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Tag: All Progressives Congress

  • Ekiti: Court dismisses suit seeking to bar Fayemi

    A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Bwari, Abuja has dismissed a suit seeking to bar the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Kayode Fayemi from participating in the Ekiti State governorship election.

    Justice O. A. Musa, in a judgment on Tuesday,  dismissed the suit marked: CV/57/2018, filed by the Action People’s Party (APP), on the grounds that it was without merit. The suit had Fayemi, APC and Ekiti State Government as 1st, 2nd and 3rd defendants.

    The plaintiff had urged the court to disqualify Fayemi and restrain the APC from fielding him as its candidate on the grounds of his indictment in a report issued by a commission of inquiry set up by the state government to probe his administration, and the white paper issued by the government based on the report.

    The APP had contended  that, based on the indictment and the white paper issued, banning him from holding office for 10 years, Fayemi was constitutionally  disqualified Fayemi from standing for election by virtue of Section 182(1)(i) of the Constitution.

    Read Also: Fayemi meets workers, artisans, others

    In his judgment, Justice Musa upheld the argument by Rafiu Balogun, lawyer to Fayemi and the APC to the effect that Section 182 of the Constitution, on which the suit was based, was no longer a valid provision.

    The judge said the provision had ceased to exist by virtue of the First Alteration Act, 2011, by which the National Assembly deleted the Section 182 of the Constitution.

    Justice Musa, who faulted the report by the Ekiti judicial commission of enquiry, held that the process leading to the issuance of the report was “fundamentally tainted with denial of due process and fair hearing.”

    The judge noted that although the commission initially invited Fayemi as a witness, he objected to the invitation, which was overruled by the commission.

    He said after overruling Fayemi’s objection to being invited as a witness, the commission failed to re-invite him to notify him that he was being invited as an accused, and without affording him an opportunity to be heard, but went ahead to give a report indicting him.

    Justice Musa, who described the procedure adopted by the commission as “absurd”, proceeded to quash the report and the white paper issued by the state based on the report.

    He said: “The proceedings of the Ekiti State Judicial Commission of Enquiry and the report are hereby quashed. They are null and void. The white paper issued by the state government is based on a non-existent report and it is a nullity.”

    The judge also noted that there was evidence before the court that the report and white paper was subject of litigation before the High Court of Ekiti State.

    Justice Musa said even if the report and white paper were to be valid, they were not sufficient to disqualify a citizen from holding public office.

    The judge said, going by several decisions by the Supreme Court, an indictment by bodies, other than a court of law, cannot amount to a conviction by a court.

    He said it was only when a citizen is convicted by a court of law for criminal offence can such a person be disqualified from holding public office or standing for election.

    The judge said the position of the Supreme Court was informed by the fact that it was only a court of law that could conduct a fair and unbiased trial.

    Justice Musa noted that none of the parties to the suit presented before the court,any evidence of indictment or conviction from any court of law.

    The judge declared that Fayemi was eligible to stand for election and hold public office. He held that the APC was at liberty, under the law, to field him as its candidate.

    Justice Musa, who answered the two questions posed by the plaintiff in the negative, dismissed all its prayers.

    An elated Balogun, while reacting to the judgment, praised the court for standing with the truth and ensuring that justice was served.

  • Ekiti 2018: Fayose rallies supporters for PDP mega rally

    Urges them to wear White on rally day

    Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose has urged residents of the state to attend the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) flag off rally to be held on Thursday.

    The PDP governorship candidate, Prof. Kolapo Olusola, will be presented with the flag at the event to be attended by governors and the party’s national and zonal leadership.

    Fayose who spoke on Broadcasting Service of Ekiti State (BSES) described the event as “mother of all rallies.” He urged party supporters to wear white to the rally.

    The governor promised to provide free fuel to commercial motorcycle riders on election day to convey eligible voters to polling stations at highly reduced prices.

    Fayose vowed that the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, will be defeated in all the 16 local government areas of the state.

    The governor claimed that the APC flag bearer relies on federal might, while he and Olusola depend on the people’s might.

    He said: “There will be a mother of all rallies on Thursday, July, 5 where the PDP flag will be given to our candidate, Olusola Kolapo Eleka.

    “There will also be victory walk where all of us will wear white, and walk through the state capital praising God and thanking him for victory over our enemies.”

    He added: “The power of the people is greater than those of us in= power, peoples’ might is greater than federal might.

    Read Also: Ekiti 2018: Workers accuse Fayose of illegal data capturing

    “Anything that does not represent the truth in this poll will fail. The opposition is fighting God and they will fail. We will beat APC 16-0 again.”

    Fayose alleged that the Federal Government has been delaying allocations to states because of the impending election in Ekiti.

    He claimed that the alleged seizure of Ekiti allocation was aimed at instigating workers against his administration.

    Fayose said: “The Federal Government has refused to share the allocation. They decided to delay so that workers in Ekiti would be angry with Fayose.

    “They held a meeting last week Saturday and decided to delay the allocation so that workers won’t get salaries until after July 14 poll.

    “They owe me two budget supports. They delayed the salaries of the workers across the nation because of Ekiti. Is that a government that loves the masses?

