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Tag: All Progressives Congress

  • Ekiti: Oshiomhole wants adequate security deployment

    National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomole has said enough security operatives, including the military should be deployed to Ekiti State for this weekend’s governorship election to ensure the safety of the electorates and the votes cast during the election.

    Oshiomhole said a situation where criminals will be wielding AK 47 on an election day, and the police is overwhelmed should not be allowed to occur in Ekiti state, adding that the deployment of a large number of policemen for this weekend’s governorship election in Ekiti State was necessary to ensure safety of lives during the election.

    Oshiomhole who spoke with newsmen shortly after receiving the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Paul Arkwright said the number of policemen deployed to the state for the conduct of the election does not matter as long as it is aimed at protecting the lives of the people.

    The Inspector General of Police has reportedly deployed about 30,000 policemen to Ekiti State for the conduct of the election, but Oshiomhole said there was nothing wrong in the deployment, adding that for an effective presence and performance both army and police were needed in the state.

    He said that experience has shown that sometimes, such figures of deployment are announced, while the actual presence on Election Day will be a far cry from the announced deployment.

    Read Also: Fayemi warns troublemakers to leave Ekiti

    “Whether they should use the military or not use the military, I don’t think you want to argue that. Over the years since 2003, 1999, the armed forces have always been deployed.

    “Don’t forget that when I was in Edo state, I told people that I want the armed forces to be involved in the election because the rigging machine is serviced by criminals who are hardened and who are often hired. Now if you have criminals wielding AK 47 on an election day, and the police is overwhelmed you want to say the army should not be deployed?

    “We shouldn’t worry about who we deploy. I think we should all pray that however people are deployed that in the end we are not counting dead bodies.

    “My experience in Edo is that you will hear stories like so so number of people deployed. In the end, you will find no police men. I have seen that in Edo. The important thing is that regardless of what the  police chooses to do, regardless of the number they choose to deploy, let us ensure that those who are going to vote are safe and that the votes cast are secure.

    “Whatever number they need to secure the lives of those who are going to vote to create that sense of security for people to move freely to vote for candidates of their choice, I don’t think we should dictate to the Inspector General of Police how many people he wants to deploy” he said.

    The APC National Chairman also appreciated the British government for their support in promoting democracy in Nigeria, assuring that he would do everything to ensure a free and fair process in the Ekiti governorship election.

    “For the process is more important than the outcome because we are looking at the Nigeria project in terms of sustaining democracy not the survival of a particular political aspirant whether it is on my party platform or in the platform of the opposition” he said.

    In his remarks, the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Paul Arkwright said his country is interested in Nigeria’s democracy added that they intend to send observers for the election to ensure it is free and fair.

    “The British High Commission will be sending a team there to observe the election and to ensure that they go smoothly, to ensure that INEC can do its job, that the security forces do their job and basically to ensure that the people of Ekiti state are allowed to freely express their opinion, to vote along with their conscience and to be able to do so in peaceful manner” Arkwright said.

  • Ekiti 2018: Uproar as party supporters disrupt INEC stakeholders’ meeting

    IGP, INEC boss, monarchs watch show of shame

    A stakeholders’ meeting convened by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) ahead of the governorship election in Ekiti State ended abruptly as it was disrupted by party supporters.

    INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu; Inspector General of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Idris, traditional rulers, diplomats and other dignitaries watched the show of shame in disbelief.

    Governorship candidates, party leaders, traditional rulers and other dignitaries left the venue amidst a charged atmosphere as party faithful, mainly People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and All Progressives Congress (APC) members shouted at one another.

    The parley which was held at Great Eagle Hall, Ikere Road, Ajebamidele, Ado-Ekiti, went on smoothly until organizers invited comments and questions from party representatives.

    The row was sparked by comments made by the PDP representative, Dr. Samuel Omotoso, who raised concerns over alleged attacks and arrest of members of his party in some communities in Oye Local Government Area.

    Omotoso, member of the House of Assembly, accused the APC candidate, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, of boasting that he would be declared winner the Saturday’s poll “whether he loses or not.”

    He also accused security agencies of partisanship in the build-up to the election which he said would not provide an atmosphere for a free and fair election.

    The lawmaker’s refusal to adhere to the two minutes allotted angered supporters of other parties, especially the APC faithful who became restive with the constant mentioning their candidate’s name by Omotoso.

    The audience, who wanted representatives of other parties and other stakeholders to be given the chance to address the gathering, urged organizers to stop Omotoso for using more than the time allocated.

    Read Also: INEC registers 10m new voters

    Apparently uncomfortable with the allegation against Fayemi, the APC members raised their voices to shout Omotoso down but the PDP members responded by chanting their party slogan.

    The PDP members who appeared to outnumber their APC counterparts inside the hall surged forward and started shouting “Eleka Ibo,” “Eleka Ibo” hailing their candidate who is also the Deputy Governor, Prof. Kolapo Olusola.

