Tag: Obi

  • Tinubu, Obasanjo, Obi, MTN, others mourn business icon, Paschal Dozie

    Tinubu, Obasanjo, Obi, MTN, others mourn business icon, Paschal Dozie

    PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has extended his heartfelt condolences to the Dozie family, the business community and all Nigerians, on the passing of Dr. Pascal Gabriel Dozie, an elder statesman, entrepreneur and banker. He was 85.

    Pascal Dozie was a visionary whose contributions to Nigeria’s economic architecture left an enduring legacy. As the founder of Diamond Bank and the pioneer Chairman of MTN Nigeria, he was at the forefront of two of the most transformative sectors in Nigeria’s development journey — banking and telecommunications.

    Dozie, a steadfast believer in Nigeria’s vast potential, was pivotal in shaping the financial services industry and expanding access to mobile connectivity nationwide. His influential leadership extended well beyond corporate boardrooms.

    In addition to his business acumen, Dozie served as a former director at the Central Bank of Nigeria, President of the Nigerian Stock Exchange, and Chairman of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group, dedicating decades of service to national policy formulation, private sector development, and youth empowerment.

    President Tinubu in a statement by his spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, lauded Dozie as “a rare breed business leader whose wisdom, humility, and pioneering efforts laid a foundation upon which many continue to build. His passing is a profound loss to the private sector and Nigeria.”

    The President prayed for the peaceful repose of Dozie’s soul and extends his condolences to his wife, children, and extended family.

    Obasanjo mourns, as Pascal Dozie dies at 85

    Former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo has described the late Padcal Dozie as one of the nation’s most intrepid entrepreneurs.

    Late Paschal Dozie died, early yesterday, the passing Obasanjo said was received with mixed feelings of sadness and gratitude to God.

    In a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Kehinde Akinyemi, the former President said he was “sad because we will miss his contribution to the building of a new Nigeria of his dream but I am grateful to God for such a life well spent in the service of our fatherland.

    “We thank God for his life. He lived to the ripe age of 85 and in the course of this, he was able to make impact, not just at the family level but also within the community and his profession.

    In his tribute, Obasanjo said the late Dozie was “a serial entrepreneur who rose to become one of the major figures and icons in the Nigerian business and entrepreneurial community in the 20th and 21st centuries in Nigeria. He was former Chairman of the MTN Foundation, former Board Member of the African Capital Alliance, founder and the main inspiration behind the defunct Diamond Bank, former President of the Nigerian Stock Exchange, among others. I am impressed by his humility and his humanism. He was a great man!

    “My thoughts and prayers are with his family at this time as they mourn the passing of this illustrious son of Africa.

    “On behalf of my family and on my own behalf, I express sincere condolences and pray God to grant them all the grace to bear this great loss.

    “May the gentle soul of the dear departed rest in perfect peace.

    Obi mourns Diamond Bank founder, Dozie

    In his remark, Mr Peter Obi, Labour Party Presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections, on Tuesday mourned Dr Pascal Dozie, Founder of Diamond Bank and a renowned Nigerian entrepreneur and business morgul.

    Obi a former governor of Anambra, in his condolence message posted on his X handle, expressed his sadness over the demise of the business mogul.

    The elder statesman, entrepreneur, and banker died at the age of 85.

    According to Obi, I am deeply saddened this morning by the news of the passing of Dr Pascal Dozie, a man I held in high esteem.

    “I met him during the formation of Diamond Bank and later MTN Nigeria, and throughout our collaboration, I came to know him as a true gentleman and a teacher who always sought the good of all.

    “His legacy as a banker and an entrepreneur stands as a testament to his vision, leadership and commitment to excellence which inspired countless individuals and businesses.”

    Obi prayed that God Almighty, who called him home, grant him eternal rest and grant his family and all who mourn him the fortitude to bear his irreplaceable loss.

    ”May God Almighty bless his family always,” he added.

    A business icon and technocrat par excellence —Former CIS President

    Olatunde Amolegbe, former President, Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers, CIS, said: “His footprint will remain in the business landscape in Nigeria for a long time to come. His most enduring legacy will probably be the mentorship of other people that have gone on do great things or head great institutions. May his soul rest in peace.”