    He condemned the recent wave of violence in some quarters in the state and urged members of PDP to desist from violent activities:

    “See how APC attacked people in Fayose market and Oloje Ekiti. Our power is our PVC, l urge men of God both those supporting me and those not, to campaign  to people to go get their PVC

    “I urge all PDP members once again not to retaliate the APC thugs, reserve your strength till the day of election. It is not a physical combat but one done with your PVCs. Don’t take arms against anybody, don’t fight.

    “Avoid distribution of money during the poll; it could land you in prison. I promise all Okada men, to provide fuel so you take our people with half price for movement during the poll.”

  • I’ll banish hunger in Osun -Adedeji

    Elder George Tunde Adedeji is a governorship aspirant on the platform of All Progressives Congress (APC). Associate Editor, Sam Egburonu. Reports on his vision for the state as party goes for the primary election

    AS the All Progressives Congress (APC) prepares for its governorship primaries, which, according to the Chairman of the party in the state, Mr. Gboyega Famodun, will feature not less than 27 contestants, observers have been curious to know the vision of the aspirants ahead of the primary.

    One of the visible aspirants for the party’s governorship ticket, Elder George Tunde Adedeji, who recently released his manifesto, told The Nation that if he gets the party’s ticket and wins the election, he will, amongst others, “banish hunger in Osun.”

    In his manifesto, tagged “A Four Cardinal Programme,” the Director of Skyrun Cocoa Processing Company, Ede, said he will prioritise agriculture, education, health and human development/empowerment of the citizenry.

    “On agriculture, agroindustry and agribusiness, “my vision is to make Osun the food basket and banish hunger totally. Our good intentioned government will prioritise agriculture; revive the old and existing agricultural settlements across the state; empower the farmers with financial and agricultural tools, including insecticides and pesticide; set up commodity exchange for regulation and coordination of agricultural products; assist in establishing a network of multipurpose cooperative society and encourage setting up of agroindustry and agribusiness in all the previously mapped out nine industrial estates in the state,” he said.

    Adedeji’s vision for education, according to him, is “to encourage technical and skilled based education from primary to tertiary level to engender multiplier effects. My government, if given the mandate; shall fashion out curricula that will accommodate and have in-built skill acquisition and self- reliance; create attitudinal reorientation in our pupils and students for value sake; train and retrain the teachers to attune with present-day reality of ICT; attitudinal reorientation and value management; establish loans and scholarship boards that will cater for the needs of brilliant and indigent students; parents and re-orient guardians towards reality in the educational system. I will also discourage bad side of sharp and unwholesome practices; reward dedicated and exceptional teachers commensurately and institute various awards for the stakeholders in educational system.

    Adedeji also believes so much still needs to be done in the area of health services. “I want to make health services available, affordable and comprehensively standard; make primary health care a priority; rehabilitate and equip all our health centres with modern facilitates; absorb all trained health workers and train more hands, encourage health personnel in the state with necessary incentives and of course ensure regular and periodic training and retraining programmes.

    Another sector that the aspirant promises would engage the government attention if he gets the party ticket and wins the election is human resources development and empowerment of citizenry. As he puts it: “the HRD of my administration is especially designed to boost self-esteem of state workers by evolving a policy framework that will guarantee an enviable, sustainable and enduring career success; give the state work force sense of belonging and belongingness, make civil servants proud of their chosen career; ensure regular training (Local and International) for value addition; encourage exchange programmes between our workers on one hand and workers in other climes.

    He will also like to implement what he describes as “a comprehensive empowerment policy, to make our people to be self-reliant and self-sustaining for better living.” He explained the motivating factor this way: “Idle hand, they say, is devils workshop; genealogically, our people are known to be hardworking and dedicated citizens. Our government shall provide enabling environment that is conducive and encouraging; put in place entrepreneurial development opportunities in which the people; the youth, women, widows, widowers, the physically challenged, unemployed and underemployed can key into and sustain themselves. We shall provide skill acquisition centres; encourage cooperative movement with enabling policies; facilitate easy access to affordable loans and encourage regular training of our people on skill acquisition and entrepreneurial development opportunities. The retirees will be treated with respect and their entitlements paid as at when due.

    The technocrat also pledged to make a difference in some specific areas, including provision of road infrastructural facilities. “Our vision is to provide standard road network in towns and cities with feeder roads linking our rural areas; ensure periodic and regular maintenance of our roads; empower and encourage road transport workers and their unions with access to loanable funds to buy and maintain their vehicles for economic and social values,” he said.

    Other areas where the aspirant expresses peculiar interest include culture, tourism and security. “We have plans to transform our rich culture to wealth; support Culture and Tourism Ministries in all ramifications; rejuvenate Yoruba culture by empowering the custodians, promote our culture to enviable level, reconnect with the Yoruba in diaspora, modernise all our tourist centres and interact favourably with other cultures within and outside the country.

    “On security, we will “ ensure the state is conducive for peaceful co-habitation; we shall fortify the existing security; train and retrain the personnel locally and internationally; see to the general welfare of men and officers; be proactive on all security issues,” he said.

