The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Action Democratic Party

  • Presidential candidate decries bad leadership

    The presidential candidate of the Action Democratic Party (ADP), Yabagi Sani, has criticised the leaders in Rivers State, describing them as “not fit for the position”.

    Sani, who spoke at his presidential campaign rally in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, regretted the spate of bad leaders the state has produced.

    He presented the party’s governorship candidate, Victor Fingesi, as a credible alternative.

    Sani said: “I am in Rivers State to fulfil the promise which God made that He will not allow His people to suffer in the midst of plenty. Rivers State is blessed, the only missing link between it and greatness is leadership.

    “And God told me to come here today to raise the hand of your governor, Chief Victor Fingesi.”

    He promised the people quality education and empowerment, saying this was the reason for the choice of book as the party’s logo.

    “Our Logo is very instructive, fundamental and with lots of message, one of which is hope. Where there is education, there is hope for greatness. We believe in education, that is why we chose a book as our party symbol.

    “The best legacy you can leave for your children is education, that is why our party has come to establish a permanent foundation for the growth of Nigeria as a great country, that is respected world over…”

    Sani hailed the Supreme Court ruling on the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidates, saying it would pave way for ADP as the credible alternative.

  • I will ensure completion of Ibadan Circular Road– Alao-Akala

    Former Gov. Adebayo Alao-Akala, the governorship candidate of Action Democratic Party (ADP) in Oyo State,  has promised to ensure the completion of Ibadan circular road if elected.

    He made the promise on Wednesday at a programme tagged,  ‘Meet the Ibadan Electorate, ‘ organised by the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII), a pan-Ibadan socio-cultural group.

    Alao-Akala was at the programme alongside his running mate, Prof. Abideen Olaiya,  and Oyo South Senatorial candidate, Dr Fola Akinosun.

    Alao-Akala promised to continue his urban renewal programme, embark on massive road projects in Ibadan and across the state when as soon as he was sworn in as governor.

    “Ibadan is very big and as an administrator with experience, this city needs massive road expansion. I demonstrated this during my first term as governor of this noble state.

    “And if you can remember vividly, I started the Circular Road and I am promising that it will be a priority project of my administration if I am elected.

    “I will open up more places with Circular Road construction in Ibadan.  I have listed in my manifesto some other 14 roads in the state that need urgent attention in Ibadan.

    “I will also create access road to our rural areas through re-construction and rehabilitation of more roads in the state,” he said.

    The former governor reiterated his determination to improve the internally  generated revenue of the state through taxation of the rich to provide for the poor

    Alao-Akala described Adeoyo Hospital, Yemetu, Ibadan,  as very historical, promising to give it a facelift like he did to the ancient Mapo Hall.

    He also pledged to solve the ownership problem affecting Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso .

    Earlier, Chief Yemi Soladoye, the CCII President-General, said the platform was neither for debate, campaign nor anointing of any candidate in whatever form.

    “It is very clear that what the CCII is organising is a meeting, not a debate or a campaign.

    “ We, the people of Ibadan,  are known to be tolerant and hospitable to all and sundry.

    “The CCII will not provide a platform to ridicule, embarrass or expose the past and background of any of our candidates. This meeting is strictly going to be 100 percent issue-based with zero percent personality-based.

    “We believe that there is direct correlation between the five elements of education, infrastructure, business revolution, financial empowerment and job creation.

    “To what extent does our next governor understand this correlation? We do not believe that the fortunes of Oyo state and the future of our children should be tied to oil.

    “We achieved our ‘pacesetter’ status from our home-grown resources in South West Nigeria, ” he said.

    He also said that the CCII would at the end of the exercise not anoint any candidate, adding it was an avenue for people to make informed decision about who should govern them in the next dispensation.(NAN)

  • ADP begins ward-to-ward campaigns in Edo

    The Action Democratic Party ( ADP ) is to kick start its ward-to-ward campaigns across the three Senatorial Districts of Edo on Monday.

