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Tag: All Progressives Congress (APC)

  • Obanikoro finally joins APC, says ‘I’m on a mission’

    Obanikoro finally joins APC, says ‘I’m on a mission’

    A former Minister of State for Defence, Sen. Musiliu Obanikoro, on Saturday in Lagos finally dumped the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Obanikoro’s defection at his Lagos Island constituency ended months of speculations about the status of his political allegiance.

    There were earlier reports that he had settled his differences with the national leader of APC, Chief Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as a step to joining the ruling party.

    Though Obanikoro acknowledged reconciliation with Tinubu, he had neither denied nor confirmed plans to join his political mentor in APC.

    He, however, finally gave the hint of his defection during a television interview on Thursday.

    Obanikoro defected to the APC along with other PDP bigwigs in the state, including a former aide of former president Good luck Jonathan, Mrs Modupe Sasore.

    Others are a national officer of the PDP, Mr Jide Damazio, and another PDP chieftain, Chief Kola Balogun.

    They were received by chieftains of APC, including the state chairman, Chief Henry Ajomale; Alhaji Kashim Imam, Chief James Odunbaku as well as the Attorney General of Lagos State, Mr Adeniji Kazeem who represented Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode.

    Past and serving members of the National Assembly including Sen. Ganiyu Solomon, Sen. Gbenga Ashafa and Rep. Jide Jimoh were among APC bigwigs present.

    Presenting the APC flag to Obanikoro and others, Ajomale said the coming of the former minister and others meant the opposition was totally dead in the state.

    He described Obanikoro as politically experienced and sagacious, and said his joining the party would no doubt add to the electoral fortune of the party in the state.

    “We are happy to receive Obanikoro back in our fold. He was with us when we started the Alliance for Democracy (AD) but he decided to go the other way.

    “Thank God he has realised his mistake and he is back. We are indeed happy to get back this big fish, along with others.

    “Obanikoro is an asset and he will no doubt add value to our party,” he said.

    Obanikoro, in his speech, said he was happy to return to the fold of his age-long political associates after his long sojourn in the PDP.

    He said he defected because he couldn’t find fulfillment in the PDP and he joined the ruling party because he had a mission to render service on its platform.

    The ex-minister said his former party could not offer him the platform for the kind of service he wanted to render.

    “Today, I and others are not just joining the APC for joining sake, we are joining because we are on a mission.

    “I had joined the PDP a few years ago with the hope that certain things would be done right to enable me make the desired impact. That did not happen.

    “And now, Asiwaju Tinubu has taken leadership to another level, not only in the state, but at the national level.

    “So, my joining the APC is not by accident. It is to return to my people and seek a platform on which I can render service to my people, because leadership is about service and co-ordination of talents to achieve results.

    “We have looked everywhere, and the only party that offers that platform for service delivery is the APC.

    “For me, this is not really a defection; it is a home-coming, because in a way, this is my root. I am happy to return to my people; no place like home,” he said.

    Obanikoro praised the leadership style of Tinubu, which he said had ensured the development of the state.

    He thanked Tinubu for being magnanimous to accept him back in the fold after years of altercations between them.

    “I thank Tinubu for his magnanimity. I am here because he is generous and has a forgiving heart. If it were other leaders, they will say ‘God forbid’.

    “He has accepted me back despite all the issues between us, I am grateful to him,” Obanikoro said.

    The former minister said he we would do his best to add value to his new party.

    Also, Sasore and Balogun took turns to thank the party for allowing them into the fold.

    They said they could not find fulfillment in PDP hence, the decision to join APC.

    The duo promised to do their best to ensure APC progresses in the state.

    Imam, in his remark, said the party was happy to receive Obanikoro and others.

    He said the defection meant the party was the only party in the state, as it marked the end of PDP.

    The National Vice-Chairman of the APC (South West), Chief Puis Akinyelure, who represented Tinubu, said the party was glad with the home-coming of Obanikoro and others

    He said the defection meant the PDP was dead as Obanikoro was one of its pillars in the state.

    It was a carnival-like ceremony as party faithful danced and sang to receive Obanikoro and the others.

    A popular Fuji musician, Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, was on hand to thrill those present.

    NAN

  • You’ve made greatest mistake by dumping APC, el-Rufai tells Atiku 

    You’ve made greatest mistake by dumping APC, el-Rufai tells Atiku 

    Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufa’i on Friday criticised the former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar for dumping the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    He said that Atiku has made the greatest mistake made by the movement.

