Around The TINUBU Campaigners
Over the last few months, many people have been wondering why former Transport Minister, Rotimi Amaechi has not been visible around the APC presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. In the recent past, so many blogs have wondered where Amaechi has been.
A few days back, an online blog asked the question:
“Ahead of the 2023 general election, the governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, has had two different meetings in Paris, France and the latest in London, the United Kingdom, with the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress Bola Tinubu.”
InfoOnlineNews reports that Wike had also invited other APC stakeholders and Tinubu’s political sons to his state to commission projects executed by his administration.”
“Among those invited were incumbent Lagos State Governor, Sanwo-Olu, House of Representatives Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila and others.
“With all the dining going on with Wike and Tinubu, not much has been heard from the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, APC leader in Rivers State.”
“Amaechi’s most recent political outing could be when he lost to Tinubu, former Lagos State governor in the APC presidential party primary held in June 2022.”
“Recall that Rivers State, APC Publicity Secretary, Chris Finebone an opposing force against Wike decamped to the PDP.
Speaking on what the relationship would be between Amaechi and Wike if Wike decides to work for Tinubu, National Vice Chairman (South-East) of the APC, Dr Ijeomah Arodiogbu, said: “I don’t think Wike’s coming will push Amaechi out of the party. Instead, it should unite both friends in the same cause, especially if both of them, one way or the other, are convinced that our presidential candidate will emerge victorious. Because the Wike I know will not engage in any meeting with Tinubu if he does not see the possibility of Tinubu emerging as the President. Nobody wants to belong to the losing camp.”
Arodiogbu said it will be a reunion of old-time friends who were separated by political interests.
“I see the possibility of them working together since both of them believe that Tinubu will be the next President of Nigeria. They were friends and I believe that if they have the room to work together, they will not hesitate,” he added.
Also, Adebayo Shittu, A former Minister of Communication, and Director General of Asiwaju Tinubu-Shettima Coalition for Good Governance said it may not work well following that Amaechi had been silent with political happenings in the state and the APC.
“He has been very lukewarm, hoping that a miracle will turn things in his favour. If it eventually happens (defection), Wike will push him aside and we all know that he is smart.”
“Wike is currently busy playing psychological warfare against the PDP and leaving them to second guess if he will leave the party or not. His mission is simply vendetta against the PDP, just to ensure they lose votes to teach them a lesson,” he stated.
Hope may come on August 31, according to Chief Chukwuemeka Eze, APC chieftain in Rivers State, who revealed that a strategic political meeting has been called to address some issues before the official campaign kicks off.
“The special invitation to the strategic meeting of all 2023 APC Presidential Aspirants, which will be held at Transcorp Hilton in Abuja, on Wednesday, August 31, 2022, is to brainstorm on adopting winning campaign strategies that will carry every Nigerian along and address the challenges bedevilling our country.”
Those expected at the parley also include a former Science and Technology Minister, Ogbonnaya Onu; former Minister of State for Education, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba and ex-Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio.
Governors Yahaya Bello (Kogi), Dave Umahi (Ebonyi), Abubakar Badaru (Jigawa), Ben Ayade (Cross River) and Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti) were also listed among the aspirants expected at the meeting.
Others are the President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan; a former Ogun State governor and serving senator, Ibikunle Amosun; a serving senator, Ajayi Boroffice; former Zamfara Governor, Ahmad Sani; former Imo State Governor and serving senator, Rochas Okorocha; a former Senate President, Ken Nnamani, a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole; Tunde Bakare; Dr Nicolas Felix; former Information Minister, Ikeobasi Mokelu; Tein Jack-Rich and Uju Ken-Ohanenye.
The Plateau State Governor, Simon Lalong, is to coordinate the presidential campaign council of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, as director-general.
His Deputy is former Edo State Governor and ex-National Chairman of the APC, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole.
APC presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu; his running mate, Senator Kashim Shettima; and APC governors settled for the duo after a meeting in Abuja.
Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir el-Rufai, after the meeting, told journalists that a Director-General had been picked for the APC presidential campaign council but refused to disclose the person.
The governor said President Buhari and the National Chairman of the APC, Dr Abdullahi Adamu, would be briefed before a formal announcement then.
“This is a delegation of the Progressive Governors Forum, led by our Chairman, Dr Atiku Bagudu, and the party represented by the National Secretary.
“We came to report on an assignment given to us by our presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and his running mate to begin the broad consultations and develop a structure for the presidential campaign council. We have done some work on it.
“We have briefed the candidate and his running mate and inputs have been taken and our hope is that in the shortest possible time, the candidate will consult more with the party leadership and brief Mr. President and get his input and then we formally unveil the presidential campaign council.
“A decision has been taken on the director-general but other positions in the campaign council are still being discussed. The president and the National Chairman and National Working Committee will be briefed before a formal announcement,” el-Rufai said.
Adams Oshiomhole, who attended the meeting, emerged as the director-general of the APC presidential campaign council.
Governor Simon Lalong was the choice of the governors for campaign council D-G, with Oshiomhole as his deputy.
Sources said the choice of Director-General initially oscillated between Oshiomhole and Lalong.
Those pushing for Lalong argued that the APC needs a Northern Christian as D-G to assuage the feelings of Northern Christians in the party, following the Muslim-Muslim ticket of the party.
One of those earlier mentioned in connection with the D-G position was Governor el-Rufai.
Party insiders said the APC resolved to appoint a Christian as D-G of the campaign council against the backdrop of misgivings trailing the Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket. Governor el-Rufai is a Muslim.
The Media Department of the APC campaign council has taken shape.
“The media department of the APC campaign council will be run by a triumvirate of directors, made up of Dele Alake as Director of strategic communications, Bayo Onanuga, Director of Media and Publicity, and Festus Keyamo, Director of Public Affairs and Chief Spokesman”.
When a list first came out the All Progressives Congress (APC) 2023 Presidential Campaign Council said the list of its members making the rounds on social media was unofficial.
Bayo Onanuga, Director of Media and Publicity of the council made this known in a statement.
He said the purported list was not authorised and urged the public to disregard it.
Onanuga explained that the party’s leadership and its presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu would formally unveil the campaign council.
He also urged the media to exercise restraint in disseminating information that was not correct.
While quoting the Secretary of the APC presidential campaign council, Mr James Faleke, Onanuga said the various directorates of the campaign structure were still being put together.
He said it was being done in consultation with the APC governors and other critical stakeholders.
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