    Pascal Dozie wasn’t just a businessman

    Commenting, Clifford Egbomeade, economic analysts and Communication expert, said: “Dr. Pascal Dozie wasn’t just a businessman — he was a builder of dreams, of institutions, and of people.

    “From founding Diamond Bank to laying the foundation for what MTN Nigeria has become today, he showed us what it means to lead with vision, courage, and grace. The impact of his life’s work continues to shape Nigeria’s financial and telecom sectors in profound ways. But beyond the boardroom, those who knew him speak of his humility, wisdom, and deep love for Nigeria.Losing someone like Dr. Dozie is more than the passing of an icon; it’s the loss of a national treasure. Yet, in our grief, we are comforted by the incredible legacy he leaves behind. A legacy that will continue to light the path for generations of leaders and innovators.”

    MTN Nigeria mourns Dozie, says he’s a steady hand with enduring legacy

    MTN Nigeria yesterday regretted the passing of its founding Chairman Dr. Pascal Dozie, saying he brought insight, experience, and leadership to the company at a time when bold vision was essential.

    In a statement signed by the CEO, Mr Karl Toriola, MTN described Dozie as a steady hand, with and enduring legacy.

    The company said Dozie was a quiet revolutionary, who could ease tensions with grace and consistently led with clarity and conviction, even as he was warm, principled, and deeply respected by all who encountered him.

    Part of the statement read: “We are saddened by the passing of our founding Chairman, Dr Paschal Gabriel Dozie. We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, and all who had the privilege of knowing and working with him.

    “A pioneer, statesman, and titan of industry, Dr. Dozie played a pivotal role in the emergence of mobile telephony in Nigeria and in shaping the MTN Nigeria story. He brought insight, experience, and leadership at a time when bold vision was essential. He was instrumental in securing the early support and investment that brought the Y’ello dream to life. On May 16, 2001, he made the first call on the MTN network, a historic moment in Nigeria’s telecommunications journey.”

    “For 18 years, from 2001 to 2019, Dr. Dozie served as Chairman, leading with strength and conviction. His presence on the Board was unifying. He championed good governance, corporate responsibility, and long-term value, deeply committed to the greater good. In challenging times, he remained a stabilising force.

    “His unwavering belief in Nigeria’s potential and his dedication to its development were truly inspiring. His leadership at MTN Nigeria laid the foundation for our success, and his legacy will continue to guide us in the years to come”.

    The company listed part of his landmark contributions to the company, to include, incorporation of the MTN Nigeria Foundation in 2004 and commitment to dedicating a percentage of profit after tax to social investments.

    He was also credited to spearheading the launch of one of Africa’s largest switching centres in 2010; playing significant role in 2015 during critical conversations around the regulatory fine and its resolution; introduction of Africa’s first 3G feature phone in 2018; as well as MTN Nigeria’s listing in 2019 on the premium board of the Nigerian Exchange.

    President & CEO, MTN Group, Ralph Mupita also added that “Dr. Dozie was instrumental in MTN Group’s expansion into Nigeria, providing visionary leadership that has left an indelible mark on our company’s history. His commitment to excellence and integrity set a standard that we continue to uphold”.

  • Democracy not working in Nigeria — Obasanjo, Obi, Tambuwal, Kukah

    Democracy not working in Nigeria — Obasanjo, Obi, Tambuwal, Kukah

    ABUJA—Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Peter Obi, the Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, and Aminu Tambuwal, the former governor of Sokoto State, yesterday expressed concerns that democracy was not working in Nigeria.

    The leaders, who spoke at the 60th birthday celebration of former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives of Nigeria, Emeka Ihedioha, at the Ladi Kwali Hall, Abuja Intercontinental Hotel, yesterday, stressed the need for urgent reforms to address the country’s challenges.

    Speaking at the event also attended by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Emeka Anyaoku and immediate past governor of katsina State, Aminu Masari, Obasanjo noted that democracy, as currently practised in Nigeria and much of Africa, has failed to meet the need of the people.

    According to him, western model of democracy does not align with African values and needs, and “democracy in Africa has failed because it is not African.”

    Obasanjo, who called for a redefinition of democracy to better reflect the continent’s cultural realities and serve the people more effectively, said: “Is democracy failing in Africa? Are we talking of democracy or western liberal democracy?

