News and Gist Blog in Nigeria,
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Leicester City fans fell silent on Saturday in a heartfelt tribute to late owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha before the first home match since he was killed in a helicopter crash two weeks ago.Labels: SPORTS NEWS
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Labels: NEWS POLITICS
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PDP‘s Vice Presidential candidate, Peter Obi who was labelled a ‘bigot’ by Governor Nasir El-Rufai over a 2014 incident, has finally reacted to the statement.
Peter Obi who answered questions from journalists over the tweet at a youth programme in Nnewi, Anambra State on Saturday, expressed shock and further stated that he would only pray for El-Rufai and encourage him to concentrate on doing those things that will better lots of Nigerians rather than engaging in hate speeches.
He said, “This is suggesting that it was what he sat down to think of rather than thinking about how to solve the many problems plaguing the country.
“What His Excellency, Gov. Nasir Ahmad El Rufai said about me has been brought to my attention. I believe that as we grow older and are saddled with more responsibilities, we are expected to become circumspect in our thinking and avoid recklessness in our speeches and utterances.
“How does the circumstance he referred to relate to bigotry to warrant such a label?
“All I do for people like El-Rufai is to pray for them and encourage them to concentrate on doing those things that will better the lots of Nigerians rather than engage in hate speeches that will divide and destroy the country.
“At this difficult times in our country, when thousands of our brothers and sisters across ethnic divide are killed all over the country, including innocent citizens in Kaduna state; millions of our children from all the parts of the country are out of school; millions of Nigerian youths from all the parts of the country are without jobs, our pre-occupation, especially among those that are in government should not be making reckless speeches.
“What our leaders should be doing today is seeking solutions to the numerous problems of our dear country.
“I am aware that during the said election he referred to, security agents merely restricted his movement because he had no business being in Anambra as I would not have been in Kaduna on an election day.”
The former governor of Anambra State further appealed to Nigerians, especially those in positions of authority, to avoid what he called “the dominance of the vice of hate”
Labels: NEWS POLITICS
A transsexual dominatrix has spent £87,000 on cosmetic surgery to make herself look like a human sex doll.
Ivana Vladislava, 26, has 95G breasts and has had three boob jobs and five nose jobs, as well as having her earlobes reduced.
The professional makeup artist, from Berlin, Germany, has also had eyebrow lifts and a procedure on her jaw.
However, despite already undergoing 20 cosmetic surgeries, she is still not satisfied with her look and intends to have at least four more operations.
Ivana Vladislava, 26, has 95G breasts and has undergone 20 cosmetic surgeries to try and become a human sex doll
Ivana has been working as a dominatrix twice a week for the past seven years to pay for her surgeries and 'sex doll' look.
The dominatrix said she didn't like how she looked before the surgeries and they have made her feel 'beautiful'.
She said: 'Before, I was simply ugly. I was ignored by men and was always "nice but not beautiful"
'Other women laugh at me, they say that I look like a sex doll. Then I just say ''yes, I want to look like that.''
'That is a compliment to me.'
Ivana has been working as a dominatrix twice a week for the past seven years to pay for her surgeries and the 'sex doll' look - and admits she still isn't satisfied with her look
Ivana is now a social media star and has 96,000 followers on Instagram who shower her with attention.
However, her treatment has caused friction with her mother who does not want to be seen with her in public.
She said that she has not had any significant romantic relationships either.
She said that her role model is deceased porn actress Lolo Ferrari, who was believed to have had the largest breasts in the world.
However, the dominatrix admits that her treatment has caused friction with her mother who does not want to be seen with her in public
Ivana added that she has four more surgeries to go to complete her look.
She said: 'I do not want to be normal at all, I am oriented towards dolls and I strive for perfection.'
Ivan was originally born male but shortly after her 11th birthday she began taking female hormone tablets and dressing as a girl.
After undergoing her first nose job at 17, Ivana went on to undergo 10 liposuction procedures, a breast augmentation, five nose jobs and has even had parts of her jawline, brow bones and forehead removed.
Ivan was born male but shortly after her 11th birthday she began taking female hormone tablets and dressing as a girl
Some of Ivana's 20 cosmetic procedures
Hairline lowering (£4,300)Forehead reshaping (£10,480)Brow bone reshaping (£5,200)Eyebrow lift (£2,600)Eyelid fat transfer (£1,700)Five nose surgeries (£18,300)Cheek implants (£4,300)Buccal fat removal (£2,600)Fat transfer to cheeks and lips (£1,700)Three-part jawline removal surgery (£7,800)Chin implant (£1,700)Ear reduction (£2,100)Liposuction on neck (£4,300)Cheek and Lip filler injections (£3,500)Eight liposuctions (£17,500)Breast augmentation (£21,800)
Speaking about her journey, Ivana said: 'From the age of 11 I knew that I was a girl and quickly decided to start taking hormones, dressing like a girl and growing my hair long.