    The party’s candidate for the Edo-South Senatorial district, Mr Ese Owie, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Benin on Wednesday.

    Owie, who said that the ADP was poised to win all the available elective positions in the state during the impending general elections, stressed that the people have shown a readiness to change the existing order.

    According to him, “The people of Edo State now have a renewed determination to do away with the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives’ Congress (APC).

    “They have now come to see a better choice in our party, the ADP, a party that has come to change their fortunes for the better.’’

    The ADP candidate noted that the essence of the ward-to-ward campaigns was to take the message of hope to the people in their neighbourhoods throughout the state.

    Read Also: 2019: ADP denies endorsing Edo APC candidates

    “While I, as the party’s Senatorial candidate will be touring all the 77 wards in Edo-South with the message, similar activities will be taken across all the entire 192 wards of the state.

    “Starting from Monday and for the next two weeks, I will going round the nooks and crannies of the 77 wards of Edo-South.

    “The message is clear, and other political parties know it, that the ADP is the party to beat come February,’’ he stressed.

    The ADP is one of the 91 registered political parties in the country.

    INEC announced on Monday that there were 84, 004, 084 voters registered to vote in the 2019 general elections.

  • Gbadamosi emerges Lagos ADP guber candidate

    Real estate developer, Mr Babatunde Gbadamosi, has emerged as the Lagos State gubernatorial candidate of the Action Democratic Party (ADP) for the 2019 election.

    Gbadamosi’s election was ratified by ADP members during the party’s primaries at its Lagos State Secretariat on Saturday.

    The Chairman, ADP, Lagos State, Mr Bolaji Adewale, said Gbadamosi, who was unopposed, scored a total of 119,919 votes during the primaries conducted across the 20 Local Government Areas of the state.

    Adewale thanked the party chieftains and supporters for the peaceful conduct of all primaries.

    He noted that ADP was the first party to adopt direct primaries in Nigeria as enshrined in its constitution.

    The chairman said the party would continue to come up with innovative ideas that would deepen democracy and governance in Nigeria.

    In his acceptance speech, Gbadamosi , who is the Managing Director of Redbricks Homes International Limited, thanked ADP members for giving him the privilege of contesting for the governorship position under the party’s platform.

    Gbadamosi said he was joining the race to rescue Lagos State from the “captivity” of godfatherism, mediocre governance and mismanagement of tax payers money.

    “The moment of truth is here. Today, we are formally entering the race to lead our dear state on the platform of our great party, the ADP.

    “After today, I will be presenting the Gbadamosi Plan for Lagos. It is a comprehensive document that touches on all aspects of our lives as Lagosians.

    “It touches on our individual and collective destiny as people of Lagos and the legacies we hope to bequeath to our children and our generation yet unborn, “he said.

    Read Also: 2019: ADP aspirant pulls out of guber race in Niger

    According to him, the plan aims to address crucial areas such as public education, health care, transportation, affordable housing, among others which have deteriorated in the state.

    Gbadamosi said apart from having the prerequisite experience and qualifications to govern the state, he would assemble a team of professionals to administer over key areas to fast track its development.

    He expressed optimism that he would be victorious in the election because the people of Lagos were disappointed with the performance of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at both the federal and state levels.

    “My appeal to you is that you should join me today. Let us rewrite our future to one of our own dreams and reject the greed of godfathers.

    “I solemnly promise all Lagosians today that I will take Lagos Beyond Ordinary Governance, ” he said.

    Gbadamosi will be contesting against several candidates including Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu of the APC and Mr Jimi Agbaje of the PDP in the 2019 governoship poll.

    NAN

  • Sign electoral act, PIGB now, ADP asked Buhari

    The Action Democratic Party (ADP) has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately ascent to the amended Electoral Act without further delay too gives legal backing to the 2019 general elections.

