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Tag: All Progressives Congress

  • No going back on my APC exit – Ortom

    Brands party one man show in Benue

    Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State has declared that he is leaving the  All Progressives Congress (APC)  for good.

    He told members of OnTiv Professionals Association in Abuja that he would not return to the party for any reason.

    Ortom spoke a few hours after emerging from a peace meeting with the APC national chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole where he said he had not dumped the party  and  had expressed hope of a peaceful resolution of the crisis in the party.

    But receiving his guests at the in Benue State Governor’s Lodge, Abuja,the governor said : “I can assure you and the good  people of Benue that there is no going back on my decision to exit from the APC.”

    He added “at the appropriate time in the next few weeks, I would make my next move public.”

    And responding on Friday to claims by the state branch of  the APC that  it was the governor that gave himself a red card after it raised  issues of governance with him, Ortom branded  the party a one man show in Benue.

    His Chief Press Secretary, CPS, Terver Akase challenged the APC to “bring out facts to back their claim that they had faulted the performance of the Governor.”

    He said: “During the State Congress of the party at Aper Aku Stadium in Makurdi, it adopted the Governor as its consensus candidate. Again, the party publicly said its decision was based on the sterling stewardship of Governor Ortom within the last three years. But being the true democrat that he is, the Governor decided that other aspirants be also allowed to vie for the governorship seat to deepen internal democracy in the party.

    Read Also: Ortom: I’m yet to declare for any party

    “While Governor Ortom appreciates the platform which APC gave him to offer service to the people of Benue State, it is regrettable that the same party has now turned to demonize him for obvious selfish reasons.

    “Governor Ortom has encouraged regular caucus and other stakeholders’ meetings at which he constantly gives briefings about the security and financial challenges in the state. He also gets feedback and input at such meetings.

    “His successful conduct of the local government elections which APC candidates overwhelmingly won chairmanship and councillorship positions throughout the state is proof of the popularity of his administration.

    “At no time did Governor Ortom ever mention that the APC in Benue State gave him a red card. He stated categorically that it was the leader of the party who said at several fora that he had given him red card and the Governor made efforts to resolve the matter within the structure of the party at the state level before going public.

    “That APC in the state has issued the statement as if it is the leader of the party or as if they are one and the same, underscores Governor Ortom’s concern that the party structure in the state is out to satisfy the whims and caprices of one individual.

    “It is now clear that APC in Benue State has opted to mortgage the interest of the people of the state. The party’s unprovoked attack on Governor Ortom points to where its interest lies.

    “More ridiculous is the fact that APC has become a one man show in Benue State. It should be on record that the attacks on Governor are coming now because he couldn’t meet some inordinate personal ambitions and interests of those who want to perpetually shortchange the people.

    “The media attack on Governor Ortom by the state chapter of APC is the beginning of the smear campaign about which we alerted Benue people and other Nigerians. More of such disparaging statements should be expected in the days to come.

    “However, no amount of intimidation or personal attacks can make the Governor to abandon the people of Benue State. He has chosen to stand with the people and won’t be distracted now or in the future.”

    Oshiomhole on Thursday had said  Ortom  “is not going anywhere”   and called him  “a very, very prominent member of our party.”

  • APC is still evolving, there will always be differences – Peterside

    The Deputy Leader of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, has stated that the ruling party (APC) is still evolving and there will always be differences.

    He stated this on Friday on a live national television programme monitored in Port Harcourt, Rivers state.

    Peterside, who is also the Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), maintained that the APC-led Federal Government had done well in the past three years.

    He noted that what a lot of people had been seeing as internal combustion within the APC was part of its evolving process, where people with different tendencies would always struggle to realise their political ambitions, with all the issues being resolved internally.

    The NIMASA chief said: “APC as a party is still evolving. There will always be differences and there is no time when all the issues can be resolved, but we are doing and have done well.”

    Read Also: Peterside: APC will win Rivers in 2019

    Peterside, who was the 2015 governorship candidate of the APC in Rivers state, also admitted that some national leaders of the party might have some concerns, but the relevant hierarchies of the party were addressing all the issues.