    As the PDP members surged forward, policemen and other security operatives inside the hall formed a ring around the high table where Yakubu, Idris and other dignitaries sat.

    As the party members’ unruly behavior continued, the Chairman of Ekiti State Council of Obas who is also the Oloye of Oye-Ekiti, Oba Oluwole Ademolaju took over the microphone and urged party members to be orderly.

    They defied the monarch and continued the row but the candidates led by left the hall one after the other leaving only PDP members who continued their shouting.

    First to leave was the Mega Party of Nigeria (MPN) candidate, Chief Adebisi Omoyeni who was followed by Accord candidate, Chief Abiodun Aluko, Labour Party (LP) candidate, Dr. Sikiru Lawal, Fayemi, Olusola and others.

    Earlier, the IGP Idris disclosed that a total number of 4, 390 combined forces of soldiers and other paramilitary will be deployed to complement the 30,000 policemen that have been drafted to Ekiti to monitor the election.

    Idris added that Deputy Inspector General of Police (Operations), an Assistant Inspector General of Police and five Commissioners of police will be in charge to give directive and ensure that the election is conducted under conducive atmosphere.

    The nation’s police chief warned political leaders and their supporters to refrain from arming thugs, saying whoever arrested will be prosecuted in line with the rule of law and laws guiding the conduct of elections.

    Idris said: “We want all party supporters to refrain from all acts that can precipitate violence at the polling booths such as canvassing for votes, wearing of party insignias, dissuading voters from voting for candidates of their choices, loitering and blaring of siren on the day of election.

    “We will also not tolerate ignoring of restriction of movement orders by the police. Don’t see election as a matter of life and death.

    “Let me state that police will not hesitate to deal with anybody no matter how highly placed found flouting electoral laws.

    “Let me call for the collaboration and support of the entire sister agencies and the INEC officials. Police officers have been warned to be of good conduct during and after the election.

    “If you notice any misconduct on the part of any police, do not hesitate to report to the senior officers on the ground or contact me directly.”

    INEC boss Yakubu said the commission decided to distribute the Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) to the ward level to motivate the electorate to collect to be able to exercise their franchise rights.

    He said: “For transparency, all uncollected PVCs will be brought to INEC office in Ado Ekiti and warehoused for safe keeping until a new date is fixed to resume the PVC collection.

    “However, since the Anambra State Governorship election held in November 2017, we have introduced an additional measure of transparency.

    “I wish to reassure that our officials are under strict instruction to remain neutral. We have also accredited credible foreign and local observers to monitor this election.

    “We are confident that with the arrangements we have put in place, Ekiti State Governorship election will be another good example of free, fair, credible and peaceful election and a further affirmation of the maturity of our democracy.”

    Also affirming that the election will be credible, the State Resident Electoral Commissioner in Ekiti, Prof AbdulGaniy Raji, said a total of 913, 334 have been registered by the commission out of which 667,064 had collected their PVCs.

    Raji said the commission still has a total of 246,270 unclaimed PVCs that were yet to be collected by owners.

  • BMO replies r-APC, counts Buhari’s achievements

    The Buhari Media Organisation ( BMO ) on Monday said President Muhammadu Buhari had recorded landmark achievements within short period of time compared to past leaders that had governed the country.
    The Chairman of the organisation, Mr Austin Braimoh, said this in a statement in Abuja while reacting to remarks from the reformed All Progressives Congress (r-APC) that Buhari’s administration was a failure.
    Braimoh explained that Buhari’s government had succeeded where past leaders failed, as he has embarked on unprecedented projects and policy moves that are reforming Nigeria and delivering on the promises he made.
    “Contrary to the puerile remarks by the assembly of desperados, otherwise known as r-APC, apparently in desperation to justify their plans to exit the ruling All Progressives Congress.
    “As they look to ingratiate their personal selfish agenda, we direct their attention to the fact that the Buhari administration is currently feeding over 8 million primary school children across the country.
    “It is fixing and constructing roads in their hundreds across the country, transforming the Second Niger Bridge from mere political campaign tool as used by previous administrations to a reality.
    “Buba Galadima cannot stay in his Abuja residence, out of touch with the remarkable developments across the country and without evaluation, utter such puerile remarks,” he explained.
    The chairman said that it was unfortunate and profoundly insulting that the renegade group led by Galadima compared Buhari’s three years’ administration to that of the previous failures in the past 16 years.

    Read Also: PDP to blame for Plateau killings – BMO

    “We assert that it is evident that Mr Galadima is a man blinded by passion of hatred borne out of his inability to realise his base material aspirations in the Buhari administration.
    “He refuses to acknowledge and comprehend the quantum of challenges and work on ground for the Buhari administration to fix.”
    Braimoh wondered if any government in the past had recovered the quantum of stolen loots as recorded under the Buhari administration.
    According to him, the Anchor Borrowers Programme of the Buhari administration has been giving loans to farmers engaged in rice and wheat farming where over 250,000 farmers have benefitted.
    He added that it had led to historical high production in local food crops and particularly setting the country on the path of rice sufficiency.
    “If governments in the past had been this sincere in transforming the lives of Nigerians and invested half as much in the Nigerian people as the Buhari administration is doing, Nigeria would by now have developed characteristics very much like the proverbial Eldorado,” he said.
    Braimoh called on the Oshiomole-led APC to seek a declaration of the court to declare the Buba Galadima led r-APC illegal, and also advised that it commences processes of expelling them from the party.
    He commended genuinely aggrieved members of the party who had stuck through thick and thin with the party and are willing to work with the new leadership of the party to resolve the various challenges facing it.

