Tag: All Progressives Congress (APC)

  • APC set to welcome Akala, Folarin, Olaniyan, others in Oyo

    APC set to welcome Akala, Folarin, Olaniyan, others in Oyo

    All is set for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State to welcome former governor Adebayo Alao-Akala, former Senate Leader, Teslim Folarin, Engr Rauf Olaniyan and other top politicians from opposition parties to its fold on Saturday.

    In a statement by the party’s Public Relations Officer (APC), Olawale Sadare, the party said the top politicians will be received officially at a rally to be held at the historic Mapo Hall, Ibadan on Saturday.

    Other politicians to officially join the APC are former Deputy Governor, Alh. Taofeek Arapaja, of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), former Secretary to the State Government, Chief Ayodele Adigun of Accord party, and a member of House of Representatives, Hon. Segun Odebunmi, of the PDP.

    Others are Hon. Ayoola Makanjuola and Alhaji Rasaq Gbadegesin. They will lead their supporters to join the APC at the planned rally.

    The party described the defection as the mother of all defections in the politics of Oyo State.

    The party disclosed that some of the bigwigs had joined its fold since last year while others are just joining.

    The statement read in part: “With the caliber of active and experienced political players coming on board to reinvigorate our great Party ahead of the 2019 general election, it is pertinent to state here that the battle for the soul of the state to determine who takes over from the trail blazer, Sen. Abiola Ajimobi, would be fought and won only within the APC.

    “With all intents and purposes, we crave for a viable opposition as a necessary impetus for good governance and democracy growth in the Pacesetter State but what the combination of PDP, LP and Accord Party had offered in the last couple of years fell below the standard thereby necessitating the need for the ruling APC to activate its check and balance mechanism for the good of the process.

    “Apparently, the Sterling performance of Gov. Ajimobi in offering the last six years coupled with his exemplary leadership qualities must have appealed to the patriotic zeal in the new entrants who are coming in to strengthen the APC and thus put paid to irresponsible politics of opposition which some lazy bones and few unscrupulous elements still promote to actualize selfish goals.

    “For the sake record, Ibadan will witness another epoch-making political event similar to the one we held for President Muhammad Buhari during the build-up to the 2015 general election. This time again, Sen. Ajimobi and Chief Akin Oke (our state chairman) will be on hand to play host to Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Chief Bisi Akande, APC governors from other states among other dignitaries to welcome the defectors.

    “What this indicates is that the unrelenting activities of Gov. Ajimobi in relation to his reformation, restoration and transformation agenda for the state would get another boost as many active stakeholders are getting more involved while the dream of a brighter future for our dear state is becoming more realizable by the day.”

  • Why we dumped PDP for APC in Ondo

    Why we dumped PDP for APC in Ondo

    Several members of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo state on Tuesday dumped the party for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.

    The defectors were led into the APC by former Education Secretary of Akoko Southwest, Ware Olukayode.

    He said they were attracted to the APC by the developmental revolution of the Oluwarotimi Akeredolu led administration in Akoko.

    Olukayode stressed that they were particularly grateful to the governor on the ongoing Oka Akoko road rehabilitation.

    The defector, who explained that many lives have been lost to the road, noted that Akeredolu has shown that his government place premium on human lives.

    He said the PDP has become a shadow of itself, adding that it is a party which is no longer acceptable to the people of Akoko.

    Olukayode said “We have come to join the winning team. Akeredolu has consolidated on the popularity of the APC in Akoko.

    APC has been winning Akoko for a long time. It is because the party is deep rooted here. We want to join the rest of our people, PDP is no longer a place of abode us “.

    Receiving the defectors, the Association acting Chairman, Ade Adetimehin assured the new members of level playing ground.

    He charged them to keep faith with the party and support the development drive of Governor Akeredolu’s government.

    Adetimehin called on members of the party who were involved in anti- party activities during the last year gubernatorial election to retrace their step into the APC.

    He said they can only come back into the party by following the appropriate channel in their various wards.

  • Buhari rode to power on false promises – Balarabe Musa

    Buhari rode to power on false promises – Balarabe Musa

    Former Governor of the old Kaduna State, and National Chairman of Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Alhaji Abdulkadir Balarabe Musa on Monday took a swipe on the President Muhammadu Buhari led government and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), saying that, they rode to power on false and empty promises.

    Musa who took a critical look at the state of the nation, almost three years into President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration said, the APC, saddled with internal crisis, has nothing to offer Nigerians than hardship.

