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Tag: All Progressives Congress

  • I believe in Buhari’s ideology – Kwara governorship aspirant

    Former deputy national chairman of the defunct Congress for Progressives Change (CPC) and associate of President Muhammadu Buhari, Saliu Mustapha on Monday said he remains in the All Progressives Congress (APC) as he believes in the leadership style of the president.

    Mallam Mustapha who is aspiring to contest the 2019 governorship election in Kwara state under the platform of the APC added that he shared the same ideological conviction with President Buhari, adding that “I have always believe in his political ideology.”

    Mallam Mustapha said this in Ilorin, the state capital at his formal declaration for the 2019 governorship election in the state.

    Said he: “Indeed, today is a milestone in my life, especially in my political sojourn. As an astute politician with vast experience of the political situation in our dear country, I have always shared the ideological conviction of President Muhammadu Buhari and I have always believed in his political ideology. We started way back APP that later metamorphosed into ANPP.

    “We got to a stage where we formed our own party, CPC through which I became the Deputy National Chairman. I was part and parcel of what we called APC today, how the merger came about and after the merger. We had people, who migrated to the party from the new PDP and today they have left and I still remain in APC. This alone is a testament to the fact that I am a committed member of the All Progressives Congress.

    Read Also: 2019: Niger Delta militants endorse Buhari

    “Some of us believe in our independence. We cannot just be seen jumping around, because our own politics is based on principles and not people who migrate from one place to the other. We have an address and we don’t intend to change address every minute. Therefore, let us look at what is before us now; see how we can take Kwara to the next level and how we can fix Kwara to make it a better society for me, you, our families and everybody.

    “However, fixing a-58 year old Kwara has been a major pre-occupation that has remained incontrovertible. Up till this moment, it is still baffling that the lofty vision of the founding fathers of our darling state of harmony is yet to be achieved; this is in spite of resources available in quantum. Without sounding hyperbolical, the state has not been managed to harnest its potential compared to other state.

    “It is against this background that we have critically and holistically assessed our situation with the belief that all hope is not lost, hence the need to let us collectively fix Kwara come 2019.”

  • Dickson arming militants against innocent Bayelsans – Lokpobiri

    Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development and Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa State, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri has accused the state Governor, Seriake Dickson of arming a group militants who are used to unleash terror on innocent citizens of the state who are opposed to his government.

    In a statement by his Media aide, George Obi, the Minister said it was unfortunate that the Governor has not been able to live by the oath of his office to protect citizens of the state, but would turn around to blame APC leaders for the insecurity in the state.

    The Minister alleged that after receiving over N1.2 trillion from the federation account, the Governor has borrowed more than N800 billion as well as other internally generated revenue from the state under the present administration without nothing serious to show for it.

    The statement reads: “The attention of the Minister of State, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has been drawn to a statement credited to the Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson blaming President Muhammad Buhari for allowing the Minister and the former Bayelsa State Governor, Chief Timipre Sylva to undermine security in the state.

    “The governor also alleged that President Buhari’s silence and inaction had emboldened Sylva and Lokpobiri to continually cause insecurity and instability in Bayelsa.

    “Dickson was also quoted as expressing shock that the President has failed to take any action against the All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders and their cohorts who allegedly cause mayhem in the state despite making several reports and complaints to him and the security agencies.

    “It is important to remind the governor that the honorable minister expends his valuable time supporting the President to deliver on the dividends of the electoral covenants the present administration has with the Nigerian people, and therefore, does not have the luxury of time to meddle with the politics of Bayelsa State.

    Read Also: ‘Dickson after me for refusing to join PDP’

    “As a result of this, the immediate reaction of the honorable minister is as usual, to dismiss such allegations as one of those baseless and unfounded rantings by a drowning governor who has no explanations to justify his continued lack of performance in office.

    “However, because what is at stake here is the life of innocent Bayelsa citizens and in order not to allow the governor create the wrong impressions in the minds of the impoverished and suffering people of the state, the minister is compelled to dignify His Excellency with a response.

    “The minister is shocked that a governor who was elected, primarily to ensure the protection of the lives and properties of the people is not ashamed that under his very watch, and with his active connivance, political thugs and state-bred miscreants are having field days, snuffing out the lives of innocent Bayelsans while the governor is busy playing blame game and politics with such a serious and heinous acts.

