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Tag: All Progressives Congress (APC)

  • APC to PDP: Nigerians have not forgotten your misrule

    APC to PDP: Nigerians have not forgotten your misrule

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) reminded the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) that even though Nigerians have forgiven the years of misrule and mismanagement of the nation’s resources, they have not forgotten how they party left the country in ruin, leaving the people in a state of insecurity.

    Reacting to a statement credited to spokesman of the party saying Nigerians have been worse off in the last two years under the APC led government, National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi said Nigerians have not forgotten how corruption was practically legalized under the PDP government.

    Abdullahi said the APC decided not to dwell on the plethora of PDP sins, but to pick up the pieces and build a country that every Nigerians will be proud of, pointing out that while Nigerians are always ready to forgive the PDP for what they did to the nation, they will never forget.

    Abdullahi said: “All Progressives Congress (APC) finds Wednesday’s statement attributed to Mr. Dayo Adeyeye, the purported spokesperson of a rump of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) quite regrettable.

    “As a Party that was formerly in the opposition, the APC is aware of the role a thriving opposition can play in sustaining democracy. However, it appears that the marginal group that Adeyeye belongs believes that it is only by attacking the APC that it can find its relevance or gains the upper hand in the PDP’s internecine war.

    “We need to remind Adeyeye’s group however that although Nigerians may have forgiven the PDP, two years after the Party left the country in ruins, but we have not forgotten.

    “Nigerians have not forgotten that it was under the PDP-led administration that the terrorist group, Boko Haram seized a sizable portion of Nigeria’s territory, created a Caliphate and hoisted its own flags.

    “It took the APC-led government of President Muhammadu Buhari to reclaim our territory and pride. Today, Boko Haram insurgents are virtually defeated and are on the run, and no millimetre of Nigerian territory is currently held by the insurgents. We have forgiven, but we have not forgotten.

    “Under the PDP, a Party that does not consider corruption to be stealing, corruption enjoyed an unprecedented prosperity. Nigeria recorded some of the most unimaginable, shocking and astounding cases of corruption ever experienced in our history, or in the history of any country.

    “Funds meant for the procurement of arms and ammunition required to fight the Boko Haram insurgency were stolen by agents of government and shared among themselves. It was a classic case of kleptocracy.

    “The PDP-led administration was sending soldiers to battle without weapons and sharing the money. Worse still, when soldiers protested the lack of weaponry, the PDP-led administration added wickedness to weakness and court-martialed them, sentencing some of them to death, and others to long terms of imprisonment.

    “If Nigerians have gracious enough to forgive the PDP for the wanton corruption, we will not forget.

    “Nigerians also remember that it was under the nose and watchful eyes of the PDP that over 250 Nigerian girls were abducted.  It took the Party more than a month to even make a statement. PDP went about bandying conspiracy theories while innocent Nigerian girls were being held in captivity.

    “Again, it took the APC-led administration to rescue some of the girls, while efforts are ongoing to free the rest. Yet, PDP had the audacity to counter the globally acclaimed hashtag, #BringBackOurGirls with their terribly insensitive #BringBackJonathan. We are willing to forgive even this; but we cannot forget.

    “Nigerians will not forget that under the PDP, over 20 Nigerian youths died and thousands were seriously injured while looking for jobs. the PDP-led administration organised a fraudulent Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) recruitment exercise and lured young people desperate for jobs to various stadiums across the country after extorting them.

    “In the end, the exercise ended in tears, sorrows and blood. None of those who survived got the job and, worse still; the officials responsible for the calamity were protected by the PDP. We cannot forget.

    “Nigerians remember that under the PDP, whistle-blowing was a crime.  When a former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor exposed the stealing of $20 billion from the national treasury, he was suspended and hounded out of the government. We have not forgotten.

    “If we have not been talking about this plethora of PDP iniquities, it is not because we have forgotten. Instead, we have chosen to pick up the pieces of the PDP wreckage and move the country forward. This, we have endeavoured to do in the last two years since Nigerians unanimously rejected the PDP for their wanton profligacy and misrule.

    “Nigerians are a forgiving people, and that is why a self-appointed spokesman of what is left of the PDP could have the effrontery to make the kind of statements attributed to Adeyeye. But Nigerians will not forget in a hurry, the years of the locust.”

  • Ooni celebrates Tinubu at 65

    Ooni celebrates Tinubu at 65

    The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, has felicitated with Sen. Bola Tinubu as he clocks 65-years-old, describing him as an eminent descendant of Oduduwa.

    The monarch congratulated Tinubu in a statement signed and issued on Wednesday by Mr Moses Olafare, his Director of Media & Public Affairs.

