Governor Rotimi Akeredolu says there is a divine backing of APC presidential standard bearer Bola Tinubu’s ambition ahead of the 2023 general elections.

“What we believe and stand by is that since we started this republic in 1999, we have been rotating power from North to South, and for us, by that rotation, this is the time of South,” the Ondo governor declared and insisted power should shift to the South, parroting Mr Tinubu’s now infamous ’emi lokan’ outburst.

“This is our time, and nobody is going to take it. ‘Awa lokan’; wonderful theme for this time. When the theme was chosen, I’m sure nobody was thinking about ‘Emi lokan’ or anything,” Mr Akeredolu noted. “But it is just by coincidence. God has spoken through Agape that this is our time. I thank you, Agape.”

The governor disclosed this on Sunday at the Agape International Church 34th Annual Convention in Akure. The theme of the convention was ‘This is my time’.

He emphasised that the people had always lived together in harmony despite their religious differences in the past.

“We have (a) very interesting coincidence here. Today, we have Her Excellency Omolewa, wife of (the) former governor of Kwara, here. I have known her to be a true Christian, (a) very true one, leading the altar in her home, in a home where the husband is also a true Muslim,” said the governor during the service.

Mr Tinubu and his running mate, Kassim Shettima, are Muslims, making many Nigerians, including APC chieftains, condemn the party’s Muslim-Muslim ticket.

“There are many people here that have both Muslims and Christians as family members, and there is no quarrel. Religion should not bring quarrels among us, and that is where we stand,” Mr Akeredolu told the congregants.

The governor commended the church leadership for complying with the government’s directives on installing CCTV cameras in worship centres and other public places.

Senator Ali Ndume has said the Nigerian Army is finding it difficult to solve security challenges in different parts of the country because it doesn’t have modern equipment required to fight terrorism.

Ali Ndume disclosed this during an interview on Channels TV’s Politics Today.

He said, “I will say it again, the purpose of government is security and welfare of the citizens. The Nigerian Army doesn’t have the number. They don’t have the equipment; they don’t have the technology that is required to solve or handle these challenges we have.

“The earlier we prioritise this seriously and even declare a kind of state of emergency in the areas of security and welfare of citizens the better for us because that is what the government is all about.

“The constitution is very clear that the purpose of government is security and welfare of its citizens. The earlier the government and people of Nigeria in all the arms of government concentrate on making sure that our country is secure and our citizens welfare is taken care of, the better for us.

“I will say again that Nigerian army I know is up to the task if given what they need. And if they are given what they need, they should be given timeline.”

He said terrorists released the victims of Kaduna-bound train attack because they were settled.

He added, “As for the action taken by the army, that is an action expected of them but that goes to show in total that if the army has the number, the modern equipment that they require, they can tackle this problem within the shortest possible time.”

The immediate-past Senate President, Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki, has urged Nigerian youths to vote for candidates with integrity, credibility and good character during the 2023 general elections.

Saraki spoke in Ilorin, Kwara State capital at a summit organised by Omoluabi Foundation founded by a former Minister of Sports and Youth Development, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, who is also the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) senatorial candidate for Kwara Central in the 2023 election.

The summit was themed, “Leadership As Character.”

Saraki, who observed that Nigeria is in its current mess as a result of choice of leadership, admonished followers to always vote for politicians with good character.

He added: “I implore the youths to go out and do what is right in 2023 by voting for the candidates that have character, courage and competence.

“We are lucky that in few months time we will have an opportunity to press a reset button. It is time we look at ourselves and ask which of our leaders has character.

“The time for propaganda has gone. We should look at the character of those who wants to lead us. If we get the character right we will get the economy, security and cost of living right.

“If we the voters don’t have character to do what is right this country will not move forward. We should not always blame the leaders, the followers have a role to play.”

Earlier, the convener of the event, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi said Nigeria faced a very dangerous future “if we do not make right investment in our youths.

“Nigeria has a youth population that is more than the entire population of several West African countries put together.”