    “The minister is sad that never in the history of the state has there been such a wide spread disaffection, frustration, anger and poverty among the people. In the opinion of the minister, the reason why Bayelsa State ranks very high as one of the most insecure states in the country is because of the pervading corruption and wastes that has become the hallmark of the Dickson administration.

    “This is a state, which has received over N1.2 trillion from the federation account and has borrowed more than N800 billion as well as other internally generated revenue from the state under the present administration without nothing serious to show for it.

    “Unfortunately, the governor has cashed in on this pervading poverty and frustration to recruit willing army of youths as thugs to terrorize, maim and kill members of the opposition All Progressive Congress (APC) who challenge his style of dysfunctional governance.

    “We are aware of the recent meeting that was held in the governor’s country home, Toru-Orua, Sagbama Local Government Area of the State, with this same group of militants who were used by him to unleash terror in the state during the December, 2015 elections.

    “Regrettably, it is this same army of killers and loyal security state operatives that the governor recently deployed in the Amassoma community of the state, to decimate the lives of eleven innocent citizens of the community whose only sin was protesting the arbitrary sack of thousands of Bayelsa State workers by Dickson without any justifiable reasons.

    “It is on record that under the watch of the governor, and indeed, under his directives and right in front of the Government House, Yenegoa, these same thugs and state sponsored security agents unleashed assault and terror on some elderly and senior citizens of the state, again, whose only sin was protesting their unpaid five months pensions. How low can a governor sink?

    “Indeed, under the administration of governor Dickson, there is an unwritten state policy to deliberately silence the opposition and those who raise their voices against the high-handed and mis-governance of the regime.

    “Pitiably, this is a governor who claims to have built a world class health facility in the state, yet, the people are daily dying from the most common forms of ailments and preventable diseases, while himself and his cronies continually wastes huge state resources jetting out abroad to seek healthcare support.

    “It is also regrettable that the governor has failed to live up to the dictates of his exalted office as father to all, but rather has, through his warped policies and deliberate actions, continued to fan the embers of disunity among the people. While unemployment pervades in the state, all that he does is to go about hunting his political opponents and sacking people from the state civil service.

    “Unfortunately, while the people of Bayelsa continue to wallow in poverty and want, the governor continues to gallivant across the federation, supposedly on a national assignment, to reconcile members of the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and wasting the needed and scarce resources of the state to fan his ego.

    “It is the advice of the honourable minister that instead of busying himself on irrelevant acts of shadow-chasing of perceived political opponents, the governor should put on his thinking cap and embark on laudable programmes that would help create wealth and lift the largely impoverished people of Bayelsa State from the pangs of poverty and want.

    “Whether he likes it or not, there will be no hiding place for governor Dickson to account for the multiplicity of the lives of innocent Bayelsans he has cruelly destroyed, including the huge resources of the State he has wasted without records.”

  • 2019: APC must field popular candidates – Olofin

    A House of Representatives Aspirant and Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress APC in Ekiti State, Hon Sola Olofin, has said the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) won’t make any impact in the 2019 general elections in the State, saying the party’s popularity has waned with its defeat in the July 14 governorship election.

    Olofin, who is questing to represent Ado /Irepodun/Ifelodun Federal Constituency in Ekiti Central Senatorial District added that the defeat suffered by Governor Ayodele Fayose and the party’s governorship candidate, Prof Kolapo Olusola, in the recent election has made the party more vulnerable to defeat in 2019.

    The Ado Ekiti born politician also appealed to the leadership of the party to consider party loyalty and consistency of aspirants to field candidates for the 2019 State and federal legislative elections, saying this would help in ensuring that members become more committed to serve the party.

    In a chat with journalists in Ado Ekiti on Tuesday on the 2019 general elections and the stand of the party, Olofin said, though, over 15 candidates are gunning for the House of Representatives in Ekiti Central Federal constituency I, insisting that he remains the best among the contenders in terms of loyalty and consistency.

    According to Olofin, Fayose no longer pose any threat to APC having suffered defeat in the July 14 election, in spite of his consistent boasts that he remains invincible and indomitable in Ekiti, advising that this should not form a basis for his party to take people for granted in the choice of candidates.

