News
Makinde has qualities to unseat Tinubu in 2027 – PDP
Hon. Abiodun Awoleye, a former member of the House of Representatives and a senior figure in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has stated that Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde possesses the necessary political influence and managerial skills to guide the PDP in wresting the presidency from President Bola Tinubu by 2027.
In an interaction with reporters at his home in Bashorun, Ibadan, during the festivities for Nigeria’s 65th Independence Day, Awoleye characterized Makinde as a modest political figure, a reliable organizer at the community level, and an executive with exceptional abilities.
READ ALSO: Makinde returns from leave for Olubadan coronation
“Governor Makinde has shown rare political will and administrative strength. I strongly believe he has what it takes to reposition our great party and ensure we take back power at the national level,” Awoleye said.
The PDP leader went on to note that Makinde’s achievements in bringing together the party’s branch in Oyo State and operating a government that includes diverse voices demonstrate his potential to reorganize the PDP on a broader scale.
His comments resonated with Makinde’s recent statement at the PDP’s state congress in Ibadan, where the governor promised supporters that the time of aggressive, rival gatherings had ended, and emphasized that the framework of harmony and member participation developed in Oyo could be extended across the country.
Awoleye also commended Makinde’s track record in leadership, especially his reliability in disbursing wages, retirement benefits, and lump-sum payments, viewing it as a key element in maintaining balance during the country’s financial difficulties.
“Even the late Alaafin of Oyo once remarked that he was amazed at how Governor Makinde has managed governance seamlessly without owing workers a single month,” he recalled.
He credited Makinde’s consistent and timely disbursements of employee compensation, end-of-service benefits, and retiree allowances as drivers of social and economic steadiness, as well as consistent development in the state, labeling the governor a brilliant strategist whose methods for handling national fiscal pressures deserve examination as a blueprint for broader renewal.
He portrayed Makinde as someone endowed with innovative thinking for tackling challenges and voiced his respect for the governor’s expertise in navigating conflicts, while appealing to party supporters to keep Makinde in their daily thoughts and supplications.
Separately, contributors at Awoleye’s birthday event observed that the ex-lawmaker’s faith in Makinde’s capacity to overhaul the party matches the governor’s vision for a more unified, orderly, and progressive PDP ready to steer Nigeria toward financial rebound and overall steadiness.
Ademiyiwa Mustapha, the PDP Chairman for Ibadan North, who brought along executives from the local government and ward levels to the event, depicted Awoleye as a calm individual with a notable history in politics.
He called on party members to stay committed, foster sincere relationships among themselves, and collaborate harmoniously for the PDP’s collective advancement.
Wrapping up, Hon. Awoleye disclosed that he shares a birthdate with Alhaja Mutiat Ladoja, the state’s former First Lady, and that his spouse shares hers with the current Olubadan of Ibadan, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja Arusa I.
He viewed this alignment as a delightful link to Ibadan’s traditions in royalty and leadership.
In his address, a senior party member, Pastor Gbenro, called the gathering a combined festivity, given its overlap with Nigeria’s 65th Independence milestone.
He highlighted Awoleye’s past service as interim head that facilitated the PDP’s establishment in Ogun State, terming it a point of honor for Ibadan North.
Hon. Awoleye continues to stand out as one of the most approachable politicians, boasting extensive knowledge in political affairs and public administration.
“He is humble, accessible, and a blessing to this generation,” Gbenro said, extending blessings to the honoree and his loved ones.
Additional participants at the function lauded Awoleye’s career in politics and his personal qualities. One fellow PDP leader called him a direct and trustworthy community organizer whom emerging politicians regard as an example to emulate.
The PDP Youth Leader for Ibadan North mentioned that he has never second-guessed his admiration for Awoleye, referring to him as a leading political voice marked by remarkable modesty.
Nevertheless, party affiliates voiced confidence in the PDP’s prospects at the local level in Ibadan North, statewide in Oyo, and nationally by 2027.
The door is now shut permanently in the face of the Federal Government towards taking up the 12.5 – being the remainder of its proposed 20 per cent stake in the Dangote Refineries, Africa’s first privately owned concern.
