Politics

Discuss issues, not individuals, Okowa’s aide urges Tinubu

Published

3 years ago

July 28, 2022

DAN DENT (ASABA)

Sponsored by: H&H

The Presidential Candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Bola Tinubu has been urged to discuss issues and not individuals in the build-up to electioneering ahead of 2023 general elections.

The Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the Governor of Delta, Mr Olisa Ifeajika, made the call while reacting to a statement credited to Tinubu in which he reportedly said his running mate was better than the man chosen by Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

Chief Press Secretary to Delta Governor ,Mr. Olisa Ifeajika briefing journalists in Government House, Asaba on Tuesday PIX: SAMUEL JIBUNOR.

Ifeajika said the choice of who was the better vice presidential candidate of the major political parties and the party to vote for in the 2023 general elections remained with Nigerians and not for one individual to try to influence by speaking derogatorily about opponents.

He said that Delta Gôvernor, Sen. (Dr) Ifeanyi Okowa, was picked as running mate by Alhaji Atiku Abubakar due to his soaring political profile, his contributions to national development and his exceptional performance as governor in the last seven years.

The CPS pointed out to Tinubu, who he said Gov. Okowa had respect for, that maligning the PDP’s Vice-Presidential Candidate would not in any way diminish his (Okowa) political pedigree, and reminded Tinubu and his APC-led Federal Government of the need to fulfil their electioneering promises to Nigerians before thinking of re-election in 2023.

“Alhaji Atiku Abubakar had an interview on Arise TV some days ago where he said that Sen. Bola Tinubu approached him to become his running mate of the defunct ACN in 2007, but that he (Atiku) declined the request because he was averse to Muslim-Muslim ticket.

“In response to Atiku’s comments, rather than address the issues Atiku Abubakar raised, Sen. Tinubu took a swipe at our governor, saying that his own running mate was better than Alhaji Atiku Abubakar’s choice of Sen. Okowa.

“We know Senator Bola Tinubu as a good politician and former governor of Lagos State. But we expect him to know that there are other politicians that are towering and are good, patriotic and have tried in their tracks to be statesmen.

“And, Delta Gôvernor and by the grace of God, Vice-Presidential Candidate of PDP, Senator (Dr.) Ifeanyi Okowa, is in this bracket. If Tinubu thinks that he is good, he should not foreclose that there won’t be other persons that are good or even better in politics where he thrives.

“It was his choice to pick his own running mate for whatever criteria he had. The same considerations, no doubt, the Presidential Candidate of PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, had in choosing Senator Ifeanyi Okowa over all the other candidates screened,” he said.

Stating that politics was not a game of turn-by-turn, but competence, Ifeajika reminded Tinubu that the National Health Act in the country today came from the effort of Governor Okowa when he was in the Senate, and urged him to check in case he didn’t know or may have forgotten.

He added that it was on record that Okowa headed critical committees and sub-committees put in place by the APC-led Federal Government during the COVID-19 pandemic to help in mitigating the challenges posed by the scourge.

The CPS said that unlike Alhaji Bola Tinubu who had no certificate to show to meet part of the constitutional requirements for contesting election, “Governor Okowa is well educated and owned certificates that are in public domain and verifiable”.

“Senator Bola Tinubu has been in the news lately for what we know are not for the good reasons. We are not surprised that he took an unwarranted swipe at the PDP Vice-Presidential Candidate because that is his patent. It’s his character to abuse and not discuss.

“We recall that Tinubu had boasted that he made Buhari the President and that it was, therefore, his turn to be the President of Nigeria. In other words, he has been putting people there, but now it is his turn to be.

“Those who follow social media would have seen the mockery that followed that comment.

“He, Tinubu has also been reported to have said that in attaining his ambition of being president, he was going to fight dirty.

“And, in reference to the Presidential Candidate of Labour Party, Mr Peter Obi, he reportedly said that the man will labour in vain.