    Speaking at the 54th meeting of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of PRP, the elder statesman noted that none of the promises made by Buhari and APC before coming to power in 2015 had been fulfilled, “rather, hardship has overwhelmed the masses of this country”.

    The PRP leader said, since 2015 when the APC came to power, economy has remained comatose, unemployment has assumed critical proportion, insecurity among other issues have become life threatening and worrisome.

    Balarabe Musa however expressed belief that his party would remedy the situation if it comes to power, adding that, APC has worsen political environment in the country.

    In his words, “As you are all aware, our nation today remains in a very sorry state despite all the lofty promises and flowery speeches made by the ruling government of the All Progressive Congress (APC) at the inception of the Administration in 2015.

    “The economy remains comatose, and in some sectors, particularly in industry and commerce, it is even getting worse.

    “Monetary and fiscal management has continued to lack coherence and consistency, or even predictability and strategic planning.

    “Unemployment, particularly amongst the youth, who constitute the bulk of our population, has assumed critical proportions and is now, for all practical purposes, a national emergency.

    “Yet, this APC Administration, which rode to power on the back of false promises to this generation of hapless young men and women, seems to have no answers to this ticking time bomb beyond slogans such as N-Power.

    “In fact, instead of creating jobs, the Administration is busy cutting existing ones in the name of ‘rightsizing’ or ‘downsizing’.

    “This government, both at the centre and in the States that it controls, has proved that it has little or nothing else to provide Nigerians other than further mass impoverishment, frustration and hardships.

    “If we turn to the security front, the same sad picture confronts us. Perhaps, President Muhammadu Buhari’s greatest appeal for many in 2015 was the belief that he was capable of dealing a death blow to the insurgency, particularly as manifested by Boko Haram.

    “In these almost three years that the APC has been in power, the reality has been otherwise.

    “Yes, the Boko Haram camps in the Sambisa forest may have been wiped out, but the security menace that the group poses continues to manifest, with suicide bombs exploding almost on a weekly basis, particularly in the North Eastern parts of the country.

    “But apart from the Boko Haram insurgency, others have emerged in different parts of the country.

    “Recently, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) unleashed mayhem in the South East. Similarly, the militants in the Niger Delta are yet to sheath their swords.

    “And even more ominous is the threat to public safety and the security of lives and property posed by the marauding gangs of cattle rustlers, killer herdsmen and armed kidnappers.

    “We ask, where is the security promised Nigerians by this APC administration?.

    “In so far as the political environment is concerned, again the story is a sad one. Lacking any internal cohesion within itself, the APC administration has only spawned and promoted institutional political decay in the country.

    “In the name of an anti-corruption campaign, the government has been consistently assaulting due process and the rule of law.

    “Court orders are flagrantly disobeyed by the very institutions that should enforce them.

    “Basic democratic rights are being cynically abused. While talking glibly about fighting corruption, the government shamelessly looks askance where corruption is exposed within its own very ranks, closets and cocoons”.

    Musa said the state of the nation is sad because things do not have to be so sad given the natural and human endowments of the country.

    He however appealed to the masses to endure the challenges, saying that PRP will be their last hope if voted into power to build a strong political, social and economic platform for the country.

  • Kidnappers free Senator Arise after six days in captivity

    Kidnappers free Senator Arise after six days in captivity

    After about six days in the kidnappers’ den, former Chairman of Senate Committee on Privatization, Senator Ayo Arise, has regained freedom.

    Arise was reportedly dropped at Ibillo town in Akoko-Edo Local Government Area of Edo State by his captors.

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirant in Ekiti State was released unhurt Friday evening.

    Although details of his release were sketchy at the time of filing this report, it was not clear whether any ransom was paid.

    Arise was abducted at about 7.00 pm on Sunday at a location between Okene and Lokoja in Kog State while on his way to Abuja.

    His abductors later contacted family members and associates and demanded a ransom of N80 million.

    A childhood friend and old schoolmate, Hon. Funminiyi Afuye, confirmed the release of Arise to The Nation around 8.00 pm on Friday.

    Afuye said: “I spoke with him (Arise) after his release and he told me that he was dropped inside a bush in Ibillo after they had trekked long distances.

    “He said the kidnappers kept changing locations after he was kidnapped on Sunday so that they won’t be tracked down by security agencies.”

    A Facebook post Friday night by Arise’s political followers read: “We the entire camp of Senator Ayo Arise wish to appreciate the general public for your uncommon show of love and kindness during our trying times.

    “We appreciate your steadfastness and we are grateful for your prayers. We thank you for your brotherly concern. Senator Ayo Arise is back.”

