Tag: peter obi

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Spending N60 Billion For The Purchase of SUV For About 400 Legislators Is a Continuation of the troubling trend in our nation – Peter Obi

Peter Obi, Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, has criticized National Assembly lawmakers for planning to purchase SUVs worth N60bn.

 

He described it as the “continuation of the troubling trend in our nation”.

 

According to Obi, the federal government has continued to overlook investing in critical sectors in the country, adding that one third of that amount, with proper negotiation, would have given the legislators locally manufactured SUV vehicles which would also help boost the Nigerian economy, create and retain jobs.

 

 

The presidential candidate also recalled how he cancelled an order for bulletproof cars during his time as Governor of Anambra state.

 

Obi said in a statement;

 

“The recent expenditure of N60 billion for the purchase of SUV vehicles for about 400 legislators is a continuation of the troubling trend in our nation today. We have continued to abandon the critical areas of development measurement while expending scarce resources on needless luxury and creating comforts for those elected to serve the people.

 

“Our primary healthcare, which is the foundation of health, a critical development index measure, has collapsed, leading to our surpassing India, a country 7 times our population, in infant mortality, a very saddening situation. To allocate such a huge amount, which is more than what we allocated to our primary health care, is nothing but troubling. One third of that amount, with proper negotiation, would have given them locally manufactured SUV vehicles from Innoson Motors, PAN or any local auto assembly plant, to help boost our economy and create and retain jobs.

 

“Upon my being sworn in as the then Governor of Anambra State, I observed that our State High Court Judges, State Government Permanent Secretaries and newly appointed State Commissioners had no vehicles. Anambra State Government had then ordered for two bullet proof SUV vehicles for my use. I cancelled the order and used the same money to negotiate a concessionary pricing with Peugeot Automobiles to supply us Sixty 406 vehicles which were enough for all the cabinet members including myself and my deputy governor. We used the vehicles for our first tenure and were able to commence the work of doing more in the areas of health, education and lifting people out of poverty.

 

“Nobody would contemplate this kind of expenditure under my administration. I urge all involved to depart from this path of wastage of public resources. A more prudent and transparent Nigeria is possible. -PO”

 

 

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2023 Supplementary Budget Pragmatic Response to Economic Challenges – FG Replies Obi

The federal government has replied Peter Obi, the presidential candidates of Labour Party in the 2023 election after he criticised the 2023 supplementary budget.
Obi had slammed FG over plans to spend billions of naira on a presidential yacht and the purchase of cars worth billons of naira for the first lady.
Reacting, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, said the budget is a bold and pragmatic response to address the current economic challenges.
Idris stated this in a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Mr Rabiu Ibrahim, on Thursday in Abuja.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that President Bola Tinubu, on Nov. 8, signed the 2023 supplementary budget into law.
However, Mr Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 election, claimed that the 2023 supplementary budget was insensitive.
The Minister admonished Obi to take the time and effort to acquaint himself with the details of the N2.17 trillion 2023 Supplementary Budget.
He said that highlights of the budget included allocations for essential sectors, including security, agriculture and food security, works and housing, wage increases for workers, student loan scheme, and social safety nets, among others.
 
“All these aimed at strengthening the country’s economic foundation and improving the living conditions of Nigerians.
 
“The broad provisions in the supplementary budget is a reflection of President Tinubu’s strong desire and eagerness to support the vital functions of government.
 
“These include addressing urgent security needs, and fast-track the country’s recovery process from the economic impact occasioned by the removal of fuel subsidy,” he said.
Idris urged the opposition to be informed and balanced in the exercise of their right to differing opinions and refrain from misrepresentation of facts for political gains.
He said the supplementary budget was derived from the active engagement and consultations with relevant stakeholders who ensured that the budgetary provisions aligned with the needs and expectations of Nigerians.
“In line with President Tinubu’s inclination to accountability and transparency in government expenditure, all items in the supplementary budget have been meticulously scrutinised to ensure efficient utilisation of public funds,” he added.
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Tinubu: Supreme Court Willfully Condoned Constitutional Breaches – Peter Obi Blows Hot

Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, LP has lamented the decision of the Supreme Court to uphold the election of President Bola Tinubu.
According to him, the Apex Court willfully condoned breaches of the constitution, with regards to established qualifications and prerequisites for candidates in presidential elections.
The former Anambra State governor added that the Supreme Court did not only exhibit a disturbing aversion to public opinion, it abandoned its responsibility as the court of law and policy.
 
