Headlines

Why Tinubu Cleared Coast for Sanwo-Olu to Seek Re-election as Lagos Governor

Published

3 years ago

March 21, 2022

By Derrick Bangura

After months of apprehension and agitation, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and presidential candidate, has finally cleared Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to run for a second term, following the results of a secret poll that allegedly endorsed him as fit for re-election.
According to reports, the poll result deemed Sanwo-Olu fit and popular, based on spectacular performance above average, as indicated by physical infrastructure, governance initiatives, and the governor’s swift delivery of leadership.
Apart from the poll, which was believed to have helped Sanwo-Olu’s case, a party source claimed, Tinubu also believed that the governor has done impressively well, despite all that he went through in four years and therefore believed that denying him re-election would have been utterly unfair and against democratic ethos.

In addition, THISDAY gathered that members of the Governors’ Advisory Council (GAC), the highest political decision-making body in the state, also shared the opinion that the governor deserved a second term after all that he had done in four years and had subsequently communicated their common position to the leader
Importantly, also, another source told THISDAY Sunday night that, the APC national leader would not consciously set his own house on fire, since he too was seeking to be president, an assignment that would have taken him completely away from the local politics of Lagos.

In order words, the source explained that it would have been politically suicidal for Tinubu to want to be president and at the same time, seek to remove the governor of Lagos, two major undertakings that would have been too much to prosecute at the same time.
To that extent, THISDAY gathered that plans had been concluded for Sanwo-Olu to kick-off his re-election campaign at the national convention of the party slated to hold in Abuja this weekend.

This development, the source further explained, followed the clearance the Lagos governor, has received from Tinubu to proceed with his re-election plans and campaign, adding that the reason Sanwo-Olu has also kept everything relating to the campaign to his chest was, because the decision to unveil in Abuja during the convention was entirely his after the clearance.
“Yes, the coast is clear. But let’s get this straight. Tinubu has never been against Governor Sanwo-Olu’s re-election; he was not just talking. So, people started interpreting his silence to mean different things, including the fact that he might be considering dropping him. But in truth, the leader has never mooted that idea.

“Did you notice that even when certain names were dropped as possible replacement for the governor, the individuals on their own volitions came out to deny it, and not just that, many of them went on to affirm that the governor had done well and therefore, deserved re-election.

“Besides, Baba had his own way of verifying things, beyond what is available to the ordinary person. His personal checks confirmed that the governor should come back, given a credible election, thus, corroborating his own conviction and here we are today, it is sealed,” he said.

A source in the governor’s camp confirmed to THISDAY at the weekend that Sanwo-Olu already planned to come out with a bang this weekend, with all sorts of campaign memorabilia stored up ahead of the day, designed especially to complement Tinubu’s presidential bid.

According to the source, “It’s going to be a different kind of campaign. It is not for free that we are called Eko for show. That show is what is going to light up the venue and watch Lagos steal the show completely, not just for Sanwo-Olu, but also for the leader, who is going to be Nigeria’s president Insha Allah.”

Headlines

Akwa Ibom APC Gears Up to Receive President Tinubu as Governor Umo Eno Joins Party

Published

17 hours ago

June 20, 2025

Matthew Eloyi

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Akwa Ibom State has announced its readiness to host President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and other top party leaders as it officially welcomes Governor Umo Eno into its ranks.

Speaking at a press briefing in Uyo on Friday, APC chieftain and former presidential aide, Senator Ita Enang, disclosed that the party was fully prepared to receive the president, Vice President Kashim Shettima, APC National Chairman, and governors elected on the party’s platform for the historic reception.

Governor Umo Eno had on June 6 formally defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC, in a move widely described as a political game-changer in Akwa Ibom.

Enang, a former Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly and Niger Delta Affairs, said the governor’s defection had effectively aligned the state with the central government.

He assured Governor Eno and his supporters that the APC would embrace them wholeheartedly and honour all agreements reached.

“As progressives, we shall work with the governor and his supporters to ensure that they fit into the party without hitches,” Enang stated. “We will also work with them to align programmes of the state government with the ideals and manifesto of the party.”

He further described the governor’s move as a “merger” that promises significant benefits for Akwa Ibom and its citizens.

The planned reception is expected to mark a major political event in the state, signaling a realignment of forces ahead of future elections.

