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Tag: All Progressives Congress

  • Eid El-Kabir: Aregbesola, Oyetola, felicitate with Muslims

    Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress for September 22 Osun governorship poll, Mr. Gboyega Oyetola, and the federal lawmaker, Senator Babajide Omoworare, have sent goodwill messages to the Muslim community on the celebration of the 2018 Eid El-Kabir Festival holding on Tuesday.

    In the goodwill message by Aregbesola’s Media Adviser, Mr. Sola Fasure, the governor urged the Muslim faithful to uphold their obedience to Allah in the spirit of forgiveness for one another.

    Aregbesola described Islam as a religion that upholds the spirit of love, peace and charity and preach harmonious living relationship with other religions adherents.

    He commended the Muslim community in Osun for supporting his administration and for being good citizens.

    The governor urged Muslims to expand the spiritual benefits of Sallah by ensuring and promoting peaceful co-existence with each other and people of other faiths and shun violence and religious conflicts in whatever form they may manifest.

    Read Also: Osun 2018: ‘Oyetola is best to succeed Aregbesola’

    He enjoined Muslims to pray for and conduct themselves peacefully before, during and after the September 22, governorship election, noting that it is only Allah who enthrones and anyone who wants to forcefully enthrone himself can only do so in vain.

    Also, the APC governorship candidate, who congratulated Muslims on the occasion, advised them to co-exist peacefully with their neighbors at all times.

    In a statement by his Media Assistant, Dayo Fasola, he enjoined Muslims and other Osun indigenes to rededicate themselves to service of humanity and meditate on lessons of the festival, which he said include piety, faithfulness, dedication, fortitude, obedience, and sacrifice for the benefit of all mankind.

    Oyetola said: “I am grateful to God for his mercy in preserving our lives to see another Eid el Kabir. And I am thankful for the advancement recorded in the state of Osun in the last eight years under the administration of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola.

    “I urge us all to continue to uphold the tenets of both  Islam and Christianity which is peaceful coexistence, mutual respect and understanding of our differences. May God preserve us to witness many more in good health, prosperity and happiness.”

    The Senator representing Osun East Senatorial District,  Omoworare, advised Muslims to explore the spiritual sobriety of “this season to pray for peace and progress of the State of Osun and Nigeria.”

    The Senator, in a press release by his media assistant, Tunde Dairo, said: “This is a period of celebration and spiritual engagement with God. It is very important that we allow the lessons of faith, obedience and sacrifice which season of celebration represents to guide our ways.

    “We owe ourselves a duty to maximize the opportunities provided by God to seek his face and obtain his favour by praying for ourselves, family and not forgetting to pray for peace and progress of the State of Osun and Nigeria especially at this electioneering period.”

  • Decision to leave APC imposed by forces within the party – Saraki

    Senate President, Bukola Saraki, on Monday faulted the statement that he left the All Progressives Congress (APC) because he wanted automatic ticket and other pecuniary benefits.

    Saraki in a statement he personally signed claimed that his decision to defect from the APC to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) was inescapably imposed on him by certain elements and forces within the APC.

    He said that the alleged forces ensured that the minimum conditions for peace, cooperation, inclusion and a general sense of belonging did not exist.

    He further claimed that the elements allegedly did everything to ensure that the basic rules of party administration, which should promote harmonious relations among the various elements within the party, were blatantly disregarded.

    He said that his people and associates in the past three years suffered alienation and were treated as outsiders in their own party.

    Saraki said that many of his associates became disaffected and disenchanted while at the same time, opportunities to seek redress and correct these anomalies were deliberately blocked as a government-within-a-government had formed an impregnable wall and left in the cold, everyone else who was not recognized as “one of us”.

    “This is why my people, like all self-respecting people would do, decided to seek accommodation elsewhere,” he said.

    Saraki entitled his statement “The Tinubu Rhetoric – My Response, By Saraki”

    It read in full: “I have always restrained from joining issues in the media with Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and this is based on my respect for him.

    “However, I will not allow him to create a wrong, false and mischievous impression about the reasons for my decision to exit the All Progressives Congress (APC) and present his prejudices as facts for public consumption.

    “I have been consistent in my complaints to all leaders of the APC, including Tinubu, that a situation where the National Assembly is not constructively engaged or carried along in key policy decisions, particularly those that will eventually require legislative approval, is not in the best interest of the nation.

