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Tag: All Progressives Congress (APC)

  • Ghost workers: Sokoto recovers N278m from LG payrolls – Tambuwal

    Ghost workers: Sokoto recovers N278m from LG payrolls – Tambuwal

    Sokoto State Government says it has recovered over N278 million paid to ghost workers on the payrolls of local governments in the past four months.

    Gov. Aminu Tambuwal disclosed this on Sunday during a stakeholders’ meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC) held in Gwadabawa Local Government Area.

    Tambuwal said the money was paid to the ghost workers’ bank accounts but was not claimed from the various banks.

    “This was sequel to the centralisation of the payment of the salaries of workers of the local governments.

    “About two weeks ago, some banks alerted the Commissioner of Local Governments about the existence of the unclaimed money,” the governor said.

    He said the recent verification of council staff was aimed at ascertaining genuine workers.

    “The exercise was not aimed at witch hunting anyone but to ascertain the actual workforce and monthly wage bill of the local governments,” Tambuwal said.

    He said many farmers in the state were defaulting in repayment of agricultural loans obtained from commercial banks and assured the banks of the government’s support in recovering the money.

    “The money belongs to the Central Bank of Nigeria and we will support any action to recover it.

    “This is to enable other farmers to benefit from the gesture as the money is not a bonanza.’’

    Tambuwal called on the people to continue to pray for President Muhammadu Buhari as well as for sustained peace and unity of Nigeria.

    Also speaking, Sen. Ibrahim Gobir (APC-Sokoto) and Speaker, Sokoto State House of Assembly, Alhaji Salihu Maidaji, called on party members to obtain their permanent voter cards.

  • 2017 Budget will bring more development – APC

    2017 Budget will bring more development – APC

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) on Friday in Abuja, said the 2017 budget approved by the National Assembly on Thursday would usher in better development in the country.

    National Publicity Secretary of the party, Malam Bolaji Abdullahi, gave the assurance in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

    He said that rather than criticise the budget, Nigerians should commend the lawmakers and APC leadership for making it open for public scrutiny before it was passed.

    Abdullahi dismissed insinuations that the budget may have been padded by the lawmakers and said that the National Assembly deserved commendation.

    He said that Nigerians were able to know how much was allocated to each sector of the economy, “because for the first time in Nigeria’s democratic history, its budget was open to public for scrutiny’’.

    This, he said, was not possible before now, adding that the APC was proud of the development.

    “By making the budget available to the public for scrutiny, they are demonstrating that we meant it when our party said we are going to operate within the principle of probity and accountability.

    “What happened at the National Assembly is unprecedented because for the first time, Nigerians are seeing the details of the budget and this should be commended,” Abdullahi said.

    NAN recalls that in passing the 2017 Appropriation Bill, the assembly raised the figure from N7.30 trillion proposed by President Muhammadu Buhari on Dec. 14, 2016, when he presented it, to N7.44 trillion.

  • Tambuwal urges APC controlled states to support FG policies, programmes

    Tambuwal urges APC controlled states to support FG policies, programmes

    Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal of Sokoto yesterday tasked states under the control of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to key in and deepen achievements recorded by the Federal Government in order to ensure rapid socio-economic development of the nation.

    Speaking in Sokoto at the opening of the Second Quarterly meeting of the Secretaries of State Governments (SSGs) under APC control, Tambuwal said almost two years after coming to power, the FG has recorded significant achievements especially in the areas of security, job creation, agriculture, education, youth empowerment among others.

    He said now that the nation is at a cross-road, it becomes imperative for all APC member-states to ensure a worthy turning-point is propelled.

    “Indeed, the journey so far has been very challenging, demands are increasing by day and the resources available keep shrinking. We have the individual and collective responsibility of moving our dear States forward, no matter what it takes,” the Governor stated.

    According to him, the Second Quarterly meeting will review the progress so far made on key policy issues with a view to identifying problems and challenges bedevilling their States for a lasting solution.

    “It is also aimed at developing basic framework for peer review mechanism, monitoring and evaluation as well as sharing key governance initiatives and actions in some selected APC States in the federation,” he added.

    In his remarks, Plateau State Governor and Co-Chairman of APC Governance and Policy Committee, Simon Lalong, represented by his SSG, Rufus Bature, said the meeting would share ideas on critical national issues and leadership strategies that will enrich national discuss and move the nation forward.

