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Tag: African Democratic Congress

  • I’ll tame crime by checkmating drug abuse -Sen Nyako

    Sen Abdulaziz Nyako, the governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Adamawa State,
    has said he would tame crime through checkmating drug abuse if he becomes the next governor of the state.

    He made the commitment in Dumne, a rural community in Song LGA, when he paid a campaign visit there, stressing that crime would be reduced to near nill across the state if youths are taken off drugs.

    Drug abuse is a major challenge in Adamawa State and Nyako’s remark called to mind a recent assertion by the state command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) that most crimes are committed under the influence of drugs.

    Sen Abdulazeez Nyako, reiterating his commitment towards ensuring eradication of drug abuse in the state, said it would be achieved through concerted efforts and he would enthusiastically lead and power the efforts.

    “We must checkmate drug abuse for our society to prosper. We should be in the vanguard in eliminating drug addiction which increases crime in the society,” he said.

    Read Also: I have no plan to dethrone Lamido of Adamawa, if elected Governor- Nyako

    At another campaign venue, in Wurude, also in Song LGA, Abdulaziz Nyako pledged a rice milling factory along the banks of a massive body of water called River Kilange.

    He said the rice mill would help the local farmers as it would facilitate dry season irrigation and benefit the people because it would ensure food sufficiency.

    He said the project’s blueprint was conceived by his father, former Gov. Murtala Nyako, and would be implemented next year by the ADC government if voted into power.

    He said the rice mill would complement food security, which he said is his priority plan.

  • ‘No place for godfatherism in ADC’

    The aspirant contesting for the Ado Odo/ Ota federal constituency seat on the platform of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Honorable Abiodun Akinboyede has said that the party is not structured to accommodate godfatherism.

    He said “this is the first political party in the history of this country that will give youths and women the opportunity to contest for positions they desire”.

    The barrister added that the party had been canvassing before now that 10 per cent of political positions should be reserved for old ones among us because of their advanced experience.

    He said:”Godfatherism is the bane of our politics. It destroys party structures in Nigeria. While our people are tired of unfulfilled promises from the same set of politicians, ADC, as a party, has come at the right time to rescue not only Ogun State, but Nigeria from bad leadership”.

     

  • Keep to your promise of free, fair election, Akinbade charges INEC

    Osun State governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Alhaji Fatai Akinbade, has charged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to keep to its promise to make the September 22 state guber poll free, fair and credible.

    Akinbade also charged the INEC to do everything within the ambit of the law to checkmate vote buying and selling during the election.

    In a statement by his Media Adviser, Mr. Kayode Oladeji, the governorship candidate said vote buying identified with the Ekiti State governorship election must be discouraged in the Osun forthcoming poll by all stakeholders.

    According to the statement, Akinbade, who spoke while playing host to a group of International Observers from South Africa under the aegis of Pan African Women Project headed by Dr. Eno Udensi, said it was imperative for stakeholders to be vigilant because of the “growing apprehension among the people of the state over plot by the ruling party to rig the election.”

    Read Also: 2019: No plan to postpone elections, says INEC

    Akinbade said the INEC must ensure that the every vote counts in the election.

    He said: “Though the INEC has been assuring us that it would conduct a free and fair election, especially in the areas of vote buying and other related electoral crimes, we, however, want them to actualise this by matching words with action. We don’t want the Commission’s assurances to be a smokescreen at the end of the day.”

    Earlier, the leader of Pan African Women Project, Udensi, said his group would work round the clock to ensure the September 22 election was hitch free.

    She promised to monitor voting buying and other related electoral crimes, saying a “1,000 woman march would be organized in Osogbo on Saturday to further enlighten the electorate on the evil of vote buying.”

  • ADC gives automatic ticket to 118 legislators

    Fix Oct. 6 for Presidential primary

     

    Ahead of the 2019 general election, the African Democratic Congress rewarded 118 federal and state legislators who joined the party with automatic ticket, while planning to nominate its Presidential candidate on the 6th of October.

    National Chairman of the party, Chief Ralph Nwosu who disclosed this at the National Executive Committee meeting of the party in Abuja said the party decided to reward the lawmakers for coming out boldly to identify with the fastest growing party in Nigeria (ADC) at a crucial time in the history of the country’s democracy.