    The party also asked the President to immediately sign the Petroleum industry Governance Bill, saying the delay in signing the both bills was rather unfortunate and against the national interest.

    In a resolution at the end of the National Executive Committee meeting of the party, the ADP also told the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure that the forthcoming governorship election in Osun State was free, fair and credible.

    The ADP said it will not accept the charade that took place in Ekiti in the impending Osun Governorship election, adding that measures must be taken to tackle issues such as Vote-buying, ballot-box snatching and Violence.

    It said that the party shall neither condone nor accept elections that fall short of globally accepted standards, adding that INEC should embark on early preparations to ensure that acceptable elections are held in 2019

    It said “The federal Government must decisively tackle high unemployment and inflation rates which have become common features of our economy.

    “That ADP vehemently frowns at the pervasive insecurity in the Country and calls on Government to secure life and property which remains the primary responsibility of every government.

    Read Also: Why Buhari withheld assent to PIGB

    “It is regrettable that Mr. President has refused to ascent to the Petroleum industry Governance Bill”.

    Addressing the meeting earlier, National Chairman of the party, Engr. Yabagi Sani said that Nigeria is at cross roads and that the current leadership in the country is unprepared to steer the ship of state successfully.

    He said, “The economy is in the doldrums with inflation and unemployment rates hitting at the roofs. There is pervasive insecurity as Nigerians now live in perpetual fear.

    “The ADP is determined to change the narratives and navigate a better future for our people. Furthermore, the conflict between the National Assembly and the Executive is taking toll on the capacity of government to meet the aspirations of the people”.

  • North Central wants 2019 Presidency

     

    Ahead of the 2019 Presidential elections, the North Central geopolitical zone has said it has been relegated to the background in the Presidential race of the country, demanding however that it be allowed to produce the next President in 2019.

    To the end, the zonal chapter of the Action Democratic Party is asking the national leadership of the party to zone the Presidency to them, while asking the two other zones in the north to concede the seat to them.

    National Vice Chairman (North Central) of the Action Democratic Party (ADP) Senator Yusuf Nagogo who spoke the mind of the zone at a meeting of the party Abuja and it was time for the north central to be allowed to produce the net President, adding that he north west geopolitical zone has continued to dominate the political leadership of the country.

    Nagogo wants the national leadership of the ADP to zone the Presidency to the north central saying the zone has qualified personnel to occupy the office while also appealing to both the north west and north east geopolitical zones to willingly cede the Presidency to the zone.

    Nagogo insisted that since democracy took off in Nigeria, the North Central has never been considered for the Presidency, saying for the fact that North-central is a the heart beat of Nigeria, the region must be considered.

    The former lawmaker who is aspiring to govern Nasarawa state said “since the return of democracy in 1999, “this zone has been relegated. I am making this this request before the National leaders of ADP to please return presidency to the North-central zone. We have capable hands and we will not disappoint the nation”.

    He argued that Alhaji Shehu Shagari is from the North West and so is Musa Yar’adua and now President  Muhammadu Buhari, while the North-east also had Alhaji Tafawa Balewa in the first republic and Atiku Abubakar as Vice President, saying “If after 2019 we are deprived again we do not know when it will again return to the North.”

    Nagogo wants the Northern elders from the North-west and North-east to consider the North-central “if we are truly one” he concluded.

    Responding to the request the National Chairman of the Party , Engr. Yabagi Sani said the party has already zoned the Presidency to the north as a political bloc, stressing that the party has already set up committees in each of the Northern zones to look into the issue of Presidency and seek out a credible  Presidential material that will take Nigeria out of the woods.

    He said the party in the north should work as a a team to identify a credible candidate who will lead Nation out of the wood adding that North-central should work hard for it and put forward credible candidates that will be sellable to other geopolitical zones

    Speaking on the state of the nation, ADP chairman said democracy means everybody must have their say and ask qestion when things are going wrong, saying “We are calling on authorities to quickly ruse to tge occasion of insecurity in Nigeria because we believe that Nigerian Army is equal to the task.