    Arise represented Ekiti North Senatorial District in the upper Chamber between June 2007 and June 2011.

  • Ogboru vows to end PPD Rule in Delta

    Ogboru vows to end PPD Rule in Delta

    A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta state, Chief Great Ogboru has vowed to put an end to the dominance of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the state and deliver the state to the APC in 2019.

    Ogboru who said he was going to run for the governorship ticket of the APC in 2019 said if given the ticket by the party, he was capable of displacing incumbent governor, Ifeanyi Okowa and give President Muhammadu Buhari 75 percent of votes at the Presidential election.

    Speaking when he visited the Director General of the Buhari Support Group Centre, BSGC, Alhaji Umaru Dembo in Abuja, Ogboru said it is evident that the PDP, had always rigged elections in the State since 1999, and vowed to put a stop to it in 2019 when he hoped to contest on the platform of the ruling APC for the State Governor’s office.

    He said “We must thank God that president Muhammadu Buhari has come to sanitize the nation and put an end to impunity which the PDP institutionalized since 1999 when it came to power”.

    He assured that he was going to rally support of his supporters that formed the bulk of the Labour Party LP, and the Democratic People’s Part, DPP, to coalesce on the platform of the APC to rid Delta State of the PDP, in 2019, saying “I can claim that with the huge support base that we enjoy in Delta, we can deliver more than 75% votes to President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019.”

    Responding, Alhaji Dembo who is a former minister of state petroleum, commended him for his foresight in joining the APC and assured him of the support and cooperation of the centre in the struggle to secure the party’s nomination ticket and go on to win the gubernatorial election in Delta in 2019.

    The former minister further assured his visitors that with President Buhari’s democratic credentials, and accomplishments within the last two years of the APC’s administration, Nigerians would readily embrace him and those who associate with his vision as leaders they can trust.

  • Atiku meets Makarfi, urges other defectors to return to PDP

    Atiku meets Makarfi, urges other defectors to return to PDP

    Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar Tuesday called on other politicians that dumped the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for the All Progressives Congress (APC) to return to the PDP.

    Atiku was received at the party’s Abuja secretariat by the chairman of the Caretaker Committee of the PDP, Senator Ahmed Makarfi at 12 pm.

    The former Vice President said it’s only by their returning to the PDP that he and other defectors could build a stronger and more united PDP that can regain power in 2019.

    Addressing Makarfi, Atiku said, “All what I have come to do today is to come and show my face. Many people have read in the media that I have returned home. This is home.

    “Let me pay tribute to past leadership of this great party wherever they may be and to call upon them to please return home as I have done.

    “It is only by their returning home that we will build a stronger, more united party that can again return to government and continue to deliver the dividends of democracy.

    “I can bet you the records we have achieved so far in governance; no government has yet even done 50 percent of what we have achieved in government, not to talk of equaling our performance in government”.

    “Over the years, like any or every human organisation, PDP has faced its challenges. But I want to pay tribute to those who have stayed steadfast through thick and thin to see us through to this point.

    “Now that we have learnt our lessons, I hope that we will be guided by the lessons we have learnt. And that is to make sure that we build an all-inclusive party, where every part of this country will have a sense of belonging and sense of participation”

    Atiku commended the leadership of the PDP for keeping the party united despite many challenges and assured of his support and cooperation at all times.

    He recalled that the PDP was founded on the principles of democracy, good governance, unity of the country and the prosperity of its people.

    His return to the party, he said, was to help continue with the work of reforming and re-branding of the party, adding that the party must avoid tendencies that breed conflicts in the party.

    “To achieve all these, there must be sacrifices, understanding and compromises in the process of achieving that. And that is what I speak to members to imbibe. But as you know, one thing that I will never compromise is the internal democracy process in a given political party. And I hope we all must have learnt our lessons.

    “Mr Chairman, I want to congratulate you for a wonderful work which you have been doing to redeem the image of this party, to rebrand it and return it to its original form. I want to assure you of my support and cooperation at all times, to make sure that these objectives are achieved by you and subsequently by your successors”.

    Atiku had, last week, announced his resignation from the APC where he and others had defected to in 2014 owing to disagreements with the then President Goodluck Jonathan.

    Responding, Makarfi said Atiku has opened the flood gates and that the party expects more high profile returnees and new entrants into the PDP in the days ahead.

    “So PDP must be prepared for this, and be ready to reconcile and reintegrate in such a way and manner that everybody will be treated and given a level playing field to purse his or her personal aspiration. That is what PDP must stand for if it has to survive.

