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Tag: All Progressives Congress (APC)

  • TSA: Buhari govt saves N24.7bn monthly

    TSA: Buhari govt saves N24.7bn monthly

    The All Progressives Congress (APC)- led federal government has received high performance ratings in the management of the nation’s economy, even as the government has continued to save up to N24.7 billion monthly as a result of Treasury Single Account (TSA) policy.

    A professor of Economics from the Nassarawa State University Uche Uwaleke who gave an in-depth assessment of the achievements of President Muhammadu Buhari within the last two and half years in office, also revealed that about N108 billion has been saved from removal of maintenance fees payable to banks before TSA.

    Speaking Monday in Abuja at the week-long leadership training programme organised under the auspices of the National Committee of Buhari Support Groups (NCBSG) for its coordinators nationwide, prof. Uwaleke said the sudden and unexpected drop in crude oil price from a peak of US$114.6-O/bbl in June 2014 to under US$30] bbl by February 2016 created financial crises for the government.

    “Effective implementation of the Treasury Single Account, entrenching transparency and accountability. N108 billion has been saved from removal of maintenance fees payable to banks before TSA. The nation is being saved N24.7 billion monthly with the full implementation of the TSA and implementation of the Bank Verification Number (BVN), thus tackling corruption by plugging loopholes for siphoning of public fund and tracking of illicit funds through multiple accounts

    According to him, Buhari led administration has expended over N1.2 trillion on capital/infrastructure projects nationwide last year was a milestone in the nation’s history.

    “Improvement in transport infrastructure (rail and road); construction work ongoing on the Lagos-lbadan Expressway, renovation of Abuja international Airport runway, completion of Abuja Kaduna Railway among others.

    “Support to states: Bailout of cash crunch states; about N689 billion to 27 states of the federation to pay salaries in 2015. Complete refund of Paris loan deductions to states (unprecedented) played a part.”

    On Social investment, Uwaleke said N-Power Volunteer Scheme has created jobs for over 200,000 unemployed graduates in all the 36 states and the FCT.

    “Ongoing Government Enterprise and Empowerment (GEEP) Scheme; commenced in November 2016 in collaboration with the Bank of industry, where soft loans ranging from N10, 000 to N100, 000 have been given to over 189,000.

    “Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) scheme, under which about 25,000 less privileged Nigerians so far are now being funded with the monthly NS,000 stipend in 9 pilot States (Bauchi, Borno, Cross Rivers, Ekiti, Kwara, Kogi, Niger, Osun and Oyo). More beneficiaries are expected to be added in more states.

    “Nigeria successfully issued two Eurobonds (US$4.5bn), a Sukuk Bond (100 billion Naira), a Diaspora Bond (US $300m), and the first Sovereign Climate Bond in Africa, raising billions of dollars for infrastructure spending. This is testimony to investors’ confidence‘

    “The federal government launched a Tax Amnesty scheme (VAIDS) designed to increase tax awareness and compliance, and reduce incidence of tax evasion. The Voluntary Income and Asset Declaration Scheme is expected to ramp up non-oil before it closes in March 2018.”

    Earlier, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the group, Senator Abu Ibrahim who was represented by Zakari Aliu said the aim of the training was to help build effective leadership capacity among the members of the support group ahead of the next general elections.

    He added that the group who receive such training will help in spreading the message of the successes recorded by President Muhammafu Buhari’s administration.

    One of discussants, Dr. Ben Obi of the department of Economics University of Abuja, also gave his assessment of Buhari led government said the APC government has been able to deliver successfully some of the promises made in 2015.

    Read Also: FG saves N24.7bn from TSA, IPPIS/BVN monthly – Buhari

  • El-Rufai’s suspension laughable – APC

    El-Rufai’s suspension laughable – APC

    All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kaduna State has described the Senator Hunkuyi led faction of the party as illegitimate, saying that, their purported suspension of Governor Nasir El-Rufai is laughable and should be disregarded.

    This was also as the party said, sales of forms for the party primaries ahead of the Kaduna State local government elections slated for May 12, will commence this week.

    This was part of the resolutions of the party’s State Executive Committee (SEC) meeting held last Friday.

