The debate that the presidency moves to the south in 2023 has gained momentum. Also, presidential hopefuls from the North, Like Atiku Abukar, Sule Lamido, Governor Bala Mohammed, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso are also effectively playing their games. The calls for power to shift to the south have further triggered permutations and realignments in the polity. Both the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressive Congress (APC) have strong candidates from the south. But these candidates have their respective baggage and the parties have internal squabbles that must be resolved. The APC has its stronghold in the Northwest, Southwest,…
Author: Muhammed Zayyad
Recently, Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo asked the Nigerian youths to contest for elective positions in the 2023 elections if they want to assume power. Equally, former senate president, Bukola Saraki also asked Nigerian youths to participate in the 2023 general election; Saraki said, the youths have the numbers. These are timely calls. However, is the Nigerian political leadership ready to share power with young Nigerians? There are over 84 million registered voters in Nigeria, the Nigerian youths aged 18-40 constitute more than 60 percent of the registered voters. This is an indication that the Nigerian youth have the power to change the…
On Wednesday, September 29, 2021, at the Akwa Ibom governor’s residence in Abuja, the 12 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors in a meeting, zoned the party chairmanship to the north. Some politicians were quick to assert that the governors’ decision doesn’t in any way affects the party’s presidential ticket status- whether it will be zoned to the north or south. Those people are either third-rate politicians or they don’t want to accept the reality. Zoning party offices in correlation with the other executive offices, the presidency inclusive, has been the tradition of the major political parties in Nigeria since…
Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) is expected to open the Nigerian oil and gas industry wider to more opportunities and investment, especially for local players, regional, and international stakeholders. Many individuals and organizations will enjoy the new life PIA will offer, while some individuals and organizations will be knocked out of business. One entity that may benefit most from the PIA is Aliko Dangote, with his 650,000 barrels per day integrated refinery, which is Africa’s biggest and the world’s biggest single-train facility. The refinery has 1,100 kilometers of pipeline to handle 3 billion Standard Cubic feet of gas per day.…
The Ward and Local Government Congresses of the All Progressive Congress (APC) and the replacements at the Wards and the preparation for the LGA congresses by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have brought to the fore the emerging intrigues in Adamawa politics. The attempt to outweigh each other in the control of the two party’s structures among the party stakeholders is very clear. The APC congresses, in most cases, were conducted based on Abuja’s directives of consensus and that the incumbents offer the Right of First Refusal including accommodating newcomers. While for the PDP – if you have held…
Recently, an event happened which will definitely serve as a vital lesson to the people of Northern Nigeria as a whole and to the old generation of the region’s leaders in particular. On September 10, 2021, a former Commissioner of Works in the Governor Abdullahi Ganduje administration, Engr. Muaz Magaji, posted on his verified Facebook account that a renowned Islamic cleric and the National Secretary-General of the Jama’atu Izalatil Bid’ah wa Iqamatus Sunnah, Sheikh Muhammad Kabiru Haruna had in a phone call conversation told Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State that he would decamp from the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) if…
One of the best performing governors in Nigeria is Mallam Nasir El-Rufai. So far, he is the best Governor of Kaduna State in recent times. However, Mallam lost his polling unit and ward in the Saturday, September 04, 2023, local government elections conducted by the Kaduna State Independent Electoral Commission. Governor El-Rufai voted at Unguwan Sarkin polling unit 001 in Kaduna North LGA of the state. Mohammed Sani, the presiding officer, announced the Final Results: Unguwan Sarki Ward 007 Kaduna North Chairmanship, the People Democratic Party (PDP) scored 1,235 votes while the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) scored 948 votes, while for the councillorship…
Following the sack of his two Ministers- Minister of Agriculture, Sabo Nanono, and his counterpart in the power ministry, Saleh Mamman, President Muhammadu Buhari said “in due course, substantive nominations will be made to fill the consequential vacancies in accordance with the requirements of the constitution” In most democracies, ministers are selected from technocrats with strong professional track records. Cabinet Ministers are not just a team, but a collection of great thinkers- silicon-valley-thinkers; men and women who can move the government with the speed of imagination and their sense of judgment must be centered on the challenges of unlocking the future for…
Governments throughout the world borrow funds to stimulate the economy and to secure the future of its people. When revenues fall short of spending, governments must borrow. Borrowing by a government is not a crime; if there are well-spelled priorities and prudent management of funds including efficient debt management strategies. On the other hand, if borrowed funds are not directed to productive parts of the economy; forget it- it will constitute an impediment to long-term growth of the economy, open the windows of mismanagement and create citizen mistrust of the government. Some experts say, not-well-managed commercial debt service and repayments…
Political and economic leaders were the first casualty of the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan. Disheartening videos and images of Afghan political leaders, billionaires, industrialists, technocrats, etc, fleeing the country filled the internet, while on the other side, common people on the street cheered and welcomed the Taliban. This is an ominous signal to leaders of countries facing similar challenges as Afghanistan’s. At the same time, a kind of inspiration to non-state actors wanting to overrun governments. Nigerian political and economic leaders need to re-think their strategy towards addressing the current insecurity in the country. Nigeria is facing three ‘wars’ at…
In 1999, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) had 21 state governors, the then All Peoples Party (APP) had 9, while the Alliance for Democracy (AD) had 6. As at May 30, 2007 PDP controlled 30 states, ANPP controlled 4, All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) – 1, AD -1. As at June 2021, the PDP is in control of only 13 states, the All Progressive Congress (APC) controls 22, while APGA controls 1. In 2007, PDP became bloated with every politician willing to join, with the party having a large number of governors who became very powerful and controlled every aspect…