    On the issue of farmers/herdsmen clash, he said the Federal Government was genuinely concerned about the security of lives and property, hence identifying the problem and seriously working out measures to arrest the ugly situation.

    The APC chieftain noted that since security breaches varied from one locality to another, the Federal Government decided to take multidimensional approach to identify and resolve the root cause of each challenge.

    He said: “The Federal Government is concerned about insecurity in Nigeria. The government has identified the problem and it is being tackled. The government is not living in self-denial and that is very important. It did not start today and the government is looking at multidimensional approach to resolving it.”

    On whether the service chiefs should not have been sacked by President Muhammadu Buhari, the NIMASA chief stated that without first identifying the root causes of the various security challenges, sacking them might not solve any problem.

    Peterside stressed that information at the disposal of the President would determine the kind of strategy to use and whether the service chiefs should be removed from office, pointing out that taking rash decisions because of opposition was not the best of response.

  • New Sheriff in APC

    Some days back, the national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole, the one his aides and admirer still refer to as Comrade even after serving two terms as governor of Edo State, took a step unprecedented, at least to the best of my knowledge.  Oshiomhole wrote ministers who have refused to inaugurated boards of some government agencies. When I read of the letter, I simply said a new Sheriff was in town. Oshiomhole is asserting himself as the chairman of the party, to which members, including ministers, must listen.

    The inaction of some of these ministers over this matter has denied Nigerians the opportunity of knowing what the likes of Chief Frank Kokori can contribute to the nation. Kokori parades sterling credentials from institutions, such as the University of Ibadan and the Institute of Social Studies, The Haque Netherland (ISS) where he bagged a master’s degree (M.A) in Labour and Development Studies in 1984. Kokori was conferred with the fellowship of the Petroleum Training Institute (FPTI). For 22 years, he was the Secretary General and Chief Executive Officer of NUPENG, which, for me, was Nigeria’s most visible trade union.

    Kokori is a recipient of several national and international awards, such as the revered George Meany Labour/Human Right award by the American Federation of Labour/Congress of Industrial Organisation (AFL/CIO) for the most outstanding Labour Leader in the world for 1996 and the Febe Elizabeth Valasquez Trade Union/Human Right Award of the Dutch Labour Federation (FNV) for the most outstanding Labour Activist and Human Right Crusader in the world for 1998. He was declared Prisoner of Conscience by the late Nelson Mandela and Pope Saint John Paul II in 1997.

    Kokori contributed greatly to the struggle for democracy, a development which made the International Labour Organisation (ILO), Amnesty International (AI) and labour federations across the globe declare him prisoner of conscience between August 1994 and June 1998. Kokori was in solitary confinement for four consecutive years in the infamous Bama Prison. He was just dumped there with no charges preferred against him by the evil regime of Gen. Sani Abacha.

    As the secretary-general of the NUPENG, an affiliate of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Kokori shone. The NLC was divided and could not provide direction. There was no unity of purpose on the need to challenge the poison Babangida forced down our throats. Kokori provided leadership by rallying oil workers to challenge the annulment.

    His action provided tonic for the activities of other pro-democracy forces and it was not surprising that the Abacha junta saw him as an enemy that must be cut to size. That we still have him alive now can only be a result of God’s abiding grace.

    It was thus understandable that Kokori was ecstatic about the declaration of June 12 as Democracy Day and the honour done Chief M.K.O. Abiola who won the June 12, 1993 election, which Babangida shamelessly annulled and still tries to justify till this day.

    In a statement thanking President Muhamamdu Buhari for the justice done on June 12, Kokori said: “First of all I thank God for everything, I thank God that today the country has finally come to end that big controversy about June 12 and May 29. I thank the president for doing that, at least, at this time. He was the least person I actually expected to do this because we had expected that during the 8 years of President Obasanjo, with the pressure at that time, with Gani Faweyinmi still alive, with people like us still active, we thought he would declare that day the national democracy day and make it a public holiday.