    El-Rufai also said that Atiku was an inconsequential candidate to wrestle power from President Muhammadu Buhari, whom the entire North has rallied behind for 2019.

    The governor spoke with State House journalists after observing the Friday Juma’at prayers at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    El Rufai said that the ex-Vice President was simply re-enacting his usual practice of cross carpeting aimlessly.

    According to him, Atiku would not be missed in any way and that he lacked the political clout to pull any of the APC governors to his fold.

    He said “Well, I won’t even say we were in the APC together. Some of us formed the APC, some of them joined because they thought that the APC was a platform for which they would contest election. But when they didn’t get the opportunity, they started looking around.

    “I have heard about what the former Vice President said about leaving the APC. We knew he was going to leave in December but he has left in November which is good because the earlier he leaves for where he belongs the better. He has changed political parties a few times, there is nothing surprising. Before the 2019 elections if situation changes and he thinks he can get the ticket in 2019 he will come back. That is what he has done a few times.

    On claims that Atiku was driven out of the party, he said “No one has driven him out of the party. The APC is an equal opportunity platform for everyone. He has in his statement of leaving the party made reference to the memo I wrote to Mr. President in September 2016, where I was calling on the President to reach out to party leaders that feel aggrieved and I mentioned him, the Asiwaju and many others.

    “The others are still in the APC because they believe in the direction of the party, they believe we have come to save the country from a very bad situation. But the former Vice President is always looking for an opportunity to contest. He is a serial contestant and we wish him luck.” he said

    On possibility of some members leaving with Atiku, he said “I don’t know about the loyalists in the APC that will go with him, but I want to assure you that there is no one governor in the APC that is going to go with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.

    “The only governor that he would think will go with him; the governor of Adamawa State has already endorsed President Buhari for the 2019 elections. And there are many governors I will not mention the number but a majority of the APC governors have already taken the position that the president should run for a second term in office.

    “And we are grateful to the Almighty God that the question marks about his health have been put to rest, he is getting better every day and we are confident that the way to preserve our party and preserve and advance the interest of Nigeria is for Mr. President to run for a second term. I’m curious to see which APC governor will go with Atiku.

    “As for party loyalists it depends on what you defend as loyalists. We will wait and see how that evolves. But as a governor I want to assure you that not one governor is going to leave the party to go with the former Vice President. That I am sure of. I can speak authoritatively about it because I’m in touch with my colleagues” he said.

    He said that Atiku will never be a threat to Buhari if they run for the Presidency in 2019.

    “He has never been and will never be a threat to President Buhari. Let me say this very clearly, and I have said this to the former Vice President in 2014 Dubai when we met because before joining the APC he sent for me. He told me of his intentions and I welcomed it because politics is a game of addition not subtraction. So the more you have the merrier.

    “However, I told him not to run for the presidency because I believe very strongly this is Buhari’s era. As long President Muhammadu Buhari is in politics I do not see any Nigerian from the northern part of the country that will be able to match him in popularity.

    “The people of the nineteen northern states and Nigeria have decided because of the President’s past history of Integrity and good governance they are committed to him. Anyone standing up to challenge him is wasting his time. God has decreed that this is Buhari’s time and we are waiting for the PDP to give Atiku Abubakar the ticket and we will face in on the field, but I have no doubt that I will not lose any sleep about it,” he stated.

     

     

  • New SGF addresses acrimony in government – APC

    New SGF addresses acrimony in government – APC

    The All Progressives Congress ( APC ) said the appointment of new Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF) had helped to address acrimony in government.
    The party made this known in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abudullahi, on Friday in Abuja.
    “Indeed, President Muhammadu Buhari has chosen a right man for the job; the era of acrimony that has slowed us down in the past is gone,’’ the party said.
    It commended the SGF, Mr Boss Mustapha, for its National Working Committee (NWC) members, adding that his earlier visit to the National Assembly had a positive impact.
    This, the party noted, had reflected in the way the national assembly had been handling some outstanding issues since after the visit.
    According to it, the SGF`s visit to the national assembly signified a new era in the relationship between the government and the party, and with other arms of government.
    It, therefore, urged the Mustapha to extend the interface to other government bodies.
    Mustapha was appointed as the new SGF by President Muhammadu Buhari on Oct. 30.
    He replaced Mr Babachair Lawal, who was sacked following allegation of fraud and abuse of office against him.

