The Nation Newspaper

Tag: All Progressive Congress

  • APC Germany visits Ambassador, says we empower youths

    APC Germany visits Ambassador, says we empower youths

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) Germany Chapter, has updated the Nigerian Ambassador to Germany, Mr. Yusuf Maitama Tuggar on how the chapter has successfully empowered home-based Nigerians in different capacities.

    This disclosure was contained in a statement signed by Segun Ogunremi, National Secretary, APC Germany Chapter, when Ambassador Tuggar played host to the chapter led by the National Chairman, APC Germany Hon. Olalekan Ogunwede at the Nigerian Embassy in Berlin, recently.

    The meeting, which started with the National Anthem (2nd Stanza) saw the APC chief recounting how the chapter was established detailing the registration at the National Secretariat in Abuja and in Germany, vis-à-vis how the other Diaspora chapters were formed.

    APC Germany visits Ambassador Tuggar
    APC Germany Chairman, Hon. Ogunwede and Ambassador Tuggar

    According to Hon. Ogunwede, the German chapter, as part of its recent projects, sponsored 20 youths in Osun State on vocational training during the Osun State Youth Empowerment Scheme (OYES) and assure the Ambassador on the plans to replicate such projects across the six geopolitical zones in Nigeria.

    The Chairman also talked about various issues that concern Nigerians in Germany, how the chapter can work together with the Embassy to address these issues, and how to foster the relationship between the Embassy and Nigerians in Germany.

    Commending the APC Germany chapter members and other Diaspora Chapters in his remark, Ambassador Tuggar acknowledged the significance and impact of the role played by Nigerians in diaspora during the 2015 general election in Nigeria.

    The Hon. Ambassador also highlighted the changes in the embassy with regards to the customer relation and emphasizes that this is about the “Change’’ the party canvassed during the last election.

    “I am on an assignment to effect this change and I will do nothing less. I implore you to help in propagating and testifying to the changes in the embassy.

    “Browse the website of the embassy and help to disseminate the testimonies therein in German language using various medium,” Ambassador Tuggar stressed.

    He further talked about the whistleblowing initiative of the Federal Government which is helping in reducing corruption and the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC), which was set up to remove bureaucratic constraints attached to doing business in Nigeria and make the country a progressively easier place to start a business.

    Ambassador Tuggar, in his closing remark, pledged support for the APC Germany Chapter and looks forward to a good working relationship, while the Chapter equally pledged support to the Ambassador in helping to achieve his political career in respect to his political antecedence in Bauchi State.

    The APC Germany Chapter team included Jide Fasakin, Organising Secretary; Sunday Temitope, Segun Ogunremi, National Secretary; Hareef Akindele, Segun Agbebi, Omolabake Aminu, Women Leader, and Jonathan Sam.

  • APC standard bearer in Enugu kidnapped, molested

    APC standard bearer in Enugu kidnapped, molested

    Enugu state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has called on the police to immediately arrest and prosecute the State Commissioner for Transport, Mr. Vitus Okechi and the Vice Chairman-elect of Igboeze South local government area, Mr. Sunday Ajogwu.

    The party alleged that the two men who were working for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), masterminded the kidnapping, torture and attempted murder of the gubernatorial candidate of APC in the 2015 general election, Barr. Okey Ezea, during the recently concluded local government election in the state.

    T‎he State Chairman of APC, Dr. Ben Nwoye alleged at a press briefing that Ezea was beaten to a pulp, kidnapped and later rescued by the police, who took him to the hospital for treatment during the November 4, local government election in the state.

    He said that Ezea’s offence was asking for the result sheet to be made available before the commencement of poll and calling for a free and fair election.

    Nwoye wondered why having made a statement at the divisional police headquarters at Igboeze South LGA by the victim, police were yet to arrest and prosecute the suspects.

    But in a quick reaction, the Commissioner Transport, Vitus Okechi denied the allegation and alleged that the APC chieftain was attacked by thugs he brought in for the election over the possible disagreement on the financial settlement.