'As I grew into a teenager I began hating my appearance, I was ignored by men, I felt fat, ugly and unsexy.
'But I knew I didn't have to live like that so I made a plan of how to change my look and I began looking for surgeons across the world.
'I booked in to have my nose job when I was 17 and since then I've had four more nose surgeries to perfect its size, alongside many other body surgeries.
'And although my first surgery was painful, I knew that I wanted to continue having work done and become the plastic symbol I want to be.'
She admits that other women criticise her for looking like a doll but says that it is exactly what she wants to look like
There has been palpable tension in Benue State following the release of the former Coordinator of the state’s Livestock Guards, Aliyu Tershaku, who was alleged by the military to be a member of the Boko Haram.
According to WanbabaBlog ,At the peak of herdsmen attacks on the state, Tershaku was arrested by the military for his alleged involvement in the attacks that claimed over 500 lives as well as displaced about 200,000 persons across the state.
The Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, 707 Special Forces Brigade, Makurdi, Major Olabisi Ayeni, had in April said in a statement that the military arrested a “key Boko Haram suspect, known as Aminu Yaminu nicknamed Tershaku.”
The statement read in part, “Following an intelligence report, it was gathered that Aminu had concluded plans with his cohorts in Bauchi, Borno, Yobe and Nasarawa states to launch a major attack on innocent citizens in Benue State.”
Following the arrest, Governor Samuel Ortom had gone ahead to relieve Tershaku, who was until then the state coordinator of Livestock Guard, of his duty. He was thereafter taken to court.
However, few days ago, information filtered round the state that Tershaku had been released and was sighted around his residence in Lobi Quarters, Makurdi.
There were also insinuations that Tershaku after his release had met with some of his supporters, for unverifiable reasons, towards the end of October. This, according to findings, triggered the emergency Security Council meeting held in the state last Tuesday.
The Special Adviser to the governor on security, Col. Paul Hemba (retd.), in a chat with our correspondent on Thursday expressed worries over the release of Tershaku.
Hemba disclosed that he had been informed by one of the security agencies that Tershaku was released on bail and that investigation into his case was ongoing.
He explained that the release of Tershaku was discussed at the state Security Council meeting, where approval was given for the dissolution of the Livestock Guard to enable the state government to reconstitute the security outfit and fish out bad eggs, especially those who may be loyal to the former coordinator.
“I wish to use this opportunity to clear the air that government did not disband the Benue State Livestock Guards as being speculated in some quarters,” Hemba stated.
Source WanbabaBlog
Labels: NEWS POLITICS
Barring any last minute changes, a leadership meeting of the All Progressives Congress will hold next week to determine the fate of the embattled National Chairman of the party, Adams Oshiomhole.
A prominent member of the party, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue, confided in one of our correspondents, in Abuja, on Friday that as a precursor to this meeting, the party’s National Leader, Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu, and Oshiomhole, met in Paris, France, on Thursday. Tinubu had gone to France ahead of the President’s visit to the country.
It was further learnt that the meeting between Tinubu and Oshiomhole centred on the growing plot by aggrieved party members especially governors to remove Oshiomhole from office.
The former Lagos State governor is one of the party stalwarts backing Oshiomhole who is now under probe by the Department of State Services.
The Punch reports that an APC source said, “Tinubu and Oshiomhole met in Paris on Thursday over attempts by governors and some members of the NWC to remove the party chairman. You will recall that it was Asiwaju who paved the way for the emergence of Oshiomhole as the chairman when Chief Oyegun wanted a tenure extension.
“Now that he has come under probe by the DSS and is being asked to step aside, he has run to Tinubu to save him. It remains unclear what their strategy will be to put a stop to the probe.”
It was also learnt that some aggrieved governors had begun reaching out to members of the National Working Committee to ask Oshiomhole to step aside pending the outcome of the DSS probe.
A member of the party’s NWC, who wished to remain anonymous for fear of retribution said, “The fact that Oshiomhole is under investigation for allegedly collecting money from aspirants is bad for the image of the APC government which claims to be fighting corruption.
“It is for this reason that the NWC members are being asked (by interested parties) to push for the suspension of the APC chairman pending the outcome of the probe. The President’s body language and actions in the coming days will determine Oshiomhole’s fate. For now, we are still considering it but we don’t want to make any hasty decision until we are sure that we have the President’s backing.”
