Politics
PMB Task APC Members To Work For Party’s Victory
…Believes in Tinubu’s capability to lead Nigerians, build Nigeria well
…As Buhari inaugurates AMEDI, Fed Secretariat, other projects in Nasarawa
Solomon Attah,Lafia
President Muhammadu Buhari, has called on stalwarts and supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to work towards delivery the party’s Presidential Candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the February 25 election.
The president who was speaking at the North Central APC Presidential rally in Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital, described Tinubu as the committed Nigerian, with the capability to lead Nigeria well.
President Buhari who recalled his relationship with Tinubu in the struggle for good governance for over 20 years, was happy to be part of the rally of someone, that will take over power from him, after his exit in May 29.
He said, as an ally of his government from 2003, 2011 and in 2019, when he was campaigning for the second and final term, Tinubu believe in Nigeria project and added that, he will continue to campaign for Bola Ahmed Tinubu to victory.
“He is a committed Nigerian and I believe he will give all he has if you vote him, because he will build the country.”
Buhari was confident that, Tinubu would not betray the trust of the people, hence he should be voted to lead the country as the next Nigeria president.
President Buhari also called on the people of Nasarawa State to vote massively for Governor Abdullahi Sule for second term in office to enable him deliver more services to the people.
Abdullahi Adamu, the National Chairman of APC, welcomed the President, Presidential candidate and his running mate as well as other APC leaders to the Nasarawa State.
Adamu said that Nasarawa State people appreciate the President for dualising the Keffi/Lafia road, building the Federal Secretariat, Central Bank and appointment of prominent sons and daughters of the state as heads and members of Federal Government agencies among many others.
The APC National Chairman added that Nasarawa State and Nigerians would give Tinubu, Governor Sule and other APC candidates votes more than the previous elections.
Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential candidate, has reiterated his pledge to addressing the ailling issues confronting the country.
He said, when voted in the coming election as the president, Nigeria will recover from all it challenges with bravity, courageous and resilient
The APC Presidential candidate assured that, “Nigeria will recover from all it challenges. We are brave people, we are courageous people, we are resilient.
“We will focus on Agriculture, we will build our mineral resources, we will dig the earth and toy the dust to money. Wealth and riches might not come, but we will work hard.
“We want to promise you that your children and grandchildren children will have no regret about the nation and ourselves.
Tinubu said, as the flag bearer of the party, he was handed a banner without stain and “Nigeria will be a successful country and it will be part of your history.”
He then thanked president Buhari, that in no distance Nigerians will be celebrated for their resiliency to return “joy, happiness, and prosperity will be part of our success.”
The APC zonal rally, however coincided with the one day official visit of the president, where he commissioned some Federal and State Governments’ projects.
Some of the projects, including the over N3 billion Federal Secretariat in Lafia, which was named after the Emir of Lafia and Chairman, Traditional Council of Chief, Sidi Mohammed Bage, the former supreme Court Judge.
Then, the North Central office of the Agricultural Machinery Development Institute (AMEDI), built by NASENI, which is expected to serve the agricultural needs of the zones in terms of equipment, seeds and seedlings, pesticides among other inputs.
The president, also inaugurated the 4km cementary road in Lafia, constructed by Governor Sule to address the erosion problem in the area.
President Buhari arrived Nasarwa State at exactly 10:30 am at Government House Lafia on a presidential jet 5N-FG2, where a guard of honoured was mounted in his honoure.
Some of those in Lafia for the twin events are the APC Governors from the zone, Ministers of Works and Housing; and Environment, Senate President, Ahmed Lawal, who led other APC senators, especially those from the zone, among other prominent APC stalwarts in the country.
The National Chairman of the party, however presented flags to the party’s Presidential candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Governor Abdullahi Sule and other governorship candidates candidates from the zone.
Gvernor Chukwuma Soludo threw a challenge to opposition parties in Anambra State on Monday, saying he sees no competent challenger as he seeks re-election in the November 8, 2025 governorship poll.
The former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) said there is a consensus among Ndi Anambra (the people of the state) that his party, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has delivered dividends of democracy and should be given another chance in the next election.
Soludo, during a media chat to celebrate his third anniversary, said the people of the South-East state can vote for any party during national elections but are loyal to APGA when it comes to governorship and local government chairmen seats.
He said, “If there is an election, I mean there will be an election, and if I am candidate, I will be on the ballot, and then I ask: who else is running? Which party is fielding a candidate?