    “We should remember that in Africa, we had a form of government which attended to the needs of the people. That is democracy.

    “Abraham Lincoln describes it as a government of the people, by the people, and for the people. But what do we have today? The Greek democracy affects everyone but democracy has now become representative democracy and it hasn’t taken care of everyone.

    “Democracy in Africa has failed because it’s not African, it didn’t have our culture and way of life. You will say, go to court when you know that you can’t get justice. Democracy is dying in Africa and to save it, it should be made in the context of Africa.”

    On his part, Obi also noted that the democracy practiced in the country is not working as it should.
    Recalling his experience, where he had to fight for his mandate after being impeached as governor of Anambra State, Obi maintained that he did not resort to bribery.

    He said: “Democracy is not working in Nigeria. Everything has been knocked down. I didn’t pay a dime to retrieve my mandate. When I was impeached, Obasanjo called to ask about my welfare. Nigeria should imbibe the Indonesian democracy, proportional representation.’’

    Speaking further, Obi said Nigeria’s democracy, which had been progressing since 1999, is now being “knocked down” by the current administration.

    “Some people came and knocked everything down. That is the situation we are in now. Everything has been knocked down. Nothing works.

    “I became a governor through the court when President Obasanjo and Atiku were in government.
    “I did not pay the court one naira. I was sitting in my office, and the court declared me the winner. It can’t happen in Nigeria today.

    “When I was being impeached, the president sent people to come and intervene on my behalf. Ken Nnamani came, begging the House (House of Assembly) not to impeach me.

    “Today, the president is impeaching a person. They were in PDP; I was in APGA. The president was calling and saying, ‘Peter, are you okay? Even when I was impeached, President Obasanjo called and said, ‘Are you okay? Are you safe?

    “When the court eventually declared me (the winner) under Andy Uba (as governor), President Yar’Adua called my phone in London and said, ‘come back. I said, President, I can’t come back.

    “When I came back, the military people came and received me at the airport. I couldn’t believe it. And took me straight to him. Now, the president would ask me not to come back. Democracy is collapsing.”

    Delivering the keynote address, titled “Is Democracy Failing in Africa?’’ Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Kukah, faulted the weaponization of religion in Nigeria, which he described as one of the major hindrances to the country’s democratic development.

    Kukah also described the relationship between Obasanjo and Atiku as being like a Catholic marriage, where they quarrel frequently but never broke up.

    The cleric, who, however, called for a more honest and inclusive approach to addressing the country’s challenges, said further: “Democracy is working for different people as you can see in their outlook. There is the belief that citizens are free to rebel. There has been debate whether the Nigerian constitution is perfect or not.

    “No constitution will be better than the Bible and Koran. Yet, we are still living in sin. The problem is that in Nigeria, the issue of Christian and Muslim prayer is not the best. The weaponisation of religion is a big problem in Nigeria.

    “Democracy is work in progress. God doesn’t discriminate between Christian or Muslim prayers. There is no discrimination. We are children of one God. If we are not treating each other rightly, one of them must be a bastard.

    “Democracy and its principles are endless contests. There are certain things God has given us which people can’t control.

    “We, as Africans, inherited a system that’s not ours, but we can’t say it’s not relevant to us. There are differences between democracy in Asia and that of Africa. Singapore, for example. What do we make of the tenets of democracy in Africa?

    “I feel sorry for the judges. At the last election, even small me, I had people calling me, complaining, talk to this, talk to that. Pressure on judges to deliver justice. I agree that there’s an urgent need to clean up the mess.

    “Democracy is about everything, it’s about justice. How do we know if democracy is working in Nigeria? Do we measure democracy based on the things we wish ourselves?”

    In his remarks, former governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal, said democracy in Nigeria is still work in progress but noted that its success depends on the commitment of political leaders to abide by the rules.
    Weighing on the emergency rule declared in Rivers State by President Bola Tinubu, Tambuwal recalled that there was cooperation of the National Assembly during a state of emergency under Obasanjo’s administration, saying democracy could work when political actors act responsibly.

