The Serving Overseer of the Citadel Global Community Church, Pastor Tunde Bakare, has officially declared to contest the 2023 presidential election. The presidential aspirant declared his intention to succeed the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd), next year on Monday at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre, Central Business District, Abuja. While delivering his speech, Bakare said if elected president, his government would largely be based on carefully designed four areas of focus. According to him, as president, my administration will deliver on four mandates, namely Peace, Progress, Prosperity, and Possibilities. He said, “Today, I am offering myself to close the distance between the Nigerian reality and every Nigerian dream; to unlock the power of public policy to accelerate transformation; to infuse our young people with a surge of hope for what is possible; to roll my sleeves up and work to solve Nigeria’s most intractable problems; to build a cutting-edge nation at the forefront of innovation; to create a new dynamic of belonging in which everyone has a seat and a say; I am committed to the realisation of A New Nigeria for Every Nigerian in my lifetime. “This is why I am formally announcing that I am running for the Office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2023 elections.” The cleric, who was Buhari’s running mate in the 2011 presidential election, said he understands the pains of Nigerians better and that informed his decision to contest next year’s election. “I stand here before you today mindful of the realities, but hopeful enough to offer myself as a bridge; a bridge connecting the dreams of our founding patriots to the highway of every Nigerian dream; the ones deferred and the ones you still wake up to each morning; a bridge between today’s Nigeria and the one you know is possible. I stand here today to acknowledge that the realisation of my dreams was facilitated by Nigeria.” on the four focus areas, the presidential aspirant said, “the Peace Mandate will achieve our policy thrust on Nationhood, Leadership, Governance and National Security. Through the Peace Mandate, we will reconcile and reintegrate the Nigerian people into true nationhood; galvanise a broad-based and competent leadership that can unify Nigeria and harness our enormous potential; lead our nation on a pragmatic pathway to governance structure reforms; end the scourge of insecurity; and guarantee the safety and security of every Nigerian within Nigeria’s borders. “Through the Progress Mandate, we will cater to Human Development sectors including Education, Healthcare and Family and Social Development. Under the Progress Mandate, we will alleviate poverty in the short-term by offering safety nets to our most vulnerable while implementing long-term poverty eradication policies. We will also develop a healthy and highly skilled workforce that will drive our national growth and development objectives. Furthermore, under this mandate, we will protect the vulnerable and foster equity and social inclusiveness in access to opportunities. “The Prosperity Mandate will cater to our policy thrust on Economic Management and Infrastructure Delivery. We will achieve the Prosperity Mandate by launching the Nigerian Geoeconomic Development Plan (N-GDP) on day one of my inauguration as president. The N-GDP is a new way of looking at our GDP; therefore, you would be right to refer to it as the New GDP. Guided by the N-GDP, we will rebuild Nigeria’s economy around six competitive geoeconomic zones, triple Nigeria’s GDP to $1.5 trillion by 2030, and industrialise Nigeria around the hub-and-spoke model of industrialisation. This will see the emergence of industrial cities in each geoeconomic zone made of several industrial clusters. The industrial clusters will in turn be linked to feeder hubs and enterprise zones in the respective regions. The N-GDP will guide our policies, institutions, and investments across various sectors including Solid Minerals, Agriculture, Manufacturing, and SMEs. “The Possibilities Mandate will cater to our policy thrust in Science, Technology and Innovation; Foreign Policy; Sustainability; and Arts, Culture, Entertainment and Sports (ACETS). The objectives of the Possibilities Mandate include Nigeria’s leapfrogging as a leader in the fourth industrial revolution as well as our emergence as a global hub of creative and cultural industries. It also includes projecting the elements of Nigeria’s national power in defence of our national interest, protecting Nigerian citizens across the globe, and providing leadership on the African continent.”

  The All Progressives Congress (APC) has released nine guidelines for the conduct of presidential, governorship and parliamentary aspirants ahead of primaries. The contenders have been barred from going to court without first exhausting avenues for redress and ventilation of grievances. The aspirants are also expected to sign undertakings to accept the outcomes of the shadow polls and support whoever emerges as a candidate for the general election. The ruling party also directed them to take oaths not to engage in thuggery, anti-party activities, factionalisation or the creation of parallel congresses and party organs at any level. These conditions are contained on page 17 of the nomination form given to the aspirants. But of the nine conditions, most of the aspirants, especially presidential heavyweights, are uncomfortable with the “voluntary letter of withdrawal”, which they are expected to sign before a Commissioner for Oaths or a Notary Public. They alleged that the withdrawal clause may lead to either imposition of a presidential candidate or abuse of the consensus clause in the Electoral Act 2022. It was learnt that most presidential aspirants have been seeking legal advice on Page 18 of the nomination form, which they considered a booby trap. A copy of the nomination form revealed the tough terms for aspirants who have paid humongous sums to participate in the primaries. Although APC leadership claimed that the conditions were in line with Article 21. 