    “Anger, hunger and killings currently going on in the country are not dividend of democracy. We are calling on APC government to leave a good legacy before leaving office in 2019.”

    While describing ADP as a child of necessity, Engr. Sani declared that the party for now is not merging with any political party or group, saying that “our doors are open to any group or political party. Though we are already having meetings with different groups and political parties on how to move the country forward.”

     

  • Ekiti 2018: ADP adopts Segun Adewale as gubernatorial candidate

    Ekiti 2018: ADP adopts Segun Adewale as gubernatorial candidate

    The Action Democratic Party (ADP) has adopted an Ipoti born business mogul, Otunba Segun Adewale (Aeroland) as its governorship candidate in Ekiti state, charging electorates in the state to liberate themselves from the shackles of poverty by supporting the party in the July 14 governorship election.

    ADP decision to adopt Otunba Segun Adewale (OSA) as the party’s governorship candidate was communicated in an address by the State Chairman, Hon Kunle Abegunde during a visit by the state executive council and members of the party to the Otunba Segun Adewale Campaign office at Ado Ekiti on Thursday 1st of March, 2018.

    At the event which had top officials of the party in attendance, the Chairman said ADP settled for the reputed entrepreneur and philanthropist after considering his antecedent and was convinced of his capability to deliver desired leadership to the state. He pointed out lapses of the Ayodele Fayose-led government, saying the people must reject the attempt to elongate their sufferings through ‘continuity Agenda ‘. According to him, “the current leadership of the PDP in Ekiti can not appreciate the qualities in this illustrious son due to their dictatorial tendencies”.

    The ADP Chairman in Ekiti State described Governor Fayose’s stomach infrastructure programme as false Charity and an attempt to subdue the citizens. In his words “False charity, lack of conscience, oppression and self-aggrandizement and impunity cannot continue forever,”

    Giving an insight to how the party arrived at the adoption of Otunba Adewale, Chief Abegunde said “aside Otunba Segun Adewale drawing his wealth from legitimate sources, he has impacted on many lives within and outside the state, even as a private individual. Otunba is credible, with no corruption or criminal tag. His successful entrepreneurship background and exposure is needed to redirect our State on the path of prosperity. Ekiti has many illustrious sons and daughters. We can not allow the present shenanigan to continue. We must all put hands on deck to redeem our dear State from the hegemony of looters “.

    Responding to the visitors on behalf of the aspirant who was unavoidably absent, Prince ‘Tosin Jegede, the Director General of the Otunba Segun Adewale Campaign Organization said the ADP gesture is a confirmation of the credibility of the brand his organization has presented to the electorates. “Let me start by appreciating the leadership and all members of ADP for taking this bold and unique step of identifying with our good brand not minding political party differences.

    “Otunba Segun Adewale remains a chieftain of the People Democratic Party who is seeking the governorship ticket of the party in a free, fair and credible primary. However, if Ekiti State PDP refuses a credible primary, we are convinced from our research into the activities of the ADP that the party is a credible alternative. Considering the credibility of those directing the affairs of the party at all levels, easy access to Party information and the Party constitution that takes grassroots members into consideration in decision making, one can truly see that the ADP is prepared for the challenges of producing credible leadership for the State in particular and the Nation at large”.

    Prince Jegede challenged those advocating the continuity of Governor Fayose’s administration through his deputy, Prof Olusola Eleka to showcase legacies that are worthy of continuing. “What is there to continue with the Fayose’s administration? Is it the non-commitment of government to its financial obligations to workers and contractors or the increased unemployment occasioned by government high handedness in dealing with investors? Are we expected to accept the continuity of government inability to reason beyond Federal Government’s monthly handouts or a situation where internal revenue accruing to the State is treated as top secret known only to the Governor? Should we continue to tax elementary school students?