    He said that among those to benefit from the automatic ticket are five senators, Eighteen members of the House of Representatives and Ninety five me,bets of state Houses of Assembly.

    The ADC Chairman said, “We need to honour and appreciate them because they abandoned the ruling and bigger parties for a party that is just gathering momentum.

    “The development can be attributed to the fact that the lawmakers and Nigerians at large have agreed that an end must come to anarchy, insecurity, lack of focus and terrorism in Nigeria. And the best platform, right now, is ADC. They are from Adamawa, Ondo, Osun, Imo, Ebonyi, Ogun and Oyo states, among others.”

    Speaking on the party’s preparedness for the 2019 elections, Nwosu said that the primaries for aspirants contesting for the House of Assembly elections would hold on September 29, 2018, while governorship primaries would hold on October 2, 2018.

    He said the the party has also scheduled National Assembly primaries for hold October 4, 2018, and presidential, October 6, 2018, pointing out that “Aspirants have been coming to take forms for the presidential primaries. We will unveil our aspirants very soon”.

    He disclosed that the ADC has launched a campaign against vote buying and electoral corruption under the name: Coalition for Electoral Integrity, saying “We invite the media and the general public to join the party in enlightening the Nigerian electorate that trading their votes for money means mortgaging a very bright future and we must stop that”.

    He described ADC is a vision driven grassroots political party with Role-Modelling Leadership paradigm and is not in the ridiculous ‘Harvest-Bazaar’ money politics and ‘godfatherism’.

    Read Also: ADC to hold State congress to elect leaders in Ogun

    Speaking on the forthcoming Osun State governorship election, Nwosu said the party was confident of victory, pointing out that the party has received letters from labour unions, civil servants and other pressure groups in the state showing great support for the party’s candidates.

    Nwosu said, “We are assuring Osun State workers and the people, who, on their own, have shown great support for ADC’s Governorship candidate, Alhaji Fatai Akinbade and his running mate, Rtd Justice Folahanmi Oloyede, based on their excellent public service records, that our candidates will take them away from the grip of insensitive leaders and lead them far away from poverty

    “The people of Osun should be assured that we will always stand by them at all times and will not betray the confidence reposed in us. We are set to hit the ground on September 15, 2018, with our mega rally, as the first step towards taking the state to the path of prosperity.”

  • Sycophants misleading Ajimobi against me -Shittu

    The defection of some notable members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has changed the political permutations in the pace setter state ahead the 2019 general elections. In this interview with Olusegun Raphael, the Minister of Communications, Adebayo Shittu, bared his mind on the crisis in Oyo APC, his governorship ambition, frosty relationship with Governor Abiola Ajimobi and more. Excerpts

    YOUR political career has seen you criss-crossing from progressive to conservative parties and vice versa. You started politics as a member of the House of Assembly on the platform of the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) and later defected to the then ruling National Party of Nigeria (NPN) in the Second Republic. And from 1999 till date, you have moved from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the Congress for Progressives Change (CPC) and now the All Progressives Congress (APC). Does it not lend credence to the fact that Nigerian politicians lack political ideology?

    Yes, I started politics as a member of a progressive party, the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN), led by Chief Obafemi Awolowo. But following a disagreement with then governor of Oyo State, Chief Bola Ige, over certain policy issues, I was expelled from the party. When you expel someone from a political party and you don’t have a choice, you move to whatever is visible. So, that was what pushed me to NPN. Another unpalatable experience led me to the PDP fold and now I’m in APC, the progressive bloc. I can assure you from my own experience of Nigerian politics that political parties in Nigeria are a mixed bag. I agree that APC is a progressive party just like UPN was at that time, but you know what I suffered. Even in my current party, the APC, you know that a lot of people who claim to be progressives end up being as corrupt as any other person from the so-called conservative bloc. So, the sum total of it is that many people join a progressive party because it is expedient for them to be there. If you take for instance this APC that we are in, a lot of people came into the party in 2015 simply because they saw that Buhari would win the election. You know if they were in another party, they wouldn’t have won election. So, I think we should look at individuals. What is the individual doing to justify whatever claim of progressivism or otherwise he or she is laying claims to?

    Talking about speculated ambition to run for governorship of Oyo State in 2019, there is the indication that you may step down for another aspirant. Is that a possibility?

