Around The TINUBU Campaigners
Over
the last few months, many people have been wondering why former Transport
Minister, Rotimi Amaechi has not been visible around the APC presidential
candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. In the recent past, so many blogs have wondered
where Amaechi has been.
A
few days back, an online blog asked the question:
"Ahead
of the 2023 general election, the governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, has
had two different meetings in Paris, France and the latest in London, the
United Kingdom, with the presidential candidate of the All Progressives
Congress Bola Tinubu."
InfoOnlineNews reports that Wike had also invited other APC stakeholders and Tinubu’s
political sons to his state to commission projects executed by his
administration."
"Among
those invited were incumbent Lagos State Governor, Sanwo-Olu, House of
Representatives Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila and others.
"With
all the dining going on with Wike and Tinubu, not much has been heard from the
Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, APC leader in Rivers State."
"Amaechi’s
most recent political outing could be when he lost to Tinubu, former Lagos
State governor in the APC presidential party primary held in June 2022."
"Recall
that Rivers State, APC Publicity Secretary, Chris Finebone an opposing force
against Wike decamped to the PDP.
Speaking
on what the relationship would be between Amaechi and Wike if Wike decides to
work for Tinubu, National Vice Chairman (South-East) of the APC, Dr Ijeomah
Arodiogbu, said: “I don’t think Wike’s
coming will push Amaechi out of the party. Instead, it should unite both
friends in the same cause, especially if both of them, one way or the other,
are convinced that our presidential candidate will emerge victorious. Because
the Wike I know will not engage in any meeting with Tinubu if he does not see
the possibility of Tinubu emerging as the President. Nobody wants to belong to
the losing camp.”
Arodiogbu
said it will be a reunion of old-time friends who were separated by political
interests.
“I
see the possibility of them working together since both of them believe that
Tinubu will be the next President of Nigeria. They were friends and I believe
that if they have the room to work together, they will not hesitate,” he added.
Also,
Adebayo Shittu, A former Minister of Communication, and Director General of
Asiwaju Tinubu-Shettima Coalition for Good Governance said it may not work well
following that Amaechi had been silent with political happenings in the state
and the APC.
“He
has been very lukewarm, hoping that a miracle will turn things in his favour.
If it eventually happens (defection), Wike will push him aside and we all know
that he is smart."
“Wike
is currently busy playing psychological warfare against the PDP and leaving
them to second guess if he will leave the party or not. His mission is simply
vendetta against the PDP, just to ensure they lose votes to teach them a
lesson,” he stated.
Hope
may come on August 31, according to Chief Chukwuemeka Eze, APC chieftain in
Rivers State, who revealed that a strategic political meeting has been called
to address some issues before the official campaign kicks off.
“The
special invitation to the strategic meeting of all 2023 APC Presidential
Aspirants, which will be held at Transcorp Hilton in Abuja, on Wednesday,
August 31, 2022, is to brainstorm on adopting winning campaign strategies that
will carry every Nigerian along and address the challenges bedevilling our
country.”
Those
expected at the parley also include a former Science and Technology Minister,
Ogbonnaya Onu; former Minister of State for Education, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba and
ex-Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio.
Governors
Yahaya Bello (Kogi), Dave Umahi (Ebonyi), Abubakar Badaru (Jigawa), Ben Ayade
(Cross River) and Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti) were also listed among the aspirants
expected at the meeting.
Others
are the President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan; a former Ogun State governor and
serving senator, Ibikunle Amosun; a serving senator, Ajayi Boroffice; former
Zamfara Governor, Ahmad Sani; former Imo State Governor and serving senator,
Rochas Okorocha; a former Senate President, Ken Nnamani, a former Speaker of
the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole; Tunde Bakare; Dr Nicolas Felix;
former Information Minister, Ikeobasi Mokelu; Tein Jack-Rich and Uju Ken-Ohanenye.
The
Plateau State Governor, Simon Lalong, is to coordinate the presidential
campaign council of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, as
director-general.
His
Deputy is former Edo State Governor and ex-National Chairman of the APC, Comrade
Adams Oshiomhole.
APC
presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu; his running mate, Senator
Kashim Shettima; and APC governors settled for the duo after a meeting in
Abuja.
Kaduna
State Governor, Malam Nasir el-Rufai, after the meeting, told journalists that a
Director-General had been picked for the APC presidential campaign council but
refused to disclose the person.
The
governor said President Buhari and the National Chairman of the APC, Dr Abdullahi
Adamu, would be briefed before a formal announcement then.
“This
is a delegation of the Progressive Governors Forum, led by our Chairman, Dr
Atiku Bagudu, and the party represented by the National Secretary.
“We
came to report on an assignment given to us by our presidential candidate,
Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and his running mate to begin the broad
consultations and develop a structure for the presidential campaign council. We
have done some work on it.
“We
have briefed the candidate and his running mate and inputs have been taken and
our hope is that in the shortest possible time, the candidate will consult more
with the party leadership and brief Mr. President and get his input and then we
formally unveil the presidential campaign council.
“A
decision has been taken on the director-general but other positions in the
campaign council are still being discussed. The president and the National
Chairman and National Working Committee will be briefed before a formal
announcement,” el-Rufai said.
Adams
Oshiomhole, who attended the meeting, emerged as the director-general of the APC
presidential campaign council.
Governor
Simon Lalong was the choice of the governors for campaign council D-G, with
Oshiomhole as his deputy.
Sources
said the choice of Director-General initially oscillated between Oshiomhole and
Lalong.
Those
pushing for Lalong argued that the APC needs a Northern Christian as D-G to
assuage the feelings of Northern Christians in the party, following the
Muslim-Muslim ticket of the party.
One
of those earlier mentioned in connection with the D-G position was Governor
el-Rufai.
Party
insiders said the APC resolved to appoint a Christian as D-G of the campaign
council against the backdrop of misgivings trailing the Muslim-Muslim
presidential ticket. Governor el-Rufai is a Muslim.
The
Media Department of the APC campaign council has taken shape.
“The
media department of the APC campaign council will be run by a triumvirate of
directors, made up of Dele Alake as Director of strategic communications, Bayo
Onanuga, Director of Media and Publicity, and Festus Keyamo, Director of Public
Affairs and Chief Spokesman”.
When
a list first came out the All Progressives Congress (APC) 2023 Presidential
Campaign Council said the list of its members making the rounds on social media
was unofficial.
Bayo
Onanuga, Director of Media and Publicity of the council made this known in a
statement.
He
said the purported list was not authorised and urged the public to disregard
it.
Onanuga
explained that the party’s leadership and its presidential candidate, Asiwaju
Bola Tinubu would formally unveil the campaign council.
He
also urged the media to exercise restraint in disseminating information that
was not correct.
While
quoting the Secretary of the APC presidential campaign council, Mr James
Faleke, Onanuga said the various directorates of the campaign structure were
still being put together.
He
said it was being done in consultation with the APC governors and other
critical stakeholders.
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