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REGIONALISM AND PARLIAMENTARY SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT ARE NOT SOLUTIONS TO NIGERIA’S PROBLEM – EMIR OF KANO SANUSI

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Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II has said that regionalism and parliamentary system of government are not solutions to Nigeria’s problem.

Sanusi who said this in an interview with Vanguard, questioned the necessity of a bicameral legislature and the rationale behind appointing ministers from every state, even when not required. He noted that it contributes to bureaucratic inefficiencies and does not necessarily serve the best interests of the nation.

He also criticized the federal government’s interference in state matters, particularly regarding traditional and chieftaincy affairs. Emir Sanusi also stressed the importance of upholding constitutional principles and maintaining a clear separation of powers to ensure accountable governance.

The monarch who noted that regionalism will exacerbate the issues in the country rather than resolve existing tensions, also called for a more cohesive national identity and governance structure that promotes unity and accountability.

He said;

“I think there are several things we can do to address those structures because at the end of the day if you allow the state governors to run, the thing with devolution is we have 36 states, if only half of the governors are good, at least half of Nigeria has a good government. There is too much power at the centre, too much of the resources. The centre does not do primary education or primary healthcare, and that is where the vast majority of Nigerians are. Shouldn’t those resources come to the state? Instead of everybody going to Abuja, what is happening in Abuja? There are several issues that we need to look at. And also simple constitutionalism and federalism, just even the respect of separation of separation of power. If you take the example of what is happening in Kano today, chieftaincy matter is 100 per cent a state matter.

“We had a parliamentary system in the First Republic. What happened? At the end of the day, it is the humans that operate the system. People talk about regions. Initially, the regions we had in this country were North, East, and West, and then it became NorthEast and MidWest. Where did the creation called six geo-political zones come from historically? We can keep dividing and subdividing this country and thinking of ourselves, but are we really honest? Are these regions?

“If you go to the Niger Delta, since when did the Itsekiri stop fighting wars against the Ijaw? Since when did we become homogeneous?

“It was the Sokoto Jihad that brought us together. From the Sokoto caliphate, we became Northerners, from Northerners, we became Nigerians. When I was in King’s College, I grew up under Yakubu Gowon in a country where Nigerians were thinking like Nigerians. What happened? Political leadership is the one that exploits regional and ethnic identities as part of the struggle for political office.

“When they get there, they all sit together. If you look at the president’s cabinet, what do you have? You have everybody from every state. You have Christians, you have Muslims, you have Northerners and Southerners. Why are they not fighting one another in there? The elites are irresponsible.

“Don’t think that pandering to these elites by saying the solution is going to a regional system of government. How do we go regional? In Yorubaland, there are Ijebu, Ekiti, Ijesha, Owo, and Egba since when did they become one? Right there between Ife and Modakeke, they were killing each other. It is not about that. It is not a solution. How many parts are you going to slice this country to get a homogenous country? How? With all the intermarriages and education, I am not sure that is a solution, and I think people have this dream that can only be sold by blocking out history.

“We had a regional system in the First Republic. How did it end? We had a parliamentary system in the First Republic. How did it end? I am not talking about the coup; I am talking about the crisis that led to the coup. Before Nzeogu, forget Ironsi. How was the system before they came? Is there any documentary evidence that that system was fundamentally better than what we have?

“We can’t shift responsibilities away from human beings, the people who are responsible for operating the system. If you go to the Senate and the House of Representatives, and you are there for 16 years and you have never passed a bill, you don’t even know that your job is to be a lawmaker.”

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BREAKING: Anambra PDP governorship candidate, Ezenwafor escapes assassination

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The Governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for the forthcoming Anambra State election, Jude Ezenwafor, has escaped assassination attempt on his life after he was shot by hoodlums.

‎Ezenwafor, who is currently in a private hospital in Abuja where he is due for a surgery session, told journalists early Saturday morning that he suffered a near death situation when gunmen accosted him around Wuse 2 on Friday night.

‎Still nursing injuries amidst excruciating pains, Ezenwafor confirmed that he was on his way home after an appointment when the incident happened.

“I’m currently in the hospital. The doctors are making efforts to operate me so that they can pull out bullets from my body,”

‎The PDP Governorship candidate was shot alongside two persons who were with him.

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LP Reps Caucus warns against any harm on Obi, urges Tinubu to caution Okpebholo

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The Labour Party Caucus in the House of Representatives has condemned the recent open threat to the life and security of Mr. Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the party, by the Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo.

The caucus, led by Hon. Afam Victor Ogene, described the threats to Obi by Okpebholo as outrageous, shocking, uncouth, and disappointing.

The LP lawmakers, in a statement by their leader, Hon. Afam Victor Ogene, issued in Awka, strongly rebuked Governor Okpebholo, describing his remarks as “uncivil, unconstitutional, undemocratic, and unbecoming of a public servant in such a high office.”

