The Nation Newspaper

Tag: 2015 poll

  • Buhari didn’t jail Ajasin – Family

    Contrary to the insinuation by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Gen Muhammadu Buhari, jailed the first civilian governor of Ondo State, Chief Adekunle Ajasin, his family has said Buhari’s military government only detained the late Afenifere leader and was later released after interrogation.

    The family cautioned the PDP to stop using their father’s name to campaign against the APC.

    The Ajasin’ family also said they had forgiven Buhari over the arrest of the former governor in 1984.

    The family spokesman, Chief Tokunbo Ajasin, who spoke to journalists in Akure on Thursday, maintained that his father had forgiven the former head of state long before his death.

    He cautioned politicians, particularly those seeking elective positions to base their campaigns strictly on issues rather than irrelevances.

    He said, “It will be totally wrong for anybody to say that Gen. Buhari ‘s government jailed my father. No, that is not correct. It was true that my father was detained under Buhari’s military regime along with other former governors in Nigeria and two panels of inquiry were consequently set-up to look into the allegations against my father and others. But the panels found my father innocent and exonerated him as well.

    “What Buhari did then was part of military policies and tradition. Though many Nigerians were not happy with that, but my father had since forgiven Buhari before his demise.

    “As far as the issue is concerned, the family of Ajasin had forgiven Buhari as well. Because as Christians we should exhibit the spirit of forgiveness always. The bible says Father forgive us as we forgive those who offend us.”

    The former governor’s son said he met Buhari at a function sometime ago where the duo happily embraced each other, indicating that the disagreement was over.

     

  • Jonathan has failed Nigerians – APC

    The All Progressive Congress Presidential Campaign Organisation (APCPCO) has said the claim by President Goodluck Jonathan that four years are not enough to transform the country is a “double-mouthing” by a President who has failed to deliver on his own timeline.

    A statement signed by the Director of Media and Publicity of the APCPCO, Mallam Garba Shehu, on Tuesday, said: “It is very imprudent of Mr. President to shift the goal post mounted by him in the middle of the game.

    “It was this same President Jonathan who said in 2010 that if he could not improve on the country’s power generation capacity within four years, then it means he could not do anything.

    “What was the president thinking about when he said: ‘Four years are enough for anyone to make significant improvement, and if I can’t improve on power within this period, then it means I cannot do anything.’

    “Nigerians expect that a President must own up to his own words and be responsible for his own beliefs.

    “There can only be one reason why President Jonathan is changing his own beliefs about what it takes to transform the country and that is because he is incompetent for the job.

    “Today, Nigerians are clamouring for change because, for six years the country has been led by a President who cannot give the people direction on how to stop corruption, how to provide security, create employment and provide infrastructure that will impact positively on the economy.

    “We have said it in the past and we will be repeating it that the 2015 election, more than anything is a referendum on the performance of President Jonathan. The President has not measured up to the least expectations of Nigerians and that is why they are earnestly waiting for February 14 to pass their verdict.

    “Whereas the Goodluck Jonathan administration has not been able to deliver on any of the promises the President made to Nigerians in 2010, the government under the President’s watch has surpassed every known boundaries on issues of corruption and impunity.

    “Let us remind the President that if truly Rome was not built in a day, Rome is also not built forever. The President has failed to deliver by his own timelines and he should patiently wait for Nigerians to pass their verdict over the incompetence of his administration.”

     

  • 2015: Nigeria must move forward in unity – Anenih

    2015: Nigeria must move forward in unity – Anenih

    The Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Tony Anenih, has said that Nigeria must remain united during and after the general election, regardless of the nation’s existing religious, regional and ethnic fault lines.

    In a statement he issued on Tuesday, Anenih urged Nigerians to keep moving forward in unity, even as he acknowledged national and international concerns about the ability of Nigeria to conduct free, fair, credible and peaceful elections.

    He said: “While I acknowledge that these concerns are not without foundation, I have no reservations whatsoever in assuring my fellow Nigerians that, whatever the odds may be, Nigeria will keep moving forward in unity.

    “As the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party, I am unwavering in my belief that the unity and advancement of our country is better protected by the PDP than by any other party.