That means the government would now be stuck with the 7.5 per cent only it was able to pick up and which it currently holds in the $20 billion, 650 barrels per day capacity refinery, which came into operation in 2023 as the concern is insisting it is no longer interested in the remaining 12.5 per cent stake.
Instead of the government, the organisation, currently responsible for the supply of the major chunk of petroleum products in Nigeria and many parts of Africa, is now planning to bring in ordinary Nigerians into the mix to lap up the stake in the near future.
Aliko Dangote, President of the Dangote Group, who made the revelation, Nicolai Tangen, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Norwegian Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF), that the group had since rejected requests by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, to increase its 7.25 per cent stake in the firm.
The PUNCH, quoted the African Richest Man (ARM), as saying in the interview that the NNPC’s offer to increase its 7.25 per cent stake in the refinery was rejected because the company Dangote was planning to go public and give other Nigerians the opportunity to own shares in the plant.
Dangote had revealed that after acquiring the original 7.5 per cent in 2021, for $1bn, with an option to acquire the remaining 12.75 per cent stake by June 2024, NNPC Limited began to stall, and ended up reneging on its decision.
However, the national oil company had made attempts to acquire more stakes in the refinery, since that, but this was turned down, adding that the biggest risks the business could face were either civil war and government policy inconsistencies.
Hear him: “Actually, if there are civil wars, which is not in the offing at all. The other biggest risk is government inconsistencies in policies, and we are addressing that one because if you look at our refinery, the national oil company already owns 7.25 per cent, and they are trying to buy more. We are the ones that said no; we want to now spread it and have everybody be part of it.”
Dangote, had in 2014, informed Nigerians on how, Mele Kyari, former Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (GMD-CEO), had reduced NNPC’s stake in the refinery from 20 per cent to 7.25 per cent.
He had said then: “The agreement was actually 20 per cent, which we had with NNPC, and they did not pay the balance of the money up until last year; then we gave them another extension up until June (2024), and they said that they would remain where they had already paid, which is 7.2 per cent. So NNPC owns only 7.2 per cent, not 20 per cent.
The business mogul, who painted a seducing picture of what is at stake in the new opportunities, including the provision of getting dividends in foreign currencies, told his Norwegian host: “What we are announcing is that when you invest in any of our businesses going forward, in cement or in the refinery, in petrochemicals, in fertiliser, we guarantee to pay you a dividend in dollars because we are very well into exports. 80 per cent of our revenue will be in dollars.”
Explaining how he sourced funds for building the refinery, from various financial institutions, including Nigerian banks, he said the initial plan was to fund most of the construction work from our internally generated funds, but because of naira devaluation, the group had to rely on Afreximbank, Africa Finance Corporation, Zenith Bank, Access Bank, UBA and a couple of the local banks.
“But of course we also have a very good relationship with the Standard Bank of South Africa and, at the beginning, Standard Chartered Bank of the UK. We were lucky and what happened when the plant was completed turned out to be much more than our own expectations.”
The coast has brightened for Siminalayi Fubara, Governor of Rivers State, having been given the opportunity of obtaining the All Progressives Congress (APC) ticket for next year’s governorship election, contrary to reports in some quarters that he has been denied.
Vanguard reports that he was one of the 30 governors cleared by the party’s screening committee, including Hope Uzodimma of Imo, a two-term governor, who is currently eyeing a seat at the Senate.
Others cleared, included Sarafadeen Alli, former Secretary to the Oyo State Government (SSG), for the 2027, the report said, quoting sources, who revealed that the screening report was yet to be released due to a deluge of petitions flooding the party.
To beat the deadline by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), for the submission of the list of the names of successful candidates, the party said it now would publish the names of cleared aspirants on May 13.
Regarding the dithering on the release of the 2,980, comprising of one aspirants for one presidential slot, 28 governorship, 109 Senate, 360 House of Representatives, and 991 state assembly positions, a source was quoted as saying: “We are still working on the screening report to make sure everything goes well. The day is not over yet.
