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I’ll support Obi again only if – Kenneth Okonkwo *Tinubu messing up Nigeria
Kennth Okonkwo, veteran Nollywood actor and spokesman of the Peter Obi Presidential Campaign Organisation in the 2023 election, on Tuesday gave condition for re-enacting his support for the former Governor of Anambra State in 2027.
That would only come if there is a coalition in which all the parties involved chose the former governor as its candidate and not Obi as a lone-ranger as was the case in the last effort.
A guest of Politics Today, a public affairs programme on Channels Television, Okonkwo, who earlier announced his severance from the Labour Party (LP), the platform under which Obi contested the last election alongside Yusuf Datti-Ahmed, as the Vice Presidential candidate, had earlier expressed disgust about Obi’s treatment of the outcome of the election as the major reason for his change of attitude.
Though he had participated in the legal efforts put up by Obi and the LP, the Nollywood veteran, had said when he first announced his withdrawal of support for Obi that he favoured a more forceful and decisive attitude of the former governor towards the recovery of his mandate, which included street agitations.
Okonkwo, who incidentally acknowledged the influence of external forces, particularly expressed revulsion against Obi’s reticent attitude to the leadership tussle in the LP, saying had he been more decisive from the outset instead of hedging, the situation would not have degenerated to its present level.
Reiterating the position on Tuesday, he said: “I said it and I maintain it because in Nigeria, people will not give you their mandate and you treat it with levity.
“You must do everything decisively to secure it. Unfortunately, nature has bestowed on us the duty that in Nigeria, you will not only win an election, but you have to fight for your mandate.
“It has become part of our democracy. And remember I told you that the indecisiveness of what happened in the Labour party was the last straw that broke the camel’s back.”
Hugging the idea of a coalition as the best option, he said if such an arrangement made Obi its choice, he would be all for it, adding: “Now, you’re coming into democracy, if the whole opposition should come together, and I decide that I’ve seen that this collectivity has the interest of Nigeria at heart, whoever they bring, if I’m in the mood, why not?
In the same vein Okonkwo, also spoke on his possible return to the All Progressives Congress (APC), saying though not impossible, as he was not the one to use the expression – never – but such a move would not come with the way President Bola Tinubu was messing up the lives of Nigerians through his policies and style of governance.
Hear him: “First of all, I have told you before and at the risk of being misunderstood, that I don’t use the word never in all that I’m doing. Never belongs to God.
“But why did leave APC in the first place? They were the party that was moving Nigeria in the wrong direction security-wise, economy-wise, and I waited to see whether if there was a new government, when there was a change of power we could see a new lease. Then Tinubu came and then decided to choose a fellow Muslim to become his Vice President in addition to the security problem, in addition to the economic problem.
“So, Tinubu now displayed that he’s a man that is cantankerous to the spirit of diversity. I was telling my Muslim brothers that it is not about religious sentiment, it is about a man who does not recognise our religious diversity will not recognise our ethnic diversity. And he simply a man who is cantankerous to the spirit of our diversity.
“What is happening today? The Muslims are suffering the most in this country, because it is about using them to acquire power. He just gives posts to the North without power and gives power to his people.
“So, if you’re saying I’m going back to the APC, if I say I’m the one looking for good governance for Nigeria and I see a man who has chastised Nigeria with serpents, who has made Nigerians to start paying one thousand-something, rather than N195 that they were paying before he came into office; if I say I’m going back to the APC to meet a country or a party where the leaders – a General – the DG of NYSC is being picked on the road like a common criminal, and in my place, the South East, you could see how a member of the House of Assembly was killed and his corpse deposited along the road, if I see all these things and I get back to the APC, then I’m not serious when I say I’m fighting for good governance.
“Let me tell you, I’ll be the first to admit if APC changes today and it is doing good for Nigeria. But don’t tell me that in out of the six geopolitical zones, a man came in and he is choosing only people out of the South West – not even only the Yoruba or the qualified ones, but his own loyalists from Lagos – as I’ve always told you – Jagabanese protegees, tainted with Emilokan philosophy.
“You want me to go back to the same party? I resigned on principles and until those issues are addressed, I remain opposed to any party that would not recognise our diversity. I’m not in politics to jive.
“I’m in politics for the people. The greatness I’m enjoying today is from the love of the people. When I want to take a position, I look for what is right or wrong, what is true or false.”
“He is running in contempt of the court. Justice Lifu should be arrested because he is acting in contempt of the court which is a criminal act,” were the exact words with which the African Democratic Congress (ADC), demonstrated its angst over the court ruling on Monday, ordering its de-registration as a political party in Nigeria.
A furious Bolaji Abdullahi, spokesman of the party, told his host while appearing as a guest on Monday’s edition of Politics Today, a public affairs programme on Channels Television that the judge of the Abuja Federal High Court who gave the order was actually playing with fire because of the consequences.
Directly accusing him of playing the script of the All Progressives Congress (APC), to ensure that President Bola Tinubu emerged the sole candidate for the 2027 presidential election, the party spokesman, was emphatic that the plan would not work, as head or tail, ADC must be on the ballot in all the elections.
Hear him: “There is a Court of Appeal order saying don’t hear this case until October 27. So, on what basis? You can’t place something on nothing. The Court of Appeal said don’t act on this until I hear it on October 27. So, on what basis did he deliver the judgement
“So, for us in the African Democratic Congress, what we’re convinced and they know is what they have done has no leg to stand on legally. What they want to do is to create doubts in the minds of the people that this ADC has too many legal cases, can we actually run on this? And to distract us. But we’re not distracted.