    “In the past four presidential elections, many of you agreed with me and voted our party to victory. For this privilege you’ve repeatedly given our party to steer the ship of state since our nation’s return to democracy in 1999, I thank you once more.

    “I am also calling on all Nigerians to once again vote the PDP in 2015. It is a matter of verifiable fact that the PDP, besides faithfully discharging its foremost duty to Nigeria of sustaining a stable and functional state, has recorded many achievements in Agriculture, Aviation, Education, Road, Rail, Industrialization, Women and Youth Empowerment and many other sectors.”

    Anenih, who is the National Campaign Adviser of the PDP presidential campaign organisation, assured that if re-elected, the PDP-led Federal Government under President Goodluck Jonathan would build more on the achievements on ground.

     

     

  • Sylva woos former aides, Bayelsa leaders for Buhari

    Sylva woos former aides, Bayelsa leaders for Buhari

    Former Governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Timipre Sylva, is wooing his former aides and key members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state to the All Progressive Congress and its presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari.

    Already, the moves by Sylva had yielded positive results as two founding members of PDP, Amb.Felix Oboro and Chief Frank Akpoebi, joined the APC and promised to deliver the state to Buhari at the poll.

    It was also gathered on Sunday that Sylva led large entourage of APC to plead with his former Special Adviser on Security and leader of the defunct new PDP, Chief Richard Kpodo, to return to APC.

    The Nation gathered that the state APC Chairman, Chief Tiwei Orunimingha and over 500 party loyalists including candidates of the party, accompanied Sylva to meet with Kpodo in Yenagoa.

    One of the party members who attended the fence-mending meeting said Sylva urged Kpodo to return to APC and work to ensure Buhari’s victory at the presidential poll.

    The source who pleaded anonymity said the visit was to convince Sylva’s former aides to join APC and work for the party’s success in the February election.

    Kpodo, who is said to have over one million supporters in the Niger Delta region, was the Chairman of the defunct new PDP.

    When contacted Kpodo confirmed the development and said he was considering the proposal of the APC.

    “My former boss visited me with his supporters and party candidates. He wants me to come back to give support to his party. I am seriously considering the proposal and I have told my supporters to get their Permanent Voters Cards (APCs) and wait for my directive,” he said.

     

  • INEC rejects governorship nominations of seven parties

    INEC rejects governorship nominations of seven parties

    The Independent National Electoral Commission has rejected the governorship nominations of seven political parties.

    The rejection which affected several states of the federation, according to INEC, was as a result of the parties’ inability to nominate running mates.

    The parties and the states affected are – Peoples Party of Nigeria (PPN) in Delta state, Labour Party in Niger State, New Nigeria Peoples Party in Ogun State, Unity Party of Nigeria in Oyo State,

    United Democratic Party in Rivers State, and Peoples Democratic Movement in Sokoto and Zamfara States respectively.

    In a decision extract issued and signed by the Director (Commission’s Secretariat), Ishiaku A. Gali, the commission also approved that the House of Representatives election in Ado/Opoku/Ogbadibo Federal Constituency of Benue State, being uncontested, the nominated candidate should be declared elected on the day of the election by the Returning Officer.

    Section 187 of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) provides that a candidate to the office of a governor shall not be deemed to be validly nominated for such office unless he appoints another candidate as his running mate who shall occupy the office of Deputy Governor.

     

  • Jonathan support group for states to launder achievement

    Insecurity is the only blight of President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration, Senator Smart Adeyemi has said.

    Adeyemi, who is a member of National Unity Group (NUG), an umbrella body of different political parties supporting the President’s re-election bid, posited that Jonathan has done very well when compared to previous governments in the country and so deserves a second term.

    Jonathan, who is the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) flag-bearer in the February 14 election, is facing a strong contender in the All Progressive Congress (APC) candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari.

    Speaking during the inauguration of NUG state chapters, Senator Adeyemi noted that the group had been working for the past two years with Nigerians who look at issues with large heart for the re-election bid of the President.

    He said the group has superior argument to back up its claims about the performance of this administration.

    Adeyemi therefore declared that state coordinators should go out with superior argument to canvass for support for the President and also douse the arguments raised by the position about the score cards of Jonathan’s administration.

