THE MYSTICAL POLITICAL POWER OF JAGABAN AS ALBATROSS FOR ATIKU AND OBI

CC™ PersPective

By Yahaya Balogun

In many ways, the ceaseless ambitions of both Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi for the presidency have ignited a downward spiral for the People Democratic Party-PDP, serving as the spark for its symbolic demise. Their repeated pursuits of the nation's highest office not only complicated the landscape of political aspirations but also laid bare the irreparable fractures within the party. Now, there's no doubt that opportunistic Peter Obi must be shopping for another ramshackle party like the unserious Labor Party, using it as a political Ponzi scheme for his political ambition.

As opportunistic politicians with substantial followings and experience, Atiku and Obi's continuous attempts to capture the presidential nomination illuminated the internal divisions and ideological divergences that had been quietly brewing. Each campaign revealed a story of ambition and rivalry that eclipsed the party's dubious foundational values, eroding its unity and cementing its incoherence.

Abubakar Atiku and Peter Obi's aspirations wielded a double-edged sword in Nigeria's fiercely competitive political arena. While they aimed to ascend their personal political ladders, they inadvertently cast long shadows over the PDP's stature as once a formidable political entity in Nigeria. Each presidential bid, laden with challenges and controversies, inadvertently highlighted the party's diminishing clout and its struggle to project a cohesive image. As factions splintered and loyalties shifted, it became increasingly apparent that the PDP was not merely contending with external rivals; it was ensnared in an existential crisis from within, paving for the tsunami and influx of political jobber into the Alliance of People's Congress-APC. 

Thus, as Atiku and Obi relentlessly chased their presidential dreams, the PDP appeared to be edging toward a crucial turning point. Rather than rejuvenating the party, their ambitions were nails in its coffin, signifying the curtain closing on an era for an organization that once dominated Nigeria's political theater. The phrase 'sealed the coffin' captures a moment of irrevocable change, revealing how, amidst towering aspirations, the party's legacy now teeters on the brink as it struggles to redefine itself in an evolving political landscape.

Bola Ahmed Tinubu, known as 'Jagaban,' emerges as a monumental presence in Nigerian politics, embodying a unique blend of insight and strategic prowess that few can rival. Often characterized as a political maverick, he navigates the perilous currents of governance and public life with a boldness that has earned him both fervent supporters and staunch critics. Overlooking the depth of his influence and the complexities of his political tactics would be a significant oversight—an oversight fueled by naivety.

It would be shortsighted to disregard the fact that many of his political adversaries have, in essence, woven the fabric of their own declines through a series of blunders. Dismissing the imposing presence of Tinubu, affectionately dubbed 'Jagaban,' could very well lead to calamity for those who underestimate his political shrewdness. More than just a contender on the political stage, he represents an unwavering force—a true juggernaut capable of reshaping and redefining the political landscape of Nigeria.

His substantial influence has not merely disrupted the existing order; Tinubu has played a pivotal role in shaking the foundations of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) and other opposition factions, entities rooted in a political epoch marked by military takeovers and upheaval. Once considered stable pillars of Nigeria's political scene, these parties now confront a palpable atmosphere of uncertainty and turmoil.

Under Tinubu's watchful eye, Nigeria stands at a crucial intersection, teetering between a past characterized by turbulent political crises and a future that could promise stability or further discord. As he continues to navigate this contentious crossroads, the implications of his strategic leadership extend far beyond the political realm, touching the lives of millions of Nigerians watching with bated breath to see how this complex saga unfolds to collective fruition. In recognizing the historical significance of this moment, one cannot ignore the ongoing transformation of Nigeria's political scene. This transformation is both exhilarating and rife with the imperils and political peril of Atiku and Obi—serial presidential contestants.

European powers tell UN they are ready to reimpose Iran sanctions

CC™ Global News

By Staff

Britain, France and Germany have told the United Nations they are ready to reimpose UN-mandated sanctions on Iran over its nuclear program if no diplomatic solution is found by the end of August, according to a communique obtained by CC™

The letter to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and the UN Security Council says the three European powers are “committed to use all diplomatic tools at our disposal to ensure Iran does not develop a nuclear weapon” unless Tehran meets the deadline.

The foreign ministers from the so-called E3 group threaten to use a “snapback mechanism” that was part of a 2015 international deal with Iran that eased UN Security Council sanctions.

Under the deal, which terminates in October, any party to the accord can restore the sanctions.

All three have stepped up warnings to Iran about its suspension of cooperation with the UN nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency.

That came after Israel launched a 12-day war with Iran in June, partly seeking to destroy its nuclear capability. The United States staged its own bombing raid during the war.