“We’re very clear. It was in spite of all they have done since ADC came on board that we ran one of the best and one of the most comprehensive direct primaries in the history of democracy in Nigeria. So, we are strong enough to withstand this. And that’s why I’m saying that we are going to contest in 2027. We’re ADC. We don’t buckle before dictatorship.”
Stressing on the implication of the judgement, which also affected Accord Party (AP), Action Peoples Party (APP), Action Alliance (AA), and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) for allegedly failing to meet constitutional and electoral performance requirements, following a suit by the National Forum of Former Legislators, he said it portended grave danger.
He added: “We are not surprised. We know that the Nigerian people believe that there is a problem with the judiciary, but what we did not expect is the level of judicial rascality that was demonstrated today.
“What we are saying is that we reject it in its totality, and we are saying that the people behind this are playing with fire. Hundreds, if not thousands, have obtained nomination forms and contested elections and emerged as candidates on the platform of the ADC.”
Peter Obi, candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC), in the 2027 presidential election, is peeved at the decision of the Federal High Court, Abuja, ordering the de-registration of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), saying the move is a heavy blow and dangerous to Nigeria’s democracy.
Justice Peter Lifu, who made the order, based on an action brought by National Forum of Former Legislators, agreed that the parties, including Accord Party (AP), Action Peoples Party (APP), Action Alliance (AA), and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), failed to meet the requirement for continued existence in Nigeria.
But Obi, who left the ADC coalition to join the NDC, incidentally, based on what he explained resulted from the multiple court cases hanging on its neck, expressed his disenchantment, in a statement by the Peter Obi Media Reach (POMR), on Monday.
Signed by Ibrahim Umar, its spokesman, the group quoted the former Governor of Anambra State as decrying the growing damage to the nation’s sacred institutions on the altar of politics.
Stressing that the rise of nations depended on stronger institutions devoid of political influences, the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, wrote on his X platform: “When the controversy surrounding the removal of the former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Onnoghen, unfolded, I expressed a concern to a friend: that the greatest damage might not be immediate, but the message it sends about the sanctity and independence of our institutions to the world.
“Strong economies are built on trust. Investors can manage security risks, policy risks, and even market risks. What they fear most is uncertainty in the rule of law and a judiciary that is perceived to be vulnerable to political pressure.
“Today, many Nigerians have lost confidence in systems that should protect them. Businesses increasingly request that their contracts be governed by foreign jurisdictions because they have greater confidence in those institutions than in our own. That should concern every patriot.
“We must never sacrifice our sacred institutions on the altar of politics. Nations rise when institutions are stronger than individuals. The Federal High Court judgment ordering the deregistration of the ADC and other political parties is just one of those activities that further reduces the common man’s trust in our legal systems. It should be reversed.
“I pledge that we will restore the dignity, independence, and integrity of the judiciary. The common man must have a voice. The business community must be protected from legal uncertainty and intimidation. Justice must be impartial, accessible, and respected by all. To our judges, legal luminaries, senior advocates, and lawyers: this is your moment. Rise, defend the rule of law, take back your country! A new Nigeria is POssible.”
Not even Lamine Yamal’s second half introduction could help Spain break through the defence of debutants, Cape Verde, in their first ever meeting, as the ongoing World Cup event produced another one of the stunning results on Monday.
Yamal, the Barcelona superstar just recovering from a near two-month hamstring injury, was brought into the game in the second half to zest up the one-time world champion, but failed to break down the Cape Verde’s dogged defence.
Spain’s in the game played in Atlanta, one of the cities hosting the three-nation Mundial, displayed the same dismal outing, which saw them offering far less than the quality, which saw them lifting the trophy for the first time in 2010.
The European champions, which have not won a knockout game ever since, failed to dominate the African side, replicating their less than impressing outings and their eventual exit in 2018 and 2022 editions, even with the claims of coach Luis de la Fuente that the squad was the best in the competition, Spain were considered among the pre-tournament.
Neither Yamal nor Nico Williams, who also was hit by an injury-disrupted season at Athletic Bilbao and was not introduced until the 87th minute, were able to rise to the occasion against the 500,000 people African side, ranked 67 in the world, which is making their debut on the global stage.
In stark contrast to the searing temperatures faced by some other sides, Atlanta’s state-of-the-art air conditioned stadium meant there was no excuses for the slow tempo of Spain’s build-up.
Indeed the mid-half hydration break was met by boos with fans frustrated at the break in play despite the cool conditions.
The only serious move from the European champions only came at the sixth minute to half-time, when Marc Cucurella, fresh for sealing his move from Chelsea to Real Madrid, sent over a teasing cross that Ferran Torres turned onto the crossbar and Cabo Verde goalkeeper Vozinha got back on his feet to turn Mikel Oyarzabal’s looping header over the bar.
Even after the break, the Blue Sharks, were also able to hold back from the onslaught as they did in the first half, where Vozinho, managed to make another superlative save against Aymeric Laporte’s header just before half-time.
Despite the excitement from the crowd after he was introduced, Yamal, billed as one of the stars of the tournament, failed to create any magic with his first touch being the set-up of a decent opening for fellow substitute Mikel Merino which was too close to Vozinha.
In fact, Cabo Verde billed to take on Uruguay in Miami, nearly snatched a famous victory in the final minute of the 90 when Dani Borges planted a header too close to Unai Simon, who saved the occasion, to prevent the former world champions, billed to face Saudi Arabia in Atlanta on Sunday from humiliation.
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