    It’s no longer a speculation; I am running for governorship ticket of my party. It’s also not true that I am stepping down for anybody. People are just mixing things up. In 2011, I was the governorship candidate of CPC and the current governor (Senator Abiola Ajimobi), was a candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). He defeated me, I congratulated him and we moved on. In 2015, I also wanted the ticket even though he was a sitting governor. The system at that time was so questionable to me that I have to challenge the matter in court on the grounds that he was not properly elected as a candidate of the party. We were still in court when my appointment as a minister was announced. So, naturally I have to abandon that case in the Court of Appeal. I believe the case would have been struck out by now if I kept pursuing so I didn’t pursue it further. Perhaps, if I was not appointed as a minister, I would have continued with it. So, it’s not a case of stepping down. Ordinarily a lot of people will not want me to make this clarification, because it looks sweet to say I stepped down for Ajimobi. But as a person who will always say things as they are, I need to clarify it that I did not step down, but that things took a different dimension. If I’m contesting to be a governor and I’m called to serve at the national level, who am I to be pursuing a regional or a state agenda?

    You are from Oyo North, are you running simply because you believe it’s the turn of that zone to produce the next governor?

    Well, firstly I am from Saki in Oyo North Senatorial District of Oyo State, but the truth remains that I want to be governor not because I am from Oke-Ogun, but because as at today, I am the most experienced politician in the state. I have a very good educational background and rich political experience that other aspirants cannot boast of. I mean if you look at today’s political axis, who, among the political office holders or aspirants, had the privilege of holding meetings and engaging in intellectual discourses and interactions with the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo? I have also had the privilege of being in the House of Assembly for a whole four years (1979 to 1983). I have also had the privilege of being a member Oyo State Executive Council on two different occasions under two different governors; I was a member of the National Political Reform Conference of 2005. And today by the grace of God, I am a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Apart from being a minister, I have also twice attempted to be governor, to show that wanting to be governor is not an emergency thing for me. I have always wanted to be governor, because I know the experience that I’ve gathered from the ideals of the likes of Chief Awolowo, and from working as a member of State Executive Council and all that. If I take the fact that today am a Minister of Communication alone, the experience that I’ve gathered from that portfolio in the last three years, nobody has it among the other aspirants. With all due respect to some of the other aspirants, they are simply vying for the seat because of the glamour of the office not because they know what to do to transform Oyo State and the lives of the people. So, going back to the issue of Oke-Ogun producing the next governor, you must be mindful of the fact that it was Governor Ajimobi himself that started the clamour that an Oke-Ogun person must succeed him in 2019.

    You are quite close to the governor, so have you consulted on your quest to succeed him?

    I have not done that because of issues…

    What issues?

    The issues are many. Some sycophants go to the governor to mislead him because they are scared of my governorship ambition. And I have always advised him to stop listening to people who come to poison his mind. I believe very strongly that I am his best bet for the sake of his political future and legacy. When the election was held in 2015, he defeated Senator Rashidi Ladoja with about 30,000 votes. Now that the Oyo APC is split into two, it means SENACO, which is the governor’s political group, standing alone cannot win governorship election in Oyo State. The Unity Forum, on its own too, cannot win election. So unless we come together under one leadership that would be respected and I see myself as that person that can provide that leadership, otherwise, we would be in trouble as APC in Oyo State. And if that happens, the enemy would take over and all of us would be in trouble.

    What efforts are being made to arrest the situation in the party in Oyo State?

    I want to assure you that efforts are ongoing to arrest the ugly trends among members of the party.

    In case you don’t get the governorship ticket, are you likely to use another platform?

    I can assure you that I’m with President Muhammadu Buhari for better, for worse. You see, thank God I have a second address; I am a lawyer, a publisher, a school proprietor and today by virtue of my being the Minister of Communications, the entire ICT world knows me and I can get a lot to do with them if I don’t become a governor. However, I want to become governor, because I believe I want to put all the experiences I’ve gathered over the years into practice for the benefit of the people of Oyo State.

    The governor claimed that eighty percent of reconciliation has been achieved, what is your reaction?

    Well, to the best of my knowledge, I do not think so. If you look at the meeting the governor called recently, it was the same SENACO group that met; not one person from the Unity Forum was invited. Even I, as a minister, have never been invited to any meeting of APC in Oyo State.

