Politics
The Gambia: President Buhari, West African leaders in a closed door meeting
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Presidents of Liberia and Senegal, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf and Macky Sall as well as ex-Ghanaian President John Mahama are attending the meeting.
NAN reports that the representative of the United Nations to West Africa and The Sahel, Dr Mohamed Ibn Chambas is also attending the meeting while the Vice –President of Sierra Leone is still being awaited as of the time of filing this report.
NAN further reports that the meeting which is being held at the new Presidential Banquet, Aso Villa, followed the one in Accra on the sidelines of the inauguration of President Nana Akufo-Addo, on Saturday.
NAN gathered that the meeting of the West African leaders is aimed at avoiding violence and preserving democracy in The Gambia.
Nigerian Foreign Minister Geoffrey Onyeama said the Abuja talks would discuss further steps to be taken.
“There are some disturbing information the (Nigerian) president (Muhammadu Buhari) is hearing which he needs to verify and the Abuja meeting will take a final decision,” he said, without elaborating.
The West African leaders at the Accra meeting expressed the readiness of the region to continue the pursuit of dialogue with the leaders of The Gambia.
At the last ECOWAS meeting in Abuja, President Buhari, and the former President of Ghana, John Mahama were appointed as Mediator and Co-Mediator to resolve the political impasse.
They have also been mandated by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to ensure the safety of the President-elect, Adama Barrow and ensure a peaceful handover of power on Jan. 19.
After the meeting in Accra, Liberia’s President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf said the regional bloc had no intention to deploy its standby military force in Gambia.
“We are committed to a peaceful mediation and a peaceful transfer of power in the Gambia … we will continue to pursue that for now,” Sirleaf, who chairs the 15-member body said.
Asked if the regional group would deploy a standby force soon, she said “no”, adding that ECOWAS was closely monitoring proceedings in Gambia’s Supreme Court where President Yahya Jammeh is challenging the poll result.
Mohamed Ibn Chambas, the top U.N. official in West Africa, also attended the closed-door meeting, which was the first official engagement by Ghana’s new President Nana Akufo-Addo, who was sworn in on Saturday.
Diplomats are concerned about the impasse over the poll.
The United States warned its citizens on Saturday against visiting Gambia, whose white beaches are a draw for tourists.
“The U.S. Department of State warns U.S. citizens against travel to The Gambia because of the potential for civil unrest and violence in the near future,” the statement said.
Jammeh, a former coup leader, who has ruled Gambia for 22 years, initially accepted his defeat by opposition figure Adama Barrow in the Dec. 1 election.
But a week later reversed his position, vowing to hang on to power despite a wave of regional and international condemnation.
Former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, has denied rumours of his defection from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The former governor addressed the claims as baseless, describing them as the handiwork of mischief makers.
According to a close aide, El-Rufai, a key figure in Nigerian politics, could not have switched political allegiance without making an official announcement.
Reacting to the rumours on Sunday via his verified X account, formerly known as Twitter, El-Rufai urged the public to disregard the “patent lies” circulating about his political affiliation.
He revealed that legal action would be taken against those propagating the false claims.
“Please disregard the patent lies and rumours about my political affiliation. I have referred the lead peddlers of the fake news for further action by my lawyers,” El-Rufai stated.
The Federal House of Representatives member representing Akinyele/Lagelu Federal Constituency of Oyo State, Hon. Akinmoyede Olafisoye, has brought smiles to the faces of his constituents by distributing empowerment items worth over ₦150 million to 1,000 beneficiaries.
The event, held on Sunday at the Faith Joe Events Centre, Alegongo, Ibadan, featured the distribution of 500 bags of rice, 308 bags of fertilizers, and 300 units of pesticides. The programme was facilitated in collaboration with the Federal Cooperative College, Orji River, Enugu State, as part of the lawmaker’s commitment to supporting his people.
Speaking at the event, the lawmaker expressed gratitude to his constituents for their unwavering support, prayers, and cooperation since he assumed office in 2023.
He noted that the empowerment initiative was a token of appreciation and a demonstration of his belief in human capital development as the foundation for societal growth and development.
“I have always prioritized life-changing projects and programmes for my people. This empowerment is just one of the many ways I strive to enhance the lives of my constituents. I assure you that I will continue to serve with dedication, ensuring impactful dividends of democracy that uplift your standard of living,” Olafisoye said.
In their remarks, Mr. Jimoh Musa Ajeigbe and Pa James Olorisade, popularly known as Olowe, praised the lawmaker for his exceptional performance. They described his achievements as unprecedented in the history of the constituency since 1999.
Among the beneficiaries of the empowerment items were Oladepo Modinat, Akande Ganiyat, Olakojo Sulaiman, Olapade Timileyin, Dasola Adeleke, and Oyelakin Bose, who expressed their gratitude for the support.
Prominent leaders who graced the occasion included Hon. Joshua Oyebamiji (Atiku), Hon. Olusegun Olaleye (Radical Brother), Hon. D.A. Lawal, Hon. Ope Salami, Hon. Biodun Oladeji, Hon. Femi Akintunde, and several others.
The political landscape in Oyo North Senatorial District has taken a new turn as Professor Adeolu Akande, former Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), has declared his intention to vie for the All Progressives Congress (APC) ticket.
Professor Akande, a seasoned Political Scientist and Lawyer, reportedly embarked on a whirlwind consultation tour across the senatorial district over the weekend, formally signaling his ambition to succeed Senator Abdul Fatai Buhari.
This comes after Senator Buhari’s twelve-year tenure representing the district, primarily dominated by the Ogbomosho zone.
According to the information scooped from Oyoinsight, Akande is set to face stiff competition for the APC ticket. Among his challengers are Hon. Tajudeen Were, a serving member of the House of Representatives representing Saki West/Saki East/Atisbo Local Government, and Mrs. Hannah Ogunesan, a former Head of Service in Oyo State. Both hail from Saki West Local Government, intensifying the contest within the Oke Ogun region.
Meanwhile, uncertainty looms over the political plans of Senator Buhari. While speculations suggest he might pursue a fourth term in the Senate, there is also talk of his potential interest in the Oyo State governorship race. Having served as a Special Adviser and Commissioner under Senator Abiola Ajimobi’s administration, Buhari has been a consistent figure in the Red Chamber since 2015.
Professor Akande’s declaration adds a new dimension to the APC’s internal dynamics in Oyo North. The senatorial district, which includes influential figures such as former Minister of Communications, Alhaji Adebayo Shittu, and former Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Engr. Rauf Olaniyan is now a hotspot for political maneuvering.
While Shittu has been vocal about his governorship ambitions, advocating for an Oke Ogun indigene to lead the state, Akande’s entry into the senatorial race is expected to further galvanize political activity in the district ahead of the APC primaries.
The unfolding events set the stage for a fiercely contested race that will shape the political future of Oyo North and possibly influence the trajectory of Oyo State politics.
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