Opinion

No amount of campaign calumny will stop Labour Party Plateau candidate – Media Adviser

Published

4 years ago

January 20, 2023

vicky

Media adviser to Patrick Sunday Dakum, the governorship candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in Plateau State, Shabul Mazadu, has said that no amount of campaign calumny against the candidate will stop him from the race.

Speaking with BusinessDay over an alleged campaign of calumny against Dakum by a rival party, Mazadu said that the Labour Party candidate’s popularity and acceptability in the state have gone beyond stoppage.

“Labour Party has no thugs. Dakum has no record of thuggery like others. There is no amount of calumny that will stop Dakum and the Labour Party, Dati can only howl, wail and bray, but judgment is sure at the polls.

“It was funny reading bogus praise of Governor Simon Lalong and vituperations against the venerable Plateau State Labour Party governorship candidate, Patrick Sunday Dakum, by the Chief of Staff to the Director General, Tinubu/Shettima Campaign organisation, Yakubu Dati.

“Dati in an interview with an online paper attempted to cover up for the totally failed leadership of Governor Simon Lalong, and took a swipe at Dakum whose acceptability is skyrocketing at supersonic speed sweeping the entire 17 local government areas of the state, with lies and malicious postulation to whip up sympathy for Lalong whose political ambition is already dancing on the graveyard of extinction waiting for the final whistle at the 2023 general election to be blown.

“Dati, who is an ardent user of political thugs fully backed by Lalong, thinks everyone is like them that’s why he accused Dr Dakum and the Labour Party of using thugs in Shendam on Saturday 31st December 2022 during Bit Goemai, the Goemai annually festival.

“In his interview on the online paper, they were confused and claimed that Dakum was a Senatorial candidate, which is not true. Dakum has no record of ever using thugs, but Lalong and Dati.

“It was the fanatical members of the All Progressives Congress, APC, at the Bit Goemai who was vexed that so many of their members joined the Labour Party supporters in chanting Sai Dakum that almost invaded the venue of the event.

“The LP supporters were only chanting ‘Sai Dakum and Sai Labour Party.’ Dakum showed displeasure seeing the mood and disappointment in the faces of Rt. Hon. Yusuf Gagdi, chairman of the occasion and governor Lalong, seeing that he stole the day and they were heartbroken.

“This prompted him to publicly apologise and demonstrated love by going all out to embrace and exchange banters with the APC Governorship candidate.”

According to him, “The crowd that graced Dakum’s campaign flag-off in Langtang North and that of Bankilong and Kunkyam in Kanam Local Government Area on Boxing Day, 2022, shattered the APC whose attempts to use the erstwhile Labour Party governorship candidate, Yohana Margif, to stop Dakum met its waterloo at the Federal High Court, Jos.

“Talking of peace, Peter Tosh said, ‘There will be no peace until the man gets equal rights and justice.’And in the absence of equal rights and justice, one side has to play the fool for peace to reign, and that’s the exact thing that Plateau did for peace to reign and not Lalong’s finesse or prowess.”

News

Atiku, Obi: Rufai Oseni urges Tinubu to be cautious with Wike

Published

8 hours ago

September 3, 2026

Preport

Arise Television anchor, Rufai Oseni, has cautioned President Bola Tinubu to be wary of his political relationship with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike.

Oseni spoke while reacting to Wike’s recent claim that he would become a major target of opposition politicians, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi, if President Tinubu fails to secure re-election in 2027.

Wike made the remark during a media chat in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Wednesday, where he defended his continued support for Tinubu’s second-term ambition despite being a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

Reacting during Arise Television’s The Morning Show on Thursday, Oseni questioned why Wike was allegedly concerned about being witch-hunted by Atiku or Obi.

According to him, Wike should have nothing to fear if he was confident that his actions had been justified.

“So why is Mr Wike afraid today? Why is he afraid that if Atiku Abubakar gets in, he’s going to be witch-hunted?

“Is it because he prevented Atiku from campaigning in Rivers State?” Oseni said.

