Politics
Attack on Seyi Tinubu affront on Nigerian youths, less privileged – Balami
An APC chieftain and youth advocate, Comrade Isaac Balami has condemned in totality the constant attacks on Seyi Tinubu, stating that an attack on him should be seen as an attack on Nigerian youth and the less privileged whom Mr. Tinubu has dedicated his time to the protection of their rights and privileges.
Balami, who referenced the recent video of Seyi Tinubu when he accompanied President Tinubu to Rome for the inauguration of the Pope said most of such narratives were aimed at debasing Mr. Tinubu.
He urged the Nigerian youth to rise against individuals who have been contracted to construct narratives meant to continuously disparage Seyi Tinubu despite his good intentions.
Faulting the nature of Nigerian politics which aims to target individuals considered to be gaining popularity in the political space, Balami said, “such is clear politics of bitterness aimed to pull individuals down for the interests they tend to protect. I don’t know why some people are only interested in pulling someone down so as to gain relevance. One doesn’t need to disparage someone or manipulate narratives to succeed. I advise those with the “Pull Him Down” syndrome to know that they can still succeed without necessarily trying to pull others down.”
He recalled how in one month, Seyi Tinubu was the target of different online bullies, referencing the incident of the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, factional President who later apologized to him.
The former spokesman for the Trade Union Congress, TUC, further said no month will pass without traducers dragging him on social media.
Dismissing the video that Seyi Tinubu was stopped from having a handshake with the Pope, Balami said from his observation, the young man was never going to have any handshake in the first place.
“From the video, it is clear that Seyi Tinubu was only going to join his dad after the handshake and was simply directed to meet him on the other exit as they were about to exit the place. How someone will just sit down to initiate this narrative is beyond me.
“How do you conclude on what you have no empirical evidence to prove? How does mere protocol define someone’s intention? Those peddling this must stop now.”
“I believe the growing popularity of Mr. Tinubu whom it has been suggested is eyeing the governorship seat in Lagos in the next election has been giving some people sleepless nights. Such individuals would do anything to demarket him. But then, it is too late. Already, Mr. Tinubu is loved by young people. The level of investment on Nigerian youths remains unprecedented and Nigerian youths won’t abandon him when he needs them.”
Balami said Seyi Tinubu is a role model to many young people based on his responsible lifestyle.
According to him, ” We have seen cases when a president’s son and other dignitaries who escorted past presidents to such an event were engrossed in frivolity as against participating in what actually took them there.”
He said, “some will go to nightclubs, drink and party away. But we all saw how Seyi, not minding anything travelled with his father and stayed glued till the end. Many young people won’t have the time for this and would deliberately avoid the trip because it is not about partying and others. I believe Seyi Tinubu is a unifier and has the capacity to unite young Nigerians. ”
“What should bother young Nigerians is the level of support from Seyi Tinubu and his foundation,”
“I believe the record is there for everyone to see. Seyi Tinubu’s support for young people knows no bounds,” he said.
While cautioning young people against social media bullying, the APC chieftain said if the privileged Seyi Tinubu can go through this type of online bullying, then what becomes of the ordinary youth who aspires for bigger and better offices in future.
He called on Nigerian youths to form a formidable force against those waiting to see the downfall of Seyi Tinubu.
“If at this time that the world is moving at such a speedy pace we are still talking about a handshake, then we have a long way to go.
“While seyi is investing in the Nigerian youths through his numerous positive engagements, michieve makers are rather investing on media propaganda to discourage the good young man,” Balami said.
Former lawmaker, Dino Melaye Esq, has raised concerns over the Senate’s reported rejection of the electronic transmission of election results.
The move, according to Melaye, is a clear endorsement of election rigging and an indication of a sinister plan to rig the 2027 elections.
In a statement on Friday, the former lawmaker criticized the Senate’s decision, stating that it undermines the credibility of the electoral process.
The African Democratic Congress, ADC chieftain, also stated that the move opens the door for electoral manipulation and fraud.
He further warned that the rejection of electronic transmission of results is a step backwards for democracy in Nigeria.
Melaye called on lawmakers and citizens to stand up against “this blatant attempt to undermine the will of the people and ensure that future elections are free, fair, and transparent”.
Former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili, has said Nigerians have every reason to be mad at the Senate over the ongoing debate on e-transmission of election results.