    “With the mood in Ekiti now, APC stands a good chance of clinching all the 26 House of Assembly, Nine House of Representatives and three senate seats in Ekiti. The PDP has not recovered from the shock of the July 14 governorship election, so I don’t see it posing any serious challenge provided our party fields popular and acceptable candidates.

    “Ekiti electorate are sophisticated people, they go for a candidate they can access in election and what they believe he could offer in terms of democratic dividends, they don’t vote by emotion and that is why our party should get good and acceptable candidates for these coming elections.

    “The July 14 governorship election was won because our candidate, Dr. Kayode Fayemi was not only popular but acceptable to the generality of Ekiti people. His performance in his first term actually convinced the people that the choice they made in June 21, 2014 governorship election that produced Governor Fayose, was a wrong one.

    “It marvels our people that Governor Fayose could only undertake two or three projects in Ado and Ikere Ekiti for four years, while Dr. Fayemi did a minimum of three projects in each of the 133 towns and villages in four years.

    “So, I want to say that APC has a good chance in the 2019 elections in Ekiti but this will also be bolstered by ensuring that the choice of the people is allowed to prevail in the primaries, because the people own the sovereignty”, he stated.

    Olofin, an Information, Communication and Technology(ICT) expert, promised to coalesce efforts with Fayemi as a governor to upgrade the knowledge of Ekiti youths in ICT through training and exposure to modern computer expertise that can guarantee career progression.

    The APC Chieftain added that he would also strive hard to attract federal presence to Ekiti in the area of agriculture, where the state has a comparative advantage.

    If elected as a federal legislature, Olofin said apart from giving effective and efficient representation through contributions to debates on the floor of the House and sponsoring landmarks bills that will palliate the people’s sufferings, his main focus would be to fight poverty through robust empowerment programmes and create jobs for the youths.

    “The world is now going digital. We are in the world of ICT and only those that are savvy will be able to operate under a 21st century economy. So, I will work hard with the state government to improve our youth’s knowledge in ICT.

    “We have to expose them to modern technology that can guarantee good earnings and this I will achieve by building ICT centres in some wards across the constituency for free training and where you can get access to internet”.

    Olofin appealed to the party’s leaders to finetune arrangements for the conduct of free and credible primaries that will foster unity, rather than the one that will create crisis that can elicit protest votes from electorate.

    “I am at home with Direct, Indirect or consensus options provided the right things are done. We shouldn’t do it in a shoddy manner that can create crisis. We must not Allow the July 14 victory to go into our heads or to make us exhibit pride that can make voters to revolt against us.

    “That is why it is necessary for APC to be transparent in whatever option it adopts, so that we can be on the same page with Ekiti voters, who will definitely take the final decision”, he counseled

  • Delta: Emerhor Challenges Omo-Agege to Direct APC Primary

    Delta’s All Progressives’ Congress (APC) leadership tussle may be gaining momentum, as leader of the party in the state, Olorogun Otega Emerhor, has set out a challenge to Delta Central Senator, Barr. Ovie Omo-Agege, to contest for the party’s senatorial ticket through a direct primary.

    This was revealed in a statement issued to media aide to Olorogun Emerhor, Mr. Abraham Orotomah, on Saturday.The statement also accused the incumbent senator of verbally assaulting Urhobo elders and chiefs for persuading and buying the party’s chieftain, Emerhor, the senatorial ticket to enable him contest come 2019.

    Wondering when Omo-Agege became a diehard supporter of President Muhammadu Buhari, given his association with former president Goodluck Jonathan, it penned Omo-Agege as playing a “con game” by calling his political superior “anti-Buhari”, assuring that Emerhor’s bid to wrest the senate seat from him will not waver.

    Further noting the Senator’s role in fast-tracking the programmes of the president, the statement said this however does not make him sole supporter of the APC in the state.

    Parts of the statement read thus: “Today, Omo-Agege has the fawning temerity to describe Olorogun Emerhor and the growing sea of Mr. President’s supporters in Delta as anti Buhari, simply because he thinks this is how to hoodwink Abuja and get an automatic ticket back to the Red Chamber.

    “But it would not work because President Buhari and his team are far more sophisticated and politically discerning than Omo-Agege and his ilk.