  • Calls for elections’ postponement, another June 12 in making – APC

    The All Progressives Party (APC) has warned Nigerians not to keep quiet about the calls for the postponement of the 2015 general election, saying such calls was an attempt at replicating the June 12, 1993 election annulment.

    Speaking with journalists in Abuja on Friday, the Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the party, Comrade Timi Frank, said the Peoples Democratic Party led- government has started seeing the handwriting on the wall that it will lose the elections and started making moves to scuttle the process.

    He spoke just as the former Minister of Information, Prince Tony Momoh, assured Nigerians that the elections will go ahead as scheduled, saying nothing on earth can shift the election.

    Frank said the call by the National Security Adviser, Col, Sambo Dasuki, was not only a call for anarchy in the country, but a call against the Nigerian people, pointing out that such comments were responsible for the stoning of the President in some parts of the country.

    He said, “INEC or a group of persons or a cabal cannot change the decision of Nigerians. For God sake, Nigerians have chosen to say that election must hold on February 14 and by the grace of God, we are going to stand by that. If the PDP is not prepare for election, let them back out of it.

    “But Nigerians are ready to go into the election and nothing on earth as at today can change that date. By the grace of God and as a party, we are going to mobilise Nigerians against this, we are going to do everything possible that you can think of to make sure that Nigerians are allowed to vote. It must be free and fair and a winner must emerge at the end of the day.

    “This is not just call for anarchy, this is call against the people. This is another June 12 that is about to happen in Nigeria. Already you seen a winner and because you know that you cannot stand that, you are calling for the postponement of the election. For God sake, this alone can lead to a revolution.”

     

  • 2015: Jonathan seeks Emir of Kano’s blessing

    2015: Jonathan seeks Emir of Kano’s blessing

    President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday met with the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Lamido Sanusi, in his palace to seek for his blessings on the 2015 elections.

    As part of his nationwide campaign tour, Jonathan who was in Kano for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) rally, also expressed condolences on the passing on of the former Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero and congratulated the new emir for his installation as the royal father.

    He informed Sanusi, who was former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor, that he was in his palace to formally introduce himself, Vice President Namadi Sambo and other PDP candidates in the forthcoming elections.

    He said: “I am here to seek your royal blessing and to reassure the people of Kano that PDP is totally committed to developing the country.”

    Recalling his administration’s success in wiping out Ebola Virus Disease (EVD), he also said that the country has virtually eliminated polio and would soon be officially declared polio-free by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

    Noting the important position of Kano State in commerce and industry, he said that his administration would work with the people of the state to enhance agriculture value chain and give more priority to processing and export.

    The President assured the Emir that his government was committed to improving the welfare of Kano people and Nigerians in general.

    He said: “When you talk of Kano, you talk of the Aliko Dangotes. We will work with the incoming government in Kano to produce young Aliko Dangotes, enhance commerce and create jobs,”

    In his remark, Sanusi expressed appreciation to the President for the visit and hoped that his campaign would go on smoothly.

    He urged politicians to conduct their businesses in peace and avoid bloodshed, stressing that democracy is all about choice.

     

  • 2015: Why we cleared Buhari for election – Onu

    2015: Why we cleared Buhari for election – Onu

    A former National Chairman of the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, said on Wednesday that the All Progressive Congress Presidential Screening Committee cleared the party’s presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari in compliance with the constitution.

    He told a select group of journalists at his Abuja residence that the Nigerian Constitution and the Electoral Act stipulates that anybody contesting the presidential election must be a Nigerian by birth, must be 40 years of age, must be a member of a political party that must sponsor him for the election and have at least, a secondary school certificate or its equivalent.

    Onu, who headed the APC screening committee that cleared Buhari to contest the party primaries where he defeated former vice president Atiku Abubakar and three others, said people have consistently ignored the operational word in the constitution.

    “Really, that issue should not create the type of problem we are seeing in the polity. This matter came before us in the Presidential Screening Committee and we had to rely on the constitution of the country. To qualify to be president of the country, you have to be a Nigerian by birth, you have to be 40 years of age, you have to be a member of a political party and that party should sponsor you and finally, you should obtain education of at least secondary school certificate level or its equivalent.