    “No genuine leader of the legislature will be comfortable that the Presidency will simply write a terse letter to the National Assembly on key issues which the federal legislature is expected to later deliberate upon and give its approval.

    “The Buhari administrations consistently treat the legislature with contempt and act as if the law making body should be an appendage of the Executive. To me, that is unacceptable.

    “In the same way, I find it very objectionable that many stakeholders who worked strenuously to get the administration into office have now been excluded in the government and not consulted on key decisions as necessary and expected.

    Read Also: Tinubu: Saraki, Tambuwal left APC for fear of Buhari

    “In fact, some of them are treated as pariah. A party which ignores justice, equity and inclusion as basic pre-condition for peace, unity and stability cannot sustain its membership and leadership.

    “Let me redirect the attention of the former Governor of Lagos State to the aspect of my July 31, 2018, statement announcing my exit from APC in which I emphasized that the decision “has been inescapably imposed on me by certain elements and forces within the APC who have ensured that the minimum conditions for peace, cooperation, inclusion and a general sense of belonging did not exist”.

    “In that statement, I further noted that those APC elements ‘have done everything to ensure that the basic rules of party administration, which should promote harmonious relations among the various elements within the party were blatantly disregarded.

    “All governance principles which were required for a healthy functioning of the party and the government were deliberately violated or undermined. And all entreaties for justice, equity and fairness as basic precondition for peace and unity, not only within the party, but also the country at large, were simply ignored, or employed as additional pretext for further exclusion.

    “The experience of my people and associates in the past three years is that they have suffered alienation and have been treated as outsiders in their own party.

    “Thus, many have become disaffected and disenchanted. At the same time, opportunities to seek redress and correct these anomalies were deliberately blocked as a government-within-a-government had formed an impregnable wall and left in the cold, everyone else who was not recognized as “one of us”.

    “This is why my people, like all self-respecting people would do, decided to seek accommodation elsewhere”.

    “Tinubu himself will recall that during the various meetings he had with me at the time he was pursuing reconciliation within the party; I raised all the above issues.

    “I can also vividly recall that he himself always expressed his displeasure with the style of the government and also mentioned that he had equally suffered disrespect from the same government which we all worked to put in office.

    “I also made the point that whatever travails I have gone through in the last three years belong to the past and will definitely not shape my decisions now and in the future.

    “However, during those meetings, the point of disagreement between me and him is that while I express my worry that there is nothing on ground to assure me that the administrative style and attitude would change in the next four years in a manner that will enable us deliver the positive changes we promised to our people, he (Tinubu) expressed a strong opinion that he would rather ‘support a Buhari on the hospital stretcher’ to get a second term because in 2023, power will shift to the South-west.

    “This Tinubu viewpoint was not only expressed to me but to several of my colleagues. So much for acting in national interest.

    “It is clear that while my own decision is based on protecting collective, national interest, Tinubu will rather live with the identified inadequacies in the government for the sake of fulfilling and preserving his presidential ambition in 2023.

    “This new position of Tinubu has only demonstrated inconsistency, particularly when one reviews his antecedent over the years.

    “Again, let me reiterate my position that my uncertain and complex relationship with Tinubu has been continually defined by the event of 2014 when myself and other leaders of the APC opposed the Muslim-Muslim ticket arrangement about to be foisted on the APC for the 2015 polls.

    “It should be noted that he has not forgotten the fact that I took the bull by the horns and told him that in the interest of the country, he should accept the need for the party to present a balanced ticket for the 2015 General Elections in terms of religion and geo-political zones.

    “Since that time he has been very active, plotting at every point to undermine me, within and outside the National Assembly.

    “It is a surprise to me that Asiwaju Tinubu is still peddling the falsehood about the fact that my defection is about automatic ticket and sharing of resources.

    “Members of the public will recall that when the issue of my decision to quit APC came to the fore and many APC leaders were holding meetings with me, a newspaper owned by the same Tinubu published a false report about the promise of automatic ticket, oil block and other benefits.

    “I immediately rebutted their claims and categorically stated that I never discussed any such personal and pecuniary benefits with anybody.

    “My challenge that anybody who has contrary facts should come forward with them still remains open.

    “It should be known that Democracy is a system which allows people to freely make their choice. It is my choice that I have decided to join others to present a viable alternative platform for Nigerians in the coming elections.