    Read Also: ‘Okowa has done well in Itsekiri land, Delta’

    “Olorogun Emerhor hereby challenges Senator Omo-Agege to a contest for the APC senatorial ticket through a free and fair direct primary. Let Senator Omo-Agege avail himself of this opportunity to prove that he can win in a transparent internal democratic contest within the party, rather than run around Abuja seeking an automatic ticket through indirect primaries.

    “Olorogun Emerhor is not moved by threats of fire and fury. Omo-Agege should reserve that, if he may, for our common foe, PDP, who Olorogun Emerhor prays Omo-Agege is truly interested in dislodging from Delta State, given his previous relationship with them as SSG and executive assistant to a PDP governor.

    “For now, it will suffice for Senator Omo-Agege to climb down from his arrogant high horse and test his acceptance with Delta Central APC followers in the upcoming senatorial direct primaries”, the statement said.

  • Imo 2019: Nwosu tipped for APC ticket

    …as Madumere, Uzodinma, Eche others weigh option

     

    The issue of who gets the governorship ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Imo State has dominated political debates and discussions in recent times, especially when it has become obvious that the party will retain power in the state in 2019.

    Political gladiators and aspirants have been forging alliances and wooing forces within the party to ensure that they carry the day.

    Those contesting the party’s governorship ticket include, former Chief of Staff to the State Governor, Ugwumba Uche Nwosu, former Secretary to the State Government, George Eche, Senator Hope Uzodinma, former Deputy Governor, Eze Madumere, Engr. Chucks Ololo and Sir Jude Ejiogu.

    But Nwosu has been tipped as the aspirant that will likely clinch the party’s ticket ahead of the party primaries, having the uppermost control of the APC delegates.

    Another factor that gave the youthful former Chief of Staff the edge over other aspirants, is the unflinching backing of the state governor, Rochas Okorocha, who has severally endorsed him as his preferred successor.

    Aside from the governor’s support, Nwosu has firm control of the structure of the party in the state, being instrumental in the victory of the APC faction that was inaugurated after the contentious party primaries.

    Already, the State Executive Committee of the party, has adopted indirect primary as the mode to elect the party’s candidates, which further places Nwosu in overwhelming advantage over other contenders.

    More so the coast became clearer for the former Chief of Staff, after his fiercest opponent and leader of the Imo APC Coalition Group, which was vehemently opposed to his ambition, Senator Ifeanyi Ararume, defected to the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) after losing out in the APC congress.

    Read Also: Gunmen kill Police Sergeant in Imo

    The Nation also gathered that most of those that bought and submitted the APC governorship forms in the state are only bidding for time to defect to other parties as a result of the fact that they cannot match Nwosu in an indirect primary that will be decided by the current delegates.

    To buttress this assumption, members of the Coalition Group, also known as the Imo Allied Forces, have opposed the indirect primary mode adopted by the SEC and instead demanded for a direct primary.

    Meanwhile the State Chairman of the party, Daniel Nwafor told The Nation that, “the state chapter of the party in line with the decision reached at the NEC meeting, met and adopted the indirect primary as the mode that better aligns with the peculiarities in the state”, adding that there is no going back on that decision.

    He also pointed out that all those that are opposed to the indirect primary are not members of SEC and are not in the place to take the decision.

    Nwafor however assured all aspirants of level playing ground.

    Flaunting his growing chances, Nwosu prided that he will clinch the party’s ticket, irrespective of the mode adopted for the primaries.

    He said, “as a loyal party man, I align myself with the decision of our great party, which is supreme. I am in total support of the indirect primary mode adopted by the SEC, but apart from that, I am comfortable with any mode, be it direct, indirect or consensus because I am sure I will win”.

    Meanwhile the Coalition Group led by the Senator representing Imo West, Senator Hope Uzodinma, who is also a governorship aspirant, has vowed to dump the APC if any of its member did not emerge as the party’s governorship flagbearer.

  • Senate 2019: Osinowo wants Ashafa’s seat

    The member representing Kosofe Constituency 1 in the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Sikiru Adebayo Osinowo, has formally joined the race for the senatorial ticket of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos East senatorial district thereby signifying his intention to replace Senator Bareehu Ashafa come 2019.

    He declared his interest in the race during a well-attended ceremony at the CMD Event Center, Shangisha, Lagos state.

    The event had nearly all notable political leaders in the district, all the members of the House of Representatives in Lagos East District, all local government and local council development area chairmen and their deputies in the district and most traditional stakeholders in the district in attendance.

