Politics
Kogi Guber: SDP Chieftain Rallies Okun Peoples’ support For Ajaka
Uhuru Samuel Adaji
A Chieftain of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Hon. Ben Adaji has called on the people of Okun community in Kogi West Senatorial district to throw their weight behind Murtala Yakubu Ajaka, the Guber candidate of SDP in the November election as the best way to end marginalization.
Adaji, a House of representatives candidate under SDP for Ankpa, Olamaboro and Omala federal constituency in the just concluded general elections, made the call on Sunday while reacting to President Bola Tinubu’s declaration to the elders of the Okun community who visited him at the presidential villa last week.
The Okun elders led by Professor Michael Ikupolati during the visit complained of marginalisation against the Okun people in the political arrangements of Kogi State since its creation in 1992.
The former House of Reps candidate commended President Tinubu for his fatherly advice by telling the Okun elders that politics is a game of numbers and they may need to negotiate their way out of marginalization if they have the numbers.
Mr Adaji, who aspired for the House of Representatives under the platforms of the All Progressives Congress APC in 2015 and 2919 before decamping to SDP in 2023 due to what he described as lack of fairness in APC, maintained that, Ajaka, who is well aware of the power arrangements in the state even before the demise of the late Audu, will give the Okun people a strong voice if elected.
“Let me use this opportunity to urge leaders of Okun in Kogi West to throw their weight behind Murtala Yakubu Ajaka, the SDP governorship candidate. That is the only way they can address the issue of marginalization that they raised during the visit of Okun elders led by Professor Michael Ikupolati to the President and his subsequent advise to them that politics is a game of numbers.
“It’s only through dialogue and understanding that they can benefit from the governorship seat of Kogi State, not through violence as was the case of the present Gov. Yahaya Bello. In order to restore the arrangement that was put in place for the consideration of Okun people prior to the sudden and sad death of Prince Abubakar, they should support the SDP candidate.
“I was privy to the arrangement for power shift for the Okun people to produce the next Governor of Kogi State in 2015 after Price Abubakar Audu’s four years tenure and that was why Hon. James Abiodun Faleke was picked to deputise Audu before death struck in 2015, thereby destabilizing the arrangement. ”
Adaji who is also a veteran journalist and a security expert in the field of Human security and counter terrorism, called on the elders of Okun to go back to the drawing board and engage Murtala Yakuba Ajaka in a similar dialogue with the view to realizing the dream.
The SDP Chieftain advice Governor Yahaya Bello, who ascended the office by sheer Providence to count himself lucky rather than thinking himself invincible.
“It is sad that today, the governor has turned against the Igala people who gave him overwhelming support and has chosen to impose his cousin Usman Ododo on the people of Kogi even if it’s through the barrel of gun.
“He should learn from Tinubu who has come out clearly to declare that democracy is a game of numbers and can not be done through the barrel of the gun. He must allow a level playing ground for the people to come out and elect a governor of their choice.
Adaji lamented that the Igalas, Ibiras and the Okuns who were hitherto brothers and sisters now engage themselves like Cat and Dog because the Governor has caused serious divisions amongst the tribes.
” I want to say in clear terms that Ajaka is a unifier who has come to liberate the people of the state from dictatorship.The people know this and they will be voting irrespective of political affilition. They will be considering individuals capacity instead of party lines. Our people are peace loving but would not tolerate any attempt at thwarting the will of the majority.
I enjoined the Okun and the Ibiras to support Murtala Yakuba Ajaka and vote massively for the SDP in the forthcoming gubernatorial elections in the overall interest of the State, ” he said.
Politics
Tinubu Assures Investors Nigeria Is Open for Business, Welcomes Coca-Cola’s $1bn Plan
By Francis Wilfred
President Bola Tinubu has assured local and international investors that Nigeria remains open for business, saying his administration is implementing reforms aimed at creating a more predictable, competitive and investment-friendly environment.
