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  • APC chieftains in Ebonyi back Buhari’s second term bid

    Two chieftains of the All Progressives Congress ( APC ) in Ebonyi state, have applauded the declaration of President Muhammadu Buhari to run for second term saying that the decision would benefit all Nigerians.

    The chieftains noted that the outstanding performance of the President qualified him to run for re-election to consolidate on the achievements recorded in his first term.

    The chieftains spoke in separate interviews with the News men on Monday in Abakaliki.

    Dr Paul Okorie,  a governorship aspirant in the 2019 election said  the decision was  welcome.

    He hailed Buhari for his courage and decision to present himself for a second term and urged party faithful and Nigerians to support the President for the reelection bid.

    Okorie who served at various times as Commissioner for Works and Transportation and Environment said the re-election of Buhari would deepen democracy and enhance economic growth and development.

    He listed among the achievements of the president, the growth of the foreign reserve from $30 billion to about $47 billion, road infrastructure, anti-graft campaign, job creation, youth empowerment, defeat of Boko Haram and  fiscal discipline.

    “Though he has performed creditably well in his first term, more needed to be done and four years obviously is not enough for him to fully accomplish his programmes and policies.

    “Again the South-East will have brighter opportunity to produce the next Nigerian President by 2023.

    “The decision is a wise decision and I commend Mr President for taking the selfless and patriotic decision, ” Okorie said.

    Another chieftain and Acting chairman of the party in Ebonyi, Mr Eze Nwachukwu said that the declaration has put an end to uncertainties  on whether the President would offer himself for a second term.

    Read Also: Tinubu has capacity to unite APC, says Kano lawmaker

    He praised the President for taking the bold decision, saying that the second term of Buhari would stabilise security concerns, enhance political, economic and industrial growth in the country.

    He said that the government had fought corruption and had redeemed the country’s image previously battered by corruption.

    “Corruption in public service has reduced while fiscal discipline and responsibility are strictly adhered to in public procurement.

    “The President may have his short coming as a human being but his administration’s programme and policies indicate that he is committed to building more virile and strong Nigeria.

    .“As a party, we commend the decision and pledge to mobilise Ebonyi and the whole of South-East to vote the President for second term in 2019,” Nwachukwu said.

    He urged all eligible voters in the state, who have  not yet registered in the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration ( CVR ),  to ensure they register to avoid  disenfranchisement during the election.

    NAN

  • Balarabe, Makarfi, others react to Buhari’s decision to seek re-election

    Some Nigerians have welcomed the decision of President Muhammadu Buhari to seek re-election in 2019, saying it was a good decision, as it would help consolidate the gains recorded by his administration, if re-elected.

    However, some members of the opposition political parties said in separate interviews with the News men in Sokoto and Kaduna that the President won’ t find it easy going for second term.

    Alhaji Sidi Ali, Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress ( APC ) in Sokoto State, said, “Buhari has all it takes to re-contest and the decision is a welcome development.

    “He is governing well and has the capacity to continue with the good work, and I am sure more good transformations will happen in the country, if he is re-elected.”

    Malam Kasimu Chiyama, Chairman Dadin Kowa Youth Association in Kwannawa, Sokoto state expressed joy over the announcement.

    “We will support him fully because he is the only candidate that has been good to Nigerians.”

    Two Sokoto residents, Hajia Hauwa’u Magode and Abdullahi Maiyogot expressed excitement over President Buhari’s position and prayed Allah to continue to guide him.

    However, Mr Samson Samuel, a student, faulted the decision, saying the President should consider his age and health status.

    “The APC will surely make a mistake by nominating Buhari to re-contest.

    “Buhari is a good leader but in recognition of his age and health status he should have rested, as he had spent most time during this tenure on medical treatment abroad.”

    Read Also: Buhari secure soft landing for Oyegun, others

    Also, Alhaji Balarabe Musa, former Governor of Kaduna State welcomed the declaration by President Muhammadu Buhari to seek re-election in 2019.