“I don’t have problems with him not accepting to support Atiku, but what I have problems with is that he used his high-handedness as governor to ensure that Atiku did not campaign in Rivers State.

“Why is he thinking Peter Obi will witch-hunt him? Oh, is it because, like the BBC revealed, what Obi got on the IReV was more than any person in that election, and we saw what was declared because he has his hand over it.

“Mr Wike, why are you scared? Why do you think they will witch-hunt you? Is there anything you want to tell us? Because if you are proud of your actions, you should not fear a witch hunt.”

Oseni also warned Tinubu to be cautious in his dealings with Wike, arguing that the former Rivers State governor could publicly disclose details of their political relationship if they eventually fall out.

He said Wike had a history of falling out with former political allies and associates.

“You see, for all of those that do things with him, in all of this, the person I pity the most, and I have a very great pity for, is President Tinubu, because you see how Wike is revealing everything now.

“The day he quickly falls out with President Tinubu, this Wike will talk, and he will talk very well.

“So, Babami, President Tinubu, I hope whatever you are doing with Wike are things that we can say in public. I’m just begging for posterity’s sake, because it is the height of delusion for President Tinubu to think that whatever ‘padi padi’ he is doing with Wike, if they are no longer together, Wike will not talk,” he said.

Oseni further referenced Wike’s past political comments against godfatherism, including his criticism of Tinubu during the political crisis involving former Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode.

“This was the same Wike, if you remember, when Ambode was going back and forth with President Tinubu, he told him that we don’t allow godfathers in Rivers.

“You were talking to President Tinubu then, now you people are aligning. Congratulations to you, because I’m saying this from experience,” he added.

Oseni said he knew some people who were once close to Wike but were no longer on speaking terms with him, warning the President to be careful in his relationship with the FCT minister.

Wike has been locked in a prolonged political battle with Atiku since the 2022 PDP presidential primary, which the former vice president won ahead of the then Rivers State governor.

News

Gagdi Mourns Former Plateau Speaker Peter Azi, Describes Him as a Man of Humility and Kindness

Published

2 weeks ago

August 17, 2026

Preport

Member of the House of Representatives representing Pankshin/Kanke/Kanam Federal Constituency, Rt. Hon. Yusuf Adamu Gagdi, has expressed deep sorrow over the death of former Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Peter Ajang Azi.

Azi reportedly passed away on Thursday, August 13, 2026.

In a tribute issued following his death, Gagdi described the late former Speaker as his “brother, colleague and friend,” saying his death was a painful loss to his immediate family, Plateau State, the legislative community, particularly members of the 8th Assembly, and everyone who knew him.

Gagdi, who served alongside Azi in the 8th Plateau State House of Assembly as Deputy Speaker, said their time together in the legislature remained a memorable chapter of his public service.

According to him, Azi demonstrated that effective leadership did not have to be loud, noting that he carried himself with “remarkable simplicity, humility and dignity.”

“Azi was a man of kindness, honesty and sincerity of purpose. He had a gentle disposition and a way of making people feel valued,” Gagdi said.

The federal lawmaker also recalled the personal bond he shared with the former Speaker, particularly the familiar moments when he would jokingly tell him, “Take this and take that,” describing the expression as a reflection of the friendship, trust and camaraderie between them.

Gagdi said Azi’s contributions to Plateau State and its democratic development would not be forgotten, stressing that his life of service, humility and commitment to his people had left behind a lasting legacy.

He extended his condolences to Azi’s wife, children, siblings, relatives, friends and other members of the family, as well as the people of Pankshin/Kanke/Kanam Federal Constituency.

Gagdi prayed that Almighty God would comfort the bereaved family and grant them the strength to bear the loss.

“May God grant Peter Ajang Azi eternal rest, receive him into His everlasting Kingdom, and grant the family the strength and fortitude to bear this irreparable loss.”

He concluded by bidding his former colleague and friend farewell, saying: “Rest well, my brother Peter. Your journey on earth is over, but your memories, your kindness and your service will remain with us.”