The Background of the whole Emirate Saga:
In 2019, then-Governor Ganduje divided the Kano Emirate into five separate emirates—Kano, Bichi, Karaye, Rano, and Gaya—and appointed new emirs, including Aminu Ado Bayero as the Emir of Kano, to rule over 8 metropolitan city local government. This move was widely seen as a way to reduce Sanusi’s influence due to his critical stance against the state government’s policies and his outspoken views on issues like corruption and governance.

Current Conflict:
The new administration under Governor Abba Yusuf, who assumed office in 2023, sought to reverse these changes by dissolving the five emirates and reinstating Sanusi. On May 23, 2024, the Kano State House of Assembly passed a bill repealing the 2019 law that fragmented the Kano Emirate, effectively restoring Sanusi as the Emir of Kano and demoting the emirs of the newly created emirates.

Legal and Political Ramifications:
The situation escalated when a Federal High Court ordered the state government to maintain the status quo and refrain from implementing the reinstatement of Sanusi and the dissolution of the other emirates until a hearing on June 3, 2024. Despite this, both Sanusi and Bayero are holding court in separate palaces, each receiving homages from different factions of the community.

Public and Government Reactions:
The state government, led by Governor Yusuf, insists that reinstating Sanusi is in the best interest of Kano and aims to restore the historical and cultural integrity of the Kano Emirate. On the other hand, Aminu Ado Bayero and his supporters argue that the legal process should be respected, emphasizing the need for calm and adherence to the rule of law .

According to Daily Post, The Chief Press Secretary to Governor Abba Yusuf of Kano State, Sanusi Bature, has declared that Aminu Ado Bayero was never an Emir of Kano.

This conflict has caused significant tension in Kano, reflecting deep political and social divides within the state, with both historical legacy and contemporary political maneuvers playing critical roles in the unfolding saga.

The post What you Should know about the Emirate Saga and the real Emir of Kano appeared first on Smen News.

Shaibu, who is seeking to become the next governor of Edo State on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, said Obaseki betrayed him by backing another aspirant in the upcoming  September 21 governorship election.

Meanwhile, another PDP governorship aspirant, John Yakubu, a two-time chairman of the Esan North-East Local Government Area, stepped down on Wednesday for a former Chairman of Sterling Bank Plc, Asue Ighodalo, who is believed to be Obaseki’s candidate for the governorship poll.

Speaking during an interview on Arise TV on Wednesday, Shaibu said he regretted supporting Obaseki’s second-term bid in 2020 when Obaseki had a battle with his predecessor and then political godfather, Adams Oshiomhole, who vowed he would not be reelected for a second term.

Shaibu said, “Actually, I was persuaded and there was no protest. I actually didn’t want to be a deputy governor. I was very comfortable in the House of Representatives. It took almost one month to get me to accept to be the deputy governor of Edo State.

“I accepted to add value to the ticket of Obaseki because Obaseki was not known and he was not one of the politicians. They needed a young, vibrant politician that has won election before and that can add political value to the ticket.”

Speaking on his perceived betrayal, he said, “I feel betrayed by the governor. I feel very betrayed. When we go to church, there are certain biblical verses that are beginning to make meaning to me. There is this particular verse that has been going through my mind: ‘The heart of man is desperately wicked.’ When I see what the governor is doing, the verse now makes meaning to me.

“I added value in terms of my political structure, my finances. All the vehicles that were used to campaign in 2016 are mine.

“I lost about 20 per cent of my political capital in Edo North to support Godwin Obaseki, and in supporting him even as deputy governor.

“I supported the second term bid of the governor with my finances. Including how we got the ticket of the PDP, I contributed financially, both in naira and in dollars. If I say betrayal, it’s an understatement. I feel very hurt and betrayed.”

Shaibu is from Edo North Senatorial District, the same district as Oshiomhole.

The deputy governor has been having a running battle with his principal over his political ambitions.

Also, a former Minister of Works, Mike Onolomemen, on Wednesday, alleged that Obaseki pushed him out of the PDP.

Onolomemen said the alleged manipulation of last year’s senatorial primaries of the PDP by Obaseki forced him to defect to the All Progressives Congress.

Onolomemen, who is also a governorship aspirant on the APC platform, spoke to journalists in Abuja.

He said, “It is true that I have been a member of the PDP. Up till 2023, I was a member of the party, but something happened that I just couldn’t relate with.

Right from the beginning of 2023, I set out to run for a senatorial seat, that is the Edo Central Senatorial District. In that primary election, I won in a very stylish way. I got 90 per cent of the votes and the remaining 10 per cent was shared by the remaining five aspirants.

“But at a time, I thought it was over, the Governor of the State, Godwin Obaseki had come in and was supporting somebody who did not even partake in the primaries to take over the seat. Initially, we thought it was a joke. We went to the high court and from there to the Court of Appeal and from there to the Supreme Court. Funny enough, the Supreme Court gave them judgment. For me, that was the breaking point. From that point, I did not accept to go further because it was one too many. That was what happened.”