    Briefing newsmen on the outcome of the SEC meeting at the party Secretariat on Ali Akilu road, Kaduna on Monday, Acting Secretary of the party, Yahaya Baba Pate said, the meeting adopted the recommendations of the State Working Committee on the local government elections and commended the ongoing registration of party members.

    According Pate, the party is set to roll out the timetable in few days time, for the party primaries ahead of the local government elections.

    Reacting to the suspension of Governor El-Rufai by a faction of the party, Pate said, the ‘so called’ chairman of the faction, Danladi Wada is an imposter. Saying such person lacks power to suspend any member of the party.

    According to him, “the authentic chairman of the party is Alhaji Shuaibu Idris. He is the chairman recognised by the national leadership of the party. Just last week, he received an invitation letter from the national secretariat, signed by the National Chairman, Chief Odigie Oyegun, inviting him for National Executive Committee meeting next week.

    “The Senator Hunkuyi led group is illegitimate. As far as we are concerned, most of them have been expelled including the so called factional chairman, Danladi Wada. As for Senator Hunkuyi, he is under six months suspension, because we cannot expel him. Only the national leadership can expel him, because he is a political office holder.” he said.

    Also Read:APC senator declares interest to unseat El-Rufai

  • Oyegun to Nigerians: Shun detractors of Buhari, APC

    Oyegun to Nigerians: Shun detractors of Buhari, APC

    The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress ( APC ), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, on Saturday called on Nigerians to shun those casting aspersions on President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration and the party.

    Oyegun made the call at a grand rally to welcome People’s Democratic Party ( PDP ) members who defected to the APC on Saturday in Lokoja.

    The National Chairman said the President was God sent to heal the wounds of Nigerians adding that his administration has made tremendous improvement in the socio-economic and political development of the country.

    He said that the administration has diversified the Nigerian economy from being  oil-dependent to being an agriculture-based.

    He said there was an ongoing expansion of the rail network and power generation has stabilised at 7,000 Megawatts from 3,000 megawatts at the inception of the administration.

    “It is only the beginning of good things that are yet to come,” he said.

    Oyegun urged Nigerians not to listen to detractors of the President but be patriotic and support him to achieve more and make life worth living for every Nigerians.

    “Kogi will be one of the major sponsors on the day President Muhammadu Buhari decides to go for second term. They say we are quarrelling, they say we are fighting,  but credible people are trooping into APC”, he added.

    He advised Kogi people to support the administration of Gov. Yahaya Bello,  saying the governor has positively affected every facet of the state economy.

    “I am happy to be here today. I noticed one of the billboards when I was coming in saying, ‘A New Dawn for Kogi State’.

    “Kogi People, I want to congratulate you for having an energetic governor in Yahaya Bello.  This is a governor that is a good organiser, restless, energetic and full of ideas. I can feel a new energy in Kogi State”, Oyegun said.

    Speaking Gov Yahaya Bello urged Buhari to run for a second term in 2019.

    “We urge Mr President to run and fly in 2019. Twenty-four APC governors are ready to support you under the leadership of the National Chairman of the party, Mr John Oyegun.”

    Bello welcomed PDP members from the three senatorial districts of the state who defected.

    He said the APC was where they belonged in the first place adding, “come and sin no more.”

    He urged those still in PDP to come back home.

    Prof. Stephen Ocheni, Minister of State for Labour and Employment said the crowd was a testimony of the strength of the party in the state.

    Mr Edward Onoja, Chief of Staff to the governor said the party started with nine members of the state House of Assembly and 100,000 members,  but now has 19 legislators and  500,000 members.

    NAN

  • PDP targets 1m new members in Lagos – Chairman

    PDP targets 1m new members in Lagos – Chairman

    The Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP ) in Lagos State says it is targeting one million new members ahead of the 2019 gubernatorial election in the state.

    The Lagos State Chairman, Mr Moshood Salvador, said this on Thursday at the state Secretariat of the party in Ikeja.

    He was addressing the party’s councillorship and chairmanship aspirants in the last council polls in the state.

    “Our target is to have one million new members ahead of the election and that can be done with commitment of existing members.

