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Tag: All Progressives Congress

  • I don’t believe in Zoning, says Imo governorship aspirant

    One of the governorship aspirants in Imo State on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Chuks Ololo has said that he does not believe in the principle of zoning being canvassed for across the state, saying he was not in the race to become the next governor of the State based on the zoning arrangement.

    Ololo said he was in the race for governorship of the state because he believes that he has something to offer and the capacity to put Imo State on the wheel of progress and not because he is from Owerri zone.

    While asking the electorates across the state to shun the sentiments of voting based on zoning, he said the people of the state should vote for the right and capable person to liberate the people from their challenges, adding that he offered himself for the position because of his desire to transform the State.

    He said “I am running for the governorship of Imo State on the platform that is to help us to bring about change and that change will affect Nigeria if Imo is changed because the State is a very big component of Nigeria.

    Read Also: Group plans workshop for Imo guber aspirants

    On zoning, he said “First of all I am not running my campaign based on the zone I come from. I am an Imolite and we have always believed in the best. I am not saying that I must be Imo State governor because I am from Owerri zone. What I am saying is that if the people see that I am not competent, they must not vote for me because I am from Owerri zone. Do not make me governor because I am from Owerri zone. Let the best candidate emerge to lead Imo State.

    “One thing I must do first is to go back to the foundation that was laid by those who created Imo State. There is a vision behind the State and my government will actualize that. We used to be the academic hub of the zone, but today Imo has lost that status. We must go back to look at how things went wrong and what would be the remedy. My target would be on the revamping of education in Imo State.

    “Under my administration, agriculture, which has been the bedrock of Imo would be revisited to get the desired result. I will empower our farmers to develop agriculture in the communities.

    “Also Imo State would be transformed into a technology hub of Nigeria. We must work to export technology to the outside world. We must begin to define what we would do with our natural resources in Imo State and produce to stabilize our economy. We can no longer depend on the money from Abuja to build the State. It is a shame that any time government does not bring money, the State is shut down.”

    On endorsement of Uche Nwosu by Gov. Okorocha, Ololo, who is also an in- law to the governor said, “I believe we are in a democracy, that an aspirant is anointed by someone does not change the fact that the race is open to all. Nigeria has matured to full democracy, so it is left for the people to determine who would be their leader.”

  • Osun guber polls: BBC to hold live debate in Yoruba

    As part of its strategy to bring governance closer to the people, British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) will hold its Osun State Governorship live debate in Yoruba language.

    This initiative, the first in the country, BBC said is a pilot to next year’s General elections where it intends to do the debate in the three major languages in the country-Yoruba, Igbo and Hausa- as well as English language.

    Governorship candidates of the All Progressives Congress’ (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), ADC, ADP and SDP would take part in the 90 minutes debate billed for September 14.

    According to BBC’s publicist Marina Forsythe, the debate is meant to built impactful governance in Osun State.

    “The BBC has done debates before general elections in the United Kingdom and will be extending this culture to Nigeria.

    “BBC Yoruba, one of the newly launched language services will kick off the Nigeria debate series in Osun State with the theme: Building impactful governance in Osun State.

    Read Also: BBC launches new company for content creation

    “Most debates in Nigeria are conducted in English language but this is not sufficient for a multicultural nation like Nigeria. We believe that governorship debates in local languages will further bridge the gap between candidates and the electorate.

    “Conducting the debate in Yoruba language also promotes inclusivity and clarity. The beauty of communicating in local languages is that it makes participants active contributors in the conversations that matter to them,” she said.

    “We encourage people to send questions via BBC News Yoruba Facebook page before and during the debate. Audience can also join up with #BBCOsundebate.

    “It will hold on September 14, between 10am and 11:30am at Olagunsoye Oyinlola auditorium, Osun State University. The debate will also be broadcast live by our partners: OSBC TV, Rave FM, OSBC Radio 104.5FM and also the BBC News Yoruba website, Facebook and Instagram TV platforms.

    “This debate is important because BBC Yoruba is for the Yoruba audience. One of the aims of having a Yoruba service is to provide avenues for our audience to participate in social, cultural, economic and political discourses. “This is the first time the BBC is conducting governorship debates in Nigeria and also in local languages- and this is an indication of the premium we place on the Yoruba audience.”

    Asked if the debate was a marketing strategy for the BBC, Forsythe said: “We definitely want to grow new audiences and we recognise that we must go beyond being a news platform. One of the ways to do this is to make BBC platforms a place for purposeful engagements and interaction that adds value to the lives of our audiences.