He said he was confident of winning the APC governorship primary, saying his newness in the party would not be a  disadvantage.

“Those in APC today were once in the PDP with us in Edo State. Many of them are people we have done things together politically. When we are together, we don’t discriminate against one another. Because of that, it is the same characters you are dealing with. So, you don’t feel as if you are a newcomer. We are comers as it were,” he said.

Efforts to get Obaseki’s reaction were unsuccessful as his media aide, Crusoe Osagie, could not be reached on his mobile phone and he had yet to reply to a text message sent to his line as of the time of filing this report.

On Wednesday, the aspiration of Igbodalo, who is believed to have Obaseki’s backing, got a boost as Yakubu, withdrew from the governorship race for him.

The PUNCH reports that Yakubu’s withdrawal brings to five PDP governorship aspirants who have stepped down for Ighodalo.

Four aspirants had recently stepped down for Ighodalo. They are a  member of the House of Representatives,  Friday Itula; a former senator, Clifford Odia; another House of Representatives member, Marcus Onobun, and Kenneth Awolimen.

Also on Monday,  PDP leaders from Edo North on Monday held a meeting where they endorsed Ighodalo, as their preferred PDP governorship candidate, a development that angered Shaibu.

On Wednesday, Yakubu said he stepped down for Ighodalo in the interest of the party.

He spoke to journalists at Igueben, the administrative headquarters of Igueben Local Government Area in Edo, shortly after a closed-door meeting with the Edo Central PDP Special Committee, headed by the former Foreign Affairs Minister, Chief Tom Ikimi.

Yakubu said, “After due consultation across our top party leadership spectrum, members of my campaign organisation and my teeming supporters, across the three senatorial districts and beyond, I have decided, that for the overall interest of our party and the yearning of Edo people to continue to have the PDP at Osadebe Avenue, to lay down my governorship aspiration.

“Going by the wise direction paved and shown by our party senatorial leadership so far, the body language of members of our party and the positive activities displayed by Dr. Asue Ighodalo himself, it has become very clear that Ighodalo is in a good position to bring about this much-needed development to us as a party and in the state.

“On these grounds, I stand solidly behind Dr. Ighodalo, not only as our governorship candidate but in all of the activities that will ensure his victory and our victory at the polls come September 2024.”

Meanwhile, the Edo Central PDP Special Committee, headed by Ikimi, will today (Thursday),  announce its consensus aspirant.

As Seen on Punch News Paper

The post “Shaibu and former minister criticize Obaseki as another contender steps back in favor of Ighodalo.” appeared first on Smen News.

When questioned about the potential shift to the APC, Bwala emphasized his admiration for President Bola Tinubu, stating, “APC is a party. President Bola Tinubu is my motivation; if supporting him will take me to APC, so be it.” This unexpected endorsement marks a significant departure from Bwala’s previous stance as a vocal critic of the APC and the Tinubu administration.

On January 2, 2024, just days before this surprising development, Bwala, known for his critical views on the governing APC, had urged opposition political parties to unite and form a robust coalition. He highlighted the importance of such collaboration in successfully challenging the APC’s dominance in the upcoming 2027 general elections. The sudden change in Bwala’s position adds a new dimension to the political landscape, leaving observers intrigued about the potential implications for both the opposition and the ruling party.

Bwala, a guest on Channels Television’s Politics Today, said that without a coalition of opposition parties, President Tinubu would spend eight years in office.

“Without a coalition of political parties, Tinubu is going to spend the next eight years. That one is for sure.

“The truth of the matter is that there will be a coalition of political parties that will be very strong. This is a fact that I know.

“The coalition that is coming will swallow some of the elements that are creating the problems in the various political parties,” he said.

He commended the President’s suspension of the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr Betta Edu, saying, “Some of his (Tinubu’s) Ministers that were allegedly reported to have committed infractions, instead of protecting them, he asked that the law should have its course and suspended somebody without wasting time. That, to me, is impressive because it’s about the people.”

Referring to Tuesday’s announcement of a 60 per cent slash in travel entourages for the Presidency and MDAs, Bwala remarked, “There has been this outcry that the government is bloated. Yesterday, he introduced a policy that reduced the cost of governance and today, he told me it is just the beginning.”

The legal practitioner said the President assured him that more cost-cutting measures are underway to reduce the cost of governance.

“What have we been talking about as citizens is that if you don’t have a personal grudge against someone…if it is a policy issue.

“What I’m saying apart from today that I’m talking here is that you all need to visit my Twitter page. In the last few days, I have been expressing my surprise and appreciation to the President for the decisions he is making. So, this is not about political party. And you need to know that, like I said, I was with him before I left. And I was doggedly committed to him.

“I told him today that I am committing to play my part to support your administration, and I have no apologies to anybody,” he explained.

The post “I am committed to backing Tinubu without any reservations, declares PDP leader Bwala.” appeared first on Smen News.