    The governor once said he assisted you financially and in so many other ways after your appointment as minister; why are you now opposing him?

    I am not in any way opposing him. Not at all! I address him as ‘My Egbon’ (my elder brother), and he claims that I address him like that only in his presence, but malign him behind and I have challenged him to prove it. I am not a flippant person. I don’t keep malice, neither do I pretend or deceive people. When he contested election in 2007 and lost, Senator Ladoja called and instructed me to go and set up a legal team to argue Ajimobi’s case at the election tribunal. Senator Ladoja and I did not only support him (Ajimobi) morally, but also financially. We spent over 25 million naira on this case at the election tribunal. Apart from spending money, I recruited Niyi Akintola to lead the legal team. I was also present every day at the tribunal. So, it has never been a one-way thing; it has been a mutually beneficial relationship and so as far as I’m concerned, I think both of us would not have a choice but to work together except if we hate APC and by extension Oyo State. We must work together; failure to do that would be too bad for Oyo State.

    Due to the crisis in your party, some of your members have since defected to other parties. Do you still believe the crisis can be resolved before the next election?

    I can assure you that if I get the APC ticket, they will all come back to APC, because they all respect me. The truth is some of them were frustrated out in an undemocratic way through corruption, mischief and all that. I pray I get the ticket, but if I don’t, I’ll go home and sleep and enjoy myself and move on.

  • Oyo ADC releases timetable for membership registration, congresses

    The Oyo State chapter of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) on Monday released the timetable for membership registration, ward, local government and state congresses.

    The party had its ranks boosted last week when a former governor Rashidi Ladoja and Chief Michael Koleoso joined with their supporters.

    A caretaker committee with the responsibility of organizing the congresses and registration was last Thursday inaugurated in Ibadan, the state capital by the Acting National Chairman of the party, Dr Ralph Nwosu.

    A statement by the committee’s Publicity Secretary and former Commissioner for Education, Dr Nureni Adeniran, on Monday said registration of party members will hold between Friday, August 10 and Thursday, August 16.

    According to him, ward and local government congresses will hold on Saturdays August 18 and August 25 respectively while state congress is scheduled to hold on Tuesday, August 28.

    Read Also: ADC coalition in Oyo, a strange union–APC

    Adeniran urged all party members to participate in the scheduled activities and conduct themselves peacefully, adding that the task to bring a people-oriented government in 2019 must be done with determination.

    He explained that there was the need to put the structure of the party in all the wards, councils and in the state so as to hit the ground running in the quest to free the people from the yoke imposed on them by the All Progressives Congress (APC-led) administration.

    He noted that the creation of the party structure would also enhance it “smooth and effective take off,” boasting that the ADC remained the government-in-waiting in the state.

  • Defections foreknown

    To thy tents o Israel! This best describes the ongoing political defections that we have been witnessing since Tuesday, with the defection of 13 All Progressives Congress (APC) senators to the immediate past ruling party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and one to the African Democratic Congress (ADC). At least 32 members of the House of Representatives also dumped the ruling party for the PDP; four defected to the ADC while the remaining one representative did not state which party he was defecting to. One does not need to be a political pundit to know that the defection of some PDP stalwarts to the APC in 2014 was nothing but a marriage of convenience which was bound to collapse sooner than later. That the unholy wedlock even lasted this long was due to the high degree of tolerance on both sides. But the scales are now finally falling off the eyes of the incompatible lovers.

    When politicians defect aimlessly like a rudderless ship, it is pointer to the fact that ideology or principle has fled the polity. These days, the difference between the progressive hue of politicians and the conservatives is not clear at all. Today, someone is a conservative; the next day he is in the progressive train. No qualms. This blurred distinction between both explains why these days, progressives’ votes are stolen and there are no protests, even in the very strongholds of the progressives’ camp. It is for this same reason that the Bukola Sarakis of this world would find accommodation in the APC, albeit temporarily, because he knew clearly where he was going from the beginning; and his entry into the progressive fold would be celebrated like the angels in heaven celebrate whenever a convert gives his life to Christ.  It was because Saraki knew where he was going ab initio that he ensured Ike Ekweremadu, a PDP senator, was elected his deputy! That is rare in any presidential democracy.