    Tinubu, a former governor of Lagos State and national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) clocked 65 on Wednesday.

    According to the royal father,  Tinubu is a patriotic Nigerian and elder statesman; a Pan-Africanist to the core, who remains a great inspiration to the African youths.

    He said that Tinubu had, no doubt, spent the larger part of his life in deeds worthy of emulation, noting that, as a school student, he designed his focus very carefully.

    “As a professional in the private financial sector, he remained focused and discharged his duties creditably well.

    “As a politician, he has been an outstanding leader and quintessential bridge builder.

    “As a senator of the the Federal Republic of Nigeria, he stood firmly with the masses till he went into exile where he continued alongside other patriots in the struggle for democracy which was won on the May 29, 1999.

    “As a governor, he left a legacy of excellence that has continued to make Lagos a socio-economically enviable society within the comity of the globally recognised cities in the world,” he said.

    The Ooni prayed the Almighty God to bless the rest of his journey in life with good health, long life and fulfillment.

  • Appeal court’s judgment has corrected ‘executive rascality, impunity’ – Olanusi

    Appeal court’s judgment has corrected ‘executive rascality, impunity’ – Olanusi

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) says Appeal Court’s nullification of impeachment of Alhaji Ali Olanusi, a former Deputy Governor in Ondo State,  has corrected “executive rascality and impunity in the state”.

    Mr  Abayomi Adesanya, the APC Publicity Secretary in Ondo State, in a statement in Lagos on Tuesday described the judgment as “victory for democracy”.

    The Court of Appeal sitting in Akure on Friday, March 24, annulled the impeachment of Olanusi as the Deputy to the immediate past Governor of the state, Dr Olusegun Mimiko.

    The judgment came two years after Olanusi was impeached by the State House of Assembly.

    The three-man panel, led by Justice Mohammed Danjuma, directed that Olanusi’s salaries and entitlements be paid from April 27, 2015, the date he was purportedly impeached, to Feb. 24 when his tenure expired.

    In the79 page-judgment, the judges said Olanusi was not given fair hearing during the impeachment process.

    The APC Publicity Secretary said the nullification of the impeachment by the court had corrected “executive rascality and impunity of the immediate past government in the state’’.

    He called on the former Deputy Governor of the state, Mr Lasisi Oluboyo, who replaced Olanusi, to immediately refund all monies, salaries, entitlements, privileges and vehicles received as a deputy governor.

    “We advise the former and illegal occupant of the office of the Deputy Governor of Ondo State, Mr Lasisi Oluboyo, to refund all monies accrued to him, either as salaries or allowances while illegally occupying the office of the deputy governor.

    “Oluboyo should also honourably return all government’s vehicles and properties at his disposal to the state government,” Adesanya said.

     

  • PDP leaders defect to APC in Uyo

    PDP leaders defect to APC in Uyo

    The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Uyo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State suffered a devastating blow on Monday with the defection of some prominent leaders of the party to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Coming under the aegis of the Uyo Elders/Stakeholders Advisory Forum, the defectors included three former local government chairmen, Chief Clement Ekott, Mr. Aniekan Ubia and Mr. Fidelis Eddie, and a former State Surveyor-General, Surveyor Okokon Essien.

    Receiving the defectors, the APC State Chairman, Dr. Amadu Attai, recalled that the APC started in Uyo and expressed gratitude to the people of the state capital for their steadfast support to the party over the years.

    He declared that the APC was on an unstoppable march to the Government House in 2019.

    Speaking on behalf of the defectors, Chief Ekott, who said he had been in politics since 1979, pledged their commitment to the success of the APC in Uyo.

    Also speaking, Mr. Eddie said with the calibre of the defectors, who he described as the finest crop of Uyo politicians, the APC was certain to win every election in the state capital.

    A former Commissioner for Economic Development and APC leader in Uyo, Dr. Chris Ekong, commended the defectors for taking the bold step to join the moving train of change.

    Tracing the political history of Uyo, he reasoned that the state capital with its nearly 200,000 votes was the deciding area in governorship elections in the state.

    Others who spoke were Mkpisong Pius Okon and Obonganwan Victoria Eberefiak.

    The event was attended by several prominent politicians including the APC Uyo Chapter Chairman, Mr. Gabriel Ikpe, the immediate past House of Assembly Member for Uyo, Mr. Edwin Joseph, and two former local government chairmen, Arc. Essien Nkanga and Otuekong Ekerete Ekpenyong.

  • Court orders arrest of Sokoto senior councillor

    A Sokoto State Sharia Court on Friday issued a bench warrant for the arrest of a Senior Councillor in the Sultanate Council of Sokoto and Magajin Garin Sokoto, Alhaji Hassan Danbaba.