    Also, members of the Lagos State House of Assembly were part of the adoption of Osinowo as by party faithfuls as the preferred candidate for APC in Lagos East Senatorial district.

    “Permit me to say it with every sense of humility that with my sixteen years in the Lagos State House of Assembly, I have acquired enough legislative experience to propel me for greater achievement in the Red Chamber (Senate). I have also been actively involved in the political activities of Lagos East Senatorial District for over two decades, and I know where the shoe pinches,” Hon. Osinowo said.

    Read Also: Senate: release of funds to Amnesty inadequate

    Speaking on the declaration ceremony, the Deputy Chairman of APC in the state, Ashipa Kaoli Olusanya, said all APC chieftains in the race must see themselves as ambassadors of the party while seeking the ticket of the ruling party. He begged them all to work with party leaders to ensure a successful conduct of the primaries.

    “We want to appeal to all aspirants to eschew bitterness during and after the primary so that we will all support whoever emerges as a winner. We should go to the poll proper as one united family and win the 2019 elections for our party, not only in Lagos, but throughout the country,” Kaoli assured.

    The council of traditional rulers in the district, as well as several other organisations and groups were unequivocal in the support for Pepper as the candidate of the party in Lagos East. The traditional rulers said based on Osinowo’s antecedents, they have no doubt that he is fit for the important job ahead.

    Former Commissioner in the state and a leader in the district, Dr. Tola Kasali confirmed that the APC will conduct a primary election that will be very transparent and fair to all. that no candidate will cry foul. “Our party believes in democratic norms. We don’t have any preferred candidate every aspirants will be treated equally,” Kasali assured.

  • 2019: APC must field popular candidates – Olofin warns

    A House of Representatives Aspirant and Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress in Ekiti State, Hon Sola Olofin, has said the People’s Democratic Party(PDP) won’t make any impact in the 2019 general elections in the State, saying the party’s popularity has waned with its defeat in the July 14 governorship election.

    Olofin, who is questing to represent Ado/Irepodun/Ifelodun Federal Constituency in Ekiti Central Senatorial District, added that the defeat suffered by Governor Ayodele Fayose and the party’s governorship candidate, Prof Kolapo Olusola, in the recent election has made the party more vulnerable to defeat in 2019.

    The Ado Ekiti born politician also appealed to the leadership of the party to consider party loyalty and consistency of aspirants to field candidates for the 2019 State and federal legislative elections, saying this would help in ensuring that members become more committed to serve the party.

    In a chat with journalists in Ado Ekiti on Tuesday on the 2019 general elections and the stand of the party, Olofin said, though, over 15 candidates are gunning for the House of Representatives in Ekiti Central Federal constituency I, insisting that he remains the best among the contenders in terms of loyalty and consistency.

    According to Olofin, Fayose no longer pose any threat to APC having suffered defeat in the July 14 election, in spite of his consistent boasts that he remains invincible and indomitable in Ekiti, advising that this should not form a basis for his party to take people for granted in the choice of candidates.

    “With the mood in Ekiti now, APC stands a good chance of clinching all the 26 House of Assembly, Nine House of Representatives and three senate seats in Ekiti. The PDP has not recovered from the shock of the July 14 governorship election, so I don’t see it posing any serious challenge provided our party fields popular and acceptable candidates.

    Read Also:  Delta PDP major financier defects to APC

    “Ekiti electorates are sophisticated people, they go for a candidate they can access in election and what they believe he could offer in terms of democratic dividends, they don’t vote by emotion and that is why our party should get good and acceptable candidates for these coming elections.

    “The July 14 governorship election was won because our candidate, Dr. Kayode Fayemi was not only popular but acceptable to the generality of Ekiti people. His performance in his first term actually convinced the people that the choice they made in June 21, 2014 governorship election that produced Governor Fayose, was a wrong one.

    “It marvels our people that Governor Fayose could only undertake two or three projects in Ado and Ikere Ekiti for four years, while Dr. Fayemi did a minimum of three projects in each of the 133 towns and villages in four years.

    “So, I want to say that APC has a good chance in the 2019 elections in Ekiti but this will also be bolstered by ensuring that the choice of the people is allowed to prevail in the primaries, because the people own the sovereignty”, he stated.

