Politics
2023: Tinubu urge religious leaders to champion cause of justice, fairness ahead of presidential election
…Says candidates should be adjudged according to track record, not where they come from
The presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has urged leaders of faiths in the country to champion the cause of justice that would deepen national unity and advance democracy ahead of the February 25 election.
Tinubu also asked religious leaders to desist from efforts by some politicians to substitute sentiments with competence in the run off to the election.
A statement by the Tinubu Media Office said the APC candidate spoke on Sunday evening during a town hall meeting with Muslim leaders from the North East as part of his campaign tour to Bauchi State.
“Our scriptures demand justice of us as believers. May we always honor that demand.
“That principle of fairness and justice also requires that leadership of society should be based on the quality of one’s ideas, character and accomplishments, rather than on traits unrelated to the ability to lead and govern justly, honestly.
“The recorded history of our faith shows how our Noble Prophet led a plural community. He did not confer special advantage to his own tribe, or clan.
“In many instances he placed others ahead of his own relatives. The Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) has set a golden example for us,” he said.
He said leaders of faith must act as pillars of unity, rather than agents of division.
“Afraid they cannot win fairly at the ballot, desperate politicians are bent on recruiting otherwise eminent persons to preach hatred against discord. They want servants of God like yourselves to turn against your own convictions. They want you to preach division and stir negative sentiments.
“Please resist these evil-doers and their unholy messages. They seek to enter office by fouling the nation. Too much is at stake to allow such tricks to succeed.
“My request is a simple and fair one. Please focus on a candidate’s record of performance and the quality of his policies.”
He said the forthcoming election should not be viewed in isolation, but as “a continuation of a noble quest and an unjust, unenlightened challenge to that quest”.
He reminded the gathering that the APC was established to provide progressive good governance in Nigeria to reshape Nigeria into a more compassionate, just and prosperous home for all, “whether they be rich or poor, famous or unknown, Muslim or Christian”.
Asiwaju Tinubu explained that despite challenges and the push-pull effects, progress has been made.
“Terrorists have been pushed back. People have returned to their homes. Farmers are more productive. Though this government has less money at its disposal, it has cared for the poor better than any prior administration.
“We have struggled to place the economy on more solid ground so that we no longer only rely on exporting natural resources but that we gainfully employ more of our people in making things that improve the quality of life for all.
“We have sought to revive the ethical fiber of the nation and to reaffirm the high moral quality of our national purpose,” he said.
Tinubu said the election is a continuation of this epic struggle of fairness, progress and hope against their opposites.
“As such, I do not see this campaign as one of personal ambition. I campaign to serve a greater purpose. I campaign to do great things for the nation but not for myself.
“No matter how hard and difficult the opposition stands against our just cause, we will not relent in our pursuit of a better, more tolerant and good united nation. And with the help of Almighty Allah, we know good shall prevail.”
Tinubu also charged religious leaders to urge their followers to vote wisely.
“May they vote for the candidate who truly has a vision for a more peaceful, more prosperous Nigeria.
“Let them elect someone who has demonstrated the capacity to deliver that brighter future.
“If elected, my highest priorities shall be the protection of our land and prosperity of its people. Security and economic progress will form the fulcrum of my government.”
Tinubu promised to build on the progress made by the current administration by putting an end to terror, kidnapping and violent crime in the nation.
“To increase prosperity, we must reform the very foundation of our economy by prioritizing innovation and employment of our youths while discouraging overreliance on imported goods.
“We must become a dynamic economy that can make most of the goods that we need and one where those who want to work can find a good job.
“Under my watch, we will facilitate the quick commercial operation of the Kolmani oil wells. We will pay adequate attention to other important national projects such as the Mambilla Power Project, the AKK gas pipeline project, and so on.
“By dredging the River Niger, we shall revive our inland waterways in a way that promotes trade and commerce within the nation. We cut down on our steel export bill by making the Ajaokuta Steel Company work.
“Most importantly, we will turn our eye to those who think they are unseen or forgotten.
“If elected, my government will work with you, as religious leaders, toward a lasting solution to the almajiri challenge.”
Some of the religious leaders who spoke at the meeting included representative of Sheikh Dahiru Usman Bauchi, Dr. Bashir Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi; Secretary Council of Ulama JIBWIS, Shiekh Dr. Gambo Kyari, and representative of chairman JIBWIS Bauchi, Sheikh Salihu Sulaiman Ningi.
Participants at the townhall meeting pledged to support the APC candidate and urged him to be just to all Nigerians when elected into office.
The meeting was attended by the APC vice presidential candidate, Senator Kashim Shettima; Jigawa State Governor, Muhammad Badaru Abubakar, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila; former governors Ali Modu Sheriff, Isa Yuguda and Mohammed Abubakar, among other chieftains of the party.
A former National Vice Chairman (North-West) of the ruling All Progressives Congress APC, Salihu Lukman has called on former President Olusegun Obasanjo to rally some former leaders of the country to unite the opposition in forming a new political party to challenge President Bola Tinubu and APC ahead of the 2027 general election.