“Highly permit me to make some few comments on the recent judgement of the Supreme Court, the highest court in Nigeria.
 
“As someone who has benefited from the ruling of the Supreme Court on an electoral matter, after a period of deep and sober reflection, I have decided to personally and formally react to the recent judgement as most Nigerians have.
 
“The cause we are confronted with are issues of national interest.
 
“Legal issues aside, the Supreme Court exhibited a disturbing aversion to public opinion, just as they abandoned its responsibility as the court of law and policy.
 
“It’s therefore with great despair that I observed that the decision of the court contradicts the overwhelming evidence of election rigging, false claim of technical glitch, substantial non-compliance to the rules set by INEC for itself, as well as a matter of perjury, identify theft and forgery that has been brought to life in the cause of election matter.
 
“These are hefty allegations that should not have been treated with levity.
 
“The Supreme Court judgement willfully condoned breaches of the constitution relative to established qualifications and prerequisites for candidates in presidential elections,” he said
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Why I Was Absent at Supreme Court — Peter Obi

Peter Obi has explained his absence during Supreme Court’s ruling on his appeal against President Bola Tinubu’s election.
Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party at the February 25 general elections gave an explanation on Monday.
He explained his absence at the Supreme Court, saying he was unable to attend due to a pre-arranged international commitment.
The former governor of Anambra State made this known at the World Press Conference held at the LP campaign headquarters in Abuja.
He said, “About a fortnight ago, I was traveling abroad on a prior scheduled engagement when I received the notice that the Supreme Court would give judgment on 26th October 2023 on our challenge to the ruling of the Presidential Election Petitions Court. That judgment has since been delivered as scheduled.
 
“The leadership of the Labour Party has already pronounced its position on the judgment. As someone who has previously benefited from the rulings of the Supreme Court on electoral matters, I have, after a period of deep and sober reflection, decided to personally and formally react to the recent judgment as most Nigerians have. Because we are confronted with very weighty issues of national interest, I will speak forthrightly.”
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Peter Obi’s Appeal Dismissed By The Supreme Court

The Supreme Court has dismissed the appeal filed by Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party.

According to the apex court, the appeal lacks merit.

The seven-man panel led by Justice Inyang Okoro held that the appeal lacked merit and “is hereby dismissed”.

Obi, in his notice of appeal, implored the highest court to overturn the PEPT’s September 6 decision, which upheld President Tinubu’s victory.

But the panel in a unanimous judgment on Thursday held that the appeal lacked merit and ought to be dismissed.

Giving ruling, the Supreme Court said:

“Double nomination ought not to have come to this Court. The Court cannot sit and begin to explain when this man resigned and when there was a fresh Primary.

There is an end to litigation. The issue of double nomination was rested in May.

All other grounds were dealt with in the Atiku’s appeal and apply to this mutantis mutandis.

This appeal lacks merit.”

More later…

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Tinubu Will Be Victorious – Presidency On Supreme Court Giving Final Verdict In Atiku, Obi’s Petitions Thursday

Bayo Onanuga, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, has expressed hope that the Supreme Court will affirm the president’s victory in the February 25 presidential election.

Onanuga made the remark in reaction to the Supreme Court’s announced date to give its verdict on the appeals filed by presidential candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Atiku Abubakar, and Labour Party, LP’s Peter Obi.

Atiku and Obi had filed appeals before the apex court challenging Tinubu’s victory in the last presidential election.

However, the Supreme Court said it would pass a final verdict on the appeals on Thursday.

Reacting, Onanuga posted on X: “The Supreme Court will give its verdict tomorrow in the appeals filed by the Labour Party and its presidential candidate, Peter Obi; the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Atiku Abubakar.

“They are challenging the victory of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its candidate, President Bola Tinubu in the 25 February election.

“We in the APC are hopeful for victory. We are hopeful that the apex court will affirm the sanctity of the 8.9m votes of Nigerians that gave President Tinubu victory last February.”