    Musa, a chieftain of the Peoples Redemption Party ( PRP ) said in a telephone interview that his party would, however, come up with a strong candidate to challenge Buhari in the elections.

    “President Muhammadu Buhari is welcome on board, but we want to assure Nigerians that the PRP has a presidential candidate to field in the 2019 general elections,” he said

    Similarly, Alhaji Ahmed Makarfi, former National Caretaker Committee Chairman of the People Democratic Party ( PDP ), said in a text message that: “It’s no news that he is contesting, it would have been news if he had announced the opposite.”

    The Sokoto state Secretary of PDP, Alhaji Kabiru Aliyu, said Nigerians should vote out the APC or prepare for “another four years of hunger.”

    “Buhari’s age and health condition are all in Allah’s hand, but what is more of concern is good governance and ability to transform the country better.

    “Nigerians should vote PDP to avoid continuous hunger and maladministration that subject people to hardships,” Aliyu said.

    President Buhari had announced his intention to go for second term at the National Executive Council meeting of APC held in Abuja.

    NAN

  • Updated: Buhari declares for Second term

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday told the National Executive Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) that he will be seeking the party nomination to fly the party flag in the 2019 presidential election.

    The party NEC also approved waiver for members of the National Working Committee and other leaders across all levels wishing to contest party offices as part of soft landing measure for those willing to contest.

    Plateau state governor, Simon Lalong who briefed the media at the end of the party’s shortest NEC meeting ever that the President informed the meeting that in view of the resolution of the tenure elongation issue and the adoption of the report of the Technical Committee, he will be seeking nomination for re-election.

    The NEC meeting which started with the arrival of the President at about 11.02 and the introduction of members present ended at about 11.55 am when the President departed the APC national secretariat.

    Lalong said the NEC meeting also approved a waiver for members of the leadership from the ward level to the national level to contest in line with the recommendation of the technical committee report.

    Lalong who addressed the media alongside the National Publicity Secretary said the recommendation of the technical committee was unanimously adopted by the meeting.

    Lalong said “We were given a task to work within a short time. Within that time, we considered those who were for and against. We looked at the issue extensively and did wilder consultations and arrived at a point where we considered not only the legal point, but also the political options available.

    “That is why we came to the point that, if we are going to conduct that election within the time available, then the concern shown by other members on the issue of disenfranchisement and allowing others to contest was very genuine. We also considered the opinion of the President and we arrived at the point that it is constitutionally valid to conduct congresses.

    “We also decided that if, in conducting the elections, certain conditions are not going to be fulfilled, it means that some people will be disenfranchised. We spoke about the 21 days’ notice and the fulfillment of article 31.

    “If we are going to comply with this, the constitution require that certain weavers should be granted to those who are crying that they will be disenfranchised. We came to the conclusion that if these provisions are taken care of, then there was no need for anybody to say there should be no congress.

    “Our conclusion is that we must conduct congresses. We looked at the second aspect of the legality of the action and we said that in every constitution and the election of the president of the federal republic of Nigeria, we are not saints, we are not angels.

    “It is assumed that in the course of doing things, there may be unforeseen circumstances that will stop you or you reached a brick wall and therefore fail to conclude the exercise. That was the option that was made by the party, in creating an opportunity for there to be an option for you when you get that brickwall. So, we married the two position.

    “So, conducting the congresses will also create an opportunity for even those who are not yet members of the party or who have come to the party, but not yet registered because the constitution provide that you must be a registered member of the party and that for you to vote and be noted for, you must be a card carrying member. There was also the issue of reconciliation.

    “With this, the constitutional notices are being provided and we will work within this short period. That is why we concluded that everybody be carried al no and everybody’s interest protected in this report. It was a unanimous decision to adopt the recommendations that was made to a point that the President felt so happy and excited and said that because of this reunion and unity in the party, he will now consider and also accept the appeal by several members of the society and the party that he recontest and he accepted to recontest. So, he is going to recontest for the position of the President of the federal republic of Nigeria.”