    “We should go all out and get members into the party. We should embark on mobilisation of members,” he said.

    Salvador said the All Progressives Congress ( APC ) defeated the party with less than 200,000 votes in the last election, which meant that the PDP was very relevant in the state.

    He said his ultimate ambition as the leader of the party was to unseat the APC, for the PDP to take over.

    The party chairman said the commitment of all members was needed to realise that ambition.

    “We need to be more committed, we need to be more dedicated, we need to be strong to take the PDP to where it should be in the state,” he said.

    He said the PDP would have won the state in the 2015 elections if members had worked harder.

    Salvador, therefore, charged members not to take chances this time around, but to embark on aggressive membership drive in their localities.

    “We should encourage people to obtain their Permanent Voter Cards and vote for the PDP.

    “We should also secure and protect our votes during elections. This is how PDP can realise its potential in the state “he said.

    The chairman said the essence of the meeting with aspirants was to carry everyone along and give them a sense of belonging.

    Salvador said that the power of every political party lay in the grassroots, as that is the foundation.

    He asked the aspirants who contested in the last election to support his efforts to reposition the party.

    Salvador said he was building a new party where the common people matter most.

    He dismissed speculations in some quarters that there was a crack in the state chapter of the party.

    The chairman urged party members to remain one and strong for PDP’s progress.

    Mr Wale Olaleye, a member of the party, commended the new spirit in the Lagos PDP.

    He commended Salvador for his efforts at promoting peace and unity in the party.

    Olaleye called on all members to give him the desired support.

    NAN

  • I went to commiserate with Buhari, not to talk politics – Akande

    I went to commiserate with Buhari, not to talk politics – Akande

    All Progressives Congress (APC) leader, Chief Bisi Akande, said his visit to President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday in Abuja was not political but to commiserate with him on his bereavement.

    Akande, pioneer National Chairman of the party, was at the Presidential Villa in company with another leader of the party, Sen. Bola Tinubu. The visit was the second in two weeks.

    Buhari’s extended family lost two senior members within a few hours.

    Ai’sha Mamman, wife of the president’s elder brother, died on Friday, while Halima Dauda, his niece, died on Saturday.

    Akande told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) shortly after leaving the Villa that his visit with Tinubu to the president had nothing to do with politics ahead of 2019 elections.

    According to him, Buhari’s popularity in the country is unshakable.

    “I must point out clearly that my visit in the company of Asiwaju has nothing to do with politics. There is no crisis in our party that is not being adequately handled.

    “Our visit is a friendly one; it is a visit by friends commiserating with another friend, who recently lost family members. Every other thing is in the imagination of mischief makers.

    “The problem is with those who brought this nation to its knees. These people cannot be redeemed.

    “They are the ones making all hues and cries, because free money they were used to have ceased,” he said.

    Akande said that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ruined the country almost beyond redemption.

    “President Buhari is doing everything possible to redeem the situation of the country.

    “No one said it is going to be easy, given the scale of destruction of the recent past, but with steadfastness and patriotism, a lot is being achieved,” he added.

    On Tinubu’s recent assignment to reconcile members of APC, the former chairman of the party said the former Lagos governor was the best man for the job.

    “If you will recall, Asiwaju was the deciding factor that brought together the alliance that birthed the APC. He has the energy, the doggedness and the discipline to replicate this in bringing together all feuding sides.

    “It is all about the nation. In the APC, we put the country first, and once we are convinced that what we are doing is in the interest of the country, every other thing is secondary.” NAN

  • PDP, APC supporters, join Obasanjo’s movement in Ondo

    PDP, APC supporters, join Obasanjo’s movement in Ondo

    A ‘third force’ group floated by former President Olusegun Obasanjo under the Coalition for Nigeria Movement (CNM) held its inaugural meeting Friday in Akure, the Ondo state capital.

    Members who were mainly People’s Democratic Party (PDP) supporters with few aggrieved All Progressives Congress (APC) Social Democratic Party (SDP) and Alliance for Democracy (AD) members came from across the 18 local government areas of the state.

