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Tag: All Progressives Congress (APC)

  • Ekere insists on financial autonomy for councils

    All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Akwa Ibom, Obong Nsima Ekere, has reaffirmed his commitment to financial autonomy for the third tier of government in the state.

    Ekere, who is also the managing director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), restated his commitment to financial autonomy for councils during his campaign rally in Itu and Ibiono Ibom local government areas of the state.

    He also stated he would resuscitate ailing industries, infrastructural development, safeguard the state, and pay bursaries to students.

    At the Ibiono Ibom rally at Okoita, Ekere, a former deputy governor of Akwa Ibom state lamented that local government despite being the third tier of government have been starved of funds.

    According to him, this has led to underdevelopment of the grassroots.

    “The Local Government is the third tier of the government. we want it to be independent so that people at the grassroots can feel the impact of good governance which an APC government in this state will offer.

    ”Ibiono Ibom is very large, but because of paucity of funds, nothing is being done here and in other Local Government Areas,” he stated.

    He regretted the area has lagged behind developmentally and promised to make Ibiono Ibom one of the development Areas under his administration.

    Ekere called on the people of Ibiono Ibom to vote enmasse for all candidates of the APC in the elections.

    In Itu Local Government Area, where the gubernatorial candidate addressed the rally at Primary School, Mbak Atai, he promised to bring permanent peace to tackling the protracted boundary clashes between communities in Itu local government area and neighbouring communities in Cross River State.

    He called on them to keep faith in the party

    The APC governorship flagbearer promised to revive the moribund Quality Ceramics Limited which has been in coma since 1992.

    Canvassing votes for President Muhammadu Buhari, Ekere said the federal government has done well Itu and Ibiono Ibom with the construction of the Calabar – Itu federal highway.

  • ‘Political miscalculation could cause Igbo Presidency in 2023’

    A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Anambra State Dozie Ikedife (Jnr) has called on residents of the southeast to vote massively for President Muhammadu Buhari in the February 16 elections.

    He asked them to be realistic enough to understand the dynamics of politics, saying any miscalculation can cause them presidency come 2023.

    Addressing newsmen ahead of President Buhari’s visit to the state on Thursday, Ikedife, a deputy governorship candidate in the 2017 election, said the visit was another opportunity to prove Buhari’s care for the Igbo.

    He insisted supporting Mr. President’s second term bid would make the Igbo stand better chance to produce the next President of Nigeria in 2023.

    “There are lots of reasons why Igbo should support Buhari complete his eight years tenure, including reconstruction of major federal roads in the South East, on-going construction of 2nd Niger Bridge and just completed late Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe’s tomb,” he said.

    Describing Igbo as a sect with native and applied intelligence, wisdom of a practical kind, the APC chieftain however regretted that some politicians in the region have refused to appreciate certain basic political permutation.

    Read Also: Presidency to Obasanjo: get well soon

    He said: “It baffles me why some politicians from the South East geo-political zone cannot understand the simple calculation that to negotiate for Igbo presidency under Buhari’s remaining four years is shorter than waiting for another eight years of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP)’s promise which appears unrealistic.

    “We are all campaigning and by God’s grace we will return Buhari to Aso Rock to complete his eight-year tenure.

    “He has been going round the country telling Nigerians lots of things he’s done within his first tenure.

    “He has revamped the agricultural sector, the aviation industry with new more airports in place, paid pensioners their arrears, empowered the youths, other categories of the population and even resolved that school children are fed.

    “Those are landmark achievement in addition to his tireless fight against corruption.”

  • ‘Buhari’s landslide victory will retire Atiku from politics’

    Former All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirant in Ekiti State, Dr. Adebayo Orire, has predicted a landslide victory for President Muhammadu Buhari in the February 16 presidential election.

    The party stalwart declared that Buhari will secure an overwhelming victory that will finally retire the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar from politics.

    Orire, in an exclusive interview with The Nation in Ado-Ekiti on Wednesday, said the margin of Buhari’s victory in the forthcoming poll will be wider than that of 2015.

    He said Buhari has done enough to secure a second term in office to consolidate the achievements recorded since 2015.

    Orire, former Chairman of Ekiti State Hospitals Management Board, said Nigeria needs Buhari to continue the anti-corruption fight and integrity in governance.

    The PDP, he explained, must not be allowed to come back to power and “infect the system with the virus of corruption and bad governance.”

    According to him, Nigerians don’t want a return to the alleged misrule of the PDP having tasted good governance offered by the Buhari Presidency.