  • Weakest politicians have left APC, says Buhari 

    …Receives 2019 nomination form

     

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday said that a chain of weakest politicians have left the All Progressives Congress, (APC).

    Buhari was referring to the series of defections that engulfed the party.

    Read Also:NBA to Buhari: don’t fight selective anti-graft war

    He spoke while receiving the Presidential nomination form bought for him by the Nigeria Consolidation Ambassador Network (NCAN).

    According to him, those who left the party could not place national interest above their selfish interest in line with the objectives of the administration.

    Details Later…

  • ‘Saraki dynasty in Kwara over’

    After holding sway in Kwara State for a long period, the end has come for the Saraki dynasty, an aspirant to the state House of Assembly Adewole Adenrele has said.

    Mr Adenrele, who is seeking a seat at the state legislature on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), also said the party will clinch the presidency and all elective positions in the state.

    Adenrele was speaking to The Nation in Offa, Offa Local Government Area shortly after his declaration of intent at his Balogun/Ojomu ward.

    He added that an end has come for the Saraki hegemony in the state.

    “There is no champion forever,” he said. “It is scriptural that the seed time and harvest will never cease. There is time for everything. The Saraki dynasty leadership style is irritating us as it always deprives Offa of its rights.

    “But I have the firm assurance that this time APC will take over all the political posts in the state including the governorship and presidential elections, by the grace of God. The end has come to the Saraki’s political hegemony and enslavement.”

    On his aspiration, the former student union leader said: “I want to use this opportunity as a medium for our youths. I want to go there to challenge our challengers. I want to go there to fight for our rights.

    Our old politicians want turn the country to their personal estate. I Want go there to fight for the interest of my community first. Offa is the heartbeat of Kwara State. The community is so endowed, but it is being deprived of its rights.

    “Again, I am aspiring to reawaken our youths in this community to stand up for their rights. As personal assistant to an ex-commissioner in the state, I found out that majority of these politicians are there to enrich themselves for the betterment of their children. If we don’t wake up from our slumber we might not be able to achieve our goals.

    “In addition, all the political determinants of the state are based in Ilorin, the state capital, and the Saraki’s dynasty as they are out to corner everything for the emirate and Offa should not be left out.

    “At the primaries, we will test our popularity. We don’t want to sell our votes. We don’t accept imposition as if Kwara politics belongs to one family. I am aspiring to represent Ojomu/Balogun constituency at the state House of Assembly.”

  • Taraba tired of absentee Governor, says Oshiomhole

    The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole on Monday said that the people of Taraba State are tired of an absentee governor who govern the State in absentia.

    He said an APC Governor in the state will reside in the state and work for its people.

    Oshiomhole who spoke while inaugurating the harmonized state executive committee of the party in Taraba state accused the incumbent governor of spending more time outside the state than he spends with his people.

    The APC has been having a running battle with two factions, one loyal to the Minister of Women Affairs, Aisha Alhassan and the Unity Group struggling for the control of the party.

    “Because what we have now is a governor that spends one day in Taraba and six days outside Taraba whether in Lagos, London or in other parts of the world. You can’t govern in absentia. I believe that our Party will make a difference,” Oshiomhole stated.

    He said: “The Party constitution allows the National Working Committee (NWC) to deal with situations when we have challenges including forging consensus or even appointing caretaker committees in order to ensure the smooth running of the Party across the country.

    Read Also: Oshiomhole: Saraki’s ambition almost destroyed APC

    “It is my hope and prayers that the APC in Taraba state under the Chairmanship of Hon. Ibrahim Tukur El-Sudi with the full support of stakeholders will work together with everybody in the Taraba APC to ensure that there is all-inclusive participation. That is the whole idea of the harmonised executive.

    “We are in very interesting times, we have a governor in Taraba on the PDP platform who narrowly escaped with the position courtesy of the rigging machine of the PDP. From all that I hear from the ordinary people of Taraba, they can’t wait to have Governor Darius Ishaku out of the government house of Taraba.

    “We at the APC headquarters are absolutely committed to giving you all the moral, organisational and persuasive support that we can provide to organise, mobilise and ensure that the great people of Taraba state come out enmasse to vote for whoever will emerge as the governorship, senatorial, House of Representatives and House of Assembly candidate on the platform of our party, come February 2019.

    “Under the APC, the good people of Taraba state will witness sustainable development, peace, and security. They will have a resident governor. Because what we have now is a governor that spends one day in Taraba and six days outside Taraba whether in Lagos, London or in other parts of the world. You can’t govern in absentia. I believe that our Party will make a difference.