    The party chair denied the existence of any secret deal with Atiku for him to return to the party, adding that the ex-Vice President isn’t one to go for secret deals.

    “You have returned in good time and you should continue to contribute in this reinvention, remodeling of our party so that come 2019, we can reclaim what we can claim as ours. Because we still remain the only true Democratic Party in the true sense of the word.

    “We thank you for coming before the convention so that you can contribute to what we have started going forward. We will continue to consult you.

    “You will also help us reinvent the vehicle that will take us to Aso rock in 2019, we are not just targeting Aso Rock, we are targeting the federal legislature, the states; both the executive and legislature. We are targeting the local governments.

    “We want to sweep elections all across the country. As a united party, we have the capacity and we have the ability to do so,” Makarfi said.

     

  • Ekweremadu hails Atiku’s return to PDP

    Ekweremadu hails Atiku’s return to PDP

    The Deputy President of the Senate, Mr Ike Ekweremadu, has described the return of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to the Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP ) as a welcomed development.

    Ekeremadu, according to a statement by his Special Adviser on Media, Mr Uche Anichukwu, on Sunday, was reacting to the defection of the former vice president from the All Progressives Congress ( APC ) to the PDP.

    He said that the move had rekindled hope not only for the party, but the nation’s democracy.

    “I urge all former PDP faithful who left for various reasons as well as other progressive-minded Nigerians to emulate Alhaji Atiku.

    ”They should reunite under the umbrella to salvage the nation because I see a new and better Nigeria coming in 2019.

    “I see a country where corruption will be eradicated, a nation that will be a pride to Africa and admiration of the international community.

    ”I see a nation where no man will be oppressed, intimidated, persecuted or sidelined on account of ethnicity, religion or political persuasion.

    ”No amount of desperation will stop the will of God for Nigeria in 2019,” he said.

    NAN

    Read Also: PDP convention: Atiku backs Adeniran for chairman

     

  • Atiku ‘s defection from APC, UNILORIN fake admission list dominate Google search

    Atiku ‘s defection from APC, UNILORIN fake admission list dominate Google search

    The defection of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar from the All Progressives Congress ( APC ) and the University of Ilorin fake admission list dominated searches on the internet search engine, Google, this week.

    Mr Taiwo Kola-Ogunlade, Google’s Communications and Public Affairs Manager, Anglophone West Africa, disclosed this in a dispatch on Thursday in Lagos.

    According to him, this week’s top trending search terms on Google Nigeria were dominated by both foreign and national new items.

    “Abubakar, on Tuesday resigned from the ruling APC and plans to seek the opposition Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP ) presidential ticket to run for President in 2019.

    “In his statement of resignation, he cited maltreatment by the party and the failure of the party to live up to the expectation of Nigerian youth as one of the major reasons for his resignation.

    “Interested Nigerians raced to Google search to read his full statement of resignation,’’ Kola-Ogunlade said.

    The Google manager said that the University of Ilorin came on the search light when a fake admission list was circulated on the social media.

    “The management of UniIlorin has urged candidates seeking admission into the institution for the 2017/2018 academic session to patiently wait for the release of the authentic admission list by the Institution.

    “The university in a statement on Tuesday said that its attention had been drawn to a fake admissions list currently circulating on social media, and urged students not to fall prey to admission fraudsters.

    “The institution has directed students to check their Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board ( JAMB ) portal for admissions’ updates.

    “Concerned students raced to Google to search for more information about the anticipated admissions list,’’ he said.

    Kola-Ogunlade said that the rhythm and blues singer, Bankole Wellington and wife, Nollywood actress, Adesua Etomi trended when Banky W mistakenly posted picture of his naked wife on social media.

    “On Nov. 25, R&B singer, Banky W and Nollywood actress, Etomi tied the knot in a ceremony held in Cape Town, South Africa.

    “A day after, Banky W wanted to give a shout-out to his fans, by showing them their honeymoon lodge and Zebra right outside his bedroom window but, unknown to him he posted an image on social media which had his naked wife in the background.

    “The image went viral before the mistake was noticed. Banky W deleting the image has not stopped fans from searching for more details, making ‘Banky W’ a top trending search term on Google,’’ he said.

    On the international scene, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle engagement got people’s attention online.

    “The Prince of Wales, Charles announced the engagement of his second son, Prince Harry to his American girlfriend, actress Meghan Markle on Monday at Kensington Palace.

    “The happy couple who will tie the knot by spring next year granted their first interview as an engaged couple to the BBC, where Prince Harry described how he proposed to Meghan.