    He expressed hope that the meeting will mark a glorious turning point that would make Nigeria’s democratic institutions more vibrant for the overall development processes.

    The meeting has in attendance SSGs from all APC controlled states and their Permanent Secretaries.

     

  • Lagos LG polls: No room for PDP win in any council – Tinubu

    Lagos LG polls: No room for PDP win in any council – Tinubu

    National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Sen. Bola Tinubu, on Wednesday said that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would not record any win in the forthcoming council polls in Lagos State.

    Tinubu, a former governor of the state, said this while addressing hundreds of party faithful at the Lagos State APC Stakeholders’ meeting at the party secretariat at Acme Road, Ikeja.

    The stakeholders’ forum was held in preparation for the July 22 council polls.

    Tinubu regretted the loss of some national and state legislative seats to the PDP in the 2015 general elections.

    “2015 election was the greatest battle of our time. In the last election, we lost more than three LGAs to our opponents, which is very unusual.

    “We have asked our leaders in those local governments to examine what went wrong and work together to chart a new course to ensure the APC wins back those councils.

    “PDP cannot have any share in these council elections,” Tinubu said.

    The national leader commended party faithful for their support to Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode’s administration, saying that the governor had not disappointed the party and the people.

    “We are grateful to you the people for your great support during the 2015 election. We have continued to hold Lagos in spite of strong opposition.

    “Gov. Ambode has not let us down; he is doing a fantastic job in an environment where we have the economic challenges. He is doing it and he is doing very very well.

    “He has a very good team. He is doing a great job and we are very proud of that,” he said.

    Tinubu urged party leaders at the grassroots to shun bribery and favouritism, adding that quality leadership and merit should be upheld.

    “Our leaders should be fair to the people at the grassroots; we cannot please all, but we can satisfy the majority. This politics is a give-and-take compromise.’’

    According to him, the party will not use any of the current sole administrators in the forthcoming council poll.

    “To appease some people, we asked the government to allow the Executive Secretaries to take over after the tenure of last council chairmen expired, instead of civil servants.

    “That was why executive secretaries were chosen to pave way for politicians.

    “When the term expired, we used sole administrators, but before we used them, we warned them that `when the elective position comes, you are not entitled to contest’.

    “We agreed that time, we cannot change it overnight; executive secretaries, however, can contest.”

    Tinubu, however, said 19 former council chairmen, except for one of them who is late, who only served single terms, would be given another chance in the coming elections.

    He urged the party leaders to give consideration to youths and women in the sharing of positions.

    The party leader also urged Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State to increase security presence in Surulere area of the state to check violence.

    According to him, his attention was drawn to some violence in the area, which gave cause for concern.

    ”I urge the people of Surulere to be patient and peaceful. We will all benefit from the party,” he said.

    Also speaking, Ambode urged all stakeholders to work together to ensure APC victory in all the 57 councils.

    Ambode said: “We are meeting on a very happy note. I am able to look back and say that that confidence you reposed in me to defeat the PDP candidate was not in vain.

    “This coming local government election is all in your hands. My call to all members of our great party is to ensure that all the 57 councils are won by APC. We have begun a journey to make Lagos and Nigeria progressive’’.

    Earlier in his opening remark, Mr Henry Ajomale, the Chairman, Lagos APC, said that the forum was organised to allow party faithful to interact with the leaders of the party.

    Ajomale said that meeting was aimed at moving the party forward ahead of the forthcoming council polls.

    NAN reports that hundreds of party faithful and leaders across the 20 local government areas and 37 Local Council Development Areas were in attendance.

  • LG elections: Lagos CP condemns violence at party’s mock primaries

    LG elections: Lagos CP condemns violence at party’s mock primaries

    The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr Fatai Owoseni, on Tuesday urged members of political parties eschew violence ahead of the July 22 local government elections.

    Owoseni made the appeal at the Lagos State Police Command, Ikeja while meeting with state chairmen and secretaries of the parties.

    He said the meeting was called as a result of fracas which occurred in Surulere during mock primaries of a political party which claimed the life of a victim.

    The police commissioner said it was also for proper interaction between the political parties and the police, to be able to nip in the bud any untoward incident.