    “Democracy will work if the actors play by the rules. It’s work in progress. Under Obasanjo, a state of emergency was declared. The NASS worked together to ensure that 2/3 majority passed the emergency. “Each member had to vote. In this same NASS, we have the same constitution. What happened in the last one? We need to chase out the bad operators of democracy”, he stated.

    Speaking at the event, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar said Ihedioha has remained loyal, even when they found themselves on different political platforms.

    “Emeka and I have kept this relationship and till today I have found him extremely loyal, dedicated and focused, even though sometimes we found ourselves on different political divides but we kept our relationship and I think that testifies with the kind of person Emeka is,” he said.

    On his part, former Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, traced the origin of democracy and what he and his team at the commonwealth did to promote its cause across the globe.

    Anyaoku said: “As Commonwealth Secretary-General, I helped members to transit to multi-party democracy. Also the collapse of apartheid administration in South Africa. Review of 1999 constitution
    “We need a new constitution to address many challenges. True federalism is the answer to the management of national issues.

    “The recent coup in Mali, Niger tend to take us back. The nature of our politics and the conduct of our politicians is another problem of our democracy.

    “They have become instruments of capturing political power. It’s only true, stable democratic governance that can rid our country of the crises which impede development.

    “I believe Nigeria can change this Eurocentric narrative. We in Africa and Nigeria have a responsibility to get a stable democracy and change the Eurocentric narrative.”

    While expressing gratitude to all who attended the event, the celebrant, Emeka Ihedioha, said: “My father told me the most expensive habit is having friends. I have lived my life pursuing the cause for democracy. We should all rise to defend democracy.

    “I urge all men to always speak truth to power and protect democracy. There’s life after money. I will remain who I am. For me and democracy, it is till God do us apart.”

  • ‘Drop merger talks’ – El-Rufai tells Atiku, Obi, Aregbesola to join SDP

    ‘Drop merger talks’ – El-Rufai tells Atiku, Obi, Aregbesola to join SDP

    Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has called on former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and ex-Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi to join the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

    In a recent interview with BBC Hausa which went viral on Saturday, El-Rufai dismissed the idea of a merger, instead urging key opposition figures—including former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola and former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi—to join the SDP to unseat President Bola Tinubu in 2027.

    “My wishes and prayers are Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Rotimi Amaechi, Rauf, all opposition leaders to come and join SDP, not to do a merger or to register a new political party,” he said.

    El-Rufai explained that he initially supported Tinubu in the 2023 presidential election because of the former Lagos governor’s accomplishments, hoping he would replicate similar success nationwide.

    “What pains me is that the government we supported and had confidence in would do well because we saw what Tinubu did in Lagos despite his challenges,” he said.

    “We all know about his issues in Chicago, but we thought if he could replicate his work in Lagos for Nigeria, let’s support him. However, he failed.”

    Addressing speculation about his presidential ambition in 2027, El-Rufai stated that the decision was not his to make but would depend on the party and the will of the people.

    “It is not for me to decide; it is the party and the people that will decide. Even when I was contesting for governor, it was people that met and convinced (Muhammadu) Buhari, and he called me and asked me to contest,” he said.

    El-Rufai resigned from the All Progressives Congress (APC) on March 10, citing a misalignment of values with the ruling party.

  • Tinubu, Gov Abiodun, Obi mourn Doyin Okupe

    Tinubu, Gov Abiodun, Obi mourn Doyin Okupe

    President Bola Tinubu has extended his heartfelt condolences to the family, friends, and associates of Prince Doyin Okupe, a seasoned medical doctor, politician, communicator, and strategist who played a significant role in Nigeria’s political landscape.

    A prominent son of Iperu-Remo in Ogun State, Okupe served as Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs to President Goodluck Jonathan and Special Assistant on Media to President Olusegun Obasanjo.

    Over his three-decade-long political career, he held key positions, including National Publicity Secretary of the National Republican Convention (NRC), and was actively involved in the United Nigeria Congress Party (UNCP), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and the Accord Party, where he was the national leader.

    Most recently, Okupe served as the Director-General of the Labour Party’s Presidential Campaign for the 2023 election. Beyond politics, he made notable contributions to the medical field as the co-founder of the Royal Cross Medical Centre, Lagos, and publisher of Life Mirror, a health-focused newspaper.