    “Tinubu and leaders of the APC had better respect this decision or lawfully deal with it. As for me, Allah gives power to whom He wishes. Human beings can only aspire and strive to fulfill their aspirations.”

  • Tambuwal loses 252 aides to APC

    In what appears like a political earthquake,  252 Special advisers and Special assistants appointed by Gov. Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto state have resigned  their appointments.

    And they have returned to the All Progressives Congress, instead of working under a PDP government.

    Alhaji Ibrahim Haske, a special adviser to the renegade governor and  spokesman for all the aides, announced this  at a news conference  in Sokoto on Sunday.

    He said their decision followed  Gov. Tambuwal’s defection from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    “Our appointment is based on the position that APC is the political party governing the state and now that the government belongs to PDP, we have no option other than to resign.

    “We are bonafide members of APC and our position has always remained same; we therefore resign voluntarily from the PDP government ,” Haske said.

    Haske, who was a former Sokoto South Local Government Chairman, further explained the decision was based on their desire to support APC to deliver on its mandate  after the  2019 general elections.

    Alhaji Abdullahi Sokoto, also a special adviser to Tambuwal,  restated the  former aides’  commitment and dedication toward ensuring the success of APC across the state.

    Read also: You can’t return Imo to PDP, Okorocha replies Atiku

    “We will continue to remain in our party APC and as such we sacrifice our political appointments to clarify people’s doubt and show our stand on party supremacy.”

    He restated the group’s loyalty and support to the policies and programme of the Federal Government under President Muhammadu Buhari and the leadership of APC.

    In his reaction, the APC Chairman in the state, Alhaji Sadiq Achida, commended the former aides  to  Gov. Tambuwal for their demonstration of  loyalty to the party.

    He said, “the sacrifice of the Special advisers is highly recommended and will surely be rewarded by the people and APC in future.”

  • Ibadan residents lament Ayefele’s music house demolition

    Residents of Ibadan on Sunday lamented  Sunday’s demolition of the Music House owned by popular musician, Yinka Ayefele, by the Oyo State Government.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the structure located on the Challenge-Toll Gate dual carriageway in Ibadan houses the popular Fresh FM radio station owned by the musician.

    A  NAN correspondent reports that hundreds of residents had thronged the scene wielding placards with various inscriptions criticising the state government over the exercise.

    Ayefele,  on his Facebook page after the demolition,  said:  “Oyo State Government did at last…..my pains, my sweat…So help me God.”

    Some of the early callers at the scene of the demolished building were Mr Seyi Makinde, a PDP governorship aspirant and  Dr Wasiu Olatunbosun, the Secretary of  Unity Forum, a splinter group in the state chapter of the All Progressives Congress.

    Also present at the scene was Hon.  Olusegun Olaleye representing Ibadan North State Constituency in the State House of Assembly.

    Makinde, Olatunbosun and Olaleye, however, appealed to the irate residents at the scene of the demolished structure to remain calm, urging them not to resort to self-help.

    Calls made to the Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Mr  Toye   Arulogun, were unsuccessful as his two cell phone lines were switched off.

    NAN recalls that the state government had marked the structure for demolition, insisting that it contravened the state ’s planning laws.

    But Ayefele had approached an Oyo State High Court sitting in Ibadan seeking to stop the planned demolition.

    Ayefele’s counsel, Mr Olayinka Bolanle, in an exparte motion filed before the court, sought for an order of the court restraining the state government from demolishing the property pending the determination of the suit.

    Bolanle also stated that due process was followed in the construction of the structure while relevant approvals were obtained from the state’s departments and agencies associated with land and housing.

    Justice I. Yerima ordered the claimant to ensure service of the court process on the respondent and adjourned the case till Monday for the hearing of the exparte motion.

  • Sycophants misleading Ajimobi against me -Shittu

    The defection of some notable members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has changed the political permutations in the pace setter state ahead the 2019 general elections. In this interview with Olusegun Raphael, the Minister of Communications, Adebayo Shittu, bared his mind on the crisis in Oyo APC, his governorship ambition, frosty relationship with Governor Abiola Ajimobi and more. Excerpts

    YOUR political career has seen you criss-crossing from progressive to conservative parties and vice versa. You started politics as a member of the House of Assembly on the platform of the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) and later defected to the then ruling National Party of Nigeria (NPN) in the Second Republic. And from 1999 till date, you have moved from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the Congress for Progressives Change (CPC) and now the All Progressives Congress (APC). Does it not lend credence to the fact that Nigerian politicians lack political ideology?

