By Moses Kolo

A coalition of groups in Northern Nigeria with links to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has rallied their support for Mallam Saliu Mustapha for chairmanship of the party on the basis of President Muhammadu Buhari's recent open declaration of support for younger elements contesting party positions at the forthcoming National Convention.

Rising from a meeting in Kaduna, the Conference of Northern Nigeria Revitalisation Group (CNNRG), described Mustapha as a first-generation Buharist who exemplifies the qualities outlined by the President when he received APC National Youth Lobby Group at the State House.

In a communique signed by Comrade Isah Abubakar of the Northern Youths Council of Nigeria and Salihu Danlami of Arewa Youths Assembly (AYA), the coalition argued that the former Deputy National Chairman of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) has a lot going for him.

The group said, "As the youngest of the major aspirants, Mustapha will bridge the gap between the older presidential hopefuls and youth demography who constitute over 50% of the voting population, this will consolidate the winning ways of the party,"they said.

"He has no baggage associated with the murky waters of political office, hence, he is not a regular guest of the EFCC like some of the contenders for the party's top job.

"This makes him a good Ambassador of President Buhari anticorruption focused administration, an edge he has over the leader of the main opposition party who is enmeshed in the Dasuki arms purchase scandal.

"Mustapha is also best placed as a first-generation Buharist to oversee the Buhari legacy after the President leaves office in 2023," they said.

The group noted that considering Mustapha's political antecedents and public life into consideration, he is the only aspirant with practical experience of party administration among the contenders.

"As a traditional title holder, Turakin Ilorin, he has utmost respect for the traditional institution, a well cemented structure that politicians can't do without, hence, the party leaders can count on him to do palace maneuvering for them while they go to sleep

"He is also philanthropist who has helped in no small measures to uplift the masses out of poverty and has provided scholarship to numerous young people to enable them actualize their dream in life," they added.

The group urged APC stakeholders including the President to trust Saliu Mustapha with their mandate.

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Aregbesola blasts Tinubu ahead of Osun governorship primary election

BAYO WAHAB

February 15, 2022 12:16 PM

Aregbesola said Tinubu repaid his loyalty with treachery.

Rauf Aregbesola and Bola Tinubu.

Things seem to have fallen apart between the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola and his political leader, Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the minister openly blasted the APC national leader.

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Aregbesola while addressing members of the All Progressives Congress in the Ijebu-Jesa area of Osun State on Monday, February 14, 2022, said he revered Tinubu and he compared himself to God.

The former governor of Osun State said this ahead of Saturday’s governorship primary election in the state.

Aregbesola, who was Commissioner of Works and Infrastructure during Tinubu-led administration in Lagos said the former governor repaid his loyalty with treachery.

He said Tinubu foisted the incumbent governor, Gboyega Oyetola on the people of Osun State against their will.

Aregbesola said if a former governor of Lagos State, Akinwunmi Ambode could be rejected because he allegedly derailed from Lagos master plan, it won't be wrong to mete out the same treatment to Oyetola whom he described as Tinubu’s brother.

Aregbesola said, “We came back home to reposition our party to where it was meant to be because we followed the leading of our leader that we thought was a noble and reliable fellow. We followed him (Tinubu) dutifully with all sense of loyalty. Some people even thought that we were no longer Muslims because of how we cooperated with him. We dealt with him without treachery but we never knew he planned evil for us. We exalted him beyond his status and he turned himself to a god over us and we had sworn to ridicule anyone who compare himself to God. God has no competitor; He is enough to be God.

“We built this party on perseverance as well as sweat and blood. We lost a lot of people in this struggle but eventually, we came into government on November 27, 2010. We were in government for eight years and governed according to the measure of God’s grace, everybody in Osun enjoyed our tenure.”

“When he (Tinubu) will hand over the present governor to me around July of 2018, he (Tinubu) declared that he (Oyetola) will succeed me and continue my good works. That was what he told me. He knows he has not done so if he is listening now and he has failed to call my successor to order.

“That was how it was in Lagos at a time; a governor derailed and the party members unseated him using the ballot boxes. As it was in Lagos yesterday, so shall it be in Osun today. What is good for the goose is also good for the gander.”

Aregbesola, who was governor of Osun State from 2010 to 2018, condemned godfatherism and enthronement by treacherous leaders, saying enough is enough.