Stakeholders in Abia North, under the aegis of the Alliance for Good Governance, at the weekend, converged at the Isieke Civic Centre, Ugwueke, in Bende Local Government Area, where they reiterated their resolve to support, protect and sustain the good governance model of Governor Alex Otti beyond 2031.

Presenting the communique issued at the end of the meeting, which drew eminent sons and daughters of Abia North, the secretary and spokesperson of the group and former Vice-Chancellor, Abia State University, Uturu, Prof. Mkpa Agu Mkpa, said, “The purpose of this meeting is to reiterate that Abia has never found it so good in terms of good governance and that this good governance must be sustained at all costs.”

He said the interest of the group was to ensure continuation of good governance in the state, adding that it was the resolve of the stakeholders that the good governance transcended beyond 2031.

They called for all hands to be on deck to actualise the second-term bid of Otti and others, through voter education, especially those at the grassroots.

“We are non-partisan, we are the elders of Abia North, and we are the lone voice crying in the wilderness, calling on all and sundry not to allow this singular opportunity that we have prayed for over the years, which God has graciously granted us, in giving us a person like Governor Alex Otti, to slip through our fingers.

“It was also agreed that it is not enough to merely wish that Governor Alex Otti will remain in office beyond 2027. All hands must be on deck to actualise it.

“We resolved to embark on massive voter education, particularly at the grassroots and among the less literate. We also agreed to mobilise our youths not to succumb to pressure or inducement from other parties and not to sell their votes.

“If anyone offers them money, they should collect it, but at the right time, vote for Alex Otti and all candidates in his lineup.

“In the past, we fretted, we trembled, we were afraid and intimidated to be identified as Abians. But today, we can raise our shoulders high and say proudly, we are Abians. Continue breaking new ground in the remaining months of your first term and into your second term,” Prof Mkpa said.

A former Minister of State for Mines and Steel Development, Dr Uchechukwu Ogah, and a renowned economist, banker and former Group Managing Director of FBN Holdings, Elder Urum Eke, said the stakeholders were mobilising their structures ahead of the general elections, adding that Abians would no longer allow mediocre to occupy positions of trust.

The convener of the Alliance for Good Governance, Chief Ebueme Ezikpe, and the meeting host, Sir Johnson Chukwu, described the Alliance for Good Governance as a structure that brings together opinion leaders and people with some level of influence to shape the direction of governance in the state, noting that Otti’s achievements have, among other things, introduced sanity into governance.

Source: punchng.com

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The Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes, on Sunday, urged politicians in Oyo State to make their campaigns issue-based and stop attacking, abusing or calling one another names ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The council also urged political parties and their candidates to focus their campaigns on policies, programmes and ideas capable of addressing the challenges confronting the people of the state and Nigeria at large.

The CCII President-General, Chief Ajeniyi Ajewole, made this call in a statement issued by the council’s Publicity Secretary, Mr Kola Olomide, in Ibadan, the state capital.

Ajewole said political campaigns should provide an opportunity for candidates to explain their vision and plans to the electorate rather than becoming platforms for personal attacks and name-calling.

He said, “Our politicians should make their campaigns issue-based. They should stop attacking one another, abusing themselves and calling each other names.

“Politics should not be about abusing or pulling down your opponents. It should be about telling the people what you intend to do for them if allowed to serve,” he said.

The CCII President-General urged candidates seeking elective positions in 2027 to clearly explain their programmes and policies to the electorate, particularly how they intend to address the challenges facing the state and the country.

“The people want to know what you will do differently. Tell them your plans for Oyo. Tell them what you will do to improve education, healthcare, security, infrastructure, employment and the economy.

“Those seeking national offices should also tell Nigerians what they will do to move the country forward. Let the people hear your ideas and compare your programmes instead of listening to attacks and name-calling,” he added.

Ajewole stressed that political differences should not be allowed to destroy the bonds of unity and peaceful coexistence among the people of Oyo.

He said candidates and their supporters should exercise restraint in their public statements, warning that inflammatory rhetoric could create unnecessary tension and distract the electorate from issues that directly affect their lives.

“We must remember that after the elections, we will remain brothers and sisters, and we will continue to live together. Political disagreements should not make us enemies.

“We, therefore, appeal to all our politicians to conduct their campaigns with maturity, decorum and respect for one another. Let the campaign be about ideas, programmes, policies and what each candidate can offer the people.

“Politicians should caution their handlers, especially their media aides, social media handlers and bloggers, against attacking perceived political opponents. Political differences are normal, particularly as we approach the 2027 elections, but such differences should not degenerate into personal attacks, insults, character assassination or the spread of inflammatory content.

“I urge politicians to prevail on their media teams and supporters to focus on issues, policies and constructive engagement, rather than using the media and social media to attack or ridicule their opponents. This will promote healthy political discourse and help preserve peace and unity in Oyo,” he stated.

The CCII President-General said voters deserved the opportunity to make informed decisions based on the records, programmes and vision of candidates, rather than on insults and personal attacks.

Ajewole further called on political parties, campaign organisations and supporters to place the interests of Oyo and Nigeria above personal and partisan considerations, urging them to promote peaceful and issue-based political engagement throughout the electioneering period.

Source: punchng.com

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The decision by the Nigeria Democratic Congress to commence registration of support groups ahead of the election has caused fresh row between the party and some support groups backing its 2027 presidential ticket.