Another party source said high-ranking party leaders would meet “next week” to decide the best way to proceed without “further depleting the party’s public image and goodwill.”
It was also gathered that President Buhari, who has taken charge of efforts to resolve the party’s post primary crisis, would be convening the meeting.
Apart from Buhari, those expected at the Abuja meeting include: Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Tinubu, pioneer Interim National Chairman of the party, Chief Bisi Akande, the Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu (as former chairman of the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party), and Prince Tony Momoh (former National Chairman of the Congress for Progressive Change).
The party source said, “The matter is receiving attention at the highest level. We cannot pretend, the situation involving our national chairman is already in public domain.
“His invitation and subsequent interrogation by the Department of State Services, is an indictment if you ask me; but you cannot pronounce a man guilty without giving him the right of fair hearing.
“The leadership meeting will take place because as you know, we don’t have a Board of Trustees in place. Mr. President as the leader of the party, who in fact, has personally taken over the process of dealing with the post-primary crisis, is convening the meeting to deal with all these issues.”
In response to a question on whether there were charges against the party chairman, he said, “Our party has a constitution, I refer you to Article 21 which deals with the issue of party discipline. Go and read sub-sections i, ii and xi.”
Article 21 of the APC Constitution (April 2014 As amended) which deals with the discipline of party members reads in part, “Subject to the provision of this Article and the right to fair hearing, the party shall have power to discipline party members. The power shall be exercised on behalf of the party by the respective Executive Committee of the party at all levels.
“Offences against the party shall include the following: (i)a breach of any provision of this constitution; (i) anti-party activities or any conduct, which is likely to embarrass or have adverse effect on the party or put it into hatred, contempt, ridicule or disrepute; (xi) in cases of alteration of delegate lists, falsification of nomination results, and or tampering with the processes of internal democracy of the party, the offender shall be liable to expulsion from the party and be prosecuted.”
Efforts to get a response from the party chairman were futile. Calls to the mobile telephone number of Oshiomhole’s media aide, Mr. Simon Ebegbulem, were neither picked nor returned.
A response to a text message asking him to confirm whether or not his principal had returned to the country and what was his response to the news making the rounds about his encounter with the DSS was still being expected as at the time of filing this report at 8:07pm.
The APC National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, told Saturday PUNCH on Friday night that Oshiomhole was back in the country.
He said, “The APC chairman is back in the country as scheduled. This is contrary to speculations that he was running away. He has been postponing the trip due to the party primaries and submission of candidates’ names to INEC ”
Asked about the meeting between Oshiomhole and Tinubu in France, the APC spokesman replied, “I don’t have such information yet.”
On the proposed leadership meeting holding in Abuja next week, Issa-Onilu said, “I am not aware but even if such meeting would hold…you see there is no crisis in APC. What people call crisis, I call conflict. I can assure you that we are in peace in the APC. The chairman and the NWC are standing for democracy and you should expect resistance.
However, the Spokesman for Buhari Campaign Organisation, Mr. Festus Keyamo (SAN), said the crisis within the party was being exaggerated by the media.
Keyamo said the crisis was normal for a ruling party, adding that things would become normal very soon.
He said, “Let me say clearly that what is happening now is only normal for a ruling party.”
Source: The Punch
Labels: NEWS POLITICS
Doyin Okupe, the former Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs to former President Goodluck Jonathan has described the Kaduna state Governor, Nasir El-Rufai as a rabid religious midget.
Okupe said this on Twitter on Saturday, November 10, 2018, while reacting to the Kaduna state Governor’s comment about the Vice-Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Peter Obi.
Peter Obi is a tribal bigot
On Friday, November 9, 2018, El-Rufai, in a tweet, called Obi a tribal bigot.
He said “Peter Obi is a tribal bigot. He was widely quoted on national television that the SSS was right to detain me for 48 hours in an hotel in 2014 on the grounds that ”El-Rufai has no business being in Anambra State as it is not Katsina State”! I sued the SSS and awarded N4m damages.”
Shehu Sani reacts
Also, Senator Shehu Sani, who has been at loggerheads with Governor El-Rufai, reacted to the tweet.
Sani said “An ethnic bigot is a lesser evil than a divisively religious one.”
Peter Obi denies destroying Mosques
Peter Obi has described as false,the allegation that he demolished mosques and also sent Hausa people out of the state while he was Governor of Anambra state.
Obi said it was pitiful that rather than finding a way to resolve the plight of Nigerians, the opposition is spreading falsehoods in their desperation to be elected into public offices.