    President Tinubu described Okupe as a bold and articulate advocate for national development, expressing deep sorrow over his passing at a time when his wealth of experience remained invaluable.

    He also sympathised with the government and people of Ogun State, particularly the Iperu-Remo community, acknowledging the void his death leaves behind. Tinubu prayed for the repose of Okupe’s soul and for divine comfort for his loved ones.

    Similarly, Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun described Okupe’s death as a personal loss. In a statement issued in Abeokuta by his Special Adviser on Media, Kayode Akinmade, Abiodun noted that Okupe’s passing came shortly after the demise of the Alaperu of Iperu Remo, Oba Adeleke Idowu-Basibo.

    The governor paid tribute to Okupe’s unwavering service to Nigeria, describing him as a patriotic statesman and a committed member of the progressive political family.

    “Receiving the news of the passing of my elder brother, Dr Doyin Okupe, has left me with a profound sense of personal loss. Without a doubt, his departure leaves a void that will not be easily filled,” Abiodun said.

    Other political figures, including Labour Party’s Peter Obi, also joined in mourning Okupe, recognising his contributions to Nigeria’s political and medical sectors.

  • 2027 Realignment: New move spells out role for Atiku, Obi, el-Rufai, Kwankwaso

    2027 Realignment: New move spells out role for Atiku, Obi, el-Rufai, Kwankwaso

    The 2027 general elections are about two years away and the realignment of forces to dislodge the All Progressives Congress (APC) from power, especially at the federal level appears to be on the upswing.

    In an interview published by Sunday Vanguard, last week, a former presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party, Adewole Adebayo, spoke about the inroads his party was making into the North in search of new political allies, hinting that the SDP leadership had met top politicians from that part of the country, including former Governor Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna State, for talks.

    In another development, a former top member of the APC, Alhaji Salihu Lukman, speaks of similar efforts gathering steam. Lukman, a former Deputy National Chairman of the APC (North), in an interview monitored on Arise News, elaborates on his scheme, saying key opposition figures in the country have a role to play as they have to jettison their presidential aspirations ahead of the 2027 and provide leadership for a new political party to confront the APC.

    He urges former Vice President Atiku Abubakar who flew the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) presidential flag in the 2023 elections, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, LP, in the elections, Mr Peter Obi, and the New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, standard bearer, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, to prioritize party building over personal ambitions.

    Lukman, who has since quit the APC, also extends the advice to former party members and opposition figures, including Mr Rotimi Amaechi, a former governor of Rivers State but later served as Transportation Minister under the Buhari administration; El-Rufai; Dr. Kayode Fayemi, a former governor of Ekiti State, and Senator Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, a former governor of Sokoto State.

    According to Lukman, who was also one-time Director General of the Progressive Governors Forum, if these

    leaders set aside personal ambitions, it will prevent the imposition of candidates in 2027 and foster a stronger political alternative. Excerpts:

    You have been a key member of the APC, now you are saying Nigeria needs better leaders. What are your grievances? What do you think is wrong with the APC that you are asking all the critics and opponents of the administration to come together and push the same party out of power?

    What is wrong with the APC is what is wrong with Nigeria in my view, and I think the view of most Nigerians is that our democracy should give something much better than what we have today. I am not making any new proposals.

    If you have been following the debate during the merger negotiations that produced the APC, all these arguments have been raised about the kind of leadership a political party should have and what is required for a party to really position itself to direct elected representatives to meet the expectations of citizens. If we argue that APC has failed, the failure of APC is largely due to its inability to meet a number of some of those criteria.

    Yes, I was a member of the NWC of the APC, I was part and parcel of the APC from formation to possibly the present day but that does not disqualify some of us from highlighting some of the limitations of the APC and I think in terms of the problem of democracy, what was first the problem of Nigeria with PDP that led to the defeat of PDP in 2015? The major issue is that there was no competition within the party.

    The culture of imposition has taken over the party so much so that it is predictable anybody who has close relationship with Abuja, with the Presidency can pick ticket at any level of the party without bothering to contract relationships with other members of the party, and I think that those were some of the issues that we used to campaign against the PDP and made the APC popular and Nigerians trusted us and believed that we were capable of producing a party that could drive the process of changing Nigeria which was the campaign mantra in 2015.

