefore do all within their powers to avert the looming nationwide industrial action being threatened by the Nigeria Labour Congress and it's affiliates. The industrial action will aggravate the challenges and suffering in the land and cast the ruling APC in bad light, thereby increasing the masses displeasure with the party.

It is true that Ondo is not Edo. The dynamics and situations are very different but the reality is that the Nigerian people are getting more politically enlightened. They are in dire need of improvements in their living conditions.