    “The incident that happened last week is a pointer that political activities in Lagos are no longer cordial as they used to be.

    “This is Lagos where everyone has taken each other as brothers. I’m surprised to see an incident where someone had to lose his life.

    “I see no reason why political activities should lead to the death of one. I thought we had gone beyond do or die politics.

    “If we, in the process of wanting to get power kill people, then who do we govern when we eventually get the power?

    “You will help us more if you don’t bring tension into political activities by giving us more time to fight criminals who are after our families.

    “If you are going to make the few policemen we have follow politicians, it doesn’t make any sense. We need to lay good examples,” he said.

    Mr Olubolaji Osinowo, State Secretary, Labor Party (LP), expressed the hope that the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) would be fair to all parties, to avoid any form of violence.

    Mr Funsho Ologunde, State Vice Chairman, All Progressives Congress (APC), also urged the electoral body to provide adequate forms to enable everyone who had aspiration to obtain them.

    According to him, failure of the electoral body to do so is one the reasons why violence occurs during elections.

    Comrade Fatai Ibuowo, State Chairman, National Conscience Party (NCP) urged the police to be neutral during the primaries and the elections to avoid violence.

    He also identified the fees charged by LASIEC  for forms as a vexed issue which was causing tension and hould be reconsidered.

    “LASIEC is charging fees for the collection of forms which is supposed to be free. The police should please intervene to prevent any form of violence.” he said.

    Mr Lanre Ogundare, State Secretary, Accord Party commended the police on its efforts during the party’s primaries which were peaceful.

    NAN reports that Owoseni subsequently gave the party representatives numbers to call whenever they need police assistance.

    He advised them to inform the police of their activities at least 72 hours in advance.

  • Protesters storm NASS in support of Senator Ubah

    Protesters storm NASS in support of Senator Ubah

    Over one thousand protesters stormed the National Assembly on Tuesday in support of Senator Andy Ubah.

    The protesters who staged a peaceful rally at the entrance of the National Assembly asked Nigerians to disregard blackmailer laboring to pull down Senator Ubah.

    Ubah who defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), represents Anambra South in the upper chamber.

    He is also said to have concluded arrangements to declare his gubernatorial ambition in the state.

    President of Coalition of Civil Society Groups, Etuk Bassey Williams, who led the protest told reporters that they were out to speak against incessant blackmail and campaign of calumny against people in public places, especially the National Assembly.

    He said, “Members of civil society numbering over a thousand are here to exercise their constitutional rights to speak against incessant blackmail and propaganda against people in public places especially the National Assembly.

    “First on the line was the Senate president followed by the speaker of House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara. It was also followed by Senator Dino Melaye when it was rumoured that he never went to school and the latest of it is Senator Andy Uba.

    “I want to say this very clearly that we have written to the school concerned abroad, California State university and we can confirm to every Nigeria and the international community that the response we got from the institution was very clear and very straight forward that Senator Andy Uba graduated from that institution.

    “A fact that needs to be noted, a fact that needs to be shared among all Nigerians is that blackmailers should desist from further blackmail, enough is enough.

    “The National Assembly has its own constitutional responsibility but what we are urging the National Assembly especially the Senate President who is the chairman of National Assembly to inform the Nigerian security agencies to exercise their own mandate by arresting and prosecuting those who are bent on blackmailing the members of the National Assembly and their sponsors.

    “The demonstration today is a show of solidarity, a show of nationalism and of course a show of true ambassador to the Federal Republic.

    “Nigerians are hungry and from the information we gathered we know and we are quite aware that National Assembly will pass the budget this week and we are very hopeful.”

  • Tinubu calls for special care for released Chibok schoolgirls

    Tinubu calls for special care for released Chibok schoolgirls

    A former Lagos State Governor, Sen. Bola Tinubu, on Monday called for special and adequate care for the released Chibok schoolgirls, to help them overcome the sad experience they had to suffer while in captivity.

    Tinubu made the call in a message in Lagos to congratulate President Muhammadu Buhari and Nigerians over the release of more of the abducted Chibok schoolgirls

    He urged the government to help the families of the girls to nurture them, for their proper reintegration into the society.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 82 of the over 200 girls abducted from Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, Borno by Boko Haram in April 2014 were released by the sect on Saturday following negotiations with the federal government.