    Citing his experience in the private sector and his political career, as evidence that he is prepared for the job, he said; “if given the mandate to serve you, I intend to lead an all-inclusive government, bridge the gap between the rich and poor. In addition, our government shall encourage the women folk by reserving 40 percent of appointment for them. We shall also provide developmental initiatives that are sustainable and positively impactful on the generality of our people. I am committed to building a state where there will be economic buoyancy, a hub of modern development and haven of investors as well as bee-hive of business investments and employment generation activities; above all, a place of peaceful co-habitation and brotherly love.”

    In an earlier interview, where he also talked about his qualification for the job, Adedeji had said: “I have what it takes in terms of exposure, education and vision to lead Osun State to the next level of development. I have been in politics since 1998. Prior to that, I was active in student politics, a king maker and parliamentarian during my days in University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife (OAU)). Nobody could have been president of the Students Union without my input.

    “I attempted the House of Representatives in 1999 and my ticket was ceded to a former Speaker of the House of Representatives. I cooperated with Chief Bisi Akande, our great leader, political father, mentor and great coach.

    “I have been a loyal party man. I have gained a lot from our progressive leaders. I am a key player in Osun politics. The greatest travail of the progressives was the struggle for the actualisation of the mandate of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola. I am glad that I was part of the process. I am able to mix maximally with different kinds of people youth, women, the old, privileged and under privileged.

    “I have a lot of contacts both locally and internationally that can be harnessed to bring in the much needed investment to develop the state. I served as the chairman of two companies within the Oodua Group of Companies, Askar Paints Nigeria Limited and Wrought Iron Nigeria Limited. I want to leave a legacy of good governance.”

    It remains to be seen, who will eventually win the primary election and step into Ogbeni Aregbesola’s shoes. One thing seems certain though, Adedeji, a grassroots politician, has emerged a frontrunner in the APC primary election.

  • ‘I will set Osun State on the path of greatness’

    Babatunde Adedotun Taiwo is an All Progressives Congress (APC) aspirant for this year’s governorship election in Osun State. In this interview, he tells Daniel Adeleye his intention to rewrite the history of the state and his expectations in the primaries of APC in the state, amongst others. Excerpts

    WHY are you aspiring to become the next governor of Osun State?

    It’s about time Osun State moves to the next level. I am one of the ardent believers that Osun State is not where it was at its creation but I know that it is yet to reach the desired destination. I believe Osun has potentials and I am confident I have what it takes to move the state to the desired place in history. My desire is borne out of the fact that I believe things can be done differently and people would be better for it. People deserve better and I believe I have what it takes to rewrite the fortunes of Osun State. I believe I have both intellectual capacity and international exposure to put my people in the advantageous position they deserve. My coming out at this time to aspire for the number one seat of the state is not borne out of personal aggrandizement, it is as a result of genuine concerns for the betterment of the people of Osun.

    How far have you gone in the race; would you say you are well known in the state to the extent of going to the level of aspiring to become the governor?

    I am not just joining politics; I’ve been in politics for a long time since the days of Alliance for Democracy (AD) and I was deeply involved in the politics of that period. Ever since then I’ve always been in politics all along. I have to tell you, of all the aspirants that we have in APC vying for governorship of Osun State as at now, am the first person that signified interest to contest. We’ve been doing the underground work for over two years now. So, talking of popularity, I have never held any political office in the state or in Nigeria as a whole. But as of today, the strength of my political movement in Osun State is massive. Majority of other aspirants are either ex-political appointees or even present political office holders. So even if they are not popular, their offices are popular. It’s not really the aspirants that are popular; it’s their offices that earn them the so-called popularity. So, talking about popularity and how far we have gone in the race, we have really done well. We are a force to be reckoned with in this forthcoming election.

    What would you do to tackle the economic stagnation of the state?

    In the words of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, good governance is not a Rocket Science. Good governance is achieved when people in power take deliberate and calculated steps to replace hardship with ease. Economic hardship can be replaced with economic freedom under which every citizen is catered for. Imbalance can be replaced with fairness, unemployment with decent, self-worth and well-paying jobs, making the opportunities available. Good governance is a result of taking the small ever-neglected steps that affect the lives of individuals without losing the sight of their future. So, I have prepared to do things differently by taking hard decisions that previous administrations were unable to take. My administration will look beyond monthly federal allocation and set the state on the path of greatness. I will work assiduously to renegotiate the debts profile of the state, while we build our infrastructures and also use the sustainable ones as source of revenue in the foreseeable future. The coast is large, the coast is clear and we can do all these together with the support of the people of Osun.

    Considering the plight of the workers who were owed several months of half salaries arrears, how do you want to resolve this menace?

    It has become a national embarrassment that payment of workers’ salaries has become issues in some states in Nigeria for the past few years. Every worker deserves to be paid; it’s godly to get it done without troubles. The over-dependence of states on federal allocation has to be stopped. And this can be achieved by putting in place alternatives to revenue generation. A process works and becomes sustainable if the right plans are put in place. Osun State is not poor if we set our priorities right and look beyond the usual monthly allocation from Abuja. By improving on all we have, like agriculture, tourism, and infrastructure and by also reducing the cost of governance and eliminate wastes, Osun can afford to pay its workers.

