Politics

I will continue to speak for Nigerians – Gov Bala Mohammed blasts Presidency

Published

3 months ago

January 12, 2025

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Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, has slammed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Media, Sunday Dare, for what he described as “unprofessional, disrespectful, and divisive rhetoric.”

In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mukhtar Gidado on Sunday, Bala Mohammed’s camp accused Dare of turning his role into a platform for political attacks rather than fostering unity and promoting constructive dialogue.

The statement issued on Sunday, titled “Enough is Enough”, did not hold back in calling out the Presidency for its alleged intolerance to criticism.

Governor Mohammed’s team dragged Dare for releasing his remarks during Juma’at prayers and Armed Forces Remembrance Day, calling it “poor timing” and “a disgrace to the solemnity of the events.”

“Instead of focusing on honouring Nigeria’s fallen heroes, Dare chose to prioritise political mudslinging. Is this what the Tinubu administration represents?” the statement questioned.

The Bauchi governor accused the Presidency of fostering a toxic culture that stifles criticism.

“This administration has shown increasing intolerance towards constructive feedback,” the statement alleged.

“Instead of addressing Governor Bala Mohammed’s genuine concerns about the tax reform bills, Sunday Dare chose personal attacks and diversionary tactics. Is this how a democracy is supposed to work?”

The governor’s camp also threw a subtle jab at Tinubu, reminding Nigerians of his days as a pro-democracy activist who boldly criticised military dictators and even challenged President Obasanjo.

NEWS

I will continue to speak for Nigerians – Gov Bala Mohammed blasts Presidency

Published

January 12, 2025

Timi Owolabi

The statement issued on Sunday, titled “Enough is Enough”, did not hold back in calling out the Presidency for its alleged intolerance to criticism.

“Instead of focusing on honouring Nigeria’s fallen heroes, Dare chose to prioritise political mudslinging. Is this what the Tinubu administration represents?” the statement questioned.

The Bauchi governor accused the Presidency of fostering a toxic culture that stifles criticism.

“This administration has shown increasing intolerance towards constructive feedback,” the statement alleged.

The governor’s camp also threw a subtle jab at Tinubu, reminding Nigerians of his days as a pro-democracy activist who boldly criticised military dictators and even challenged President Obasanjo.

“If Tinubu could criticise the system and rise to power, why is his administration trying to muzzle voices like Bala Mohammed who are only doing the same?” the statement argued.

The statement ended with a warning to Sunday Dare: “We respect the Office of the President, but respect does not mean silence. Governor Bala Mohammed will continue to speak up for Nigerians, whether they like it or not. Enough is enough.”

DAILY POST reports that Mohammed and the presidency have been engaged in a heated exchange over the tax reform bills currently before the National Assembly.

In December, Mohammed, who chairs the Peoples Democratic Party Governors’ Forum, criticised the bills, alleging that they favour one region.

The governor claimed the bills amounted to “calls for anarchy” and warned that President Bola Tinubu would see “our real colour” if the legislation were passed.

Subsequently, the presidency asked Mohammed to withdraw the comments against the president.

Sunday Dare, the president’s special adviser on media and public communication, said Mohammed’s remarks were “inflammatory ” and “direct threats toward the federal government.”

About 24 hours later, Mohammed fired back, saying he stood by his comments and would not be threatened.

Mohammed criticised the presidency’s approach to the tax reform debate, urging it to avoid arrogance and listen to the concerns of Nigerians.

In a statement issued last Friday, Dare asked the governor to stop playing “irresponsible politics” and focus on governance and alleviating poverty in Bauchi.

Dare said the Tinubu administration is focused on development and how to improve the overall well-being of Nigerians.

Politics

Obidient movement launches online registration portal, identity cards for members

Published

13 hours ago

April 26, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

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The Obidient Movement has launched its online registration portal and identity cards for members in Nigeria and in the diaspora.

This was disclosed on Saturday in a statement signed by Obidient Movement’s National Coordinator, Dr Yunusa Tanko and Nana Kazaure, the Director of Strategic Communications and Media of the Obidient Movement.

The movement said the identity card will carry the flag of the country where the holder resides.

According to the statement, the identity card has a QR code on the bottom right hand corner for authentication.

The statement reads: “Obidient registration portal supports Nigerians and fellow Obidients living in the diaspora. You will observe that the ID has a flag on it so, for example, if you’re not resident in Nigeria, the top right hand corner will carry the flag of your country of residence.

“That way, we can all witness first hand, the embodying of our spirit of diversity, comradery, unity and how far reaching the messaging Obidient Movement is.

“The OBX is constant on the ID card. The Diasporan and Nigerian card, all start with the same prefix which is the OBX.

“The following characters which are 2 letters and 2 numbers depending on if you are a Nigerian or a Nigerian voter living in the diaspora, who comes in to vote every election cycle indicates your State and LGA.

“It is worthy of note that there are 4 characters. The first 2 letters are for Nigerian State codes (for example Lagos state is LA and Delta is DE). The others are 2 digit numbers which represent the local government area where you are registered.

