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Tag: All Progressives Congress (APC)

  • $1bn Security Fund: Reps urge FG to follow due process

    The House of Reps has advised the Presidency to follow due process in obtaining one billion dollars from Nigeria’s Excess Crude Account ( ECA ) to fight insurgency.

    Spokesman of the House, Rep. Abdulrasak Namdas (Adamawa-APC), gave the advice in an interview with our correspondent on Wednesday in Abuja.

    Namdas said that the National Assembly had not received any notice on such need of government, nor had it given any approval for one billion dollars to be taken from the ECA for the military to fight insurgency.

    According to him, the normal practice in Nigeria is that any amount to be withdrawn from the Federation Account must have approval from the National Assembly.

    “We are hoping that this will be brought before us before any amount is withdrawn.

    “Although from the presidency we have heard some explanations that the president has not approved.

    “What we have been told is that the National Executive Council (NEC) has given its tacit approval and that it will still come to the National Assembly.

    “But until we approve, no single amount can be taken from that account,” he said.

    The All Progressives Congress ( APC ) – Federal Government has been under criticism following President Muhammadu Buhari had approved one billion dollars from the ECA to procure more military hardware to fight Boko Haram terrorism.

    NAN

  • APC chieftain urges FG to declare Akoko Land disadvantaged area

    Mr Olatunde Giwa-Daramola, a Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress ( APC ) in Akoko North-East Federal Constituency, Ondo State, has urged the Federal Government to declare the four local government areas in Akoko “disadvantaged areas’’.

    Giwa-Daramola, a retired Naval Commander, made the call while hosting a group of Akoko youths who paid him a solidarity visit in Akure.

    According him, the four local government areas in Akoko land cannot boast of any meaningful industrial, educational and commercial development impact of the government apart from police posts and the National Youth service Corps ( NYSC ) orientation camp.

    “The degrading environmental condition and lack of visible government presence in the area is appalling.

    “The long time institutionalised general neglect and poor representation of the area at both federal and state levels, suggest that Akoko has been excluded from the development agenda of the federation.

    Read Also: APC Scandinavia boss commends LASG policy on Orphanage homes

    “The Federal Government needs to act fast, while the Ondo State Government should consider the areas’ yearning for development as a matter of urgency.

    “My people are mainly farmers and lack good roads to take their farm produce to the cities; there are no factories to process their produce and that leaves so much to be desired,’’ he said in statement by one of his media aides.

    He appealed to the federal and state governments to establish a tertiary institution in the Ikare metropolis and an agriculture-based factories to alleviate the poor conditions of the people.

    Giwa, who is a former Commodore of the Nigeria Navy Sailing Club, resolved to partner with the government to bring accelerated development to the area.

    NAN

  • Credible poll best APC can give Nigerians in 2019 – Secondus

    The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP ), Prince Uche Secondus, has said that the best that the All Progressives Congress ( APC ) can give to Nigerians in 2019 is to conduct one-man one-vote general elections.

    Secondus said this when he received the German Ambassador to Nigeria, Dr Bernhard Schlagheck, who paid a courtesy call on the party’s national leadership on Tuesday in Abuja.

    Secondus attributed lack of free and fair elections as one of the major causes of crisis in Africa.

    “When citizens are deprived of their right to vote that will generate crisis that might be difficult to control.

    “Nigeria is an important country in the continent of Africa.

    “The best we can give to our people is election that will be transparent, election that will be credible, election that both local and international community will welcome.

    “So, we urge the governing APC that the best they can give this country is to offer one  man, one vote.

    Secondus said that Ekiti governorship election scheduled for July would be a test for the APC administration.

    Secondus urged the international community to prevail on the APC administration to ensure free and fair elections.

    Secondus, however, said that the PDP had embarked on two major platforms; namely generation next and rescue mission, to protect the party ahead of 2019 general elections.

    He explained that generation next was to ensuring mentoring for the youths, while the rescue mission aimed at salvaging the country.