    “I am encouraged by the people I see who are working together on the platform of the APC in our shared determination to provide good governance to the people of Taraba state. Today’s meeting is the beginning of a collaborative effort to democratically takeover the governance of Taraba state.”

    The newly-inaugurated Taraba State Chairman, Hon. Ibrahim Tukur El-Sudi promised to unite all members and stakeholders in the Taraba state APC to deliver votes for the APC come 2019.

    “I want to assure that whatever stories anybody could have told you National Chairman about the disunity in Taraba is not true. I will unite everybody because every individual is important in Taraba state. I will carry everybody along so that we deliver Taraba to the APC come 2019,” El-Sudi said.

  • Defection: Alao-Akala restates commitment to APC, warns perpetrators

    Following the rumors of defection and media reports speculating his dumping the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) for the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Oyo State, former governor Adebayo Alao-Akala has described the report as mere “publicity stunt aimed at laundering the Image of the ADC.”

    In a statement issued and signed by the Head, New Media and Public Affairs, Alao-Akala Campaign Organisation, Mr Jeremiah Akande, the former governor said he is too busy with his campaign activities and will not engage in any form of media war or propaganda involving any group, body or political party.

    He reiterated his “unshaken commitment and dedication to the ideals of the All Progressives Congress in Oyo State and at the national level”, urging his supporters to remain steadfast and resolute in their belief in him, as the journey towards 2019 begins in earnest.

    The statement reads in parts, “The attention of Alao-Akala Campaign Organisations has been drawn to a newspaper report with the headline:

    “OBJ to Ladoja, Alao-Akala: Produce younger ADC Governorship Candidate’, currently making the rounds.

    “The Media and Publicity Directorate of  Alao-Akala Campaign Organisation after a careful study of the said media report and analysed the disjointed and unfounded information pieced together in the body of the story came to a professional conclusion that the idea behind the story was a mere “Publicity stunt” aimed at laundering the image of the political party in question.

    Read Also: Why I want to be Oyo governor again – Alao-Akala

    “The Alao-Akala campaign Organisations wishes to state categorically that His Excellency, Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala as an experienced politician who has tested the murky waters of Politics and who is well schooled in the ‘Rules of Engagement’, is too busy with his campaign activities and will not engage in any form of media war or propaganda involving any group, body or political party.

    “The Legal Advisory and  Monitoring Directorate of the Alao-Akala Campaign Organisation has been mandated to formally write to the affected groups and persons to henceforth desist from misleading the public with their distorted facts and to put  a stop to defaming and involving the name and person of His Excellency, Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala in acts, actions and activities that has nothing to do with him or face the Legal consequences of their dirty actions

    “The Alao-Akala Campaign Organisation wishes to once again reiterate His Excellency, Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala’s unshaken commitment and dedication to the ideals of the All Progressives Congress in Oyo State and at the National Level and urge his teeming supporters to remain steadfast and resolute in their belief in him, as the Journey towards 2019 begins in earnest.”

  • Atiku begs Lamido to step-down and support him

    The former Vice President and PDP presidential aspirant Atiku Abubakar has pleaded with the former Jigawa state Governor Alhaji Sule Lamido to step down for him in the presidential primary.

    He made the plea on Monday at the Jigawa state PDP secretariat during his visit to the state as part of his tour to canvas for support ahead of party’s presidential primaries.

    Abubakar also paid a visit to the former Jigawa Governor Alhaji Sule in Bamaina his home town to seek the blessings of the PDP chieftain.

    Atiku said the visit was aimed at seeking the support of Lamido who is also a presidential aspirant, as the party continues to strategise  to takes the mantle of leadership from the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    He explained that he did not go to Jigawa for a campaign but to visit PDP members in the state and his junior brother (Sule Lamido).

    Atiku related the incident with what happened in 1993 election under the Social Democratic Party SDP in Katsina state when Shehu Musa Yar’Adua stepped down for  Umaru Musa Yar’Adua .

    Read Also: 2019: Atiku visits Makarfi

    He said elders of the state approached Shehu Musa Yar’Adua that there is no way they can support him as president and support his younger brother as the Governor of the state.

    “Junior brother cannot contest against his Senior brother, the junior brother instantly stepped down for his brother due to his loyalty,”he recalled.

    He explained that the country need repairs because of system failure around all sectors in the country,unity ,security, and economic of the country.

    “The government inherited economy growing at about 7% and crashed it to recession in its first year and currently going below 2%,”he noted.

    “Most of the parts of this country are currently feeling excluded,” he added.

    Atiku stated that APC administration is a total failure and disappointment and advised Nigerians to massively vote out APC in the coming 2019 general election for the country’s unity and development.