     

  • 2019: Southeast APC in search of peace

    Following the crises bedeviling most of the state chapters of All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Southeast zone, the party leadership has set up channels to reconcile the warring factions ahead 2019 elections, reports Assistant Editor, Dare Odufowokan

    KEY stakeholders of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), in the Southeast geo-political zone may have taken a bold step to address and solve all intra-party rancour and disagreements in the party, particularly in Imo, Enugu and Anambra states, ahead of the 2019 General Elections. The Nation gathered that the decision by chieftains of the party in the zone to put their house in order has also received the blessing of the new national leadership of the APC.

    Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, the new National Chairman of the ruling party, according to findings by The Nation, has also pledged to support all efforts aimed at achieving peace within the APC in the southeast because, according to a close aide of the former Edo State governor, “the Comrade chairman is of the strong opinion that the zone will play a major role in the 2019 election and therefore should be of major concern to the APC.”

    The peace move, according to some of the stakeholders, is also expected to help find lasting solution to all forms of leadership tussle in the party in all the affected states, which are now bedeviled by leadership crisis and fictionalisation involving notable party figures following the numerous disagreements that trailed the last congresses of the party in affected states.

    It was gathered that though concerned chieftains of the party have been mooting the idea of a peace move, the idea was further cemented into something that must be done after the intervention of Oshiomhole and the new zonal leadership of the party, shortly after the national convention of the ruling party, about two week ago, in Abuja, the federal capital.

    While discussions are now centered on how successful the planned peace moves will turn out, observers of the politics of the region are unanimous in their positions that for the party to make meaningful impact in the zone come 2019; it must reconcile its warring chieftains. Rather than end the crises in the party across the zone as predicted by some of its leaders, the last congresses of the APC in the southeast further deepened the animosities within its ranks and files.

    Jude Ebelo is the Regional Director of Nigerian Voters’ Congress (NVC) in the southeast. He told our correspondent that an unending power tussle between founding members of the APC and other chieftains who defected from other parties to join the ruling party after the 2015 general election, as well as a fierce battle over who gets which ticket ahead of the 2019 general elections are the two major issues at the heart of the crises.

    “The APC in the southeast has decided very well if truly it is now searching for peace by reconciling its warring chieftains. At the initial stage, what obtained was a sharp division within the party’s leaders. But as we speak, in most of the states of the zone, what we have now are factions of the party. That happened after the congresses. And it is important that these developments are nipped in the bud.

    “In Imo, the governor is taking on the allied forces made up of nearly all other persons that matter in the party aside Governor Okorocha and his men. In Anambra, the Minister and other leaders of the party are not on the same page. In another state, a serving minister has been schemed out of the leadership of the party and he is crying blue murder if the situation is not addressed,” he explained.

    Many troubles

    Not a few persons thought things cannot get worse for the APC in the east than it became after the congress. But that assumption turned out to be false. Barely a week after the party’s national convention, four members  of the Imo State House of Assembly, all chieftains of the APC, were  suspended, by their colleagues, majority who are also APC lawmakers.

    The leadership of the legislative house alleged that the suspended lawmakers are being punished for “unparliamentary conduct” among other reasons given for their suspension. But party chieftains and other observers say there is more to their suspension than what is being alleged. “Politics, and in fact, the animosity between the governor and other APC leaders is responsible for this new crisis within the party,” a party chieftain claimed.

    Among those suspended are the member representing the Imo Deputy Governor’s constituency, Ifeanyi Nnataonye;  the lawmaker representing Senator Ifeanyi Araraume’s constituency, Isiala Mbano, Chiji  Collins;  Nkenna Nzeruo, Oru East and  Uche Oguwuike, Ikeduru. The suspension of Nnataonye and Collins, two well- known chieftains of the “allied forces”, is giving credence to claims of political persecution in the matter at hand.

    In Enugu state, an allegation by the Chairman of APC, Ben Nwoye, that Nigeria’s minister of foreign affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, planned to kill him using some compromised operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), is still raising dust. Nwoye had called on the Senate and House of Reps Committee on Foreign Relations to investigate the role of the minister in an incident during the party’s Congress “that almost consumed my life, that of Former Senate President, Ken Nnamani, Former Enugu State Governor, Sullivan Chime, DG VON, Mr. Osita Okechukwu and Southeast Vice Chairman of APC, Hon Emma Eneukwu.”