“If you are Nigerian and you are an Obidient or an individual who identifies with our struggle, our mantra of better sustainable governance all over the world, and our firm belief especially in our country Nigeria where we reaffirm that “A NEW NIGERIA IS POSSIBLE, the card will vary slightly from the Nigerian model because, in this case, the card will carry a 3 letter country code. So in the UK for example, it will be simply read GBR.

“Most importantly, please note that the other numbers on the identity cards are deliberately randomised for the security of our card carriers. So you cannot just guess the Obidient Movement’s codes and numbers. So for example, you cannot expect HE Peter Obi’s ID card to just read 001.

“The QR code on the bottom righthand corner is there to authenticate the authenticity of your card. Which can be scanned with any QR scanner such as a smartphone. This aims, with the intention to give Obidients a secure and confident way of interacting with one another. So if you choose to support or do business with an Obidient, you can scan the QR code or verify the OBX ID online to confirm that the person is who and what they truly say they are and are who they truly claim to be.

“When you sign up and submit your form online, it goes through a verification process. So for example you put in your X handle, it makes it easier for verification.

“In the event you decide to enter into any business dealings or enter into any informal or formal relations we implore you all to please endeavour to carry out your own independent investigations and do your due diligence thoroughly and properly so as to avoid becoming prey to some who may have ulterior and criminally motivated intentions.”

Politics

‘Tinubu’s administration has no achievements since inception’ – Atiku

Published

18 hours ago

April 26, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

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Former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, has knocked the administration of President Bola Tinubu for its economic policies, saying it has recorded no achievement since its inception.

Atiku, who stated this in a statement on his official X handle, said Tinubu’s administration has no achievements to stand on and no credible record to defend, adding that its only strategy is chaos and division.

“Because that’s the last refuge of the incompetent. And make no mistake— an incompetent captain does not only wreck his ship; he endangers the lives of everyone on board,” he wrote.

The 2023 PDP presidential candidate’s outburst comes after recent high profile defections from the opposition party.

Ekwutosblog reports that the Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, and the immediate past governor of the state, Ifeanyi Okowa, on Wednesday left the Peoples Democratic Party for the ruling All Progressives Congress.

In the same vein, a member of the House of Representatives, Oluwole Oke, resigned from the PDP and joined the APC on the same day.

While commenting on the next presidential election, Atiku said results would not be determined by political alliances, but by common goals.

“Let us be clear: the coming political battle is not APC versus PDP, or LP versus APC. It is Nigerians versus an administration that has plunged the nation into untold suffering. The economy is in freefall. Inflation is choking the masses. Jobs are vanishing. Youth restiveness is surging to terrifying levels. Nigerians are not just tired — they are angry, and rightfully so.

“This moment is about collective survival. The real enemy is not one another — it is the Tinubu administration’s abysmal failure. We must reject every attempt to distract us with ethnic, regional, or religious sentiments. These are tools of manipulation, designed to divide and conquer, used by those with nothing else to offer,” he added.

The former Vice-President pointed out that the need to speak out on the state of the economy was engineered by calls from concerned Nigerians.

Politics

Kwankwaso: NNPP considering three options – Ladipo Johnson

Published

20 hours ago

April 26, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

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Ladipo Johnson, the spokesperson for the New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, has said the party is considering three possibilities ahead of 2027 presidential election.

Johnson said the NNPP was considering joining forces with the APC, the coalition of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar or standing on its own in 2027.

This comes amid defections from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to the APC.

Atiku recently announced the formation of a coalition alongside his former counterpart of Labour Party, Peter Obi; ex-Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai and some other politicians.

The former PDP presidential candidate, had his ex-running mate, Ifeanyi Okowa defecting to the APC.

Also, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State also dumped the opposition party to the APC.

Amid these defections, the House of Representatives member from Ideato Federal constituency of Imo State, Ikenga Ugochinyere, had claimed that two more state governors and 40 PDP lawmakers will soon defect.

Ugochinyere urged the PDP’s National Working Committee, NWC, to urgently take steps towards addressing the imminent danger.

He disclosed this while addressing PDP members in Akokwa area of Imo State on Friday

However, Johnson, in a statement said: “Well, so far, what I’ll say is this: in the NNPP, we tend to, at least from our own history as the Kwankwasiyya movement, wait till midterm.

“May 29th will be the midterm for this administration. It will be two years down, and two years to go. That is when we believe that proper politicking will commence.

“So, yes, we are talking, and we’ve been talking. But you’ll recall that at that time, I told you I didn’t want to mention specifically the groups or persons or movements that are in conversation with us. That is still the position now.

“You’ll recall that there have been many publications in newspapers and online, insinuating that Senator Kwankwaso is moving to the APC, that it is imminent and all that. That is just the nature of the game. Some people are pressing or pushing that narrative for their selfish reasons.

“But the bottom line is that very soon, they will begin to hear from us. We will tell our supporters what we are doing.

“There are basically three cards on the table: either we remain in the NNPP and continue with those who joined us all the way or we form some sort of coalition with Atiku, others; or we form an alliance with the ruling party. I

“I am not saying any of these is the case now. But these are the three basic options that could happen.”