    Responding, Alhaji Lamido said the visit is a home coming visit.

    The presidential aspirants kept mute after the closed door meeting as they declined to comment on the issue.

  • Restructuring: Atiku, Mark, others under fire

    FORMER Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Senate President David Mark are among other politicians chided yesterday by the All Progressives Congress for becoming latter day advocates of restructuring.

    The party accused the duo of Atiku and Mark, both presidential aspirants on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of doing nothing on the matter when held top political offices for eight years.

    According to the APC, the call for the restructuring of the country has become an opportunistic ploy to which politicians latch on exploit for selfish political motives and not necessarily for its realism and practicability.

    Reacting to the renewed debate on restructuring by political office seekers, the ruling party urged Nigerians to be wary of those it called latter day converts to the matter of restructuring who are exploiting the issue for populist political campaigns.

    APC’s Acting National Publicity Secretary Yekini Nabena said in a statement that Abubakar and Mark held sway in government at various times, but did nothing on the issue of restructuring.

    Nabena said that what is paramount right now is the issue of good governance, honest management of public resources, deeper fiscal Federalism and a clear vision for development, adding that good governance involves transparency and prudence in public finance, it involves social justice, investing in the poor and providing jobs and opportunities for the people, particularly young people.

    The statement reads: “The renewed restructuring debate particularly between the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo and one of his predecessors, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has been trending in the media.

    “Prof Osinbajo in his well-articulated response to Alhaji Atiku, submitted that what Nigeria requires now is not geographic restructuring, but good governance, honest management of public resources, deeper fiscal Federalism and a clear vision for development. The All Progressives Congress (APC) cannot agree more with Prof. Osinbajo.

    “It must be said that the calls for restructuring by many politicians is often time a populist and opportunistic ploy to latch on and politically exploit simplistic public narratives on the panacea to Nigeria’s problems and not necessarily for its realism and practicability.

    “For instance, Alhaji Atiku was Vice President and Chairman of the National Economic Council throughout the eight years of the President Olusegun Obasanjo administration. How did he use his office to correct the imbalance in our federation he expresses today? Senator David Mark was Senate President for eight years and never sponsored a motion on restructuring. Today he is promising to restructure the country.

    “We must be wary of latter-day converts to the matter of restructuring, exploiting the issue for populist political campaigns.

    “As Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo submitted, good governance involves transparency and prudence in public finance, it involves social justice, investing in the poor and providing jobs and opportunities for the people, particularly young people.

    “This remains the focus of the current administration as seen by the several social intervention programmes currently being implemented. Commendably, the President Muhammadu Buhari administration is committed to implementing a New National Minimum wage.

    “Also, the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP) scheme, comprising: GEEP MarketMoni, GEEP FarmerMoni and GEEP TraderMoni is being executed by the Bank of Industry and providing interest-free loans to petty traders and artisans across Nigeria.

    “With the inception of the President Buhari administration, a well-articulated roadmap, considering all the issues involved in ensuring a new, well secured, better governed Nigeria with equitable distribution of resources within the component federating units, is being given serious attention.

    “Recall that the APC set up a Committee on True Federalism under the Chairmanship of the Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai. The Committee submitted its report to the immediate-past National Working Committee, making its recommendations on twenty four items that Nigerians expressed views to balance our federation.

    “These items are: creation of states; merger of states; delegation principle; fiscal federalism; devolution of power and resources between state, federal and local governments; federating units; form of government; independent candidacy; land tenure system; local government autonomy; power sharing and rotation; resource control; types of legislature; demand for affirmation for vulnerable groups — people with disabilities, women and youth; ministerial appointment; citizenship; state constitution; community participation; minimum wage; governance; judiciary; state re-alignment and border adjustment; circular status of the federation and referendum.

    “A practical approach to implement the Committees Report is being considered by the Federal Government.

    “The APC believes that good, sincere, focussed, and purposeful leadership at all levels will propel the country to its deserved heights. Sincere efforts towards achieving True Federalism are more important than politically-exploited populist rhetoric which achieved nothing.

    “With emphasis on practicability, constitutionality and reality, we are confident that True Federalism or restructuring as some will like to call it will be better achieved under the President Buhari-led APC administration.”

  • Sani: only free, fair primaries can guarantee APC’s victory

    The lawmaker representing Kaduna Central, Senator Shehu Sani, has said All Progressives Congress’ (APC’s) victory in the general election is dependent on its ability to conduct a free, fair and credible primary election.

    This, he said, would give members a sense of belonging

    and a sense of justice.

