ASIWAJU BOLA AHMED TINUBU
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Leading Political Strategist
Devisied Political strategy that brought Buhari to power, but reportedly sidelined after. Every attempt is now being made to woo him back. As dark clouds loom on the political horizon, is it too late to reconcile APC’s warring factions? Or has the political equation changed so much as to require new combinations? Will he be exchanging views and reviewing the situation with Ayo Fayose and PDP chair, Uche Secondus? Will he move closer to Fasoranti and the Afenifere old guard? No doubt, at all, Bola Tinubu will be a massive factor in shaping the new political world.
GOV. DICKSON OF BAYELSA STATE
The Mediator
Quietly settling Quarrels and putting out PDP small fires before they become big ones?
PRINCE UCHE SECONDUS
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Nicknamed “TOTAL’
Uche Secondus, PDP Chairman. Nicknamed “TOTAL” for has total focus of energy, resources and attention to the task ahead. When he sought the PDP’s Chair, albeit with the dogged and unflinching support Rivers State Governor Wike, he pushed for a landslide victory and won by a margin of 5 to 1 (2000 votes to 200) against his opponents. He pursues his task of returning the PDP to presidential power with TOTAL commitment – a brainstorm today with a colleague – an exchange of views tomorrow with a stakeholder or else while opponent, as he devises and reviews the results of both strategy and tactics. Bristling with energy and confidence, he usually comes up with surprising results. Can he repeat the same magic in PDP’s presidential bid?
Niger Delta’s Edwin Clark and PANDEV
Niger Delta’s Edwin Clark, the leader of PANDEVand his organisation have been firmly anchored on resource control and re-structuring. Unlikely to compromise on that.
ATIKU PURSUES THE PRESIDENCY
The Ex-Vice President has declared his presidential bid. But can he cut through PDP’s commitment to an open contest to win the ticket? Or will there be new combinations? No doubt, an Atiku candidacy carries credibility. When his supporters advanced the Atiku presidential ambition, the APC Federal Govt. struck with what was widely perceived as anti-Atiku moves, which included the crackdown on Intels, a port operating company – in which he has a stake. But when he angrily parted company with the APC, the ruling party was at a loss how to appease him. As 2019 approaches, will there be massive aftershocks, as bigwigs, who left to join the APC with him, return to the PDP? How much damage will the Atiku earthquake and after shocks do to the APC? Can the damage be repaired on time?
THE DOGGED GOVERNOR
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Nyesom Wike of Rivers State
Acquired so much power in the PDP by doggedly supporting it when – the party in the doldrums after the presidential defeat of 2015 – former colleagues and party stalwarts deserted or took cover to avoid the severe buffeting coming from the new ruling regime. That experience informed his attachment to loyalty and steadfastness as necessary political attributes, and dictated his attitudes to the selection of a new PDP chairman which Secondus won.
Atiku Mohammed, declaring his bid for the presidential nomination, immediately went into strategic talks with Wike.
The PDP is still committed to an open convention. But Wike apparently feels that this commitment can only yield the desired results of choosing a strong candidate, if there are extensive and exhaustive consultation before hand.
AYO FAYOSE: OUTGOING EKITI STATE GOVERNOR
Irrepressible political maverick. A strong supporter of PDP chair Uche Secondus with whom he discusses strategy. Through stormy seas, pot-holed roads or turbulent airways skies, which ever it is, Fayose’s voice will be loud and clear – before the end of 2018- steering his chosen combination in search of the winning landing spot.
FASORANTI AND THE AFENIFERE OLD GUARD
Early and steadfast champions of a restructured Nigeria.How hard will they now push for its actualization? How much influence will they have on voting patterns in western Nigeria? Can they persuade Bola Tinubu to come on board for the overiding public good. Can the old guard, withthe support of the new, or together, craft their greatest and perhaps the “Last Hurrah.”
FEMI FANI KAYODE
A bold, vocal opponent of the status quo in the country and an advocate for radical restructuring. No doubt his voice will become louder as the run -off to 2019 heats up. A political activist and an eloquent advocate to watch?
IPOB, MASSOB, NIGER DELTA AVENGERS, CATALYSTS OF CHANGE!!!
They may stand for a process more extreme then the re-structuring of the body politic, but their activities and militancy put the need for re-stucturing on the front burner. They remain factors to watch as the political process unfolds
Ex- President Obasanjo and former Vice President Atiku. Are they reconciled ?
Obasanjo launched a third force party, Atiku joined the PDP. Will obasanjo’s third force gain traction to win elections or challenge the APC or PDP at the polls? Observers doubt it.
Gov El Rufai of Kaduna drafted a restruct-uring programme. PDP challenged him to
get President Buhari to implement it. Can he ?
Governor ORTOM: at the centre of the Storm
More lives are being lost in Benue / Plateau and other parts of the middle Belt and North Central Zone.Where the zone alignes to would be a game changer.
General T.I Danjuma
The recent call by General T.I Danjuma for concerted popular resistance to the killings by headmen underscores how dangerous the Nigerian security situation has become. The descent to anarchy- must be put in reverse gear urgently. The authorities must restore law and order.
The core of the statement reads as follows:
We must resist it (killings by headsmen) we must stop it. Everyone of us must rise up. The armed forces are not neutral.
They collude with the armed bandits that kill people, kill Nigerians.
“ They cover them” If you are depending on the armed forces to stop the killers you will die one by one”
“The ethnic cleansing must stop in Taraba State, must stop in all the States of Nigeria Otherwise Somalia will be a child’s play.
“ I ask everyone of you to be alert and defend your country, defend your territory,
defend your state. You have nowhere else to go. God bless our Country.