“We have made clear that if Iran is not willing to reach a diplomatic solution before the end of August 2025, or does not seize the opportunity of an extension, E3 are prepared to trigger the snapback mechanism,” foreign ministers Jean-Noel Barrot of France, David Lammy of Britain and Johann Wadephul of Germany said in the letter.

All three countries were signatories to the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action with the United States, China and Russia that offered the carrot and stick deal for Iran to slow its enrichment of uranium needed for a nuclear weapon.

President Donald Trump pulled the United States out of the accord in 2018 during his first term and ordered new sanctions.

The European countries said they would stick to the accord. But their letter sets out engagements that the ministers say Iran has breached, including building up a uranium stock more than 40 times the permitted level under the 2015 deal.

“The E3 remain fully committed to a diplomatic resolution to the crisis caused by Iran’s nuclear program and will continue to engage with a view to reaching a negotiated solution.

“We are equally ready, and have unambiguous legal grounds, to notify the significant non-performance of JCPOA commitments by Iran … thereby triggering the snapback mechanism, should no satisfactory solution be reached by the end of August 2025,” the ministers wrote in the letter first reported by the Financial Times.

The United States had already started contacts with Iran, which denies seeking a weapon, over its nuclear activities.

But these were halted by the Israeli strikes in June on Iran’s nuclear facilities.

Even before the strikes, the international powers had raised concerns about the lack of access given to IAEA inspectors.

Iran halted all cooperation with the IAEA after the strikes, but it announced that the agency’s deputy chief was expected in Teheran for talks on a new cooperation deal.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi sent a letter to the UN last month saying that the European countries did not have the legal right to restore sanctions.

The European ministers called this allegation “unfounded”.

They insisted that as JCPOA signatories, they would be “clearly and unambiguously legally justified in using relevant provisions” of UN resolutions “to trigger UN snapback to reinstate UNSC resolutions against Iran which would prohibit enrichment and re-impose UN sanctions.”

South Africa denounces ‘deeply flawed’ US human rights report

CC™ News

By Staff

South Africa has denounced a “deeply flawed” US report highlighting its “deteriorating” human rights situation, days after Donald Trump’s administration slapped 30 percent tariffs on many of the country’s exports.

In its annual human rights report released Tuesday, the US State Department accused South Africa of taking “a substantially worrying step towards land expropriation of so-called Afrikaners and further abuses against racial minorities”.

Hit with the highest US tariffs of any sub-Saharan country, South Africa has been a regular target of Trump, who has criticised land and employment laws meant to redress lingering racial inequalities.

Pretoria’s foreign ministry responded Tuesday by expressing “profound disappointment” in the US report.

“We find the report to be an inaccurate and deeply flawed account that fails to reflect the reality of our constitutional democracy,” it said.

A law signed this year by President Cyril Ramaphosa and denounced by Trump allows for the expropriation of land without compensation in rare circumstances.

Land ownership remains a contentious issue in South Africa, with most farmland still owned by white settlers, a full three decades after the end of apartheid.

Pretoria still hopes to strike a deal with Washington, its third-largest trading partner, to save tens of thousands of jobs in the agricultural, automotive and textiles sectors that are highly dependent on the US market.

Jim Ferrell and the use of City apparatus for political intimidation

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The indispensable impact of Nigerians globally

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Mexico rejects reported U.S. military plan to target drug cartels

CC™ PersPective

By Staff

Mexican President, Claudia Sheinbaum has dismissed the possibility of U.S. troops operating on Mexican soil, following reports that U.S. President Donald Trump had authorized the Pentagon to prepare for military action against Latin American drug cartels.

“The United States is not going to come to Mexico with the military,” Sheinbaum told reporters. “We cooperate, we collaborate, but there is not going to be an invasion. That is ruled out, absolutely ruled out.”

Her comments came after The New York Times reported that Trump had secretly signed a directive granting the Pentagon authority to conduct direct military operations against drug cartels abroad.

The reported order follows Trump’s earlier executive designation of eight cartels as terrorist organizations, six of which are based in Mexico.

While the White House did not confirm the directive, it reiterated in a statement to the BBC that the president’s “top priority is protecting the homeland.”

Sheinbaum said her government was informed in advance that new measures targeting cartels were planned but stressed they involved no U.S. military deployment in Mexico.

“It is not part of any agreement, far from it. When it has been brought up, we have always said ‘No’,” she added.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, said Thursday, that the terrorist designation would allow Washington to use intelligence and defense resources against cartels.

“We have to start treating them as armed terrorist organizations, not simply drug-dealing organizations,” Rubio said.