    The News Agency of Nigeria ( NAN) reports that Justice Umar Sifawa, gave the order in a ruling on a motion filed by the National Vice Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC), North-West, Alhaji Inuwa Abdulkadir.

    Abdulkadir had dragged Danbaba, the grandson of the late Premier of Northern Nigeria, Sir Ahmadu Bello, to court for alleged defamation of character.

    He alleged that Danbaba had in a publication in August, 2016, described his late father as a ” slave bought by one Gwaggo, for two shillings”.

    The complainant had told the court that Danbaba said that he (Abdulkadir) did not take adequate care of his late mother.

    The respondent had filed a notice of appeal on the ground that the court had erred by issuing a summon on March 13 and March 22, giving him only two days to appear before it for his defence.

    The motion on notice filed by Danbaba’s counsel, Prof. Yusuf Dankofa, also said the court breached the appellant’s right to fair hearing and fair trial.

    This, he averred, was in violation of section 36 ( 6) ( B), of the Constitution that states,” every person charged with a criminal offence shall be entitled to be given adequate time and facility for the preparation of the defence”.

    Danbaba had also filed a motion on notice praying for the  stay of the court’s proceedings, pending the determination of his appeal at the State High Court.

    The counsel to the complainant, Mr John Shaka, on Friday urged the court to strike out both the respondent’s motion on notice and notice of appeal.

    Shaka had also prayed the court to order the Inspector-General of Police to arrest and produce the respondent before the court.

    The counsel to the respondent was, however, not in court on Friday.

    In his ruling, Sifawa refused to grant the prayers of the complainant to strike out the respondent’s motion on notice and notice of appeal.

    The Judge said,” it is premature to do so as the accused should be given another chance to present his case, if he wishes to do so”.

    Sifawa, however, granted, in part, the prayer seeking the issuance of an order to the IGP for the arrest and production of Danbaba.

    He said:” This is to the effect that a bench warrant shall be issued immediately for the arrest and production of accused before the court.

    ”But, the order is to the CP of Sokoto State and not the IGP as applied for, to arrest the accused wherever he is found in Nigeria, pending further instructions by the court.”

    The judge adjourned the case till April 6.

  • Reconciliation will strengthen party’s unity, progress in Ebonyi – APC

    Reconciliation will strengthen party’s unity, progress in Ebonyi – APC

    The All Progressives Congress (APC), Ebonyi chapter, says the ongoing reconciliation will enhance the unity and progress of the party in the state.
    Pastor Eze Nwachukwu, Ebonyi APC Chairman, who spoke in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abakaliki, said that zonal committees were set up to reconcile aggrieved members.

    According to him, the move would reposition the party and ensure it came out strong in the 2019 general elections.

    “We inaugurated the three zonal committees with a charge to reach out to all aggrieved members who, for one reason or the other, left the fold during the leadership crisis.

    “As we gradually approach the election year 2019, it is imperative that we put our acts together by ensuring unity and progress of the party, without which we can hardly wrest power from the ruling party.

    “The reconciliation exercise is a mile stone achievement, and I am happy that the move was embraced by party elders and stakeholders, ” Nwachukwu said.

    He said the committees were equally directed to study the earlier report of another committee on reconciliation, headed by Chief Mike Okoro, in order to be properly guided in the assignment.

    “The committees are expected to take the message of peace, love and unity to these aggrieved members in their various zones and woo them back to the party.

    “The initiative is to restore the unity, oneness and love that once existed in the party and I have confidence in the ability of men and women saddled with the responsibility,” he said.

    Nwachukwu said that the committees have two weeks to submit their reports.

    He added that the party was yet to decide on whether or not to participate in the forthcoming Ebonyi local government council elections.

     

  • APC chieftain welcomes Buhari back, calls for prayers

    APC chieftain welcomes Buhari back, calls for prayers

    A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Maiyanga Usman has welcomed President Muhammadu Buhari back to the country from his medical vacation in the United Kingdom.
    Mr Usman, who is also the Coordinator of Buhari Campaign Organization (BCO), also prayed for the quick recovery of President Buhari and wished him long life and prosperity.
    The APC chieftain, in a statement by Director, BCO, Mr Mahmoud Atta, called on Nigerians to remain positive and always pray for their leaders as well as peace and unity of Nigeria.
    The statement reads: “We are grateful to God for what he has done in our party and Nigeria as whole. 
    “We hereby felicitate and welcome President Muhammadu Buhari from his medical vacation in London, wishing him long life and prosperity in years to come.
    “We pray for your quick recovery Mr President and we will continue to pray for you till you get better.
    “We call on Nigerians to remain positive and always pray for leadership of the country to always succeed. The success of a leader is the success of the whole nation.
    “We pledge our unalloyed loyalty to the APC and urged the party to always go for the best while taking critical decisions.”
    Usman also pledged his support for the party. 
    He, however, urged Nigerians to continue to pray for President Buhari’s quick recovery, and for wisdom for the Acting President Yemi Osinbajo in handling the affairs of the country.
    “We also call on Nigerians to continue to pray for President Buhari quick recovery, and for wisdom for the Acting President Yemi Osinbajo in handling the affairs of the country,” the statement added.
  • Ex-Zamfara governor Shinkafi defects to APC