    Also read : Atiku resigns from APC

  • Oba of Benin makes historic visit to Abuja

    Oba of Benin makes historic visit to Abuja

    His Royal Majesty, Omo N, ‘Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolor, Oba Ewuare II- Oba of Benin, on Wednesday made an historic visit to Abuja after his coronation in October 2016.

    The Oba who arrived the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport at about 5:05p.m., was received by some Benin traditional chiefs, prominent Benin indigenes and friends.

    Chief Odigie Oyegun, Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), one of the Edo indigene at the Airport to receive the Monarch, said that the visit by the Oba was historic being his first after his coronation.

    “The Oba’s visit is bringing peace, hope to the country and change in the nation.

    “Everybody is here as you can see came to give him a rosy welcome. It is an historic occurrence, our new Oba, a unique Oba with a unique culture.

    “We also have a unique president in the person of Muhammadu Buhari with a unique way of doing things. A lot of good things will come out of this visit,’’he said.

    Similarly, Mr Johnson Agbonayinma, a member of the House of Representatives, said the Edo indigenes in Abuja are excited to welcome the Oba which he described as caring.

    “There is a saying that if you do not value what you have, somebody else will help you devalue it.

    “I value my traditional Institution and all I can do is to tell my Honourable colleagues, friends of Edo to let them know that we have a caring King.

    “I am happy to see the crowd that came to receive the Oba; I ask God to bless them and the chiefs as well.

    “This is to tell you that our Oba is one who deserves all the respect accorded to him without being sentimental.

    “It is a glorious day as his mission is to also show appreciation to all those who supported him during his coronation.

    “It will be an honour to understand that we have an Oba who cares about the unity of the country.

    Also Mr Dickson Omoregie, the President of Benin community in Abuja described the visit as a multi-dimensional as he would move from one place to another to appreciate those that supported him during his coronation.

    “That is why he is starting here in Abuja to visit his children, we are delighted to receive him.

    “When your daddy comes to visit you, you are so excited; It is a joyful day for us Edo people in Abuja.’’

    Also, Mr Osazuwa Imasuen described the Oba as a man of the people, a highly trained diplomat who knows the value of friendship.

    “We are glad to receive the Oba as he brings us peace and goodwill,’’he said.
    Traditional dancers from Benin Kingdom and Abuja thrilled the crowd who came to receive the Oba.

    NAN

  • Anambra Election: Obaseki congratulates Obiano

    Anambra Election: Obaseki congratulates Obiano

    The Governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has congratulated Chief Willie Obiano of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) on his re-election in the November 18 gubernatorial election in Anambra State.

    Obaseki said reports of the conduct of the Anambra election are heart-warming and reinforce the commitment of the All Progressives Congress to credible polls in Nigeria.

    “I salute the spirit of good sportsmanship demonstrated by the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the election, Mr. Tony Nwoye, for conceding defeat,” he said.

    “We are impressed with the process that produced the winner of the Anambra gubernatorial election and wish to thank President Muhammadu Buhari for his insistence on a free, fair and transparent election,” the governor added.

     

  • Okorocha congratulates Obiano over his re-election

    Okorocha congratulates Obiano over his re-election

    Gov. Rochas Okorocha of Imo has congratulated the candidate of All Progressives Grand Alliance ( APGA ) in the Nov. 18 Anambra governorship election, Gov. Willie Obiano, over his re-election.

    in the Nov. 18 Anambra governorship election, Gov. Willie Obiano, over his re-election.

    Okorocha gave the congratulatory message in a statement by  his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Sam Onwuemedo, on Monday in Owerri.

    The governor said that Obiano’s victory was too clear to be contested or questioned.

    He, therefore, advised candidates of other political parties who took part in the election to congratulate the winner and avoid going to court to question his victory.

    Okorocha, who is  also the Chairman, All Progressives Congress ( APC ) Governors’ Forum, expressed regret over the loss of his party in the election.

    He attributed the loss to internal wrangling and the lack of genuine commitment on the part of the party’s leadership in the state.

    He, however, expressed the hope that with the election, the future of APC in the South-East was bright.

    He said that before now, nobody would have thought that APC could do better in Anambra.

    The governor urged Nigerians to celebrate President Muhammadu Buhari and the APC led-government “for allowing level playing ground for all candidates.

    “The Anambra election shows that the APC has what it takes to strengthen the nation’s democracy.”