Despite the tensions, Mexico and the U.S. have recently intensified cooperation on border security and anti-narcotics efforts.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection data shows June recorded the lowest number of illegal border crossings on record, while fentanyl seizures dropped by more than half compared to earlier this year.

U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Ronald Johnson praised the joint efforts on X, writing that cooperation between Sheinbaum and Trump had left cartels “going bankrupt” and both countries “safer because of it.”

Flashback: The GOP and the dearth of true conservatives

Reagan takes oath of office

Editor-in-Chief 

--- Boyejo A. Coker

This piece was written (ahead of the 2012 U.S. general elections) as a sequel to a preceding piece titled "Whither the GOP and true conservatism." Both pieces served to profess a prelude to the emergence of both Barack Obama and Donald Trump on opposite sides of the political spectrum. The article continues below.....

In an article I wrote a few years ago, I touched on the debilitating frailties of the GOP as presently constituted and how they may have led to the election of Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States.

As we get into the decisive months of presidential politics in the U.S. general elections, one sees the same pattern beginning to unfold once again, as the GOP-led Congress (at least on the House side) would much rather play side-bar politics, that could ultimately re-energize the left to turn out in solidarity of what most observers perceive to be an under-performing president.

There is no question that the president is vulnerable and worse-still is the fact that he seems unsure of what he needs to do, in order to get the economy moving again.

For independent voters (they hold the "swing votes" in key elections), the two choices for the White House would seem to be a replay of 2008 all over again.

Then, most independents seemed to initially lean towards John McCain, as they respected his service to country as well as his penchant for reaching across the aisle, to get the business of the nation done, when it was absolutely necessary.

The fringe right of the GOP was however cool to the McCain candidacy and they eventually forced his hand into choosing someone that many felt became a liability to both his candidacy as well as the poignant message true conservatives were trying to send to the American people.

Key political watchers would argue that true conservatives never warmed up to Sarah Palin the minute they realized there was nothing behind the looks or between the ears.

For all the so-called Tea Party would like most Americans to believe, conservatism is not defined by a resentment for a sterling educational pedigree or impeccable intellectual acumen. Rather than see those with the preceding qualities as snubs, a true conservative views the composite as an invaluable asset; one that typifies a sense of ambition, responsibility and ultimately speaks to the crux of the conservative message of a commitment to excellence.

The reality is that this president is way in over his head, but the GOP leadership in the House of Representatives has consistently giving him a way out by stalling and styming his feckless efforts aimed at "reviving" the American economy.

And when they are not styming the president's "well intended efforts" they are busy issuing subpoenas to the Attorney General of the United States for a program that was actually started under a Republican president; it was then called Operation Wide Receiver and it was the first known ATF "gunwalking" operation to the Mexican drug cartels, beginning in early 2006 (under the Bush White House) and ran till late 2007.

Not to digress onto this matter, but what makes the Darrell Issa-led over-reach even more laughable and at best mis-directed, is the fact that under the Bush administration, there were no known reviews by either the DOJ or the Congress at the time. In fact, it was not until Barack Obama took office in 2009, that the Eric Holder-led DOJ started an intensive review into Operation Wide Receiver, with arrests and indictments subsequently made, as a result of the investigations.

Rather than focus on the key issues that continue to affect the generality of the American people, the ECONOMY, ECONOMY and the ECONOMY, key GOP leadership and their surrogates, would much rather play divisive politics and once again, give a much needed opening and life-line to a struggling presidency.

True conservatives are not blinded by their parochial and ideological idiosyncrasies, but are instead committed to espousing the true values and ideals of transparency, accountability and responsible governance; doing so with dignity and firmness, as well as a sense of cordiality that belies their resolve and determination.

The message of individual responsibility, self-determination, personal discipline and accountability must not be lost in the abyss of incendiary vituperations laced with jingoistic redundancies.

The American people deserve much better this time around, than a default presidency as that may ultimately lead to a couple of plausible scenarios that could eventually obtain here. The first is that Barack Obama's "third term" is ensured (4 years from now) by the lack of purpose and direction currently being exhibited by the core GOP establishment. The other scenario is that an anti-establishment candidate may arise out of the ashes of the impending GOP establishment's implosion. That person would then become an unlikely but much welcome voice (to the far right) of parochial irredentism that may change the political landscape of the United States forever.

Chief Editor's commentary: The 'anti-establishment candidate' I predicted almost a decade ago, in this piece, turned out to be Donald J. Trump. Four years of his chaotic presidency has turned American democracy on its head and January 6, 2021 was indeed a defining day in the history of the United States of America. Let no one be fooled here either by the incendiary posturing of some GOP fringe stalwarts of the disgraced former president, as it relates to Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. 

