politics
2023 ELECTION : I dumped PDP for APC to take Cross River to the centre, says Ayade
Cross River State Governor Ben Ayade, who became the latest governor to defect from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), said he took the step to re-classify his state.
He told visiting APC governors and leaders inside the Executive chamber in Calabar where he was received into his new party: “Recognizing the role of Cross River State; a state that has been reduced to want in body, spirit and in soul; a state whose revenue and resources had been taken; a state whose territorial boundaries has been tampered with. It is my responsibility to re-socket Cross River State to the centre.
“I, therefore, on behalf of the entire people of the state, to the extent of those that believe in the philosophy of peace, unity and progress, that Cross River State is today formally declared as an APC state.”
Ayade directed the state executive council members, members of the House of Assembly, local government chairmen and other stakeholders, who were present at the declaration, to go to their different wards and register as APC members.
Ebonyi State Governor David Umahi on November 16, last year, moved to the APC from the PDP while Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki defected on June 18, 2020, the eve of the governorship election, defected from the APC to the PDP. He won his re-election.
Ayade’s defection was hailed by Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo (SAN), House of Representatives Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila, Deputy Senate President Ovie Omo-Agege, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, former APC National Vice Chairman (Southsouth) Hillard Etta, Kwara State chieftain Saliu Mustapha and Chief Obono-Obla.
The PDP chided him for jumping ship.
It advised the Cross River chieftains to ensure that the structure of the party was kept intact.
Ayade’s defection was witnessed by Governors Mai Mala Buni (Yobe), who is the APC National Caretaker Committee Chairman, Hope Uzodima (Imo), Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi), Simon Lalong (Plateau), Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti) and Badaru Abubakar (jigawa). The Minister of State for Petroleum, Chief Timipre Sliva, was also part of the delegation.
Ayade said Cross River State, with her lean resources, could not afford to remain in the opposition.
He noted that President Muhammadu Buhari had been doing his best for the country, adding that he deserved the support of all.
Ayade said: “Having seen the commitment and the sincerity of Mr. President; having seen the progress made so far and the tension created by social media manipulation. “And having recognised the issues and challenges in the state and nation; it is my responsibility as the leader of the people in Cross River State, to do the needful, to assist Mr. President to succeed.
Speaker of the House of Assembly, Eteng Williams, applauded the defection, saying: “What the governor has done is the right thing for the state. We believe in the progress and the good of the state. So we will follow the governor. The new slogan for us is #we move!”
A National Assembly member, Legor Idagbor, representing Obudu, Bakwarra and Obanliku Constituency, also assured of his readiness to follow the governor to the APC.
An elder statesman, Chief Asuquo Ekpeyong, hailed Ayade, saying that Cross River State needed to be with the center.
Expressing delight over the defection, Gbajabiamila said Ayade’s action had shown that APC is the party to beat in the country.
The Speaker, in a statement by his spokesman, Lanre Lasisi, said the Cross River State governor had taken the right decision and shown a good example for others to follow.
He said the ruling party was open to all, urging well-meaning Nigerians to join the APC to move the country forward.
The Speaker noted that APC will continue to be just and fair to all its members.
Omo-Agege, in a statement by his spokesman, Yomi Odunuga, in Abuja, said Ayade has displayed uncommon courage of conviction to take Cross River and the South-South, out of the periphery to mainstream.
He said: “It is remarkable that Governor Ayade, our party’s new leader in Cross River State, had been confronting numerous needless retrogressive intrigues from his former party, but while receiving him with open arms in APC, we unequivocally recognise him as the state party leader.
“The essence of this is to enable him focus on the task of accelerating further people-focussed development in his state by sharing the progressive vision of APC and that of President Muhammadu Buhari.
“Governor Ayade has wasted no time in declaring that he is joining our party so as to bring back Cross River to the centre in order to enhance her fortunes.”
Ndoma-Egba, who commended Ayade, said the governor’s defection will enrich internal democracy, urging him to be consultative, inclusive, democratic, transparent and accountable.
He said: “I also expect that your presence in the APC will further strengthen the party and improve our electoral fortunes in Cross River State.”
Obono Obla, President Muhammadu Buhari’s former aide, said: “Governor Ayade is human, and he has his good and negative sides, just as I and you.”
He has done his best for Cross River State, and he is still doing his best. Cross River State has a huge debt profile which Governor Ayade inherited, but he has managed the state’s economy excellently, paying salary and doing projects. I salute him. He is a man of sagacity and courage!”
Obono-Obla pledged to work with Ayade to enhance the party’s fortunes.
Etta expressed delight over the governor’s defection; he will as value to the party in the state.