    The APC chieftain said Buhari has fulfilled his promise of fighting corruption, reviving economy and tackling insurgency.

    The Coordinator of the Orire Support Group for Buhari and Osinbajo said Atiku is no match for Buhari in terms of integrity and acceptability.

    The medical doctor-turned politician said all indices point in the direction of an overwhelming victory for the President.

    Orire noted that the social investment programmes of the Buhari Administration has improved the standard of living of the people at the grassroots and lifted the from poverty.

    Read Also: 2019: Buhari arrives Sokoto for campaign

    He identified the social investment programmes to include Trader Moni, Market Moni, School Feeding Programme, Conditional Cash Transfer to the poor, NPower for the Youth, Anchor Borrowers Scheme for farmers, among others.

    Orire said Buhari has judiciously used the nation’s funds judiciously to the benefits of the ordinary Nigerians “instead of sharing the money among the elite that characterized the PDP regime.”

    He urged the people of Ekiti State to vote massively for all APC candidates at the general elections for the party to achieve synergy in governance.

    Orire called on the party faithful in Ekiti to go to all nooks and crannies to sell Buhari to the electorate in the grassroots ahead of the general elections.

  • Sanwo-Olu treats Oyingbo market women for free

    Lagos State All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate Babajide Sanwo-Olu has provided free medical assistance to female traders in Oyingbo market.

    The free medical outreach offered the market women free eye-glasses, drugs and consultation.

    The beneficiaries were treated for high blood pressure and malaria with a mobile clinic in place for removal of tooth for those affected.

    The outreach was part of the free medical support planned for the 20 local government areas in the state.

    It was packaged by the LMC Group for the BOS campaign organization.

    Read Also: Sanwo-Olu unveils ‘Vision for a Greater Lagos’

    A major highlight of the programme was a compression medical check- up for everyone.

    Several market women praised governorship candidate for the medical programme, saying it will go a long way in improving their health conditions.

    According to the organizers, several women have been identified with some serious ailments such as cervical cancer across the locations in the state.

    A market woman, Ofuokwu who obtained eye glasses after undergoing test, was filled with joy.

    The clothe seller says she has been finding it difficult to read her bible for a long time until the intervention.

     

  • Shina Peller flags-off campaign with Oke-Ogun Progressive walk

    All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for Iseyin/Itesiwaju/Kajola/Iwajowa Federal Constituency of Oyo State, Shina Abiola Peller has flagged off his campaign.

    Tagged ‘Oke-Ogun progressive walk’, the campaign train kicked off from his hometown in Iseyin local government and moved to Itesiwaju, Iwajowa and Kajola local governments respectively.

    According to Shina Peller, the walk was to reassure constituents, if elected he will rapidly foster economic and infrastructural development in the constituency.

    Shina Peller also noted that the walk throughout the constituency was also necessary to demonstrate unity amongst the local government areas and ensure fitness for the task ahead.

    Making reference to the untapped human and natural resources in the Oke Ogun Federal Constituency, Shina Peller said: “One of my first assignments in the Federal House of Representatives is to sponsor bill that will harness our natural resources for our even development.

    “We are endowed with so many natural resources and tourist attractions, if we judiciously harness these resources, it will open Iseyin/Itesiwaju/Kajola/Iwajowa federal constituency”

    While he enjoined youth to actively participate in electioneering process, he explained:  “There is an urgent need to play our part and be sure we are not tossing the government into the hands of people who will set us back again, we need to do our part for this country to move forward”.

    Also present at the campaign flag-off were Senator Fatai Buhari Oyo North Senatorial District; Oyo State APC gubernatorial deputy candidate Samuel Egunjobi; Commissioner for Works and Transport Oladimeji Dauda and others.

  • Don’t put your destiny in the hands of learner drivers – Uzodinma

    Governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Imo state, Senator Hope Uzodinma has asked the people of the state not to give power again to those he described as drivers with learner’s permit, accusing the Rochas Okorocha led government in the state of amassing about N300 billion debt for the state between 2015 and 2019.

    The APC flagbearer said he was determined to stop the state becoming a family and restoring governance back to the people of the state, assuring that all salaries and allowances owed workers and elected officials withheld by Governor Okorocha will be paid immediately he assumed office as the next governor of the state.

    Uzodinma who spoke when he received a delegation of the Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON) who came to endorse him as their candidate foe the governorship seat promised to bring what he called a new order to the governance of the state and set up a new team that will bring development to Imo state.

    He also promised to address the alleged illegality perpetrated against them by ensuring the payment of their salaries from 2011 till date.