    “I am the happiest man in this country today because I now realise that the struggle we made, especially my union; NUPENG and PENGASSAN, was not in vain and most of us who suffered terrible deprivation at that time. I am happy to be alive this day. They even said it is above October 1 because that was the day that we really fought for freedom and I have always said it everywhere. I am one of the happiest people on earth today and I appreciate this government because it is this government to come to realise the importance of that day.

    “Before it used to be only Lagos and some Yoruba state that were recognising it, but now it is a national holiday. What a good news for me and those of us who are still alive, who fought in that struggle in the civil society and labour. I give a special tribute to my union; NUPENG and PENGASSAN. We suffered deprivation, just as people must suffer deprivation in struggle and some will pay the supreme sacrifice.

    “This is to say that no matter how long injustice lasts, at the end of the day goodness and truth will triumph. That is what has happened to us today. The significance for Nigerians is that it tells us that when you struggle for your country, such struggles are never in vain. Many have mocked us that we have been forgotten, they say those who never struggled for democracy are the ones enjoying our democracy today.

    “Today we have been recognised and though I’m no more in the union, I will want NUPENG to get involved in this from now on; all June 12, NUPENG can come out and flaunt their muscles that they were the heroes and the arrowhead of that struggle.”

    Not less than eight months after Buhari appointed this great man the chairman of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), the board remains not inaugurated. The Urhobo Patriotic and Transparent Movement to recently urged Minister of Labour and Employment Dr. Chris Ngige to inaugurate the board so that Nigeria can benefit from his wealth of experience.

    The group said: “Chief Frank Kokori was incarcerated for several years by late Gen. Sani Abacha while he was the Secretary General of NUPENG for refusing to call off a nationwide strike that crippled the Nigerian economy over Abiola’s June 12 struggle, it is the same person that is being denied what is due for him.

    “President Buhari appointing Chief Frank Ovie Kokori as Chairman of NSITF was as a result of the confidence and trust he repose on him as a credible statesman whose credibility is guaranteed owing to the fact that his unique leadership qualities and roles and positions he has held while in active service.”

    My final take: Now, Oshiomhole has added his voice to the need for Kokori and others to be inaugurated. There should be no further delay. I believe he has a lot to offer Nigeria and he should be given all the support to serve us. Anyone standing against us benefitting from this outstanding Nigerian should have a change of mind and let us have the benefit of the Kokori touch at NSITF.

     

    • Part of this piece earlier appeared on this space.

  • I’m still in APC – Ortom

    … We don’t have red card – Oshiomhole

    Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom on Thursday made a dramatic u-turn saying he was still a card carrying member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and still flies the party flag.

    The governor who spoke when he met the National Chairman of the party, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole said what he told the world was that he was issued a red card by former governor of the state, Senator George Akume, adding that the party had informed him that nobody has the right to issue him any red card.

    The Governor has announced earlier in the week that he was quoting the APC as a result of the red card issued to him by the party.

    He said “I was given a red card by Senator Akume, but the leadership of the party told me that the decision of the party leadership at the national level is superior to any individual and I think that is good enough.

    “We have spoken to him, he has spoken to me, stakeholders are going to be spoken to and that is where I belong. We have not concluded the matter, it is an ongoing process because I have always stood for peace and I always want peace to prevail.

    “I appreciate the intervention and I hope that we would be able to resolve the matter of differences and this is the funny thing about politics. I am here in APC, a member of APC, am still flying the flag of APC and I only said I was given red card and that has been corrected by the National Chairman.

    Speaking while receiving the Governor, National Chairman of the party, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole said the party does not have any red card in its cupboard and would therefore not be issuing any to its members.

    Read Also: Ortom: I’m yet to declare for any party

    Oshiomhole said the party was doing everything possible to ensure that the crisis between the governor and senator Akume is resolved in the interest of the party and the state.

    He said: “I have assured, as the National Chairman that APC does not have a red card in our cupboard. So, we can’t give what we don’t have and we recognized that in several states, there could be legitimate legal issues, there could be agreement, disagreement, some contestations and this we are familiar with.

    “These are the evidence of the fact that we are a free Democratic Party and when leaders have disagreements, our responsibility is to help them to find common ground and the issues in Benue are not so fundamental that we cannot resolve.

