GRPolitics

‘Leaked’ Tape: I was misquoted — Tinubu

Published

7 years ago

February 21, 2019

grassroots

• Clears the air on what he said

By: Oliseama Okwuchukwu

National Leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has dismissed the interpretation of his recent address to visiting party faithful as contained in what has been dubbed as a leaked tape. Tinubu in a statement on Wednesday by his media office said he was misquoted.

The statement, signed by Tunde Rahman, said: “Politics is an arena where mischief and exaggeration may not be the best craft but are permitted excesses of the trade. However, when people engage in wilful defamation, they have crossed the line into the impermissible. There are reports circulating in a Nigerian newspaper and elsewhere on the internet allegedly based on a “leaked” audio tape of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu at a crowded public meeting of APC supporters in Lagos on 14 February 2019.

“In a desperate attempt to paint Asiwaju in a poor light, the reports grossly mistranslates his statements to imply corruption and election malpractice. This is beyond the pale. Even the description of the audio as “leaked” is desperately illogical. Asiwaju addressed a meeting attended by hundreds of people. The meeting was open to the public at large. Moreover, the media was present and visible. There can be no leak involved when a statement is publicly made and the media present there. This misrepresentation of the audio as a “leak” is again part of a larger attempt to distort a normal speech to rally supporters prior to an election into something nefarious. As bad as this misleading description is, it is the least of the wrongs contained in these counterfeit reports.

“The reports claim that Asiwaju boasted that he stole money. The merchants of this outlandishness use the fact of Asiwaju speaking Yoruba at the meeting as the basis for their falsehood. Thus, non-Yoruba speakers are left to accept their translation of Asiwaju’s words. Had Asiwaju spoken in English they would not have a story to sell for his words clearly do not say what they claim of him. Their allegations are untrue but they figured their lies would still fly because many if not most of their audience cannot understand Yoruba.

“If the carriers of this defamation hired someone to translate Asiwaju’s words, they should demand their money back. The only way the translator could have innocently misinterpreted Asiwaju’s words so badly is that the poor translator only started to learn Yoruba half an hour before landing the job to make this translation. Give an accurate rendition of what Asiwaju said to 1,000 average Yoruba speakers. Each one of them would refute the mistranslation now floating about.

“Asiwaju never said, in Yoruba or any other language for that matter, that he stole money. Numerous media houses sent reporters fluent in Yoruba to this gathering and their reporters. The reports of these more legitimate journalistic sources did not register the same untrue claims as these mercenaries.

“Asiwaju said he would not go to Alausa but would use his own funds for the present effort. Thus, for the manufacturers of this fake report to claim Asiwaju said he would take government money is to hear some say “day” and claim he said “night” or have him say ‘up” but claim he said “down.” Such an utter mistranslation is unlikely to be an innocent gaffe. It is more likely wilful slander.

“One of the issues Asiwaju dwelt on in his address is the reward system for loyal party members and ardent supporters. He told party members the APC has now devised a plan to compensate them for their hard work after they delivered victory to the party at the polls.

In short, Asiwaju promised the party faithful, APC supporters and members a reward for their efforts to secure victory in the 2019 elections. He has previously stated the goal of getting 3 million people in Lagos to sufficiently believe in the vision of the APC that they will vote for President Buhari and Vice President Osinbajo. This objective was again the crux of his Valentine’s Day statement.

“Take Asiwaju’s statement for what was truly said. He said he would not steal money nor ask for government funds. Instead, he said he would recognise the successful efforts of APC members using only his personal funds. As such, his statement should not be held up to scorn or criticism but should be welcomed as the manner how things should proceed.

“The falsifiers seek to paint his statement as improper. However, it is common practice to give tokens of gratitude to party members for their work. It is feeble to suggest that such a practice somehow amounts to vote-buying. No one was directed to give money to potential voters. Asiwaju made it clear that the token rewards would only take place after the election. As far as any reasonable person can discern, it is somewhat impossible to purchase a vote after an election has already taken place.

“Asiwaju will not be cowed by these ugly attacks. He is a progressive politician used to the bite and venom of those who would hold Nigeria back. They attack him as they do because they fear his appeal to the people. For his popular goodwill is something they do not have and can never get. He earned it through serving the people. His enemies can only try to buy it for they seek not serve anyone but themselves. Thus, Asiwaju shall continue to fight to keep Nigeria from the clutches those who would run the country not as a nation but as if it were their private country club.