2 (i — xii) of the APC Constitution, many aspirants faulted the conditions as inconsistent with fundamental human rights as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution. The conditions are: “Abide to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the APC and the Federal Republic of Nigeria. “Abide by the Primary election guidelines of APC and Nigerian Electoral Act. “Abide to place APC above selfish interests, “I, my primary campaign organisation and my supporters undertake to accept the outcome of the primary and support whoever emerges as APC candidate for the general election. “Abide not to engage in dishonest practices, thuggery, being absent from meetings to which he/she is invited without reasonable cause; carrying out anti-party activities which tend to disrupt the peaceful, lawful and efficient organisation of the party or which are inconsistent with the aims and objectives of the party. “Abide not to give wrong information to any organ of the party or unauthorised publicity of a party dispute without exhausting all avenues or settlement or redress within the party. “Abide not to file any action in a court of law against the party or any of its officers on any matters relating to the discharge of the duties of the party without first exhausting all avenues for redress provided. “Abide to always follow the path of justice, honesty and unity amongst fellow contestants and party members. So help me God. “Abide not to factionalise or create a parallel congress, election, or party organ at any level.” The aspirants, especially presidential contenders, have picked holes in Page 18 of the nomination form bordering on signing a voluntary letter of withdrawal before participating in the forthcoming exercise. The letter, titled: Letter of Voluntary Withdrawal, says: “I…of the above address…vying for…hereby voluntarily withdraw my candidacy from the contest…scheduled to hold on…2023. My withdrawal is in the best interest of our great party, the APC.” Apart from addressing the letter to the National Chairman of APC, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, each aspirant is expected to endorse the letter before a Commissioner for Oaths or Notary Public. It was learnt that most aspirants were shocked by the attachment to the party’s nomination form. A source said: “Most of the aspirants see it as a death warrant. The party can invoke the letter to disengage an aspirant from participating in any strand of the primaries. “Also, it gives the party the liberty to impose a candidate at any level under the guise of abiding by the consensus clause in the Electoral Act 2022. With the letter, the conditions for consensus will easily be met. “Technically, many aspirants see the letter as leaving their fate to the party. Other conditions have also boxed them into a tight corner. We have never had these draconian guidelines.” It was learnt that some aspirants have opted for legal advice on whether or not to sign the letter of withdrawal. An aide to a presidential aspirant said: “Our legal team, like those of others, is studying the implications of the letter. “I am aware that presidential aspirants have been comparing notes on the letter, which is unacceptable to them. “Although the party said the signing of the letter is optional, an aspirant will be submitting an incomplete nomination form without completing the letter. Such an aspirant can be disqualified. It is a tight situation. “None of the presidential aspirants has been able to submit his or her nomination form because of this letter of withdrawal. “Though the aspirants have up till May 11 to submit the form, they are making representation to the party leadership to have a rethink.”

  Mixed reactions have continued to trail the comment made by the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd), on the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, on Friday. The PUNCH reported that Buhari, who was on a two-day official visit to Ebonyi State, on Friday, said it was only the court that would determine Kanu’s release, explaining that it was not within his power to do so. This was after the president met with South-East leaders; the apex Igbo socio-cultural group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (South-East zone) and traditional rulers, who begged him to temper justice with mercy and release the Biafra agitator unconditionally. In its reaction, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide accused Buhari of playing the script of the Northern Elders Forum and the Arewa Consultative Forum on Kanu. The Chidi Ibeh-led Ohanaeze Ndigbo stated this on Saturday, in an interview with Sunday PUNCH. Its Secretary-General, Okechukwu Isiguzoro, said, “It is not surprising that the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd), is following the advice of certain quarters in the country, especially the Northern Elders Forum and the Arewa Consultative Forum. “Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide accuses the NEF and the ACF of ill-teleguiding Mr President on the need to release Nnamdi Kanu. We are fully aware that our revered elder statesman, Mbazulike Amaechi, a former minister, led other prominent Igbo leaders to beg Buhari to intervene on Kanu’s release.” A presidential aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, Sam Ohuabunwa, stated that Buhari’s strong belief had helped make Kanu’s incarceration to linger. Ohuabunwa said, “He said only the court could determine Nnamdi Kanu’s case. Therefore, he (Buhari) is just being consistent with his beliefs and statements. This should tell you the kind of adamant person he is. “So, it’s not a surprise. We have been begging him to liberalise Nigeria and allow the South-East region to have a better role in government and in the security apparatus, even from the beginning of his leadership in Nigeria as a military man (over 20 years now). He didn’t bulge by it. He’s a man whose belief system is strong, and no shouting or wailing can change him. He’s just that kind of person. “South-East leaders should continue to appeal and push. Anybody whose son is justly and unjustly arrested will always go on appealing. So, let us continue to plead with Buhari. Who knows? God may touch his heart someday.” The Alaigbo Development Foundation said the President had never hidden his hatred for Kanu and the entire Igbo tribe. According to the socio-political organisation, Buhari had, since his assumption of office, shown that he didn’t have the region’s interest at heart. The ADF Director of Media and Publicity, Chief Abia Onyike, stated this during a telephone interview with our correspondent on Saturday. He said, “People should forget it when they say Buhari is the father of Nigeria. And what makes you think he feels the problem of the South-East geopolitical zone? “This is a man who continues to show separatist tendencies. Buhari does not have the interest of the Igbos at heart since he assumed office. “I don’t think anybody should be surprised by the President’s comment on Kanu. He has always consistently shown his hatred for Nnamdi Kanu and the Igbos, and those of us at the ADF know this already.” Reacting also to the President’s statement on Kanu, the National Coordinator, South-East for President 2023, Rev Okechukwu Christopher, said, “I’m seeing a determination by Buhari not to release Nnamdi Kanu or forgive or forget any anger he holds against Kanu which he has caused him over the years. But the point is that recently, there was this prerogative of mercy exercised by the President on corruption-prone individuals-Joshua Dariye and others. He should do the same for Kanu. “The President shouldn’t be using the court as an excuse. The Constitution empowers him to pardon prisoners. So, he shouldn’t use the court system as an excuse. “So, if Buhari was able to give clemency to those accused of corruption, what about Nnamdi Kanu? He should hearken to the voices of the public.”