    Speaking earlier, Schlagheck, said he was in PDP as part of a tour of all political parties in Nigeria ahead of the 2019 polls.

    The ambassador added that his report would be sent to his country, Germany.

    NAN

  • Buhari’s declaration will silence the opposition, says Okorocha

    The Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum and Governor of Imo state,  Rochas Okorocha has said that President Muhammadu Buhari’s declaration for second term will silence the ‘noise’ of the opposition parties.

    Okorocha also described the President’s declaration as a “patriotic response to the clarion call of Nigerians of goodwill on him to lead the country for another four years”.

    He prided that the All Progressives Congress (APC) does not owe any apologies for its first four years under the Presidency of Buhari, unlike the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) that looted the country for sixteen years only to apologize.

    The governor in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Sam Onwuemeodo, also noted that, “the declaration of the President to go for Second tenure would also go a long way to reduce the noise of the opposition and take care of the idiosyncrasies of certain elements in the system”.

    He observed that the President has done well to deserve a second tenure, adding that “those who had wanted to blackmail him out of going for another term can now find other meaningful things to keep themselves busy”

    The governor expressed optimism that the President “would largely garner more votes in 2019 than he had done in 2015 because most Nigerians, including people of the Southeast have seen that he meant well for the nation and the citizenry”.

    Okorocha added further that “the APC has no apology to make because it has done wonderfully well considering the magnitude of the rot it met on ground in 2015”.

    He also noted that “the antenna of the opposition in the Country will finally be lowered when the campaigns begin and the Party will be showing Nigerians its achievements in the states under its control and at the Federal level”.

    According to the Imo governor, “when a political party had admitted that the government it ran was a huge failure and then apologized, such scenario goes with restitution and not with reward”.

    He urged APC members across the nation to close ranks for the victory of the party at all levels in 2019.

    Read Also: Okorocha to Araraume: I won’t let you destroy APC

  • Buhari secure soft landing for Oyegun, others

    …as Oyegun Laments Character Assasination

     

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday secured a soft landing for members of the National Working Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and leaders of the party at various levels when he appealed for waiver for them to re-contest the party position instead of resigning their position before doing so as provided for by the party constitution.

    Buhari spoke just as the National Chairman of the party; Chief John Odigie Oyegun laments what he regarded as virulent attacks and character assassination against his person, adding that he was restrained from seeking redress by his position as Chairman because such action would have adverse effect on the party.

    Addressing a meeting of the National Executive Committee meeting of the party, President Buhari said waiver should also be extended to executives at the Ward level whose tenures may have elapsed, and indeed to anyone knocking at our doors from other political parties.

    He commended members of the technical committee set up to advice the party on the issue of tenure elongation for doing a good job, saying their recommendation “shows a great sense of commitment to the ideals of our party with a view to consolidating and positioning the party to continue delivering good governance in the overall interest of Nigerians.

    “With the present state of the party and based on the report submitted by the Technical Committee, It is important to focus on how to move the party forward by avoiding actions detrimental to the interest of the party. Considering that politics is a game of numbers, we must not be a house divided against itself and must try to note, appreciate and accommodate our differences as far as the law permits.

    “Upon my review of the Report, my position is to ensure that the party tows the path of unity, legality and cohesion and not that of division. Therefore, I am stressing that we should strengthen our internal democracy by organising the Party’s Congresses and Convention where election of National Executive Committee members would be held. This will automatically end the cases filed by members seeking orders of Court compelling the party to hold its Congresses.

    “I also believe that the current executives should be free to vie for elective positions in the party if they so wish as permitted by our Party constitution. However, considering the provision of Article 31(1)(iii) of the APC Constitution which requires any serving officer desirous of seeking re-election to resign from office 30 days before election, I am not sure of the practicality of present serving officers’ ability to meet this condition.

    “Accordingly, the party may consider granting waivers to party executives at all levels so that they are not disenfranchised from participating in the elections should they wish to do so, provided this does not violate our rules.