Peter Obi was picked as the running mate of the PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar in October 2018.
Labels: NEWS POLITICS
President Buhari presenting the Party Flag to Osun APC Gubernatorial Candidate Gboyega Oyetola accompanied by other party leaders during the Grand Finale of APC Gubernatorial Campaign Rally in Osun State on 18th Sep 2018.
– An All Progressives Congress (APC) volunteer group in Adamawa, Operation Deliver Your Ward, has inaugurated a 105 media team for adequate enlightenment of the electorate on the achievements of the party in the state.
Inaugurating the media team at a ceremony on Saturday in Yola, the Director-General of the Operation Deliver Your Ward for Buhari/Bindow and other APC candidates, Alhaji Abubakar Mai-Anguwa, said members of the media team were selected five each from the 21 local government areas of the state.
Mai-Anguwa said those selected were effective mobilisers who were expected to enlighten the electorate on the many dividends of democracy provided by governments at all levels in the state.
“With proper enlightenment of the electorate at all levels, the victory of the party’s candidates at all levels would be assured.
“It is great that APC governments and representatives at all levels have achievements to show in all wards across the state, making our job easier,” the director-general said.
The Chairman,Board of Trustees of the group, Alhaji Dahiru Bobbo, represented by a board member, Alhaji Suleiman Adamu, urged the media team to ensure credibility in their speeches and statements, adding that APC governments at all levels were prepared to furnish them with information on various achievements made.
“You should not engage the opposition in war of slander and hate speeches. We have achievements to display and have no time for exchanging insults with any party looking for relevance and cheap publicity by engaging us,” Bobbo said.
Also speaking, the Adamawa APC Chairman, Alhaji Ibrahim Bilal, represented by Alhaji Mohammed Raji, assured the group of full support from the party, adding that the group was complimenting the party’s efforts.
Bilal urged the group to educate the electorate to vote APC at all levels to enable the elected governments to operate smoothly.(NAN)
Labels: NEWS POLITICS
•Lorraine Lionheart
Curvy and sexy singer from Botswana, Lorraine Lionheart, who was part of the just concluded Felabration in Lagos has shared her impression of the Nigerian men with Potpourri in an Insta chat.
The doting mother of one who also visited Abuja, the capital city of Nigeria said she had a jolly good time in the country. She also said she had little interactions with the women, and could only say something about the Nigerian man.
“I learnt on my recent trip that there are no set characteristics that describe or define a Nigerian man. More especially, that most have the ability to transform themselves into whatever they like at any given time. But for me personally, it’s a quality I like, being able to adapt to different environments and settings,” she said.
Comparing Abuja men to Lagos men, the crooner who has sung about the commercial tricycle (Keke) used all over Nigeria, as a perfect romantic get-away said the Lagos men appeal to her more.
“I had the opportunity to spend a bit of time in Abuja, and the men there were different from men in Lagos. Lagos is a highly commercial city and a lot of men there tend to give interpersonal interactions a commercial approach, maybe without realising it.
I don’t know how else to put this , but personally, I was overwhelmed with how much money I got offered by men randomly in Lagos. In Abuja, men want to talk to you even in the streets and have an actual conversation. But in Lagos they walk to you with their mobile phone already open, ready to store your number, they don’t have time. Everything has a price in Lagos .
But I love that go-getter attitude of Lagos men though. They see what they want and they don’t hesitate. I was in a nightclub in Abuja, and there was a guy staring at me all night but afraid to talk to me. Every time I turned around there he was still looking at me.
But not doing anything about it. In Lagos it would have been a different story altogether,” she added.
Lorraine Lionheart has performed at the Felabration for the second time in a row. She’s no stranger in Nigeria as she has also shot a video of single ‘Keke na Pepe’ in Lagos.
Labels: General News Gossip
Popular media personality Denrele Edun, who is well known for cross-dressing, has shared some new photos of himself in mini-skirt.
The award-winning TV host shared the new photos of himself posing in a mini-skirt, sleeveless top and a jacket which he paired with flashy heels.
Sharing the photos on his Twitter page, he wrote;
I never ask for anythin in a relationship…becos I hav this Sugar Daddy I hv created for myself: ME!
I am my own Sugar Daddy, my own Sponsor. I hv a very strong male side, which I developed to protect my female side.
If I want diamonds, I can go & buy myself Diamonds!
Don’t confound static electricity with ecstatic eccentricity. One will leave your hair up, the other will live up in the air!
See photos and his posts below:
I never ask for anythin in a relationship…becos I hav this Sugar Daddy I hv created for myself: ME!
I am my own Sugar Daddy, my own Sponsor. I hv a very strong male side, which I developed to protect my female side.
