Politics
2023 Elections: Now We Are At The Juncture Again
2023 Elections: Now We Are At The Juncture Again
By Nelson Ekujumi
Following APC Presidential candidate Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu choice of his running mate in Distinguished Senator Kashim Shettima for the 2023 presidential election, it has generated lots of debates and discussions across the polity and beyond with divergent views for and against the duo on the basis of their same religious faith. In addition, this debates and discussions on the subject matter will continue even till the eve of the election in February 2023.
Well, with all sense of modesty and responsibility, one would like to speak to the issue within the context of the diverse religious nature of the Nigeria state and people.
It is a known fact that Nigeria as a country is a multi ethnic and religious society. Like every society where the level of illiteracy and poverty is high, religion becomes the cheapest and easiest means of subjugating and manipulating the people for reasons that are not far fetched, afterall, we all agree that where religion is involved, rationality and logic takes flight.
To run away from the fact, that religion does not matter in a society like ours, is playing the ostrich. So long as the people are poor mentally and materially, so long will they be susceptible to the manipulations that religion brings.
Sadly and unfortunately, at every turn in our development, interests and persons have always played the ethnic and religious card to achieve their aim and purpose, which is never about the interest of the mass of the people.
However, we owe it to posterity to refresh our people’s memory on where we are coming from, the journey so far and make it known that we can only conquer our challenges and make progress as a people if we are united and focused on issues rather than primordial sentiments.
Now to the present Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Senator Kashim Shettima Presidency debate, one remembers this same scenario during the Social Democratic Party (SDP) late Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola and ambassador Babagana Kingibe presidency duo of same religious faith against the National Republican Convention (NRC) late Alhaji Bashir Tofa and Dr Sylvester Ugoh of mixed religious faiths during the build up to the 1993 treasonably annulled presidential election won by late Chief MKO Abiola.
Just like today, when the choice of Babagana Kingibe of the same religious faith as the President elect MKO Abiola was made, there were official and unofficial subterranean plots by even the military dictator General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida to scuttle it for his personal agenda of transmuting to life president. General Babangida administration tried every evil trick in the books to scuttle the presidential ticket coming to reality under the pretence of, national unity is being undermined by the joint same religious faith ticket of the candidate and even engaged civilian collaborators among which was the infamous Association for Better Nigeria (ABN), but God scuttled all the evil plots and democracy triumphed.
Fortunately, when elections held on June 12 1993 against all evil odds and the will of the dictator and his acolytes, poor Nigerians across all divide, made it known with their votes whose result was public before the treasonable annulment, that they were more concerned about their condition being mitigated by a competent, capable and visionary leader in MKO Abiola, than the religious card that was played and failed.
Across Nigeria, Chief MKO Abiola and Babagana Kingibe a joint ticket of same religious faith, defeated his opponent of mixed religious faith resoundingly even in Christian dominated communities, towns and his opponent backyard. The message of Nigerians was very loud and clear, that poverty does not discriminate between christians and Muslims or any other faith, so for them, all they wanted was a better life for themselves and generations unborn and not religion.
The treasonable annulment of June 12 1993 Presidential election was only possible because former military dictator Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida knew he could play the religious and ethnic card, which he did very well until it crumbled due to the tenacity of the Nigerian people in insisting on the peoples power of June 12 and chased him out of office and power. The annulment and it’s aftermath brought Nigeria to her knees and reinforced our division which was festered by disgruntled and unpatriotic elements who are still at work even till date.
Sadly, we are that juncture in our political life again, when same agents and their remnants are about to do same, using same strategy, but the ball is in the court of Nigerians to choose between better life for ourselves on the basis of competence, capacity and visionary leadership or continue to be subjugated by interests whose major agenda is to divide us along our fault lines of religion and ethnicity at our own peril.
Nigerians, the ball is in our court.
