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Buhari greater than Obasanjo – APC *Explains absence at Tinubu’s campaigns
There is no basis for comparing the achievements of President Muhammadu Buhari and former President, Olusegun Obasanjo either in their performance in office on individual standing befor Nigerians, the All Progressives Congress (APC), said on Wednesday.
Festus Keyamo, spokesperson of APC Presidential Campaign Council (APC-PCC), made the claim while appearing on The Morning Show, a breakfast programme on Arise Television, while explaining the President’s absence at the presidential campaigns of the party.
Against the backdrop of the claims that Buhari’s absence at the rallies, meant that he was not supporting Ahmed Bola Tinubu, the party’s flagbearer for the 2023 presidential election, Keyamo, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), told his host that the former President and the incumbent, cut different characters.
While explaining that Obasanjo, was disruptive, which was evident in the manner he interfered with the government and campaigns of former President, Goodluck Jonathan, he said Buhari was too focused to engage himself in acts that could obstruct the running of the campaigns by making himself the issue.
“As for President Buhari and his supposed lukewarm attitude towards Asiwaju, let me make mockery of our opponents on that. I thought they said President Buhari had no influence. So, why are they excited about that, why are they worried about that?
“I thought they said he did not win the 2019 election and that they were rigged out, but in another breath they tell you that Asiwaju would not enjoy the influence of Buhari. So, Buhari now has influence? You admit, you know that? You know that what he brings to the table is huge?
“President Buhari is not like Obasanjo, who wants to instal a puppet. You saw what he did in 2007, against President Yar’Adua. That was not salutary. That was where the do or die mantra came up, if you remember.
“It was there that he said this election was a do or die affair for him. Now, a leader should not behave like that and President Buhari is well shoulders above President Obasanjo in this respect.
“He was there at our flag-off in Jos. That was enough support. As time goes on, he’s going to make some marked appearances here and there to show that he’s supportive, but at the same time, he wants to show the world and African leaders that he’s aloof to the point that he can conduct a free and fair election. It’s not a do or die for him. He supports our candidate as the chairman of the campaign council as the leader of our party, but he’s not going to come down into the arena so much as to show that he’s going to use same power to swing it to one side.”
Keyamo, Minister of State for Labour and employment, also weighed in on the endorsement of Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) by former President, Olusegun Obasanjo, on Sunday, New Year’s day, saying though it was good for the image of the former Governor of Anambra State, it would only stop at showing him off as enhancing the growth of his new party, but would not make him win the election.
Reiterating an earlier position he canvassed at a similar appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today, he said:
“This is a young party, Peter Obi went there in the last 5 or 6 months, and they are doing well, better than expected.
“It’s not that people expect them to win. No, Labour Party will not win. I can bet with anything that is precious to me on earth. I can tell you, and I am that confident. I put it down that they will not win.”
He also spoke on the crisis in the rival Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), saying the rebellion of of the aggrieved governors in the G-5 Integrity Group, was good for the APC whichever way the camp swung their support.
Hear him: “I want to let all Nigerians know this, including the APC supporters. We want to address our base. Either way the G5 goes is a win-win situation for APC because this G5 is a strong component of the PDP. If they go to Peter Obi, win-win for APC, if they come to us, it’s a plus. Anywhere they go, except Atiku Abubakar, is a win-win for us. Even the votes they are taking to Labour Party will also not give victory to the party.”
He added: “The race before now was between APC and PDP, but as I speak to you, PDP has completely collapsed. If you look at their campaign so far, the PDP will continue to tell you that they are hoping that there will be some kind of upheaval in the north, some kind of reversal of fortune.
“We can say confidently today that the PDP and its campaign as a party has collapsed. The various factors that we have now that have upset the political terrain — Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso — were the components of PDP in 2019.
“The wheels of PDP are falling off one by one. The endorsement of Olusegun Obasanjo is not against APC, it’s against Atiku Abubakar because he supported him in 2019.”
Succour came the way of the David Mark, following the restoration of his leadership of African Democratic Congress (ADC), by the Supreme Court, which removed the order by the Court of Appeal for parties to maintain status quo ante bellum pending the determination of its leadership crisis at the Federal High Court, Abuja.
The apex court, in a unanimous decision by a five-member panel headed by Justice Mohammed Lawal Garba, held that the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal acted beyond its jurisdiction by unilaterally issuing such an order after it had already dismissed a case that was brought before it by one of the factions.
“Giving such an order in an appeal it had already dismissed was unnecessary, unwarranted and improper,” the Supreme Court held.