    Within the first year of my administration, the rhetoric of tagging Osun State a ‘civil service state’ would be changed. Our drive to industrialise the state will change that in no time.

    What are your plans for the unfinished projects of the incumbent governor?

    Every project that has direct impact on the betterment of Osun State will be completed. My administration will make continuity in governance robust and I will personally send bills to the State House of Assembly to make sure that abandoned projects in the state become a thing of the past. The incumbent governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has laid a solid foundation for development in the state; my administration will build on it. That is continuity that has helped major economies in the world irrespective of changes in governance.

    The qualitative education in the state, which Ogbeni Aregbesola has started, would be the priority of my administration. We will pick it from where he stops and we will not let anything to steal the beauty of our new schools, instead, we will improve on them. Osun State has already acquired dedicated and committed civil service to get things done the right way. Yes, they need to be motivated and that will come through the restructuring I mentioned earlier.

    You are one of the 28 aspirants seeking the mandate of the people of Osun State to be the next governor; what is your expectation on this Saturday’s APC primaries in the state?

    Justice, fairness and equity, I have confident in the leadership of the party; they know the best way to resolve problems that may create any form of enmity among contestants and their followers before, during and after the primaries. If option A4, like what we witnessed in Ekiti after the first primary, is adopted here in Osun, I will be happy with it. What I appreciate and desire is justice, fairness and equity.

  • Prove your innocence, APC urges detained Ondo PDP Chieftains

    The Ondo state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Saturday advised the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and its sympathizers to encourage the detained PDP’s Chairman, Clement Faboyede, and his co-traveler, Tokunbo Modupe, to prove their innocence before a competent court of law, instead of resorting to blackmail of a system that means well.

    Publicity Secretary of APC, in the State, Alex Kalejaye, said the resolve of the PDP to turn attack on the APC, instead of planning how to defend one of its principals betrays the weakness of its defense, if any.

    Kalejaye reacted to a statement credited to the Zonal Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Ayo Fadaka, to the effect that the duo had done nothing fraudulent.

    Fadaka was quoted as saying” we wish to state categorically that the APC is merely abusing the privileges of power to prosecute the PDP endlessly, this we consider pedestrian and cheap”,

    The APC spokesman said he would have ignored the attack for its pettiness, “but the need to guide people’s mind against pollution makes this reaction a necessity”.

    He argued that the PDP as a party has a duty to commend the current administration for succeeding where the former failed in its 16 years of reckless and crude financial allocations and sharing, saying the APC is on a rescue mission.

    Read Also: Oshiomhole to intervene in Imo APC crisis

    Kalejaye said: “The PDP does not reserve the right under the law to tell the good people of Nigeria whether an individual is a criminal or not; nor when an act is deemed to be criminally  fraudulent. That is why the court is there.

    “If the former PDP chairman is accused of financial crime, one would have expected his party to urge him to defend himself and prove his innocence, if he is convinced, instead of raising needless alarm”.

    He expressed surprise that a faithful of the PDP could be talking about abuse of power when “every political observer could vividly recall the brutish approach to, and deployment  of power under former president Olusegun Obasanjo.”

    The APC spokesman warned that the APC would not be deterred by blackmail of whatever coloration in its quest to recover the taxpayer’s money that was mindlessly starched away, irrespective of party affiliations.

    The three charges pressed against Messers Faboyede and Modupe border on conspiracy and money laundering.

    Faboyede was being accused of making N500m cash payment to the Ondo State Election Committee of the PDP.

  • APC chairmanship: Ebri lauded for stepping down for Oshiomole

    A former governorship candidate of the Progressive People’s Alliance (PPA) in Cross River State, Mr. Goddie Akpama, has lauded ex-governor of the state, Dr Clement Ebri, for voluntarily stepping down for Comrade Adams Oshiomole, for the position of National Chairman in the recently concluded All Progressives Congress (APC) national convention.

    Akpama, now a member of the APC, said Ebri showed exemplary leadership by conceding to the former Edo State governor.

    He told reporters in Calabar that by sacrificing his personal aspiration, Ebri had demonstrated that the interest of the party was greater than the personal interest of any individual member of the party.

    “What His Excellency did by stepping down was very exemplary. Despite the fact that he had massive support from delegates across the country, he sacrificed his interest for the greater interest of the APC, and that singular action amounted to the success of the National Convention last Saturday.

    “His action and stance is responsible for the complete unity within the fabric of the APC at the national level. I advise that henceforth, politicians in the states and across the country should emulated his example of self sacrifice, and put it into practice,” Akpama said.

    Akpama who was also a former Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) said he was elated that Ebri displayed his leadership quality by leading delegates from Cross River State to a successful convention, thereby, establishing himself as a true and natural leader of the APC in the state.

    “From the formation of the party, and even before the convention the Cross River State chapter of the APC was in crisis, and lacked direction, an indication that the party lacked a central figure that had put himself forward for members to rally round for the success of the party. I am happy, and I am confident most members of the party are happy that Ebri put himself forward to played the much needed leadership role, which was hitherto absent. His Excellency, Ebri, from all we have seen has distinguished himself as the leader of the APC in the state”, the former governorship candidate said.