    Without doubt, corruption is a defining factor in all of these defections. It is its own way of fighting back. And it is President Muhammadu Buhari one has to blame. He is the one to blame for marrying their wives when he should have married their mothers. If this appears like a coded message, the president has more than enough Yoruba people around to help him untangle the knot or decode the message. Definitely, the way he opened his eyes and allowed Saraki to seize the Senate at the very beginning was the height of his political naivety, for which he is  paying and would continue to pay for probably till the end of his term, if care is not taken for, no kangaroo attempt to remove Saraki as Senate President shall prosper.This is neither a wish nor a prayer; it is just that Saraki has done his homework sufficiently to ensure it is so. Buhari has not.

    Senate President Saraki is at the centre of these defections because of his ambition to become president. Indeed, he is the face of the defectors, even though he is yet to ‘port’ from the APC for the simple reason that he has to vacate his senate presidency the moment he does that. And that will render him bare; so vulnerable because the hue and cry about whatever some people see as his tribulations becomes an issue because he is the country’s Number Three citizen. His latest trouble has to do with the confessional statements made by some of the Offa robbery suspects, to the effect that Dr Saraki is their financier.

    It is sad that some people have begun to read political motives to the police invitation to the Senate President in connection with this criminal matter. But it would necessarily be so because of the way the police are handling it. This was one robbery that the police have described as about the deadliest in the country’s robbery annals. No fewer than 31 persons were killed in the operations even as 21 AK47 rifles were allegedly snatched by the robbers when they struck in Offa, Kwara State, on April 5.

    We need to wean ourselves off this mentality that certain people, because of their exalted positions, are above the law or cannot be questioned for their suspected involvement in criminal activities. I think we should separate Genesis from Exodus; as one of my lecturers in the university used to say.

    Be that as it may, it is a weighty allegation that the Senate President could be linked with such people in the society. So, his defence that as a politician, he has too many supporters and could therefore not have known all of them, or probably what they do for a living, cannot be enough alibi to convince the police. This is much more so with the claim by the police that four of the suspects escorted Dr Saraki to pay condolence visit to the Olofa of Offa, shortly after the robbery. No fool will take this defence for the gospel truth. There is a big question mark on the integrity of the Senate President. Yet, the office that Senator Saraki occupies is not one to trivialise; therefore whoever occupies that office must, like Caesar’s wife, be above suspicion.

    Dr Saraki might not know what the people who claimed he finances their activities or buys vehicles for them, as well as gives them plenty of cash do with whatever he gave them beyond using them as political cannon fodder. He might not know they use those gifts and probably his political clout fto perpetrate crimes, including armed robbery. So, the Senate President has to give more convincing reasons beyond what he has said so far that is in the public domain about what the Offa robberies’ suspects alleged he is to them.

    One must confess though, that the way the Buhari presidency has been handling the Saraki matter leaves much to be desired. And that is one thing many people do not understand about the government’s style. If truly the robbery suspects made such claims about Dr Saraki; that is enough to keep him busy with the police asking him to report to their office at intervals since the allegation was made. But to wait until the week that Saraki and his friends had perfected defection plans from the APC to move against him is what has given room to insinuations in many quarters that the whole thing was politically motivated. In other words, the ruling party is ready to shield or tolerate Saraki for as long as he is ready to remain in APC. If people who are adept in political maneuverings had handled this matter, it is the Senate President who by now would be begging people to help him beg the government for safe landing. But, the Buhari presidency is about bungling this again.

    It is because President Buhari had left undone what he ought to have done, or had done wrongly what he ought to have done that many of the people whose mouths should be in ‘permanent position of shut up’ are still having their voice. Those of them who had lost it before have found it. Even Olisa Metuh (remember him?) the master actor whose ‘lying-in-state’ on stretcher was well recorded in the media has suddenly resurrected. Add this to the drama in the defection of Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom to the PDP, then you get a clear picture of the kind of game that is playing itself out. First, it was youths in the state who were putting pressure on the governor to leave the APC. Then, they removed the APC stickers on the governor’s vehicles. Only God knows what next they or some other characters would do in some other places to make their political godfathers look like they are being forced to do something that is against their wish. Yet, to me, the APC might have expressed surprise over Ortom’s exit, he appears to have a good reason for his action. His state has been the centre of herdsmen’s killings, with his government having to provide mass graves for the victims. But the way the governor has painted the whole scenario, the only thing I can say to him is that when next he and the other defectors who are pretending to be angry with Buhari’s dictatorial tendencies go to the supermarket, they should not forget to buy bibs for the rest of us so we put on our necks in order not to soil our clothes when eating.