    Among them were its Coordinator, Hon.Demola Ijabiyi, Protem Secretary, Oluwarotimi Akintoye (Zadok) Former Deputy Speaker, Dare Emiola, Former PDP State Chairmen, Ebenezer Alabi and Biyi Poroye, Dr Dare Bada, Former Mimiko’s aide, Sunday Menukuro, and Kehinde Alabi.

    It also included APC chieftains, Jimi Adekanle (JAF) and Mrs Kehinde Adeniran (kk) and others.

    Addressing the gatherings, Ijabiyi said the forum was not a political party yet, but a mass movement to determine how Nigerians would be salvaged from the bondage of the discredited politicians in the APC and PDP.

    He explained that the platform made up of various groups and tendencies would constitute a new policy order, urging every Nigerian to embrace the Coalition.

    According to Ijabiyi “APC and PDP are vessels of darkness, we are bringing people to light, as nobody will like to remain in darkness, there is the need to liberate ourselves  from the bondage of these exploiters, who have no solution to the problems of the country.

    The Coordinator who is an ally of Chief Obasanjo said “For now, we are not a political party, but after collating the movement as a formidable mass movement of people in all sectors of life, the decisions of leaders of the Coalition will metamorphose into a political party”.

    He noted that already there were several movements coming up that would align with this coalition to achieve the desired goals.

    Ijabiyi said the youths would form the largest component of those to lead the movement and determine their leaders at various levels, stressing that there is no way the present precarious situation in the country will be allowed to remain persistent without seeking best alternative.

  • We will respond to Obasanjo’s Coalition Movement at the right time – Tinubu

    We will respond to Obasanjo’s Coalition Movement at the right time – Tinubu

    ….Obasanjo playing politics with letter to Buhari 

    National leader of the All Progressives Congress ( APC )  and former governor of Lagos State,  Bola Tinubu, yesterday said that the party will respond to the Coalition Movement launched by former President Olusegun Obasanjo at the “appropriate time “.

    He accused Obasanjo of playing politics with his open letter to President Muhammadu Buhari, where he accused him of (Buhari) of non performance.

    Tinubu who made a stop over in Owerri, the Imo State capital on his way to Anambra State for the burial ceremony of late former Vice President in the company of another APC leader, Chief Bisi Akande, insisted that Obasanjo could have exploited other better ways of communicating his observations about the Buhari’s administration other than open letter if not politically motivated. 

    According to the APC leader, who jocularly said that the letter was not written to him, “Obasanjo wrote it about the government. It is a very good awareness on his part and they are both from the same background. I believe that is the doctrine  of Military Officers (retired) because he has unrestricted access to the President, either through the Council of State or by any other means that he need to see the current President privately and he was his junior in the Army.  So I think Obasanjo was playing politics with his public letter that’s all I see. He could have used other means,  he met him in the AU too he has a way of discussing privately but the letter is being responded to by the government”.

    Also responding to the former launching of Obasanjo’s Coalition Movement, in the brief interview with journalists at the Imo State Government House,  Tinubu,  said that it is still too early to respond to the development, 

    He said, “the appropriate time is not now for response on the Coalition Movement but we are in a democracy, we are in a country that is a signatory to the Charter of the United Nation which guarantees free movement, free association and free speech”.

    On the reason for his visit, he stated that, “the governor is a very good friend and the government that is here is our government, the APC government. We are here to pay final  respect to the gentleman and Nationalist, Alex  Ekwueme”.

  • 2019: APC embarks on CVR grassroots sensitisation in Ebonyi

    2019: APC embarks on CVR grassroots sensitisation in Ebonyi

    The All Progressives Congress ( APC ), has commenced grassroots sensitisation tour to mobilise the electorate in the 13 local government areas of Ebonyi, to register in the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration ( CVR ).

     Mr Eze Nwachukwu, Acting APC Chairman in Ebonyi, led other members of the State Working Committee (SWC) to launch the campaign on Friday in Afikpo, Afikpo North Local Government Area.

     Nwachukwu, who addressed the people, said that the sensitisation was in line with the directive from the national headquarters of APC.

     According to him, the exercise is aimed at mobilising , educating and sensitising eligible grassroots voters on the need to participate in the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration.