“The defamers will lurk in the dark, obscure crevices plotting the next attack. By now you should know their ambushes are not of the truth but of deception. They aim not to spread democracy but to diminish it. The lies they make are tall tales indeed. But the democratic and positive governance we seek is so much bigger than what they do. In the end, when everything that needs to be said is said and all that needs to be done is done, progress and hope shall defeat deceit and the unjust privilege that is deceit’s master.”

GRPolitics

Why I Left PDP for APC – Governor Peter Mbah

…Says move is to align Enugu’s progress with national reforms under President Tinubu | Reports ORJI ISRAEL

Published

21 hours ago

October 14, 2025

grassroots

Dr. Peter Mbah, Governor of Enugu State

Enugu State Governor, Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, has formally announced his defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), declaring that the decision marks “a new chapter for Enugu” and reflects “a conscious step towards a more compelling future.”

Governor Mbah made the announcement on Tuesday, October 14, 2025, during a special address to the people of Enugu titled “Charting a New Course: Transition from PDP to APC.”

He described the move as a product of long reflection and broad consultation, stressing that it was neither impulsive nor politically expedient but a “strategic alignment” designed to deepen Enugu’s transformation and secure federal partnership for the state’s long-term development.

A Moment of Reflection and Renewal

In his address, the governor began by expressing gratitude to God and the people of Enugu, noting that his journey so far had been anchored on trust and shared vision.

“At a time when confidence in political leaders had almost collapsed, Ndi Enugu chose to believe in us. When I declared that ‘Tomorrow Is Here’, you put aside skepticism and stood by us. Without that trust, the transformation we see today would never have happened,” Mbah said.

He highlighted major achievements recorded under his administration in less than three years, including:

Smart Green Schools nearing completion across the state,
Primary healthcare centres established in all 260 wards,
Crime rate reduction by 80%,
Massive infrastructure projects, including over 1,000 km of paved roads,
AI-driven Command and Control Centre and 150 distress response vehicles,
Revamped water supply,
600% growth in Internally Generated Revenue, and
Revitalized state assets such as Hotel Presidential and Nigergas.

He also noted that Enugu had earned national recognition as the Cleanest State in Nigeria, winning the Renewed Hope Initiative’s Model Green State Award.

Appreciation to PDP, But Time for Bold Choices

Governor Mbah commended the PDP for providing the platform that brought him to power, describing the party as “a house where Enugu had shared history, struggles, and victories.”

However, he emphasized that leadership sometimes demands “painful but necessary decisions” for the greater good.

“After long reflection, we have made the decision to leave the PDP and join the APC. This is no whimsical decision. It’s a collective move by the political family in Enugu State — members of the National Assembly, House of Assembly, Executive Council, Local Government Chairmen and Councillors, political appointees, and over 80% of party executives,” Mbah explained.

He noted that despite Enugu’s longstanding loyalty to the PDP, “our voices were too often disregarded when it mattered most,” necessitating a shift to a platform where the state’s interests would receive fairer representation.

Partnership for Progress with President Tinubu

Mbah said his decision to join the APC was inspired by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s “visionary leadership and courage to make tough choices for national transformation.”

“I have found in His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, not just a leader of our nation, but a partner in purpose, a man with the courage to look beyond today and make the tough choices that secure lasting prosperity for tomorrow,” he said.

He praised the President’s Renewed Hope Ward Development Programme, which targets the empowerment of 8.8 million Nigerians across 8,809 electoral wards, saying it aligns with Enugu’s own grassroots-driven development model.

Mbah described his defection as “alignment at scale”, aimed at connecting Enugu’s destiny with the broader economic and governance reforms driving Nigeria’s renewal.

“We are not moving from resentment or fear. We are confident of our future. This move is about fairness, respect, and partnership. What changes is that our vision now finds stronger reinforcement at the federal level,” he added.

Reassurance to Ndi Enugu and the South East

Addressing concerns about how the political shift might affect ongoing projects, the governor assured citizens that his commitment to the state’s development remained unwavering.

