Politics
Peter Obi Claims Tinubu’s St. Lucia Visit Is for ‘Titles’
Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has accused President Bola Tinubu of embarking on an eight-day state visit to Saint Lucia primarily to collect titles rather than address Nigeria’s deepening crises.
Reacting to Tinubu’s ongoing trip, during which the government of Saint Lucia conferred on him the title of Knight Commander of the Order of Saint Lucia (KCOSL)—the country’s highest national honour—Obi said the President was neglecting pressing domestic issues.
In a statement on Tuesday, Obi said, “It is alarming that we now live in a country of titles and honours without any passion for the people’s plight. While the Presidency basks in the euphoria of titles, St.Lucia, our people are being killed at home.
“A nation where children cannot go to school because some of the teachers have not been paid for almost three years, similar to what I complained about lecturers a few weeks ago. This is not a functioning nation.”
Obi noted that his earlier criticism of the President’s planned trip had nothing to do with disrespect for Saint Lucia but was purely about timing and national priorities.
“When I said that the President embarking on an 8-day state visit to St. Lucia at this critical time was inappropriate and unacceptable, it was not a lack of respect for the country of St.Lucia; rather, it is about the timing and duration for a President whose nation is in turmoil. Timing is everything, and right now, at this time, Nigeria is bleeding,” he said.
Defending the trip, Presidential aides had earlier cited cultural ties, economic gains, and Tinubu’s onward participation in the BRICS summit as justification for the visit. But Obi dismissed these arguments, insisting that the government’s focus should be on addressing Nigeria’s worsening insecurity and collapsing public services.
“But at this critical time when our people die daily and our schools and hospitals are not functioning, we should focus on fixing our country,” he said.
“Having been in St. Lucia for the past 4 days, we have not seen any agreement being entered or signed that would contribute to Nigeria’s development but rather we are watching Mr. President collect a personal honour and title in St. Lucia, because they know we are a country of titles and honour and crave accolades instead of actual development.”
“Just today, as the President received titles in St. Lucia, at least 37 people were killed in Yobe State, in a Boko Haram attack, and currently, today, protesters in Kwara state have been protesting unemployment, banditry and high insecurity in the state,” he said.
“Since the President left for his trip to St. Lucia, a nation 1/6th of Lagos state in size and 1% of Lagos population of 18 million, several Nigerians have lost their lives to insecurity and one form of banditry to another, nothing has been done for the schools and striking teachers. Today alone several teachers are protesting in Abuja, our schoolchildren are still out of classrooms, teachers are unpaid and are currently protesting even while the president was receiving a title, families are fleeing their homes, and people are living in fear. During the period the president has travelled, 200 Nigerians have died in various crisis-related incidents across the country. Russia, a country at war, has not lost as many innocent civilians as Nigeria, which is not officially at war.”
“Other than Katsina where Mr. President went to attend a wedding, he has never spent a night or slept in any Nigerian state other than his home in Lagos for an official tour and even have never visited some of the most troubled states like Niger State, Taraba or Plateau to spend even a single day with the people, yet he is spending eight days in a Caribbean Island.”
Warning that “a nation in pain cannot afford a leadership in denial,” Obi said, “At a time when blood is being spilt on our soil, when children are orphaned and communities erased overnight, with families separated at IDPs, our children are not in school, and teachers are not paid and basic hospitals are not functional, our leadership must be present.”
He also questioned the justification of attending the BRICS summit offered by the Presidency.
“For those mentioning the upcoming BRICS summit to justify the trip, note that the summit is for the 6th and 7th, and no president or prime minister from the initials BRICS state and new members have separated their countries for the summit. In fact, China and Russia, two of its most powerful members, will not be attending.
“China said they have to attend other pressing issues and so mentioned scheduling conflicts and Russia supposedly because of the war which has prevented the president from travelling in recent times.
“India Premier Minister which is yet to leave its country, will, apart from attending BRICS, be doing a 5-nation tour all within the same 8 days.”
Calling for urgent prioritization of Nigeria’s domestic challenges, Obi concluded: “We must prioritise our own domestic challenges because no vacation, no summit and definitely no conference is more important than the lives of the Nigerian people you swore to protect.
