News From Nigeria
Lagos Chief, Babatunde Olorogun-Etti, on Monday, described the action of the leader of pan Yoruba sociopolitical group, Afenifere, Chief Ayo Adebanjo as regrettable and a betrayal of All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential hopeful, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and the South-West geo-political zone.
‘’Chief Ayo Adebanjo is a disgrace to the Yoruba race. His utterances and attitude are geared towards causing disunity in Yoruba land’’ Olorogun-Etti said.
In a statement in Lagos Island Ward E3, Olorogun-Etti accused Adebanjo of fanning embers of discord in the region, cutting a very bad image for South-West and using Afenifere for self-promotion.
‘’What is Pa Ayo Adebanjo’s contribution towards Yoruba’s progress and economy? Why is he pulling a Yoruba man down? The Afenifere leader belongs to a faction that wants to destroy the Yoruba nation. His commitment is not to the unity and development of Yoruba but an interest outside the region’’.
Olorogun-Etti, who is the leader of Eko United, a leading political group in Lagos State described Adebanjo’s comment on the 2023 presidency as shocking, repulsive, and ugly.
He described Tinubu as a man of character, competence and credibility.
‘’Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu is a true leader of democracy, a role model, a suave politician, a visionary leader, bridge builder and man of impeccable credentials. We are blessed to have him in the South-West’’
He eulogized the former Lagos State governor for his competence, courage and the constancy in his conviction and political choices.
‘’Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is an asset to Nigeria. He has a track record of success’’
The Lagos APC leader urged South west politicians and leaders to project the agenda of the region to counter the negative picture being presented by Adebanjo.
‘’The way forward for the country is to make Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu president in 2023’
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Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Kassim Afegbua on Sunday urged Alhaji Atiku Abubakar to visit the United States of America to resolve his lingering corruption allegations which have led Senator Jefferson to jail
‘’Rather than seek election under the umbrella of the PDP in 2023, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar will do well to visit the United States of America to resolve his lingering corruption allegations which have led Senator Jefferson to jail. The outcome of an investigation against him and his “former” wife Jennifer revealed a lot of underhand transactions bordering on money laundering and other financial malfeasance. The onerous thing to do was for him to visit the United States of America to answer to those weighty allegations which were the outcome of the comprehensive investigations carried out by the United States Congress’’.
He also urged the United States Government to treat the matter once and for all, by way of extraditing the former Vice President to answer those lingering queries on financial impropriety.
‘’In the 2019 presidential campaigns, we were inundated with several news reports, demanding that our party candidate should visit America. When the request became so compelling, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar was reportedly granted waiver by the United States Consular office in Lagos to enable him visit the United States with the then Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki. After that visit till date, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has not been able to visit America again ostensibly on the stretch of those weighty allegations which have not been dispensed with. The entire report of the US Congress copiously indicted Alhaji Atiku Abubakar on issues concerning money laundering. It will make judicious sense if the United States Government is able to treat this pending matter once and for all, by way of extraditing the former Vice President to answer those lingering queries on financial impropriety’’.
In a statement in Abuja, Afegbua urged the United States Government not to sweep such weighty allegations under the carpet.
‘’Democracy talks about openness in government; It also helps to promote transparency and good governance and leadership accountability. The American Government is known worldwide as a stickler for due process, supremacy of the law, and promoter of good governance and anti-corruption initiative, to deepen the institution of democracy especially in developing and fledgling democracies the world over. These essential ingredients which help to protect the sanctity of the rule of law and democracy, cannot be allowed to suffer at the hands of a deliberate attempt to sweep such weighty allegations under the carpet. As an alumnus of the Les Aspin School of Government and Good Governance, Washington DC, who was exposed to the rudiments of anti-corruption studies in 2004 and sponsored by the United States Government, I feel patriotically disturbed that those who should be cooling off in jail, are still walking the streets as free men and even trying to run for the highest office in the land’’.
He appealed to the United States Government to commence the process of inviting Alhaji Atiku Abubakar to the United States to face those charges without further delay.
‘’The knowledge I acquired would come to nothing if I choose to look the other way, when I should be raising queries about the propriety and or otherwise of his presidential aspiration. The report of the United States Congress on the investigation is too damning to be ignored, if we truly want to sustain the ethics of a transparent leadership and positive governance. I am therefore, calling on the United States Government to commence the process of inviting Alhaji Atiku Abubakar to the United States to face those charges without further delay.
Particularly, Afegbua urged the United States of America take deliberate steps to help Nigeria grow her anti-corruption initiative, deepen her democracy and provide the opportunity for a robust economy that will benefit majority and not a select and privileged few
‘’I am aware of the threats to my life over my strong position against the aspiration of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and other northern aspirants who are running against the run of play. I am therefore, using this opportunity to plead that the United States Government takes expedite action on this matter in the interest of rule of law, justice and transparency. The United States of America should please take deliberate steps to help Nigeria grow her anti-corruption initiative, deepen her democracy and provide the opportunity for a robust economy that will benefit majority and not a select and privileged few. It will help consolidate both private and public sector effort at reducing the incidents of corruption and financial malfeasance’’.
‘’The earlier Alhaji Atiku Abubakar is made to face the full wrath of the law, the better for our anti-corruption crusade, and the best for our fledgling democracy. I am a Nigerian who desires to see a more pro-active government that would respond positively to the yearnings and aspirations of its citizenry. A stitch in time saves nine. This is the time to act and urgently too’’ the statement added.