“So far, unless the person will come down from somewhere but so far, I have not heard of any.”
The former bank chief said he has gotten calls to run for a second term but his party would take the decision on who becomes the flag bearer.
“The party has to agree to it and give me the platform. For me, I applied for this job intentionally because I felt that’s my way of thanking God for His bountiful blessing to spend the rest of my life to serve, and leave this place better than we met it.
“If my party nominates me and if my employers who are the Anambra people to whom I had applied for this job interview me and graciously renew the tenure, of course, it’s a great honour, and a great privilege to serve,” he said.
Anambra is one of the eight states where governorship elections are held off-season due to litigations and court judgments. Others are Bayelsa, Edo, Ekiti, Imo, Kogi, Osun and Ondo.
Politics
JUST IN: Rivers State House of Assembly Launches Impeachment Proceedings Against Governor Fubara, Deputy Governor Odu
The Rivers State House of Assembly (RSHA) has officially commenced impeachment proceedings against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his Deputy, Ngozi Odu, by issuing a notice regarding allegations of gross misconduct.
Further details will be provided shortly.
By Abubakar Yunusa
The Executive Director of Business Development at the Nigerian Export-Import Bank (NEXIM Bank), Dr Stella Okotete, has said that female politicians in Nigeria often viewed her as a threat rather than a partner.
Speaking as a keynote speaker at the Junior Chambers International Business meeting in Abuja on Sunday, in commemoration of International Women’s Day, themed “Empowering Women, Empowering Communities: Accelerating Action Towards Gender Inclusivity”, Okotete reflected on the challenges she faced as a young woman in politics.
A former national women leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Okotete said, “With due respect, the female politicians didn’t want me around them. They saw me as a young woman who was a threat, not as a partner. My ideas were seen as too bold and too daring, and as a result, I was never given opportunities when nominations were being made.”
She explained that when she was appointed APC’s National Women Leader at the age of 36, it was an opportunity to bridge the gap for young women in politics, enabling them to aspire for greatness, showcase their worth, and gain visibility in governance and the public space.
“I initiated the Progressive Young Women’s Forum, which today boasts of having a former minister. Jamila was our president,” she said.
Okotete recounted how her experience in politics led her to create a support system for young women.
“I founded the Young Progressive Forum because, as a young politician, I noticed that, with due respect, female politicians didn’t want me around them. When I was made the National Women Leader, I had to create this platform so that other women would not face the discrimination I faced—from women, not men.”
She became emotional while addressing the audience, saying, “I’m saying this with a heavy heart because I never saw any woman as a threat, and I still don’t today. That is why, when I said there are no two Stellas in Nigeria, I meant it.
“We must stop the ‘table talks’ and tea parties and start taking real action. If we truly want to see more women in government, business, and the economy, we must support each other.”
Okotete warned that women risk being sidelined by men if they do not create spaces for one another to thrive.
“The men will continue to push us aside if we give them the opportunity. While we often blame men, we, as women, must also make it a priority to support each other. Whenever we have the chance, we must ensure other women are given visibility and opportunities.
“History has shown that when women try to block or dim the light of other women, they don’t go far. They are quickly forgotten, and history does not remember them.”
She urged women to take responsibility for fostering inclusivity, saying, “We are here today, not just as members of JCI, but as individuals chosen by fate to be among the few who will shape Nigeria’s future. We must break barriers, shatter glass ceilings, and push for policies that drive development and growth in our nation.”
‘Men must be allies in the fight for gender equality’
Okotete stressed the importance of engaging men and boys as allies in the push for gender equality.
“We must challenge social and cultural norms together. We must also strengthen legal protections and policies, ensuring the enforcement of laws that protect women’s rights, including those against gender-based violence, discrimination, and workplace inequality.
“We must hold institutions accountable for implementing gender-responsive policies. That is why I always try to strike a balance between getting men to work with us and encouraging women to take action for themselves.”
She called on women to foster a culture of mutual support, saying, “We must lead the crusade for gender equality and inclusivity by loving and supporting one another. We must see other women in our workplaces not as competitors, but as sisters and partners.
“When we join forces, we can achieve great things.”
She highlighted the progress made by young women in politics, noting that there are now female commissioners in 20 states, as well as young female legislators in state assemblies and councillors in several APC-governed states.
“We are witnessing a new wave of female leadership in Nigeria, and we must continue to build on this momentum,” she concluded.