Supporters and loyalists of the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Leader and presidential hopeful, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu have sought spiritual intervention towards the realisation of his ambition in 2023.
The supporters under the aegis of the Indomitable Tinubu Support Organisation (ITSO) during a special Tafsir (Islamic lecture) in honour of Tinubu prayed Almighty God to make his 2023 ambition a reality.
Chief Imams from all the divisions in Lagos were invited for the special prayer led by a prominent cleric and Chief Missioner of Jamahliy Society, Sheikh Abdullahi Akinbode.
Also, Chief Imam of Badagry Division, Imam Abdulkadir, Chief Imam, Ansar-Ud-Deen Itire, Imam Abdulhameed Adewole, Chief Imam of Epe Division, Sabrullah Abiola also did special prayers for Tinubu.
Tinubu’s daughter and Iyaloja General of Lagos, Mrs. Folashade Tinubu-Ojo, led market women to the prayer.
Director-General of the ITSO, Hon. Abdulbaki Ladi Balogun, in his welcome remark, said they are convinced that the prayers during the holy month of Ramadan and a period of lent for the Christians would go a long way in actualising Tinubu’s ambition.
He said ahead of the presidential primaries of the party, there was need to call on God Almighty to fortify Tinubu and intervene in his presidential ambition.
He said, “We believe strongly in the efficacy of prayers to solve Nigeria’s problems. This is why we are handing over Asiwaju to the Almighty Allah, to guide him, protect him and ultimately lead him to be the next President after President Muhammadu Buhari.
“We are convinced our leader is a special being, a good leader who has made hundreds of leaders, who is after the good of the country and the progress of the Nigerian Nation.
“He has laid a solid foundation for the development of Lagos State. We want to take advantage of the Holy month of Ramadan to pray for the country and above all pray for the emergence of Asiwaju as the next President of the country.”
Chairman of the occasion and Senator representing Lagos East, Senator Mukhtar Tokunbo Abiru, represented by Hon. Abdullateef Rotimi Abiru said it was significant to put God first in the quest for a Tinubu presidency.
He said Tinubu has been a selfless leader in his quest for a better and more prosperous Nigeria.
According to him, since 2007 when he left office as Governor of Lagos State, he had occupied himself with watching out for his political Godsons.
He described Tinubu as the most able and capable President who could take Nigeria out of the woods.
“At this point in time when we are very challenged as a nation, we have no choice than to support our leader who is able, capable, who has sacrificed a lot for this country,” he said.
Grand Mufty of Ilorin, Sheikh Sulyman Farouk Onikijipa, in his sermon said security, economy and education are important pillars of any nation. He said Lagos has progressed because of how the successive governments had tackled security, making the state one of the most secured in Nigeria.2023: I will support the party even if I don’t get PDP ticket – Wike
The Governor of Rivers and a 2023 presidential aspirant, Mr Nyesom Wike, has said that he would remain in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), even if he does not win the presidential ticket.
He said this while addressing stakeholders of the Niger state chapter of the PDP on his intention to contest for president at the party secretariat in Minna on Saturday, adding that there was nothing wrong with consensus candidate if it is based on equity, justice and fairness.
Wike solicited stakeholders’ support in the state party to enable him become the flag bearer of the party, adding that he is the only candidate who is capable of defeating the All Progressive Congress (APC) in the 2023 presidential election.
“I am here today to tell you that I have made myself available to run for the seat of the president of this country under our party, PDP, I have been a member of the PDP since 1988, I have never left the party and I will never leave.
“I can become the president if I get the mandate of delegates to make me the flag bearer. The country needs someone will who see white and call it white and black and call it black and that person is me,” he said.
He promised to address the security challenges in the country, alleging that the present administration had not adequately protected lives and property.
Wike lamented the escalating cases of insecurity in the country where people can no longer sleep and travel without fear of being kidnapped, describing Niger state as one of the worst with security challenges where farmers can no longer go to their farms due to fear of being attacked.
The governor noted that fighting insecurity requires intelligence on activities of criminals and not all about buying weapons as well as giving incentive to personnel in the war front as motivation.
Responding, Mr Tanko Beji, Chairman of Niger PDP, thanked the governor for standing by the state party when they needed him to reconcile members, adding that the reconciliation had made the party more united and stronger to reclaim power in the state, come 2023.
He said that the party and the country need someone who would give it a redirection and change the reward system, adding the state would provide a fair playing ground for everybody to participate.
In their separate remarks, Sen. Zainba Kure and Mr Jerry Gana, described the governor as a “gender friendly who could give women the opportunity to contribute and add value to the growth and development of the state and the country.
They lauded his achievements in areas of provision of security and infrastructure development in Rivers, his state, urging him to do all he can for the party to become victorious in 2023.I weep for Nigeria, SAN faults pardon of Nyame, Dariye
A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Jibrin Okutepa, has faulted the presidential pardon granted to former governors of Plateau State, Senator Joshua Dariye; and Taraba State, Rev Jolly Nyame.
The lawyer noted that he wept after hearing that Dariye and Nyame were pardoned.
The National Council of State had on Thursday endorsed the pardon of Dariye, Nyame and 157 other convicts following the recommendation of the Presidential Advisory Committee on the Prerogative of Mercy.
The 12-member committee, inaugurated by the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), in 2018 is headed by the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami.
Dariye and Nyame were jailed for stealing N1.16bn and N1.6bn, respectively.
He wondered why the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), granted the pardon despite his lamentations that corruption is affecting Nigeria’s growth.
While speaking during an interview with Channels TV, he said, “we are all aware of the reasons they were arraigned and found guilty by the Supreme Court. They are politically exposed people in our society.
“One of the greatest things that has retarded the growth of Nigeria today is corruption. It is the best enterprise in Nigeria today. So, when I heard that Buhari agreed to pardon the ex-governors, I weep for this country. The reason is that the mantra for which this person came to power is that of corruption.
“The duty of the Nigerian government is to fight and eradicate corruption. Corruption has become so cancerous and all hands must be on deck to fight it. I am so upset by the decision because the ex-governor of Plateau State has his appeal dismissed in March 2021 by the Supreme Court.
“In this country, the executive had on a series of occasions say that one of the things affecting against corruption fight is the judiciary, so if the judiciary, therefore, enforces the provisions of the law and sends the ex-governors to prison, why does the executive sabotage its own law.”