The Obi-Kwankwaso Movement and the Kwankwassiya groups registered their disagreements in separate exclusive interviews with The PUNCH.

The NDC had earlier, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director, said the registration was free and warned state chapters against collecting fees from groups seeking registration.

Director said the exercise was exclusively under the Directorate of Support Groups at its national headquarters in Abuja, adding that no state chapter, officer or official was authorised to register support groups or collect money for the process.

The spokesman, however, warned that any violation of the directive would attract disciplinary action in accordance with the party’s constitution.

He said, “The registration of support groups is the exclusive prerogative of the Directorate of Support Groups.

Therefore, all inquiries and registration must be directed to the Directorate of Support Groups at the national headquarters of the party in Abuja.

“The registration of support groups is free. It does not attract any fee whatsoever.”

But the Director-General of the OK Movement, John Ughulu, rejected the registration exercise, insisting that the movement remained an independent political organisation and would not surrender its structure to the NDC.

Ughulu said the movement’s existence and internal affairs did not require the approval of the NDC leadership, adding that it would resist any attempt to undermine, appropriate or dissolve its structure.

Continuing, he argued that neither the Nigerian nor the NDC constitution, as presented to the movement, gave the party exclusive authority over the internal structure of an independent political organisation.

“The OK Movement therefore makes it clear that we will not accept any attempt by any individual or group to undermine, appropriate, dissolve or otherwise interfere with the legitimate structure and leadership of the movement.

“The meaning of ‘independent’ is straightforward. The NDC has the right to constitute and manage its own campaign structures. Likewise, an independent political organisation has the right to constitute and manage its own organisational structures, subject always to the law.

“We will resist every form of intimidation, coercion or attempt to undermine its legitimate organisational structure,” he warned.

The spokesman for the Kwankwasiyya Movement, Habibu Muhammed, also called for understanding between the party and the support groups.

Speaking exclusively with our correspondent, Muhammed said the disagreements were partly a result of the NDC’s attempt to establish new structures as an emerging political party.

He said, “The truth is that the NDC is evolving and they are trying to do things differently. That is why there are some forms of misunderstanding here and there. But I believe that at the end of the day, everybody will be on the same page.

“The ultimate goal is to ensure that the party and the candidate win. Historically, the Kwankwasiyya has always remained independent, even of political parties. So, I don’t think it will be different now.

“I also believe in the Obidient Movement, just as I know that the OK Movement is also another movement; it runs on its own principles. So, Obidients and Kwankwasiyya still exist on their own.

“Again, I believe every Nigerian, as enshrined in the constitution, has a right to associate and be part of any organisation. The most important thing is for the party to understand this as well and work out something that will be better than just fixing things that are not literally important, as it is doing now.”

Mohammed highlighted that the ultimate objective of the various groups was to support the Obi-Kwankwaso ticket and that the party should create an acceptable atmosphere for support groups to operate without unnecessary restrictions.

“What we need is to create an acceptable atmosphere for all the support groups so that whoever wants to support the party in whichever way they deem can do that.

“More so, we have several associations which are putting in money and not asking for anything in return. They have seen some qualities in the candidates and are therefore working for their success.

“You should also take into consideration that a large chunk of members from these groups and movements are from other parties who agree to work together for the Obi-Kwankwaso ticket.

“If you got into Kano now, the people there are not interested in identifying with any political platform. They will ask you which one is for Kwankwaso.

“That is the complexity of this issue. There are several individual candidates, even outside the NDC, who have large support groups.

“Some are not even members of his party. Maybe as time goes on, there will be a middle ground for the party and the movements because I personally think this has more to do with the OK Movement than us,” he stated.

While admitting that a new party like the NDC is still evolving, the Kwankwasiyya leader also called for understanding on the part of the NDC leadership.

Mohammed also urged the party to borrow a leaf from the scores of support groups working in sync with the ruling All Progressives Congress without any of them being forced to register with the APC.

He said, “As I earlier said, the NDC is still in the process of evolution, being a new party and trying to do something different.

“Even in the APC, I am sure you are aware they have the City Boy Movement and different support groups that are not directly under the control of the ruling party.

“These people do their own things, raise funds through different processes, and mobilise people. They are purely independent and doing their own things without any interference by the party.”

The National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement Worldwide, Dr Yunusa Tanko, urged the various groups to avoid disagreements that could distract from the 2027 presidential election.

Tanko, who spoke exclusively with our correspondent by telephone, said the NDC was the platform on which Peter Obi was contesting and that support groups should focus on helping him secure victory.

He said, “The party is a vehicle in which our principal is running. He is contesting on the platform of the NDC. Look, we need to do away with all these unnecessary arguments and focus on the main goal, which is to ensure that Peter Obi wins the 2027 election.

“We align with that and anything legitimate that will help us to win the election. People roll with winners, not losers. If you continue to fight and argue back and forth, it won’t lead to you winning the poll. So, people should look at that particular aspect and come together.

“All the distractions wouldn’t help anyone unless, of course, you are being sent to cause disharmony in our midst. Our goal is to remain focused on Obi winning this election.

“Anything legitimate that can help us to do that is welcome. And exactly where our principal directs us to head is where we will go.

“So, we don’t want to dwell too long on this trivial issue. All we are interested in is to focus on winning the poll for our candidate. That is the most important thing.”

Source: punchng.com

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