    He also stated that by joining the race, Ebri demonstrated that Cross River State was no longer in the backwaters of Nigerian politics and can never be taken for granted any longer.

    He also congratulated Oshiomole on his emergence as National Chairman.

  • Oshiomhole takes over APC, says Party Supremacy will be paramount

    Wants Obasanjo to refund $16billion spent on power

    The new National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole on Tuesday assumed office at the APC national secretariat with a strong commitment to deepen the principles of internal democracy and party supremacy, saying all organs of the party must learn to respect decisions arrived at meetings of the various organs of the party which must be made functional.

    Oshiomhole took over the leadership of the party from the former Chairman, Chief John Odigie Oyegun at about 2.45 said even the President can be accused of anti-party activities if he deviate from implementing decision taken by the National Executive Committee which he is part of.

    Oshiomhole who spoke for almost 40 minutes also wonder why President Muhammadu Buhari has not demanded former President Olusegun Obasanjo to return the 16 billion dollars spent by his government on power which did not yield results.

    In apparent reaction to a letter said to have been written to the Independent National Electoral Commission by the Social Democratic Party accusing the APC of “stealing’s slogan”, Oshiomhole said the slogan of the party remain Change, adding that the party has not taken any decision to alter its slogan.

    He said: “When we talk about party supremacy, it can only be operational if there are organs of the party meeting to take decisions on variety of policies and when we take decisions like that, at the National Executive Council meeting and the President is seated, if the President act to violate such decision, he can be accused of anti-party because he is a party to the decision.

    “The same thing goes for the National Assembly. If we establish these basis for quality decisions, executive and legislative actions must coincide with the promise and the manifesto. Where they don’t, we will have the kind of situation where the chassis is going right and the engine is going left. We must bring that to an end by creating a platform.

    “We have come in to build on what we met and to reposition our party as we approach 2019.

    “We want to go beyond being Electoral platform to be a party that is guided by its constitution and manifesto and we will do everything possible to support both the federal executive and federal legislature to ensure that both executive and legislative actions are informed by our commitment as reflected in our manifesto on the basis of which we were elected.

    Read Also: Oshiomhole: Beyond the song and dance

    “We will create a situation where every year, we must have convention, not in the open like Eagle Square in centers we choose. The agenda will not be election, but to look at our manifesto and our performance and see the gap, if there is, between what we promised and what is happening and to explain that gap and get those elected to explain to us what they will do differently to avoid deficit between promise and reality.

    “I also believe that in a world that is ever changing, the manifesto you wrote in the morning might be obsolete in the evening. For example, we promised to fight Boko Haram and to the credit of Mr. President and the armed forces, the Boko Haram that forced us to postpone national election in 2015 has been decimated which is a huge project.

    “As that time, we never envisage the current magnitude of the herdsmen crisis even though they have always been there, maybe it has escalated. In terms of going forward, we must now review our security architecture to deal with new forms of criminality as they arise.

    “People will also agree that level of kidnapping was much higher in 2015, but it has substantially reduced. But as you deal with one issue, new issues emerge and so, because the environment is dynamic, policies reflected in our manifestos must be subjected to constant review and ensure that they meet changing reality.”

    While lamenting the polarization in the nation’s body polity at the moment, he said “Right now, one of the things that is faction-able in headlines is crime, new ethnic groups emerging and even those who have presided over Nigeria are returning to their places of birth to whip ethnic sentiment because their conscience tells them that they have committed a crime for which they can possibly be candidates for prison.

    “We must scrap our these ethnic champions and religious bigots by putting up for national discourse policy issues that has to do with the Nigerian policy, economy and society.

    “Let that be the basis for our agreement and disagreement and if there is going to be a fight within the rank of the APC, let the fight be that some people are raising issues about our educational policy and what we promised, our economic choices. The policies of the CBN as it affect investments and wealth creation rather than have ethnic nationalities conferences.

    “If we fix Nigeria, everybody can worship in full freedom without worshiping on an empty stomach. We must work together to understand that in the 21st century, we need brains to drive our programmes. We are celebrating quantity which is not right. We are the most populous and the most endowed nation.

    “I think the real challenge is that our party must work to move on to becoming the most skilled and united nation on the account of what we have achieved. What we should be celebrating is how democratic are we, how smart are we are how inclusive are we. How participatory are our processes for decision making.

    “I am not aware that any organ of the party, there was a decision to change the slogan of the party that we all agreed to and as far as I know, we have not changed it and so, our slogan remains Change. We must sustain the change and deepened the change.

    “When we do that and we are consistent, then progress will be the outcome because progress is the outcome of a sustained change. We have a duty to correct people on this one. We are proud of our slogan, we are committed to it.

    “Recently, I watched the President asked questions about power and he 16 billion dollars that was spent on it. Maybe the President need to now asked the follow up question that since we cannot find the power, then, you must return the money that you spent.