     He said that as the 2019 general elections draw closer, that it was imperative that rural communities were mobilised to fully participate in the ongoing CVR, stressing that bulk of the voters reside in rural areas.

    “Registration and collection of the voter cards is the only qualification to vote in the elections; any eligible voter without his or her voter card will have no business at the polling booths during election,” Nwachukwu said.

    He said that current reforms in the electoral system would make it difficult to rig elections in 2019, assuring the people that their votes must count in the elections.

    “The Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ) has assured Nigerians of commitment to conduct credible elections in 2019.

    “The electronic transmission of election results to be adopted in 2019 will make it difficult to rig in 2019, and this will put election riggers out of business.

    “We are here today to appeal to the people of Afikpo North to go to any INEC office nearest to them and register and collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).

    “It is your civic right and obligation to vote and you must resist anything that will deny you opportunity to exercise this important civic duty.

    “We again assure you that your votes will count in 2019. “

    Nwachukwu urged party faithful and APC supporters to ensure that they effectively participate in the CVR exercise and other vital electoral processes.

    He advised the electorate against selling their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and urged them to resist politicians who would come to demand their PVCs in exchange for employment, empowerment or to give them bank loans.

    “It is a criminal offence to engage in selling or buying of voter cards and you must report those found to indulge in such illicit transactions.

    “Your voter card is your property and the only right you have as citizens to exercise your voting rights to elect your leaders; selling it means disqualifying yourselves.

    “There is no rule in the civil service that requires your voter card for employment or empowerment and no bank will require you to submit your voter card to give you loan.

    “You must resist any attempt that will make them disenfranchise you and must report such persons to the Police,” Nwachukwu said.

    He said that the party would constitute local government and ward committees in the 13 local government areas of the state that would be charged with the mandate of door-to-door mobilisation of rural communities to come out and register.

    Meanwhile, the chairman has charged APC faithful in the local government to remain supportive of the party and to work hard to ensure that the party emerged victorious in the area in 2019.

    He announced that the party would commence membership registration, and urged members who were yet to formally register with the party to avail themselves of the opportunity.

    “We have over 18,000 registered members of our great party in Afikpo North and we are opening another window of opportunity to enable members who are yet to formally register to do so.

    “It’s only those with our membership registration cards that will be allowed to participate in voting during the party primaries and congresses,” he added.

    NAN

  • Sokoto PDP accuses APC of destabilising party

    Sokoto PDP accuses APC of destabilising party

    …as APC describes opposition ‘Mush room party’

    With one year to the 2019 general polls, stakeholders of the Sokoto state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP ) has raised alarm accusing the ruling All Progressives Congress ( APC ) in the state of hatching confusion to divide the party.

    It vowed to reclaim the image of the state from the non performing APC government in both Sokoto state and federal level.

    The opposition PDP also noted with concern the impending attempt by the state APC to factionalise its members and party’s activities.

    At its committee meeting which held at the weekend according to a release by the state party Secretary, Kabiru Aliyu noted that the move by APC led administration was an attempt to destroy the PDP.

    “Their plan will not work and it has failed. We are united under the leadership of Alhaji Ibrahim Milgoma.

    “We are focused and determined to take over government.

    “Our ‎strength of purpose remain intact and will not fail to challenge the ruling APC in the state.”

    According to the release,” we are challenging the APC to redeem the numerous pledges it made to electorates instead of enticing our supporters with state resources to decamp to their fold.

    “If APC had performed creditably well, people would have decamped on their own without been prompted.‎”

    However, the meeting called on former governor Attahiru Bafarawa to contest the 2019 presidential election‎.

    In a swift reaction to the issues raised by the PDP stakeholders, the ruling APC state chairman, Usman Suleiman Danmadamin Isa described as irrelevant, false and unfounded the allegations by the PDP.

    “Our party has not recognised PDP nor its allegations as credible. 

    “PDP in Sokoto is a mush room party. A party that has no single councillor, what has it to show that will cause our party to lure it’s members.

    “APC has the structures and strength to pull crowd. And those decamping to APC do that willingly without been given a dime.