    Okorocha thanked the people of Anambra for the peaceful election and for not yielding to IPOB’s threats or listen to the group’s call for boycott.

    A total of 37 political parties presented candidates in the Nov. 18 Anambra governorship election.

    Some of the candidates were the incumbent, Gov. Willie Obiano, with his Deputy, Nkemakonam Okeke, who contested on the platform of APGA, while Oseloka Obazie of PDP had Chidi Onyemelukwe, a woman as his running mate.

    Tony Nwoye of APC had Dozie Arinze, a woman, as his running mate.

    NAN

  • Bello congratulates Obiano, lauds Buhari for good poll conduct

    Bello congratulates Obiano, lauds Buhari for good poll conduct

    Gov. Yahaya Bello of Kogi on Sunday congratulated Mr Willie Obiano on his re-election as the Governor of Anambra.

    He described Obiano’s re-election  as a ”well-deserved victory”.

    In a congratulatory message issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Petra Onyegbule, in Lokoja, Bello commended President Muhammadu Buhari for ensuring a level playing ground for all candidates in the election.

    He said that the president’s action was a proof by the APC-led Federal Government to ensure credible, free, fair and peaceful elections and respect for the rule of law under his leadership.

    “On behalf of the Government and good people of Kogi State, I congratulate the Governor of Anambra State, His Excellency, Mr. Willie Obiano, for a well-deserved victory.

    “I equally congratulate the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, on the peaceful, free and fair election in Anambra State, acceptable to all.

    “Ensuring a peaceful, free and fair election is a testament to the fact that President Buhari embodies and exemplifies the Change Mantra of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    “The voice of the people spoke loudly and it has resonated for all to hear. This is the singular most prominent feature of a democracy which allows people to choose their leader out of many contestants,” he said.

    Bello, however, applauded the candidate of APC, Mr Tony Nwoye, for putting up a good fight, and described him as “a winner through whom the APC has become entrenched in Anambra State.

    “As a people, we shall continue to consolidate on the gains we have made over the past 16 years as we break new progressive frontiers.”

    Obiano of APGA won the election with  234, 071 votes ahead of  APC who scored 98, 752 votes and Oseloka Obaze of PDP with 70, 293 votes.

    Thirty-six candidates contested the election.

    NAN

  • Ekiti 2018: Five PDP aspirants unite against Fayose’s deputy

    Ekiti 2018: Five PDP aspirants unite against Fayose’s deputy

    ….Insist Olusola’s imposition won’t stand

    Five governorship aspirants of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti State have resolved to work together and resist the alleged imposition of Deputy Governor Kolapo Olusola as the “sole candidate” for the 2018 polls.

    They insist that there must be a free, fair, credible and transparent primary election from where the party’s flag bearer for the 2018 governorship race will emerge.

    One of the aspirants, Mr. Owoseni Ajayi, the immediate past Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, disclosed this in Ado-Ekiti while speaking as a guest at the commissioning of the campaign office of a fellow aspirant, Ambassador Dare Bejide.

    Ajayi, who was one of the closest and most trusted aides of Fayose before falling apart after Olusola’s adoption, said imposition of governorship candidate could open way for the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) to grab power from PDP in the 2018 Ekiti poll.

    “All PDP aspirants are all working together; that is the reason why all of us should work together and I want to assure you that all aspirants in PDP minus the one that was adopted.

    All other aspirants, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, Senator Biodun Olujimi, Ambassador Dare Bejide, Bisi Omoyeni and I are all working together to ensure that there is no imposition of any candidate in PDP in this state.

    “To demonstrate the love among us, that is why I am here today to witness the commissioning of my friend’s campaign office and I believe that when I am going to do my own, I will also invite all of you to be there and you will equally be there.

    “Because when one of us becomes the governor under a peaceful, free and fair atmosphere, there will be no problem for our party members and there will no crisis in our state and it will not be possible for APC to defeat us.

    “Impunity, imposition of candidates, lawlessness and recklessness by those who supposed to know the rules in our party must stop. These were responsible for the loss of our party in the 2015 general elections.

    “We don’t want our state to be taken over by APC; we don’t want impunity, imposition and lawlessness in our party again and that is why we are demanding a free and fair primary.

    “We will ensure that there is no imposition in PDP, that is why we the aspirants, except the one purportedly adopted, are one and united and that is why I am here in solidarity with Bejide.”