“Our children being in school, our people, especially young ones, being pulled out of poverty, we must now prioritise the security and welfare of Nigerians and vigorously pursue the same.”
Obi had earlier criticised the trip last week when news first broke about the President’s planned visit to the Caribbean nation.
Politicsnigeria.com
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), led by the Acting National Chairman, Abdulrahman Mohammed, has elected Mao Ohabunwa as the chairman of its new board of trustees (BoT).
Ohabunwa was elected on Friday after a meeting at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) minister’s official residence in Abuja.
At the event, Isah Dansidi emerged as the secretary of the board.
Speaking during the inauguration, Abdulrahman said the move was to restore true values to the party and regain public trust.
The PDP chairman said: “We have come together not merely to inaugurate a new board of trustees but to renew our faith in the ideals that gave birth to this great political family — justice, fairness, inclusivity, and respect for the rule of law”.
According to him, recent developments in the party, such as internal challenges and disputes, have set the party off from the very principles that formed it.
“We must also be honest with ourselves – the decay we are correcting today did not start yesterday. It began when we abandoned the principle of zoning before the 2015 elections. It began when we allowed ambition to override equity, and when we ignored the cries of reason from within our own ranks. The consequences of those decisions still haunt us today,” he said.
“I stand before you to assure every member of this great party that under this new leadership, the PDP will never again be held hostage by impunity, manipulation, or disregard for its own constitution.
“We will rebuild this party with transparency. We will respect court judgments and the rule of law. We will conduct our congresses with fairness and integrity. We will restore public trust and make the PDP once again the moral voice of Nigeria’s democracy.”
He vowed to reposition the party and bring peace.
At the meeting were PDP National Secretary, Samuel Anyawu, FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, among others
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has formally acknowledged receipt of the resolution of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) suspending four of its top national officers, including the National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu.
Others suspended are the National Organising Secretary, Captain Umar Bature (retd.); the National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade (SAN); and the Deputy National Legal Adviser, Okechukwu Osuoha.
Naija News reports that the development was contained in a communiqué issued on Wednesday after an emergency meeting of the PDP Board of Trustees (BoT) held in Abuja.
According to the party, INEC was officially notified through a letter conveying the NWC’s resolution from its 608th emergency meeting, where the affected officers were sanctioned over alleged anti-party activities.
The letter, signed by the Acting National Chairman, Umar Iliya Damagum, and other top officials, stated that the suspensions were made in line with Sections 57(3), 58(1)(a)(b)(c)(h) and 59(1) of the PDP Constitution (as amended in 2017).
“The NWC, pursuant to the provisions of the PDP Constitution, suspends the following national officers from the party:
“Senator Samuel Anyanwu – National Secretary
“Hon. Umar Bature – National Organising Secretary
“Barr. Kamaldeen Ajibade (SAN) – National Legal Adviser
“Barr. Okechukwu Osuoha – Deputy National Legal Adviser.
The above-named officers are consequently suspended for one month and referred to the National Disciplinary Committee for further action,” the letter read.
The commission was also informed that during the period of suspension, the affected officials “shall cease to function in their respective capacities.”
In the interim, the Deputy National Secretary, Hon. (Arc.) Setonji Koshoedo, has been directed to serve as Acting National Secretary, in accordance with Section 36(2) of the party’s constitution.
Similarly, the National Director of Legal Services and the National Director of Organisation have been assigned to oversee the operations of their respective departments until further notice.
The letter addressed to INEC read, “The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at its 608th emergency meeting considered the continued anti-party activities of some National Officers despite the formal reprimand issued by the Party.
The NWC, pursuant to the provisions of Section 57(3), 58 (1XaX(b\{c) and (h) and 59 (1) of the Constitution of the Peoples Democratic Party (POP) (As Amended in 2017) suspends the following National Officers from the Party. 1. Senator Samuel Anyanwu – National Secretary 2. Hon. Umar Bature – National Organizing Secretary 3. Barr. Kamaideen Ajibade – National Legal Adviser, 4. Barr. Okechukwu Osuoha – Deputy National Legal Adviser, The above-name National Officers are consequently suspended for a period of one month and referred to the National Disciplinary Committee for further action. During the period of the suspension, the affected officers cease to function in their respective capacities.