    The allegation and the counter allegations that trailed it were the aftermath of the recently concluded ward, local government and state congresses of the party where the minister lost out. While the minister is alleging that he and many other party chieftains were sidelined in the processes that produced Nwoye and others as party leaders, the chairman said the minister lied.

    “On the unfortunate report attributed to the minister, you don’t create parallel structure by wishful thinking; congress took part in all 360 wards, supervised by INEC, security agencies. Under my leadership, we don’t do thuggery, we don’t encourage disorder, that’s what he is doing, Enugu recorded the most peaceful congress,” Nwoye said. But supporters of the minister are still insisting there will be no peace in the party until their grievances are addressed.

    In Ebonyi State, the APC is still polarized into two as a faction loyal to Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, is being accused by another which had the support of the party’s governorship candidate in the 2015 general election, Senator Julius Ucha, of hijacking party structure for selfish reasons. Currently, the Onu faction has Pastor Eze Nwachukwu as its chairman while the Ucha faction has Hon. Ben Nwaobasi as its own chairman.

    Nwaobasi was elected the state APC chairman at the last congress of the party in 2014 while Nwachukwu was elected his deputy. But trouble reared its heads when some executives of the party announced Nwaobasi’s suspension and named Nwachukwu as Acting Chairman of the party in 2015. And in spite of the recognition of Nwachuckwu as the new State Chairman by the national headquarters, trouble is still brewing within the party in the state.

    During the week, the crisis rocking the Abia State chapter of the APC deepened following the insistence of Justice Okoroafor of Abia High Court that his order sacking the newly sworn-in Donatus Nwankpa-led executive committee of the party in the state subsists, maintaining that Dr. Emmanuel Ndukwe remains the state chairman of the party. Justice Okoroafor said that until a higher court upturns his sack order, it remains valid. Trouble started with the holding of two parallel congresses by factions of the party in the state last May.

    In Anambra State, a group within the party is still insisting that the last APC state congress was hijacked and didn’t hold. One of the aggrieved party chieftains, Donatus Okonkwo, had urged the party’s leadership in Abuja not to believe any story to the contrary, alleging that the congress was a total charade which will be strongly challenged. According to him, some individuals within the Anambra State chapter of the APC are planning to hijack the party structure in the state.

    “It will be shameful if any delegates’ list and elected people come out of last Saturday’s exercise in Anambra. “The cooked up names and crowning of individuals led by Dr. Chris Ngige, George Moghalu and Tony Nwoye is nothing but masquerade dance in market place as they think they will take the people for a ride,” he said. And in spite of efforts to douse the tension raised by the controversial outcomes of the congresses, many chieftains and members of the party are still bitter.

    Reconciliation

    In a bid to quell the many crises bedeviling the party in the zone, the APC has set up two reconciliation committees. While one committee is charged with the responsibility of addressing the crisis in Imo State chapter of the party, the other would undertake similar assignment for the entire zone. According to Governor Rochas Okorocha, who made the disclosure, the peace effort was required to prepare the party to face its challenges and achieve success in forth coming elections.

    He said Senator Omezue Azu Agboti would chair the APC Peace and Reconciliation Committee, Prince MacDonald Akano heads the committee charged with reconciling warring factions in Imo State. “What is important now is that we must make all efforts to make the party move forward both in the Southeast and in Imo in particular. This is not the time to point who is your political enemy or not. The party will no longer condone any act of indiscipline, stealing of result sheets and carrying of ballot boxes. APC is not known for that,” he said.

    “I want to equally ensure that the new party leadership will look into the aborted congresses in the state and I can assure you that there will be fresh congresses as soon as possible. That will now stabilize our party and get them ready for elections. And I want to thank Imolites, who have remained calm in the face of provocations and insults. The victory is for all of us.”

    Okorocha hinted that the July 14 council poll would still go on and urged eligible voters to endeavour to participate, adding, “The local government elections will still go on as scheduled and I hope everyone will participate and the exercise will be free and fair. The issue of the Coalition has come to an end. The people had spoken and God has heard them. We are back from the national convention with victory,” the Governor added.

    As part of effort to heal wounds and bring all party members together once again ahead of the 2019 general election, the party in the southeast also held a mega rally in Owerri last week. The rally, which had in attendant majority of the APC big wigs in the zone, saw prominent party leaders and chieftains from across the country coming to solidarize with APC and President Muhammadu Buhari.

    According to Okorocha, the mega victory rally was intended to drum support for Buhari. “This is rally with so many leaders of our party in attendance with Secretary to the Government of the Federation as a representative of the President. The idea is to promote the ideals of what President Buhari stands for, and to also ensure that Igbos are not left out again, and to rebuild all broken bridges with both the north and western part of this country and position Ndi-Igbo better.”

    But while the APC is struggling hard to put its house in order in the zone, some people are of the opinion that the party may be unable to weather the storm currently troubling it.

