News
Soyinka’s Candid Take On The 2023 Presidential Poll: Labour Party And Peter Obi
By Tambaya Julius
In a recent video statement, Nobel Laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka shared his perspective on the 2023 presidential election, shedding light on the Labour Party’s involvement and disputing Peter Obi’s claim of victory.
Prof. Soyinka noted that during this election, the Labour Party underwent significant transformations.
While he admitted that it wasn’t his preferred political movement, he acknowledged its potential as a bridge between the two established political camps.
Contrary to Peter Obi’s assertions of victory, Prof. Soyinka, who was actively monitoring the election, emphasized that the Labour Party did not secure a top position.
In his eyes, the party actually landed in third place, dispelling the illusion of a second-place finish.
Soyinka believed that the party’s leadership was well aware of this fact but chose to perpetuate what he called ‘gbajue,’ a Yoruba term for the force of lies.
One notable aspect of the 2023 election was the Labour Party’s ability to break away from the traditional mold.
It underwent significant changes that had the potential to reshape the political landscape.
This shift brought fresh perspectives and new dynamics to the electoral process.
However, the transformation also led to a regional focus within the Labour Party.
It evolved into a regional party more than ever before, narrowing its national appeal.
This regional emphasis became a defining characteristic of the party during this election.
As the Labour Party navigated its new identity and regional leanings, it began to challenge the dominance of the established political camps.
This change disrupted the traditional power structures and added complexity to the electoral landscape.
Prof. Soyinka, known for his commitment to transparency and integrity, took on the role of a monitoring unit during the election.
His involvement was driven by a desire to ensure fairness and honesty in the electoral process.
Peter Obi’s claims of a second-place finish were met with skepticism by Soyinka.
Based on his observations and the data at hand, Soyinka firmly asserted that Peter Obi’s party did not secure the second position in the election.
Soyinka’s use of the Yoruba term ‘gbajue’ encapsulated his perception of the situation.
He believed that some political actors were resorting to deceitful tactics to manipulate public perception.
A coalition of youth organisations has urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to reconsider its wanted tag on socialite, Dr Aisha Sulaiman Achimugu, OFR.
The organisations, Niger Delta Youth Council for Good Governance and Middle Belt Youth Stakeholders’ Initiative said this in a joint press statement they issued on Thursday in Abuja.
According to them, the declaration of Achimugu wanted by the anti-corruption agency came to them as a rude shock.
The joint statement was signed by Comrade Emma Niboro and Ali Ameh for Niger Delta Youth Council for Good Governance and Middle Belt Youth Stakeholders’ Initiative, respectively.
They described Achimugu as a dedicated friend of the youths, who had always shown commitment to the welfare and care of the downtrodden.
According to the youth coalition, “we know the Chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Ola Olukoyede, as a man who came with utmost zeal to sanitize the agency. He has already demonstrated this and we are proud of his achievements so far.
“However, we urge him to resist pressure from politicians, which is a plague that has dwarfed EFCC for several years of its existence.
“The commission had hitherto remained a tool for politicians to undue their perceived political foes and this has always rubbed off on the credibility of the agency.
“The case of Achumugu doesn’t appear to be different in any way, as the haste with which she was declared wanted showed there is a hand of Esau and voice of Jacob.
“Our appeal is that the commission should withdraw the wanted tag on her and give her ample time to report to the commission, as she has never been indicted of any offence whether in Nigeria or outside the country.”
While noting that Achimugu is a global figure, they added that they can always vouch for her integrity.
“We know her, she has always been of immense help to the youths and other members of the society.
“Her closeness to certain politicians should not be used as a tool to persecute or harass her,” the youths further stated.
The Supreme Court has overturned the Court of Appeal’s decision that recognised Julius Abure as the National Chairman of the Labour Party (LP). In a decisive ruling, a five-member panel declared that the Court of Appeal lacked the legal authority to determine the party’s leadership matters.
In a unanimous verdict, the highest court in the land stated that the Court of Appeal had no jurisdiction over the matter. The panel observed that since the case revolved around the internal leadership structure of the Labour Party, it fell outside the jurisdiction of the courts.
The ruling reinforced the long-standing principle that leadership disputes within political parties should be resolved internally, rather than through judicial intervention.
The Supreme Court stressed that leadership struggles within political parties are purely internal matters. According to legal principles, courts should not interfere in such issues, as they fall under the party’s constitution and governance framework. By upholding this legal doctrine, the apex court reaffirmed that political parties must settle their leadership crises independently.
The Supreme Court upheld the appeal lodged by Senator Nenadi Usman and a fellow appellant, ruling that their claims were valid. Their appeal challenged the earlier judgment, arguing that it was flawed due to jurisdictional overreach. After thorough legal scrutiny, the Supreme Court found merit in their argument and ruled in their favour.
The legal battle also involved a cross-appeal filed by supporters of Julius Abure, who sought to challenge the decision against their leader. However, the Supreme Court dismissed this cross-appeal, declaring it unsubstantiated and lacking merit. The ruling effectively ended the legal contest over the Labour Party’s chairmanship, cementing the judiciary’s stance on non-interference in party leadership disputes.
Bitcoin experienced sharp fluctuations following President Donald Trump’s April 2 tariff announcement, initially surging to $88,000 before dropping to $82,000.
By April 3, it stabilized around $83,000, with the broader crypto market down over 4%. Major altcoins like Ethereum and Solana also declined over 6%, hitting multi-month lows.
Analysts see the tariff news as reducing market uncertainty, potentially attracting institutional investors.
Despite higher-than-expected rates, experts believe the clarity could help Bitcoin regain momentum toward $90,000. Bitcoin ETFs, led by BlackRock, recorded $218 million in inflows on April 2, reversing prior outflows.
Kraken’s Thomas Perfumo challenged the idea that institutional interest stabilizes crypto, emphasizing that volatility signals demand for a scarce asset.
Some analysts viewed the sell-off as an overreaction to trade policy concerns, highlighting Bitcoin’s resilience as a store of value.
With ETFs showing strong demand, Bitcoin’s price may stabilize and rise, though market participants remain cautious, monitoring trade policies and economic conditions.