    Yes, I started politics as a member of a progressive party, the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN), led by Chief Obafemi Awolowo. But following a disagreement with then governor of Oyo State, Chief Bola Ige, over certain policy issues, I was expelled from the party. When you expel someone from a political party and you don’t have a choice, you move to whatever is visible. So, that was what pushed me to NPN. Another unpalatable experience led me to the PDP fold and now I’m in APC, the progressive bloc. I can assure you from my own experience of Nigerian politics that political parties in Nigeria are a mixed bag. I agree that APC is a progressive party just like UPN was at that time, but you know what I suffered. Even in my current party, the APC, you know that a lot of people who claim to be progressives end up being as corrupt as any other person from the so-called conservative bloc. So, the sum total of it is that many people join a progressive party because it is expedient for them to be there. If you take for instance this APC that we are in, a lot of people came into the party in 2015 simply because they saw that Buhari would win the election. You know if they were in another party, they wouldn’t have won election. So, I think we should look at individuals. What is the individual doing to justify whatever claim of progressivism or otherwise he or she is laying claims to?

    Talking about speculated ambition to run for governorship of Oyo State in 2019, there is the indication that you may step down for another aspirant. Is that a possibility?

    It’s no longer a speculation; I am running for governorship ticket of my party. It’s also not true that I am stepping down for anybody. People are just mixing things up. In 2011, I was the governorship candidate of CPC and the current governor (Senator Abiola Ajimobi), was a candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). He defeated me, I congratulated him and we moved on. In 2015, I also wanted the ticket even though he was a sitting governor. The system at that time was so questionable to me that I have to challenge the matter in court on the grounds that he was not properly elected as a candidate of the party. We were still in court when my appointment as a minister was announced. So, naturally I have to abandon that case in the Court of Appeal. I believe the case would have been struck out by now if I kept pursuing so I didn’t pursue it further. Perhaps, if I was not appointed as a minister, I would have continued with it. So, it’s not a case of stepping down. Ordinarily a lot of people will not want me to make this clarification, because it looks sweet to say I stepped down for Ajimobi. But as a person who will always say things as they are, I need to clarify it that I did not step down, but that things took a different dimension. If I’m contesting to be a governor and I’m called to serve at the national level, who am I to be pursuing a regional or a state agenda?

    You are from Oyo North, are you running simply because you believe it’s the turn of that zone to produce the next governor?

    Well, firstly I am from Saki in Oyo North Senatorial District of Oyo State, but the truth remains that I want to be governor not because I am from Oke-Ogun, but because as at today, I am the most experienced politician in the state. I have a very good educational background and rich political experience that other aspirants cannot boast of. I mean if you look at today’s political axis, who, among the political office holders or aspirants, had the privilege of holding meetings and engaging in intellectual discourses and interactions with the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo? I have also had the privilege of being in the House of Assembly for a whole four years (1979 to 1983). I have also had the privilege of being a member Oyo State Executive Council on two different occasions under two different governors; I was a member of the National Political Reform Conference of 2005. And today by the grace of God, I am a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Apart from being a minister, I have also twice attempted to be governor, to show that wanting to be governor is not an emergency thing for me. I have always wanted to be governor, because I know the experience that I’ve gathered from the ideals of the likes of Chief Awolowo, and from working as a member of State Executive Council and all that. If I take the fact that today am a Minister of Communication alone, the experience that I’ve gathered from that portfolio in the last three years, nobody has it among the other aspirants. With all due respect to some of the other aspirants, they are simply vying for the seat because of the glamour of the office not because they know what to do to transform Oyo State and the lives of the people. So, going back to the issue of Oke-Ogun producing the next governor, you must be mindful of the fact that it was Governor Ajimobi himself that started the clamour that an Oke-Ogun person must succeed him in 2019.

    You are quite close to the governor, so have you consulted on your quest to succeed him?

    I have not done that because of issues…

    What issues?