    “While we appreciate the importance of a seamless transition between administrations, we are against the continuation of the present illusions in Ekiti government house. Ekiti State cannot continue to run on the impulse of an individual.” He said.

    The Director General assured the visitors that their request will be considered and responded to appropriately. Addressing journalists after the programme, Prince Jegede said “Otunba Segun Adewale is in the governorship race to win. If the PDP insist on selection instead of a free, fair and credible primary, we will be left with no other choice than accept the ADP offer. OSA will not hesitate to adopt any credible means of meeting the aspiration of the oppressed in Ekiti”

     

  • Buhari, Obj and 2019

    Buhari, Obj and 2019

    Last week Tuesday was a day President Muhammadu Buhari and those around him will not forget in a hurry.

    It was a day the former President Olusegun Obasanjo decided to come down hard on Buhari’s democratic governance.

    Obasanjo, who had spent two terms of four years as a democratic President, criticised the Buhari’s administration, which just crossed two and half years mark.

    The former President said that the Buhari’s administration and his party, the All Prgressives Congress (APC) have failed Nigerians.

    Stressing that Buhari’s administration was not different from those of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) before his assumption of office, Obasanjo believed that the present administration is also enmeshed in corruption.

    The long and short of his letter was that President Buhari should take a well-deserved rest and not contest the 2019 Presidential election, when his first term of four years expires.

    Following the release of the letter, the mood in the Presidential Villa that Tuesday remained very dull till sunset when workers closed for the day.

    None of the President’s media handler was also willing to take on the elder statesman over the letter that day.

    Last Tuesday was not the first time the former President was releasing such letter to the public. Obasanjo had written such open letters to former President Goodluck Jonathan.

    Those letters, many Nigerians believed, played a great role in the defeat Jonathan suffered at the polls in 2015.

    Even though, the President Buhari’s administration had disclosed that it received Obasanjo’s latest letter in good faith, the letter no doubt have caused a great division among Nigerians.

    While some Nigerians hailed Obasanjo for being courageous, patriotic and hitting the nails on the head, others felt that his criticism was misplaced.

    Apart from others believing that the economy under Obasanjo’s eight years rule was nothing to write home about in spite of the higher prices of oil in the international market, some Nigerians were also of the view that Obasanjo, in government, will never allow himself to be tele guided by anybody.

    For the National Secretary of Action Democratic Party (ADP), James Okoroma, Obasanjo’s letter has set the stage for a new Nigeria.

    He said: “The damage caused by the Buhari Government is enormous and we must endeavour to rebuild our country. The former President made it clear in his statement that the Buhari government is a monumental failure.

    National Chairman of United Progressives Congress, (UPP) Chief Chekwas Okorie described the letter as timely, adding that the Buhari administration has done enormous danger to the unity of the country than any administration before it.

    He said: “The fact remains that Buhari is non performing, nepotism, sectional and very clueless. He has put Nigeria in more danger than any President before him. He doesn’t behave like one who fought during the civil war. Nigeria is more divisive under Buhari.”

    Also, National Chairman of Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN) National Chairman Alhaji Ganiyu Galadima said “The advice of President Olusegun Obasanjo to President Mohammad Buhari not to contest in 2019 is apt and sincere. President Obasanjo is a former Nigerian President known for his truth and bluntness.”

    The PDP, through a statement by the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Kola Ologbondiyan said that Obasanjo’s letter has vindicated PDP’s position on Buhari and the APC.

    A former Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and leader of the National Intervention Movement (NIM) Dr Olisa Agbakoba (SAN) said President Buhari has nothing more to offer, describing Obasanjo’s suggestion for Buhari not to run for second term as “great”.

    Activist-lawyer Femi Falana (SAN), supporting Obasanjo’s statement, said it was a wake-up call for President Buhari.

    Falana said: “President Olusegun Obasanjo’s intervention is a vivid expression of the frustration of the Nigerian people with the Buhari administration.

