Politics
Senator Shehu Sani Set to Defect From PDP To APC, El-Rufai To PDP
All appear set for Senator Shehu Sani, social critic and former Senator, Kaduna Central, to join forces with the All Progressive Congress, APC.
Indications to this effect emerged on Monday, September 23, 2024, following the defection of his followers from the PDP to the APC.
It will be recalled that Senator Sani contested the 2023 gubernatorial ticket of the PDP, but lost at the the primary stage.
The decampees ,in their thousands from across the 23 local councils of the State, arrived the APC Campaign Office on Muhammadu Buhari way, singing and hailing the name and praises of the former Senator.
Clutching the portraits of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and that of Senator Sani, the decampees were received by some APC chieftains.
Spokesperson for the defectors, Monday Jaji, informed that their efforts in the last few months to convince Senator Sani about their position have, finally, yielded fruits.
According to him, they have finally convinced their leader on the need for them to return to the APC.
Jaji who was the Campaign Director to Sani during their sojourn in the Peoples Redemption Party PRP, noted that for two years, they have been pushing for their mentor and leader to defect to the APC due to his proven track record of performance while he held sway as a Senator between 2015 and 2019.
“When he was a Senator, Comrade Sani built seven hospitals across his constituency.
“He distributed over 200 transformers to communities, assisted the poor masses, and even bought a house for destitutes along Kano road, Kaduna.
Shehu Sani built a hospital in Chikun and built three in Igabi Local Government, Rigachikun and Giwa Local Councils”, Jaji stated.
One of the decampees informed that in a few weeks time, Senator Sani will be formally joining the APC.
However, while he will be crossing over from the PDP to APC, his arch political opponent and immediate past Governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir El-Rufai will be heading in the opposite direction.
The Source reports that the political disagreement between the two in the countdown to the 2019 election forced Senator Sani out of the APC, as well as led to his replacement at the Senate with Ubah Sani now the State Governor.
An Impeccable source revealed that El-Rufai’s decision to join the PDP anytime soon is at the root of the Senator’s resolve to defect to the APC .
The Kaduna State APC Chairman, Air Commodore Emmanuel Jekada (rtd ), while radiating happiness also expressed the optimism that the coming on board of the defectors will add value to the party in the State.
Politics
Obi Urges Nigerian Graduates to Seek Opportunities Overseas if Needed, Vows to Fix Nigeria for Their Return
Peter Obi, the Labour Party presidential candidate in Nigeria’s 2023 election, has encouraged Nigerian students to seek better opportunities abroad if local conditions don’t meet their needs.
Obi shared this advice during his visit to Anambra State, where he made donations to Peter University in Achina/Onneh and the College of Nursing Sciences in Adazi-Nnukwu. Addressing nursing students, he reaffirmed his commitment to supporting institutions that nurture skills, professionalism, and character.
Obi advised students that, if career opportunities are limited locally, they should feel free to explore options abroad.
“If things aren’t working here, go where they will work for you,” he said, expressing optimism that, with efforts to improve the country, Nigerians working abroad would eventually return.
Speaking at Peter University, Obi urged students to dedicate themselves to their studies, highlighting education as a transformative force essential for national development.
Emphasizing that investment in education is an investment in the future, he encouraged them to aim for excellence, assuring that a stronger Nigeria would await them.
Politics
Parliamentary system better option for Nigeria -Aregbesola
Politics
2027: Kwankwaso’s visit to Otti sparks possible alliance
Governor Alex Otti of Abia State at the weekend played host to the former presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Rabiu Kwankwaso, at his Nvosi country home in Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area(LGA).
Speaker of the House of Assembly Emmanuel Emeruwa, some aides of the governor, and members of the Kwankwasiyya Movement were present.
Although Kwankwaso said he was in the state to condole with Otti on the passing of Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, the first governor of old Abia State, rumours of a possible political alliance between him and Otti, the only Labour Party(LP) governor in the country, spread.
Onu was buried in Uburu, his hometown in Ohaozara LGA of Ebonyi State on Friday.
Kwankwaso’s visit coincided with a reception held by the governor for 15 Abia indigenes who recently graduated from the Nigeria Police Academy in Kano.
Shortly after he departed the state, political analysts said they were sure that the visit was partly informed by efforts of the Peter Obi-led LP faction to align with other opposition parties ahead of 2027.
‘’Don’t forget that 2027 is near. Do you think the two men would meet like they did now with talking about the next presidential election? That is impossible,’’ one of them told The Nation.
Another said Kwankwaso and Otti were ‘’very much aware that the only way to oust President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the All Progress Congress (APC) from the centre is a formidable alliance.
‘’They know that now is the best time to start talking about how to defeat those in Aso Rock. And that, I believe is the core reason for the visit.”
Last month’s local government poll in the state produced a stunning result with candidates loyal to Otti winning nearly all the chairmanship positions on the platform of the Zenith Labour Party(ZLP)
The governor backed the winners because of court cases on the authentic leadership of the leadership of the LP.
One faction of the party is led by Julius Abure while the other supported by Obi and Otti is headed by Nenadi Usman, a former Finance minister.
Political analysts argued that if Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP), Obi, and Kwankwaso fail to put their political differences behind and field an acceptable presidential candidate in 2027, they might end up not making a significant impact.
Otti had while welcoming Kwankwaso recalled how he offered him a ‘’platform in May 2022 to run ’’ as a governorship candidate.
He thanked Kwankwaso for his guidance and patriotism.
His words: “Thank you for your guidance, for your patriotism, for everything that you have done for this country.
“I want to thank you for encouraging me in 2022 not to lose faith, though we were in different parties, and it appeared as if everything was going to be lost.
“That call that you made about the 20th of May 2022, for also making your platform available for me to run if I had wanted to use the platform, the rest is now history.”
Kwankwaso, a former Kano State governor, congratulated Otti on his emergence as governor. He also lauded his achievements in the state
“For the little time I have been here, I have had the opportunity of talking to a few people who confirmed to me that you are doing very well. We have seen your project everywhere” he said.
The governor and his visitor urged the new Police officers to work hard, contribute to the security of the country, and be good ambassadors of the state.
“The challenge is for you to now work very hard, knowing fully well that in this society, the son of a nobody can be the father of somebody,” said Otti.
“If people like us who grew up here without any hope at that time can be here, there is no reason why you can’t get here. But I am challenging you to be the best you can be.
“Always do things right and do the right things. You can always get to where you are headed. Cutting corners does not take you too far, “ the governor added.
Kwankwaso charged the new police officers to be professional in the discharge of their duties.
“Let me take this opportunity, based on my experience, to advise you to first and foremost fear God.
“Two, you need to be professionals. Now you are fresh, just coming out of the prestigious institute.stay there as professionals,” he said.
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