    The spokesman of Enugu state police command, Ebere Amaraizu, a Superintendent of Police (SP), when contacted stated that if indeed Barr. Ezea had reported the matter to the police and mentioned the name of suspects, then he should be rest assured that the matter would be handled professionally.

    “Chief Ezea ought to have gone to the divisional police headquarters where he reported the matter to find out the status of the matter before going to press.

    “He can also see the Commissioner of Police to know the status of the matter,” Amaraizu said.

    But the APC chairman, Nwoye insisted that the attackers must face justice, stressing that Ezea was a three-time guber candidate at various times in the satte and a leading voice of the opposition.

    “We called on you (press) to talk about what happened our leader, our gubernatorial candidate in 2015 election in the last local government fraudulent election. Before everything else, before we became APC members, before we even became Nigerians we are first human beings, and so when certain things happen we treat them from human
    perspective.

    “Recall that I informed you in a hurry, on that particular day, November 4th, I informed some of you who had the opportunity to come around here, that our guber candidate, Chief Okey Ezea was attacked, kidnapped, forcefully incarcerated and tortured. And that he remained in the den of kidnappers for some time before he was rescued by
    members of the Nigerian police.

    “Unfortunately Chief Okey Ezea knew his attackers, at least those who masterminded his attack. He fingered the Commissioner for Transport, Okechi and the vice chairman-elect of Igboeze South LGA, Sunday Ajogwu.,” he alleged. Ends

  • BVN is a right – Nigerians in Spain agitate

    BVN is a right – Nigerians in Spain agitate

    The Chairman, APC Spain Chapter and convener, A New Nigeria project, Ambassador Stephen Ade Tella has stressed the need to curb the menace of financial misappropriation and corruption.

    Ambassador Tella said that the need for both financial accountability and monetary identity in the present day Nigeria cannot be overemphasized to curb the cancerous growth of the menace of financial misappropriation and corruption, a battle this government of restoration has been fighting even before the mantle of leadership.

    According to him, this drive for sanity and tranquility in the country’s financial identification system led to the introduction of the Bank Verification Number BVN which mandates all citizens and persons running any Bank account in the country to have a biometric registration, aiding digital banking and better managed and synergistic banking system.

    The APC Spain Chief opined that the development was welcomed by all and sundry with next to no obligation by Nigerians both at home and diaspora with open arms, indeed it is a sign of progress as promised.

    His words: “We must commend the efforts of the government on this and particularly for its understanding of citizens in diaspora. However, the recent circular as was passed and brought to the listening audience spurs much concern, most particularly among citizens in diaspora, amidst which Spain is at the leading front.

    “I wish to bring to the attention of all of us, particularly those living outside Nigeria that the Federal Government instituted an action in court for the forfeiture of any balance in a bank account without a BVN.”

    He recalled that an interim order of forfeiture was granted by the court on the 17th October for the banks to show cause within 14 days why the balances in such accounts should not be forfeited.

    Ambassador Tella argued that the present practice is that banks only permit deposits into such accounts. No withdrawal is allowed. Should the Fed Government succeed, the money is forfeited permanently.

    “Although the banks may challenge the action up to the Supreme Court, my advice is for anyone who has not registered for the BVN to urgently take steps to do so.

    “This information wasn’t met with happy smiles by Nigerians living in Spain whose hopes of homely return would be likely shattered if denied access to their savings, which is the obvious outcome of the government’s action.

    “However, this development got to the ears of the leadership of the All Progressive Congress Spain Chapter early enough and was swiftly attended to. The Chapter under its able leadership was able to reach as many Nigerians within the Spanish hemisphere as possible, quenching the flames that could possibly lead to a disastrous fire before its outburst.

    “Spain records the second highest immigrants of Nigeria among its contemporaries. With this realization, it is rather disheartening than sad to know that while many European countries are provided with BVN Registration units, the country Spain was totally omitted.

    “Nigerians in Spain and some more other countries are not availed the opportunity to register, this error is worth a re-look and immediate intervention as it has raised an outcry excruciating feelings.