    ” We have a man who had attended military schools in Nigeria, the United Kingdom, in India and in the United States of America and in America, he attended the U.S Army War college. So, there isn’t any reason to create this type of problem we now have in the polity.

    “As part of the screening, we demanded for a copy of the certificate, but there was an affidavit and once you swear to an affidavit, it gives you whatever protection you need and not just on this issue.

    “We were not doing this for this opposition, we were doing it for Nigeria. This is a man who will be President of Nigeria and there is a supreme law which is the constitution that guides us.
    “The issue of qualification is at least, school certificate. So, If there is evidence that somebody has attended military schools that are tertiary institutions in lauding the war college of the United States of America, why should you be going into the issue of school certificate and so on?

    “The Army has shown that he applied in form six. Many of you don’t know that we use to have form six. I attended higher schools. That is what it was called and you spend two years and you can’t go to form six unless you have completed your form five and obtain the relevant credits in the relevant subjects.

    “All these are in his file, and so, I really don’t see why we should be thinking in this direction because the problems before the nation are enormous. We should be looking at how do we solve the problem of insecurity in a country that is the largest and most populous black nation in the world, the largest economy in Africa and you have flags that are unknown to the constitution flying in our territory. That is a very serious challenge for the nation.

    “We have unemployment, we have an economy that has not been managed properly. I am a chemical engineer and it pained me that for 16 years, we abandoned our refineries and import petroleum products. We are the sixth largest exporters of crude oil in the world. Then we import refined petroleum products. You have all these chemical engineers and so, what else do you need? We have four refineries and we can’t even keep them running for 16 years. This is very disturbing.”

     

  • Why Itsekiri chose Buhari over Jonathan – Group

    An Itsekiri pressure group in Warri, Delta State, on Wednesday gave reasons why their kinsmen would rather vote for the presidential candidate of the All Progressive Congress, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, in next month’s election despite intense lobby of support for President Goodluck Jonathan by Chief Government Ekpemupolo (aka Tompolo).

    The Itsekiri Consolidated Movement (ICM), at a press conference in Ubeji-Warri on Wednesday evening, addressed by Ortisegbegbemi Besidone and Franklin Metsese, Chairman and Public Relations Officers respectively, noted that the overbearing influence of Tompolo and other Ijaws in the state showed that their interests would be better served in the APC.

    They noted that the peace shuttle by Tompolo and other emissaries of President Jonathan would no longer sway the Itsekiri people because of perceived tribal politics of the President and his kinsmen.

    “In as much as we believe Tompolo has the constitutional right to campaign for President Goodluck Jonathan and Senator Ifeanyi Okowa/Kingsley Otuaro, his cousin, we want to assure Tompolo that his voyage is set to hit the rock, particularly on Jonathan’s re-election bid, unless he puts the following politically damaging records straight:

    “Why did Tompolo lead the killing of hundreds of Itsekiris during the Warri crisis and forcefully took over Itsekiri God-given communities without any remorse or apology till date?

    “Without prejudice to party or personality of Itsekiri candidate (s) for Warri South-West Chairmanship in the October 25, 2014 local government poll, why did Tompolo with the backing of the Presidency threaten and hoodwink Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan into handing the Chairmanship of Warri South-West to his sibling, Hon. George Ekpemupolo 48 hours to the election against the gentleman agreement of single tenure rotation between Ijaw and Itsekiri in the local government?”

    “Tompolo has to explain why he and his Gbaramatu brothers are laying claim to lands belonging to Itsekiri (Omadino and Ugborodo Communities) particularly the area where the EPZ is situated and till date, despite claiming not to be waging war against Itsekiri.

    “Tompolo is yet to tender apology to the 14 abducted journalists, including a Channels TV camera man, Itsekiri born Senior Correspondent of Daily Independent Newspaper, Mr. Emma Arubi and six Ugborodo indigenes, who were humiliated as well as tortured almost to the point of death by his militants on his order on their way from Escravos, where they went to perform their legitimate duty of letting the world know the Itsekiri’s angle of the true owner of the land hosting the EPZ.”