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Edo 2024: Why APC should not look beyond Senator Osunbor
By Ohis Akhigbemudu
The All Progressives Congress, APC in the next 48hours will pick its flag bearer for the Edo guber primaries slated for February 17th.
The APC needs not to travel all the way to Sokoto in search of a candidate when it already has Senator Professor Oserheimen Osunbor in its sokoto ready to be activated to wrest power from the PDP controlled state.
Osunbor as it stands today is the only marketable brand in the shelf of the APC that can galvanize support with little or nothing for the party to take over from PDP.
He is the only weapon that can be launched into action because he has no baggage of any sort that could obstruct APC in the guber polls slated for September. No EFCC records and an unblemished 17 and half months in the saddle as number one citizen in the Heartbeat of the Nation.
Edo APC delegates need not be reminded that Osunbor touched virtually all the economic sectors that were already gathering momentum before he was shoved aside.
Beneficiaries see him on the streets of Benin reminding Osunbor of his good deeds while he was in office.
Freedom of choice is mostly entrenched in democracy, but when exercised with interest relegated to the background, it culminates in regrets and gnashing of teeth.
We are once again presented with the ample opportunity to make our voices heard loud and clear in choosing a leader whose actions and inactions will make us look back at the February 17 exercise in either contentment or misery.
So much has been said and written about Professor Oserheimen Aigberaodion Osunbor, his qualities, and the immense good his candidature can do for the APC in its quest to reclaim the reins from the PDP.
His qualities are innumerable, which, rolled into one, can be aptly termed “servant leadership”.
Now, I would explain what a servant leader is and let anyone explain why and how Senator Osunbor doesn’t fit the bill. In the absence of any contrary opinions, all Edo State APC members obviously have no better option than the professor of law as it concerns beneficial governance.
Servant leadership is a leadership style and philosophy whereby an individual interacts with others to achieve authority rather than power.
Senator Osunbor exhibited this trait that is uncommon in an African democracy as a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and later as the Executive Governor of Edo State for 18 months, during which time he engendered synergistic relationship, promoted innovation, empowed employees, and ensured the well-being of the generality of Edo people indiscriminately.
He has also demonstrated characteristics such as empathy, listening, stewardship, and commitment to the personal growth of others.
My dear APC voters, many other aspirants have a leader-first perspective. They aim to gain control quickly, driven by the desire and prospects for material gain or influence.
Senator Osunbor has never been indicted for misappropriation of funds in his almost two decades of holding prime political positions. Even upon attaining a position of governance in 2007, he became more renowned and revered for prioritising service over personal gains and listening to followers carefully to better understand their needs.
While other aspirants may be spinning money and seeking endorsement from godfathers, Senator Osunbor is primarily concerned with how his efforts will uplift those who are underrepresented or are from lower economic standing, which is essential in seeking a position of democratic control.
Given this glowing attribute, Senator Osunbor has earned the respect of all Edo people who see him as the best model and would defy all odds to vote for him come September 21.
Why would any APC voter overlook this gem on February 17?
Iran slammed a US blockade around its ports on Monday as a “grave violation” of its sovereignty, as Washington and Tehran’s belligerent rhetoric rattled a fragile truce.
“The imposition of a maritime blockade constitutes a grave violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Islamic Republic of Iran,” Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations Amir Saeid Iravani wrote to UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, in a letter seen by AFP.
The “unlawful” blockade also “constitutes a serious violation of the fundamental principles of the international law of the sea,” Iravani added.
US President Donald Trump ordered a blockade of ships entering or leaving Iranian ports and coastal areas in the Gulf Sunday, following the failure of peace talks over the weekend, warning that any Iranian attack boats that challenged the blockade would be destroyed.
The blockade came into force at 1400 GMT Monday, despite the United States and Iran agreeing to a two-week ceasefire days earlier, with mediator Pakistan and Gulf state Qatar continuing calls for it to be respected as diplomatic efforts continue.
Guterres on Monday called on “all parties” to respect freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, after Iran and subsequently the United States blocked passage through the critical waterway.
The strait, through which a fifth of global oil and gas flows, has become a key flashpoint as the US and Iran attempt to gain leverage over each other during ceasefire negotiations.
Iravani said the “unlawful” blockade “poses a grave threat to international peace and security and obviously exacerbates the risk of escalation in an already highly volatile region.”
In a second letter, the UN envoy called on Middle Eastern countries hosting US military bases to “cease their internationally wrongful acts.”
Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Jordan should pay “compensation for all material and moral damage sustained,” he said.
Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has distanced himself from recent media reports linking him to certain political aspirations, saying the comments were made without his knowledge or authorisation.
In a statement issued on Tuesday by his Media Adviser, Muyiwa Adekeye, El-Rufai said the remarks had been attributed to an unnamed individual described in media reports as his political associate, and that he had no hand in them.
“Malam Nasir El-Rufai wishes to dissociate himself from comments regarding political aspirations which have been attributed to someone described by the media as a political associate,” the statement read.
“He did not authorise such comments.”
The disclaimer pointedly underscored El-Rufai’s reputation for speaking his mind directly, with the statement noting that he had been known throughout his public life for the frank articulation of his views.
“He is not about to outsource the expression of his political views and thoughts to others,” the statement added, warning that any future communication from the former governor would come directly from him or through his designated spokesperson.
El-Rufai did not identify the associate in question, nor did the statement specify the nature of the political aspirations that had been reported.
However, the swift and emphatic denial suggests the former governor was keen to prevent any impression that the comments reflected his current political thinking or intentions.
JAMB declares readiness for 2026 UTME, urges parents to protest admission violations
The disclaimer comes amid heightened political activity ahead of the 2027 general elections, a period in which the positions and affiliations of prominent political figures are under intense media and public scrutiny.
El-Rufai, a former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and two-term governor of Kaduna State, remains one of the most closely watched political figures in northern Nigeria.
His next political move — including which party platform he may adopt ahead of 2027 — has been a subject of widespread speculation.
The Yobe State Police Command said its operatives have arrested three suspected vandals involved in the destruction and theft of transformer components belonging to Yobe State Television at Garin Alkali Booster Station.
The Command, through its Public Relations Officer, SP Dungus Abdulkarim, disclosed this in a statement issued on Tuesday in Damaturu.
According to the Command, the arrest was made on April 14, 2026, by its operatives stationed in Garin Alkali while acting on credible intelligence.
“The arrested suspects are Muhammad Auwali, a.k.a. Aburare, 51, Inusa Lawan, 53, and Hassan Ibrahim, 27, all of Bursari and Gashua axis, Bade LGA. One accomplice identified as Ozu, is currently at large.
“Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspects criminally conspired and vandalised a transformer located at the YTV Booster Station, Garin Alkali, Bursari LGA.
“The suspects dismantled the transformer and sold part of the metal components”, it said.
The Command added that upon interrogation, the suspects confessed to the crime and admitted to selling some of the vandalised transformer parts to Hassan Ibrahim for the sum of N250,000, out of which N150,000 had already been paid.
“Investigation is in progress, after which the suspects will be charged in court for prosecution”, the police command said.
Commissioner of Police Usman Kamfani Jibrin, in the statement, warned scrap metal dealers against purchasing suspected stolen items and urged them to cooperate with security agencies in protecting critical public infrastructure.
He stressed that anyone found involved in such unlawful activities will be dealt with in accordance with extant laws.
Iran slams US blockade as ‘grave violation of sovereignty’
El-Rufai distances self from comments on political aspirations attributed to associate
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