Politics
APC National Chairmanship: The Onus on two great sons of Borno
APC National Chairmanship: The Onus on two great sons of Borno
By: James Bwala
While I was trying to answer the question about the emergence of two former governors from my state contesting for the APC National Chairmanship position, I told a colleague, who put the question to me that, people supporting faces appearing on the pages of newspapers and on Facebook who are aspiring for the position of National Chairman of the All Progressive Congress, APC seemed to be pointing to one direction except the case for Borno state where these two candidates are coming.
Already this has put some people on the fence, who do not understand politics or those who feel they must come clean on both sides. These people seemed to be on the line but to choose and support between two great sons, who had contributed immensely for the growth and development of Borno in their capacities as governors at different times, they have governed the state remains an apocalypse. Ask any neutral person to choose between the two and he would drag the words.
Questions and rumour making the round about their aspiration for the National Chairmanship position of the All Progressive Congress, APC suggested or rather informed my writing of this piece. The mute at either camp has put Borno on the focus and bad politicians have started bringing bad politics to play. But I feel this is not what people should be looking out for. We have had a fair share of differences but politics is politics. This piece may also be speaking the minds of many Borno citizens as I understand from my interaction with few.
I believe the onus is on these two great citizens to inspire courage towards delivering justice, peace, equity and understanding among politicians and to change narratives in the polity of the country if elected. The onus also is on them to demonstrate leadership uncommon as both of them are coming with a magnitude of experience in leadership and administration of people, material and resources. To have them two coming from a state puts Borno at advantage of producing the next National Chairman of the All Progressive Congress.
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Speaking on how Borno people will make a choice between the two however is putting a test between courage and responsibility. “The choice may rather be an unfortunate one at this time because it shows no oneness amongst the people and that is not what Borno state is known for.” As observed by an elder whom I would not mention here.
I have also heard from many of my kinsmen just like the Biblical story of some for Apostle Paul and others for Barnabas but Borno is one and dividing the state along political lines sends streaming lines of cold water running down my spine. It also reminded me of the saying that a divided house cannot stand. This is true as many have come to believe so. But I did not consider this a bad omen looking at it from a political angle if it is to be played along the path of the great Waziri Ibrahim.

“I like Kashim Shettima for his intelligence and oratory.” someone had said, “For me, Modu Sheriff will make a good Leader here, APC needs the rocky type.” Another person said. In all my discussions both Kashim Shettima and Modu Sheriff seemed to be the answer from different perspectives and views of the people, which I hope to unveil as the days draws by. However, one thing remains certain; there cannot be two captains in a ship.
While I speak with many of my kinsmen, friends, associates, colleagues and bystanders I engaged while putting this piece, I also find this to be an all-important puzzle on the political atmosphere brewing. This too will be a story for another day and I wouldn’t want to conclude at this time because surprises keep happening on political thresholds. I keep reminding myself that these are the possibilities politics provides for people. I have no doubt about the two gentlemen trying to sort out their dreams to kick the red button on this national calling. It may be a plus for Borno state on the other hand.
But a fight, I mean a political fight between a supposedly political godfather and political godson should not be presented as horrific as some rumours making the rounds seemed to have been suggesting. Rather it is to be an interesting phenomenon in the entire game called politics. Only the susceptible feels hurt, shifts blame and castigate one another in trying to win favour from this side or that side.
For eight years, I have worked with Modu Sheriff as governor of Borno state and equally worked another eight years with Kashim Shettima. Both of them for me as a Journalist are great inspiration and subject of research in political studies. They have all made their marks as governors of Borno state taking on progressively from one point to another to make the state what it is today and I believe they still have much to offer Borno state and its citizens in their current struggles.
Someone earlier today asked me about the question of Modu Sheriff and Kashim Shettima coming to edge out their political stamina on the battlefield for the seat of the National Chairmanship of the ruling All Progressive Congress, APC. I told him they are both progressive. And sincerely this is my opinion as a Journalist. If I were to be a politician perhaps my answer would have been different.
For many politicians, speaking in this context particularly for those who have had relationships with both Modu Sheriff and Kashim Shettima, the choice depends on how deeply they have been involved either with Modu Sheriff or Kashim Shettima. But at this point, the choice will have to be made either for Modu Sheriff or Kashim Shettima. That was my own explanation.

Even for the governor of Borno state, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, the two former governors: Modu Sheriff and Kashim Shettima remain two angels God prepared from heaven to shape his ways. I was very close at a point in time when he came across both of them and on each encounter fortune smiled on him putting him in a very difficult position as many politicians in Borno state who had at various occasions been led by fate and faith to find favour from these two great sons of Borno.