    “Necessary waiver(s) should also be extended to executives at the Ward level whose tenures may have elapsed, and indeed to anyone knocking at our doors from other political parties. This is in the spirit of the Right to Freedom of Association guaranteed by the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).

    “In this circumstance, the party should officially issue a statement on the above Waivers so that our house may be full. We all must not be ignorant of the times, and the journey that is ahead of us.

    “Just like our party symbol; “the Broom,” which typifies strength in unity, let us strive to remain united in our purpose. Victory is sure by the Grace of God, and together we must continue to sanitize Nigeria’s political environment.”

    In his remarks, Chairman of the party, Chief John Odigie Oyegun said the experience of the last few days has made clear that “the enormous task in our hands as we go into the elections next year”, adding that “the progressive ideology that we stand for must be an enduring political order in Nigeria, we who occupy this space now, as founding fathers, must be willing to make real sacrifices to lay a solid foundation for generation to come.”

    Oyegun said: “In the past few days, I have read news reports and all manner of comments and opinions that have tried to frame the majority decision of NEC as an attempt to primarily source “tenure elongation” for Oyegun and the NWC. This is quite unfortunate because nothing could be further from the truth.

    “We are looking for ways to minimize rancor in the party ahead of the next general elections and we are looking for ways to save the party from potential legal booby traps. These are both valid considerations. The challenge that we have faced has been how to reconcile the two in the best interest of the party.

    “On a personal note, I have had to endure virulent media attacks, malicious insinuations and outright character assassination. However, the responsibility imposed on me by my position as the National Chairman of the party demand that I rise above my Personal pains and refuse to yield to the temptation to react in a name that potentially complicates the situation for our party. However, I will like to urge everyone else to remember that regardless of our ambitions and personal, interests, the party is greater than all of us.

    “These sacrifices require of us to discipline our personal ambitions and selfish interests. If we do this, it would be easier for us to forge consensus and reach compromise, even on issues that appear to divide us.

    “I must say that disagreements, debates and contentions are the hallmarks of progressive politics. Therefore, let no one tell you that our party was about to collapse only because we disagree. Our strength however will continue to rest on our ability to forge consensus even from apparently irreconcilable issues.

    If anything, what our experience in the last few days has confirmed is that we can disagree without being disagreeable and that our party may be young, but we remain the bastion of progressive politics in Nigeria”.

    Read Also: http://staging.thenationonlineng.net/updated-buhari-declares-for-second-term/

  • Why we killed tenure elongation for Oyegun, others – Ganduje

    Ahead of another emergency National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC) which is expected to put an end to the ongoing controversy about tenure elongation for party leaders at all levels, Kano state Governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje said they were against the idea because it will affect the fortunes of the party and portray it as an undemocratic party.

    The Governor said he was not part of the tenure elongation idea and said those of them who were not in support of the idea had managed to convince the governors in favour to jettison the idea and embrace an elective convention where new leaders will emerge.

    Speaking at an interactive session with a selected group of journalists in Abuja, Ganduje also declared his intention to seek reelection as Kano State governor in 2019, adding that the State has concluded plans to drag President Muhammadu Buhari to court if he fails to seek reelection for a second term.

    The governor said the contentious tenure elongation for the party executive will be reversed at the party NEC meeting scheduled for Monday, April 9, 2018 and a committee put in place to conduct congresses to elect leaders at all levels.

    He said that the few APC governors who were campaigning for the tenure elongation which he described as “illegal” have been convinced to see reasons why such should not be.

    Ganduje also revealed that Monday NEC meeting is expected to decide on date and time table for Congresses and convention of the party which will brings in new set of leaders at all levels.

    “Yes, there was controversy on this even though yesterday we  were able to put it at rest. But let me tell you the issues involved, those who are advocating for tenure elongation, they are advocating on the premise that when we hold congresses and convention according to their own perception, there will be a lot of problems and that problem will linger into election period. Well that is a perception, it could be that way and it could be that some people wanted to retain power. Therefore that reason biased.

