politics
Update : Northern Christian Youths Attack Dogara, Others for beating drums of religious war
AHEAD of the 2023 elections, the Northern Christian Youth Initiative (NYCI) has condemned the activities of politicians using religion under any guise as the basis for their political rallies and electioneering campaigns.
The group condemned the attacks by the former speaker of the house of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, and the erstwhile secretary to the government of the Federation (SGF) Babachir Lawal, on the same-faith ticket decision of the All Progressives Congress, APC.
It would be recalled that Dogara and Lawal, who are APC chieftains and some Church leaders had argued against the emergence of two Muslims as the party’s flag bearers for the 2023 polls, saying it was against religious balancing
But the Northern Christian Youths argued that the overemphasis on the ruling party’s choice of standard bearers of the same faith at the expense of other critical issues by the duo of Dogara and Lawal could plunge the country into a religious war.
NCYI’s Convener, Hon. Mike Msuaan Msuaan, in a statement on Friday night, insisted the both men were staunch supporters of the candidate of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
He said, “As a matter of fact, Babachir Lawal authored very damaging write ups against the Vice president of Nigeria, Prof. Yemi Osibanjo ;himself a Christian and a presidential aspirant in the APC primary that produced Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Babachir Lawal, demeaned his fellow Christian, in support of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu who is a Muslim. Hon. Dogara was also a known supporter of Tinubu
“We did not find Both Hon. Yakubu Dogara and Babachir Lawal canvassing votes for any Christian candidate during the APC primary. We expect the duo who have become accidental defenders of the Christian faith to have stood for either, Prof Osibanjo or Hon. Rotimi Ameachi who where also top presidential contender during the party primary
“We expect that people who have held such exalted positions like those held by Hon. Dogara and Babachir Lawal in the past would be cautious in sowing seeds of division, be it religious, ethnic or regional. Hon. Dogara was not elected as a member of the house of Representatives and subsequently the speaker of the house of Representatives on the basis of his faith, neither was Babachir Lawal appointed SGF because of his region. They both found themselves in the office to uphold the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“A school of thought has it that both Dogara and Babachir nursed intentions of becoming vice presidential candidates to Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and worked for his emergence. Their inability to to secure such endorsement is touted as the singular selfish reason they have become very bitter and are moving around sowing seeds of division.
“The resort to divisive machinations in the manner Hon. Dogara and Babachir have resorted to, after losing out in the consideration for the vice presidency are unbecoming of statesmen who have risen to such exalted positions of leadership in the country they intend to destroy now is condemnable.
“Hon. Dogara has won elections in a nearly Muslim-dominated constituency. The electorates did not vote for him on the basis of his religious inclination, or consideration, nor were they voting him to represent any religious group at the National Assembly.
“The build-up to 2023 general and the contending interests will no doubt generate tension in the country on its own. Leaders like the former speaker of the house of Representatives and the SGF who should champion the vanguard for peaceful, free and credible elections must not embark on voyages to heat up the polity in the name of settling political goals.”
The group, therefore, cautioned the Christian Association of Nigeria CAN and Christians generally to be weary of the sudden defence and interest politicians like Hon. Dogara and Babachir Lawal seem to have for the defence of Christianity when in reality they supported a Muslim candidate to emerge as the presidential candidate of the APC.
“The country is facing economic challenges, security issues such as Kidnappings, banditry, Boko Haram, herders and farmers crisis are issues that we must urgently address as a matter of national emergency. This is the time to look for leaders who have the competence to tackle these problems and unite the country.
“NCYI completely condemns the activities of Dogara and Babachir as capable of causing religious war and endangering northern Christians,” the statement added.
politics
Breaking : Accord Party Faces Internal Crisis in Osun as Bamigbola Emerges for 2026 After Adeleke
A faction of the Accord Party has produced Clement Bamigbola as its governorship candidate for the 2026 Osun State election, just four days after the emergence of Governor Ademola Adeleke as the party’s flagbearer.