    “Forfeiture of accounts without a chance of registering would be injurious on hardworking Nigerians abroad who are not just there to earn a living but also existing daily as an image and ambassador of Nigeria to their respective host countries.

    “The government should take cognizance of these people who are ably representing their fatherland while laying their treasures in their home banks with the aim of returning home to establish an investment, which of course would be from the advanced understanding they have gained from developed nations, an advantage that will generate more employment opportunities, bring developed methods and modern day brands and also close up the widened gap between us and the so-called developed nations.

    “Speaking for every Nigerian in Spain and other affected countries, the Spain Chapter of the All Progressive Congress through this channel want to appeal in good conscience and for the sakes of development, to the government of Nigeria, commissions and ministries involved in the process of BVN registration to quickly revert or better still reconsider all countries not covered by the registration process. To this effect, banks should see such active accounts as unregistered rather than unattended.

    “We recommend that Spain and every other country, as would be affected by this policy, should be provided with registration ports before taking steps on forfeiture of unregistered accounts. This will save our investments at home, ensure our confidence abroad and give us hope of livelihood when back to our dear Nigeria,” he said.

  • Jonathan accuses APC of lies, propaganda

    Jonathan accuses APC of lies, propaganda

    Former President Goodluck Jonathan has lashed out at the All Progressive Congress-led administration, saying that the party runs a government of lies and propaganda.

    Jonathan spoke in Abuja on Thursday while receiving one of the chairmanship aspirants of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prof Tunde Adeniran at his private residence.

    The former President insisted that the PDP, which controlled government at the centre from 1999 to 2015 did well for the country but that the APC has failed the country and its people.

    According to him, the APC administration has nothing to show in terms of achievement. Rather, the ruling party has been governing through lies and deployment of hi-tech propaganda to cover up its misrules.

    ‎Challenging the APC leadership to the public debate over its performance, Jonathan said: “The PDP administration for 16 did well and will continue to do well. But this administration has done nothing, the administration is full lies and propaganda.

                Related: Dickson, Wike truce and Jonathan’s leadership failure

    “In the power sector, we did well to revive it, a certain state governor criticised our government, saying that any serious government should be able to fix the power sector within six months. But today, the APC has been in power for how many years? Fortunately, the then governor is in the APC Government as a Minister”.

    The former President, however, said that all hope was not lost, adding that the PDP would go all out and put its house in order for it to return to power in 2019.

    Jonathan said that Nigerians have been able to see the difference between the PDP and the APC in terms of performance.

    “With the rate at which people are coming around to associate with a party that lost elections, it shows that the

    President Muhammadu Buhari

    people still believe in the PDP. With the number and calibre of the people coming out to vie for the seat of the national chairman and other offices of our party, it shows that our party still has another chance”, the ex-President added.

    Fro the PDP to get it right and regain its lost glory, Jonathan said the party required a competent, reliable and courageous individual as national chairman to lead the PDP to victory in 2019.

    According to him, the contest for the office of the national chairman is very interesting. It’s a healthy competition in which many of the aspirants have been coming here. This will allow the delegates to choose the best among them at the convention.

    “For our party to make a headway, we need a national chairman that will select credible and reliable candidates for various elective offices at the various levels of government, from the Presidency to councillorship.

    “We need a national chairman who will be courageous enough to call the President to order if we win the Presidency and the President is going astray. He must not be someone who would change when the party takes a position on ‎issues.

    “We need a national chairman who will rule the party democratically and carry others along. In fact, the national chairman is the leader of the party. It is not the other way round”.
    ‎
    The ex-President said judging by his long interaction with Prof Adeniran, coupled with testimonies of other party leaders, Adeniran possessed what it takes to lead the party at this critical point in time.

    He warned the party leaders and the aspirants against turning the convention into a battlefield, saying the PDP must avoid another crisis that could jeopardise the party’s interest. He urged party leaders and members to see the upcoming convention as family affairs.

    Speaking earlier, Adeniran said that he was not interested in the race at the initial stage, but that the need to rebuild and reposition the party ahead of the 2019 general elections prompted him to join the race.