    Ajayi urged the PDP national leadership to intervene in Ekiti and other state chapters so that the so that the party will not lose more leaders and members to other parties.

    He explained that the PDP is yet to recover from the 2015 loss in many states of the federation where party members defected to APC to win governorship and legislative seats.

    Ajayi added: “Some of our leaders because of the power they wielded imposed their will on the people during the 2015 general elections and the party paid dearly for it.

    “Former Plateau Governor Jonah Jang fielded his son-in-law as the governorship candidate while his predecessor, Joshua Dariye, sponsored Simon Lalong, our party member to contest on APC platform to win the governorship election.

    “This is despite the fact that PDP has the majority in the Plateau State House of Assembly but we lost the governorship to APC.

    “Also in Benue, former Governor Gabriel Suswam, imposed a candidate but our party member, Samuel Ortom, crossed over to APC to win the governorship election. We incurred these losses because of imposition.”

  • PDP still stuck in primitive, archaic governance style – Obaseki’s aide

    PDP still stuck in primitive, archaic governance style – Obaseki’s aide

    …says Edo has since moved on to Alaghodaro

     

    The Governor Godwin Obaseki-led administration is forward looking and has since moved on with result-oriented governance, backed by millions of discerning Edo people, the Special Adviser on Media and Communication Strategy, to the Edo State Governor, Mr Crusoe Osagie, has said.

    Mr Osagie who said this on Tuesday, explained that “unlike the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that is still stuck in primitive, archaic and medieval governance style, the Obaseki-led APC government has since moved on to Alaghodaro.”

    Alaghodaro which is a Benin word for progress was the thrust of the just-concluded investment summit which held from November 10-12, in Benin City and attracted global and local business leaders to the state.

    Commenting on the PDP’s appraisal of the summit, which received commendations from the international community, the federal government and other state governments, Osagie said: “The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) again demonstrated its lack of capacity to appreciate the new direction the Governor Godwin Obaseki-led administration is taking the state, with the opposition party’s consistent embarrassing comments on the well thought-out programmes of the All Progressives Congress (APC).”

    He noted that the very few people still left in the ragtag drowning PDP have shown that they are stuck with their medieval and archaic approach to governance, by attempting to tarnish the rising profile the state has earned with her lofty programmes, especially the Alaghodaro Investment Summit organised by the APC-led Edo State Government.

    “We wish that the PDP remnant will follow their former members who have evolved from stomach-seeking politics, have come to terms with the new people-oriented governance and have found a place in the APC. It is not surprising that to see that the feeble PDP remnants cannot see the benefits of an investment summit that assembled over 5,000 business leaders from across the world in Edo State to discuss the opportunities that abound in our state.”

    According to the governor’s spokesman, “these are companies that are investing billions of dollars in Edo State, including the chief executives of BUA Group whose $1billion 3million tonnes cement plant was inaugurated by the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo recently in Okpella, Edo State, the President of Dangote Group, that is kicking off a $1 billion cement factory in Okpella, to expand its cement production in Nigeria, Mahindra Group that is collaborating with the Edo State Government to build the N200billion Benin Industrial Park and Tolaram Group to mention a few.”

    He added that the PDP is wallowing in ignorance because “You cannot give what you do not have. The PDP clearly lacks the capacity to see the opportunities in the governor’s investment drive because of his profile as an investment banker. His dexterity is currently on display at the Edo Chemical and Fertiliser Company which was a drainpipe for the PDP to siphon state funds, but is now up and running and producing fertiliser to Edo farmers and Nigerians at large.”

    He expressed sympathy with the PDP ignorance and said that “our governor is open to sharing his ideas and knowledge and is particularly willing to teach the remnant PDP members, what it takes to deliver measurable, concrete and verifiable investments from business trips, unlike their widely reported globetrotting that pauperised our people when they held sway.”

    Osagie stressed that “It is rather unfortunate that the same PDP, which is the cause of all the mess that the APC government has been clearing in the past nine years in the state, is now begging the question by providing shelter for officials of the Edo State Traffic Management Agency (EDSTMA).”

    He further said “we have received the shelter without thanks to them because we know that the funds used in procuring those items are a fraction of our common patrimony which they plundered with reckless abandon. A dignifying act would be to bring back the looted billions so that the APC can fast-track the development of the state.