    “We are confident that we would resolve them and Senator Akume is a very respected leader of the party and a former governor. He will recognize the need for peace and we have what it takes to make peace.

    “In Benue, we are going for a Win Win solution. Governor Ortom is not going anywhere, he is a very prominent member of our party, we appreciate his leadership in Benue and we will do everything possible to help those who have issues to have those issues resolved.

    “People like Ortom who have honor cannot leave PDP just three and a half years ago with his eyes open and then later there are some tensions in his master bedroom and is thinking of returning to deceiving people. That cannot be an option. He is a man of honor and he knows that one should look for one step if you want to take the second step to concentrate the first step, that’s the way to go.

    “Be assured that PDP can go and do whatever they do. It won’t change the mind of those who are convinced about building the future. It would not be without contestantation, it will be based on the understanding that we can have contestation, but we have the qualities required to resolve issues.”

  • 2019 election will be walk over for Buhari despite gang-up – APC chieftain

    A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, Engr. Kailani Mohammed has said that, the 2019 presidential race would be a walk over for President Muhammadu Buhari despite the ‘gang-up’ against him.

    This was also as he said that, greedy and selfish politicians were the ones behind the killings in the country especially the North Central region.

    Engr. Mohammad, a very close ally of  Buhari since the days of All Peoples Party (APP) argued that, the said selfish politicians were causing the insecurity to discredit Buhari’s government.

    The President’s ally while addressing a press conference in Kaduna said, Nigerians were treated to a rude shock as cattle rustling, kidnapping and Fulani herdsmen/farmers clashes soon took center stages to replace insurgency, all in the bid to dampen the gesto, anticipations and expectation of the Nigerians in Muhammadu Buhari led administration.

    He added that, these politicians working their selfish interests posit that the Fulani/farmers clashes is a manifestation of the fact that Fulani herdsmen see the President as their kinsman but it is known fact that some people guise of Fulani to perpetrates killings in the North Central.

    Mohammed who was the Chairman “Buhari Votes Guard and Awareness” further stated that in order to debunk the insinuation, President Buhari ordered security agents to arrest any Fulani man found trotting a gun and we hope this will neutralize the rumor mill. However fingers are pointing at politicians for rising wave of killings in Nigeria.

    “It is alleged that politicians sponsor thugs and hoodlums who are responsible for most community skirmishes and killings in the country that has sent many Nigerians to the great beyond.

    “In this direction, the Nigeria Police have invited President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki over an allegation that he sponsored some political thugs that have been unleashing terror in Kwara State,” he said.

    Read Also: Rep to Buhari: Beam anti-corruption light on civil service

    He continued that, revelation by the leader of the Middle Belt Peace Network, Jayeola Mohammed that Jonah Jang a member of People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and former Governor of Plateau State once vowed to make Plateau ungovernable for Lalong is something that is worrisome.

    “Mohammed further claimed that Jang, who was recently arrested by the DSS over issues bordering on corruption and abuse of office, had sworn to extinguish the peace of Plateau State and enshrine anguish and despair by empowering youths in the area with weapons.

    “The Intelligent community and the civil police must thoroughly be investigated so as to know the connection between those killing Nigerians under whatever guise.

    “Security agencies should rise up to this challenge and ensure that those who kill daily to promote and protect their political hemisphere must be brought to book. It is quite disheartening that our politicians have turned themselves into security threats in the country. They use human lives as shield to promote their political ambitions.

    “Human lives should not be devalued by killings as part of political games. No matter how highly placed, offenders must be prosecuted and adequate justice be meted out to serve as deterrents to others of like minds.

    “No Nigerian is bigger than the law. It is time for government to wield the big sick against vicious politicians, who daily foment trouble for the country and her peoples so that the rest of us smaller mortals will be secured from the high and mighty,

    All these they are doing to discredit this government, but, God and the masses of Nigeria are behind President Muhammadu Buhari. By God’s grace, 2019 presidential election will be a walk over for President Buhari, despite the gang up against him,” he said.