    “If he doesn’t do that, then the accusation of limited anti-corruption may begin to have come currency. So, to assist PDP to overcome their accusation, our President needs to do the needful. Courage should not fail him and he should recover the 16 billion dollars back into the treasury from the man who presided over the spending.”

    Turning to Chief Oyegun, Oshiomhole said “I want to thank you for your leadership of our party and for leading us to victory in the presidential election and winning more states than the number of states that came together to form the APC.

    “However hostile the historian may wish to be, there are facts that are stubborn. These are stubborn facts that are to your credit and I think that you have every right to enjoy the fact that you made records as chairman of our party.

    “People are too busy pursuing day to day survival that basic fact often escape. We have the PDP as the first governing party in Nigeria and in their 17 years of existence as a political party, they had 14 National Chairmen.

    “So, when they are going to write the history of internal democracy, stability of leadership and adherence to constitution as to when people leave office and how the6 leave, you will be the only in our history so far since 1999 who was elected, run the party on its rules and exited in glory on the basis of those procedures provided for in our constitution.

    “It is to your credit that you didn’t have to be chased out of office for refusing to resign. There are so many things you have accomplished. So, when we talk about democracy, stability, due process and internal democracy, you led us to internalize these values.

    “Our President also demonstrated that we can, when convenient speak to party supremacy and the next minute, the executive is treating party executives as if they his appointees. Between you and President Buhari, you have kId the foundation which I hope others will be able to copy.

    “I wish that now that you are going to be less busy, I am going to be disturbing you about advise, about things I see and how you think we can deal with them. You can be elected to a position, but age is not by election and there is wisdom associated with aging.

    “What you have going for you is not just age, but experience in various facet of life. This is not the first time I will be subjecting you to such unremunerated service. As governor, you freely offered advise sometimes and they were helpful and I will continue in that direction. I want to assure you that we will work hard as best as we can to improve the record that you have already set.”

    On the elections in Ekiti, he said “I am also clear that we are assuming office on the eve of an election in Ekiti State. I am confident that all that we need to do is to make sure that the instrument that was ruthlessly deployed be then ruling party to rig us our is dismantled.

    “They must now go through the rigour that we have a,ways gone through to persuade people why we are better. We won’t resort to using their own tactics because we promised to be different and we will be different. But I know that old gangs can’t change their habit and cannot learn what they have never known, which is how to win votes.

    “They perfected how to write results which is no longer in vogue. I am very confident that Ekiti state will be won the basis of our record in comparison to their own records and ensuring that there is free and fair election. As you know, we launched one man, one vote.”

    Handing over the reign of office to Oshiomhole, former Chairman, Chief John Odigie Oyegun apologized for delaying the handover, saying he needed time t9 rest after spending two days at the Eagle Square for the convention.

    Oyegun said “I pay my due respect. I congratulate you for your signal victory and also all members of your team for their victory. It is my hope, expectations and prayers that yours will be a most distinguished and successful four years.

    “My duty today is brief and short and that is to introduce you to what is now your property, your headquarters, your building and your office and to go through the formality of a handover.

    “I have put my thoughts on paper and I thank God that you have some of the best brains that has survive the electoral process and will be working with you.

    “So, I have put everything I thought is important on paper, with a lot of attachment which include an inventory of everything in this building and the papers for the purchase of this building and all the minutes of the National Working Committee, the caucus and the NEC. They will serve as a bank of knowledge.

    “All that is left is to pray that during your period being signal successes to the party, that your period will make the party grow to greater height and your period will finally establish what we stand for, the smartest party in Nigeria and Africa.

    “I have no doubt that it will become a reality that this party is the smartest party in the whole of Africa. May God grant you success in the elections that are coming, beginning with Ekiti and then Osun”.

  • PDP bemoans Plateau killings, blames Buhari, APC

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has decried the gruesome killing of over a hundred innocent Nigerians in communities in Plateau State by marauders on Sunday.

    The PDP said if President Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress (APC) had heeded wise counsel by the PDP and Nigerians, such killings would have been averted.

    In a statement on Monday by its spokesman,Kola Ologbondiyan, the PDP insisted that President Buhari’s failure to address and bring to book, the perpetrators of killings and bloodletting in various parts of the country was emboldening insurgents and marauders to further attack and murder defenseless Nigerians.

    “It is most disheartening that compatriots are being killed daily because those saddled with the responsibility of safeguarding lives, care less about the wellbeing and safety of the people, as they focus only on their ill-fated 2019 re-election bid.

    “Even when the Zamfara State governor, Abdul-aziz Yari cried out that he was overwhelmed by the spate of insecurity and killings, the Federal Government gave him an ineffectual response laced with their trite blame game.

    “We urge Nigerians to note that since the escalation of killings and bloodletting in various parts of the country, particularly in Plateau, Benue, Taraba, Kogi, Adamawa, Yobe, Borno, Zamfara, Kaduna and other states, no concrete steps have been taken by the APC administration to strengthen and fortify the security architecture in the troubled areas.

    Read Also: Buhari: Plateau killings regrettable, painful

    “Instead, what we are witnessing are inactions, impotent assurances and blame games that have continued to compromise security in the areas thereby creating opening for marauders to continue to ravage our people”, the statement added.