    He said: “When I was told that the entire ALGON will pay a visit, i did not know how serious the issues were. Not only that you were removed illegally, since then you have not been paid your salaries. We have seen several injustices perpetrated against our people but we have to take a decision and confront this injustice.

    “One with God is majority. Politics is a career and nobody will be happy to cut that career short. It is God that gives power and he gives who he wants. For 305 councillors, chairmen, for any leader to be insensitive to their feelings that leader is not a human being, that is wickedness.

    Read Also: Okorocha: it will take God to market Uzodinma

    “I want to partner with you, come and have Hope because you have suffered enough. Go back to your various wards, I don’t think those who elected you are happy with your condition.

    “We want to build a new order; we want to set up a new team that will bring development to Imo state. What we did was to remove this party from one family and gave back to Imo people. We want to give this state to a good driver, not a driver with learners permit but driver’s license. If you don’t get salary today you will get it after three weeks from today.

    “Dont be afraid of anybody, APC which i am the candidate is the ruling party. Nobody will intimidate you. There must be law and order in the state. Whether they are called Imo security Network or Okorocha, dont be intimidated”.

    He stated further that “Imo state has a debt profile of over N300bilion since 2015 till date. We will get the money where they kept it to provide good health care, good education, our government by the grace of God will be driven by people oriented projects.

    “Power was given to a complacent human being and he mis-used it. I have come to create wealth. We will recover Imo, we will rehabilitate Imo. So help me let us work to the glory of God. When we win the narratives will change and when it changes we will all smile.

    “APC in Imo today is stronger and robust. We are better today and that is why people are coming every day to identify with us. Let us embark in this journey it shall end in praise. When we come we will make sure that everybody will pay all outstanding salaries and everybody will be happy”.

    While urging the ALGON to also ensure victory for President Muhammadu Buhari, Senator Uzodinma noted that “President Buhari’s opponents have said he is a man of integrity and have decided to vote him again. We are going to protect our people’s interest”.

    Speaking earlier, Leader of the ALGON delegation, Mrs. Rubby Elele described the governor Rochas Okorocha led administration as unfair to the people of the State and vowed that the Local Government Executives and workers who were sacked illegally in 2011 by Governor Okorocha will punish him and his son in-law Uche Nwosu with their PVCs.

    Mrs Elele said the former chairmen and councillors were deprived of their salaries up till date, causing undue hardship to their families, adding that God used Senator Uzodinma to liberate the people of the state therefore said they will use their structures in 305 wards in Imo State to ensure victory for the APC candidate.

    She said “We are here to thank God for using you to liberate Imo people. People now walk with smiling faces. We want to join you to finish this liberation effort which will culmicate to your victory. As a result the ALGON in Imo State which i am the chairman have endorsed you as our candidate.”

  • PDP accuses APC of instigating violence in Taraba, others

    The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of plots to unleash mayhem and get elections stalemated and postponed in some strategic states across the federation.

    Specifically, the main opposition party fingered the governorship candidate of the APC in Taraba State, Sani Abubakar Danladi to be instigating violence in the state ahead of the Mach 2 governorship election.

    At a media briefing in Abuja on Saturday, spokesman for the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, said it’s an incontrovertible fact, known to all, that Taraba state is a long established stronghold of the PDP.

    According to him, Governor Darius Ishaku who was elected on the platform of the PDP has an undiluted backing of overwhelming majority of the electorate across the state, due to his “sterling performance” in office.

    The party said the APC governorship candidate’s intransigence was borne out of frustration of rejection and has hatched plots to ambush and truncate the electoral process in the state, not minding the human and material damage such action portends.

    The PDP said it has full information of how the APC is working with enemies of Taraba to inject confusion and escalate insecurity in the state.

    This, according to the party, is to pave the way for the governorship election to be deferred, to enable the federal authorities and security agencies have the opportunity to perpetrate the type of massive rigging that took place in the Ekiti and Osun states governorship elections in 2018.

    Ologbondiyan said, “The APC governorship candidate, who is also personally well reputed for acts that contravene free and fair elections, has been boasting that he has the backing of the Federal Government and some godfathers in Abuja, who have no stake in the peace, unity and development of Taraba state in this ignoble project.

    Read Also: PDP dares Buhari over threats to arrest Atiku

    “On Thursday January 17, 2019, the APC, hiding under the guise of campaign unleashed mayhem on Wukari, a major town in Taraba state. Right from Gindin Dorowa, about 40 kilometers to Wukari City, thugs recruited by the APC governorship candidate, went on shooting spree, destroying PDP billboards all the way to Wukari.