Pursuant to Section 36(2) of the POP Constitution, the Deputy National Secretary, Hon. Arc. Setonji Koshoedo shall forthwith act as the National Secretary while the National Director of Legal Services and National Director of Organization are hereby directed to oversee the activities of their respective Directorate.
“While thanking you for your usual cooperation, please accept thee assurances of the National Working Committee’s highest regards,” the PDP said in the letter signed by Amb. Umar Iliya Damagum National Chairman, Amb. Taofeek Arapaja, Deputy National Chairman, Hon. Arch. Setonji Koshoedo, Deputy National Secretary and Hon. Yayari Ahmed, National Treasurer and Dr. Woyengikuro Ambrose Daniel, National Financial Secretary.
Former President Goodluck Jonathan has alleged that ex-US President Barack Obama, plotted his defeat in 2015.
Jonathan made this allegation in his new book, ‘My Transition Hours’ due to launch on Tuesday.
He said Obama displayed an unusual level of bias during the 2015 elections, describing him as overbearing and ‘condescending’ in his message to Nigerians ahead of the 2015 general election.
According to Jonathan, “On March 23, 2015, President Obama himself took the unusual step of releasing a video message directly to Nigerians, all but telling them how to vote.”
Giving the details in the book, Jonathan said, “In that video, Obama urged Nigerians to open the ‘next chapter’ by their votes.
“Those who understood subliminal language deciphered that he was prodding the electorate to vote for the opposition to form a new government.”
According to Premium Times, which obtained a copy of the book hours before its unveiling in Abuja on Tuesday, Jonathan had kept the book secret in order to avoid excerpts of it being published ahead of its formal launch.
DAILY POST recalls that Jonathan lost the 2015 elections to the late President Muhammadu Buhari, marking the first time an incumbent president would lose reelection.
He assumed office in 2010 following the death of President Umaru Yar’Adua, getting his own mandate of four years at the 2011 presidential election.
“The message was so condescending, it was as if Nigerians did not know what to do and needed an Obama to direct them,” Jonathan said of the video message.
He lampooned Obama, who was American president from 2009 until 2017, for saying all Nigerians must be able to cast their votes without intimidation or fear but was reluctant to allow the Nigerian security forces drive Boko Haram insurgents away from the Nigerian territories they had been occupying in order to free Nigerian citizens there ahead of elections.
Jonathan also took a harsh aim at former US Secretary of State, John Kerry, saying the diplomat was nonchalant in his attitude towards his government, despite all efforts to make him understand that the decision to postpone election was in the overall interest of Nigeria.
“How can the U.S. Secretary of State know what is more important for Nigeria than Nigeria’s own government? How could they have expected us to conduct elections when Boko Haram controlled part of the Northeast and were killing and maiming Nigerians?
“Not even the assurance of the sanctity of May 29, 2015 handover date could calm them down. In Nigeria, the Constitution is very clear: No President can extend his tenure by one day,” Jonathan said.
JUST IN: EFCC Arrests 3 Party Chieftains For Vote-Buying In Anambra [PHOTOS]
Tottenham Fight Back Twice To Rescue 2-2 Draw Against Manchester United
Truck Crushes 3 University Students To Death In Lagos, Injures Many- Video
-
News3 days agoJust In: ‘We Will Defeat Terrorism’ – Tinubu States Amidst Trumps Threats
-
Foreign3 days agoU.S. Democracy At Risk Under Trump Administration- New York Times, Gives Reason
-
News3 days agoNAFDAC: Why Senate Ban Sachet Alcohol
-
News3 days agoJust In: Tinubu Sends Message To Trump As US Threat Looms, “I Assure You All”
-
Business2 days agoDangote Refinery Reduces Petrol Price To ₦828
-
News2 days agoOchanya: The Former School Mate Of The Deceased Expose Things She knows About The Incident
-
News2 days agoJust In: Nnamdi Kanu Finally Files Defence As Court Relocates Registry To Courtroom
-
News3 days agoWe Will Defeat Terrorism’ – Tinubu States Amidst Trumps Threat