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Future of Nigeria’s Development Anchored On Youthful Population – Peter Obi

The Labour Party, LP, presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi has said Nigeria’s youthful population will be instrumental in the country’s development.
According to him, the country’s future will be anchored on the strength and productivity of its youthful population.
He therefore suggested that youths should be mentored to avoid crime and walk on the path to true success.
He said this on X on Monday.
The former Anambra State governor said the statement was part of his speech at an event tagged SM Fest, an annual international business conference recently held in Owerri, Imo State capital.
Obi said he had decided to invest ample time in mentoring the younger generation as they were indisputably the nation’s future.
He said, “Over the weekend, I took out time to interact and share moments with some Nigerian youths and technopreneurs at an event tagged SM Fest, an annual international business conference, in Owerri, Imo State capital.
 
“I shared with them some critical roles of leadership that I have chosen to play in whatever capacity I find myself. As part of my leadership commitment, I have decided to invest ample time in mentoring the younger generation as they are indisputably the future of the nation.
 
“I started by introducing myself, availing them of my bio-data, and showing how I acquired my basic education, which I have consistently maintained, is necessary. I shared my life lessons as a trader, with its attendant challenges and successes.
 
“I reminded them of the need to develop lives of character, integrity, hard work, and honesty. Above all, I encouraged them to always contribute to the development of our nation and in building a better humanity.
 
“I like, therefore, to appreciate the organisers of the SM Fest Community for their great initiative, and for raising globally competitive techpreneurs, which is good for our nation. The future of Nigeria’s development is anchored on the strength and productivity of our youthful population. We must, therefore, mentor our youths to walk in the path of true success and avoid crime.
 
“In the New Nigeria, I see a great future for Nigerian youths. A new nation is possible”.
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Certificate Saga: Obi Didn’t Impersonate Late Brother – Spokesman Slams Arambabi

The Chief Spokesman for the Obi-Datti Presidential Campaign Organisation, Yunusa Tanko has slammed Abayomi Arambabi, calling him a hatchet jobber for claiming its flag bearer, Peter Obi, used his brother’s University of Nigeria academic certificate.
According to Tanko, the Lamidi Apapa faction of Labour Party are desperately trying to make Obi look like a bad product before the Nigerian electorate.
The campaign spokesman gave the rebuttal in a statement issued in Abuja on Monday.
Recall that the Abayomi Arabambi, had on Thursday alleged some discrepancies in the academic certificates of the former Anambra governor.
Arabambi raised the observation when he featured in an interview on AIT News.
The development is coming in the wake of controversy that trails President Bola Tinubu’s Chicago State University certificate.
Obi and his Peoples Democratic Party counterpart, Atiku Abubakar, had dragged the president at different press conferences amid controversy over the authenticity of the credentials he submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission.
While Atiku accused Tinubu of parading forged academic documents, Obi challenged the former Lagos governor to reveal his true identity to Nigerians.
However, Arabambi, on the live television programme stated that it was unfair of the LP candidate to drag the president when he also has discrepancies in his academic qualifications.
While disclosing that he (Arabambi) was among the panel who screened Obi before the LP presidential primary, the factional spokesman alleged that the name on the academic certificate Obi claimed to have bagged from the University of Nigeria in Nsukka contradicts the name on that of his National Youth Service Corps.
Reacting to the allegation on Monday, Tanko berated Arabambi who he said was one of the few expelled members of the party parading themselves as members.
While debunking the allegation of impersonation, the campaign spokesman reiterated that his principal couldn’t have been parading his late brother’s UNN certificate since both studied different courses.
He said, “Obi in his capacity as Labour Party standard bearer had innocuously advised the embattled President to rest the certificate-gate around him and save the country further embarrassment by reintroducing himself and putting the records straight.
 
“A simple patriotic advisory that was informed by belief in anything that is connected to national development, but their hirelings, freebooters and lawless adventurers prefer to insult our candidate with fabrications.
 
“In one of his pieces of fiction, they claimed that Obi was impersonating his dead senior brother; a farce, slapstick comedy from hell. Obi’s most senior brother is alive. One of his senior brothers who died was in the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, UNN years ahead of Obi and read Computer Science while Obi read Philosophy.
 
Continuing, the campaign spokesman of Obi-Datti campaign organisation further labelled the Lamidi Apapa faction as ‘political hirelings and buccaneers indulged in menial work of character assassination to ostensibly soil the name of our Presidential candidate.’
Tanko also stressed that it is on record that both Arabambi and Apapa are no longer with the leadership of LP.
“At the forefront of these malicious hatchet jobbers, is Dr Abayomi Arambabi, who dubiously continues even to identify himself as a member and Publicity Secretary of Labour Party. He and Chief Lamidi Apapa have been going about merchandising with the name of the party and endlessly castigating our flag bearer who we are proud to say is the most popular and loved Nigerian politician today.
 