    Again, whether the N-PDP or whatever contraption they ultimately form  will last is a different matter altogether, given the sheer number of presidential aspirants that will flock the party. I do not see many of them willing to gift the ticket to another without a fight. So, it might yet only be the end of a scene, with another scene in the offing.

     

  • 2019: ADC to zone political offices in next one month

    The National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Chief Okey Nwosu, has declared the party will zone it’s political offices for the 2019 elections next month.

    Briefing reporters on Friday in Awka, Nwosu said already, the party had 35 coalition groups and still counting, adding that it had prepared for the elections next year.

    Recently, the party welcomed former president Olusegun Obasanjo’s led Coalition Nigerian Movement (CNM) into it’s fold, adding that  the party had devised a strong strategy to wrestle power from the current leadership in the country.

    Read Also: 2019: OBJ’s CNM collapses into ADC

    He said 30 per cent elective positions would go to the youths, another 30 percent would be allocated to the women, while the rest 40 per cent  would be for the others.

    Nwosu further said the party would win over 60 percent votes in the North West zone in the 2019 general election.

    He stated that due diligence was followed before the leaders of the coalition arrived at adopting ADC as a party, adding that it was a credible organ to challenge the leadership of the country.

    According to Nwosu, “We are building structures all over Nigeria; our aim is to restore the lost glory of Nigeria’s democracy. I am not surprised that ADC was chosen by the leaders of CNM as the party to work with.

    “I have been with the leaders of the coalition, from Obasanjo to Babangida to TY Danjuma, and one thing is interesting; I saw the passion to change Nigeria in all of them”

    “I was not surprised they chose ADC because we also share a similar passion,”

    “I am the chairman of Coalition for New Nigeria (CNN) which comprises 35 political parties, and I cannot tell you that they will collapse or merge with ADC, but these parties are working with us”

    “If elections hold today, we are taking over 60 percent of votes in the North West, and it is like that in other zones and we are still working”

    “People are donating structures, people are trooping in to register with us all over the country, and I tell you, it is time to salvage Nigeria”

  • 2019: OBJ’s CNM collapses into ADC

    Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, political pressure group, the Coalition for Nigerian Movement, CNM, has fused with the African Democratic Congress, ADC.

    This is with a view to forming a formidable force to wrestle power from the ruling All Progressive Congress, APC in 2019 poll.

    A Co-Convener of CNM, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, who made the pronouncement at a world press conference in Abuja, posited that with the fusion, the coalition has ceased to exist.

    Oyinlola noted that with the understanding of like minded persons and organizations across the country, Nigeria will be rescued, and that the elections of 2018 and 2019 will be used to cure the curse and afflictions of failed leadership and perpetual underdevelopment.

    Explaining the choice of ADC, the former Osun state Governor said that it is an appreciation of the progressive essence of the party and its untainted existence on the terrain of our nation’s politics.

    He said, “We have said it before and we are stating it here again that the current state of despair and despondency in our dear country is an ill wind.

    “It is foreboding and can only lead to a conflagration. Between January when CNM was formed and now, can we say that the story of Nigeria has changed for the better? Have things not worsened at all levels?

    “I thank all of you for being here today. You will all recall that in January this year, the Coalition for Nigeria Movement, CNM, was formed by some of us across the country as a political platform to create a new generation of leaders for our country.

    “Between that time and today, a lot of grounds has been covered in achieving the set  goals. One of such is what we are doing here today – the formal fusing of – our movement into the African Democratic Congress.

    “Beyond what we are doing here today, we put our countrymen and women, old and young, on notice that they should expect more from us; that they should expect deepened political engagements across platforms in the coming days and weeks. In other words, this is just the first in a multi layered action plan to give back the country to its much deprived people.

    “As we stated in January during the launch of the CNM, we are taking on this task not minding the inconveniences and other expected and unexpected consequences of our efforts at reinventing the country.