    Ex-Zamfara governor Shinkafi defects to APC

    Alhaji Mamuda Shinkafi, a former Governor of Zamfara on Sunday defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Shinkafi, who became the state governor in 2007 on the platform of All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP) and defected to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in 2008.

    He however lost to the APC in 2011 and had since then remained in the opposition.

    Shinkafi announced his decision to join the APC at a ceremony in Gusau, the state capital.

    According to him, it is the outcome of a long negotiation between me and stakeholders who have faith in me and my leadership qualities.

    He told all his supporters to join him as he strived to make the APC stronger.

    Shinkafi said that after series of meetings with stakeholders, he had sincerely made up his mind to join the APC.

    He also announced that all his former cabinet members, including his former Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Mamman Bawa, had joined him in the APC.

    The return of Shinkafi to the APC might be a grand plan by the stakeholders in the state to re-elect him as governor in the 2019 elections.

    Alhaji Muntari Anka, who served as a deputy governor with Shinkafi, also moved to the APC in Anka Local Government constituency a fortnight ago.

     

  • Ekiti APC hails Buhari’s return from medical trip

    Ekiti APC hails Buhari’s return from medical trip

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State has expressed delight over President Muhammadu Buhari’s successful medical trip to London.

    It said Buhari’s return has vindicated its claim that the President was not terminally ill as being portrayed in some quarters opposed to the anti-corruption war of the APC-led Federal Government.

    It also expressed appreciation to Nigerians who offered prayers and good will in the quick recovery of the President.

    In a press statement in Ado-Ekiti on Friday by Publicity Secretary, Taiwo Olatunbosun, the party also apologised to Nigerians on the role played by Governor Ayodele Fayose in making himself the “prophet of death” while the President was abroad tending to his health.

    “We have been vindicated in our claim that Fayose was a mere attention-seeker in his relentless death wishes and several social media news items he promoted suggesting that President Buhari was terminally ill on death-bed.

    “With the President’s safe return after failure of Fayose’s evil wish primarily propelled by his serial crimes against the law of the nation, the governor has been put to shame with Buhari’s arrival hale and hearty on Friday.

    “We also commend the Presidency and the President for not dignifying Fayose with a response when he cynically requested Buhari to call him to prove that he was alive,” Olatunbosun said.

  • Minister calls for improved surveillance on nation’s highways

    Minister calls for improved surveillance on nation’s highways

    National Chairman, All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, on Tuesday in Abuja, called for improved surveillance by relevant agencies on highways to stem rate of accidents.

    He made the call in a condolence letter to Gov. Yahaya Bello of Kogi on the death of Dr Onukaba Adinoyi-Ojo, on behalf of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC).

    The chairman said that the circumstances that led to Adinoyi-Ojo’s death were a painful reminder of the need for improved policing of the nation’s highways. 

    He said that such policies were necessary to rid the roads of insecurity and incidents that had led to avoidable human casualties and loss of properties on the nation’s highways.

    Odigie-Oyegun said that the party’s leadership received the news of the tragic death of Adinoyi-Ojo with grief.

    He condoled with the Government and people of Kogi and the immediate family of Adinoyi-Ojo, adding that he was a veteran journalist and a frontline member of the APC.

    “The death of Adinoyi-Ojo who was a governorship aspirant in the APC’s last Kogi primary election has left us with a great void and deep feeling of grief.

    “He was a versatile, brilliant and celebrated member of the media intelligentsia, literary community and academia who made indelible marks in the various fields locally and internationally.

    “Nigeria and indeed the international community has lost an illustrious son,’’ he said.

    He added that in the course of the deceased’s professional, national and international service, he brought great honour and pride to Nigeria.

    The chairman added that Adinoyi-Ojo had a meritorious and unblemished record of service in the media, saying that his articles, biographies and other literary works remained a collector’s item and reference point.

    “Prayers and fond memories are what we have to remember our dearly departed, please accept my sincere condolences,’’ he stated.

    He prayed God Almighty to give the late Adinoyi-Ojo eternal rest, and his family, particularly his three children, the fortitude to bear the pain.

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