Newsthumb recalls that Adeleke had emerged on Wednesday as the party’s candidate, being the sole aspirant in the exercise.
However, a faction of the party rejected his emergence, insisting that Barrister Maxwell Ngbudem is not the legally recognised national chairman of the Accord Party.
In a fresh development on Sunday, about 300 delegates of the Accord Party from across Osun State elected Bamigbola as the factional candidate during a primary held at Regina Suite, Osogbo.
Bamigbola emerged through a voice vote conducted by the delegates, after which the Chairman of the Primary Committee, Hon. Olufemi Ogundare, declared him the party’s candidate for the 2026 Osun State governorship election.
Following his declaration, Ogundare and other party leaders formally presented the party’s flag to Bamigbola ahead of the 2026 contest.
politics
2026: Tinubu Hosts Osun APC Aspirants in Aso Villa, Emphasizes Unity and Consensus Building
PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has appealed to governorship aspirants of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the 2026 election for unity and consensus-building ahead of the party’s primary on December 13.
The President made the appeal when he met with the aspirants at the State House, Abuja, on Monday night.
The Osun State governorship aspirants who attended the meeting with the President include former Deputy Governor Benedict Olugboyega Alabi, Dotun Babayemi, Akin Ogunbiyi, Senator Babajide Omoworare, Kunle Adegoke (SAN), Babatunde Hareter Oralusi, Mulikat Abiola Jimoh and Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji.
Also in attendance at the meeting were the National Chairman of the APC, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda; the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume; the Chairman of the Progressive Governors, Hope Uzodimma; and the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola.
President Tinubu, who praised all the aspirants for their contributions to the APC in Osun State, urged them to close ranks and support the consensus candidate the party will present for the governorship election in the state. He also advised them to avoid the internal bickering and disunity that caused the party to lose the last election in the state to the Peoples Democratic Party.
While harping on the importance of party supremacy, President Tinubu charged the aspirants to allow it to prevail in choosing the flagbearer, noting that only the party can benefit from it when it wins elections.
“You all have a duty and obligation to the party by ensuring the candidate of our party wins the next election in Osun State. You must strengthen the bonds of unity, party supremacy and collective responsibility. I have absolute confidence in your ability to deliver victory to our party in Osun State. You have my support and that of the National leadership of APC to win the coming election,” President Tinubu assured.
At the end of the meeting, a joint statement was issued in which the aspirants and the leaders committed to support the candidate who would emerge at the primary.
Here is the statement signed by all the aspirants and the APC leaders: “We, the undersigned aspirants for the 2025 Osun State Governorship Election under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), having met and deliberated in the presence of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, and the National Chairman of the APC, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, and in the spirit of unity, discipline, and loyalty to our great party, hereby declare as follows:
That we affirm and uphold the supremacy of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in guiding and determining the most appropriate process for selecting the party’s flag bearer for the 2025 Governorship Election in Osun State.
That we unanimously agree to abide by the party’s decision to nominate a consensus candidate for affirmation at the APC Primary Election scheduled for Saturday, 13th December 2025.
That we accept the outcome of the party-led nomination process in good faith, and pledge our total support to the candidate so nominated and affirmed.
That we commit ourselves to peace, unity, and cohesion within the APC, and pledge not to engage in any act, public or private, that may undermine the integrity of the process or the standing of the party.
That we will work collectively and individually to ensure the success of the APC at the polls and the consolidation of good governance in Osun State.
“We make this declaration voluntarily, in absolute loyalty to our great party, and in recognition of the guidance provided by Mr President and the National Chairman in the overriding interest of the progress and stability of Osun State”.
There was jubilation on Wednesday as Governor Ademola Adeleke emerged the Accord Party’s gubernatorial candidate for the 2026 Osun State governorship election.
Adeleke, who was the sole aspirant, secured 145 out of 150 delegate votes to clinch the party’s ticket.
The outcome of the primary election was announced by the Secretary of the Primary Committee, Abdulazeez Salaudeen.
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