Headlines

Ekiti Launches Aggressive Anti-Flood Campaign, Dredges Ofigba River

Published

18 hours ago

June 20, 2025

Matthew Eloyi

The Ekiti State Government has intensified efforts to prevent flooding across the state with the launch of a comprehensive dredging campaign, targeting critical waterways in both rural and urban areas.

Chairman of the Ekiti State Environmental Protection Agency (EKSEPA), Chief Bamitale Oguntoyinbo, disclosed this on Friday during an inspection visit to the ongoing dredging project at the Ofigba River in Ise-Ekiti.

Oguntoyinbo, who was accompanied by EKSEPA board members, said the visit was to assess the progress of work being carried out to mitigate flood risks in the community. He expressed satisfaction with the pace and quality of the dredging work.

“I and other board members of EKSEPA are delighted with the level of job done by the site engineer because he is actually working with the directives of three-kilometer dredging of waterways,” he said.

According to him, the dredging commenced on June 4, and so far, 1.8 kilometers of the river have been successfully cleared.

He applauded Governor Biodun Oyebanji for prioritizing the safety and welfare of residents by initiating the state-wide anti-flooding campaign.

“I want to commend our amiable governor, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji, for embarking on zero tolerance campaign against flooding in every community and town in Ekiti,” Oguntoyinbo stated.

He also praised the General Manager of EKSEPA, Mr. Olukayode Adunmo, for his commitment to the project’s supervision and success.

In his remarks, Adunmo emphasized the urgent need to clear waterways choked by refuse, which impede water flow and contribute to flooding during the rainy season.

“Dredging of Ofigba River in Ise-Ekiti in Ise/Orun Local Government Area is necessary because some of the waterways have been blocked by refuse,” he explained. “There is the need for us to remove every blockage to enhance free flow of water and avert flooding during heavy rainfall.”

Adunmo also commended Governor Oyebanji for taking proactive steps to protect lives and properties across the state.

Residents of Ise-Ekiti have welcomed the government’s intervention. Chief Godwin Ojo, a community leader, expressed gratitude to the governor for his timely action.

“We thank the governor for the move to avert flooding in our community,” Ojo said. “May God grant him more wisdom to pilot the affairs of the state to an enviable height.”

The dredging campaign forms part of the Oyebanji administration’s broader commitment to environmental safety and disaster prevention.

Developmental

Tinubu to visit Kaduna Thursday to inaugurate key projects

Published

2 days ago

June 19, 2025

Saadatu Sahabo

Tinubu commiserates with Akwa Ibom governor over wife’s death

President Bola Tinubu is expected in Kaduna State Today Thursday for the inauguration of several key developmental projects executed by the administration of Gov. Uba Sani.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the visit forms part of activities marking Sani’s two years in office.

The projects lined up for inauguration include the 300-bed Specialist Hospital in Millennium City, Kaduna, built by the state government to bolster the provision of healthcare services.

Tinubu will also inaugurate the Institute of Vocational Training and Skills Development in Rigachikun, road projects in Soba, and Samaru Kataf LGA’S as well as the 24-kilometre Kafanchan Township Road.

Others are the Tudun Biri Road, the 22km road linking Kauru and Kubau LGAs as well as the Vocational and Skills Training Centre in Tudun Biri.

Tinubu is also expected to unveil 100 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses, as part of efforts to modernise the state’s public transportation system.

The projects are part of the administration’s focus on infrastructurde evelopment, healthcare delivery, youths empowerment, and economic growth.

The state government described the visit as a significant moment for the people of Kaduna and an opportunity to showcase ongoing efforts to transform the state through impactful governance.

Sani, who marked his second year in office this month, has prioritised human capital development, rural infrastructure, and jobs creation since taking office in 2023.

Tinubu’s visit to Kaduna State was rescheduled from Wednesday to Thursday.

He was initially supposed to visit Kaduna on Wednesday, but due to the recent attacks in Benue, he shifted his trip.

The president visited Benue on Wednesday to commiserate with the victims of the recent attacks and assess the humanitarian crisis.

During his visit to Benue, Tinubu met with stakeholders, including traditional rulers, political and community leaders, and youth groups, to seek lasting solutions to the hostilities.

He also condemned the ongoing violence and called on the residents to embrace peace and mutual understanding.

NAN recalls that the Benue Government had declared a work-free day for Tinubu’s visit, urging the residents to turn out in large numbers to welcome him.