The caucus said: “Mr. Peter Obi’s philanthropic efforts nationwide embody his humanity and empathy for the people, transcending political affiliations, ethnicity, and other divides.

“Rather than being vilified or incited against, he should be commended for supporting human capital development in the nation.

“As a champion of democracy, nation-building, and sustainable development, Peter Obi deserves protection and support from all who share these values.

“What manner of example do we set for the younger generation, especially as regards public conduct, civility, respect for human rights and the rule of law, as enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria?

“How do we fight violence in the land, if as leaders we openly encourage intolerance, bigotry, and anti-democratic tendencies, like the Edo State governor has publicly exhibited?

“Politics ought not be a game of life or death. And no one deserves to be harmed on account of his or her political beliefs or association. Politics of bitterness, pettiness, and violence should never be encouraged in a democracy, or by people that claim to be democrats.

“If Governor Okpebholo could make such inflammatory remarks in a public setting, one wonders what kind of inciteful rhetoric he might be using behind closed doors against opposition party members or perceived enemies of his party.

“It is instructive that Governor Okpebholo uttered his infamous and satanic verses against Peter Obi at the defection ceremony of Hon. Marcus Onobun, a House of Representatives member who he had only days before threatened with the demolition of his house for allegedly harbouring cultists.

“It would be interesting to ask Governor Okpebholo if he would still go ahead to pull down Hon. Onobun’s country home — which he had marked for demolition — now that he has forcefully coerced him into his political party?

“In fact, it is only in these climes that a governor would glibly boast about insecurity in his state, as well as lie about the death of citizens, without providing any shred of evidence.

“We, therefore, urge President Bola Tinubu to call the Edo State governor to order. And hasten to warn that no harm should come to our leader, Peter Obi, anywhere in Nigeria or beyond.

“The other day, it was Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State; today it is Okpebholo of Edo. If the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) thinks it can use scaremongering to halt the ever-growing popularity of Mr. Peter Obi, they better think again.”

The statement was in reply to Okpebholo’s remarks at the weekend in Edo, where he insisted that Peter Obi’s safety in Edo cannot be guaranteed if he ever stepped into the state without taking permission from him.

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Communique of the South East Expanded Zonal Working Committee (ZWC) Meeting held on Thursday 17th July, 2025 at Enugu

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PRESS RELEASE

Communique of the South East Expanded Zonal Working Committee (ZWC) Meeting held on Thursday 17th July, 2025 at Enugu

The meeting was massively attended by all the delegates and Party Chieftains from the five States of South East Zone. The meeting exhaustively discussed various issues bordering on plans and strategies to rebuild, rebrand and reposition ADC in South East in order to win all the Elective Positions in the 2027 General Elections in Nigeria.

Noting the recent unfoldings in the political landscape of Nigeria with regards to the selection of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as the political platform for the coalition to defeat the reactionary and bankrupt All Progressive Congress (APC) led Federal Government in the forthcoming 2027 General Elections in Nigeria and thus, restore Nigeria back to the path of glory.

The meeting deliberated on the strategies to strengthen the structures of ADC in South East Zone from the polling units to the State levels.

The meeting unanimously resolved that in 2027, ADC will not contest elections for the sake of contesting elections but with intention to win elections. The Party will feature candidates that will win Elections in all the Elective Positions in South East in 2027.

The meeting called on the South East political Elites to think futuristically by joining the coalition and adopt the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as the only political Party with the manifesto that Focuses on Liberation of South East from the shackles of bad governance and political mediocrity.

The meeting used the opportunity to inform the public that Membership Registration into the African Democratic Congress (ADC) is ongoing in all the Electoral Wards in South East, and therefore call on the people of South East to immediately troop out enmass to register and collect their Membership Cards in the registration centers.

ADC South East is committed to Mobilize over ten million members into ADC in South East before the end of 2025.

In order to achieve the aforementioned, the ADC South East Zonal Working Committee (ZWC) constituted five high powered Committees as follows:
1. Contact and Mobilization Committee

2. Media and Publicity Committee

3. Conflict Resolution and Management Committee

4. Planning and Strategy Committee

5. Resource Mobilization Committee

The meeting vowed that ADC will win the forthcoming Anambra Governorship Election and therefore call on the people of Anambra State to come out enmass to register with ADC. In addition, the leadership of ADC in South East assured the meeting that by the end of December 2025, ADC will emerge as the dominant Political Party in South East.

Finally, the meeting Condemned in it’s totality the worsting security situation in South East, and therefore pledge to holistically combat and stop the insecurity in South East Nigeria once elected into Power.

Signed

Chilos Godsent
National Vice Chairman South East

ThankGod Ofoelue
Zonal Publicity Secretary

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