Sheriff is Rocky as they would say and Shettima an Orator, either of them is a Captain in his own right but politics will be played and there must be a winner in the end. For me, it is Borno against the rest of the states – Zamfara, Nassarawa, and Benue for those I could remember and have written about. There is nothing poetic about political battles as being suggested between Sheriff and Shettima. Either side of the coin is a good advantage for Borno if the two roll it out well in their campaigns. The Onus is on them to make Borno state proud.
James Bwala writes from Abuja
APC National Chairmanship: The Onus on two great sons of Borno
Politics
Mass defection hits Gombe State NNPP, SDP, LP as over 1, 000 leaders join APC
Mass defection hits Gombe State NNPP, SDP, LP as over 1, 000 leaders join APC
Ahead of the 2027 general election, the camp of the ruling APC in Gombe State received a boost as over 1, 000 opposition political leaders and members from Yamaltu/Deba Local Government Area of the state, on Monday defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The opposition leaders and members are from the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Social Democratic Party (SDP) and Labour Party (LP).
They were received by Mr Inuwa Garba, member representing Yamaltu Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives in company of Mr Adamu Lambam, APC chairman, Yamaltu Deba LG.
Speaking during the ceremony in Lubo community in Yamaltu Deba LG, Malam Tasiu Isa, the Chairman of Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the council said joining APC was to strengthen the good governance being delivered by the party.
Isa said that Gov. Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State and President Bola Tinubu have done well for the people through the execution of live-changing projects.
“We, the executives of the SDP from this LG and all the ward executives are joining the APC today and we are more than 500 officials.
“If we join our supporters and members, then we will be talking of thousands of SDP members; we are convinced that APC is the party to be because the party has good governance as evidence,” he said.
Isa commended Rep member Garba for his people-centric approach to representation, saying that Garba’s leadership style was complementing that of Gov. Yahaya.
For Mohammed Hinna, Labour Party chairman, Yamaltu Deba LG, joining APC remained the best option for any patriotic Nigeria who wants to see a better future for the country.
Hinna said with the efforts of President Tinubu and Gov. Yahaya, it would be difficult to remain in opposition, “if you truly a political leader that has the love of the people at heart.”
Mr Adamu Lambam, the APC chairman for Yamaltu Deba said more opposition leaders and members have been joining the APC at the council because of the good governance being delivered by Yahaya in their LG.
Lambam said that the party would continue to welcome anyone who wants to join the APC, adding that “APC is the people’s party because of the developmental strides of Tinubu, Inuwa and Garba.”
Reps member Garba said with the defection, the structure of opposition parties in the council has been weakened and “this is good for APC ahead of 2027.”
Garba said that the performance of Tinubu and Yahaya would make campaigning for APC ahead of 2027 election easier for them when the ban on campaign is lifted in August.
He appealed to members of the APC to remain united while mobilising more members at the grassroots by informing them of the many good things that Mr President and Yahaya have done.
Mass defection hits Gombe State NNPP, SDP, LP as over 1, 000 leaders join APC
Politics
Bayelsa: APC Chieftain Condemns Marginalized Congresses, Alleges Diri’s Plan To Use Isowo As State Party Chairman
Bayelsa: APC Chieftain Condemns Marginalized Congresses, Alleges Diri’s Plan To Use Isowo As State Party Chairman
Faults Akpe’s Nomination, Says Governance Now A Family Enterprise
A chieftain and founding member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa State, Barr. David Perebo has expressed deep dissatisfaction over Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri segregational, sidelining mode of conduct of the party ward and local government congresses.
Condemning in strong terms of the segregational mode of conduct of the APC ward and local government congresses across the state, the chieftain described the congresses as witch-hunt of a selected group of stakeholders, leaders in the party.
The APC member condemned the governor deliberate segregation of key stakeholders in various wards and local government areas are geared towards generating division.
Pursuant to the marginalized mode of conduct of the congresses, ward and local government executives of APC in Sagbama addressing the press, expressed dissatisfaction over non-inclusion of critical stakeholders who stood firmly as an opposition in building the party in Bayelsa state.
The party executives said Senator Diri inability to conduct all inclusive congresses in various wards, local governments across the state, has proven beyond shadow of doubt of the governor incapability to manage affairs of the party in Bayelsa state.
Governor Diri who couldn’t manage insignificant affairs of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP leading to Mr George Turnah factional leadership in Bayelsa, has transferred the same attitude from the PDP to the APC barely four months of defection.
The statesmen said the governor has deceptively taken total control of the APC leadership structure in various wards and local government areas across the state, by installing his followers who defected to the APC from the PDP, while excluding old APC members who built the party.
Diri who preach all-inclusiveness in leadership, has deceptively taken over the leadership structures of Brass, Nembe, Yenagoa, Sagbama, Kolokuma-Opokuma, while allowing Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku and David Lyon to nominate the Chairmen of Ekeremor, Ogbia and Southern-Ijaw as compensation.