It held that the appeal that was filed before it by Senator David Mark succeeded in part, even as it dismissed the aspect that challenged an ex parte order the Federal High Court made for service of processes in the suit filed by aggrieved members of the party.
The apex court directed the factions to return to the trial court for continuation of hearing of the case.
It will be recalled that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had removed Mark and Rauf Aregbesola from its portal and website as ADC National Chairman and Secretary, respectively, on April 1, citing the Court of Appeal’s judgment.
The electoral body said it would, in line with the order for maintenance of the status quo ante bellum, not recognise any of the warring factions until the legal dispute is determined.
By Sunny Igboanugo
Between sports and politics, it is difficult to ascertain which is more potent in delivering the dividends of popularity. But in a situation where the two are combined, what is the outcome? It is predictable – a two-fold if not multiple-fold of that.
Evidence of that reverberated last Saturday, when the floors of the Eko Hotels and Suites, Vitoria Island, Lagos, shook to its foundation, with the rooftops almost caving in, while announcing the entrance of Jim Ifeanyichukwu Nwobodo – a man adorned with the garlands from the two worlds after striding through them like a colossus.
For many youngsters who had wondered why the entire atmosphere at the main hall of the prestigious hotel echoed with Jiiimmm – jiiimmm – jiiimmm, the answer was not farfetched. The man that had just walked in had etched his name in the hearts of the people in many ways.
For instance, his tenure marked Nigeria’s most glorious era in sports. Everyone reckons with the Super Eagles of 1994 as the best the country has attained so far in global football reckoning. That, no doubt could easily be attributed to the Nwobodo magic.
As Minister of Sports and Youths Development, it was to his name that Nigeria recorded two major prestigious trophies that put its image on the global sports map – the 1994 African Cup of Nations (AFCON), the second time Nigeria would lift it and of course the globally-acclaimed Atlanta gold medal in football at the 1996 Olympics in the United States.
In this glorious era, Nigeria found its name on the envious list of global sports – not only winning AFCON for the second time in 1994, appearing at the World Cup in the same year, becoming the number one in African football and number five in the world ranking it crowned it all with the spectacular Olympics feat, with the contingents coming home with six medals – two golds, one silver and three bronzes – the best performance ever.
Even his foray into politics had a large component of sports in it, having led then Rangers Football Club of Enugu, as Chairman to its first major continental trophy – the African Cup of Winners in 1977. It was his launchpad into politics so much that his name and face were already quite familiar with the people.
From position of the Chairman, Anambra branch of the defunct Nigerian Peoples Party (NPP), he got elected as the first Executive Governor of the old Anambra State comprising what is today, Enugu, Anambra and Ebonyi States.
In government that lasted from October 1, 1979 to October 1, 1983, he left a legacy that till date remains unmatched by succeeding governments – military and civilians – in infrastructure, education, hospitality among others.
Talk about the Nike Lake hotel, Nike, Enugu; old Anambra State Television, now split into Enugu State Broadcasting Service (ESBS) and Anambra State Television Service (ABS) Awka, Anambra State University of Science and Technology (ASUT), now split into Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) Enugu and former Anambra State University of Science and Technology (ASUTECH) Awka, now upgraded to the Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Awka.
There were also the Ikenga Hotels (with branches in Enugu, Onitsha, and Awka); the Nnamdi Azikiwe stadium, Enugu; Eha Amufu College of Education; and College of Education Nsugbe, Nsugbe, now Nwafor Orizu College of Education, Nsugbe.
One of the most flamboyant politicians ever to strut the rostrum in Nigeria, Nwobodo, who cut the image of not only a consummate fashionista but one whose uniqueness stood him out among his peers, also made it to the National Assembly as Senator representing Enugu East in the class of ’99-2003.
Gifted with immense public appeal, with penchant to attract the crowd like honey to bees, the energy his entrance generated as well as the ululations at Saturday’s event, was only too natural and emblematic of a man used to stealing the show at public gatherings.
The spontaneous reactions were simply consequent upon which aspect of him impacted the motley crowd comprising the high and mighty. For those from the South East, many still basking in the reverberating echoes of the politics of pasts, it was still the iconic Jim that had just walked in – a hero, whose name still lit fires in their bellies.
For others, it was the entrance of the most iconic, most esteemed and most revered Igbo leader alive today. The language of the Ogene music and the electrifying performance of the troupe from the South East delivered that part of the message most clearly.
Others recalled the Jim Nwobodo, who as Minister, not inspired the resilience with which the Dream Team, Nigeria’s most of prestigious football team mesmerised the world including the duos of the almighty Brazil and Argentina and returned home with the gold medal from the Olympics and the fanfare that followed the outcome in the streets of Abuja to Lagos, Enugu to Kano and Port Harcourt.