    The issues are many. Some sycophants go to the governor to mislead him because they are scared of my governorship ambition. And I have always advised him to stop listening to people who come to poison his mind. I believe very strongly that I am his best bet for the sake of his political future and legacy. When the election was held in 2015, he defeated Senator Rashidi Ladoja with about 30,000 votes. Now that the Oyo APC is split into two, it means SENACO, which is the governor’s political group, standing alone cannot win governorship election in Oyo State. The Unity Forum, on its own too, cannot win election. So unless we come together under one leadership that would be respected and I see myself as that person that can provide that leadership, otherwise, we would be in trouble as APC in Oyo State. And if that happens, the enemy would take over and all of us would be in trouble.

    What efforts are being made to arrest the situation in the party in Oyo State?

    I want to assure you that efforts are ongoing to arrest the ugly trends among members of the party.

    In case you don’t get the governorship ticket, are you likely to use another platform?

    I can assure you that I’m with President Muhammadu Buhari for better, for worse. You see, thank God I have a second address; I am a lawyer, a publisher, a school proprietor and today by virtue of my being the Minister of Communications, the entire ICT world knows me and I can get a lot to do with them if I don’t become a governor. However, I want to become governor, because I believe I want to put all the experiences I’ve gathered over the years into practice for the benefit of the people of Oyo State.

    The governor claimed that eighty percent of reconciliation has been achieved, what is your reaction?

    Well, to the best of my knowledge, I do not think so. If you look at the meeting the governor called recently, it was the same SENACO group that met; not one person from the Unity Forum was invited. Even I, as a minister, have never been invited to any meeting of APC in Oyo State.

    The governor once said he assisted you financially and in so many other ways after your appointment as minister; why are you now opposing him?

    I am not in any way opposing him. Not at all! I address him as ‘My Egbon’ (my elder brother), and he claims that I address him like that only in his presence, but malign him behind and I have challenged him to prove it. I am not a flippant person. I don’t keep malice, neither do I pretend or deceive people. When he contested election in 2007 and lost, Senator Ladoja called and instructed me to go and set up a legal team to argue Ajimobi’s case at the election tribunal. Senator Ladoja and I did not only support him (Ajimobi) morally, but also financially. We spent over 25 million naira on this case at the election tribunal. Apart from spending money, I recruited Niyi Akintola to lead the legal team. I was also present every day at the tribunal. So, it has never been a one-way thing; it has been a mutually beneficial relationship and so as far as I’m concerned, I think both of us would not have a choice but to work together except if we hate APC and by extension Oyo State. We must work together; failure to do that would be too bad for Oyo State.

    Due to the crisis in your party, some of your members have since defected to other parties. Do you still believe the crisis can be resolved before the next election?

    I can assure you that if I get the APC ticket, they will all come back to APC, because they all respect me. The truth is some of them were frustrated out in an undemocratic way through corruption, mischief and all that. I pray I get the ticket, but if I don’t, I’ll go home and sleep and enjoy myself and move on.

  • APC Delta: Now that the storm is over

    The swearing in of Mr Jones Erue as the new chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta State has brought with it the much needed stability. It has indeed proved to be the first step in our march forward. In his short time as chairman, he has succeeded in uniting the party and restoring peace amongst warring brethren. Gone are the factions. Gone are the divisions. There is peace in the APC, Delta State.

    The timely restoration of peace and unity within the party was far and above the most important assignment that needed to be dealt with as the lack of peace within the party had threatened to throw the party into disarray and confusion. And so credit must go to the chairman for pointing correctly at the problem and tackling it head long, and in doing so channelled A.J. Muste who stated, there is no way to peace, peace is the way. It was important for the party to create an atmosphere for meaningful progress to be achieved.

    However, as with global peace, the peace we now enjoy took the sacrifice and compromise of numerous stakeholders with diverse interests. And it is because of their many sacrifices that we have the assurance for a better tomorrow. These men have put the interest of Delta State above their personal interest. By suspending their personal ambitions in favour of the party, they have kick started an era of progress for the people of Delta State.

    In the midst of the many challenges that beleaguered our party, these men served as burning and shinning light that showed us the way. In a time where loyalty has become rare, these men are expressed definitions of loyalty and the abiding principles of our party.

    We must commend Olorogun O’tega Emerhor who has been at the forefront as leader of APC in Delta State since 2015. It was his steadfast and unwavering belief in the party that attracted other progressives. Under his steady leadership, the party achieved new political heights. He has brought his vast experience into the fold and the party is better for it.