    Sani, who addressed reporters after obtaining nomination and expression of interest forms in Abuja, said Kaduna State Governor Mallam Nasir El-Rufai should concentrate on how to defeat the candidates he was confronted with in the opposition parties, “rather than fighting me, Shehu Sani, for a senatorial seat.”

    He said APC should be aware that the country and the world was watching how “we will handle the coming primaries”, stressing that the party had a duty to set a precedent for internal democracy and equity for all, while doing things differently, uniquely and exceptionally.

    The senator said: “APC has a moral and political responsibility to dispense justice to members as promised. Moral and political victory of the APC is dependent on its ability to conduct a free, fair and credible primary election that will give members a sense of belonging and a sense of justice.

    “The country is watching us and the world is watching us. We have a duty to create a new path for Nigeria. We have a duty to set a precedent for internal democracy and equity for those who desire to join politics. APC must do things differently, uniquely and exceptionally. It must also do things positively.

    “Much has been said about the political direction of the party, especially on the issue of primaries. It is my belief that it is only when the party pulls its members together to ensure there is justice for all of them that it will retain its glory, honour and integrity.

    “I am here because I believe in the party and its leadership. I am here because I believe that this party is the only ship that can lead Nigeria to the Promised Land. Millions of members are in this party because they don’t just believe in the paper principles and ideals of the party, but also in the leader, President Muhammadu Buhari.

    “The President is respected as a global figure and a symbol of political uprightness and integrity and I believe that if you are in the party because you believe in his leadership, you should also emulate his discipline and political style.”

    He hailed President Buhari for having the boldness and courage to insist that his primary should be by direct system, saying: “Direct primary brings an end to money politics and politics of godfatherism, as well as politics of exclusion. Most of the biggest undoing of parties in Nigeria and Africa has to do with the way and manner members are treated.

    “There should not be two APC, one conservative and one progressive. There should be one APC and the one that subscribes to the founding principles and ideals of the party and the reason why it came to power. We came to power in 2015 not because we had more money or because we had the military and the police on our side, but because we had the people on our side.

    “Those who subscribe to direct primary have offered themselves for trial and judgment by the people who elected them into office. They are saying there is honour and principle, as well as ideas and ideals in politics. They are saying that the power to a progressive and prosperous future is politics of integrity.”

  • Abia needs to chart a new route, says Emenike

    GOVERNORSHIP aspirant of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abia State  Chief Ikechi Emenike has warned that the state will always be backward, except it charts a new developmental route.

    The Abia APC leader noted that there can be no progress without establishing blocks of development currently lacking in the state.

    Emenike said fast-tracking development in the state would only be possible if its leaders take a stand to move  into a better and more purposeful route.

    He queried the reason behind the clamour by states for own police, instead of seeking more viable financial institutions that can propel economic development.

    Speaking to party members at Isuikwuato council during a tour, Emenike noted that if the state is developed, the issue of depending on monthly allocation from Abuja will not arise.

    Emenike, who has toured 13 councils of the 17, said an APC government would develop all parts of the state, irrespective of party affiliation.

    The aspirant, who is the first in the APC to pick his nomination and expression of interest forms, noted that charting a new course of development will give employment to youths, and provide security for all.

    The renowned economist said the new route of his government would cater for hidden talents anywhere in the state.

    Emenike said: “The incoming APC government of Abia state will ensure that all the youths in the state are carried along in all aspects with the aim of ensuring their hidden talents are harnessed for their good and that of the state”.

    “Except the incoming government of APC in Abia State takes a decisive step to take a new part, development will continue to elude the state and we will continue to be backward”.

    The Abia APC leader noted:  “If truly government is for the people, by the people and for the people, then any new government in the state must have the interest of the people by building institutions that can offer employments to the youths and increase the socio-economic value of the state.

    Emenike told the people that their hilly topography should not be a curse but a blessing to them.

    “As the government of APC in the state will use it (hills) to develop the place just as it is done in other areas in the world with such topography”.

    He asked Isuikwuato youths, Emenike teenagers, Emenike daughters and party stakeholders to do the needful as he has done by picking the nomination form.

    The aspirant warned that the era of saying it is their turn to govern is over as the state requires a government willing to change its status for the benefit of its people.

    The Abia APC boss promised that the incoming government will turn the Abia State Polytechnic in Aba into a university, and give the state university at Uturu its teaching hospital in the town.

    Responding, APC chieftain in Isuikwuato Dr Chris Ugochukwu said they had seen what is happening in the state and they needed a change.

    “We require someone who will come in and change the state; we are solidly behind you to come and change the state for good”.