    “I am the chairman, APC Committee for decampees‎. I have never given nor anyone received money for joining our party”, he pointed out.

    According to Danmadami” It is a common thing with an opposition which has not to offer to thrive in condemning the ruling party.‎”

    He explained that between 2015 to date, APC led government of Aminu Waziri Tambuwal had performed creditably well in the execution of meaningful projects as well the repositioning of its educational sector and promotion of academic excellence through sponsorship and scholarship awards to students of Sokoto origin.

    ” We have invested a lot in the empowerment scheme for our youths, women and physically challenged.

    “There is no invest that is as worthy as that in human capital which we have taken with seriousness to strengthen the capacity of all and sundry’, he stated.

  • Rumble in APC as zonal chairmen move against Oyegun

    Rumble in APC as zonal chairmen move against Oyegun

    Irked by alleged acts of indiscretion, which they fear could prevent the All Progressives Congress (APC) from achieving its set goals and subject it to public ridicule, the zonal chairmen of the party have moved against its leadership.

    The six zonal vice chairmen of the party are accusing the party’s leadership led by its National Chairman, Chief John Oyegun, which has been in office in the last three years, of lacking in transparency and accountability and generally mismanaging the affairs of the party.

    In a strongly-worded memo to the party’s National Working Committee dated January 17, 2018, sent through the party’s national chairman, the zonal chairmen raised four key areas of indiscretion, which include the finances of the party, formation of ad-hoc committees, abandonment of the zones and change of party structures.

    The six zonal vice chairmen who signed the memo include Chief Pius Akinyelure (Southwest), Comrade Mustapha Salihu (Northeast), Alhaji Zakari Idde (Northcentral), Inuwa Abdulkadir (Northwest), Hon. Emma Eneukwu (Southeast) and Ntufam Hilliard Eta (South-south).

    In the memo, the chairmen said they had observed with dismay that the APC Constitution had been “disregarded since the inception of the NWC, especially in the formation of ad-hoc committees, among others.”

    “This function, which constitutionally is the sole responsibility of the National Working Committee, has been reduced to the whims of the National Organising Secretary under the watch of the National Chairman,” they added.

    The zonal chairmen specifically raised issues about the finances of the party, saying “Article 14b (iii) of the party’s constitution on finances has been grossly abused since the inception of this body. The state of the financial affairs of the party is shrouded in secrecy and lacking in transparency, such that it makes it virtually impossible for members of the National Working Committee to authoritatively defend the various expenditure and incomes.”

    They alleged that the income and expenditure of the party has never been brought to the NWC for consideration and approval.

    On abandonment of the zones, the chairmen lamented that structures of the party other than the national executive were not allowed to function as envisaged by the party’s constitution.

    “Particularly, the Zonal Executive Committees have more often than not been bypassed by the National Chairman in many of the interventions at the state chapters without due regard to the grand norm of the party,” they said.

    The zonal chairmen also said “the continuous change of party structures or officers without due respect and/or recourse to the constitution of our great party is very rife,” describing such as scandalous and abnormal.

    According to them, “the frequency and brazenness with which the changes take place without due authorization from relevant organs of the party is intolerable. Kano, Kaduna, Gombe and Ondo chapters are critical examples.

    “Given this misnomer, the structures of the party in the affected jurisdictions have continuously been weakened.”

    The chairmen then demanded that the constitution of the party be adhered to in the remaining tenure of the NWC, saying all ad-hoc committees must be constituted as envisaged by the party constitution.

    They demanded that the National Financial Secretary of the party should immediately furnished the NWC with the revenue and expenditure profile of the party, adding that effort must be made to fund the zonal structures of the party.

    “The NEC-approved sharing formula of 50% to the National Secretariat, 40% to the states and 10% to the zones from all revenues accruable to the party must be implemented forthwith,” they added.

    They said that changes in the party structures at any level should be done as intended by the party’s constitution while also demanding that all earlier actions taken in this regard without constitutional backing be reversed.

    Efforts made to get Chief Oyegun’s reaction yesterday yielded no result as repeated calls made to his telephone went unanswered.

    However, some of the zonal chairmen contacted yestrerday said they were not aware of the letter.