Speaking through the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, at the 75th anniversary celebration of the Nigerian Bottling Company (NBC) in Abuja on Monday, the President said the government is addressing key challenges facing businesses under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
“Our message to investors, both Nigerian and international, is clear: Nigeria is open for business,” Tinubu said,
He noted that reliable infrastructure, efficient logistics, access to foreign exchange, stable regulations and a supportive tax system are critical to attracting investment and expanding production.
According to Yomi Odunuga, the President said ongoing economic reforms are designed to build a more productive and competitive economy, reduce dependence on imports, strengthen local manufacturing and create jobs for Nigerians.
Tinubu welcomed the Coca-Cola System’s proposed $1 billion investment in Nigeria over five years, announced in 2024, describing it as a strong vote of confidence in the country’s economy.
He said the administration is focused not only on the volume of investment attracted but also on its impact on employment, skills development, technology transfer and local sourcing.
“We are interested not only in the amount of capital that comes into Nigeria, but in what that capital does here,” he said.
The President also praised NBC’s continued expansion of production capacity, including new production lines in Oyo and Kano states, describing such investments as vital to strengthening Nigeria’s industrial base.
He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to improving policies, infrastructure and regulations to support businesses, while urging the private sector to complement government efforts through investment, innovation and job creation.
Tinubu further highlighted the importance of human capital development, commending NBC’s Supply Chain Academy for training over 1,400 young Nigerians and supporting women’s empowerment and community development initiatives.
He urged investors to take advantage of opportunities across Nigeria, expressing confidence that the country can build a stronger economy driven by local production, exports and globally competitive industries.
Politics
Kano Governorship: Accord Party Governorship Candidate Gashash Getting More Endorsement From Kano Electorates.
By Jabiru Hassan.
The movement for Democratic Protection and good governance (MDSG) declared it's full support to the Accord Party Governorship Candidate Ambassador Dr. Mukhtar Gashash in the forthcoming general elections.
In a chat with our correspondent in kano, the national president of the movement, Alhaji Dauda Mohammed Ali, stated that it is time for the people of kano state to bring new steward who is seriously planning to transform the state with highest regard.
He expressed his confidence that Ambassador Dr Mukhtar Gashash will do his best to ensure that kano state becomes more examplary at both sector without bias which is the task previous administrators failed to achieve.
Alhaji Dauda Mohammed Ali reiterated that " this time around, our movement is working day and night to make sure that Kano people mostly youths remained Committed to actualize real change in the state's politics, leadership and transformation under the Accord Party government".
He called on the people of kano state especially the eligible voters to vote Ambassador Dr Mukhtar Gashash due to his Transformation plans for the progress of kano state and it's citizens at both Urban and rural settlements.
Responding to a question about Accord party's strength in kano state, Dauda Mohammed Ali disclosed that in today's democracy, competent candidates should be tipped for an elective positions not the popularity of the political parties stressing that Ambassador Dr Mukhtar Gashash has been found to be the best option for kano state due to his track record on competency, transparency as a real democrat.
Politics
Caught in the middle: Ortom’s silent dance between two camps.
There are growing questions about where Mr. Samuel Ortom, a former Governor of Benue State and a prominent figure in the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), truly stands politically ahead of 2027.
Ortom was a key figure in the divisions within the PDP before the 2023 general elections and was widely associated with support for Mr. Peter Obi, who finished third in that contest. More recently, however, he has publicly expressed support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
The latest discussion began after a visit by Mr. Peter Obi to Benue State. Reports indicate that a vehicle said to belong to Ortom was used to receive Obi at the Air Force Base airport in Makurdi. It is not clear who authorized the use of the vehicle, and Ortom has not commented publicly on the matter.
During the same visit, Obi was reportedly prevented from travelling to Yelewata, where he had intended to condole with families affected by violence. Obi’s team attributed the blockage to supporters of Governor Hyacinth Alia.
The Governor’s spokesman, Sir Tersoo Kula, denied any involvement by the Governor. He suggested the incident may have been staged to damage the Governor’s reputation, or that it could have resulted from disagreements within Obi’s own support base.
Ortom has not issued a statement clarifying his position on the 2027 elections or on the vehicle in question. Attempts to reach him were unsuccessful at the time of reporting.
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