    The sect had earlier released 21 of the abducted girls in October 2016.

    Tinubu said: “I congratulate President Buhari and Nigerians over the release of more of the abducted Chibok schoolgirls.

    “This shows President Buhari’s unwavering commitment to freeing these and other innocent children from the cruel hand of Boko Haram and returning them to their families and community.

    “Yet, we must keep this good news in proper context. The released children need to be nurtured and cared for in a special way in order to overcome the sad experience that they had to suffer.

    “Moreover, we must not forget the girls still held by Boko Haram and we must not forget the grief of their families.

    “We owe it to them to press forward until all the girls have regained freedom and Boko Haram is so defeated that it may never again be able to do what it did in Chibok.

    “Boko Haram must be defeated. President Buhari has said as much.  We all must stand with him and support his strategy to accomplish this humane and necessary goal,” he said.

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) national leader said the release of the girls showed that President Buhari had kept his eye on the true objective to reunite families and communities under the reign of peace and rule of justice.

    According to him, the northern Nigeria, and Nigeria as a whole, may begin to rebuild in a way that brings a decent life and a taste of enduring prosperity to all Nigerians.

    “This is the ultimate goal, and the release of these girls is an important step on this pathway.

    “I congratulate the President. I congratulate our gallant armed forces.  After waiting so long for the return of their children, the parents of these girls must feel a great sense of relief and elation,” Tinubu said.

     

  • Strangers are feeding fat on Buhari’s govt – Defunct CPC members

    Strangers are feeding fat on Buhari’s govt – Defunct CPC members

    Members of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) in the 17 southern states under the auspices of the Southern Mandate Monday described members of the legacy parties that constituted the All Progressives Congress (APC) as strangers who do not share the same vision with President Muhammadu Buhari, but have hijacked the Buhari’s project which they are feeding fat on.

    The group said both the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and the All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP) contributed only about 2.8 million out of 15,424,921 votes secured by President Buhari to defeat former President Gooduck Jonathan who scored 12,853,162 votes.

    In a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja and signed by its National Coordinator  of Southern Mandate, Comrade Ikonomwan Francis however wants President Buhari to appoint either the former National Chairman of the defunct party, Prince Tony Momoh or Alhaji Buba Galadima as the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

    He said such an appointment would “right the wrong” created by the President’s decision to appoint “strangers” to fill vital position in his government, demanding an outright sack of the suspended Babachir Lawal as the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

    According to him, the suspended SGF should be sacked for having “penchant for corruption” contrary to the focus of the APC government, adding that the request was an opportunity for President Buhari to right the wrong “created in the appointment he has been making so far by replacing the SGF with Prince Tony Momoh or political workaholic Engr. Buba Galadima.”

    The statement read in part: “We core members of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) in the seventeen southern states in Nigeria under the auspices of Southern Mandate wish to call on President Mohammadu Buhari to as a matter of urgency to out rightly sack the suspended SGF BabaChir Lawal.

    “We have taken time to x-ray his antecedence our research reveals that he is very arrogant, mean and has no respect for constituted authority. His attitude towards our distinguished Senators of the Federal Republic is a clear demonstration of this fact and also he has no respect for democracy, therefore has no business benefitting from democratic institution. It becomes very exigent for Mr. President to sack him immediately and the anti-graft agency should persecute him without delay.”

    Speaking on why the President should appoint either Prince Tony Momoh of Engr Galadima as the next SGF, the group said: “These are men who led the defunct CPC to give the now President Mohammadu  Buhari over 12millions votes in 2011. This is the only way our President can say thank you to the core members of the defunct CPC.

    “The truth remains that the other political parties that merged and coalesced with CPC only 2.8millions votes in 2015. As far as we of the Southern Mandate is concerned, they added little or no value in the emergency of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    “But suffice to mention here that, they who are strangers in Buhari’s project have hijacked the entire process and are feeding fat, while the people that make Buhari, a mass movement and a political hurricane are now feeding like an ant in a project we laid our lives for.

    “We wish to reiterate our earlier position that the key appointments Mr. President has made so far are occupied by strangers who do not share the same vision and mission of President Buhari for a better Nigeria. For instance the suspend SGF Babachir Lawal, came from the blues to occupy the all-important office of the SGF. We are therefore not surprised that he has a penchant for corruption.