    “However, I don’t belong to that school of thought. The constitution of our party has made a provision for four years and at the end of it we have to hold congresses and convention. The constitution of Nigeria has also provided for that, so we have no reason whatsoever.

    “If you are saying that there would be some problems, problems are part of ingredients of politics, there is no way you can practice democracy in a developing country without having some problems. There must be problems; there must be divergent views and disagreements. There will never be a time that things will be 100% normal. So even if there is problem, that is part of democracy and we will be able to move forward.

    “So for those who thought they would be able to continue, we said no and so I think Mr. President finally hit the nail on the head, by saying that he is not in favour of any tenure elongation.

    “Tenure elongation is undemocratic, it may lead us to litigation which will not be good for the party and we are happy that we have convinced the few governors that were for the elongation and on Monday we hope to have our NEC meeting where the previous decision will be reversed and by then timetable will be out for congresses at the ward level, congress at local government level, congress at the state level and finally convention at the national level.

    “I think that is the situation and I am happy to say that the chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum issued a statement, the chairman of the APC governors Forum also issued a statement and the national chairman of the party Chief John Oyegun made a statement as well to say that all is well.”

    Speaking on his decision to seek second term in office, Ganduje said: “In Kano, people are saying four plus four, that is they are urging me to contest again but I too feel that in order to continue with the good development that we have started, development require some time and the constitution has given four years and another four years in order to consolidate what one has started.

    “I am convinced that I too will seek for second term and people are also urging me to do so. Eventually it will be left to the people to decide whether I am will qualified or not.”

    On why President Buhari must re-contest in 2019, the governor said: “APC governors want Mr. President to continue. I am happy that it is not the president that said he wants to continue, it is the people that are saying continue but Mr. President has not made up his mind yet.

    “When he came to Kano, I told him that any time he decides not to contest we will take him to court, Kano state government will take him to court any time he decides not to contest. So we are waiting for him.

    “In this country we saw presidents who spent billions of Naira for third term, so what is the ruse about a constitutional second term. Some people who spent billions of Naira in order to go for third term, I think it should not be news or something like that.”

    Read Also: Tenure Elongation: APC NWC divided over technical committee

  • Looters list can’t divert attention from misrule, says PDP

    The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has said that the Presidency and the All Progressives Congress (APC) have failed in their ploy to use their so-called looters lists to divert public discourse from the raging questions on their numerous scandals, manifest sleazes and overall failures in governance.

    The PDP, in a statement on Tuesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, said the nation has now seen that the Federal Government has no case against the PDP, as the list of looters released by the government only have individuals who were not indicted or convicted for corruption. The party said some persons on the list were are not even members of the PDP.

    The statement said, “It is now a notorious fact that the whole essence of the flimsy and contemptible lists was to cause public misperception, ‘change the topic’, and divert international and national discourse from various serious issues.

    “Some of these issues include the parlous state of the nation’s economy caused by President Muhammadu Buhari’s misrule, for which Nigerians are now resorting to vices, including slavery and suicides as options.

    “The intensive global vote of no confidence on President Buhari-led APC-government, particularly on its painful anti-people policies, as presented in damning verdicts by international figures, the latest being the world renowned Bill Gates.

    “The vote of no confidence on the Buhari administration by eminent statesmen, including former President Olusegun Obasanjo, former military President Ibrahim Babangida and former minister of defence and ex-chief of army staff, Gen. Theophilus Danjuma, who also indicted this administration of failure to protect the citizens.

    “The international interest over speculations of conspiracy theorem on the alleged manipulation of security in the abduction and return of the Dapchi schoolgirls for which Amnesty International (AI) has called for an open inquest.

    “The international embarrassment over alleged procurement of the Martin Luther King Jr Award for President Buhari, which has now attracted global opprobrium to our dear nation and entire citizenry.