“As they go about using the name of the party, none has said anything positive about Peter Obi as the presidential candidate of the party they claim. That speaks volumes. Instead, they have even been more vociferous against Peter Obi than their sponsors, yet they claim they are of the Labour Party.
 
“Is it not time the media houses blacklist them for wearing the devil’s coat and speaking on the saint’s platform. After all, none of them or their family members voted for Peter Obi,” he stated.
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Peter Obi’s Appeal Is Lacking In Merit, Substance, Tinubu Tells Supreme Court

Nigeria’s President, Mr. Bola Tinubu, has said the appeal by the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, is lacking in merit, substance and good faith.

Tinubu who said Obi’s appeal which was based on allegations dismissed at the election petition tribunal, argued that the presidential election was peacefully conducted all over the country, and the results of elections were carefully and accurately recorded in the various forms of EC8As.

This was contained in a response by his lead counsel, Wole Olanipekun, SAN, to the appeal filed by Obi challenging the decision of the tribunal.

He said, ”The entire petition was nothing but a jamboree of sorts, which was prosecuted more in the media than in the courtroom and the lower court, being a court of law and not of sentiments, dutifully threw away their petition after a painstaking consideration of same. 

if considered from every angle, is lacking in merit, substance, and good faith.

“Be it noted that, unlike previous election petitions over which this honourable court has presided (in time past) and made far-reaching pronouncements on diverse issues, including but not limited to ballot box snatching, vote buying, voters’ intimidation, interference by the military, thuggery, ballot stuffing, violence, disenfranchisement, non-recording of votes in form EC8A, which is the building block or the base of the pyramid, and such other electoral vices, this appeal arising from a dismissed petition, the main grouse of which is that, while the presidential election was peacefully conducted all over the country, and results of elections carefully and accurately recorded in the various form EC8As, some unidentified and unspecified results, even in the appellants’ brief were not uploaded electronically to the IREV portal. ”

He noted that Obi failed to prove his allegations of non-compliance and corrupt practices as required by law.

Tinubu said, “Instructively, however, the lower court, appreciating that it is not a court of final instance, proceeded to determine the petition on its merit, while itemising several monumental failures of the petitioners to provide any evidence in support of their much-touted case.

“While affirming the election and declaration of the 2nd respondent at the referenced presidential election, the lower court also found that the appellants did not prove any of their allegations on the requisite standards of proof. ”

In his reply on the 25 percent requirement in the FCT, Tinubu told the apex court that Obi was on a “fishing expedition”.

He said, “The other very remote contention is that the 2nd respondent did not score 25 percent of the votes recorded at the Federal Capital Territory.

“With much respect to the appellants, the petition is more of a fishing expedition; much more of evocation of thunder without dews. ”

Tinubu, however, said the tribunal judgment was in order, adding that, “It is against the well-considered judgment of the lower court that the appellants have brought this appeal.”

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Atiku, Peter Obi Should Be Arrested For Questioning Tinubu’s Identity – APC National Secretary, Ajibola

Senator Bashiru Ajibola, the National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has stated that the presidetial candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and Labour Party, Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi should be charged with treason.

Recall that Obi had during a press conference on Wednesday in Abuja asked Tinubu to reintroduce himself to Nigerians and clarify the issues of his identity.

The LP flagbearer also asked President Tinubu to particularly disclose his real names, state of origin, and where he served when he did the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).

Reacting to Obi’s press conference in an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Wednesday, Ajibola said Tinubu does not need reintroduction because Nigerians are aware of his credentials.

The former Spokesman of the Senate said Atiku and Obi are suffering from the trauma of their electoral loss because they are serial losers, stressing that they need “psychiatrist evaluation”.

The APC scribe asserted that the former Vice President and the former Governor of Anambra State should be charged with treason for questioning the identity of the President.

But the APC said Nigerians are aware of Tinubu’s credentials, stressing there was no need for a new introduction.

He said: “Obi must know that President Tinubu does not need a re-introduction. He does not have any identity problem, except the one contrived by the Atikus and Peters of our political firmament.

“As for President Tinubu’s academic record at the Chicago State University, the facts are clear and settled except for those political jaundiced by the trauma of electoral defeat.

“I think Atiku and Obi should be charged with treason for questioning the identity of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”