    Chief Great Ogboru has been the very symbol of opposition in the state. He bears the brunt of all electoral malpractices perpetrated against the people of Delta State by the PDP. But yet he stands tall and well respected amongst his people. He epitomises the people’s desire for proper governance. And in a time not too long, his efforts will be crowned.

    Senator Ovie Omo Agege has been a colossal addition to our party. He has brought with him to the party the much needed spark and cutting edge to get the job done. To count the Senator amongst our party rank and file is to have a reliable comrade in the struggle to deliver the people of the state from the demonic hold of the PDP come 2019.

    Also deserving of equal mention is Prof Pat Utomi, a man whose outstanding reputation precedes him. He has brought his vast experience gained over many productive years to bear on the party. The party stands to benefit immensely from his wealth of experience.

    There are no shortages of leaders and intellectuals in APC Delta State. It is a party with men and women who can properly articulate the needs and yearnings of Deltans and equally respond to it. It is not a party of or for riff-raff and scallywags. Amongst us are leaders from all walks of life with proven track record.

    However, I must caution that while all look set for the inevitable defeat of the PDP in Delta State, it is not yet Uhuru. I urge us all to be vigilant as we watch against unscrupulous elements, paid mercenaries, wolves disguised in sheep clothing. We must continue to ensure that peace is maintained within the party and that individual interest is subsumed under party interest. For only in the atmosphere of peace can our collective dreams and aspirations as a party be realised.

    • By Felix Eshalomi

    Constitutional Lawyer

    Lagos.

  • C/River APC chieftain rejects zoning for governorship

    A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Cross River State, Mr Goddie Akpama, has called for the jettisoning of the zoning arrangement for the governorship position in next year’s election if the party intends to win the election next year.

    The political class appears to have an unwritten agreement that the governorship should rotate among the three senatorial districts and by this arrangement the northern senatorial district still has another four years with Governor Ben Ayade of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) from Obudu local government area, almost concluding his first four years.

    The other two districts are the southern and central senatorial districts which produced former governors Donald Duke and Liyel Imoke respectively, who both served for eight years each from 1999.

    Speaking against the background of the by-election for the Obudu State Constituency of the House of Assembly, where the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mrs. Abbey Ukpukpen, scored 12,530 to beat the All Progressive Congress’ (APC) candidate, Mr Adah Ishamali who polled 4,349 votes, on August 11, Akpama said the zoning should not apply to the APC.

    According to him, going by what transpired in the by-election, the northern senatorial district does not have what it takes to win the governorship for the APC.

    Speaking with The Nation in Calabar on Saturday, Akpama, a former governorship candidate of the Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA) in the state, called on the APC to support someone from the south as according to him, this would greatly improve their chances next year, given they have the voting strength.

    Read Also: 34 prisoners get pardon in C/Rivers

    Akpama said, “The main lesson from that by-election is very clear, and it is that the northern senatorial district APC aspirants do not have what it takes to win the governorship elections next year for our Party. As a member of the APC, I still stand tall to say, that the governorship aspirants of the north have no political muscle to win elections in 2019 by what transpired during the by-election. We have three governorship aspirants from Obudu and they did nothing to show for the capacity of being governors in the by-election.

    “Even though for the sake of equity, we shout it is the turn of the north, but for the APC to win elections in the state, they must not rely on such a zoning formula if we must win elections in 2019. Again it is not constitutional to limit participation to any unit, constituency or zone.

    “We have approximately 69, 000 registered votes in Obudu. The APC could not even mobilize half of that number to its credit. The by-election was a total failure to the APC. My conclusion is that all of the aspirants do not have the capacity to be able to do or win elections come 2019.

    “I suggest that we the APC begin to look for other options if we intend to win the state next year and not just limit themselves to the issue of zoning. This would be inimical to the party. The party has better materials that would be able to mobilize to win the elections next year, so they should look towards that direction.

    “Let every other party member stand behind whoever would be able to have such capacity to match the PDP, to win the elections come 2019. It is pertinent to reiterate that the PDP has lost popularity with the people and this is the right time for the APC to put themselves together and come up with someone that can win next year.”