    Prof Adeniran added that he was in the race for the PDP to regain its lost glory and give Nigerians the real dividends of democracy that have eluded them since the PDP lost power in 2015.

     

  • 2019: Global affairs analyst nudges Tinubu to declare for presidency

    2019: Global affairs analyst nudges Tinubu to declare for presidency

    A Global Affairs Analyst, Ayoola Lawal has called on the National leader of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to step forward to join the race in becoming the next President of Nigeria in 2019.
    Lawal noted that Asiwaju Tinubu can compete for the position if President Muhammadu Buhari is not interested in running in 2019.
    According to him, the outcome of the last meeting by the South-West leaders of the APC in Ibadan, Oyo state capital indicates that APC  is still on course and zoning of the highest office of the land is not yet on the party’s plate.
    “The South-West leaders pride the party in its ideology of choosing a party flagbearer on the pure merit of winning the majority votes according to the party arrangement.
    “Based on the reiteration that the presidency on the platform of the APC is not yet zoned which makes it open to any citizen of Nigeria that meets the criteria of the party irrespective of the region or zone he or she belongs,” he said.
    The Global Affairs Analyst observed that the non-zoning system produced President Buhari in December 2014, when he emerged as the presidential candidate of the APC for the March 2015 general elections amongst other candidates from different zones of the country.
    He further said: “As a global affairs analyst, an unrepentant advocate of good governance, and a patriotic socialist that is studying and following the activities of political leaders and underdogs across the globe especially Nigeria, I personally call upon the National leader of APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to step forward to join the race in becoming the next President of the most populated black nation on earth in 2019 if Mr. President is not interested and, if Asiwaju still has the ambition.
    “If I may recall, Asiwaju Tinubu boldly and pleasantly expressed his wish and dream time and again of becoming the president of Nigeria during the presidential party rallies that I was opportune to attend in 2015.
    “However, he categorically stated the reasons for not joining the presidential race then which were constructively convincing and purely patriotic, that he needed to walk the path of history of the great nations that supported, elected and trusted their generals and old men with experience to rescue them in their nation’s darkest times.
    “Then, nobody could refute that Nigeria was in an unchartered water, in an auto-pilot state economically and security wise with ruthless corruption across the board, Boko Haram onslaught without hope in sight and Nigeria was heading for the rock.
    “Indeed, Nigeria was in her dark time in the tight grasp of 16-year misrule from the People Democratic Party (PDP). Now, the coast is quite clearer for Nigeria, the war is won, and Nigeria is on the course to regain her past glory and join the league of lion nation again.
    “Thank God for the APC-led administration of president Buhari and aided by a ceaseless demand of good governance by Nigerians. I will implore other young patriots to step up and give political leadership a shot for the sake of our generation and the future of our nation.
    “As I am imploring more younger and competent patriots both in Nigeria and Diaspora to engage in active politics, it is high time the national leader of APC, Asiwaju Tinubu, slept over his ambition again, take the bull by the horn and ready to take the baton from our great leader, president Buhari to continue the master plan of APC in leading Nigeria to her dreamland.”
    Lawal stressed that besides the facts that Asiwuju Tinubu has proven himself as a savvy entrepreneur, center-left political genius that understands the value of a rock-solid political platform and what it takes to unify people across board irrespective of tribe, political belief, education and social class and networks, he is also an astute leader with eye and heart for identifying potentials both in human and material and finally inspiring them for the best of his society and humanity.
    “I would have called for the continuity of President Muhammad Buhari as the president of Nigeria till 2023 because of what he stands for, but in all fairness, my hero, president Mr. Buhari has given is best to Nigeria even in his challenging state of health, so well in as promised in his election campaigns.
    “It is time for him to go back to Daura to savor his successes, take care of his challenging health, spend more time with his families and loved ones, and be a mentor to Asiwaju in his next herculean tasks as the next president of Nigeria and Nigeria to take great care of him and other old citizens,” he summed.
  • Poverty, ignorance, Nigeria’s problem, not restructuring – Muiz Banire

    Poverty, ignorance, Nigeria’s problem, not restructuring – Muiz Banire

    Dr Muiz Banire, the National Legal Adviser of the All Progressive Congress (APC), on Monday said poverty and lack of enlightenment were major problems facing Nigeria, not restructuring.

