Politics
Tinubu to remove Ganduje as APC chairman, offer him another appointment
President Bola Tinubu is reportedly planning to appoint the national chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, Abdullahi Ganduje as an ambassador for any African country.
Ganduje was appointed as the national chairman of the ruling party on August 3, 2023, following the forced resignation of Abdullahi Adamu.
According to Daily Nigerian, Tinubu first ordered Senate President Godswill Akpabio to break the “bad news” to Mr Ganduje.
Daily Nigerian reports that Akpabio told the APC national chairman that the president’s ambassadorial offer was aimed at saving him from the ongoing corruption trial he is currently facing in Kano.
Mr Ganduje, whose 2018 bribe videos caused him public opprobrium and ridicule, is facing corruption charges alongside his wife, son and other accomplices to the tune of over N50 billion.
But inside sources said Mr Ganduje grumbled and tacitly rejected the president’s offer, explaining that the charges were “tissues of lies” and would win his cases in court.
“Is this the way the president will reward my loyalty? Besides, I am too old to go for ambassadorial posting. All the charges are tissues of lies, and I will win my case in court,” Mr Ganduje was quoted as replying to Mr Akpabio.
According to the sources, the president later personally informed Mr Ganduje of the diplomatic posting plan and offered him to choose “any country in Africa”.
But other sources said the president offered him three choices in Africa, Asia and Europe.
A source close to the APC chairman said the president’s preference was to post him as Nigerian ambassador to Chad, having served in Ndjamena as the executive secretary of the Lake Chad Basin Commission between 2009 and 2011.
“You know the president is looking for a way to pacify him. This is the reason why he allowed him to choose among the three countries, but the president’s preference is Chad.
“But the problem is that no serious Asian or European country would overlook Ganduje’s dollar video and corruption charges to accept him as ambassador.
“However, Ganduje is lobbying hard to retain his seat, going from pillar to post and complaining bitterly to Chief Bisi Akande about the president’s decision to ‘retire’ him from politics. But if the worse comes to worst, Ganduje will choose Morocco over Chad,” the inside source said.
A few days after Mr Tinubu communicated the decision to Mr Ganduje, a letter was sent to the APC chairman notifying him of the president’s approval to conduct the National Executive Committee, NEC meeting and mid-term non-elective national convention.
The letter, dated August 9 and signed by the president’s chief of staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, informed Mr Ganduje of the president’s availability for the NEC meeting to be held at a date between September 8 and 19, 2024.
“I am directed by the President to inform you that he has granted approval for the scheduling and convening of a meeting of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Party. The President has confirmed his availability for the NEC meeting between the dates of 8th September 2024 and 19th September, 2024.
“Furthermore, the President has directed that the agenda for the NEC meeting include, among other things, the consideration of a date for the non-elective National Convention to be held before the end of the year 2024.
“Kindly liaise with the undersigned regarding any developments or necessary clarifications related to the scheduling of the meeting. Please ensure that any changes or updates are communicated promptly to facilitate smooth coordination,” Mr Gbajabiamila said in the letter.
(DAILY NIGERIAN)
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, on Friday declared that he’s still a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
Wike’s comment followed his expulsion from the party by the faction led by National Chairman, Kabiru Turaki.
Turaki had formally dispatched expulsion certificates to 11 prominent party chieftains, including Wike, former Ekiti State governor, Ayodele Fayose, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, Umaru Bature, Kamarudeen Ajibade, SAN, Abdurahman Muhammad Senator Mao Ohuabunwa.
He said their expulsion was aimed at sanitising the party ahead of the 2027 elections.
Reacting to the development on Friday, Wike dismissed the claim while assuring that he would continue to work with other party members in making PDP a relevant opposition party.
The minister spoke while addressing journalists after inspecting the Interchange bridge and road linking Gwarinpa with Jahi and direct to Katampe, Gishiri and Maitama.
He said, “Those that are factionalized are bound to leave the party, I’m still in PDP and you can see that not everybody has left.
“We still have good numbers and we will continue to work together and that’s what I have said to the party. Put your house in order because at the end of the day, if you don’t put your house in order, it’s the party that is losing.
“So those who are worried, we can work together to see how the party can remain a relevant opposition.”
The governments of Abia and Imo States have announced the launching of a joint security taskforce and surveillance along the Aba-Owerri expressway, starting from Owerrinta in Abia State all the way to Owerri, Imo State.
The launch followed recent attacks by criminals on the expressway, including kidnapping, armed robbery and other criminal activities.
The formation of the joint security taskforce and surveillance was announced by Ferdinand Ekeoma, the Special Adviser to Governor Alex Otti on Media and Publicity.
His statement read in part: “Arising from a strategic emergency security meeting held today, 4th December, 2025, by the Governors of Abia and Imo Sates at the Imo State Government Owerri House, His Excellency Governor Alex Otti and His Excellency Senator Hope Uzodinma resolved to set up a joint security Taskforce that shall consist of Soldiers, Naval Personnel, Police Officers , DSS Personnel, and other Government Security Agencies.
“The joint security Taskforce shall, starting from tomorrow 5th December 2025, patrol the road 24 hours nonstop, while carrying out massive surveillance in the surrounding bushes using sophisticated drones and other modern security equipment.”
According to the statement, Governor Alex Otti commended the Governor of Imo State for arresting the criminals who carried out an attack on His advanced team and other passengers a few days ago.
“The two Governors, while assuring citizens plying the road on a daily basis and those returning home for Christmas of their safety and security, warn that there would be severe consequences for any criminal caught on the road going forward”, Ekeoma concluded.
President Bola Tinubu has transmitted to the senate two lists of 34 career and 31 non career ambassadors nominees for screening and confirmation.
Prominent names listed as non career ambassadors include Reno Omokri, Femi Fani-Kayode, Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau, Victor Ikpeazu and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.
Also listed as non career ambassadors nominees are Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, Vice Admiral Ete Ibas, Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, Senator Nora Daduut, Fatima Ajimobi, and Senator Ita Enang among others.
The two lists brings to 68 number of persons nominated so far as ambassadors awaiting confirmation by the Senate.
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