    “The Transparency International (TI) latest verdict, indicting the Buhari-led government of superintending over the spiraling of corruption in Nigeria in the last three years.

    “Efforts by the Buhari Presidency to conceal the N9 trillion corrupt oil contracts at the NNPC, alleged stealing of N1.1 trillion worth of crude oil, looting of N18 billion Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) intervention fund and the stealing of N10 billion National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), all by APC officials and Presidency cabal.

    “The public resentment that trailed President Buhari’s last week’s visit to Lagos as well as his embarrassment at the National Mosque last Friday, where worshippers demonstrated their resentments to his administration and almost resorted to near mob action.

    “These are issues that cannot be swept under the carpet using any ploy whatsoever.

    “While we still challenge the APC to name any members of the repositioned and rebranded PDP convicted for corruption, we wish to remind them that our three-day ultimatum to explain the source of looted fund to finance President Buhari’s 2015 campaign still subsists and no amount of blackmail or intimidation can stop Nigerians from holding the dysfunctional APC accountable”.

    Read Also: FG avoiding issue we raised on looters’ list, says PDP

  • Buhari presiding over most corrupt govt in history – Fayose

    Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose has faulted the list of alleged looters unveiled by the Federal Government which he described as “concocted and afterthought to cover the shame of the All Progressives Congress (APC) administration.

    Fayose alleged that President Muhammadu Buhari was presiding over “the most corrupt government in the history of Nigeria and protecting looters of the country’s commonwealth.”

    The Ekiti governor likened Buhari to a father who is protecting his children that are armed robbers but calling on security agents to arrest children of his neighbour for stealing meats from their mother’s pot,

    Fayose in a statement on Monday by his Special Assistant on Public Communication and New Media, Lere Olayinka, insisted that the administration Buhari presides over lacks the moral justification to call some people “looters” alleging that his (Buhari’s) presidential nomination form was procured with looted cash.

    He reiterated that Nigerians were more interested in their welfare, security of their lives and physical development of the country than tales of concocted lists of corrupt Nigerians, who are only corrupt in the estimation of the government because they do not belong to the APC.

    Fayose said: “With the Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index, saying that corruption has become more endemic in Nigeria than it was in the last 16 years.

    “With the country moving 12 places below its rating, a honourable government would have stopped using fight against corruption as its major achievement and releasing names of people that are still under trial as looters just to cover up its failure.

    “The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) never pretended to Nigerians that it had corrupt people in its fold and the party never protected them. Today, the party has gone ahead to offload the corrupt elements into the APC and they were not only accepted gladly into the party, they were given prominent appointments by the President.”

    “For any lists of alleged looters to be credible, the President, who is protecting looters should be number one while those looters in his government should follow.

    “His nomination form was bought with proceeds of corruption and those who bought the form and financed his election were paid back with the return of all their seized properties, ministerial appointments and even disappearance of prosecution witnesses in EFCC cases.

    “A government that reinstated and promoted Abdullahi Maina, who was declared wanted for corrupt practices by the International Police Organisation, (INTERPOL) and dismissed in 2013 for alleged N2.1 billion pension fraud and used APC broom to sweep the $25 billion contracts scam in the NNPC under the carpet is nothing but a government of plunderers and that is the clear definition of Buhari’s government.

    “It was in this same government that the Minister of Health, Isaac Adewole suspended the National Health Insurance Scheme Executive Secretary, Professor Usman Yusuf for alleged corruption and the President recalled him even without the knowledge of the Minister.

    “Up till today, nothing has happened to the probe panel on the allegedN500 million bribery said to have been paid to the President’s Chief of Staff (COS), Abba Kyari by officials of MTN to influence government to discontinue its heavy stance on the $5 billion fine imposed on the company.

    “Therefore, no matter how hard they try now, they can no longer hoodwink Nigerians with their deceit of fight against corruption. Even APC Senator, Shehu Sani once said that the President uses insecticide to fight corruption involving his perceived political opponents, but use deodorant when it comes it affects his own men.”