    “The statement is a clarion call on President Buhari to remove the incompetent and corrupt cabal of power mongers that has hijacked political power from him. Through sheer nepotism and cronyism, the regime has lost the massive goodwill that heralded it to power.

    “The success recorded in the fight against insurgency in the northeast zone has been eroded in the wave of kidnapping and reckless killing of unarmed Nigerians by AK47-bearing herdsmen.

    “The success of the fight against corruption and impunity has been rubbished by the inability of the regime to remove corrupt public officers.”

    Although Vice President, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Monday Ubani felt Obasanjo’s letter was long overdue, he warned that Obasanjo should not see himself as the determiner of Nigerians’ fate.

    Ubani said “Recall that former President Obasanjo has written such letters to virtually everyone that took over from him and if you will remember such letters were even written to former military leaders like IBB and Abacha. Such scathing and virulent attacks on leaders before and after him are therefore not novel.”

    Rooting for the incumbent, the National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) Dr. Victor Oye, said that Buhari does not need Obasanjo’s advice.

    He said: “Obasanjo’s opinion and Nigerian’s opinions differ. People might have different opinion. What we need now in Nigeria is for us to remove unnecessary tension.

    “Even if Buhari is not going to run in 2019, we shouldn’t create unnecessary tension because the man himself knows what to do and he doesn’t need Obasanjo’s letter to take such decision. It is Buhari’s entitlement to run for second term, but if he is saying he cannot run, he knows what to do.

    “When Obasanjo was president what did he do? Was he a wonderful leader? Did he tar road in South-east? Enugu to Port-Hacourt road he didn’t do it. Okigwe to Oga he didn’t do it, and so on, and he is busy talking about nepotism. Obasanjo does not have moral justification to say such a thing,” he said.

    Also the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), declared that Obasanjo cannot stop Buhari from running for Presidency in 2019.

    A member of the House of Representatives Alhassan Ado Doguwa (APC, Kano), in a press briefing had said Obasanjo lacks moral and political credibility to advise Buhari not to contest in 2019 considering Obasanjo’s own attempt at returning to the Presidency contrary to the provision of the nation’s constitution.

    He said, “The former President, who was used to engaging in very unreasonable political comments should know that he cannot in any way be a stumbling block against the popular desire of Nigerian to give President Buhari a second term to rule this great nation, which unfortunately was put to a state of economic and political quagmire by the likes of Obasanjo and his cohorts.

    “After all a man who is involved in all sorts of corruption issues in his administration and indeed his unpopular bid to violate our respected constitution by wanting to take a third term is not any way a credible democratic voice to count on.

    “Nigerian should consider him as mere confusionist, mischievous and an enemy of true democracy in Nigeria as he has always been,” he said.

    The APC also said that weit remained the best option for Nigerians in spite of Obasanjo’s criticism.

    The party’s National Publicity Secretary Mallam Bolaji Abudullahi, said “We acknowledge our challenges as a new political party, even as we believe that APC remains the best option at this time for all Nigerians who are genuinely committed to the country’s progress and development.

    “While we do not agree with everything the former president said, especially on his assessment of the government and our party we note the sundry issues raised by the former President, and we assume these were made in good faith,” he said.

    Although the Buhari’s government had disagreed with most of Obasanjo’s positions and criticism of the administration, but many Nigerians will really want to know if Buhari, at the end of the day, will not re-contest in 2019 as a result of the letter.

    Only time will tell as events towards 2019 general elections unfold.

     

  • Atiku not financing our party – ADP boss

    Atiku not financing our party – ADP boss

    Yabagi Sani is the national Chairman of the Action Democratic Party (ADP), one of the political parties registered last year by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). In this interview with Tony Akowe, he spoke on the clamor for President Muhammadu Buhari to seek another term in 2019, the chances of his new party in the next general election and some other issues. 