    Specifically, the opposition PDP insists that following the widespread crises currently hitting the party in the zone, the APC will not exist in the Southeast beyond the 2019 general elections. The National Coordinator of the PDP Youth Alliance, Dr. Charles Omini, said APC will destroy itself in the zone soon.

    “Within the last three years, all has not been well with Nigeria because all has not been well within APC. We are having a situation where we installed a bad tyre on a new vehicle. We delivered our mandate to a party that is destroying itself from the inside and has now unleashed killer Fulani herdsmen on all of us, a party that has taken the country 60 percent backward. In the southeast, there will be no APC after 2019,” he boasted.

    However, the national president of APC Youth League, Solomon Faeren, said that the party is getting stronger in the zone and will soon fulfil its mission of winning the entire zone in 2019 to enable it consolidate on its programmes for the region. He says with the ongoing reconciliation efforts, the APC will soon emerge as the party to beat in the entire southeast zone.

    “Reconciliation efforts are on and all we ask is that every party member should come together as one and form a formidable force to defeat the PDP in all the states of the southeast geo-political zone come 2019. The more united we are, the better and easier it will be for us to bring the desired progressive change we have been clamoring for our various states in the southeast region,” he said.

  • PDP in final talks with APC breakaway group

    Talks between the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and members of the breakaway group of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), were intensified at the weekend.

    A large number of aggrieved prominent chieftains of the APC had, on Wednesday, announced the formation of the Reformed APC, signaling their exit from the mainstream APC.

    Membership of the Reformed APC, as announced by its chairman, Alhaji Buba Galadima, cut across the various defunct political parties that merged to form the APC in 2014.

    Prominent among the chieftains being targeted by the PDP include the President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki who is the de facto leader of the Reformed APC.

    Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Yakubu Dogara and a large number of members of the two chambers of the National Assembly are also members of the group.

    Friday’s judgment of the Supreme Court discharging and acquitting Saraki of 18-count asset declaration case brought against him by the Federal Government before the Code of Conduct Tribunal has strengthened the hands of members of the Reformed APC.

    Read Also: PDP feeling anti-graft heat, says Presidency

    Investigation by our correspondent revealed on Friday that Saraki’s acquittal by the apex court has rejuvenated members of the group, who had awaited the judgment with bated breath.

    None of the members of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the PDP was willing to comment on the status of negotiations between the party and the Reformed APC members.

    However, a highly placed party source confided in our correspondent on Friday that talks between the PDP and the defecting members of the APC were being wrapped up.

    “You seem to be in a hurry to get information about how far we have gone. But I would advise you to wait till next week to get a clearer picture of developments in that regard.

    “All I can tell you for now is that almost all the members of the Reformed APC are coming back home (PDP) because majority of them had their roots in the PDP before they went to join the now deserted APC in 2014.

    “We are putting finishing touches to our discussions and there is mutual trust and understanding between us and our compatriots from the Reformed APC”, the source who pleaded for anonymity said.

    Asked whether change of name for the PDP was one of the issues on the cards, the source simply said discussions have gone far beyond name change.

    According to him, it was agreed at the last discussion that there may not be any need for the PDP to change name, considering the fact that the PDP is a brand that’s firmly entrenched in every nook and cranny of the country.

    “If you will agree with me, you can see that the PDP has rebranded and things are no longer done the old ways. Our national convention held on December 17, 2017 was a testimony to our rebranded status”, the source added.

    However, our correspondent independently gathered that there are still some knotty areas in the discussion, particularly as regards the control of existing party structures across many states that are not under the control of the PDP.

    For instance, the various state executive committees in such states are already apprehensive that the structures of the party might be taken away from them and handed over to some prominent chieftains among the incoming members.

    Some of the state executive committee members cited the case of the immediate past governor of Ondo State, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko who defected from the Labour Party to the PDP in 2013.

    They recalled that the existing PDP structure in the state was taken away from the executive committee and handed over to Mimiko by the then national leadership of the PDP.

    The development had created serious tension between old members and the new entrants led by the former Ondo governor.

    Some party leaders had attributed the crisis that engulfed the Ondo chapter of the PDP and the eventual loss of the governorship seat in 2017 to the leadership crisis created in the state chapter by Mimiko’s re-entry into the PDP.

    Similarly, it was also gathered that majority of intending defectors in the Reformed APC, particularly among members of the National Assembly, have insisted on having automatic 2019 return tickets to their seats as part of the bargain.

    This has created a dilemma for the leadership of the PDP because if the demand is acceded to, many of the party’s members may have to be sacrificed for the intending new comers.

    The party leaders are worried that this may create another crisis for the PDP that could lead to the exodus of a large number of party faithful who may want to pursue their aspiration on different political platforms.

    Our correspondent reliably gathered that the leadership of the PDP would be meeting with the leadership of the Reformed APC
    in the days ahead, with the view to resolving this and other knotty issues.

  • 2019: Senator seeks Igbo support for Lagos APC

    The Senator representing Lagos West, Solomon Adeola, on Thursday  urged all Igbo resident in Lagos to vote for the ruling All Progressives Congress ( APC) during the 2019 election.