Furthermore, the governor whose intentions failed woefully to use his relative, Mr Gesiye Isowo as at then Bayelsa PDP Secretary, as Bayelsa APC Caretaker Chairman before any official defection to the APC, has perfected preparations to use him as Chairman of APC in Bayelsa State.
Senator Douye Diri has perfected preparations to produce the Bayelsa APC Chairman, Secretary, including other relevant positions to take total control of the party structure in the state, as deliberate steps towards producing a governorship candidate in the next gubernatorial election.
Unknown to Lokpobiri, Ogbuku who are rumoured to have governorship ambitions in 2027, Governor Douye Diri will never support any of them as successor, rather he is nurturing a relative from Nembe extraction whose father is from Sampou to succeed him as Bayelsa Governor.
In the same vein, the APC chieftain has condemned the decision of the Bayelsa Governor, Senator Douye Diri over nomination of his maternal relative from Ayamasa town, Pastor Peter Pereotubo Akpe as Deputy Governor with motives to revolve the government as a family enterprise.
The chieftain who that stands for justice, fairness, and transparency in governance, has expressed intense dissatisfaction over Governor Douye Diri’s nomination of his relative as deputy governor against Bayelsans.
The sudden passing of the Bayelsa Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo whose cause of sudden death still uncertain, created room for timely replacement of the office of the deputy governor according to Section 191 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
He said the governor has privatized governance of Bayelsa as a family enterprise with Akpe nomination as deputy when expected to choose from other competent Bayelsans.
Senator Diri has virtually privatized governance of Bayelsa by appointing only relatives in sensitive positions: Chief of Staff now Deputy Governor, Deputy Chief of Staff, Director of Domestic, Director of Transport, and other government house appointees.
The aggrieved party stakeholder said successive administrations since 1999 has credibly and transparently distributed political appointments across the three senatorial district, but the reverse has been the record in Senator Douye Diri administration.
The governor take decisions without putting into consideration of those who consciously built his political reputation. He defected to the APC without considering the feelings of leaders working closely with him.
Bayelsans has witnessed that the governor has no conscience and empathy, enveloped with greed and ingratitude against those who helped in building his political career and reputation; such as former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, Dr. Timi Alaibe, Senator Seriake Dickson.
Senator Diri political trajectory has been driven by pettiness, rumours, propaganda, capitalizing on illiteracy, poverty and stomach infrastructure syndrome of some Bayelsans, while privatizing and managing resources of the state as a family enterprise.
In self-delusional, deceptive pretense of building peace, unity, he brought in opposition members to replace those who fought (some lost their lives) for his emergence, instead of acknowledging, and compensating them for their support and sacrifices.
Douye was very selfish to abandon Jonathan, Alaibe in PDP, especially Dickson who believed and trusted him as successor. Yet, he embraced the people who fought against those who worked for him in the election.
The way and manner the governor had shown ingratitude to Jonathan, Dickson, Alaibe, and others, same thing he will do to Lokpobiri, Ogbuku, Lyon, and other leaders in the APC.
Douye doesn’t understand that those who are praising him, are doing so for political patronage (monetary terms), and desert him after office.
Signed:
Barr. David Perebo
APC Chieftain Writes From Yenagoa
Bayelsa: APC Chieftain Condemns Marginalized Congresses, Alleges Diri’s Plan To Use Isowo As State Party Chairman
News
National Progressive Hub (NPH) Urges Support for President Tinubu’s Second Tenure
National Progressive Hub (NPH) Urges Support for President Tinubu’s Second Tenure
By Comrade Philip Ikodor
The National Progressive Hub (NPH), a leading support group for the All Progressives Congress (APC), has called on all Nigerians to rally behind President Ahmed Bola Tinubu GCFR for a successful second term in office come 2027.

In a statement, National Coordinator/Convener, Honorable Bukie Okangbe, praised the APC administration for its efforts towards nation-building and economic stability. Okangbe highlighted the NPH’s previous support for President Tinubu, including a National Security and Endorsement event in 2022 that contributed to the party’s successful general election outcome.
The NPH is gearing up for a Grand Endorsement event for President Tinubu’s second term, scheduled to hold on February 26th at the Musa Yaradua Center, CBD, Abuja. The event will also feature the inauguration of 36 state coordinators, including the FCT, and address critical national issues.
“We invite everyone to join us at this significant event,” Okangbe said. “Your presence will be a testament to our collective commitment to Nigeria’s progress and the APC’s vision for a better future.”
The event promises to be a landmark occasion, showcasing the NPH’s dedication to the APC and President Tinubu’s leadership.
National Progressive Hub (NPH) Urges Support for President Tinubu’s Second Tenure
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