    Banire made the assertion on the sidelines of an Independence Day Anniversary programme organised by the Lagos State chapters of the Buhari Youth Organisation (BYO) and National Orientation Agency (NOA) in Lagos.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the programme tagged: “United Nigeria: Challenges and Opportunities” started on Sept. 29 with series of activities.

    Banire told NAN that poverty and ignorance were the main reasons for agitation for secession in some parts of the country.

    He called for right representation of people to quell agitation, adding that Nigerians should also learn to ask questions from their representatives at various levels.

    “People agitate only when they feel offended and deprived, but the solution for deprivation does not lie in restructuring. It will never end.

    “If you split today, some people in the split group will still rise up later to agitate for one thing or the other.

    “It does not solve our problems. What matters is that we must be happy, and to be happy, it means we must enjoy equal opportunity under this system.

    “It is deprivation and hunger that are causing problems facing the country today.

    “When we eliminate all inequalities, everybody will be happy with the system.

    “When hunger is taken care of, most of the issues threatening our unity will go,” Banire said.

    He called for respect for the rule of law and youth education to foster unity in Nigeria.

    “Restructuring is not our problem. Our people are not enlightened to ask questions from their representatives,” the APC chieftain said.

    Banire had earlier at the panel discussion urged youths, as major stakeholders in the Nigerian Project, to rise up and take charge of the nation’s leadership.

    He said that there was the need to build the capacity of youths to fill the vacuum in the leadership gap in the country.

    Banire said that youths had taken over the social media and should use the medium to propagate ideologies of integrity, transparency and accountability, which President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration represent.

    Also, a security expert, retired Col. Hassan Stanislous-Labo, said that restructuring would calm various forms of agitations in various parts of the country.

    Stanislous-Labo said that President Buhari has the vision to right all the wrongs in the country, but “his cabinet members did not have the capacity to execute his mission’’.

    In his remarks, Sen. Olorunimbe Mamora said that the tendency to manipulate religion and diversity was a challenge which must be addressed with proper conflict management.

    Mamora said that diversity could be turned to strength by listening to the grievances of the various groups.

    Also, Mr Dayo Bush-Alebiosu, a former House of Representatives member, urged youths to take advantage of their population to take over the nation’s leadership.

    Mr Waheed Ishola, the Lagos State Director of NOA, called on those fanning the embers of disharmony to have a change of attitude for the overall interest of the nation.

    “We must strive to achieve that strength in our diversity. We believe that the unity of Nigeria is sacrosanct,” he said.

    In his comments, Mr Biodun Ajiboye, the BYO’s National Secretary, called for a restructuring of the mind of Nigerians.

    Also, the Lagos State Coordinator of BYO, Mr Waheed Odunuga, said that lack of love, trust and greed of the political class were the causes of disunity in the nation, urging youths to rise up for national rebirth.

    Sheik Abdulrahman Ahmad, the National Missioner Ansar-ud-Deen Society of Nigeria, decried the trend where youths now worship money and mortgaging their conscience.

  • Preservative leadership all we have since 90s – George

    Preservative leadership all we have since 90s – George

    Samuel Obafemi George has made the call for youths to be active in politics and self-determination.

    This call was made in a speech given last weekend at the Leadership Clinic Lagos, a subset of Matadors Leadership Institute, designed in building the next generation of young leaders.

    The event themed: “Youths building Peace” was in commemoration of the International Youth Day and featured high-profile speakers, emphasising the importance for the youths to reorientate and reposition themselves for Nation building.

    George lamented the failure of sustainable and progressive leadership in Nigeria, as he made it clear that Nigerians current crop of leaders have only been preservative enough to maintain the status quo, and that aspect of leadership without effective impact to restore the country to greater strides will expire soon. He said the country has to come to the stage where the change is needed.