    THE country will be going to the next presidential and general election soon and your party is one the newest party on the block. This will be your first major election. How prepared is ADP?

    Before 2015, PDP failed woefully because they took people for granted and are still taking people for granted. APC came like a flash in the pan to grab the opportunity. Nigerians have learnt their lesson and they are now looking for real, purposeful, well organised political platform that will respond to the needs of the people of this country and ensure good governance as well as security. You cannot have good governance in a democratic dispensation unless you have disciplined political parties which is what ADP is. If you look at the constitution of the ADP, you will discover that we took into consideration the experience we have had so far.

    What I am saying is that towards 2019, we want to make sure that as much as possible, we attract the youth in their numbers as well as women to take up leadership positions. In the real sense of it, if you look at the constitution of the party, we have 25 percent for the youth, 25 percent for the women from the ward to the state level. At the national level, we made it 40/60 percent. So, going forward, even the administration that will emerge from that arrangement will be peopled by women and youth. We believe in party supremacy which means that everybody is accountable to the party to the extent that even when you win election as a governor, president or chairman of a council, we will have to sit with you to go through the list of your appointees.

    How would you react to the declaration by a Minister that President Muhammadu Buhari will contest in 2019?

    Arrogance, especially considering the fact that they have taken us for granted. Otherwise, with the performance of this government,they will not have the audacity to come out again and say the President should run again. I want to ask you, what is it that this government has added to us in terms of performance and achievements that has impacted positively on the lives of Nigerians? In fact, if anything, we have rather retrogressed. The GDP was growing at the rate of 2 percent or there about before the coming of this government and you know that our GDP has the potentials to grow faster than that of America because we have a lot of potentials. We have a very young population unlike what we have in Europe and America with older populations. So the potentials of this country is very huge, and for a government to drag us to where we are today in terms of economic development is something that is unfortunate. Look at the security aspect. They told us that they are fighting boko haram and that they have been decimated. But the fact of the matter is that the issues are even much compounded now than they were before. You now have kidnappers all over the place, armed robbery is rampant, you have people committing suicide on their own. Look at the herdsmen issue. Look at what is happening, the amount of killings that is been carried out by these people when we have a President who is the grand patron of this so called organisation. For us to have this kind of wanton killings at the time when someone who has a formal relationship with this people is in office is something that you wonder, why is it happening?

    Legally speaking, the President has a right to seek another term in office. Are you suggesting that he should just serve one term?

    Believe me. Buhari should be in his ranch drinking fura de nunu at the age he is. This man is old and old age has no cure. We have able people in this country. People who are capable and can boost the spirit of Nigerians. So, we shouldn’t be caged. We shouldn’t be retarded by deliberate agreement. I am not saying that the president doesn’t have the constitutional right to contest, but we also heard from some people that he said he was going to do only one term. Constitutionally, he has the right to contest, but morally it is wrong. That is the point I am making. It is morally wrong for President Buhari to contest again. He should be an elder statesman like Mandela and others who realised that what they needed to do was to reset the agenda of the country and put it on the part to greatness. You don’t have to come and say I must rule. Anytime someone is insisting on ruling, that person has nothing to offer. It is just the office and the title that comes with that office that the person wants. If  it is for the service; two years or four years is more than enough. Moreover he was a head of state before; or are they going to call you something different from a head of state or president if you go for a second term? When you know time isn’t on your side and your health isn’t that sound, you should have people you can mentor and prepare to take over from you. It is only in a country like this that people will come out with an abysmal performance and yet people want him to continue in office. I think it is really ridiculous, but he has the right to contest while Nigerians also have the right to reject him.

    Will the ADP field a Presidential candidate?