    Unfortunately, I am not shy to say that we failed largely because we ended up with another variant of PDP, the culture of imposition took over.

    Yes, we fought and this is part of my grievance with President Tínubu. Asiwaju knew very well that we stood up and faced what you call the cabal in the Presidency under former President Buhari and ensured that a level-playing field was provided within the party which enabled him to win the ticket and become the presidential candidate of the party.

    So, having done that, our expectation was that we return the party to its founding vision and begin to build a party that can now implement all the campaign promises and direct all elected representatives but instead, what we see is that a more superior variant of imposition took over so much so that the party became a parastatal of the Presidency, and of the government.

    Leadership of the party cannot say anything contrary to what the President wants and so long as that is the case, we can’t make progress. Now, coming back to some of the issues which you highlighted which I raised in the last piece, is basically like an appeal to our opposition leaders (Atiku, Obi, Kwankwaso, Amaechi, Fayemi, El-Rufai, Tambuwal, among others) because if we continue to play politics the old way, then Nigeria

    is not going to get any better. We are not going to produce better leaders.

    We will produce a new set of leaders which may continue the practice of imposition and become emperors so much so that everybody is now rushing to them to access favours in government and what have you and that is not what democracy should be about. I think one of the most important things that came out of the conference that was held last week was the statement by the former Vice President of Ghana and also a former presidential candidate.

    He made the point that politicians must be able to subordinate their personal ambition to the bigger interest of the country and I think that is where we are today and, as far as I’m concerned, if that is the case and several time, I hear people lamenting about how in the Second Republic we had an NPN (National Party of Nigeria) where the president, when it comes to party meeting, is an ordinary member and Chief Augustus Akinloye, who was the party Chairman, was the leader of the party.

    Now if we are going to get back to that, it’s not going to be after the election and after defeating Tínubu and producing a president with that mentality. It’s now that we should begin to align ourselves and ensure that in the whole campaign to defeat APC, we are not replicating exactly the mistake APC has made.

    We must tell all leaders to first drop their ambitions and, in dropping their ambitions they must also be ready to make the needed sacrifice, to commit to building the party. If your strategy is all about let’s have a party and, after having a party we will ensure that we impose our surrogates to become leaders of the party, then we are going back to square one.

    I think Nigerians should begin to watch and when they see some of these leaders taking positions in the

    party, that should give them confidence that, yes this is a new party and it’s a serious business. It is going to depart from the old ways and to that extent, therefore, the prospect of meeting the expectation of citizens will be high; other than that, I think we may just be deceiving ourselves and Nigerians and imagining that we can produce anything better.

    You’re talking about how the previous or past leaders are part of the problems that we currently have and why those responsible for the failures should be humble enough to take a backseat in an effort to build a strong coalition to strengthen Nigerian politics. What if they are not ready to take a back seat, what other alternative would you propose?

    First, I will say that it’s not a question of trying to get rid of the old guards, no. I think, fundamentally, my view and I have said that, several times, that what we have now made it only possible for leaders to show their bad side and that the only way to push leaders to put their best side, their right foot in the business of leadership will be to create the framework, strengthen the structures of political parties that will subordinate them and make them accountable.

    I have said so several times that from former president Jonathan to Buhari and now Tínubu, I believe under a different condition they may turn out to be better leaders. Unfortunately, they also contribute to a situation where they turn out the way they did. So, if we are going to depart from that, which is why I’m saying, first and foremost, we must build a political party that everybody will subordinate themselves.

    It’s possible. I give you for instance, if Atiku Abubakar, Rabiu Kwankwaso, Peter Obi, Rotimi Amaechi, and many others can subordinate themselves and go through competitive primary… because part of the problem, is that a number of them, were not able to develop the kind of relationship that will enable them to access even good advice, you know, the strategy is basically that I want you to subordinate yourself to me but once you turn it the other way around they may turn out to be better leaders.

    Sincerely speaking, I think we should not beg the question; Nigeria deserves much better and current leaders must answer the question: What is their vision for the country? Is their vision for the country only to become president of Nigeria? We have seen that with Buhari and we have seen it now with Tínubu.