    Olofin, an Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) expert, promised to coalesce efforts with Fayemi as a governor to upgrade the knowledge of Ekiti youths in ICT through training and exposure to modern computer expertise that can guarantee career progression.

    The APC Chieftain added that he would also strive hard to attract federal presence to Ekiti in the area of agriculture, where the state has a comparative advantage.

    If elected as a federal legislature, Olofin said apart from giving effective and efficient representation through contributions to debates on the floor of the House and sponsoring landmarks bills that will palliate the people’s sufferings, his main focus would be to fight poverty through robust empowerment programmes and create jobs for the youths.

    “The world is now going digital. We are in the world of ICT and only those that are savvy will be able to operate under a 21st century economy. So, I will work hard with the state government to improve our youth’s knowledge in ICT.

    “We have to expose them to modern technology that can guarantee good earnings and this I will achieve by building ICT centres in some wards across the constituency for free training and where you can get access to internet”.

    Olofin appealed to the party’s leaders to finetune arrangements for the conduct of free and credible primaries that will foster unity, rather than the one that will create crisis that can elicit protest votes from electorate.

    “I am at home with Direct, Indirect or consensus options provided the right things are done. We shouldn’t do it in a shoddy manner that can create crisis. We must not Allow the July 14 victory to go into our heads or to make us exhibit pride that can make voters to revolt against us.

    “That is why it is necessary for APC to be transparent in whatever option it adopts, so that we can be on the same page with Ekiti voters, who will definitely take the final decision”, he counseled

  • A shocking defeat awaits you if you contest, APC tells Dogara

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has asked Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara not to recontest the House of Represent seat on the platform of the opposition party as “a humiliating defeat” awaits him.

    Reacting to the purported defection of the Speaker to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Acting National Organizing Secretary, Yekini Nabena said it was surprised if the Speaker decide to join the opposition in view of his anti-party activities in the National Assembly.

    He said the anti-party activities became more glaring when the PDP won his local government of Bogoro during the recently concluded Senatorial election in Bauchi state.

    Nabena said “We have received several media requests for a reaction to the purported defection of the Speaker, House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to one of the opposition political parties, as reported in the media.

    “In reacting, a recent comment by President Muhammadu Buhari, aptly sums Dogara’s reported defection: “The weakest people whose senses of expectation do not align with our vision have exited our Party”.

    “Dogara’s reported defection has not come to us as a surprise. It was only a matter of time judging by Dogara’s anti-party antics in the National Assembly where in connivance with the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, he exploited all available avenues to sabotage and undermine the APC-led executive.

    “Dogara’s anti-party activities which enabled one of the opposition Party’s sole victory in Bogoro Local Government Area (Dogara’s council) during the recent Bauchi South Senatorial bye-election won by the APC is another pointer, among several others.

    Read Also: Dogara: I have not endorsed anyone for political office

    “Indeed, all politics is local. As a Party, we empathise with Dogara on his confusion and despair over his bleak political future given the fact that he is not on ground and a political paperweight in his home Bauchi state.

    “In his emergence as Speaker, Dogara was merely used by his political master to achieve their selfish political ends at the time. They have since moved on to pursue their individual political aspirations and left Dogara in the cold.

    “We would advise Dogara against his ill-advised decision to recontest his House of Representatives seat under the opposition Party he is linked with because a crushing and humiliating defeat surely awaits him.

    “As a Party, we remain united and committed to our Progressives ideologies. We urge Party faithful to consolidate on our strengths and collectively go into the 2019 general elections as a united and strong political fighting force to sustain the Change Agenda we are implementing for the benefit of Nigerians.”

     

  • I’m not Abe’s headache, says Senator Uchendu

    The representative of Rivers East Senatorial District, Senator Andrew Uchendu, of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has stated that he is not the headache of his counterpart in the National Assembly, Senator Magnus Abe (Rivers Southeast).

    He admonished Abe, a former Secretary to the Rivers State Government (SSG), who is also a governorship aspirant on APC platform in Rivers, to go back home and find a solution to his political problems.

    Uchendu, the Acting Chairman, Senate Committee on Public Procurement, gave this admonition, according to his media aide, Solomon Okocha, in an online statement on Thursday, while reacting to a statement by Abe, that he (Uchendu) reneged on his promise to spend only one term in the Senate.