  • ‘Emulate Tinubu’s political Virtues’

    A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo state, Adeniyi Ayodeji on Saturday urged progressive politicians to emulate the virtues of the former Lagos state governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

    He pointed out that he left the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) because he valued the selfless way the APC leader played politics of inclusion.

    Besides, Ayodeji said he was fascinated by the political ideology of the ruling APC, which gingered him to move from the PDP to APC to work with other progressives elements in the country.

    Ayodeji, a United States (US) based Geologist and House of Representatives Aspirant for Idanre/Ifedore federal constituency spoke with reporters in Akure, the Ondo state capital.

    The aspirant who is the former Vice- Chairman,Idanre local government under late Dr Olusegun Agagu’s PDP’s administration, said” I admire the political structure massively built by Tinubu and his investment in human capacity through which many people rose to higher level.

    Read Also: Group hails Tinubu for direct primary

    “Since I left Nigeria over a decade ago, I have been watching with keen interest the progressive traits of the APC stalwart (Tinubu) in area of improving the lives of the masses”.

    The National Assembly Aspirant lamented that Idanre/Ifedore federal constituency presently occupied by Bamidele Baderinwa (White)have been denied good representation at the lower chamber in Abuja due to alleged low performance.

    He assured his constituents that if elected, he would liberate his constituents through various empowerment programmes that would transform their lives.

    Ayodeji noted that the gale of defections from APC to PDP would not affect the victory of the ruling party in 2019, stressing that those who moved out of the party were formerly in the PDP and nothing has changed.

    He encouraged politicians against spending huge amount of money to aspire for political positions, stressing that the development was aiding low performance of political office holders.

    The Idanre-born politician pointed out that the lawmakers that returned to their former party (PDP) had ulterior motive which was based on selfish interest rather than that of the masses they were to represent.

  • ‘Oshiomhole is God-sent to rescue APC’

    A group, Buhari/Osibanjo Initiatives for Demonstrating Change in Nigeria has expressed satisfaction with the leadership ingenuity of the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole describing him as God-sent to rescue the party from collapse for the reelection of President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019.

    In a statement issued in Abakaliki, the National Coordinator of the group, Comrade Chinedu Ogah noted that the National Working Committee of the party under the chairmanship of the former Edo state governor had brought sanity and rule of law to the party.

    He commended Oshiomhole for redeeming that image of APC which the group noted was in the precipice of destruction under the past leadership.

    Ogah stressed that the Open Direct Primaries proposed by the National chairman was apt, as it would bring power back to the people for the advancement of democracy both in the party and in the country.

    “I am particularly enthused with the leadership prowess of the national chairman of our party, Adams Oshiomhole. He has displayed enough expertise in party politics and that’s is why APC is gradually redeeming it’s image”.

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    “He is a God-sent to APC to rescue it from collapse and destruction. We are proud of him. The open direct primaries which he is proposing will certainly distinguish our party as the most democratic party in the country, where power rests on the people”.

    “His ability to unite most of the members of the party in the National assembly shows that the fortunes of the party in bright in the face of present challenges, Ogah said.

    He called on members of the party to support Oshiomhole in his efforts to rebuild APC, assuring that all the skirmishes and internal wrangling which made some people defect to other political parties were been sorted out.

    The group further enjoined other members of APC in the country to add voices on the agitation for the resignation of the Senate president, Bukola Saraki from the position.

  • Why Southwest is backing Buhari

    The Vice Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) (Southwest), Pastor Bankole Oluwajana, told reporters in Lagos that the region will support President Muhammadu Buhari’s re-election bid to enable him consolidate on his achievements in the past three and half years. He also spoke on reconciliation in the zone, preparations for the September 22 governorship poll in Osun State, defections from the ruling party and preparations for next year’s polls. Group Political Editor EMMNUEL OLADESU reports.

    Bankole Oluwajana, lawyer, cleric, former banker and National Vice Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) (Southwest), has peeped into 2019. His verdict: President Muhammadu Buhari will win with a wide margin and consolidate on his achievements in the last three years.

    The zonal leader said Southwest, the cradle of progressive politics, will continue to support the president because he has lived up to expectation.

    Explaining why the president deserves a second term, he said: “President Buhari is doing the right thing. He is tackling corruption; fighting it as it should be fought, and the wailers cannot say that the president is corrupt. The challenges facing Nigeria are enormous. What Nigeria went through for 16 years; the level of corruption we witnessed in the last year of the PDP government cannot be forgotten or cleared in three years. President Buhari has achieved a lot. We need to consolidate what he has done in the last three years.”