  • 37-year-old declare to run for Abia South senate

    …Says, it is time to get rid of old political class

    Less than two months after President Muhammadu Buhari signed the “Not Too Young to Run” Bill into law, 37-year-old, Engr. Chinedu Onyeizu has declared his intention to contest the Abia South Senatorial District under the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abia State chapter.

    Onyeizu while speaking at the formal declaration of his political voyage at El Dorado event center in Aba, the commercial hub of the state also reminded the old political class occupying different elective positions in the state and national levels to consider leaving the scene now that the ovation is high and give the youths the chance to inject new blood and ideas into the system as obtainable in other climes.

    Onyeizu, a graduate of Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Havard University and Federal University of Technology (FUTO), Owerri, Imo State who described the 12 years of incumbent Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe as wasteful disclosed that apart from giving his best in carrying out his duties as a legislator, he has worked out plans; Farm For Factory (FFF) programme to tackle hunger, poverty and promote ease of doing business in his constituency.

    The senatorial hopeful while charging youths in the state and other parts of the country to be bold and take the opportunity of the bill signed by the President to make the difference in the political scene said “You the youth, my generation; endowed with fluid intelligence, amazing smartness, fresh ideas and bubbling energy are the future of this great country. Time and again a rare opportunity has beckoned on us to step forward with boldness and take charge of our future. This time, we won’t look the other way.

    Read Also: Abia chief judge calls for stiffer penalty on rapists

    “The 2019 election is around the corner and it’s about you and me. It is about every Nigerian youth who desires qualitative future. The time is now for us to re-position ourselves and prove wrong those holding the assumption that we are a generation meant to be relegated.

    “Let us start now to jettison with the ritual of playing bodyguards and thugs to desperate politicians during election year only to return to menial lifestyle as soon as elections are over.

    “The 2019 election is therefore about reclaiming the meaning of the youth, restoration of the essence of our common purpose and realizing that together we can transform our country and initiate innovations that could speed up our process of social, political and economic society.

    “By signing into law recently, the Not Too Young to Run bill, President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration has removed any encumbrances that may have been standing in the way of the youth to participate actively in politics.

    “We therefore as for the greater support from the older generation of leaders to ensure elaborate succession planning, a plan that will amplify the social contract between young leaders and the holders of highest office in the land.

    “I am fearlessly stepping forward to distort the old style of representation which for 12 years has been characterized by selfish interest as opposed to the betterment of the masses.”

    In his speech, the Aba North chairman of APC, Hon. Uba Omenazu commended the boldness of Onyeizu, stating that it was a wakeup call to youths in Abia State and the country at large to believe in them, set aside fears and pick the courage to make a difference within their constituency.

    According to Omenazu, president Buhari through the signing of the “Not Too Young to Run” Bill into law has shown Buhari as true democrat, adding that the leadership of the party was committed to giving the youths the opportunity to make their marks in politics.

    He promised to give Onyeizu and other aspirants the level playground, stressing that the party in Aba North would work with whoever that emerges the flag bearers of the party in the state and national levels.

  • Ekiti 2018: Lawyer accuses PDP of vote buying in Ikere-Ekiti

    Human rights lawyer, Mr. Morakinyo Ogele, has accused the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) of engaging in vote buying in Ikere-Ekiti, the hometown of its candidate, Prof. Kolapo Olusola.

    He was reacting to Olusola’s allegation that the All Progressives Congress (APC) won Saturday’s election largely to alleged purchase of votes.

    Olusola and his party, PDP, have signified intent to challenge the victory of the governor-elect, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, before the Election Petition Tribunal.

    Ogele, a native of Ikere like Olusola, alleged that PDP and its agents induced voters at his Okesegun Polling Unit in Ogbonjana Ward.

    The National Coordinator of Ekiti Redemption Group (ERG) also warned Olusola not to use state funds to sponsor his proposed court case against the poll result.

    According to him, he has been compiling evidence of alleged PDP vote buying to be forwarded to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for investigation.

    Read Also: God has liberated Ekiti from slavery, says Fayemi

    Ogele said: “I am a voter and I voted for the candidate of my choice in our unit, Okesegun Unit in Ogbonjana Ward, Ikere-Ekiti where PDP asked voters to fill forms and the voters who voted for them were given tallies.