*Renewed Hope Ambassadors Step Into the Next Phase
Fresh from the successful APC 2026 National Convention, the Renewed Hope Ambassadors National, Zonal, and State leadership gathered in Abuja over the weekend, for its fourth strategic meeting, setting the tone for nationwide grassroots activation ahead of 2027.
Chaired by Governor Hope Uzodinma (Imo State) the Director General and National Coordinator of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors, alongside Deputy Director-General, Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State, and Governor Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State as Secretary, the session reinforced one clear direction: One Party. One Message. One Mobilization whilst also laying out a strategic roadmap for the activation of the network across all communities in Nigeria.
Backed by the strength of 31 APC-led states, the Renewed Hope Agenda is taking Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s message of progress and reform to every corner of Nigeria.
From bold economic restructuring to initiatives like NELFUND, the increase in the national minimum wage from ₦30,000 to ₦70,000, and strategic investments in critical sectors, including PNiCGI, the mission remains clear: helping Nigerians understand both the purpose and the progress of the Renewed Hope vision.
This is coordination at scale. This is grassroots engagement with purpose. This is the next phase of Renewed Hope with One Party, One Message, and One Mobilisation framework
#RenewedHopeAmbassadors #APC #WeAreAPC
Governor Bago Inaugurates APC Digital Media Sub-Committee Ahead of National Convention.
Governor Umaru Bago has inaugurated the Digital Media Sub-Committee for the forthcoming National Convention of the All Progressives Congress (APC), scheduled to hold on March 27 and 28, 2026 in Abuja.
Chairing the sub-committee, Governor Bago tasked members with the responsibility of effectively communicating the party’s manifesto to the public.
He emphasized the need to leverage social media platforms to highlight the achievements and ongoing efforts of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, noting that communication gaps have posed challenges that must now be decisively addressed.
The Co-Chair of the sub-committee, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, echoed the Governor’s position, urging members to project the activities of both the party and the government to a broader audience.
He called for a deliberate and coordinated effort to showcase the party’s achievements and policy direction, stressing the importance of shaping a compelling and consistent narrative across all digital platforms.
Delivering a presentation to the committee, Otega Ogra, SSA to the President on New Media, who serves as Secretary of the sub-committee, outlined strategic focus areas to guide the team’s operations.
His presentation highlighted communication priorities and actionable steps to achieve the committee’s mandate and strengthen the party’s digital engagement.
VP Shettima Set to Lead Delegation to Zamfara as Governor Dauda Lawal Formally Joins APC
The Zamfara State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has finalized plans to receive Vice President Kashim Shettima for the formal defection and reception of Governor Dauda Lawal into the ruling party, scheduled to take place on Tuesday.
State APC Chairman, Tukur Danfulani Maikatako, disclosed this during a high-level stakeholders’ meeting held in Gusau, the state capital. He noted that the Vice President would be joined by the party’s national leadership to mark what he described as a landmark political realignment in the state.
Maikatako expressed the party’s excitement over Governor Lawal’s return, recalling that Zamfara had historically been an APC stronghold and that the Governor was previously a bona fide member of the party before his earlier exit.
“We all know that Zamfara has long been one of the APC’s stronghold states, where the defected Governor was once a bona fide member. Now that he has decided to return home, having been satisfied that the APC remains his second choice after the one he left for obvious reasons,” Maikatako stated.
The Chairman called on all party faithful across the 147 wards in the state’s 14 local government areas to turn out en masse to honour the Vice President’s visit. He emphasized that the event was strategically positioned to bolster the party’s popularity and strengthen its structures ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In a strong appeal for unity, Maikatako urged members to set aside all factional tendencies, stressing that the APC remained one political family with shared goals, particularly the ambition to make Zamfara and Nigeria great again.
Echoing similar sentiments, a former state APC Chairman, Lawal M. Liman, appealed to members to cascade the message to their wards and local government areas. He reinforced the need for cohesion, noting that the party’s collective strength would be critical to achieving success in future elections.
All eyes are now on Gusau as the ruling party prepares for a high-profile political gathering expected to further consolidate its influence in Zamfara State.
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