He stressed: “He has joined the party and the best thing to do now is to welcome him. His value will surely increase our chances in 2023 elections. There is a value in having a governor in our party. Some of his supporters will surely follow him, but whether there is going to be mass defection from PDP is a different matter.”
A PDP chieftain, Ndoma Lyod, said the governor’s departure was long expected.
He stressed: “It didn’t come as a surprise to some of us. We knew, he was going to move, only the time we did not know.
“He is free to go to any party of his choice to realise his 2023 ambition, but PDP remains strong in Cross River.”
Lyod said that the state will remain a stronghold a PDP state, adding that Ayade’s defection would not change affected the chapter.
“Cross River is for PDP and nothing can change that,” he maintained.
The Chairman of National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) Dan Obu said the governor had the right to move to any party to pursue his future political ambition.
He said: “As an individual he has the right to chose where to go. The party is just a platform, and he has just changed his political platform.
“We are not a political party but we shall meet at the appropriate time to take a position on where to vote.”
Deputy Speaker of Cross River House of Assembly, Joseph Bassey, who also defected to the APC, said the governor’s move had crumbled the PDP in the state.
He said the governor had moved to the ruling party with members of the House of Assembly, commissioners, elected council chairmen, councilors and over 6,000 political appointees in the state.
“We just have to help Cross River residents by aligning with the centre. Cross River receives the least allocation from the Federal Government and this is not good enough.”
Keyamo, in his official Twitter handle, described Ayade as an enlightened and accomplished governor.
He remarked: “I welcome one of the most cerebral, the most progressive, the most enlightened and the most accomplished, Gov Professor Ben Ayade, to the fold of the progressives. As my elder brother and friend from the South South region, this is the day we have been waiting for”
A former governorship aspirant in Kwara State, Saliu Mustapha said: “Ayade’s decision to join the progressive fold is bold and courageous. It was the right thing to do at this auspicious time in the life of the people of Cross Rivers State, and that of our country, Nigeria.
“In the face of serious national crisis as Nigeria is presently in, there should be a legitimate desire by all political actors to pull together in offering and finding solutions to the crisis at hand.”
Noting that Ayade has taken the right step, he also called on others to join the party.
“For Governor Ayade, the APC will be more than just a home. It is also going to be an ideological pathway. The APC offers him a decent and ethical platform to drive development through politics. The promise will begin to unfold in the days ahead.”
The PDP spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan, said in a statement that the main opposition party had noted the governor’s defection to the APC.
The PDP called on its all critical stakeholders and members in Cross Rivers State to pull together and ensure that every structure of the party in the state remained intact.
It added: “The PDP wishes Governor Ayade well in his new political sojourn as well as in his future endeavours”.
The APC advised other PDP governors to join the ruling party.
APC Secretary Caretaker Extra-Ordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC), Senator John James Akpanudoedehe, in a statement, urged the PDP governors to take a queue from the new defector and abandon the sinking vessel.
Akpanudoedehe, who described PDP as a dead party, urged the remaining governors to leave it for a living and thriving APC.
politics
2027 Election: Preserve Your Reputation as a Statesman — Oshiomhole Advises Jonathan, Says Only Your Enemies Want You to Contest
Former Edo State governor, Adams Oshiomhole, has advised former President Goodluck Jonathan against yielding to pressure to contest the 2027 presidential election, warning that doing so would damage his legacy.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, Oshiomhole said that only those who do not wish Jonathan well would encourage him to return to the political arena, adding that the All Progressives Congress (APC) would easily defeat him if he chose to run.
“How can Jonathan be a threat? We defeated him before when PDP was truly PDP,” Oshiomhole said.
“If a man had PDP at its best, at its peak, and he was defeated, I think only his enemy will push him to go into election.”
The former APC national chairman advised Jonathan to preserve his reputation as a statesman and avoid a return that could erode the respect he earned after conceding defeat in 2015.
“If I were able to advise him, I will say, Sir, maintain this status. You governed for eight years, you don’t have to govern for nine,” Oshiomhole said.
According to Oshiomhole, Jonathan “has managed to demonstrate that out of power, you can be relevant and at peace.”
He praised Jonathan’s historic concession speech in 2015, describing it as one of his most admirable legacies.
“Looking at how he ascended to that office, if I were him, I will spend the end of my life trying to find relevance, which he has already found, and speaking because that conceding defeat, and that is memorable quote about my blood, sorry, blood of a Nigerian is not worth my ambition, he should just allow those legacies to be,” he said.
Oshiomhole further argued that Jonathan’s political base in the South-South had weakened since his departure from office, making a comeback unrealistic.