If I want diamonds, I can go & buy myself Diamonds!#Friyaypic.twitter.com/Lj8UWwobZO— Denrele Edun (@DENRELE_EDUN) November 9, 2018
Don't confound static electricity with ecstatic eccentricity. One will leave your hair up, the other will live up in the air! #androgynous#FridayFeeling#FridayMotivation#fashion #Friyay
Styling: @Thekevinkoya
Jacket: @sonofgodfits
: @dakshakspic.twitter.com/KWxaGbyxPw
— Denrele Edun (@DENRELE_EDUN) November 9, 2018
Labels: General News Gossip
Justice Lawal Hassan Gummi (retd.) who is the Emir of Gummi and was a keynote speaker at the Barewa Old Boys Association annual lecture, held at the Umaru Ali Shinkafi Polytechnic, Sokoto, took a swipe at President Buhari over not obeying court order.
The Emir of Gummi who spoke on the topic, ‘The challenges of the judiciary to democracy: The Nigeria perspective’, said that refusal to obey a court order is another form of corruption, noting that government must exemplify the change it promised before expecting citizens to follow suit.
According to the monarch, disrespect for the rule of law, bad governance, disobedience to court orders, non-compliance with electoral regulations by political parties, godfathers hijacking the electoral process and dwindling confidence in the justice system posed threats to Nigeria’s democracy.
“Orders of court are disobeyed at will in the name of fighting corruption. No one institution, no matter how highly placed, should flout the laws of the land, not even under the guise of fighting corruption. Refusing to obey an order of court is another form of corruption in itself.
“The executive cannot play the role of both the accuser and that of the judge at the same time. It is an aberration in a democracy. National security cannot take precedence over the rule of law; rather, it should be guided by the rule of law.
“Any democracy where the executive tries to intimidate and harass the legislature and/or the judiciary into doing its bidding is a democracy under threat. In the same vein, it is not right in a democracy for the National Assembly to make governance difficult for the executive for pecuniary reasons.
“We all agree that we need change as promised by the government, but that change must first begin with them, then, you and me” the Emir of Gummi said.
Labels: NEWS POLITICS
Nigerian singer, Banky W has once again gushed over his beautiful wife, Adesua Etomi as he shows her off online.
It has never been in doubt that Banky W is super-fond of his beautiful wife, Adesua Etomi. Everyone knows this and his fans often talk about how smitten he is with her attractiveness.
The singer has shown off his wife multiple times on social media, gushing over her beauty and elegance each time. The woman on her own part is also very fond of her husband and dotes on him very often.
Adesua, a Nollywood actress, shared a pretty photo of herself on Instagram earlier today and Banky W was so smitten by her beauty that he took to his insta-stories to re-post the picture.
Below is the photo:
Labels: NEWS GOSSIP
Nollywood actor, Jim Iyke has revealed that he has kissed over 200 actresses on movie sets, and this shouldn’t come as a surprise to many.
Jim once confessed that he had kissed not less than 200 actresses while on different movie sets said he has a habit of kissing women openly, including his sisters.
He narrated a situation where he had to kiss three European ladies who accompanied his girl friend to the airport to welcome him, during one of his foreign trips, adding that he doesn’t see anything wrong with it.
He also painted another scenario, where he had to kiss four actresses in the presence of their boy friends.
Jim said;
“I have once kissed them on set, and so, when I walked into the room where two of them were with their boy friends, I kissed them one after the other and their boy friends were mad at me. I have also kissed over 200 actresses on set and nobody is talking about it.”
Labels: General News Gossip
Nollywood actress, Gloria Akhigbe, who was declared wanted by the police after her comedy skit went viral, has expressed her surprise.
The viral skit shows the well-dressed actress removing a bouquet of flower, table water and drinks from the table where she was seated and putting them in her bag. Reacting to the video, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Abayomi Shogunle, declared the actress wanted and offered to pay anyone who could find her an unspecified amount of money as reward.
He wrote on Twitter;
“Wanted person, Please help me find this Yoruba woman. If your tip leads to her apprehension, I have a cash reward for you.”
Speaking to Saturday Beats, Gloria Akhigbe said;
“I was the one that uploaded the video on my Instagram page. It happened at a burial ceremony that held on the last Saturday of October 2018. I was having a discussion with my friends on how beautifully dressed ladies steal at parties, so I decided to do a skit about the trend.
“Surprisingly, when I woke up the next morning, I received a phone call from a friend who told me that there was a video of me stealing at a party and it had gone viral. My friend sent me the video immediately and I began to laugh when I viewed it because it was obviously a skit.