“We received many petitions from the eight panels that conducted the primaries. For instance, one of the panels received 10 petitions and the petitions have to be treated on their merit.”
Regarding the fate of Fubara, the source was quoted as saying the governor, whose tenure has been dogged by much of internal and external battles even after joining the APC last year, the source confirmed that he was not disqualified as speculated.
His words: “Nooo! No governor has been booted out. The party has always supported its governors. Some of them like Uzodimma got automatic clearance. To ensure we have a united front in 2027, we are working towards consensus but where that fails, direct primaries will be held in accordance with the Electoral Act. We know some of the high-profile aspirants don’t want to consent, and are ready to go to court. We don’t want that.”
After years of public outcries by individuals, groups and civil society organisations, the Imo State Police Command finally took steps against the controversial Anti-Kidnapping Unit, popularly known as Tiger Base.
The agency, described by many as notorious for rights abuses, was scrapped, by the Command, along with other tactical squads with similar identities, which have now been replaced with a newly created Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU) aimed at tackling rising violent crimes across the state.
The development was announced at the Police Command Headquarters in Owerri, the Imo State capital, marking one of the most significant policing reforms in the state in recent years following growing public concerns over the activities of Tiger Base.
Other tactical formations affected by the disbandment include the Scorpion Unit and the Lion Squad, whose operations were closely linked to the now-defunct outfit.
Speaking during the inauguration of the new unit, the Commissioner of Police, CP Audu Garba Bosso, said the reform was in compliance with the directive of the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to reposition tactical operations nationwide and strengthen professionalism within the Force.
Bosso said the newly established VCRU would focus on intelligence-driven operations against armed robbery, kidnapping, cultism, terrorism, illegal possession of firearms, and other violent crimes.
According to him, officers drafted into the unit were carefully selected based on competence, discipline, integrity, and operational experience.
He disclosed that the operatives had undergone intensive training in tactical response, intelligence gathering, crisis management, and human rights compliance to ensure lawful and professional conduct.
“The inauguration of the VCRU reflects our commitment to professional policing, public safety, and improved service delivery to the people of Imo State,” the police commissioner stated.
In a move seen as an attempt to rebuild public trust, the command also inaugurated a Civilian Oversight Board comprising representatives of the Nigerian Bar Association, civil society organisations, traditional rulers, religious leaders, and the Nigeria Union of Journalists.
The board is expected to monitor the activities of the unit, receive complaints from members of the public, and provide independent feedback to the Commissioner of Police.
The event attracted top government officials, heads of security agencies, members of the Police Community Relations Committee, youth organisations, and human rights groups.
Governor Hope Uzodinma, represented by the Chief Principal Security Officer, ACP Gboyako Shaba Adamu, commended the initiative and pledged continued support for security agencies in combating insecurity across the state.
Observers believe the scrapping of Tiger Base and the creation of the VCRU may signal a new chapter in tactical policing in Imo State, especially amid increasing calls for accountability and respect for human rights by security operatives.
The ceremony featured the unveiling of the VCRU logo, presentation of its operational dress code, and goodwill messages from stakeholders.
Residents were urged to support the new unit with credible information to aid crime-fighting efforts across the state.
-
Columns4 weeks agoAbike Dabiri: Did Obi raise a monster or you’re drunk on Tinubu’s poisoned chalice?
-
News3 weeks agoJandor: Tinubu didn’t endorses Hamzat *I’ve briefed President on my ambition
-
Columns4 weeks agoBe the hero that saved Nigeria! Open letter to Alhaji Atiku Abubakar
-
News2 weeks agoBREAKING: Makinde, Turaki, lose! *S’Court affirms Wike’s PDP leadership
-
Columns4 weeks agoNow VDM has become Sowore’s nemesis, does Peter Obi need anther advocate?
-
Features2 weeks agoJim Nwobodo: The Sun shines, thrills, at ‘The Vanguard Awards’
-
News3 weeks agoADC: Fight, scatter them! *Presidency goads Kogi lawmaker on Mark’s leadership
-
News5 days agoBREAKING! Coast brightens for Obi, as NDC zones presidency to South