As the scheming for political offices in Nigeria for 2027 slowly gathers momentum, especially for the highest office in the land the speculation that the Social Democratic Party (SDP) party is in Tinubu’s pocket has been debunked by the National Legal Adviser of the party, Aderemi Abimbola.

Since the former governor of Kaduna state, Nasir El-rufai formally joined the SDP Tuesday, a lot of attention has been drawn to the party and what the shrewd political may be up to in the politics of 2027.

Speaking with Journalists h at the party headquarters in Abuja, the National Legal Adviser said since he joined the party in 2022, he has never seen Tinubu’s hands in it.

Describing El-rufai’s defection to the party as “a blessing”, Mr Abimbola said so many people have been coming even since last year, but maybe because they are not as prominent as El-rufai, that is why people don’t know.

“SDP has been receiving visitors. It’s like every day. In fact, since the beginning of this year, we have received so many from all the states in the north. Before El-rufai came yesterday, the people from APC supporters in Gombe were here. One of them was the DG of even the campaign of the present governor”.

He said the fortune of the party is soaring because “this is the only party you can say without any crisis, no faction. We have our chairman with commitment and he doesn’t take decisions unilaterally anyway. He consults, and people outside here listen to him in the media; they believe in him, too. Many times, some of them come here because they said they have listened to him on television and they believe that this is the party of the future in Nigeria. Nigeria should look up to a party that can salvage the situation for us”.

To buttress his point that Tinubu does not own or control SDP as being speculated, Abimbola said since he joined, he can say categorically that he has not received up to N2 million altogether as salary and as a sitting allowance, which they are entitled to at any sitting because they don’t have it.

“So, if Tinubu is supporting the party, can we be broke? Tinubu was a member of SDP in the 1992-93. Since I joined this party in 2022, I’ve not seen Tinubu’s hand or any of his agents. I know them; I’m from Lagos too. I lived in Lagos for 30 years before coming to Abuja. So there’s no way I can see Tinubu’s ally, and I, you won’t know? None of them has ever been here since I joined”, he said

Speaking on the economic situation in Nigeria today, he said, “How do we find ourselves here? When I was in school, my meal ticket was 10 kobo, 20 kobo. 10 kobo for breakfast, 20 kobo for lunch, 20 kobo for dinner.

This country is still the best. We can still repeat it. It’s a blessed country. If there’s any country that the Bible says is flowing with milk and honey, Nigeria is the only country. Don’t let us deceive ourselves.

According to him, everybody that travels abroad does not have the kind of resources we have. The answer is no. I’ve travelled abroad several times. When I was an undergraduate, how much was the ticket? N250 for students. When I was serving in NYSC, I was travelling with N350 to London. Up to 1985, it was 500 naira to buy a British Airways ticket. All of a sudden, the inflation started and we found ourselves here.

Now, a dollar to a naira exchange rate is N1,500. When this administration came on board, it was below one thousand naira.

People should know that if the present administration had found capable hands like Okonjo-Iweala, we could not have found ourselves this way.

It’s good you have been elected, but you need capable hands to run the administration.

“Obasanjo looked beyond the party to the extent that all the debts incurred by the administration of General Abacha were cleared.

This is a blessed country; nearly all the states in the federation have one mineraresourcees or the other.

The way forward is this: let those powers under the constitution be devolved to the states or the regions to manage.

You will see the difference; the Western region was developed with cocoa money only, and they had the first television station, the first stadium, the first …, you know what I mean? I was a beneficiary of free education in the Western region. Up to the university level, you are not paying tuition. I only paid for accommodation and feeding.

***Says region’s lawmakers provides stability in N’Assembly

***Highlights achievements of S-West APC caucus in N’Assembly

The Leader of the Senate, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele has revealed how federal lawmakers from the South-west states lobbied their colleagues from other geo-political zones to pass the Bill for the establishment of the South West Development Commission (SWDC).

Bamidele, also the Leader of the South-west National Assembly Caucus, disclosed that lawmakers from the South-west APC “have been a formidable force, contributing significantly to the progress and stability of the National Assembly.”

He made these remarks at the 2024 South-west Assembly of the All Progressives Congress (APC) held at Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos on Saturday where he suggested the need to institutionalise the assembly for regular and sustained interaction among stakeholders.

At the regional assembly on Saturday, Bamidele explained how the South-west Caucus worked with federal lawmakers from other geo-political zones to secure majority support for the passage of the South West Development Commission Bill, 2024 at the upper chamber

Specifically, the senate leader highlighted the considerable influence of the South-west Caucus in the 10th National Assembly, pointing out that out of the 18 senators from the ge-political, 15 are from the APC,

This figure, according to him, makes the South-west the largest single bloc of APC Senators in the Senate. This has given us considerable influence, and we have used it effectively for the good of our people.

Bamidele further pointed out that the South-west Caucus in the National Assembly leveraged its considerable influence to ensure the successful passage of the South West Development Commission Bill.