“In fact, the people that were at the table with me were aware of what was going on. The person that recorded the video was even laughing, so it is not sensible to tag me a thief. I never knew I was such a good actress until the video went viral. People prefer bad news to good news. They have chastised me because of the video and insulted my family.”
Gloria Akhigbe further disclosed that is still shocked that she was declared wanted by the police because of the skit.
“I was surprised when the police officer declared me wanted; I see it as defamation of character. There was no proper investigation or questioning before declaring me wanted.
“I had to address the policeman’s statement for declaring me wanted; I am still waiting for the policeman to come to me. This is the first time something like this is happening to me. I have funny skits that I do regularly.
“Initially, I was not embarrassed because some people who knew me as an actress understood it was just a skit. However, when I saw the negative comments and curses on the Internet, I felt bad,” she said.
Labels: GOSSIP NEWS
Since the return of democracy in1999, all the transitions in 2003, 2007, 2011 and 2015 had seen the emergence of some godfathers who either dismantle those already calling the shots, or fiercely competed with them. Evidently, 2019 is not an exception, as brand-new shot-callers are emerging.
Before the advent of the Fourth Republic, there were very few political godfathers because of long period of military incursion in Nigeria’s political firmament. And in the build-up to the return of democracy in 1999 following the death of General Sani Abacha in 1998, General Abdulsalami Abubakar who succeeded him initiated the transition that led to the release of some political prisoners. They included General Olusegun Obasanjo, who rode on the influence of generals Ibrahim Babangida and T.Y Danjuma, in addition to other powerful Second and Third Republic politicians to give birth to a comity of godfathers that saw the realization of the 1999 transition.
Within the time under review, the likes of Obasanjo, Chief Olu Falae, Atiku Abubakar, Bola Tinubu, Goodluck Jonathan, Danjuma Goje, Ahmed Yerima, George Akume, David Mark, Bukola Saraki, Rabiu Kwankwaso, Abdullahi Adamu, Obong Victor Attah and a host of others called the shots in their climes, making decisions as to who gets what, where and even when. However, nearly 20 years down the line, the trend has continued with some politicians succeeding in taking over entire party structures in their states, even succeeding in anointing key candidates ahead of the 2019 elections.
Akpabio:
After forcing his political godfather, Obong Victor Attah into retirement, Senator Godswill Akpabio, fondly called ‘Uncommon Senator’ has been in charge of the political machinery of Akwa Ibom State since his early days as governor in 2007. The 56-year-old lawyer was brought into the political scene of the oil-rich state in 2002 when Victor Attah, the then governor of the state appointed him as the Commissioner for Petroleum and Natural Resources.
As the tenure of Attah was elapsing, Akpabio dribbled his way to emerge as the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2006 and won the 2007 governorship election in the state. In 2011, he won his second term and completed his tenure in 2015. Singlehandedly, he brought in his successor at the Akwa Ibom State Government House in the person of Udom Gabriel Emmanuel in 2015. But despite their long journey in the slippery political pathway, something went wrong midway and they are no longer on the same page politically.
In August this year, Akpabio, who represents the Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial district dumped the PDP and resigned as the Minority Leader of the Senate, a position he occupied for 26 months. The rally to welcome him to the APC which was held at the Ikot Ekpene Township Stadium in his home state was attended by a veritable who’s who of the APC, including the leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole.
With the APC structure in his palms, Akpabio anointed Nsima Udo Ekere, the current MD/CEO of the Niger Delta Development Commission as the governorship candidate of the party for next year’s election. If Ekere defeats Emmanuel then, Akpabio will consolidate his hold on the state. However, if he fails, he would most likely join the league of Rochas Okorocha (Imo), Abdulaziz Yari (Zamfara) and Abiodun Amosun (Ogun) who would have joined the crop of emerging godfathers had they succeeded in clinching seats for their candidates in their states.
Amaechi
The claim that ex-Rivers State governor and Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi is an emerging Godfather of the APC in Rivers State is not far-fetched. His emergence came to the limelight in 2015 when he singlehandedly installed the MD of NIMASA, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, as the governorship flag-bearer of APC against the wishes of the likes of Senator Magnus Abe who was thought to be more qualified to fly the party’s flag in 2015.
The issue of who flies the party’s gubernatorial flag in 2015 would have caused a big crisis in the party, but Amaechi had his way as he succeeded in installing his preferred candidate.
When Peterside was defeated by Governor Wike in that election, Amaechi still confirmed his dominance, as he used his influence in the presidency to make Peterside MD of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).