    They have become presidents, they have achieved their vision and, in the end, it’s debatable whether they are any better in terms of public standing. My appeal and my prayer is that within our lifetime we’ll be able to produce leaders who will work for the country, and on the basis that citizens who love them, and generations to come will continue to remember them.

    But you knew that President Tínubu had the conviction of “I just want to be president” when you supported the APC in the last election. Now you are talking about idealism, would you expect anything different from him?

    Well, I will continue to debate all these issues. Yes, I supported President Tínubu; however, whether I am aware his ambition was just to become president, I can say publicly that I had the conviction that Tínubu is truly a progressive politician and a democrat and which was why I invested my support for him but I didn’t wait once I saw he was departing from those beliefs I had; I didn’t wait any longer and I was not pushed by anybody.

    In fact, if anything, most of the criticism I received today is people telling me that it’s a mistake for me to have resigned, that I should have waited to fight inside. I mean, I could have only waited to compromise myself and become part of the establishment and become part of the physical structure of APC and, at the end of the day, damage myself.

    I am humble enough to admit that yes, my judgment was wrong and I said it’s a challenge to President Tínubu to prove many of us wrong and if he did that, I will be the first to come out and apologize publicly and say again I was wrong, but to the extent that he continues arrogantly in the direction he’s going without remorse, that he has departed from all the promises he has made to Nigerians, I have no apology to him.

    I’ll continue to stand and campaign against both the APC and its administration but in doing that, which leads me to your second question, life is about making choices.

    I will not shy away from making a choice simply because I made mistakes in the past. I’ll continue to make choices with my eyes wide open so as not to repeat past mistakes, which is why today I am standing where I am engaging all our political leaders in a direction all of them also should not put themselves in the line of repeating the same old mistake previous leaders have made. We are all human, nobody is perfect.

    They may have made mistakes in the past but to the extent that they are able to admit that the old ways are wrong and come and work together to produce a new reality which will now begin to push them to show their good side, I will have no problem and I think as Nigerians, we must have confidence that we can be able to get things right.

  • Akande’s allegation divisive, #EndSARS movement organic – Obi

    Akande’s allegation divisive, #EndSARS movement organic – Obi

    The 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi has criticised former Osun State Governor Bisi Akande over his claim that the 2020 #EndSARS protests were orchestrated by Obi’s supporters, known as the Obidient Movement, to derail the presidential ambition of Bola Tinubu.

    Obi’s media aide, Umar Ibrahim while speaking to PUNCH, rejected Akande’s claims, describing them as inaccurate and insensitive to those affected by the protests.

    During a recent podcast hosted by broadcaster Edmund Obilo, Akande claimed that the protests were a coordinated effort by Obidients, supported by foreign funding, to prevent Tinubu’s rise to the presidency.

    “The Obidients were behind the #EndSARS. It was manufactured in America and brought in just to stop him (Tinubu). I said the Obidients, I didn’t say Obi,” Akande alleged.

    “They came from America to do the #EndSARS and later became a movement to form a party. They couldn’t form a party. It was well planned and organised with a lot of money from America,” he added.

    Reacting, Obi’s media aide dismissed Akande’s remarks as an attempt to distort history, emphasising that such claims were not only misleading but also insensitive to the memory of #EndSARS victims.

    “The allegations are not only misleading but also divisive. It is unfortunate Akande would suggest that the Obidient Movement was behind the #EndSARS protests, and even more astonishing that he would imply it was orchestrated to prevent a particular individual from becoming President,” Ibrahim stated

    “Well, let me be clear: the movement is a grassroots phenomenon that emerged organically, driven by the passion and dedication of Nigerians who are committed to creating a better future for our country. It’s a

    movement that transcends partisan politics and is focused on promoting good governance, accountability, and inclusive development.

    “The #EndSARS protests, on the other hand, were a spontaneous response to the widespread discontent and frustration among Nigerian youth regarding issues of police brutality, corruption, and economic inequality. It’s a testament to the resilience and determination of our young people, who are demanding a more just and equitable society.

    “To conflate these two distinct phenomena is not only inaccurate but also unfair to the millions of Nigerians who are genuinely committed to creating positive change. We urge former governor Akande to refrain from making unsubstantiated claims that can only serve to further polarise our society.”