    Adeola said that voting for APC was the only way to show appreciation for the good work of the party in the state.

    A statement by the media adviser to Adeola, Kayode Odunaro said that the lawmaker made the call when a delegation of Alaba International Market Council of Elders (AIMCE) paid him a courtesy call in Abuja to present an award for good representation to him.

    It said that Senator Adeola who is chairman, Senate Committee on Local Content told the delegation led by Eze John-Greg Ezebuadi, the chairman of AIMCE) and Eze Ndi Igbo of Iba, Ojo LGA that the last election showed that Igbo in Lagos heeded calls of external influence that had no interest in their welfare in the state.

    He said, “I am of the view that you should see the Yoruba that you lived with for years as your brothers more than your tribes people that you see only once or so in a year or not at all for decades. The interest of the APC government led by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode and our leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu to continue to develop all part of Lagos state is the best interest of all of Lagosians including the Igbo.

    “In spite of negative electoral result from some areas against APC, the government has not discriminated against any section in bettering the welfare of all Lagosian.”

    Read Also: Igbo leaders: ‘We will vote Buhari in 2019’

    Senator Adeola said 2019 election is a good time for Igbo to open a new chapter in their relation with the ruling party APC.

    He added that their support and vote for APC in the state will show they appreciate the progressive and welfarist government of Governor Ambode in the last three years without discrimination.

    “I can say and I am aware that Governor Ambode has not discriminated against any group in delivery of dividends of democracy. He has not abandoned areas that did not vote for him and his party in 2015. The coming 2019 election is time to show appreciation and encouragement for the APC in Lagos State.”.

    It said that Eze Ezebuadi noted that they decided to come to Abuja to present the award to him for his effective representation of Lagos West Senatorial District at the Senate.

    It said that that Ezebuadi added that the voting pattern of the last election was the result of non recognition of relevant and progressive Igbo with long history of working with the progressives of Lagos State.

    It said that the leader of the delegation noted that with the performance of the Ambode administration work is ongoing to enlighten all Igbo on the need to bring to truism the Igbo adage “Ebe madu bi Ka ona owachi” (meaning where you live is where you call your home.)

  • Ekiti 2018: Atiku, Makarfi, Secondus, others storm Ekiti for Olusola

    Say PDP on mission to rescue Nigeria

    Fayose alleges intimidation, ‘rigging’ plot

     

    National leaders, presidential aspirants and governors of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) on Thursday declared readiness to displace the All Progressives Congress (APC) from the Presidency.

    They sounded the 2019 general election battle cry at the mega rally in Ado-Ekiti where they rallied support for the party’s candidate, Prof. Kolapo Olusola, in the July 14 governorship election.

    Olusola was officially presented with the party’s flag by the PDP National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, at a rally staged on the highway at the foot of the flyover in Ojumose area of Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.

    Mammoth crowd of party members, workers’ unions, students, youths, artisans, ethnic nationalities and members of the public utilized the opportunity to attend the rally.

    Former Vice President and presidential aspirant, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, said the PDP is on a mission to rescue Nigeria from insecurity and other challenges confronting it.

    Other national leaders who restated the readiness of the PDP to take over power at the centre are former national Caretaker Chairman and ex-Kaduna State Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Makarfi; former Sokoto State Governor, Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa; former Jigawa State Governor, Alhaji Sule Lamido; former Niger State Governor, Dr. Babangida Aliyu and Chairman, Board of Trustees, Senator Walid Jibrin.

    Atiku, Makarfi, Lamido and Bafarawa addressed the rally in their capacity as presidential aspirants.

    Read Also: Ekiti people will resist rigging of guber poll – PDP

    Atiku urged the people of Ekiti to vote continuity as represented by Olusola, who is seeking to succeed his boss, Governor Ayo Fayose, in the July 14 election.

    He said: “The people of Ekiti, I have known you since 1992; all the projects completed and taken Ekiti to higher level have been done by PDP alone.

    “PDP guarantees you good hospital, road, infrastructure, education and many other dividends of democracy, it is time for you to ensure that this administration continues because that is the key to development.

    “What we are doing is a rescue mission, we will bring back peace, security and prosperity of this country. Make sure you vote and stay there till results are announced.”

    Secondus said: “The PDP is rebranded and repositioned; we are here to rescue Nigeria from insecurity, from collapse and from hardship Nigerians are presently going through under the APC government.

    “Many Nigerians are being killed in Taraba, Benue and Plateau States. How many of our people will you kill? APC and its people are not God.

    “We refuse to be intimidated, it is their style to intimidate. Thus country is experiencing civil war because of killing and Buhari is behind it, APC is behind it, PDP will take over.

    “They have the plan to arrest our people, our members but we will not be intimidated. The APC is broken already, the broom has scattered. We have the best candidate for this election and he will take over from Fayose to continue the development of this state.”

    Chairman of the PDP National Campaign Council and Akwa Ibom State Governor Udom Emmanuel said Nigerians are tired of APC leadership and are ready to vote out the broom party.

