Connect with us

Politics

‘It never happened’ —  Obi denies making divisive remarks about northerners

Published

on


The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has denied allegations that he made divisive remarks about northern Nigerians, insisting that the claims are false and inconsistent with his record of engagement and humanitarian interventions across the region.

Obi made the clarification during an interview on Sunday Politics on Channels Television, where he also rejected suggestions that his presidency would deepen divisions in the country.

Responding to the allegation, the former Anambra State governor said: “That’s a lie. It never happened.”

To support his position, Obi highlighted his longstanding relationship with northern communities, recalling several visits to states affected by insecurity and humanitarian crises.

He recounted travelling to Borno State during the early days of the Boko Haram insurgency to console former Governor Ali Modu Sheriff following the killing of his brother.

“At the onset of this Boko Haram issue… his own brother was killed. I travelled to Borno State to console him. When people didn’t want to go there, I went to Borno State,” he said.

Obi also recalled returning to Borno after severe flooding, where he donated ₦50 million, met with the state governor and the Shehu of Borno, and visited internally displaced persons (IDP) camps.

According to him, his humanitarian activities have taken him to several northern states, including Katsina, Kebbi, Gombe, Kaduna, Kano, Bauchi and Sokoto.

“I’ve been to the most troubled parts of the North… I’ve been to Benue up to four times, visiting the various affected communities… I’ve spent Christmas and New Year in IDP camps,” he said.

Obi further argued that his personal and professional relationships reflected his commitment to national unity rather than division.

“My ADC was from Kano, and he’s a Muslim,” he said.

The NDC presidential candidate added that throughout his eight years as governor of Anambra State, all his cooks were northerners and that his administration sponsored Muslim faithful in the state on annual pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia.

“As governor, I was paying for Muslims living in Anambra to go to Hajj,” he said.

He also disclosed that he currently supports Almajiri schools in Kano and Bauchi, as well as a School of Nursing in Bauchi, describing the initiatives as part of his commitment to education and humanitarian development across the country.


www.vanguardngr.com

Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Politics

Tinubu has crossed the line, ruling Nigeria with impunity – ADC

Published

on

By


The African Democratic Congress, ADC, says President Bola Tinubu’s administration has crossed many lines in the governance of Nigeria as a nation.

The national spokesman of the party, Bolaji Abdullahi, made this statement during an interview on Symfoni TV.

He lamented that the President is ruling the country with impunity with the help of the National Assembly headed by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

“This Tinubu-led APC government has crossed the line so many times that we have forgotten where the line was in the first place.

“The principle of checks and balances is intended to create what is called positive tension between the various arms of government-the executive, the judiciary, and the legislature-in order to prevent dictatorship. That is why the National Assembly and the judiciary exist.

“But what you find is that the three arms of government now appear to have all gathered together on President Tinubu’s mandate and willing to do only what the president wants.

“This is the first time we have a government that has not implemented national budget. Budget is the law passed by the representatives of the people, the National Assembly. And the moment it is signed by the president, it becomes a law.

“When you are running three budgets at the same time, you have not implemented any, what do you call that? A few weeks ago, an international organization told us that there are about 8.8 trillion naira unbudgeted expenditure carried out by this government.
If that is not an impeachable offense, if it is actually a violation of the law, then what is?
“How many times has this government flagrantly disobeyed court orders. How many times have they flagrantly done things that are against the law of Nigeria and got away with it with the active collusion of the National Assembly under Senate President Godswill Akpabio?

“Everything that this government has done is to undermine opposition political parties. All these court cases that you see, where are they coming from? This government has undermined democracy itself, and that is against the spirit of our constitution,” the ADC spokesman said.




dailypost.ng

Continue Reading

Politics

Hold Tinubu administration responsible if anything happens to El-Rufai – ADC

Published

on

By


The African Democratic Congress, ADC, has said that the President Bola Tinubu administration will be held responsible if anything happens to former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai.

The National Publicity Secretary of the party, Bolaji Abdullahi, made this assertion in an interview on Symfoni TV.

Abdullahi said El-Rufai’s detention is not about the law, justice or crime but about politics.

“If anything happens to El-Rufai while he remains in state custody, President Bola Tinubu and his administration will bear full responsibility.

“El-Rufai is not being held today because he committed any crime. That would have been left for the court to decide. Let the court pronounce that he is guilty or is not guilty.

“But to continue to hold him interminably speaks to something else, and that is why it is clear to us that the desire or the intention of this APC government is to continue to hold El-Rufai to ensure that he does not participate in this election and strengthen the opposition. That is exactly what they plan to do.

“This same El-Rufai fought for President Bola Tinubu when when everyone in the Muhammadu Buhari’s cabinet didn’t want him,” he said.




dailypost.ng

Continue Reading

Politics

Peter Obi is desperate, he can’t fix Nigeria in four years — Oshiomhole

Published

on

By


Senator Adams Oshiomhole has criticised the 2027 presidential ambition of Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate Peter Obi, describing his promise to transform Nigeria within a single four-year term as unrealistic and driven by desperation.

Oshiomhole made the remarks during an appearance on TVC’s Beyond the Headlines, following Obi’s recent interview in which he reaffirmed his commitment to serve only one term if elected president in 2027.

Questioning Obi’s credibility, the former Edo State governor argued that the former Anambra governor had not remained consistent in his political convictions, citing his exit from the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) after leaving office.

“Let’s face it. The Peter Obi that was governor of Anambra State is not the Peter Obi of today, because the Peter Obi of Anambra was one who said, as a matter of respect to the memory of Ojukwu, he will not ever abandon APGA.

“But before daybreak, once his tenure ended, Obi became a political wanderer,” Oshiomhole said.

The APC chieftain also argued that Obi’s background as a trader makes him unsuitable to undertake the long-term planning required to govern Nigeria.

According to him, traders are primarily focused on short-term returns, unlike manufacturers and investors who plan over several years.

“Obi is a trader. Traders have short-term calculation. They are not into long-term projections. They are not wired to think of what situation will be in the long run,” he said.

Oshiomhole further alleged that Obi’s business interests revolve around importation rather than domestic production.

“Obi’s business is to export jobs and import unemployment to the country. That is what he lives for. He’s a trader,” he said.

In contrast, Oshiomhole praised President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms, saying the President inherited a country facing severe economic challenges but had taken difficult decisions to reposition it.

“Bola Ahmed Tinubu is someone who believes that for your tomorrow, we must do certain things today, painful as it may be,” he said.

He likened Tinubu’s reforms to a life-saving surgical operation, arguing that the country is beginning to experience the benefits despite criticism from the opposition.

Oshiomhole also referenced Obi’s past comments during xenophobic attacks in South Africa, claiming they reflected poor judgment for someone seeking Nigeria’s highest office.

“Do you really believe that anybody whose business is for real, who couldn’t fix a state in four years, he worked hard in eight years, he didn’t fix it… is telling you and me at our age that he just needs four years? That is the height of desperation,” he said.

He added that desperation affects sound judgment, arguing that Obi’s campaign promises lacked credibility.

“Once you are desperate, you become emotionally imbalanced,” Oshiomhole said, adding that Obi would be “the easiest person to engage in a debate.”


www.vanguardngr.com

Continue Reading

Trending