The facts are that Donald Trump was first impeached for withholding military aid to a friendly nation in exchange for a purported favor from that nation (Ukraine) against a potential opponent (Joe Biden) of his, in the upcoming presidential elections, at the time. Trump’s feckless presidency and rudderless leadership strengthened Putin’s hand politically, as it relates to the former Soviet Republics, Ukraine especially, from a strategic standpoint, geopolitically. 

THE CITY BOY: A POLITICAL STRATEGIST AND CONSUMMATE POLITICIAN

CC™ PersPective

By Yahaya Balogun

Let us take a deep dive into the leadership and political strategy of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. In the grand tapestry of political discourse, I find myself captivated by the muse of creativity and inspiration. I am a fervent admirer of the political artistry exhibited by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. In a nation as complex and richly diverse as Nigeria, it is nothing short of a blessing to have such a strategic mind at the helm of leadership during these turbulent times.

The present administration, under the stewardship of PBAT, faces a myriad of challenges—obstacles that may appear mundane on the surface but are steeped in intricacies that demand astute political maneuvering. Despite these trials, the President's Bola Ahmed Tinubu remarkable ability to confront and navigate these difficulties is nothing short of praiseworthy.

In the intricate realm of political strategy, one often endeavors to create scenarios that yield win-win outcomes amidst a landscape filled with potential losers and winners. This delicate balancing act requires not only acute awareness but also profound understanding—a trait that President Tinubu has demonstrated time and again. His finesse in orchestrating the management of both scarce and abundant resources, whether they be human or material, has garnered admiration from both discerning intellectuals and pragmatic realists alike. It is a rare skill, particularly in a nation like Nigeria, where the echoes of a turbulent history reverberate through the political strata.

Since the dawn of independence, Nigeria has been embroiled in a political landscape where fairness and equity often seem like distant dreams. Yet, under PBAT's guidance, there emerges a flicker of hope—a vision of how to redefine the rules of engagement in a nation characterized by its political diversity. The President’s remarkable capacity to endure criticism and withstand the slings and arrows of public opinion goes beyond mere resilience; he possesses an uncanny ability to decipher the body language and psychological landscape of his people. This insight not only astounds his adversaries but also draws the admiration of those astute intellectuals who recognize the depth of his understanding.

In the colloquial parlance of Nigeria, it is often said that Omo Ologo—"the child of the illustrious"—is a soul destined for greatness. President Tinubu embodies this ethos, emerging as a beacon of hope amidst the shadows of political disillusionment. In the realm of business, corporate titans glide through the intricacies of national life, shaping the trajectory of both the private sector and public governance. A master strategist, then, is not merely someone who plots and schemes; rather, they are individuals adept at navigating the complexities of their environment to realize defined goals and objectives.

In the vibrant streets of Nigeria, there thrive individuals who are street-wise—a unique breed, well-groomed yet familiar with the harsh realities of life, who adeptly maneuver through the squalor and surmount the challenges that time presents. These are the good rogues—those who comprehend what it takes to engage in a gritty fight for the greater good of humanity, battling the unjust systems that entrench society's inequities. 

Moreover, PBAT can be likened to a political gymnast—an agile and astute figure who deftly maneuvers through the many hurdles of governance, mastering the art of politics to sail toward victory. His strategic prowess allows him not only to navigate rough waters but to come out stronger on the other side.

As I pen down these reflections from my vantage point in Arizona, United States of America, I cannot help but feel a deep connection to Nigeria's journey. It is a land rich in potential, poised for transformation, and bolstered by the dynamic leadership of individuals like Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Our collective fate depends on such strategists, whose vision can guide us through the labyrinth of challenges toward a brighter, more equitable future.

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs seeking Trump pardon, says lawyer

CC™ Global News

Music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs, who is to be sentenced in October for his conviction on prostitution-related charges, is seeking a pardon from President Donald Trump, one of his lawyers said Tuesday.

“It’s my understanding that we’ve reached out and had conversations in reference to a pardon,” Nicole Westmoreland told CNN in an interview.

Trump has indicated, however, that he is unlikely to grant a pardon to the 55-year-old Combs.

“I was very friendly with him. I got along with him great, and he seemed like a nice guy,” Trump said in an interview on Friday with Newsmax. “I didn’t know him well, but when I ran for office, he was very hostile.”

Asked if that meant he was not inclined to pardon Combs, Trump said: “I would say so, yeah.”

A New York jury found Combs guilty last month of two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution, each of which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.

He was acquitted of racketeering and sex trafficking charges after a marathon trial in which he was accused of harrowing abuse.

Combs’ sentencing has been set for October 3.

AFP

Willful blindness nourished by hate and bigotry is why America elected a treasonous conman as president

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