He noted that the push for the establishment of the SWDC was not just a necessity, but a matter of equity, as other regions have similar commissions in place, saying every member of the South West National Assembly, regardless of party affiliation, worked together to ensure this passage of the bill in the Senate.

He said: “We are now awaiting concurrence from the House of Representatives before transmitting it to the President for assent. We recognise that our success is not limited to members of the APC alone. Our colleagues from other political parties have been just as committed to the success of our region.

“This bill, and many others, remind us that when it comes to the development of our people, there is no room for division. We must continue to work together to achieve more,” he explained.

Apart from the passage of the 2024 SWDC Bill, Bamidele revealed that the federal government had approved the dualistion of Ado-Ekiti-Ikere-Akoko road, a 31-kilometre highway that connects Ekiti State to Federal Capital Territory through Ondo, Edo and Kogi States.

He also cited the ongoing construction Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, a 700 kilometre project that will run from Victoria Island, Lagos to Calabar, Cross River, which according to him, would unlock limitless opportunities across the economic belt when completed.

The highway, according to him, will pass through Ogun, Ondo, Edo, Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom and terminate in Cross River. The award of contract for the 258-kilometre three-lane carriageway, a component of the 1000-kilometre Sokoto/Badagry Superhighway will be a game changer not just for the South-west, but also for the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

He, therefore, commended all members of the South West Caucus for their steadfastness during this process, noting that the unity in the rank of the caucus ensured that the geo-political zone did not lose out in the leadership dynamics of the 10th Assembly.

“We have stood firmly with the leadership of the National Assembly, especially when plots were being hatched to bring the leadership to disrepute. We remained united behind the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and his Deputy, Jubrin Barau, even when there were unfounded allegations of budget padding.

“The South West Caucus remains a stabilising force in the Senate. Our zone has also received fair recognition in the leadership of the Senate. I am honoured to serve as the Senate Leader, while in the House of Representatives, we occupy the Chief Whip’s seat and other high-ranking positions.

“This extends to key committee leadership roles, which further amplifies our influence in national decision-making,” the senate leader reeled out the achievements of the caucus with admiration.

He noted that the South West Caucus “has remained committed to President Tinubu’s reform agenda, particularly in the areas of security and economic recovery.

“We gave expeditious attention to the screening of the President’s nominees for various political positions, demonstrating our collective desire for the quick implementation of his transformative policies. We will continue to support his reforms as he steers the country towards prosperity and stability.”

He warned that the South-west Assembly should not be a one-off, recommending the need to institutionalise the platform for regular interaction between APC stakeholders at both the legislative and executive levels.

Such meetings, according to the senate leader, will strengthen our unity and help us align our goals for the good of the region and the country.

He equally commended the cordial relationship between the South-west governors and members of the National Assembly from the South West.

Bamidele said this cooperation “is key to the success of our shared agenda for development. Let us continue to foster this relationship and work together for the greater good.”

He further pledged the continued support of the South West APC Caucus “to President Bola Tinubu’s reform agenda. We will work tirelessly to support him and our party at all levels, ensuring that we leave a legacy of growth, peace, and progress in Nigeria.

“Let us remain steadfast and united as we build on the foundation laid by our predecessors and chart a path of continued success for our people and future generations,” Bamidele explained.

Ahead of the November 16, 2024 governorship election in Ondo State, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has released its timetable and schedule of activities leading to the party’s selection of a candidate on April 25, 2024.

The APC timetable released late Monday was signed by the party’s National Organising Secretary, Sulaimon Argungu.

According to the party, the sale of nominations, expression of interest and delegates forms for contestants will begin on April 3 and end on April 10, 2024, while primary election is slated for April 25, 2024.

Like its governorship primary in Edo State which produced Monday Okpebholo as the flag bearer, the APC pegged the price for the Expression of Interest and Nomination forms at N10m and N40m respectively for Ondo.

The party said female aspirants and persons living with disabilities are to pay for Expression of Interest while the Nomination Form is free.

“Youths from 25 to 40 years are to purchase Expression of Interest forms with a 50% discount on Nomination Forms,” the APC stated.

Some of the top contenders for the APC ticket in Ondo include Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, former Ondo deputy governor, who succeeded the late Governor Rotimi Akeredolu after the latter’s death on December 27, 2023. A former Commissioner for Finance in the state, Wale Akinterinwa; as well as Senator representing Ondo South, Jimoh Ibrahim, also want the party’s ticket.

Ondo and Edo are two of the eight states where governorship elections are held off-season due to litigations and court judgements. The others are Anambra, Bayelsa, Ekiti, Imo, Kogi and Osun.

Already, political gladiators are squaring up in the two states where governorship polls will hold this year. 19 political parties are expected to field a candidate each but the polls, like previous ones, will turn out as two-horse races or at best three-horse races.