The presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 presidential election, Peter Obi, has called on the people of Ondo State to shun acts of vote trading in Saturday’s governorship election.

Obi who expressed concern over the state of democracy in Nigeria said those buying votes were using stolen money to perpetrate the act and must be resisted.

The former Governor of Anambra State stated this while speaking at the governorship campaign rally of the LP in Akure, Ondo State capital. 

According to him, the Nigerian democracy was suffering and it had been turned to transitional politics. He called on everyone to be involved in the rebuilding process of Nigeria.

He said, “We are here for the campaign of the gubernatorial election coming up on Saturday. We know democracy is suffering in Nigeria; we know they’ve turned democracy into transitional politics, but we still insist that we continue to campaign and tell Nigerians that this is time to start building a new Nigeria.

“A Nigeria where a child of nobody is somebody, a Nigeria where there will be equal opportunity, a Nigeria where we put people out of poverty, a Nigeria where our children will be in school, where our hospitals will work.

“We don’t want people to give us money that they’ve stolen from us, and thereafter, they continue to steal more. We want to stop the stealing and start the rebuilding; we want to stop the destroying and start the rebuilding; we want to move this country from consumption to production so we can create jobs. That’s why we are here campaigning.

“Ondo electorate should shun vote buying and selling because it’s money that they’ve stolen that they are using to buy them. We must resist them.”

Addressing the party supporters, who wore orange colour attire singing and dancing, at the rally, the governorship candidate of the party, Mr Sola Ebisen, described LP as the only party that can transform the state, calling on the people to vote for the party.

“Labour Party is the most popular political party in Ondo State. This is a party that the people of Ondo State voted for twice and was in power in this state between 2009 and 2017. Our programs policies and even projects are everywhere, and you know it. Everywhere you go in Ondo State, all the projects you see are in the colour of the dress I am wearing.

“I am deliberately wearing the orange colour, which is the colour of the Labour Party and the colour you will see in every project. Our presidential candidate is here to give support and to let Nigerians know that the Labour Party is the party to vote for”, Ebiseni boasted.

In celebrating President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s achievement in returning financial autonomy to the Local Governments, the Africans in Diaspora Chamber of Commerce ( ADICC )  has vowed to support any Nigerian youth between the ages of 25 and 45 years who has the capacity to run for either Local Government chairman or councillor position 

It would be recalled that in May this year,  the Federal Government through the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, (SAN) filed a suit at the Supreme Court of Nigeria accusing the State Governments of withholding   Local Governments Federal allocations.

On July 11, the apex court gave a landmark judgment on the financial autonomy of Nigeria’s 774 local governments. 

A seven member panel of the Supreme Court, chaired by Justice Mohammed Garba, disagreed with the position of the State Governments and concluded that the plaintiff’s case had merit.

Speaking on the landmark judgement, President of Africans in Diaspora Chamber of Commerce, Ambassador Dr. Edward Olutoke, said that the Chamber is happy with the ruling as it will enable Local Government Chairmen carry out laudable projects that will be beneficial to their people.

He stated that the concept of democracy is anchored on the fundamental idea of serving the interests of the majority. 

“Most people reside in local communities, where they primarily experience the direct impact of government. 

“Nigeria, as a federation, subscribes to this idea of democracy as stated in Sections 14(1) and 14(2)(a) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended). Section 14(1) states, “The Federal Republic of Nigeria shall be a state based on the principles of democracy and social justice.”

“Constitutionally, Nigeria operates a three-tier system of government comprising the Federal, State and Local Governments, with each tier having defined roles to play in delivering the dividends of democracy to the citizens and that’s why we at the Chamber is happy with the judgement and willing to support  any youth with the capacity of vying for either chairmanship or councillorship position in any Local Government in the country.

“First and foremost, there’s no federal citizen anywhere, everybody comes from a Local Government before becoming state citizen so we all should go back to make our local communities beautiful. Imagine Omoyele Sowore after attacking the elders, will storm his local government and turn it to a Dubai, Rufai Oseni after abusing everybody, goes to his local and use those ideas he profess everyday to turn the place to New York, Kenneth Okonkwo turning his local government to another Miami, will Nigeria be the way it is? 

This is the time for all us to stand up and be counted, let’s seize the moment, let’s create something magical in our local communities, it’s only then the nation of our dreams can be birthed. President Tinubu has given Nigeria the best gift ever. Instead of calling the youths out on the street, let’s encourage and support them to take over the local government administrations to make life better for their generation”.

Olutoke who also doubles as President of Above 50 Football Championship advised any youth interested in the offer to contact the Chamber through their WhatsApp number, +2349098888311 or visit the website www.adicc.org

The 2023 Labour Party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has boasted that his ‘Obidient’ movement is far more than any political party in the country.

The former governor of Anambra State said this in a statement on Wednesday while explaining that the movement was not a directorate of any particular political party in the country.

According to Obi, anyone claiming to be at the helm of affairs of what he described as a “non-existent directorate” is not a member of the ‘Obidient’ movement.

He said the movement was more than a mere political party void of ethnic and religious affiliations.

The statement read, “I like to categorically state that the Obidient Movement is not a directorate of any particular political party. Any individual or individuals claiming to be leaders of this non-existent directorate are simply not members of the broader Obidient Movement. There may be a youth mobilisation directorate in political parties but the Obidient movement is far beyond a particular political party. The Obidient Movement is a diverse and inclusive collective that transcends traditional political, religious, and ethnic affiliations.

“It is not domiciled within any particular party or headquartered in any particular part of the country. Its membership spans across Africa and the globe, comprising individuals from various backgrounds, including rural communities, and public, private, and corporate entities, united by a shared vision for a New and better Nigeria. Guided by the principles of adaptive and transformative change, progress, discipline, and democratic values, the Obidient Movement advocates for fairness, equity, inclusivity, and justice.”

He added that the movement is committed to holding the government responsible and accountable while serving as a beacon of hope for a better Nigeria.

The statement added, “It is committed to a strictly accountable and responsible code of government. Our members are committed to contributing to the realization of a better future for Nigeria through the New Nigeria project, anchored on loyalty, integrity, and democratic values. The Obidient Movement seeks to foster positive change through a commitment to integrity, honesty, and accountability, rejecting deceitful behaviours.

“We serve as a beacon of hope for a reimagined Nigeria, where leadership is grounded in character, capacity, competence, compassion and the well-being of all citizens. Let this serve as a clarification that the Obidient Movement operates independently of any political party, and its membership is not limited to any particular affiliation. Our focus remains steadfast on driving positive change and promoting a New Nigeria for all. This is who we are and will remain for all time.”

Recall that Obi recently addressed the possibility of a merger between the LP and the Peoples Democratic Party.

In an interview on NoireTV-GlobalBlackTV released on YouTube on Saturday, Obi also reacted to the prospect of being supported as a Southeast candidate in the 2027 presidential election by Atiku Abubakar, the PDP’s 2023 flagbearer.