    Certainly, we have someone much better than Buhari that Nigerians will be excited to have. It will be a decent surprise to Nigerians because you and I know in this country, we are blessed. You look at the natural endowment, you look at the resources we have, you look at the human capital, Nigerians are intelligent. If you give us the chance, even outside this country it is either we are number one or we are number two. We shouldn’t have the kind if leadership we are having. Nigeria has no business with what it is going through in terms of economic development. So, what we are saying is that ADP is going to surprise Nigerians and ensure that we assume our full potentials by giving this country what it requires in terms of leadership. Go to the industries, the trend today is that people are going away from the establishment because of the failure of the establishment which is so apparent under this man. So we are coming with a surprise and I am sure Nigerians and the whole world will be happy that we are getting it right for the first time in Nigeria. If you are doing the same thing the same way, you can’t get a different result. So we are going to give Nigerians something different so that we will have a different result that will put us were we belong and ought to be. This country is always looked up to for leadership especially on the African continent and all over the world. Like I said before, Nigeria is a big country in terms of economic potentials, social potential and political possibilities. The country has no business being where we are right now. Believe me, it is an aberration that we are where we are now. But it is also a lesson that we shouldn’t take things for granted, we should not accept people for what they tell us, but should rather make effort to engage them based on what they say.

    Are you considering teaming up with other parties ahead of 2019?

    Yes. But what we should look forward to is some kind of coalition and not merger like what you have in the APC. Some people raise certain parties not necessarily for the same reason. They have different objectives and if you now say you are going into a merger, you may find yourself in a very difficult arrangement that may be counterproductive. 67 political parties are not too much because the constitution says you can have as many as you can.

    There are those who believe that the ADP was registered by former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar.

    If Atiku was sponsoring this party, you would have seen one of his loyalist here. But have you seen such person here? Or someone who has worked with him before? No. It is Nigerians that are financing this party because that is how it should be. We want a party that is owned by Nigerians and not by some money bags that will dictate what happens and yet don’t have anything to offer. I am not berating anybody, but look at all those that are offering themselves for the presidency. What have they done for this country? We are looking for people that can think out of the box. ADP as a political party is not tied to any money bag. Like I said, we are looking for people who can look at the situation and be creative enough to bring solutions that were not there before.

  • 2019: Our party will rescue Nigeria from possible collapse’

    2019: Our party will rescue Nigeria from possible collapse’

    The Action Democratic Party (ADP) has reacted to the 2019 elections Time Table released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
    The party in a statement issued by the spokesman for Lagos, Prince Adelaja Adeoye on Wednesday, said that the ADP is ready to rescue Nigeria from a possible total collapse under the current mis-governance of the ruling APC.
    He said the reality for Nigerians is that governance is at its lowest ebb and that citizens are crying.
    Adelaja said that the ADP is working with all stakeholders across the country in order to present candidates who possess the 3Cs which he described as “Competence, Character and Capacity.”
     The party noted that for Nigeria to move forward, men and women of good character, competence and capacity must be put forward to lead. He said Nigeria needs a bridge builder as a President, someone who can restore peace, unity and love amongst the citizens and return the once revered nation to the path of economic boom. 
    He stressed further that the era of propaganda for votes is gone and that Nigerians will go to the polls based on issues that bother on their needs.
    According to him, these needs have not been met by Buhari’s administration. ADP however charges Nigerians to stay awake, alleging that the ruling APC is aware that its popularity has waned and will want to use force and rigging to remain in power. 
    The party said for them, Lagos is winnable and will be won because the state does not need an “Owambe” Governor, one tied to the apron of a god father but a serious minded governor who will take governance beyond environmental sanitation. The party said that most Lagosians have not enjoyed the dividends of democracy since 1999 and that the culture of impunity, imposition and godfatherism has held sway in the state.
    ADP said a change of guard will make Lagosians see that development is far beyond what they are currently seeing under the current rent seekers who claim to be working. 
    ADP charges Nigerians to be ready to do the needful at the polls as electioneering activities start, based on the recently released INEC time table; urging them not to make themselves willing tools for violence, election malpractices or used to cause voter apathy.