    “Since the announcement, controversy has arisen about Meghan’s background, which made her name a top trending search term on Google this week,’’ he said.

    Kola-Ogunlade said that the Brazilian professional footballer, Robson de Souza, commonly known as Robinho, was sentenced to nine years in prison after being found guilty of gang rape.

    He said that the Brazilian striker was sentenced by a court in Milan for being one of a six-people involved in the assault of a 22-year-old woman at a Milanese nightclub in 2013.

    Kola-Ogunlade said that Robinho’s current club, Atletico Mineiro, had declined to comment on the sentence, stating they would only speak through the team’s lawyers, if necessary.

    The news of Robinho’s sentence has made his name a top trending search term on Google, he said.

    Google Trends launched in May 2006, allows one to see how popular, search terms and its demography have been over time on Google.

    NAN

  • APC S/Africa lauds FG`s decision to return Nigerians from Libya

    APC S/Africa lauds FG`s decision to return Nigerians from Libya

    The All Progressives Congress ( APC ), South Africa chapter has commended the Federal Government for its decision to evacuate hundreds of Nigerians migrants stranded in Libya.

    President Muhammadu Buhari, at the European Union-African Union summit in Ivory Coast, said that government would ensure that stranded Nigerians in Libya are brought home safely.

    The government said that 242 Nigerians had returned home on Tuesday while more than 4,000 others stranded in Libya have been safely brought back this year.

    Mr Abiodun Oguntuase, Coordinator of the APC in South Africa, spoke on the telephone from Johannesburg, on Thursday that government`s move was a step in the right direction.

    “The APC South Africa chapter commends President Buhari for the action he took in ensuring that stranded Nigerians in Libya are brought home safely.

    “ It is a welcome development aimed at saving the lives of our people who are unable to return home. It shows also that government is pro-active on the welfare of Nigerians at home and in the diaspora,” he said.

    Oguntuase said that the South Africa chapter of the party was in support of major decisions taken by the Federal government, especially, the fight against corruption.

    According to him, the government has shown the zeal and determination to fight corruption in the country.

    “We are happy that the international community has seen government`s desire to fight corruption.

    “For the first time in our country, a government is out to win the war against corruption.

    “We appeal to Nigerians to support the federal government achieve this great objective and our country will reap the benefits,” the coordinator said.

    NAN

  • I won’t follow Atiku ‘s footsteps, says Bindow

    I won’t follow Atiku ‘s footsteps, says Bindow

    Adamawa State Governor, Jubrilla Bindow on Tuesday said that he has no plans to quit the All Progressives Congress (APC) like the former President Atiku Abubakar.

    Atiku, who hails from Adamawa State, last Friday dumped the APC.

    Speaking with State House correspondents after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, he said that he would remain in the ruling party.

    According to him, Atiku’s movement would not affect the electoral fortune of the state.

    He also said that Atiku is mature enough to take any political decision he likes.

    He said “Let me talk about Atiku first before myself. The former vice president is more than matured enough to decide whatever he wants to decide for himself.

    As far as I am concerned, I am one of the founding fathers of APC.

    “When I was in the Senate, we were the ones, alongside the current Senate President that worked very hard to ensure that all members of the National Assembly; that we agreed to move to APC, so, I cannot see any reason why, today, that the House I built, that I will leave. So I am in APC for the rest of my life, period.”

    Asked to speak on his personal relationship with Atiku, he said: “Not only Waziri, every elder in Adamawa state, as far as I am concerned, I regard them as my parents or elders. So, Waziri remains somebody I respect as a father and the same with any other elder in the state.

    On his support Buhari’s candidature, he said “Yes I was fortunate enough, very rare opportunity to be the first governor to do that for our president. As far as we, the people of the north east are concerned, we will remain loyal to our president who is highly committed to the fight against insurgency. We will remain loyal to our president.

    Asked if he was saying that Atiku was on his own, he said “I have told you, he is more than matured enough. He is an eminent personality, a former vice president and so will be able to decide what he wants to do.

    On if Atiku’s movement would have a political implication in the state, he said “Well, APC is strong, we have 25 members in the state assembly, 23, in fact, 24 now because one of them have moved to the APC, so, 24 out of 25 members in the House of Assembly are APC. The three Senators from the state are APC, even the House of Reps, including Adamu Kamale who recently moved to the APC. So we are strong and we will continue to be strong.”

    On the purpose of his visit to the Villa, he said “I came to brief Mr. President on the security situation in Adamawa state with regards to what happened a couple of days ago.”

    Read Also: Mubi blast: Bindow urges residents to be security conscious