    “From the Wukari Yam market, APC thugs continued shooting their way into the town as if they were on a mission to conquer the town, while destroying PDP campaign materials including billboards, posters.

    “The shooting and unbridling of mayhem continued until they arrived to the city center and close to the Aku Uka Palace where another political party was also holding a rally, just as they did in Karim on December 26, 2018 during which they prevented the PDP senatorial and House of Representatives candidates from campaigning.

    “It is important to note that pandemonium broke out when, in the course of the shooting in Wukari, a member of the PDP was killed. At this point a crowd in sympathy to the victim rushed to the scene; panic took over, a vehicle carrying some APC thugs tried to beat a retreat and in the process crashed into another vehicle and caught fire.

    “Other vehicles, which wanted to rush out of the scene got trapped and were torched from the fire spreading from the already burning vehicle.

    “We invite Nigerians to note that the grand plan by Sani Danladi and the APC is to cause confusion during the campaigns since they have no chance of winning the March 2, election”.

    The PDP noted that it was for this sinister reason that the APC governorship candidate has refused to sign the peace accord, which was initiated by the Taraba state police command and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), toward ensuring peaceful campaigns and election.

    The party further observed that the APC in Taraba state has always been known with political thuggery, for which even other governorship aspirants in the APC had openly accused the party.

    “The PDP wants the APC, its governorship candidate in Taraba state, Sani Danladi and their godfathers in Abuja, to note that the people of Taraba state will not surrender their freedom and rights to the APC.

    “Let it be stressed that Taraba state as a stronghold of the PDP will never, in any way whatsoever, succumb to the machination of the APC as the people are ready and fully alert to confront and resist the APC and its candidate, with all the means and energy necessary and available in the defence of their mandate which they have freely given to the PDP.

    “The PDP insists that the governorship election in Taraba and indeed all states of the Federation scheduled for March 2, 2019 will hold on the fixed date. In the same vein, the PDP and the people of Taraba state will never accept any result that does not reflect the reality already expressed by the people.

    “The PDP therefore urges the National Peace Committee to note the infractions by the APC in Taraba state and speak out in the interest of peace, particularly given the security situation in the North East, especially now that Nigerians know who to hold responsible, should there be a break down of law and order in the state.

    “Finally, the PDP charges President Buhari and the APC leadership to counsel their governorship candidate in Taraba state, as well as rein-in their thugs, as there is no way they can have their way in Taraba state. Any move to undermine the resolve of the people, might come with very dire consequences”, the party said.

     

  • Our future is not in the hands of retired Generals – Oshiomole

    National Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomole has declared that the retired Generals and former Heads of States are against the re-election of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Just as he said that the future of Nigeria is not in the hands of retired Generals but in the hands of the general masses.

    The APC National Chairman stated this on Saturday in Minna during the APC Presidential Campaign held at the Trade Fair complex.

    Oshomole said that there is a plan to replay what occurred when Buhari Was The military Head of State and was removed due to his strict anti-corruption strategies.

    “Many of the retired Generals are ganging up against President Buhari, that he will not do eight years while they did more than eight years.

    Read Also: Oshiomole, Osibanjo to receive decampees from PDP

    “I remember they did it before it the past but this time, the plan will not work. The future of Nigeria is not in the hands of retired generals or former heads of state. It is in the hands of the general people.”

    The APC Chieftain then alleged that Atiku is working with Obasanjo to rig the elections as they did before, “everywhere PDP goes, they are saying the elections will be rigged. We need to play those videos of where Obasanjo and Atiku said that election must be won do or die by PDP. ”

    He further said that APC do not need to rig any election as they remain a firm believer of one man, one vote, “we remain a firm believer of one man, one vote, one woman, one vote and one former head of state, one vote.”

    President Buhari in his address urged the people of Niger state to vote for him and APC all the way promising to complete all the road networks across the state.

    In his address, the Niger state APC Chairman, Engineer Jibril Imam promised the President that the state will give him 101 per cent of its vote.

  • Atiku endorsement splits Ohaneze Ndigbo

    Chieftains of Ohaneze Ndigbo are split over the purported endorsement of the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Alhaji Abubakar Atiku by the organisation.

    It would be recalled that an arm of the organisation known as ‘Ime Obi’ arising from its meeting on Thursday, declared support for Atiku on the grounds that he was running with an Igbo man, Mr Peter Obi.

    This endorsement is in clear contrast of earlier stance of the Igbo apex socio-cultural organisation of not endorsing any of the presidential candidates.