    “We admit that structural inadequacies and failure of leadership have robbed our country of greatness. We also note that a future of greatness for Nigeria will only be birthed by a new generation of youthful leaders with fresh ideas and knowledge of what it takes to govern a 21 st century nation.

    Read Also: I ‘ll never endorse Buhari, says Obasanjo

    “This gathering here today is a proof that the modest efforts at waking up the vast majority of our people to for once, take their destiny in their hands as demanded by the constitution are bearing fruits already. Our constitution guarantees all Nigerians their fundamental human rights, including freedom of association and the right to hold political views.

    “The decision to move in to African Democratic Congress therefore, is an appreciation of the progressive essence of the party and its untainted existence on the terrain of our nation’s politics.

    “While I on behalf of the leadership and the over three million members of the CNM congratulate ADC as the vehicle for national reinvention, I urge us to let us know that the task ahead is an arduous one that needs further strengthening of the forces of change. What I am saying is that we should be open to new engagements and alliances being forged and crystallizing across the country.

    “We should remain committed to the use of the tools of democracy to recreate a •Nigeria that will truly serve all, irrespective of religion, tribe or socio ‘economic status.

    “We have said it before and we are stating it here again that the current state of despair and despondency in our dear country is an ill wind.

    “ It is foreboding and can only lead to a conflagration. Between January ‘when CNM was formed and now, can we say that the story of Nigeria has changed for the better? Have things not worsened at all levels?

    “Indeed, every one of us who has been in power before at whatever level may have a share of the blame for the state of the nation. That fact, however, will not disqualify us from being part of, and indeed, stand at the vanguard of finding a lasting solution to this problem.

    “Indeed, those who have seen it all but with the right perspective are better placed to bring in knowledgeable young men and women to come and reinvent the country for the challenges of the future.

    “ADC and other like- minded political parties should join other patriots in democratically building and enthroning a new set of youthful, knowledgeable and goal- oriented leadership for this country. We believe, therefore, that through right engagements and fundamental reordering of the affairs of our nation, our country will be out of the woods. Nigerians are a very resilient people. They are great optimists.

    “They have invested so much trust and hope in our democratic infrastructure with very miserable returns, so far. As I stated during the launch of the CNM our country must not continue to be condemned to a four yearly ritual of voting without results.

    “To get positive results, therefore, we must get right the choice of leadership. But the apple does not fall far from its tree. Only credible, positive platforms can produce positive results. A tree conceived and nurtured in lies can only bear imaginary fruits. Every government has ideas and programmes – most times packaged in flowery prose.

    “The deficit in leadership is noticed at the point of implementation of the ideas and policies. ADC from its well enunciated policies and Programmes is well placed to make democracy work for the people.

    “ADC is properly placed to join other patriots in moving Nigerians in all the wards, the 774 local governments and the 36 states to join hands to make our country truly great. Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, we have a job to do.

    “The destiny of Nigeria is not to remain forever in crisis and in the doldrums. As the CNM takes this momentous step of coalescing into ADC as a vital step in building a national consensus to reconstruct the country, we assure all Nigerians with there support.

    “And the understanding of like minded persons and organizations across the country, Nigeria will be rescued. God willing the elections of 2018 and 2019 will be used to cure the curse and afflictions of failed leadership and perpetual underdevelopment.”

    In his remarks, the founding National Chairman of African Democratic Congress, ADC, Chief Ralphs Nwosu described the fusion as the dawn of great Nigeria project; Leading with the right ethical Compass.

    Chief Nwosu said, “Nation building could be a very daunting exercise. But with good and committed leaders, the journey could be much easier. I invite all Nigerians to have very deep reflection concerning our Nation Nigeria, and its lOO years of Nationhood.”

    According to him, “Today our great country with 200 million population is in a dysfunctional state. Our biggest resources in human capacity and diversity seem to be weighing us down and tearing us apart.

    “However, I do not want to dwell on our failings. I want to assure you all that we the African Democratic Congress ADC working with Coalition [or Nigeria Movement CNlM, and many strategic coalition partners, involving a Rainbow coalition of Political parties, civil societies, labor and trade.” unions, and well-meaning eminent Nigerians are determined to reframe the narratives about Nigeria.