    “Since the 90s, all we have had is preservative leaders who only desire to maintain the status quo. These leaders are

    George
    George

    only there because they were the next to fall in line after the likes of Awolowo, one of Nigeria’s greatest leaders of all time. Not many politicians have surpassed Awolowo’s feat till date and that is why we need change agents since a lot is at stake,” George stated.

     

    “We have an Advantage”

    The one-time aspirant for the Eti-Osa Local Government Chairmanship Election in 2016 encouraged youths to leave their comfort zones and step into space.

    “Let us be ready,” he enthused. “Politics is a game and it is your persona that defines how you play the game. A clean man plays clean politics and a dirty man plays politics the dirty way but Nigeria needs you and I. Youths are not too young to take over.”

    Obafemi George who is also The Founder of  LIFE initiative, a non-governmental organisation, told the audience how he first came into the political scene eight years ago, under the banner of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) now All Progressive Congress (APC).

    “I joined the ACN eight years ago on the insistence of my wife who challenged me to do something to make Nigeria better and since then, I have worked assiduously to push Nigeria forward by running in the Eti-Osa Local Government elections,” the social media entrepreneur narrated.

    “To be actively involved in politics, you must have intellectual depth. It is what sets you aside from others, that is why you must read wide before you decide to be a part of the political process. Put an end to social media activism and join an active party at the Local level to see how things are done. We must do the real work to restore our country back onto the path of progress; no one hands over power easily.”

  • APC chief hails special anti-graft courts

    A member of Board of Trustees (BoT) of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC), Prince Benjamin Benedict Apugo has commended the Federal Government for creating special courts to try corruption and financial crimes cases.

    The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Justice Walter Onnoghen had in Abuja on Monday during a special court session to mark the commencement of the 2017/2018 new legal year and the conferment of the rank of Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN) on 29 lawyers, ordered heads of courts in the country to designate at least one court in their various jurisdictions as Special Courts solely for hearing corruption and financial crime cases.

    Justice Onnoghen equally ordered all heads of courts to forward the list of all pending corruption and financial crime cases before their various courts to the National Judicial Council (NJC) for closer monitoring.

    Speaking on the development, Apugo who had been calling for the establishment of Special Courts to try looters in the country said the order by the CJN will go a longer way in complimenting the efforts of President Muhammadu Buhari in the fight against corruption.

    “I have been clamouring for the establishment of Special Courts for the trial of looters of Abia State funds in particular and that of Nigeria in general, for a long time. I know that President Muhammadu Buhari has been trying his best in the fight against corruption, but no one man alone can win this war without others joining hands and that is why I am happy that the judiciary has shown much interest in the fight with the directives of the CJN.

    “Nigerians have not been happy with the way some high profile corruption cases went in courts and that is why they will be happy with the order of the CJN for heads of courts to forward the list of all pending corruption cases to the NJC for proper monitoring.”

    The APC chieftain also commended the CJN for planning to set up an Anti-Corruption Cases Trial Monitoring Committee, saying it was a right step in the right direction as this would check the excesses of some judicial officers whose actions tend to undermine the fight against corruption.

    Apugo said the judiciary having shown enough commitment in the corruption war by the pronouncements of the CJN, it now behooves on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to redouble her efforts in prosecuting the war.

    He said there were some states especially his state, Abia where he alleged that some officials of the immediate past administration who looted the treasury were yet to be summoned to account for their misdeed and called on the EFCC to do something urgently.

    He thanked God that President Buhari was recovering fast and commended him for the way he has been piloting the affairs of the country especially the war against corruption and insurgency.

  • Endorsement of El-Rufai a charade – Sen Sani

    Endorsement of El-Rufai a charade – Sen Sani

    The Senator representing Kaduna Central, Shehu Sani, on Tuesday, faulted the reported endorsement of Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai for the second term by the All Progressive Congress (APC).

    Senator Sani, who is chairman, Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Debts dubbed endorsement as a charade that cannot stand.

    The outspoken lawmaker said that El-Rufai simply gathered his employees, aide and hangers-on to actualize his endorsement for the second term.