    Read Also: PDP replies APC, lists cases of alleged looting under Buhari

  • Nobody can rig Ekiti APC primary, says ex-Speaker 

    Former Speaker of Ekiti State House of Assembly, Mr. Olufemi Bamisile, has assured that the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primary will not be rigged in favour of any aspirant.

    Bamisile, an APC governorship aspirant, promised to offer the people of the state good governance and better standard of living if he wins the party’s ticket and elected governor in the July 14 election.

    He claimed to have about 1,500 delegates expected to vote at the primary election by his side which he said was possible having been the first aspirant to go to the field about three years ago.

    Bamisile spoke on Thursday while hosting delegates and party members from all the 16 local government areas to an Easter get-together at his residence in GRA, Ado-Ekiti.

    The former Speaker said he is not afraid of other party bigwigs interested in the APC ticket including former Governor Segun Oni, Senator Gbenga Aluko and former House of Representatives members, Bimbo Daramola, Bamidele Faparusi, Opeyemi Bamidele and others.

    He promised to use his Octopus Agenda blueprint to bring about positive change to Ekiti State which he said has been bastardised by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP)-led government.

    The ex-Speaker said nobody can buy delegates at the primary noting that the shadow election represents an opportunity for the APC to regain the governorship seat lost in the 2014 election.

    Bamisile said: “You and I will get to the Promised Land together; nobody can buy delegates at the primary because they are determined to elect the right candidate this time around.

    “We are going to run the government together because it is somebody that works hard that reaps the fruit of his labour. I want to assure my supporters that nobody can rig the APC primary.

    “Everybody will be taken care of in our administration, including the delegates and voters. We will use agriculture to turn around our economy and give financial empowerment to women and youths.”

    Read Also: Ekiti 2018 governorship: APC prepares for primary

  • Buhari pays two-day visit to Lagos

    President Muhammadu Buhari will on Thursday begin a two-day official visit to Lagos State, the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Kehinde Bamigbetan said on Wednesday.

    According to Bamigbetan, the President, will during the course of his visit carry out some groundbreaking ceremonies and inspect some ongoing projects in the State.

    He said the President, on arrival, will attend the Colloquium organised to mark the 66th Birthday of the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu scheduled to hold at the Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos on Thursday.

    He said the President would perform the official flag-off ceremony for the construction of the Lekki Deep Sea Port project, Ibeju Lekki.

    Bamigbetan said on completion, the multi-purpose Lekki Deep Sea Port, located at the heart of the Lekki Free Trade Zone, would be one of the most modern ports in West Africa, offering enormous support to the growing commercial operation across Nigeria and the entire West African region.

    He said the President would also inspect the ongoing construction works at the Eko Atlantic City, Victoria Island.

    He said the Eko Atlantic City Project, a planned city being constructed on land reclaimed from the Atlantic Ocean, is projected to accommodate at least 250,000 residents and a daily flow of 150,000 commuters, adding that the development will also have a positive environmental impact, as it will help in stopping the erosion of the State’s coastline.

    The Commissioner said the President would also commission the Ikeja Bus Terminal, expected to commute over a 100,000 residents across 23 bus routes in the State.

    According to him, the Ikeja Bus Terminal is part of the comprehensive plan to redefine public transportation which the present administration is implementing across the State.

    Aside the Ikeja Terminal, the Tafawa Balewa Square Bus Terminal has been commissioned, while work is ongoing in Yaba, Oyingbo, Ojota, Agege and other areas.

    It would be recalled that the State’s Commissioner of Police, Imohimi Edgal had on Tuesday announced traffic diversions and alternative routes ahead of the President’s visit assuring that adequate preparations have been made to mitigate the impact of the road diversions on residents, while access would be given to any emergency situation.

    The State Government had also declared Thursday, March 29 as work free day to ease movement in and around the State as well as enable Lagosians come out enmasse to welcome the President.

    Read Also: Lagos declares tomorrow work-free day for Buhari’s visit