Politics
APGA Chair, Njoku threatens Soludo, others with suspension
The National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Edozie Njoku has said that the Anambra State Governor, Charles Soludo was on the verge of being suspended from the party due to his alleged protracted anti-party activities.
Njoku said 80 percent of the APGA’s leadership has agreed that Soludo and others to be suspended for anti-party activities, adding that their names would soon be announced by the party in a bid to sanitize it and instill discipline, decorum and orderliness on members.
The APGA Chairman said these at the premises of the Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday shortly after the proceeding in a case involving the party.
He said: “Remember what the Chairman of the APGA BoT said, that we the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party should take action so that we don’t look like toothless bulldogs.
“One of those people to be suspended is the governor, and I am saying, are we going to suspend the only governor we have?
“But, if the only governor we have is pretending or playing to the gallery, making these honest people to go in and commit anti-party activities, we must nip this in the bud.
“I don’t know what Soludo is playing at and I don’t know what his problem is, but he must conform himself under the party,” he said.
Njoku said the suit (before the Federal High Court) was aimed at securing an interim injunction for INEC to stop recognizing him as the authentic National Chairman of APGA.
“Unfortunately for them, the court presided over by Justice James Omotosho, refused to grant the application, insisting that they must put the National Chairman of APGA and others on notice,” he said.
Njoku accused Soludo of thwarted every move by the Supreme Court and INEC-recognized NWC to restore peace to the party by allegedly engaging anti-party activities.
“If you remember, just about a week ago or two weeks ago, we just left the Court of Appeal where a stay was applied at the Court of Appeal to stay me being recognized by INEC despite the fact that the Supreme Court said in their own words that the removal of Chief Edozie Njoku as national chairman of APGA is not justiceable.
“They went to Awka and filed the suit, suddenly the the judge in Awka was very smart, and he pulled out of it.
“They came to the Federal High Court again. They filed another one behind our back, they were applying for an interim injunction behind the back of the national chairman of the party, behind the back of APGA, behind the back of the orders of the Court of Appeal, which asked that they should enforce the judgment as pay or affirm the enforcement of the judgment, as per the Buhari High Court.
“They went forward behind the back of APGA and INEC were very smart, and INEC have written that everything they said is not true.
“The local government elections are going to take place in Anambra on the 28th but what we should understand about this is that Charles Soludo, the governor, I don’t know, he should know that it’s a political system he’s not an emperor.
“He has gone forward to get the House of Assembly to adopt, to make a law whereby the party cannot field their candidates.
“They went to the field and conducted something behind the back of the party, where they assembled certain people who are conducting anti party activities” Chief Njoku said.
“Soludo must know that if there is anything filed in this court, it is going to be filed by APGA. He cannot bring someone not recognised by the law, and who is already facing a contempt charge, which is a man called Sly. He has already been served with Form 48, alongside Oye, who is going to be sentenced soon.
“In all these things, we must realize that there is law and order in Nigeria. That you are a governor, with so much resources does not mean you should waste the resources of people of Anambra State trying to chase shadows.
“A Supreme Court judgment has been enforced at the lower court, and has been affirmed by the Court of Appeal. You went for Stay at the appellate court and the court said, no, we cannot stay this man.
“Now, you have come to the lower court again to deceive those people. What effect will the lower court have on the judgment of the Court of Appeal? None. You are just carrying us around, we are spending money on SANs left, right and centre because you feel you have Anambra State money to spend. It is highly unfair to those poor masses in Anambra state.
“Soludo must now try to think back and understand that the money being given to him from the federation account is not given to you for selfish interest, but for the betterment of Anambra State.
“They are pushing us far to the limit, and they are believing that the Governor of Anambra State is bigger than the Party. No one is bigger than the Party. Maybe, they are playing on the fact that I want peace, that I will not change.
“If you recall, I have been preaching peace, peace and peace because it is not in the interest of the party for us to start suspending elected officers, to suspending a governor, to start suspending House of Assembly members, to start suspending the Senator from Abia,” he said.
Njoku disclosed that the party was not planning to restrict nomination of candidate for the next governorship election in Anambra, but will throw it opened to every interested member.
He urged those interested in becoming the governor of Anambra State to come forward and be prepared to go through the primary process which, he said, would be seamless.
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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