Yet, many must have recalled the effervescent governor of the second republic in the league of progressives, made up of young, vibrant and visionary politicians of that era imbued with fresh ideas of how to move Nigerian into the league of developed nations.
But ultimately, many would surely see the figure that had just walked into that arena as one of the remaining political icons of the class of ’79 – in fact, one of the only two governors of that era still standing today outside Alhaji Awal Ibrahim of Niger State.
So, it was not for nothing that the crowd cheered endlessly as the ex-governor, ex-Minister and Senator made his grand appearance. Nobody would be in doubt that he deserved every bit of attention and recognition.
Any such doubts would be cleared not only by the deluge of ululations from the audience, sustained accolades from both the organisers and fellow recipients, but also by the quality of personalities accompanying the elder statesman, from his homestead, of course, led by Peter Mbah, Governor of Enugu State.
Now, how would this enchanting event have ended without introducing the angle of Pat Nwobodo, the delectable wife and soft side of the Jim brand. The goddess of the Nigerian stock market, financial guru and former Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (MD-CEO) of Savannah Bank Plc was there in tow.
Standing by her husband to whom she had graduated beyond a wife, partner, an ally a friend, to the major pillar along the path of the build-up and along the twist and turns of politics, statecraft, completed the picture of the evening.
Indeed, The Vanguard Lifetime Achievement Award for 2025, would be added to the list of the various trophies hanging on the walls of this octogenarian politician, sports enthusiast and administrator, leader of men and material and statesman extraordinaire.
But it certainly would not end there. The greater laurel is the imprint of his legacy in the hearts of his admirers as was showcased by the crowd which welcomed him with that loud ovation. That would be the more long-lasting – the more enduring.
For as the sage himself told the audience, while appreciating the recognition – getting awards while one was in power, could be good – but getting awards outside power, remained the more enduring, because it emblemised good memories – the best legacy of man on earth.
The Supreme Court on Thursday, finally nailed the Seyi Makinde camp of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which also includes Bala Muhammed, Governor of Bauchi State, by nullifying the national convention held in Ibadan, Oyo state, on November 15 and 16, 2025, which produced Taminu Turaki as National Chairman.
Justice Stephen Adah, who read the majority judgement in a two-three split decision of the five-member panel of the apex court, dismissed the appeal filed by the camp, which had earlier lost at the Court of Appeal, for lacking in merit.
Adah, said the camp not only violated a susbsisting order of the federal high court which restrained it from proceeding with the planned convention, adding that such defiance of an existing judgment of the Federal High Court, delivered by Justice James Omotosho would not be condoned by law.
Berating the Turaki-led group for going on to another court of coordinate jurisdiction to secure an order, instead of going on appeal, the apex court described the move as an abuse of court process, adding that any litigant who engaged in the act of abuse of court process would do so at his or her own peril.
The majority judgment dismissed the appeal for lack of merit.
The Turaki group had asked the Supreme Court to set aside a Court of Appeal ruling that voided the convention for breaching a subsisting court order.
Through their counsel, Paul Erokoro (SAN), the appellants urged the apex court to uphold the convention and dismiss a cross-appeal filed by a rival faction loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
However, the respondents, including former Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido, contended that the dispute transcends internal party matters and centres on disobedience to a valid court order.
Lamido had earlier obtained a Federal High Court injunction barring the PDP from holding the convention until he was permitted to contest for the position of national chairman.
Despite the order, the party went ahead with the exercise—an action later declared unlawful by both the trial court and the Court of Appeal.
The appellate court further ruled that the matter was not protected under the doctrine of internal party affairs and accordingly nullified the convention.
The apex court further held that political parties are the vehicle through which politicians get to public office, hence they have a responsibility to obey court orders in deference to the rule of law.
Stressing that once a party knew of an order of court, it was bound to obey it, the court held: “The conduct of the national convention of November 15, 2025, is null and void and is hereby nulled. This court will not lend its machinery to any litigant who abuses the process of the court. This appeal is lacking in merit and is hereby dismissed. Parties will bear their own costs,” it added.
Justice Haruna Samani, in the minority judgment he read, maintained, among other reasons, that the process of who runs a political party is the internal affairs of the party, and therefore not within the jurisdiction of the lower courts.
This position was also supported by Justice Abubakar Umar, who cited an earlier ruling of the Supreme Court, which states that any matter that does not concern primary elections of political parties is not a pre-election matter and therefore not justiciable.
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