    The PDP said if the APC and its Federal Government had channeled the same energy and resources they have deployed to fighting perceived opponents towards fighting marauders and insurgents, the security challenge would not have been as devastating as it is today.

    Continuing, the opposition party said, “We now find ourselves in a situation where government attaches no value to the lives of Nigerians so much so that top security officials flout presidential orders and even abandon their security duties in troubled areas while the President, as the commander-in-chief, takes no strong steps to reorder his parade.

    “The PDP particularly agrees with Nigerians that if the over 7,000 security personnel, police surveillance helicopters and Armoured Personnel Carriers were not withdrawn from their primary security duties and drafted to be part of the APC national convention, the marauders would not have had a field day in this Plateau attack.

    “Furthermore, the PDP calls on the APC and its government to come out clear on what they stand to gain by allowing these killings and bloodletting to fester, as if the lives of our citizens have become worthless.

    “Finally, while the PDP commiserates with the families of the victims of the attack, we totally reject these killings and demand an immediate concrete step to get to the root of the matter and end this bloodletting in our land”.

  • Desperate politicians behind killings in Plateau – Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday decried how desperate politicians have increasingly cheapened human life in their quest to establish a reign of instability and chaos in the country for political gains.

    President Buhari, who was reacting to recent clashes in Plateau, which left scores dead, said in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, in Abuja, that those behind the killings hoped that it would give them an advantage in the coming elections.

    He said: “We know that a number of geographical and economic factors are contributing to the longstanding herdsmen/farmers clashes.

    “But we also know that politicians are taking advantage of the situation. This is incredibly unfortunate.

    “Nigerians affected by the herdsmen/ farmer clashes must always allow the due process of the law to take its course rather than taking matters into their own hands.’’

    Read Also: Buhari: Plateau killings regrettable, painful

    The presidency quoted security information which indicated that about one hundred cattle were rustled by a community in Plateau State, and some herdsmen were killed in the process.

    The report also revealed that the state governor, Simon Lalong, had invited the aggrieved groups and pleaded against further action while the law enforcement agents looked into the matter.

    Less than 24 hours later, violence broke out.

    It further stated that some local thugs then took advantage of the situation, turning it into an opportunity to extort the public, and to attack people from rival political parties.

    “There were reports of vehicles being stopped along the roads in the state, with people being dragged out of their cars and attacked if they stated that they supported certain politicians or political party.

    “On his way back to Jos after attending the All Progressives Congress (APC) Convention in Abuja, the state governor had to dismantle a number of illegal road blocks set up by these thugs. There were also a number of dead bodies thugs had killed, lying along the road,’’ the report added.

    The Police Command in Plateau had on Sunday confirmed the killing of 86 people in attacks on Razat, Ruku, Nyarr, Kura and Gana-Ropp villages of Gashish District in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of the state.

    The command had earlier said that only 11 persons were killed.

    ASP Terna Tyopev, the command’s Public Relations Officer (PPRO) confirmed the new figure on Sunday in Jos.

    The Plateau Government had since announced a dusk to dawn curfew in Riyom, Barkin Ladi and Jos South local government areas to check further breakdown of law and order in the state.

    NAN

  • Ministers may not participate in APC convention

     As South East chairmen threaten to vote against Buhari in 2019

    Majority of Ministers in the current government may not be part of the national convention of the All Progressives Congress except if elected as one of the three delegates from their various local government area, The Nation findings has reveal.

    However, Chairmen of the party in the south east have threaten that if any unity list is used for the convention without their candidates emerging victorious, President Muhammadu Buhari will lose the south east in 2019.

    Although there is an unwritten code within the party that the Ministers are leaders of the party in states where they party does not have a Governor, the party constitution does not recognize Ministers as delegates to its national convention.

    The only Ministers in the cabinet of President Buhari recognized as delegates are Ministers who have serve as members of the National Assembly or as state governors and their deputies or has served as Speakers, Deputy Speaker and Principal Officer of state Houses of Assembly.

    Some of the Ministers were either involved in parallel congresses in their various states or failed to attend such congresses apparently because of disagreement with their state governors or leaders of the party in their states.

    Those who may also not be part of the convention are political appointees at both the state and federal levels who failed to secure a seat as delegates from their local government areas.

    About 7000 delegates, made up of statutory and non statutory delegates are expected to participate in the convention that will see the emergence of a new national leadership for the party.

    The Nation was informed that while governors are leaders of the party in the various states, the Ministers have been assigned that responsibility in states where the party does not have a governor. Interestingly, however, the Nation findings revealed that Ministers have not been recognized as delegates by the party constitution except if they are either former governors, former deputy governors, former federal lawmakers former speaker and deputy speaker of state Houses of Assembly or are currently occupying these positions.

    Article 12.1 identify those who qualified as delegates to include members of the Board of Trustees. But the APC does not have a board of Trustees at the moment as the yet was never constituted. Instead, it took a decision at one of its meeting to amend the constitution and replace the Board with an Elders Council which has also not been constituted as the constitution is yet to be amended.