Ezekwesili made this known on Friday when she featured in an interview on Arise Television’s ‘Morning Show’ monitored by DAILY POST.
DAILY POST reports that the Senate on Wednesday turned down a proposed change to Clause 60, Subsection 3, of the Electoral Amendment Bill that aimed to compel the electronic transmission of election results.
Reacting to the matter, Ezekwesili said, “The fundamental issue with the review of the Electoral Act is that the Senate retained the INEC 2022 Act, Section 60 Sub 5.
“This section became infamous for the loophole it provided INEC, causing Nigerians to lose trust. Since the law established that it wasn’t mandatory for INEC to transmit electoral results in real-time, there wasn’t much anyone could say.
“Citizens embraced the opportunity to reform the INEC Act, aiming to address ambiguity and discretionary opportunities for INEC. Yet, the Senate handled it with a “let sleeping dogs lie” approach. The citizens have every reason to be as outraged as they currently are.”
Politics
Electoral act: Senate’s action confirms Nigeria ‘fantastically corrupt’, ‘disgraced’ – Peter Obi
Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has condemned the Senate’s refusal to make electronic transmission of election results mandatory, saying the move further exposes Nigeria as a fantastically corrupt and disgraced country.
Obi expressed his views in a statement shared on X on Friday, where he accused lawmakers of deliberately weakening Nigeria’s democratic process ahead of the 2027 general elections.
He explained that his reaction came after a brief pause to mourn victims of a deadly tragedy in Kwara State, where over 150 people reportedly lost their lives.
“Let us first pray for the souls of the innocent Nigerians lost in Kwara. That painful incident is why I delayed responding to the shameful development surrounding our electoral system,” he wrote.
Describing the Senate’s decision as intentional and dangerous, Obi said rejecting mandatory electronic transmission was not a simple oversight but a calculated attempt to block transparency.
“The Senate’s open rejection of electronic transmission of results is an unforgivable act of electoral manipulation ahead of 2027,” he said.
According to him, the action strikes at the heart of democracy and raises serious questions about the true purpose of governance in Nigeria.
“This failure to pass a clear safeguard is a direct attack on our democracy. By refusing these transparency measures, the foundation of credible elections is being destroyed. One must ask whether government exists to ensure justice and order or to deliberately create chaos for the benefit of a few.”
The former Anambra State governor linked the post-election controversies of the 2023 general elections to the failure to fully deploy electronic transmission of results, insisting that Nigerians were misled with claims of technical failures.
“
The confusion, disputes and manipulation that followed the 2023 elections were largely due to the refusal to fully implement electronic transmission,” he said.
He added that the so-called system glitch never truly existed.
Obi compared Nigeria’s electoral process with those of other African countries that have embraced technology to improve credibility, lamenting that Nigeria continues to fall behind.
“Many African nations now use electronic transmission to strengthen their democracy. Yet Nigeria, which calls itself the giant of Africa, is moving backwards and dragging the continent along.”
He criticised Nigeria’s leadership class, saying the country’s problems persist not because of a lack of ideas but because of deliberate resistance to meaningful reform.
“We keep organising conferences and writing policy papers about Nigeria’s challenges. But the truth is that the leaders and elite are the real problem. Our refusal to change is pushing the nation backwards into a primitive system of governance.”
Warning of the dangers ahead, Obi said rejecting electronic transmission creates room for confusion and disorder that only serves the interests of a small group.
He also recalled past remarks by foreign leaders who described Nigeria as corrupt, arguing that actions like this continue to justify those statements.
“When a former UK Prime Minister described Nigeria as ‘fantastically corrupt,’ we were offended. When former US President Donald Trump called us a ‘disgraced nation,’ we were angry. But our continued resistance to transparency keeps proving them right.”
Obi warned that Nigerians should not accept a repeat of the electoral irregularities witnessed in 2023.
“Let there be no mistake. The criminality seen in 2023 must not be tolerated in 2027.”
He urged citizens to be ready to defend democracy through lawful and decisive means, while also calling on the international community to closely monitor developments in Nigeria’s electoral process.
“The international community must pay attention to the groundwork being laid for future electoral manipulation, which threatens our democracy and development,” Obi stated.
He concluded by expressing hope that change is still possible if Nigerians take collective responsibility.
“A new Nigeria is possible but only if we all rise and fight for it.”
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