Lukman was reacting to an interview, where Obasanjo was quoted to have said that ‘a leader made by Satan is bound to fail, while God’s chosen one will thrive’.
The former APC stalwart said to produce godly leaders without satanic genotypes, Obasanjo and other past leaders like Generals Yakubu Gowon, Muhammadu Buhari, Ibrahim Babangida Abdulsalami Abubakar and former President Goodluck Jonathan have a huge moral obligation of engaging all opposition political leaders in the country to unite in order to produce a functional political party.
In the open letter to Obasanjo, Lukman said; “Everything must be done to put Nigeria on the roadmap of producing Godly leaders.
“Leaders such as Your Excellency, together with Gen. Gowon, Gen. Babangida, Gen. Abdulsalam, former President Jonathan and former President Buhari have the huge moral obligation of engaging all opposition political leaders in the country to unite in order to produce a functional political party that can serve as the harbinger for the emergence of Godly leaders in the country.
“It is not enough to lament about the fact of Satanic leadership in the country. So long as Your Excellency and other past leaders fail to assert their moral authority in ways that can lead to the emergence of Godly leaders, it is as good as working for the second term of President Tinubu and his team of failed leaders at all levels with all the problems they created.
“Of course, it simply means preference for Satanic leaders.”
According to him, so long as politics and governance are being diminished to the status of assemblage of cheerleaders, Satanic genotype will continue to be Nigeria’s leadership makeup.
Lukman added, “With such makeup, acts of impunity will continue to drive politics and even if we produce new parties with different names, such parties will at best be PDP and APC cloned.
“That is exactly what destroyed APC with all the potentials it had in 2015. How can we as a nation change that? Is there any prospect that within the shortest time possible the process of political re-engineering to produce a functional party that can be activated to serve as the harbinger for the emergence of leaders with Godly genotype?
“Your Excellency, this is the crux of this open letter. I believe that within the shortest time possible the process of producing a functional political party, which can be the harbinger for the emergence of leaders with Godly genotype is possible.
“In fact, it has already commenced. However, there are risk factors that if left on their own can pollute the process and take us back to square one and end up with another cloned PDP/APC.
“Once that is the case, we may end up with worse leaders based on the Satanic logic. The biggest risk factor is the failure to humble all opposition political leaders and get them to unite under one political platform.”
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Joe Igbokwe has claimed that the 2023 Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar cannot be president in 2027.
Igbokwe, who made the claims on Monday, on his Facebook page maintained that Atiku cannot fly in 2027, adding that he should wait till 2031.
He said: “Former Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Alhaji Atiku Abubakar is still struggling and dreaming of being president of Nigeria in 2027.
“It cannot fly, all things considered. He should wait till 2031. Even at that, age is not on his side.”
This is coming against the backdrop of the remark by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, George Akume that nobody from the North should contest against President Bola Tinubu in 2027.
Akume had said the likes of Atiku and other Northern leaders should allow Tinubu continue his second tenure in 2027.
But, Atiku through his media aide, Paul Ibe had dismissed Akume’s remark, noting that Tinubu has not done enough for Nigerians to reelect him in 2027.
Governor Sim Fubara of Rivers State on Sunday assured commissioners and permanent secretaries in his administration of a conducive working environment.
Fubara said his cabinet members can function optimally without tension or health conditions like high blood pressure.
He spoke at a special thanksgiving service organised in honour of Dr Tammy Wenike Danagogo, Rivers’ Secretary to the State Government SSG, in Abonnema Town, Akuku-Toru Local Government Area.
In a statement by Nelson Chukwudi, his Chief Press Secretary, Governor Fubara said a good administrator does not pressure his team into performance.
“I want to say that this administration that I am leading will stand by you. You don’t need to worry about the BP drugs anymore because I don’t intend to give anyone BP. There is no commissioner here that has BP. Before, you people used to have BP, but now, there is no BP. There is no permanent secretary who was always lying in the hospital and is still lying in the hospital now because there is no BP,” he said.
This comes amid the governor’s intense face-off with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike.
The tension between Fubara and Wike had affected some local government chairmen in the state.
The chairmen loyal to Wike had refused to leave office after the expiration of their tenure.
In April, the Rivers Assembly passed the Local Government Amendment Bill into law despite Fubara’s refusal to give his assent.
The amendment empowered the lawmakers to extend the tenure of elected chairpersons of LGAs and councillors where it is considered impracticable to hold elections before the expiration of their three-year term in office.
Despite declining to assent to the bill, the assembly vetoed his decision.
However, a court judgement nullified the amendment of the local government law.
After much back-and-forth, the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission conducted the local government election.
The Action Peoples Party won 22 out of 23 chairmanship positions, while the Action Alliance won one seat.
2027: OBJ, Gowon, IBB, GEJ, Buhari should form party to challenge Tinubu – Lukman
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