Other APC members in the state who are loyal to him were compensated with juicy jobs in Federal Government parastatals and boards of federal government agencies. He also nominated and ensured that some of his party loyalists got both state and national assembly positions.
Amaechi’s clout also played out in May during the APC ward congresses, as he schemed out Senator Magnus Abe’s supporters from the congresses and eventually succeeded in installing the Flag Ojukaye Amachree-led state chapter of APC. As if that was not enough, he against the wishes of the major stakeholders of the party in the state nominated and installed his closest ally, Arch. Tonye Dele Cole as the party’s governorship flagbearer for the 2019 election. The emergence of Cole has become a litigation matter between him and Senator Abe just as the Supreme Court granted Abe’s prayer and upheld the State High Court’s verdict that nullified the May ward congresses conducted in the state. This, however, did not change anything on the nomination of Cole as even the leadership of the APC at the national level maintains the status quo.
Amaechi also singlehandedly nominated and installed the party’s senatorial candidates in the three senatorial districts as well as the eight House of Reps slots in the state.
Dankwambo
Prior to his election as Gombe State governor in 2011, Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo was better-known as a technocrat. He was serving as Accountant General of the Federation when then-governor Danjuma Goje persuaded him to resign and contest for the office of the governor, which he eventually won.
Even though certain people allege that it was strictly a business affair between the two, some political observers in the state said being a novice in politics, Goje handpicked Dankwambo to succeed him under the intention that he (Goje) would continue to run the state by proxy from Abuja. However, not long after he took over power, Dankwambo started distancing himself from Goje and allegedly orchestrated petitions that started Goje’s ordeal with the EFCC.
2019 new godfathers emerge
The sour relationship between the erstwhile godfather and godson is believed to have nudged Goje out of the PDP in 2014, to the then newly-registered APC. Despite the falling out, Dankwambo survived the 2015 ‘political tsunami’ that saw APC taking over PDP-controlled states in the north.
Pundits say Dankwambo’s political credentials have made him a sort of ‘political compass’ who now decides who gets what in Gombe State, especially within PDP circles. For instance, despite stiff opposition and protest from executive and leaders of the party, he singlehandedly handed over the PDP gubernatorial ticket to his anointed candidate, Senator Usman Bayero Nafada.
Dankwambo also nominated two senatorial, six House of Reps, and 24 State House of Assembly candidates. He also reserved a senatorial seat for Gombe-North to himself, which he later picked after he lost PDP’s presidential primaries.
Oshiomhole
Edo State has a history of strong godfathers, being where late Chief Tony Anenih and former governor Lucky Igbinedion, among others, held sway. Now, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, APC’s National Chairman is a major godfather. After consolidating his gains as a sitting governor, he started dictating the pace in the polity on who gets elective or appointive positions in the state.
Pundits said Oshiomhole’s godfather status became glaring during his re-election in which almost all the APC House of Assembly members were hand-picked by him without input from party chieftains. It is said he singlehandedly picked Governor Godwin Obaseki who was the chairman of his Economic Team.
At present, Oshiomhole has a firm grip on the state. His strength played out during the recent national and state assembly primary elections, even though with some resistance. One of his staunch loyalists, the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Kabir Adjoto had taken the APC and by extension Oshiomhole to Court for allegedly hand picking Hon. Peter Akpatason as the House of Representative candidate.
The APC women wing led by Aisosa Amadasun had also decried that Oshiomhole’s godfather status was beyond comprehension, saying he who once prided himself as “an apostle of positive change and the curative medicine to godfatherism” is overstretching his boundaries.
Gaidam
Alhaji Ibrahim Gaidam, who served as deputy governor to late Governor Mamman Ali before destiny saw him occupy the Government House after the demise of his boss, is now the de facto landlord in Yobe.
Gaidam, who is about completing ten years in office as governor, was able to establish a political structure that helped him win two successive general elections in 2011 and 2015, addition to the tenure of his late boss which he completed in 2011. He has successfully tested his political strength by having a say in almost all those who secured tickets for various offices.
Besides succeeding in forcing the PDP into political oblivion, Gaidam was able to keep Yobe off the radar of intra-party acrimony, despite the fact that there were grumblings here and there over some of his actions or inaction. However, many analyst have expressed optimism that the governor’s influence would last longer if he allows the incoming administration to have a free hand.
Makarfi
Since he left the Kaduna Government House in 2007, Senator Mohammed Ahmed Makarfi has become a rallying point for many politicians in the state. For some time, his support is what counts for a candidate to win an election. He supported Namadi Sambo to succeed him as governor, and he himself won election to the Senate.