    Read Also: APC Convention: Police deploy 5000 personnel, two helicopters, others

    The delegates also include the National Chairman and all members of the National Executive Committee, serving and past Presidents and Vice President who are members of the party as well as serving and past governors and deputy governors who are members of the party.

    Others include serving and past members of three National Assembly, serving and past Speakers, Deputy Speakers and other Principal officers of state Houses of Assembly and all serving members of the state Houses of Assembly who are members of the party.

    It also include Members of the state working committee of the party and that of the FCT, all party chairmen and their secretaries in the local government and aArea councils, all elected local government chairmen who are members of the party as well three elected delegates from each local government and the area councils.

    However, the party constitution is silent on the faith of Ministers, Commissioners and Advisers to President and governors as well as other appointees of the President who are unlucky to emerge as delegates. One of the three delegates from the local government, who were elected during the disputed local government congresses must, in accordance with the party constitution be a woman.

    The list of delegates as well as candidates cleared to contest the various offices was still being kept secret by the convention committee, but the convention secretary, Senator Ndoma Egba told newsmen that about 40 persons will contest positions that are unopposed.

    It was gathered that almost 15 of those contesting for offices are contesting the three positions of National Organizing Secretary, National Auditor and National Vice Chairman, South East.

    So far, about 21 of the 29 elective positions into the leadership of the party are unopposed, but it is however clear which positions will be contested for at the convention.

    As at Friday afternoon, not less than three candidates were still in the race for the position of the National Secretary with the incumbent, Mai Mala Buni and Arch. Waziri Bulama as top contenders for the position.

    While is believed that the Yobe stage governor, Ibrahim Gaidam is solidly band Buni, members of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) within the party and the Borno state Governor are believed to be pushing for Bulama.

    Those working against the emergence of Buni are arguing that it will not be fair for the Action Congress of Nigeria group within the party to have the two biggest poisons within the party with the emergence of Oshiomhole as the National Chairman.

    The Nation gathered that aside from the position of National Chairman, the governors have not been able to get other aspirants to step down for each other, with all of them insisting on an open contest.

    At the end of their meeting at the Imo governors lodge, governors of the APC were mandated to return to their zones and discuss with the aspirants with a view to pruning down the number of candidates as a way of ensuring a rancour free convention.

    One of the diciest contests on Saturday is believed to be the position of the National Organising Secretary currently being occupied by Senator Osita Izunaso from Imo state whois running with the backing of some of the stakeholders in the south east led by former Abia State Governor, Orji Uzor Kalu.

    He has equally strong opponent from a former member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Chidi Nwogu. Nwogu is backed for the position by over 600 of his former colleagues colleagues in the House and members of the Chuba Okadigbo Rainbow Organisation who are insisting the President Muhammadu Buhari endorsed him as a symbol of honour for the late Senate President, Dr. Chuba Okadigbo who is running mate in the 2003 Presidential election.

    Also, the office of the National Publicity Secretary is also being hotly contested with some party stakeholders not comfortable with the return of Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi and are said to have put up one Lanre Issa-Onilu for that position. The leaders were said to have jettisoned the idea of swapping the office of National Publicity Secretary and that of National Woman Leader between Kwara and Kogi.

    The initial permutation, it was gathered was to have Gbemisola Saraki emerge as the National Woman Leader and a former member of the House of Representatives, Duro Meseko as National Publicity Secretary, but this was said to have changed when it was later decided that status quo in the zoning arrangement be maintained.

    The threat by members of the new PDP to leave the party is believed to be working against the return of Mallam Bolaji

    Party chairmen from the south east are however insisting that they will not accept any unity list put together the governors that will not represent their interest as it was against the interest of the people.

    They said any list from the governors that run agar demand of the leaders of the zone will lead to the President losing the election in the south east in 2019, adding that when they were building the party, those who are now being listened to by the party were not there.

    Spokesman of the South East Chairmen, Dr. Ben Nwoye said “You cannot have a unity list when one geo-political zone is not considered. That is a mis-normal, you cannot consider that to be a unity list. If you meet in a hall where you have governors and South-east has just one governor, and that one governor is the only opinion you took out of 5 states and you produce a list, that is not a unity list.

    “Infact that is a disunity list and the only way you can correct the disunity list is through democratic list. If that individual is popular, they take on and they show up instead of canvassing and waiting for former this and former that  making phone calls to people that if they produce this so called unity list which I tag disunity list, it will cause mr president the election in south east, it will cause disaffection.

    “We are doing this not because of us. You cannot disregard Jim Nwobodo, you can’t disregard Orji Uzor Kalu, ogbonaya ononu, Chris Ngige, Martin Elechi, Sulivan Chime, Andy Ubah, Ugbo orji,Benjamina Umagimoju, and state chairmen. These are great leaders.

    “If you produce a list that wants affront to the needs, demands and opinions of these leaders, that means we will go back to 2015 when we were all able to contributeto vote. These are people that their own idea with all these entrants, we are sure to win south East for president Muhammadu Buhari anyone putting up a unity list that fails to be all inclusive of our leaders is doing no good, infact its doing harm to the  opportunities we have already created.