    “Prince Tony Momoh and Engr. Buba Galadima are men of implacable character who are co-vision bearer with President Mohammadu Buhari. These men made a very strong foundation for President Buhari.

    “We are aware that Engr. Buba Galadima turned down three major juicy appointments from former President Olusegun Obasanjo we also have it on record that former President Goodluck Jonathan offered him FCT ministerial appointment and a cash offer of 2billion naira to abandoned Buhari’s project but blatantly refused the juicy offer.

    “On the other hand Prince Tony Momoh is Buhari’s personified who has sworn in many public fora that the day he will take bribe thunder will strike him dead. It is mind blowing that these men are not in Buhari’s cabinet today.”

     

  • Lawmaker buys 50 UTME forms for constituents in Lagos

    Lawmaker buys 50 UTME forms for constituents in Lagos

    A lawmaker in Lagos, Mr Rasheed Makinde, gave out 50 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), forms to students in his constituency on Friday.

    Makinde, representing Ifako-Ijaiye Constituency II at the Lagos State House of Assembly, advised candidates sitting the 2017 UTME to work hard and excel.

    “During my electioneering, one of the cardinal contents of my manifesto was to target the youths as beneficiaries of my empowerment packages.

    “This is the second phase; we also had it in 2016, and the essence is to help the weak and the less privileged to progress so that they can stand on their own.

    “Today, we are giving students UTME forms.

    “Having registered them for the examination being conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, we have removed the financial constraints against sitting for the examination.”

    According to the assemblyman, the gesture is borne out of his passion for qualitative education and youth development.

    “I am seeing great men and women of tomorrow here who will soon be making waves all over the world. It is my own way of contributing to the society and development of education.”

    Makinde said he had facilitated employment for over 80 indigent people from his constituency.

    Chief Adewale Bello, Chairman, All Progressives Congress (APC), in the local government, lauded the parliamentarian for the gesture.

    “The best investment anybody can make is to educate the children, to secure a future for them.

    “We appreciate this gesture by our lawmaker, we want more of this. We need people like this in the corridor of power. It is nice, I am happy, he is doing well,” he said.

    One of the beneficiaries, Master Kayode Alagbe, commended the lawmaker for the gesture.

    Alagbe, 15, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), that the lawmaker made the registration stress free for them.

  • Supreme Court resolves jurisdiction issue against Oyo Rep member

    Supreme Court resolves jurisdiction issue against Oyo Rep member

    The Supreme Court has resolved that the Federal High Court has the jurisdiction to determine a case challenging the election of a member of the House of Representatives from Oyo State, Hon. Sumbo Olugbemi.

     

    Olugbemi is representing Oluyole Federal Constituency in the lower legislative chamber on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

     

    But his candidature is being challenged by Hon. Olujide Adewale, who is claiming that he defeated Olugbemi in the primary of the party for the post in 2014.

     

    Adewale dragged Olugbemi, the APC and its chairman in Oyo State, Chief Akin Oke and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to the Federal High Court, Ibadan, seeking the nullification of Olugbemi’s candidature and declaration that he was the duly elected candidate of the party for the 2015 House of Representatives election. He filed the case on October 24, 2014.

     

    But Olugbemi challenged the jurisdiction of the court to entertain Adewale’s claims in November, 2015. The court dismissed the application but the lawmaker appealed against the order.

     

    The Court of Appeal also upheld the decision of the Federal High Court, affirming that it had jurisdiction over the matter.

     

    Still dissatisfied, Hon. Olugbemi approached the Supreme Court over the order. But the apex court also upheld the decision of the lower courts in its judgment on Friday.

     

    In the copy of the judgment obtained by The Nation, Justice Mary Ukaego Peter-Odili, who read the lead judgment, affirmed: “Indeed, the matter herein is laid to rest as the two courts below were right in holding that the Federal High Court was seised with jurisdiction to hear the pre-election matter before the Federal High Court pursuant to Section 87 (9) of the Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended). The controversy on the issue of main or principal or ancillary relief does not arise and this appeal definitely lacks merit as the concurrent findings and conclusion of the two courts below are not to be tampered with, the exceptions that would have empowered this Apex Court to so interfere , upset, disturb those findings and conclusion do not exist. This appeal is therefore dismissed.”