“The progress you see today will not slow, and the projects we have begun will be completed. This is not a detour but a step toward a stronger, more connected Enugu,” he affirmed.

He also called on the political class across the South East to prioritize service delivery and regional interest over partisan loyalty.

“Our people are watching. What they care about most are results. True leadership is about service to the people, not service to self,” he said.

A Call for Unity and Shared Vision

Governor Mbah ended his address with a call for unity, urging Ndi Enugu to rally behind the administration’s vision as the state embarks on a new political and developmental trajectory.

“Let us gather with renewed hope to build the Enugu – and the Nigeria – that our children deserve. Tomorrow is here,” he concluded.

Background

Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, a lawyer, entrepreneur, and public policy expert, was elected governor of Enugu State under the platform of the PDP in 2023. His administration’s Tomorrow is Here agenda focuses on technology-driven governance, industrialization, education reform, and fiscal expansion.

His defection to the APC marks a major political realignment in the South East, with implications for the region’s relationship with the federal government and the 2027 political landscape.

GRPolitics

New Enugu Group Throws Weight Behind Mbah’s Defection to APC

…Says move will connect Enugu to national development grid | By ORJI ISRAEL

Published

22 hours ago

October 14, 2025

grassroots

R-l: President Bola Tinubu and governor Peter Mbah Both of APC

A prominent socio-political group in Enugu State, New Enugu Group, has declared total support for Governor Peter Mbah’s decision to join the All Progressives Congress (APC), describing the move as a bold and strategic step towards linking the state to the centre for greater development opportunities.

Speaking to journalists at the Michael Okpara Square, Enugu, on Tuesday, during the official ceremony where President Bola Tinubu, alongside members of the APC National Working Committee (NWC) and other party stalwarts, presented the party’s flag to Governor Mbah, the convener of the group, Barr. Henry Okeke, commended the governor for what he called a “visionary and courageous decision.”

Okeke noted that the development signaled a decisive break from the past and the beginning of a new political era in Enugu State. He said the governor’s transition to the ruling party would unlock federal attention and investments long denied the state.

“We’re declaring full support for our capacity governor and an icon of the New Enugu State, as he takes this bold, wise, courageous, and historic step to connect our dear state to the Progressives Government at the centre,” Okeke said, adding that “We align fully with His Excellency in this new dawn.”

The group further assured that its members, spread across the 260 electoral wards of the state, would remain steadfast in their support for the Mbah administration.

“We reiterate our commitment and confidence in his leadership. We have activated our structures across the state to mobilize for the governor under the APC. His achievements in just two years have been unprecedented, and we are confident that with this alignment, Enugu will witness more jobs, more opportunities, and accelerated development,” Okeke added.

He further expressed optimism that the governor’s defection to the APC would strengthen the state’s political relevance and ensure the delivery of more democratic dividends to the people.

Governor Mbah had earlier in the day officially announced Enugu State’s transition from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in a colourful event witnessed by a massive crowd of supporters.

The governor, in his remarks, explained that the move followed growing pressure from the people of the state, who urged him to connect the state to the national grid of governance to enable greater federal collaboration and development.

The event, which attended by several APC national leaders, governors, stakeholders, former PDP stakeholders both in at the state and national levels, was described as a watershed moment in the political history of Enugu State by speakers at the rally.

GRPolitics

Enugu Commissioners Defect to APC Ahead of Governor’s likely Jump

By ISRAEL ORJI

Published

2 days ago

October 13, 2025

grassroots

Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State

Several commissioners in Enugu State have officially joined the All Progressives Congress (APC), in what appears to be a precursor to Governor Peter Mbah’s anticipated defection to the ruling party.

The defections include Lawrence Ezeh, Commissioner for Innovation, Science and Technology; Amaka Ngene, Chair of the Science, Technical and Vocational Schools Management Board; and Felix Nnamani, Commissioner for Labour and Employment.

A video released by Dan Nwomeh, the Governor’s Senior Special Assistant on Media, shows the commissioners holding APC flags and declaring their allegiance publicly.

Although Governor Mbah has not yet commented, reports suggest the formal defection is imminent. According to News Express, plans are underway for a ceremony in Enugu as early as Tuesday to receive him into the party.

Political watchers view the move as a major shift in the South East, potentially making Enugu the first state in the region under APC control since the 2023 elections.