“We will defeat him flatly if he comes out because now the South-South is no longer PDP. So where is he going to start from?” he asked.
Jonathan, who was the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), lost the 2015 presidential election to the late Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Rivers Governor Siminalayi Fubara has sacked all commissioners and other appointees administration affected by the Supreme Court’s judgement.
The Governor announced the decision during a valedictory session he organised for his cabinet to mark the 65th Independence Anniversary on Wednesday.
A statement by his Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Nelson Chukwudi, confirmed that during the event, which held in Government House, on Wednesday, Fubara relieved all the commissioners and other public officers affected by the Supreme Court’s judgement of their appointments.
The Governor called on all stakeholders to work with President Bola Tinubu in building a peaceful, secured and prosperous country.
He also thanked members of his cabinet for their services and contributions to the development of the state in the last two years..
“He called on all Nigerians to work together with Mr President to build a peaceful, secure and prosperous country and a brighter future for all,” the statement said.
The Governor also reiterated commitment to serve the State with renewed vigor and thanked all citizens for their support, and wished all Nigerians a happy Independence anniversary.
The Court, while recognising the 27-member Assembly led by Speaker Martins Amaewhule as the only authentic legislative arm of government, nullified all legislative decisions made in favour of Fubara during the crisis including the passage of budgets; screening and confirmations of commissioners and other public officers holders.
It was gathered that over 19 of Fubara’s commissioners, whose appointments were screened and confirmed by Oko-Jumbo were affected by the Supreme Court’s judgement.
The judgement rendered the appointment of Iboroma Dagogo, SAN, who was screened and confirmed as the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice invalid.
Other commissioners affected by the judgement are Charles O. Beke, Collins Onunwo, Solomon Eke, Peter Medee, Elloka Tasie-Amadi, Basoene Joshua Benibo, Tambari Sydney Gbara and Ovy Orluideye Chinendum Chukwuma.
Also, Illamu Arugu, Rowland Obed Whyte, Samuel Anya, Samuel Eyiba, Austin Emeka Nnadozie, Israel Ngbuelu, Evans Bipi, Otamiri Ngubo, Benibo Alabraba and Emmanuel Frank-Fubara, suffered a similar fate.
It was also gathered that the Governor could consider the inclusion of some of them in the list of fresh nominees he was preparing to send to the House of Assembly.
Publisher of August24news.com, Ajagbe Adeyemi Teslim and Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly Rt. Hon. (Dr) Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa.
In a bid to contribute to the stability, unwaving and sterling political Governance in Lagos State since the Era of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR) as the then Governor of the State, Renowned Political Journalist and Publisher of August24news.com, Ajagbe Adeyemi Teslim has today presented a GAC Frame to the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly Rt. Hon. (Dr). Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa
GAC, which means Governance Advisory Council is known to be the highest decision making body in Lagos Politics.
The Presentation was done today at the Office of the Rt Honorable Speaker in Ikeja, Lagos.
Our reporter gathered that the frame which is a 24 inches by 34 inches frame size displayed the names, photographs, local government and senatorial district of all the 35 distinguished members of the Lagos State Governance Advisory Council (GAC).
The Names are President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR) Ikeja Local Government (LAGOS WEST), Sen. Oluremi Tinubu, Eti-Osa Local Government (LAGOS CENTRAL) Gov. BABAJIDE Olusola Sanwo-Olu, Lagos Island Local Government (LAGOS CENTRAL), Gov. Babatunde Raji Fashola, Surulere Local Government (LAGOS CENTRAL), Gov. Dapo Akinwunmi Ambode, Epe Local Government (LAGOS EAST), Prince Tajudeen Oluyole Olusi (OON) Lagos Island Local Government (LAGOS CENTRAL) and Chairman of the GAC, Alhaji Bushura Alebiosu, Kosofe Local Government, (LAGOS EAST), Prince Rabiu Adio Oluwa, Ajeromi Local Government, (LAGOS WEST), RT. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, Surulere Local Government. (LAGOS CENTRAL), Alhaji Shakira Akanbi Seriki, Epe Local Government (LAGOS EAST), CHIEF M.A Taiwo, Oshodi/Isolo Local Government (LAGOS WEST), Sen. Idiat Oluranti Adebule, Ojo Local Government. (LAGOS WEST), Hon. Wale Edun, Eti-Osa Local Government, (LAGOS CENTRAL), RT. Hon. Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa, Agege Local Government (LAGOS WEST), Sen. Anthony Adefuye, Somolu Local Government (LAGOS EAST), Alhaji Mutiu Are, Lagos Island Local Government (LAGOS CENTRAL) and Secretary of the GAC, DR. Qadri Obafemi Hamzat, Ifako/Ijaye Local Government (LAGOS WEST), RT. Hon. Sabit Adeyemi Ikuforiji, Epe Local Government (LAGOS EAST), Sen. Ganiu Olanrewaju Solomon, Mushin Local Government (LAGOS WEST), Sen. Adeseye Ogunleye, Kosofe Local Government (LAGOS EAST), CHIEF Abiodun Ogunleye, Ikorodu Local Government (LAGOS EAST), Otunba Henry Oladele Ajomale Oshodi/Isolo Local Government, (LAGOS WEST), Dr. Abayomi Finnih, Ikeja Local Government. (LAGOS WEST), Omooba Murphy Adetoro, Eti-Osa Local Government (LAGOS CENTRAL), Sen. Mikailu Adetokunboh Abiru, Ikorodu Local Government (LAGOS EAST), Hon. Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi, Ojo Local Government (LAGOS WEST), Alhaji Tunde Balogun, Apapa Local Government (LAGOS CENTRAL), Cardinal James Omolaja Odunbaku, Ikeja Local Government (LAGOS WEST), Chief Mrs Adejoke Orelope Adefuluire, Alimosho Local Government, (LAGOS WEST), Asiwaju Olorunfunmi Bashorun, Ikorodu Local Government (LAGOS EAST)
Others are; Omooba Olumuyiwa Sosanya, Kosofe Local Government (LAGOS EAST), Sen. Musiliu Olatunde Obanikoro, Lagos Island Local Government (LAGOS CENTRAL), Princess Sarah Adebisi Sosan, Ojo Local Government (LAGOS WEST), Chief Femi Pedro, Eti-Osa Local Government (LAGOS CENTRAL) and Hon. Mrs. Jumoke Okoya-Thomas, Lagos Island Local Government (LAGOS CENTRAL) respectively.
The frame also has a tribute segment where all the late eight (8) members of the council where fully recognized.
They are Late Hon. Chief Mrs Kemi Nelson, Hon. RF Balogun, Ambassador Rasak Demola Seriki, Oba Olatunji Hamzat, Alhaji Safiriyulahi Sumola, Chief Lanre Rasak (KLM), Proff Tunde Samuel and Chief Sunny Akinsanya Ajose of blessed memory.
The GAC remain one of the deep thoughtful thoughts, several positive political theories and landmark legacies of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR) while serving as Governor of Lagos State as part of its efforts to “REBRAND” Governance which has now become a MODEL and TEMPLATE of good Governance in our dear state, Lagos, Hence on his Mandate, we shall continue to STAND.
According to the Publisher of August24news.com Mr. Ajagbe Adeyemi Teslim during the presentation said The Idea of putting the 35 Wise Men and women of the GAC in a Large frame is to showcase their UNITY as well as a way of Promoting their well-deserved Honour. This will no doubt, encourage other political leaders in our state to be more dedicated in their services to our dear state in particular, the country at large and humanity as whole.
Speaking further, The Frame is a great research work carried out by our Editorial Team here in August24news.com, we did this to encourage our leaders in Reshaping, Promoting and Rebranding Our Lagos Politics.
“After today’s presentation to the Speaker, we will continue to roll out the presentation to the office of the Executive Governor of Lagos State, Mr. BABAJIDE OLUSHOLA SANWOLU and his Deputy, Dr. OBAFEMI KADRI HAMZAT, All Honourable Commissioners in the state, Federal and State Lawmakers, All the 57 Council Chairmen, Some Key Dignitaries and other Party Loyalist in the state.
Receiving the Frame in a joyfully mood, Lagos Assembly Speaker, Rt. Hon. (Dr) Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa thank the team for the presentation while commending August24news.com Editorial team for the great research job particularly the Publisher, Mr. AJAGBE ADEYEMI TESLIM for putting up such creativity.
Obasa said the frame will be well kept in a reserved place in his office and archives for coming generation to know their legends and political leader as he call for a minute silent to honour the late eight members of the Council.
Commenting on the GAC FRAME Presentation is a member of the Governance Advisory Council (GAC) who also doubles as the GAC secretary, Alhaji Mutiu Are said the GAC is one of the beauty of Lagos Politics.
Also Commenting, is a Political Analyst Commentator and Publisher of Upshot Media, Mr. Mojeed Jamiu commended Ajagbe for the initiative on the photo frame adding that GAC members deserves even greater recognition, especially given their immense contribution to good governance in Lagos State.
Publisher of August24news.com, Ajagbe Adeyemi Teslim and Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly Rt. Hon. (Dr) Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa.
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