“These are the languages Senator Tinubu has come to be identified with. So, we are not surprised that in attempt to get back to Alhaji Abubakar, who said that Tinubu approached him to be his running mate and he refused, he, (Tinubu) took a swipe at an innocent man, Okowa, who is not in direct contest with him.

“We are asking Tinubu to face his contest. He has a joint ticket with whom he has chosen as his running mate just as Atiku has done. So, he should be preoccupied with how to go to the contest and leave the campaign of calumny.

“He should be discussing issues affecting the general wellbeing of the people, not discussing individuals.

“Dr Okowa, as governor and Vice Presidential candidate of PDP, has his CV in public domain. He has a record and he is a man that is well known. So, a Tinubu’s swipe can not diminish what Okowa has attained.

“Senator Tinubu should confine himself to the contest he has. He has so much around him to deal with, giving the size of baggage that people know that he has.

“In the national turf, apart from being ‘the national leader’ of APC, as the members say, what we have on Tinubu is that he was a senator for a very short period and a two-term former governor.

“Senator (Dr.) Ifeanyi Okowa was a senator and a two-term governor. So, it is for Nigerians to judge who is a better person in all of these. Who has done well, for not just his state, but the country, adding value.

“Okowa as senator, was behind the birthing of our national health policy currently being enjoyed by Nigerians. So, Nigerians need to assess what Tinubu and Okowa have in public domain and know who is better,” he said.

The CPS also said that the presidential ticket of Atiku/Okowa was a big threat to the APC, just as he reminded the party of the devastating woes it has brought to Nigerians since it came into office in 2015.

He pointed out that the Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket of the ruling party at the centre had given Christians a unique opportunity to cast their votes for the PDP, a development, he said, would give room for all Nigerians to be represented at the federal level.

Ifeajika said Delta was home for all tribes because the Governor believed in the oneness of the country, and sued for peaceful co-existence in all parts of the country.

He lauded the media for their sustained objective and unbiased reportage of the policies and programmes of the Senator Okowa-ked administration in the state, promising to sustain the synergy.

Politics

Jandor condoles with Lagos APC Chairman over death of wife

Published

2 months ago

March 28, 2025

august24admin

AJAGBE ADEYEMI TESLIM

Politics

JANDOR Splashes N100 Million on distribution of Rice to APC Executives Across all wards and 57 LGA/ LCDAs for Sallah Celebration

Published

2 months ago

March 28, 2025

august24admin

JANDOR Splashes N100 Million on distribution of Rice to APC Executives Across all wards and 57 LGA/ LCDAs for Sallah Celebration

AJAGBE ADEYEMI TESLIM

Politics

Eschew Desperation, Cleric Tells Nigerians Politicians As Olumoh Holds 34th Ramadan Edition Lecture for Late Father

Published

3 months ago

March 19, 2025

august24admin

AJAGBE ADEYEMI TESLIM

SPONSORED BY: H&H

Muslim clerics have tasked politicians to tone down on their desperation for power by all means, at the 34th Sheikh Sadallah AbdulSalam Olumoh Jokogbowo Ramadan lecture series in Ajeromi Ifelodun federal constituency on Sunday.

The guest lecturer Sheikh Ahmod Anofi Al-Mubarak who spoke extensively on the topic: “Destiny” at the Ramadan lecture organized by Honourable Lukmon Sa’ad Olumoh the member representing Ajeromi Ifelodun constituency 1 at the Lagos State House of Assembly, counselled all public office holders and intending aspirants not to see the race as a do-or-die-affair but to always succumb to the will of God in all their cravings.

Sheikh Al-Mubarak also declared that, “Conspiracy remains the root of all political issues, we ought to succumb to what destiny has in stock for us, especially that which is orchestrated by Allah because there is nothing, we can do about it.

“Try to consult God through prayers and whatever he has destined don’t influence anything in the contrary.

“You politicians are fond of doing that, having tried to attain a height repeatedly in politics without much success, you would not accept what destiny has tossed your way, you often try to force it, this most times end up badly”.