    “We have worked tirelessly to put this coalition together. Many important stakeholders helped to guide our party. I wish to specially mention President Oluscgun Obasanjo for his tireless support. His word “I am not perfect, but 1 enjoin you to join me in having deep passion and unshakable commitment for Nigeria”.

    “This will guide this new ADC always. The formal launch of our new ADC party will take place so. I wish to enjoin all of us to embrace our philosophy of role modelling leadership as a way to building the new Nigeria and a greater Africa.

    “In everything we do, to be successful, we must remain true to ourselves. Deep reflection helps leaders to clear their heads, clarify their path to be able to focus purposefully, for each party involved; we expect true and committed engagement to the Nigeria Project.”

     

  • ‘Why corruption still remains an issue for Buhari govt’

    ‘Why corruption still remains an issue for Buhari govt’

    Leadership of 19 registered political parties Wednesday gave reason why corruption is still a primary issue for the Muhammad Buhari’s administration.

    According to the political parties, previous attempt have not been as successful as they should be.

    The noted that the anti-graft war is crucial to the survival of the country.

    The political parties include Labour Party, LP, Action Alliance, AA, National Conscience Party, NCP, Democratic People’s Party, DPP, African Democratic Congress, ADC, Democratic Party of Nigeria, DPN, and MPPP amongst others.

    Briefing newsmen in Abuja Wednesday, the National Chairman of the Labour Party, LP, Alhaji Abdulkadir Abdulsalam, who read the text of the media briefing on behalf of the parties, said.

    “We want to put on record that we are solidly behind President Muhammad Buhari’s fight against corruption; a fight that we believe is crucial to the survival of our country.

    “In fact, the reason corruption is still a primary issue for the Buhari administration is that previous attempts have not been as successful as they should be.”

    They however noted that the way and manner the anti-graft agencies are carrying out the fight might scuttle the president’s noble intention.

    He said; “We however wish to note that this is not the first time that a president of this country would be declaring a war against corruption. We aver that one of the major obstacles in the fight against political corruption in Nigeria over the years is the way and manner it has been fought so as to give the impression that the fight is selective and targeted only at perceived enemies of government.”

    The political parties warned that “once an anti-corruption is perceived as politically motivated, then the entire war against corruption easily gets reduced to a means of settling political scores rather than genuine commitment to fighting corruption. We are afraid that if care is not taken, the President Buhari’s avowed commitment to fighting corruption may end up in the ways of his predecessors.”

    Citing the recent clearance of the Chairman of Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, Justice Danladi Umar by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) of allegation of misconduct, the political parties noted that the commission’s posture was a wrong signal arguing that it is only the law court that can do so.

    The parties therefore called on President Muhammadu Buhari to direct an immediate investigation to unravel the circumstances which led to the Economic and Financial Crime Commission, EFFC, issuing the letter of clearance to Justice Danladi Umar over his alleged involvement in N10 million bribery scandal.

    On the ongoing trial of the Senate President, Abdulsalam said the political parties were not against his trail, stressing that “President Buhari needs to act now, not to stop Saraki’s trial but to ensure that the process of fighting corruption does not end up being even more corrupt than the corruption it seeks to eliminate.”

    The political parties however kicked against Justice Umar’s presiding over the trial.

    According to them, “We recall that the Chairman of the Tribunal has himself been under investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on allegations of bribery and corruption.

    “We observe however that the preponderance of evidence that has been deployed so far against Dr. Saraki, including the Principal Prosecution Witness in the matter, were supplied by the EFCC.

    “What that means is that the Chairman of the Tribunal, Mr. Danladi Umar, is not only beholden to, but also under the control of the prosecution. Invariably, since Mr. Danladi Umar has the prosecutors ‘axe dangling on his neck, his ability to do justice to the defendant would be naturally impaired.

    “To make the matter worse, we noted how the EFCC, in an unprecedented act of desperation, hurriedly issued a memo re-activating a report to the AGF and SGF dated 5th March, 2015, which it now attempts to present as a clearance letter to Umar.

    “If this act alone does not confirm the grand collusion between the EFCC and the Chairman of the Tribunal to tilt the scale of justice against Dr. Saraki, then nothing would. However, if this case is about strengthening probity and accountability in public office, we fully support it; even as we insist that justice must not only be done, but be seen by all to have been done to all.”