    Oluwajana, who succeeded Chief Pius Akinyelure during the last APC national convention, applauded President Buhari for reducing what he described as the outlets for corruption. He also the presidential initiatives on the economy, noting that while inflation has been reduced, tax revenue has grown by N3 trillion. “Bank’s lending rate is going down; it is now at 17 percent. The rail project is commendable, just as the emphasis on agricultural development, which has led to the 32 metric tones of rice in Imota. It is unimaginable that some people could be canvassing the return of the PDP, the same devourers, cankerworm and house rats who brought us to where we are today,” he said.

    In the past, terrorists were on the prowl and the Boko Haram group could not be tamed. The zonal leader hailed the president for restoring security. Acknowledging that the war has not been totally won, he said; “Buhari is fighting terror and experts in guerilla warfare. The warriors are not known to the people, yet they are troubling our peace. This government will defeat them. It is a matter of time.”

    Oluwajana lamented that after trying to resolve one security challenge, another is rearing its head. He wondered why arsonists are regrouping in another form, following the onslaught against herdsmen. He said the solution to the crisis are education and civilisation. “In under-developed and developing countries that are characterised by religious affiliations, there are communal clashes. In the developed world, it is not the same. Improvement in the quality of education and public welfare will stop the crisis, he added.

    The politician chided armchair critics who indulge in unconstructive criticisms. Instead of fault-finding, he said this moments calls for sober reflection and contributions to the process of uplifting the country.

    Oluwajana observed that while the vocal few are trying to discredit the Buhari administration, the masses have refused to enlist as their disciples. He predicted victory for the president saying: “I am more than hopeful that Buhari will come back. People appreciate what the government is doing for Nigeria.”

    Reflecting of the gale of defections, he said it will not affect the chance of the APC at the poll. He said people defected from the PDP under former President Goodluck Jonathan because the government was not doing well. But, he clarified that those leaving the APC for PDP now opted for defection because they were not sure of getting party tickets. “The standard of the APC has gone up. A person with F9 and P7 cannot get the ticket of APC again. They are going to a platform that is lower in standard. The defections will not affect the fortunes of the APC. Loyalists of those gladiators are going to the PDP with their masters, although they are not happy,” he stressed.

    Oluwajana congratulated Southwest progressives for the victory of Dr. Kayode Fayemi t the recent Ekiti State governorship poll. He said they should now brace up for the Osun State election. Predicting success for the APC candidate, Gboyega Oyetola, he said: “We are working hard to retain Osun. We are aware of the challenges. Politics is conflict resolution. Governor Rauf Aregbesola has a track record of performance. The people will vote for us. Southwest belongs to the progressives.”

    But, can Oyetola beat Senator Ademola Adeleye of PDP and Otunba Iyiola Omisore of the Social Democratic Party (SDP)? The party leader said: “Oyetola has more experience than Adeleke. Omisore has been around for long and it may even be a disadvantage. Oyetola has worked under Aregbesola for years creditably and learned the ropes.”

    How is the party managing post-congress crisis in the zone? The zonal leader said APC has succeeded in managing the conflicts triggered by the convention. “We ended up having consensus candidates. I emerged as the vice chairman. Babatunde Ogala emerged as national legal adviser and Tajudeen Bello became the national financial secretary.

    “In Ondo, Ade Adetimehin is the chairman. Some people gathered elsewhere, but we don’t know about that. In Lagos, the NWC has taken a position. The other group has not left the party. The party is led by Alhaji Tunde Balogun. But, Banire’s followers are still loyal to the party. The woman senator who left the APC in Oyo for another party left because she knew she will not get re-election ticket,” he explained.

    Will the party welcome Senator Buruji Kashamu, who has been expelled from the PDP. Oluwajana said: “It is a free game. You cannot bar anybody from joining a party.”

    The vice chairman said the zonal leadership will always be prepared for the challenges of crisis resolution. He said: “Party elders will have a role to play. We anticipate that.”

    Oluwajana clarified that APC will continue to either adopt direct or indirect primary for the selection of its candidates for election. Both methods, he said, are legal. “There is provision for direct and indirect primary. The method to be adopted will depend on what the leadership of the party in the state wants,” he added.