    He said: “I understand that my good friend, Senator Magnus Abe, made some remarks concerning me. It is regrettable and sad. Abe is getting too desperate with his ambition. In the pursuit of his ambition, which he is entitled to, he must learn not to be quarrelsome.

    “As a candidate of the APC in the 2015 election in Rivers East Senatorial District, I pledged that I would run for only one term. One term is made up of four years. Nigerians know that I never went into the Senate until the later part of 2017. I do not know whether one year and six months in Abe’s own arithmetic is four years?

    “I have always maintained that if my party says that I should run, I will run, and If they say that I should stop, I will stop. Mine is not a do-or-die thing. I have always been a team player and an establishment person. I obey the rules. In the spirit of equity, my party has asked me to run again and I am running, in due obedience to my party, because one term in the Nigerian Constitution is four years.

    “I was drafted into politics by Ogbakor Ikwerre Cultural Organisation in 1994, and ever since, my party has consistently asked me to run various elections. My party always tells me to run, because it believes that I am a credible candidate that can win elections. Election is about winning.”

    Read Also: Rivers APC: Sen. Abe faction adopts direct primaries

    Uchendu also stated that Abe’s political problem started in his Bera-Ogoni hometown in Gokana Local Government Area of Rivers state, because he (Abe) was not in touch with his people.

    The lawmaker representing Rivers East said: “I am not Abe’s headache. His headache lies in his hometown. His people alleged that he is an ingrate and a serial betrayer.

    “He (Abe) should find out why he was stoned in his own hometown during the anniversary of Ken Saro-Wiwa’s execution. Why was he stoned by his own people? That is a very serious matter.

    “Abe should look for the solution to his problems somewhere else, because Senator Andrew Uchendu is not his headache. He should find out what is going on in his hometown.

    “When Abe met me sometime in 2014 to advise him on his governorship ambition, which he has severally acknowleged, I told him to go back home and make peace with his people. I think something is wrong somewhere.

    “I told him to build a solid home base. He should start politics from his hometown. I started politics from my hometown and I have built a solid home base. 

    “His (Abe’s) governorship ambition, which he is entitled to, seems to be driving him to desperation. Politics is a team thing, but he decided not to be a team player. If that is his nature, I wish him luck.”

    Uchendu also stated that he was fulfilling the promise of effective representation which he made to his constituents before the 2015 elections.

    He said: “I assured my people that if I got to the Senate, I would speak for them. I told them that I would be the voice of the voiceless and oppressed people. I have been doing that consistently. Go and check my records. That is representation.”

    The representative of Rivers East senatorial district also urged discerning minds to always ignore the destructive criticisms of the former Rivers commissioner for information (Abe), while assuring that he would continue to give effective representation, which he said made his constituents to ask him to vie again.

  • No conflict between Amaechi and me, says Senator Abbe

    Senator representing Rivers East and governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Magnus Abbe has said that his disagreement with the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi has nothing to do with the leadership of the party in the state.

    Abbe told newsmen at the APC Secretariat that said even though he had disagreement with the Minister, they were not in any form of conflict, pointing out that the Minister only felt that he should not contest the the governorship election in the state, while he felt that he has something to offer.

    He said “Amaechi is my leader. He is not contesting the elections. If he were contesting, I won’t contest against him. The battle for the party ticket is between me and anyone who felt he has something better to offer than me and not with the Minister.

    “I want direct primary, but he prefer indirect. If the primaries are conducted today in in a free, fair and transparent manner and members of the party felt that I should not represent them, I Will accept it in good faith and support the party”.

    Abbe said the APC in Rivers State has what it takes to unseat the incumbent PDP government in the state led by Nyesom Wike.

    The Senator said with his wealth of experience, he was better placed to fly the party flag in the state, pointing out that as a founding member of the APC in the state, he believe that he has done alot for the party.

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    He said what the party in the state need at this point in time is someone with the required experience and political credentials to take over the state from the PDP.

    He however played down on the crisis in the state chapter of the APC, expressing confidence that the party will go into the elections as a United part.

    Speaking on the party position on the leadership of the Senate as led by Senate President, Bukola Saraki, Abbe said the party position has been and still remain that a member of a minority party should not lead the majority, adding that it was a common thing in politics which should not surprise anyone.