Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has responded to General Yakubu Gowon (rtd.) following Gowon’s revelation that he had intervened to prevent the execution of Obasanjo during General Sani Abacha’s regime.

Obasanjo was among those imprisoned by Abacha’s government in the late 1990s on charges related to an alleged coup attempt.

Speaking at the Plateau Interdenominational Unity Christmas Carols and Praise Festival in Jos, Plateau State, Gowon shared that he had written a personal letter to Abacha, asking for clemency on Obasanjo’s behalf.

Gowon explained that in his letter to Abacha, he emphasized that leaders are chosen by God to do good, not evil.

He also disclosed that he sent the letter through his wife to Abacha in the dead of the night, hoping to persuade him to spare Obasanjo’s life.

Gowon expressed his joy that Obasanjo was eventually released after three years in prison following Abacha’s death in 1998, and that Obasanjo later became Nigeria’s president in 1999.

Obasanjo, who was unaware of Gowon’s intervention until this revelation, expressed his gratitude at the carol event the following day.

He acknowledged Gowon’s efforts and thanked him for the letter, which he only learned about at the event.

“When I came out of prison, I had the opportunity to thank many people who contributed to my release, both within the country and internationally.

However, I did not know that you personally wrote to Abacha for my release until you mentioned it yesterday. I thank you for that,” Obasanjo said.

Obasanjo also took the opportunity to commend Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang for his developmental initiatives and peace efforts, urging him to continue working for the progress of the state.

It is worth noting that in 1975, Obasanjo and the late General Murtala Mohammed overthrew Gowon in a coup, a significant event in Nigeria’s military history.

Chief Paul Orajiaka, the Labour Party’s senatorial aspirant for Anambra South Senatorial District, has vowed to improve the region’s prospects if elected.

He made this commitment during his week-long tour of the district, where he interacted with party members and local executives.

Orajiaka shared his plans for the district, seeking the support and blessings of party members in his bid to become the next Senator representing Anambra South.

“I believe our shared passion will inspire everyone, and together we can secure a collective victory for the benefit of our zone,” he stated.

In Nnewi North, Orajiaka was warmly received by the local Labour Party structure, where discussions focused on strengthening the party and ensuring a successful Senatorial election.

At Ihiala, Orajiaka, who hails from the area, expressed his deep gratitude for the support from his hometown, stating, “The love and faith shown by the people of Ihiala are beyond words. I’m committed to delivering value-based leadership to our zone.”

During his visit to Nnewi South, Orajiaka addressed party members at the Amechi Town Hall, emphasizing his goals for the zone and why he believes he is the right candidate to represent them in the Senate.

In Aguata, Orajiaka highlighted the importance of unity within the party, stressing the need to choose a candidate who is passionate about delivering effective leadership for the people of Anambra South.

At Ekwusigo, Orajiaka was welcomed by the party’s local executives, who expressed their dedication to securing a win in the upcoming bye-election for the vacant Senate seat.

The tour continued in Orumba South Local Government, where Orajiaka paid a courtesy visit to Labour Party Deputy State Chairman Rev. Christian Orajekwe and received a warm reception at the Palace of Umunze.

He took the opportunity to discuss his aspirations and gather support from the local community.

Orajiaka concluded his tour in Orumba North, where he was welcomed by Hon. Paul Obu, the State House of Assembly representative, and the entire local Labour Party structure.

He thanked the people for their hospitality and reaffirmed his commitment to working for the greater good of Anambra South.

“I’m grateful for the warmth and encouragement I’ve received throughout this tour. Together, we will build a brighter future for Anambra South.”

Labour Party National Chairman, Julius Abure, has called on the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, Abia State Governor Alex Otti, and other prominent members to return to the party following recent internal disputes.

In an interview on Saturday, Abure addressed the ongoing tensions within the party after some stakeholders opposed his re-election as national chairman.

Critics argued that the controversial Nnewi convention, which returned him to office, was not inclusive enough.

As a result, Obi, Otti, and other key party figures formed a 29-member caretaker committee in July, led by former Finance Minister Nnenadi Usman.

The committee was tasked with organizing a broader election to elect new leaders at various levels within the party.

However, Abure’s position as chairman was reaffirmed after a Federal High Court ruling in Abuja, which validated his election.

Since then, Abure has been working to regain the trust of party members who had opposed his leadership.

Addressing the situation, Abure dismissed claims of a crisis within the party, stating, “There is no longer a crisis in the party. The court has ruled that I am the legitimate leader of the Labour Party. If there’s a dispute, the proper course of action is to go to court, and the court has upheld our national convention.”

He also responded to accusations that the convention had not followed proper procedures, explaining, “INEC had initially pointed out that we didn’t follow due process, but the court ruled that the convention was in compliance with the party’s constitution, the electoral act, and the constitution of Nigeria.”

Abure extended an olive branch to those who felt wronged, saying, “We have forgiven everyone who might have felt offended. I hold no grudges, and we are moving forward as one big family in the Labour Party.”

The chairman also reflected on the nation’s current hardships, acknowledging that while leadership plays a role, the issues go beyond just governance.

“Our country is at a crossroads. It’s a time for reflection. The problems we face are not solely because of leadership but also because of the mindset and actions of the people,” he said.

Abure emphasized the need for electoral reform to address persistent issues in electing capable leaders.

“We need to reform the electoral system to ensure that we elect leaders with integrity who can drive the country’s development,” he concluded.

Local government chairmen in Nigeria have expressed concern over the continued delay in the direct allocation of federal funds to local government councils, despite a Supreme Court ruling issued four months ago.

In July, the Supreme Court ruled that the Federal Government should begin paying monthly allocations directly into the accounts of the 774 local government councils across the country.

However, four months later, the allocations are still being channeled through joint state-local government accounts managed by the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee.

Following the ruling, the Federal Government acknowledged the need to address operational issues before implementing the decision and set a three-month deadline to resolve these concerns.

That period ended in October, but the necessary changes have yet to be made.

Obiora Orji, spokesman for the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), confirmed that direct payments to local governments have not yet started.

“Everyone is waiting for it. It cannot be hidden; once the payments begin, it will be obvious,” Orji stated.

Akeem Ambali, National President of the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), explained that the delay was due to the lack of approval from President Bola Tinubu for full implementation of local government financial autonomy.

He mentioned that NULGE had submitted its position paper to the inter-ministerial committee set up by the Federal Government to facilitate the Supreme Court’s ruling.

This committee, chaired by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, has concluded its meetings and submitted a technical report to President Tinubu for approval.

“The committee’s recommendations have been submitted to the President, and we are eagerly awaiting the start of implementation,” Ambali said.

In response, Bawa Mokwa, Director of Press and Public Relations at the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation said the process for direct disbursement to local governments was still ongoing.

He confirmed that state governments continued to receive allocations on behalf of local governments until the transition to direct payments is finalized.

Mokwa, however, could not provide a specific timeline for when direct payments to local councils would begin.