    Emmanuel claimed that it is only PDP states that things are working urging Ekiti residents to vote continuity and give their votes to Olusola.

    He urged security agencies to allow the conduct of a free, fair and credible election and ensure that the votes of the Ekiti electorate count.

    Other PDP governors who canvassed for votes for Olusola include Alhaji Ibrahim Dankwambo (Gombe), Mr. Dave Umahi (Ebonyi), Chief Nyesom Wike (Rivers), Mr. Daris Ishaku (Taraba), Prof. Ben Ayade (Cross River), Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa (Delta), and Bayelsa State Governor, Mr. Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa) represented by his deputy, Rear Admiral Gboribiogha Jonah (rtd).

    Other prominent party leaders who attended the rally include former Anambra State Governor, Mr. Peter Obi; former Ogun State Governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel; National Vice Chairman (Southwest), Dr. Eddy Olafeso, members of the National Working Committee and members of the Zonal Working Committee.

    Host Governor Fayose accused the APC of planning to the rig the governorship poll but maintained that the people of the state are ready to resist any attempt to manipulate the poll.

    He alleged that the intimidation ahead of the election had started with the alleged closure of the Akure Airport to prevent governors and other party leaders from attending the rally.

    Fayose said: “INEC, we know your plan that you want to rig for APC, we will follow you bumper-to-bumper. We know your preloaded agenda, how you are planning to release ballot papers to APC.

    “We knew what you did in Kogi, we knew what you did in Ondo, we know your plan. Whether APC resort to violence or not, Kolapo Olusola will be declared governor-elect of Ekiti State, Nigeria.

    “I want to say that over ninety nine per cent of those who will conduct the election are not from Ekiti; youth corpers, police, INEC are not from here, leave our state alone.

    “Look at this crowd, look at this young people, if you are living in our state, this is not a hired crowd, we don’t hire crowd here, these are people living in the state.”

    Fayose added: “Since Monday, they have been arresting PDP people, they arrested three teachers. In this election, it will be 16-0, it will be 16-0 again, the 16-0 is loading.

    “I got a letter on Wednesday that that I should come and welcome the President but I said I am not receiving the President because he has not done anything for Ekiti.

    “I want to condemn the Federal Government for what they have done; why do you have to close the Akure Airport? That is shameful, that is not patriotic, that is shameful.”

    Speaking after receiving the flag, Olusola, who was flanked by his wife, Janet, expressed confidence that he will win the election and will be declared governor-elect.

    Olusola said: “By the grace of Almighty God, we assure our leaders and Ekiti that we will sustain the good legacies of Fayose, we will improve on it and sustain the legacies.

    “I assure you of adequate security, healthcare, excellent infrastructure, civil service, education enterprises, and exemplary leadership among others.

    “Ours is a divine agenda.  It is a divine mission with divine agenda it cannot be conquered by APC. Congratulations Ekiti, your governor elect is talking.

  • Ahead 2019: Group seeks unity of Igbos for Buhari, Ambode’s re-election

    A socio-political group, Igbo Vision in APC, says the only way forward for Igbos in Lagos state is to unite and support the re-election of President Muhammadu Buhari and Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode in 2019.

    The group made the declaration on Wednesday at its meeting in Lagos, organised to endorse President Buhari and Gov. Ambode for re-election in 2019 general elections.

    Speaking at the event, Mr Joe Igbokwe, Lagos State Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), said that various Igbo groups in the state must unite in the interest of Igbos in Lagos.

    “It is not about money, it is about our interest that we are fighting for. We should unite and showcase our strength. Based on our strength, we will be recognised.

    “We need to make a statement with our votes. Gov. Ambode wants Igbos in one form, we must harmonise everybody.

    “We need to have a single forum that will bear APC, either Igbo in APC or Ndigbo in APC that will accommodate everybody.

    “We need to work with other Igbo groups and persons to get the strength we need to negotiate and change the equation.

    Read Also: APC convention: Court refuses to stop Lagos’ delegates

    “Igbo nation should know that if we need to be relevant in Nigeria politically, we need to join APC for us to have a President of Nigeria from Igbo extraction in shortest distance.

    “We should queue behind Buhari in 2019,” he said.

    He urged Igbos to play the politics by bringing everyone together across the country and stop hate speech and bigotry.

    The publicity secretary quoted Buhari as saying that,“there is no reason why Igbo should not produce President in 2023”  and admonished all Igbos to “play reasonable politics.“

    Igbokwe, who also admonished Igbos in Lagos not to approach 2019 general elections with a divided house, recalled that the Igbos were polarised during 2015 general elections.

    He said that the division in the house affected the group in the scheme of things in Lagos APC.

    According to him, the leadership of APC in the state, after 2015 election results, thought every Igbo man voted for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), hence the distrust for Igbos thereafter.

    Igbokwe commended the Executives of Igbos across all local government areas in Lagos state for standing behind the party in spite of the hard times the group went through after 2015 elections.

