News
November 7th: Weekly Catch-Up On Naija’s Political Drama: Tinubu And Atiku Missing From Presidential Town Hall Meeting; “I Rather Die Than Support Atiku” – Gov Ortom; Peter Obi Confronts Dino Melaye; Others
Tinubu And Atiku Absent From Presidential Candidates Town Hall Meeting.
Atiku Abubakar and Bola Tinubu, the candidates for the People’s Democratic Party and the All Progressives Congress, respectively, were absent from a town hall meeting organised for presidential candidates on Sunday.
The presidential town hall series was launched by the Center for Democracy and Development and Arise TV.
Peter Obi, the presidential candidate for the Labour Party, Rabiu Kwakwanso, the presidential candidate for the New Nigeria Peoples Party, and Kola Abiola, the presidential candidate for the Peoples Redemption Party, are the candidates who were present at the events.
Governor of Delta State and PDP vice-presidential candidate, Ifeanyi Okowa was present to represent Atiku Abubakar.
Okowa said Atiku obtained permission from the event organizers to skip the town hall meeting in response to questions about the PDP presidential candidate’s absence.
Okowa said, “He(Atiku) is outside the country. We duly obtained the permission of the organisers for him to be represented.
“When it is time for debates, we will get into it. But this time, it is a town hall. Atiku has asked me to represent him.”
On the other hand, the APC’s presidential candidate was not represented.
Meanwhile, the former governor of Lagos was reportedly spotted at the birthday celebration of his friend, retired colonel Sani Bello, which was held 6.4 km (eight minutes’ drive) away from the town hall meeting according to Peoples Gazette.
“I Rather Die”, Gov Ortom Says He Will Never Support Atiku.
The Benue State governor cited the killings in his state as his reason for being against Atiku.
He said this while hosting Nyesom Wike of Rivers state, Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia state, Seyi Makinde of Oyo, and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu state in Makurdi’s Government House on Sunday, November 6.
The four governors were in the state in preparation for the PDP’s general election campaigns in 2023 and the commissioning of some of Governor Ortom’s projects in Makurdi.
According to The Sun, Ortom, who bemoaned the last week’s killing of 18 people in his Local Government, said, “To h*ll with Atiku and anyone supporting him. They should go and tell him. You want me to be a slave for a Fulani. It’s better I die. Anybody supporting Atiku is an enemy of Benue.
“My people are being killed and you want me to be quiet.
“My tenure ends in May and you can do whatever you want if you think you have the powers. I have written my will. When I gave it to my wife, she cried all night.
“If I die at 62, many of my mates have gone a long time ago and If I die today, I’m a fulfilled person but let it be recorded that I died resisting the invasion and killing of my people.
“I will never support a Fulani man to become president. If there is another person who is ready to work with me and ensure the security of my people, I will work with him.”
He stated that Wike holds the title of “Eagle of Tiv Land” and noted that Wike was the first to cry out, “Kill Ortom and you have killed the entire Nigeria,” when he, Ortom, was attacked.
Ortom said, “He did not keep quiet when Benue was under siege, he visited with stakeholders from Rivers state and committed N250 million and subsequently he has committed over N700 million to Benue IDPs.”
See the video below…
https://twitter.com/Makavelli275/status/1589648399535833089?t=fWvU8ubzlD57ecDQKdwLnA&s=19
Peter Obi Will No Longer Attend Presidential Debates Where Other Candidates Are Absent.
Peter Obi, the presidential candidate for the Labour Party, will no longer attend debates if his rivals from other parties do not, according to Doyin Okupe, director general of the Obi-Datti Campaign Organization.
Okupe announced this at a press conference held on Monday in Abuja.
The Labour Party’s director general stated that if other presidential candidates fail to appear, Obi will withdraw from any debate even at the last minute and will no longer debate with surrogates or running mates.
This comes after Bola Ahmed Tinubu of The All Progressive Congress (APC) and Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) were both absent from the ARISE TV town hall meeting for the 2023 presidential candidates.
Bola Ahmed Tinubu had no one to represent him as Kashim Shettima, his running mate, was also absent from the event, while Atiku Abubakar was able to send his running mate, Ifeanyi Okowa, which did not “sit well” with Nigerians.
Meanwhile, the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP)’s presidential candidate, Kola Abiola took advantage of the spot left vacant by APC’s Tinubu.
Obi is vying for Aso Rock’s highest office alongside All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate Bola Tinubu, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar, New Nigeria People’s Party presidential candidate Rabiu Kwankwaso and others.
Peter Obi Angrily Confronts Dino Melaye At Arise TV’s Presidential Candidates Town Hall Meeting (Video).
Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate, confronted Dino Melaye, the spokesperson for the People’s Democratic Party (PDP)’s presidential campaign management committee, on Sunday evening, at the presidential town hall meeting hosted by Arise TV.
The drama began when Dino Melaye called one of the meeting attendees “Obi people.”
Dino was heard saying “Na wa o, Obi people” as a participant got up to ask a question of the presidential candidates.
This comment provoked Peter Obi to confront the PDP official.
Peter Obi spoke angrily from his seat, saying, “Stop that Dino. Why are you always calling me? I won’t take that. This man is from NNPP, Why are you calling him Obi people?”
Watch the video below…
https://twitter.com/VictorIsrael_/status/1589378184495378432?t=Ykj5U7av6C5GUPK5RDPECg&s=19