    “The PDP has always been known to thrive through the misrepresentation of facts and the telling of outright lies. But Edo people are much more sophisticated than the PDP and know that their claims of the state’s indebtedness are all lies and should be discountenanced.”

  • No crack in Buhari support groups, says Senator

    No crack in Buhari support groups, says Senator

    The Coordinator National Committee for Buhari Support Groups, Senator Abu Ibrahim, Monday dismissed insinuation of a crack in the groups.

    Senator Ibrahim, who represents Katsina South Senatorial District, also described as “insulting” the allusion that his committee was going round collect money from governors.

    He noted that the aim of his committee was to stimulate all Buhari support groups for a common purpose as was the case before the 2015 general elections.

    Ibrahim who is also Chairman, Senate Committee on Police Affairs, said that there were over 198 groups that worked for President Buhari before 2015 elections out of which about 23 had national spread.

    He said that the talk of a crack was the handiwork of political jobbers who wanted to create a non-existent crack.

    Insisting that there is nothing like crack in his group, the four time senator noted that the group condemning them is affiliated with the All Progressives Congress (APC) while they are not.

    On the stigmatization that the support group was moving round collecting money from governors, he noted that apart from Katsina Governor, Aminu Masari, who assisted them, the group has not received a dime from any other governor in the country.

    He said, “It is insulting to claim that I went out to collect money. I am a fourth time senator and I am too big to go round and be asking for money. It was only one governor who assisted us and that is Bello Masari of Katsina State.

    “When he saw what we were doing, he assisted us. That is the only person I know who gave us donations. If there is any governor who gave us money, let him speak up.

    “People are going round to collect money and they think we are like them. How can one retired ambassador tell me who has won elections four times that he is a better politician than me?

    “That is a bloody lie. These people are political jobbers. They are the ones going round and collecting money. They think we are doing the same thing and going into their market. We are not.”

    Asked to talks of a crack in the Buhari support groups Ibrahim said “First, I think there is a misconception. I have known Buhari for almost forty years. That is since my secondary school days. I have known him since he started playing politics. So, I know him personally. I know his political platform very well. After the 2015 elections, I went to the President and told him something.

    “I told him that he is the only most popular Nigerian to have won elections since the formation of Nigeria. Buhari won in almost every part of Nigeria.

    “From my understanding, there are thousands of support groups that aided his election. I told him that we should not allow them to dissipate.

    “I am giving you a brief history of a meeting I had with Buhari almost two years or over I think. So, he thought it was a good idea. We decided to determine those who are around and determined. He agreed. We went to all the 39 states of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

    “I first went to someone, but I will not mention his name. He gave me two people to work with. I told the two people that I needed them to go all over the states and determine these groups.

    “They took the names of all the existing Buhari support groups. Even some in Hausa were also compiled. When we finished, I took the list to Buhari. That was how we agreed that we should set up something like a committee to always talk to these support groups. That was how we came up with the name National Committee for Buhari Support Group.

    “When we started collating the names, the President fell sick. But we continued. We went to almost all the geopolitical zones. We also did something to showcase Buhari’s achievements and promises he has made during the campaign which he has fulfilled.

    “We did something on anti-corruption, insurgency and economy. This documentary was aired on television and radio stations. The essence of reactivating this group was because we felt we could use them to showcase the achievements of the government. It was this report that we went to submit to President Buhari that Friday. He appreciated it. We did not create anything new. We are helping the APC and not in contradiction with the party.

    Reminded that Buhari is a member of the APC, he snapped, “What about Kwankwaso? Is he not a member of APC? He is grooming to be a President. What about Atiku? Is he not also running for the same office? We are looking out for Buhari’s groups that ensured he won. We want to appreciate them. We want to utilise them and use them for government campaigns if need be. We have not discussed the issue of 2019 yet.”

    On whether the groups are being reactivated for 2019 elections he said, ”They are not. I have told you that these groups did not just start today. They worked for us in 2015 and we are only appreciating them now.

    “At the beginning of the administration, we thought it will be wise to appreciate the people who worked for us. There are over 198 groups. About 23 had national spread, while the rest were local. There is a misconception that this was done because of 2019. That assertion is wrong. As I have said, we ought to have done this earlier, but the President took ill and was down for about six months. That slowed it down, but we did not stop.”

    On the report that he has been tipped as a minister, Ibrahim said that nobody has told him of his nomination as a minister.

    He however added that every senator and member of House of Representatives is qualified to be minister “but nobody has told me anything.”