    He noted that because the chances of El-Rufai becoming vice president which was allegedly aiming for while President Buhari was away on medical has failed with the return of the president, the Kauna governor has taken up another project for Buhari.

    He added that El-Rufai’s name dropping and mobilization for President Buhari for 2019 is self-serving while his loyalty to the president is questionable.

    Sani said: “The so-called endorsement of Governor El-Rufai by Kaduna APC amounts to an endorsement of toxic waste.

    “El-Rufai simply gathered his employees, aides and hangers-on to endorse him.

    “He is a poisonous viper corrosive to the integrity and moral standing of the party in the state and the nation.

    “El-Rufai name dropping and mobilization for Buhari 2019 is self-serving. His loyalty to Buhari is for political relevance and his allegiance to Buhari is for self-protection and preservation.

    “Now that President Buhari is back from health vacation and the chances of becoming a Vice President is zero, Elrufai has taken up a new project for Buhari 2019.

    “El-Rufai obsession with Buhari is not about Buhari but about himself. Buhari should protect his testicles from a man who always bends close to his knees.

    “Those who endorsed El-Rufai are marketing a bottled fart. A man who boasts of sending Yar’adua to his grave should not be trusted by Buhari. The snake that killed the hunter can kill the charmer.”

  • Mass defection hits Delta PDP as Sheriff faction joins APC

    Mass defection hits Delta PDP as Sheriff faction joins APC

    The camp of the opposition All Progressive Congress (Delta chapter) swelled Saturday when supporters of the former national chairman of PDP, Ali Modu Sheriff joined the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC).

    The over 14,000 loyalists were led into APC by former deputy national chairman of the PDP, Dr. Cairo Ojougboh,

    Ojougboh, former member of House of Representatives, was also a former vice chairman of PDP in the South-South zone.

    Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachukwu who hails from the state; national vice chairman of APC (S/S), Mr. Hilliard Eta; chairman of the party in the state, Jones Erue; O’tega Emerhor and Hyacinth Enuha were among APC chieftains that received the new members at a ceremony in Agbor, Ika South L.G.A.

    The ceremony witnessed the symbolic dumping of PDP membership cards into a waste basket and the lowering of a huge PDP banner thus signaling the rejection of the party by the former members.

    Dr. Ojougboh said they were suffocated out of PDP, adding that after the Supreme Court judgment that affirmed the Ahmed Markafi national leadership, members of the Sheriff faction were sidelined.

    His words, “We asked the national body to open up the party after the unfortunate court judgment; the next thing we heard was that they were going to grant us amnesty as if we are criminals. When Raymond Dokpesi was nominated as member of the committee for the non-elective convention, his nomination was rejected because they said they spent money on the court judgment”.

    Continuing, “As if that was not enough, during the Anambra State governorship primary election, Jerry Gana was made chairman of a three-man committee to midwife a transparent election but governors Ayo Fayese of Ekiti State and Nyesom Wike of Rivers State rejected it and came up with another committee that went to Anambra and handed everything to Peter Obi.

    “Back here in Delta, we asked the state governor, Ifeanyi Okowa to remove impunity but what we continue to see here is a corrupt and family government. Till date, Okowa has not been able to account for the N20 billion Paris Club refund”.

    According to Ojugboh ,”We now said it is time to look for people of like minds, people of progressive ideology to meet with because I know most of you have ambitions to pursue. If we do not make a decision to belong to the progressives, most of you will miss out.”

    Former factional chairman of the PDP in the state, Mr. Austin Ogbaburhon told APC chieftains that the Sheriff faction is a beautiful bride, adding that they have rejected offers from other political parties and enjoined APC to negotiate well.

    Receiving the new entrants, vice chairman of APC, South-South, Mr. Hilliard Eta said the new members have further brightened the party’s chances to wrest power from the PDP in the state come 2019.

    “For us at the national working committee of the APC, Delta is a low hanging fruits for us to pluck but the coming of Ojougboh and his teeming supporters has made the fruits even lower for us.

    “We welcome you into the party and urge you to go to your units and wards to register. Registration is free and you will add value to APC,” Eta said.