    “After being giving tallies to voters who voted for PDP, they were asked to go to a location nearby where they were given money.

    “In the same ward, we prevented some of the PDP thugs from hijacking our ballot box. The PDP should come out and explain where they got the huge amount of money they shared on election day.

    “PDP chairman and any other person in the party lack the moral justification that other parties shared money at the election.

    “PDP lost because of the character that is ruling Ekiti while Dr. Kayode Fayemi won on his goodwill.

    “PDP in Ekiti State is an agent of poverty, circulating poverty in Ekiti State. Ekiti people are fed up with looting, impunity, deceit being perpetrated by the Fayose administration.”

     

  • APC has not shut out any governor – Oshiomhole

    Says security agents must wake up and act now on killings

    National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole said on Monday that the party has not shut its doors to any governor elected on the platform of the party, dismissing reports of reported exit of Benue state Governor, Samuel Ortom as a mere rumor.

    Speaking with newsmen at the secretariat after a meeting of the National Working Committee, Oshiomhole also said Nigerians must come together with the same vigor they fought the Boko Haram insurgency to be able to defeat the menace of herdsmen killings rather than attaching ethnic and religious sentiments to the killings.

    He told the security agents to wake up to their responsibilities as no one will be satisfied with making explanations or try to explain away why we cannot secure human lives especially of a Nigerian citizen within the borders of Nigeria.

    Responding to a question on the reported exit of the Benue state governor who alleged that he was pushed out of the party, Oshiomhole said the governor had assured him on several occasion that he will not be leaving the party, pointing out that if he has actually left, the party would need to study the situation before formally reacting to it.

    He said: “I know that governor Ortom is a very senior member of the party and he has said so repeatedly in print and has said to me one on one basis that he will not leave the APC unless he was pushed out.

    “I have since assumed chairmanship of this party along with my colleagues in the NWC and I know of a fact that we have not shut out any governor and certainly not governor Ortom.

    “In these days of social media, I will not be responding on the basis of rumor and unverified reports. In fact, talking about unconfirmed sources, on Saturday, I was in Lagos to honour an appointment that had been booked for over the past six months and I felt obliged to honour that appointment and yet some of these merchants of untruth and fabricators of fake news posted all sorts of stories including one of which I was being interviewed in Ekiti.

    “I was only there in Monday to address Labour leaders and on Tuesday, to participate in the grand finale of the campaigns of which Mr President was there and I left Ekiti that same day on the same aircraft as Mr President.”

    Oshiomhole said the party is concerned about the rising wave of killings across the country, adding that security agents in the country must wake up and prove to the Nigerian people that they have the capacity to defend them and ensure the safety of lives and property.

    He said: “We have also deliberated on the unfortunate incident that occurred in Sokoto state last week in which a number of innocent Nigerians were killed in cold blood by gunmen.

    “We are worried about this and our preliminary investigations showed that those affected come from a part of the state that can be said to quite rural and probably a place where people don’t even have cattle. All they have is just their farm land.

    “This killing, like other killings across the country is condemnable and the NWC condemn them in the strongest words possible, we believe that every Nigerian, regardless of his location has a right to life.

    “We admit that the minimum obligation of government is to protect lives and property and we urge our security chiefs to do everything possible not only to arrest all those involved in this senseless killing, but to do everything possible to be seen to have the competence to protect lives and property.

    “No one will be satisfied with making explanations or try to explain away why we cannot secure human lives especially of a Nigerian citizen within the borders of Nigeria.

    “We want to strongly appeal to all Nigerians and the media should help us in this process. This is the only country that we have and so, we must do everything to give every Nigerian a sense of security regardless of his accident of birth place which some people refer to as ethnic origin or his choice of residence of religious belief.

    “It is not helpful to national efforts of security lives and property if any Nigerian, including religious leaders and Media seeks to explain criminality in terms of religion or ethnic nationality. This is unhelpful in terms of our collective responsibility to work with security agencies to provide useful information that can lead to the arrest of criminals and also help them to preempt any plan by criminals to undermine our collective security.

