By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

Peter Obi, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, and other South-East leaders on Monday held a closed-door meeting with former President Goodluck Jonathan in Abuja ahead of the 2027 general election.

The meeting, held at Mr Jonathan’s residence, was attended by several South-East leaders.

Present at the meeting were former Enugu State Governor, Okwesilieze Nwodo; former Imo State Governor, Achike Udenwa; former Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Onyema Ugochukwu and Senator Victor Umeh, among others.

Mr Obi, who spoke to journalists shortly after the meeting, said they consulted with the former president over the 2027 general elections.

He said Mr Jonathan wished Nigeria well and hoped for free, fair and credible elections in 2027, adding that the country must not become a one-party state.

“He wished that we have free, fair, credible election. That would be his wish. There can’t be one party system. He cannot support such a thing. Nobody can claim to be more of a democrat in this country. In terms of those who have led this country without putting him (Jonathan) as number one,” he said.

He said Mr Jonathan served the country faithfully and is a committed democrat.

On endorsement, he said, “We are not talking about endorsement yet. When I become a candidate, I will come for it. He wishes the country well, and we are here to consult with him.”

“We, some notable South-East leaders have come in consultation to our respected former President Goodluck Jonathan, That’s basically what it is. It is on 2027 elections and it is all about Nigeria.

“We are now seeing him (Jonathan) in the categories we have come to see former President Olusegun Obasanjo, former president Ibrahim Babangida and others, so that is the category we are seeing now.

“They are fathers now. They are not defecting. They are not involved. But we need to consult them, because especially someone like him (Jonathan) who served the country very faithfully, focused, and did what is expected in a democracy in this declining situation,” Mr Obi said.

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdulsalam Abdulkarim Zaura, on Monday recounted how he narrowly escaped a mob attack unleashed by suspected thugs along farm center in Kano metropolis.

Zaura, who recently declared his intention to contest the Kano Central Senatorial seat in the 2027 general elections, under the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), escaped with several of this vehicles damaged and supporters injured.

The ugly incident ensured while the Businessman along side hundreds of his supporters were on their way to Meena event center for the declaration of his senatorial ambition.

Speaking through his media aide, Dahiru Maiwuddadu, Zaura said the a group of suspected hoodlums suddenly unleashed attacked on his convey and vandalised several of his vehicles in the process.

According to him, Zaura escaped unhurt, but the attack left a trail of damage and heightened fear among traders and residents.

He asserted that the same set of thugs subsequently went on rampage to invade the GSM market along farm center creating panic on residents.

While commiserating with the victims of the unfortunate attack on the market, the APC Chieftain applauded the quick intervention of the security agencies for bring the situation under control.

He expressed concern over what he described as rising youth-related violence, stressing the need for urgent action to address the root causes and safeguard lives and property.

Zaura called on security agencies to investigate the incident and bring the perpetrators to justice, warning that such acts could undermine peace and economic activities in the state.

He also urged youths to shun violence and embrace peaceful coexistence, dialogue and lawful means of engagement.

The APC stalwart reaffirmed his commitment to supporting policies and initiatives that promote security and economic stability in Kano Central, noting that traders and small businesses must operate in a safe environment to thrive.

He further assured affected traders of his solidarity, describing them as vital contributors to the state’s economy and calling for collective efforts to prevent future occurrences.

The incident has raised fresh concerns over security around major commercial centres in Kano, especially as political activities intensify ahead of the 2027 general elections.

From Muhammad Kabir Kano

The Tuduwada Local Government For The Best Group has endorsed President Ahmad Bola Tinubu, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, the House of Representatives Member Alhassan Ado Doguwa, and other political office holders under the All Progressives Congress (APC) for continuity in office.

The leader of the group, Nura Dankadai, a former commissioner, said it is high time they surrendered to the will of Allah regarding the contest of Alhassan Ado Doguwa, because it is clear today that he is God-sent.

He said Governor Yusuf, in the last three years, has performed over 100 percent, and today Kano is witnessing a new wave of infrastructural development, social security, and women and youth empowerment like never before.

Speaking during a huge gathering of stakeholders of Tuduwada Local Government under the auspices of Tuduwada LGA for The Best, Nura Dankadai noted that “it is no longer hidden that our consistent opposition to Alhassan Ado Doguwa and our fights over time have failed. This clearly vindicates him as godly.”

On President Tinubu, Dankadai hinted that he is doing his possible best to change the narratives and correct many mistakes that were made. Nigerians should know that it will take time to fix them, and they should exercise patience with the government.

He said they are endorsing President Tinubu because he has started on a sound track that will set the country free from decades of decay. “We expect that Nigerians should exercise patience with him because the country is in a delicate situation.”

“Alhassan Ado Doguwa has been there since NRC and SDP, and because he has been good and doing his best for the people, and because of his excellent performance, he has been elected repeatedly despite several attempts to remove him from the House of Representatives. All attempts failed.”

“This clearly shows that he is godly and whatever he is doing is for the benefit of his people. As such, we endorse him for continuity as the Representative of Tuduwada/Doguwa Federal Constituency.”

He assured that Tuduwada people would fight to ensure that APC returns President Tinubu, Governor Yusuf, Alhassan Doguwa, Senator Kawu Sumaila, and others.

“Tuduwada needs several interventions. Although we will not enter into agreements with any contestants, Doguwa has done what he could over time, but we are going to present fresh requests to him.”

Yusuf Musa Janmaje, a leader from Tuduwada Local Government, said that today, courtesy of Alhassan Ado Doguwa, they have their sons employed at NNPC and other top places, with over 500 youths sponsored in their educational pursuits.

Several other speakers at the event outlined decades of performance by Alhassan Ado Doguwa for the development of Tuduwada Local Government. However, they requested more interventions, specifically in youth education and infrastructural development.

They also urged traditional leaders and other stakeholders to do more to ensure the sustainability of peace in the area, insisting that they are a farming and commercial community and should benefit more from federal government interventions.