    According to him, though there is no serious opposition in Lagos like it happened in 2015, the Igbos should not repeat the mistake they made in 2015 elections by voting against Ambode.

    He reminded the Igbos in the state that “things have changed.“

    “In Lagos, we need to showcase our strength by bringing everybody on board. The fight for supremacy is over.

    “We are looking beyond peanuts, but on things that will help us and our children. Our votes must be noticed in numbers, we have a lot of work to do to be recognised.

    ” The number of Ndigbos in Lagos can no longer be ignored. We need to organise ourselves. “We don’t have any other place go than to remain in APC.

    “We must play the politics. We need to be on the same page. We should not be spectators, it is a game of number, we have to go out and fight for votes.”

    Also speaking, Chief Uche Dimgba, the Eze Ndigbo, Ikeja, said that there was need to sensitise Igbos on the need to unify and mobilise for Buhari and Ambode, to actualise the vision and aspirations of Igbos.

    Dimgba, who said that the group still believed in APC, added that no effort would be spared to bring all aggrieved together to support Buhari and Ambode.

    Mr Leo Obasi, the Organising Secretary of the group, said that there was a need for stronger Igbo organisations in Lagos APC for the benefits of Ndigbos.

    Obasi, who noted that the Igbo leadership in Lagos were divided, urged them to consider the future of the Sout-East people in the state in all they did.

    The meeting brought together Igbo leaders across the 20 local government areas and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in the state.

    NAN

     

  • APC crisis: Oshiomhole assures on justice, fairness

    National Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole, on Wednesday said that the adoption of the principles of justice and fairness will be the way forward to resolve the differences in the party.

    Oshiomhole also noted that apart from upholding the principles of fairness and justice, the party would courageously stand by the truth to overcome its problems.

    The APC chairman spoke at a meeting between the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) of the party and APC Senate caucus at the National Assembly.

    He said that the party leadership was not necessarily bothered about the size of the party but the quality and commitment of members to the unity of the party.

    He assured the senators that issues breeding crisis in the party would be addressed in a manner to ensure a win-win situation.

    The party chairman noted that the issues threatening peace and unity of the party varied from State to State and from constituency to constituency.

    He added that the party under his leadership would painstakingly take steps to address all complaints.

    Read Also: Oshiomhole inherited party in cold war – Sani

    Oshiomhole who also spoke on the move by some members to increase the size of the party noted that such ambition could spell doom for the party.

    He said: “I think we should stop celebrating our size. I am not fascinated when people say we are the largest party in Africa. This is because in economics, you could suffer from diseconomics of scale.

    “You can become too big as to become dysfunctional. In the modern world that is knowledge-driven, small can be beautiful.”

    For him, the most important issue for the party is to make it more democratic and strong.

    He said, “So, I want to speak to democratic party, cohesive party, united party, the most powerful party. And this will be measured not by ourselves but by the Nigerian people in terms of what we are doing, how we do it and the cohesiveness that they can see.

    “So, that is in our hands and it is those values I want us to celebrate in future. I do not have any illusion that these are things we can just pluck. They have to be result of conscious hard work to have a united house.

    “So, I ask you Mr. President of the Senate and distinguished senators to trust that working together along with our leaders who are not here, we are committed to finding solutions that everyone will be able to smile, remain in the house, work in the house.”

    Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, who responded to Oshiomhole’s remarks, also harped on justice and fairness.

    Saraki noted that justice and fairness were the issues party members had clamored for even before the national convention.

    After the opening session of the meeting, the party members went into a closed door session.

  • How to end herdsmen attack, by APC chieftain

    The Federal Government has been advised to engage traditional rulers and community heads in its effort to address cases of incessant killings in the country.

    A senior lawyer and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kebbi State, Sahabi Sani Sami said the seeming intractable challenge of herdsmen/farmers clashes could be addressed where the government works with traditional rulers/community heads and identified leaders of the Miyetti Allah group.

    Sami, who commended the various security  agencies for their efforts, argued that the security problem in the country would  not have got to this alarming state if the National Security Adviser (NSA) was proactive and advised the President appropriately.

    He said: “If the National Security Adviser had advised the President Appropriately, the security situation in the country would not have degenerated to this level.

    “He (NSA) needs to be proactive. We feel he is not doing enough. But, it is not for me to decide what should be done to him. The President should take the necessary steps if he discovers that his appointee is not doing well.”

    Sami was optimistic that the call for the creation of state police would also assist in addressing the security challenge.

    He however argued that the National Assembly, as currently constituted, is without the requisite integrity and maturity to debate and midwife state police for the country.

    Sami advocated for proper funding of the various security agencies to enable them do more in the face of increasing security challenge in the country.

    He praised the Judiciary for its proactive handling of political cases, a practice, which he argued, has assisted in stabilising the nation’s democracy.

    Sami also hailed the leadership of the Judiciary, particularly the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen for the various innovative reforms he has introduced to the judicial arm of government.