The cleric further admonished them to always create time for those who had supported their cause in time past, with the understanding that God loves one who is just in his or her dealings with his fellow human being.

Hon. Olumoh in a chat with newsmen also expressed the importance of the Ramadan lecture held in memory of his late father, stressing that the essence of the period is forgiveness and charity.

“This is the 34th edition and we are practising what the period is meant for- the spirit of forgiveness and giving.

“Today we have empowered over a thousand people with cash of ten thousand naira each, ten people will be given generators, also we will be giving grinding machines and hair dryers to some of our constituents.

“It could not be displayed because of the crowd but it will be distributed as we move on.

“Also, here we have a dedicated party member who we have given a motorbike this is coming as a reward of his hard work and commitment to the cause of the party, we have tried to touch our party people and constituents at every point in time even during stakeholder’s meetings.

A stakeholder within the Ajeromi Ifelodun polity of Lagos State, who also doubles as a Governor Advisory Council (GAC) member Prince Rabiu Adio Oluwa hinted that every Muslims should endeavour to take seriously the teachings of the holy prophet, while adding that the words of the prophet remain a guiding light for our day to day living.

“It is a source of inspiration to all, bringing them closer to Allah. I earlier corrected an impression here that the word of Allah is key, though money is important too. So, with that correction taken and some adjustments made it is a good gathering.”

Speaking to the lecture Olumoh hinted that: “As a Muslim we all believe in destiny, as dictated by Allah that we all believe in what we have destined.

“Rome wasn’t built in a day and for you to become somebody you must work towards achieving it.

“I didn’t come to the House of Assembly by Accident I have tried severally, to be a member of the House of Assembly since 2011and eventually I came in 2019 because it was destined for me to be there.

“I was persistent in my request for me to become a representative of my people so.

“I was well prepared for it to ensure that they get the dividend of democracy so, I believe in destiny and that whatever comes to you positive or negative is from almighty Allah.

“We ought to pray for Allah to give us what will benefit us in life and that is good destiny.

Olumoh further counselled constituents to keep hope alive stressing that things will take shape very soon given the well piloted reforms and economic policies of the Tinubu led government.

“My plea to the constituents is to be patient with the government it will go round, the economy might be what it is yesterday but we can now see the difference of the reforms initiated by our President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“Prices of fuel is going down likewise that of foodstuff, so we know that we are getting there gradually, restructuring is taking effect and I am very sure we would all benefit by the special grace of God.”

The incumbent federal House of Reps members Hon. Paul Kalejaiye was also present at the Ramadan lecture.

A former Federal House of Representatives member Hon. Kolawole Taiwo however commended the lawmaker for keeping up with the culture breast taped by his late father Muslim cleric, adding that he had contributed immensely to developmental strides in the constituency.

Colleagues of Honourable Olumoh present at the lecture includes: Hon Noheem Adams (Eti-Osa 1) and Hon. Nureni Akinsanya (Mushin 1) who took turn to harp on the importance of the gathering stressing that Nigeria and Lagos state needs prayer to ensure stainable peace and development across all facets of live.

His Royal Majesty Oba Atanda Amore Tijani Oluwa Apapa kingdom Ajeromi also lend his voice on the impact of Ramadan, “It teaches us how to live amongst ourselves in peace.

The essence of the month of Ramadan is to revive our soul towards the ways of Allah.”

The council chairman of Ajeromi Ifelodun local government Hon. Fatai Ayoola was quick to add that being our brother’s keeper and deviating from all forms of vices, is the essence of the month.

“You have to appreciate your neighbours be in good terms with them and give assistance to the needy. This is a yearly thing that Olumoh kept running the way he met it with those who have been to the House of Assembly before him.

“We all should be prayerful and expect the best from this polity.”

In the words of Okeowo the Chairman of Ifelodun LCDA it is a time to put everything aside in reverence of Allah, he urged people in the locality to embrace peace at all times and to worship God in spirit and truth.