    Read Also: Oshiomhole gets spokesman

    “Those responsible for the wanton killings in Sokoto and those who are victims are of the same ethnic origin and unarguably of the same religious persuasion. It is the same thing in Zamfara state.

    “It is not between one ethnic group or the other and so, if these criminals found themselves in other parts of the country as they have done from time to time, and their victims are of different ethnic origin, we should insist that we treat them for who they are, criminals that government has a duty to pursue and chase out of the territory of Nigeria and all those who are perpetuating crimes be brought to justice in accordance with the provisions of our laws.

    “As a nation, we should all be united, not only in co democracy in this wanton killing, but also in helping government to do what it has to do compel security agents to live up to their mandate. It is clearly unhelpful and it bothers on divisive politics if we seek to disguise criminality either in religious terms or ethnic terms.

    “Government has a duty to protect all citizens regardless of their religious belief. I ask the Media to help us to educate the people that it does not help the process of law enforcement if crime and criminality are identified in terms of their ethnic origin or their religion.

    “But we are together as a party and Nigerians that this killings stand condemned and our security must do everything possible to convince Nigerians that under their leadership, we are safe and secured. They must continue to review their operational modalities in the light of emerging threats.

    “The Buhari government is determined to do everything possible to secure the live and property of every Nigerian. That is one of the key objectives that this government committed itself to.

    Unfortunately, as much as we have made progress, we cannot but commend the President and security agents in decimating Boko Haram.

    “Unfortunately, while we are making progress in this area, new form of criminality is emerging, we need the same kind of national effort and unanimity in working together to defeat this new criminals that are emerging. We will work with the government and encourage them to do everything it has to do to bring criminals to justice and secure the lives of every Nigerian.”

  • Buhari greets Sidi Ali at 81

    President Muhammadu Buhari has sent warm greetings to All Progressives Congress (APC) stalwart and member of the party’s Elders Committee in Kano State, Hon. Sidi Ali, as he celebrates his 81st birthday.

    President Buhari, in a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and publicity, Garba Shehu, joined family, friends and professional colleagues in celebrating the resourceful public servant, who spent most of his life serving the country as a Public Affairs Officer; most remarkably for ensuring accurate and balanced information on government activities during and after the Nigerian Civil War.

    Read Also: Buhari congratulates Fayemi

    The President commended Ali’s deep sense of patriotism and nationalistic world view, which has always been evident in his promotion of the unity of the country and projection of values of harmonious and peaceful co-existence.

    As the octogenarian marks his 81stbirthday, President Buhari believed the years he served in the Nigerian International Press Centre, Ministry of Information and National Broadcasting Commission were historic, coupled with his membership of the board of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency.

    The President prayed that the almighty God will grant Ali longer life, good health and strength to keep serving the nation and humanity.

  • Ekiti 2018: Ambode congratulates Fayemi

    Says victory is sign that APC electoral value has not waned

     

    Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode on Sunday congratulated Dr. Kayode Fayemi the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who emerged victorious at the keenly contested governorship election held on Saturday in Ekiti

    Fayemi was declared winner of the polls by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), defeating his closest rival, Prof. Kolapo Olusola-Eleka of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) with 197,459 to 178,121 votes.

    Ambode in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Habib Aruna commended President Muhammadu Buhari, leadership and members of APC and its supporters for the hard-fought victory adding that it was a testament to the fact that the electoral value of the party has not waned.

    Read Also: Ekiti 2018: Gov. Sani-Bello congratulates Fayemi

    The Governor specially praised and congratulated the Governor-elect for his hard fought victory and wished him well as he prepares to take the mantle of leadership of the State for a second time.

    He also urged the Ekiti Governor-Elect to use his second coming to build on its previous achievements and forge ahead with the quest to unite the Yoruba nation, especially through regional integration and economic transformation of the South-West geo-political zone and justify the confidence the Ekiti electorate have reposed on him.

    The Governor also congratulated the Ekiti electorate for comporting themselves peacefully throughout the period of the election, while urging those aggrieved with the result to channel their grievances to the appropriate quarters rather than resort to self-help.