    However, a former Secretary General of the organisation, Chief Obiora Ozobu, described the move as a hoax and personal invention of the President General of the organisation, Chief Nnia Nwodo.

    Ozobu, who disclosed this in Enugu on Thursday during a media briefing appealed to the people of the area to ignore the endorsement.

    He described it as a mischievous act aimed at causing division among Ndigbo.

    He said that Nwodo lacked the capacity to summon a meeting of ‘Ime Obi’ because his tenure as president general had lapsed.

    He also wondered why such meeting was held on a day President Muhammadu Buhari was in Anambra and Enugu States for his presidential campaign when the Zik mausoleum was inaugurated.

    He said that the leaders of the organisation were expected to participate actively in the inauguration ceremony of the project which was started 23 years ago but completed by Buhari.

    Ozobu said that the meeting could be best described as a meeting of friends of Atiku and did not represent the wishes of the people of the area.

    “The meeting is an attempt to perpetuate Nwodo in office. Granted that there were attempts to extend the tenure of Ohaneze executives to four but such has not materialised,” he said.

    Also speaking, the Minister of Labour, Dr Chris Ngige described the move as unfortunate, adding that the endorsement of presidential candidates had never done anything good for Ndigbo.

    Ngige said that Ohaneze as a socio-cultural organisation had no business endorsing a particular candidate.

    The minister said that it was obvious that Nwodo had divided the organisation along party lines, adding that “we will fight this out.”

    Former Enugu State governor, Mr Sullivan Chime noted that the said endorsement was done by those that had left office.

    “It was not a meeting of Ohaneze Ndigbo but a meeting between Nwodo and his friends. Ohaneze has no business doing what that group did,” Chime said.

    The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Chief Geoffrey Onyeama, similarly said that it was inappropriate for such a meeting to hold at a time Buhari was in the South East for his campaign.

    Read Also:Breaking: I’ve not resigned, says Onnoghen

     

    Onyeama described the purported meeting as a calculated attempt to exclude a significant number of the people from such gathering, assuming it was a meeting of Ohaneze.

    “A significant number of the membership was not present at the meeting assuming it was a meeting of Ohaneze. So it is inappropriate to have a meeting of such magnitude,” Onyeama said.

    Former Senate President, Chief Ken Nnamani, said that such position made no meaning to the people of the area.

    “Our sons and daughters belong to many political parties and our people have never voted as a block but according to their conscience,” he said.

    Nnamani said that such position was not in the best interest of the people and would not stand.

    In a reaction, the Personal Assistant to the President General of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Mr Emeka Attamah, said that everyone was entitled to their opinions.

    Attamah said that Ohaneze Ndigbo had endorsed who they wanted, adding that the people kicking against it were members of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    He said that it was misleading to say that the tenure of the executive members of the organisation was two years, adding that the constitution had been amended to reflect the current four-year tenure.

    “The tenure is four years and they should go to court to contest,” Attamah said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that other chieftains of the organisation at the briefing are the Minister of Science and Technology, Chief Ogbonnaya Onu and Chief Osita Okechukwu among others.

  • Kwara: I’m the APC candidate known to INEC, says AbdulRazaq

    Kwara state All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq on Thursday said he is the authentic candidate of the party in the state.

    He pointed out the dismissal of the Ishola Balogun-Fulani from the peace accord signing ceremony has put to rest rumour concerning who the real candidate of the party is.

    AbdulRazaq said this at the APC stakeholders’ meeting in Ilorin, the state capital.

    He said: “Balogun-Fulani came to the peace accord but he was sent away.

    “This reaffirms our position that we are the true members of the APC. The other ones are just doing the bidding of their masters in the PDP.”

    “The whole world now knows who the authentic candidate is. We are the only one known to the INEC as that event shows.”

    He also announced the appointment of three director-generals to coordinate his campaign.

    “We have decided to do things differently by appointing three DGs, each representing each of the senatorial districts.

    “We hereby announce Ambassador Yahaya Seriki as the DG for Kwara Central,” according to AbdulRazaq.

    He said the remaining DGs will be unveiled at the stakeholders’ meetings in their zones.

    He called on party members and leaders to work as one team to wrestle power from the PDP, praising the Kwara people for the massive acceptance of his aspiration and messages.

    “Our campaigns have been peaceful and our people have bought into our O To Ge movement.

    “The response of our opponents has been to attack our rallies. But we will not fall for their bait. We will not derail because we are bonafides of Kwara,” AbdulRazaq added.