The selection of Sambo as Vice President to President Goodluck Jonathan did little to affect his influence though for a while, Sambo started calling the shots but immediately the Jonathan presidency came to an end, focus shifted back to Makarfi.
Makarfi gained political weight through a combination of record of achievements as governor, a sense of fairness as a leader and by remaining committed to his party, the PDP. His contribution towards rebuilding the PDP which had after the 2015 elections become desolate as it was deserted by notable politicians in the state restored confidence in him.
Makarfi is probably the only politician in Kaduna who can boast of having influence in more than a senatorial zone in the state and politicians know that this in terms of votes is massive. Many aspiring politicians run to him for support, and since he is seen as a fair-minded leader, his words are usually final in settling political disputes.
Though he came out to deny that he was supporting any aspirant during the 2018 PDP governorship primary, it is believed that Isa Ashiru won the ticket of the party largely because of Makarfi’s support. Due largely to his influence, the PDP in Kaduna has been able to weather many storms and has got over its image as a weak and deserted conclave, to a strong party that has regained its verve, looking good enough to challenge the ruling party at the next polls.
Al-Makura
Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura of Nasarawa State clashed with ex-governor Abdullahi Adamu over who is the actual political godfather in the state. Though the final winner will only be known after the 2019 general elections, Al-Makura had successfully installed his cronies to various positions during the recent APC congresses, including the gubernatorial, national and state assembly election candidates. He even made attempt to snatch the senatorial seat currently occupied by Senator Adamu but did not succeed.
Although godfatherism is not common in Nasarawa because of the nature and intrigues occasioned by tribal sentiments, Al-Makura as the party leader in the state has succeeded in dictating the direction this time around even though this will only be validated if the PDP does not make inroads.
The governor’s decision using state government machinery and leadership of the party had given the gubernatorial ticket to Engineer Abdullahi Adamu Sule, a move that sparked tension among critical stakeholders.
Al-Makura had also succeeded in dethroning eight serving APC members of the State House of Assembly whose loyalty was said to be in question.
Shettima
In Borno State, Governor Kashim Shettima has succeeded in demystifying his onetime godfather, ex-governor Ali Modu Sheriff who had reigned as the most powerful politician in the North Eastern State until recently. Shettima has also humbled many politicians in the state, including former ministers, ambassadors and many others with high profile influence in the corridors of power in Abuja.
Shettima succeeded in the last APC primaries to have his candidate Prof. Babagana Zulum as the gubernatorial candidate of the APC; he picked the APC senatorial ticket for Borno Central and ensured that Senator Abubakar Kyari and Ali Ndume picked theirs, as well as being instrumental to the emergence of all the House of Reps and State Assembly candidates.
The fact that Shettima has succeeded in taming Sheriff is seen as a feat.
Sheriff had against all odds in 2003 forced a serving governor, Mala Kachallah, who was completing his first term to dump the then All Peoples Party (APP) for Alliance for Democracy (AD).
Sheriff, who took over the APP machinery secured its ticket, defeated Kachallah in the main election and won. He secured re-election in 2007 becoming the first governor to serve two terms in Borno. In 2011, he made Kashim Shettima governor but they soon parted ways. For now, it is clear that Shettima is the main man in Borno.
Wamakko
There is no doubt that ex-governor of Sokoto State, Senator Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko, has not only remained relevant in Sokoto politics, but is also a determining factor in who becomes what in the state.
Pundits believe that Wamakko will always have an edge over his opponents because of his knowledge about local politics. “He calls people by their names, and he is courteous, which people appreciate,” one of his associates said, saying this has endeared him to many.
Wamakko was instrumental to the emergence of Aminu Tambuwal as governor, and although they played hide-and-seek for long, it is now obvious that they have parted ways.
It would be recalled that after Tambuwal’s defection, Wamakko while reacting to the incidence said, “We will know who is in charge in Sokoto State.” He kept the date by returning to Sokoto and the reception he received indicated that he still retains his massive popular appeal as people lined by the over 11 kilometres airport road to receive him.
While Wamakko would need a godson to sustain his political dominance, the general question being asked in the state is whether he has found one in Ahmed Aliyu, the APC gubernatorial candidate in the state who is still serving as deputy to Tambuwal.
Ahmed has so far garnered considerable experience in public office after serving and Commissioner for Social Welfare in 2007, Commissioner of Health in 2012 and Deputy Governor for over three years.
With the countdown to the 2019 elections inching on, it remains to be seen if these godfathers’ influence will wax, or wane.
-Dailytrust
Am a journalist,I love creating news,am also a Human Rights worker,very passionate about people who suffer injustice in the society.
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