    Article 31 1 (Iii) of the APC constitution states that “Any Party office holder interested in contesting for an elective office (whether party office or office in a general election) shall resign and leave office 30 days prior to the date of nomination or Party primary for the Office he or she is seeking to contest”, while article 31(2) states that “Subject to the approval of the National Executive Committee, the National Working Committee may in special circumstances grant a waiver to a person not otherwise qualified under Article 31(1) of this Constitution if, in its opinion, such a waiver is in the best interest of the Party.”

    Also speaking, National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi said members were leaving the meeting with smiles because it has been a win win situation for all members of the party, adding that those who thought the party will start breaking up after the NEC meeting were disappointed.

    Abdullahi said “This is the shortest NEC meeting that we have had. This is because the challenge before us has been clear all along and that what we want is a win win situation for all and that is the work that the committee had done, to find a mid-course that will take care of the interest of everyone.

    “Those who have been clamouring that we must have congresses and that who were afraid that if we have congresses, they will be swept away. The committee recommendation has taken care of both; that you must do congresses and that the requirement of the law that you must resign 30 days before you can contest will have to be waived.

    “In essence, you don’t have to resign before you can contest. That way, the matter has been resolved and as far as APC is concerned, the storm that everyone was expecting to happen did not happen and the collapse that people were expecting to start from this NEC meeting today did not happen.

    “So we are leaving the NEC meeting reunited and strong family of progressive politics in Nigeria. We are also happy and you can see that our countenance has changed and we are happy that Mr. President has accepted and has announced his wish to recontest in 2019.”

    Governors present include Ibikunle Amosu (Ogun), Rotimi Akeredolu (Ondo), Jubrilla Bindo (Adamawa), Simon Lalong (Plateau), Abdullahi Umar Ganduje (Kano), Mohammed Abubakar (Bauchi), Abubakar Badaru (Jigawa), Kashim Shettima (Borno), Yahaya Bello (Kogi), Nasir El-Rufai (Kaduna), Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto), Deputy Governor of Edo state, Phillip Shuaibu, Akinwunmi Ambode (Lagos), Rochas Okorocha (Imo), Abdulaziz Yari (Zamfara), Tanko Almakura (Nasarawa), Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (Osun), Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi) and Abiola Ajimobi (Oyo).

    Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, Senate President, Bukola Saraki, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, Senate Leader, Ahmed Lawan, House leader, Femi Gbajabiamila among others.

     

  • ‘Be ambassadors of change’

    A stakeholder of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bende Local Government Area of Abia State, Mr. John Ajuga, a lawyer, has hosted politicians in the council, urging them to go home and preach the change mantra.

    Addressing members of the APC Bende council chapter at his country home Amakwu Akoliufu in Alayi community, Ajuga said that what has been happening in the state requires change come 2019 if the state is to move forward.

    Ajuga said that there are numerous problems and issues happening in the state that one finds it difficult to identify where to start to find the solutions for them and called on the members of the party at all levels to unit to bring in good governance in the state.

    He made it clear that the type of meeting he called at his country homes in most cases depicts the desire of the convener to tell people that he or she intends to vie for a political position which is not so as he has no such desire.

    The renowned lawyer said, “I know that people and members of my party will be wondering the reasons behind my summoning this meeting, but let it be known that I John Ajuga has not political motive as I do not have any desire for any political position”.

    “What I want is good governance that will touch the lives of our people at a all levels irrespective of their political affiliation, I just want a better life for all and I also wonder why we have been voting for the ruling parties which has not shown us any live since 1999 till date”.

    “We started with the PDP and then moved over to PPA and now back to PDP, yet all these 20 years we have nothing to show for our support to the ruling parties, in that case what do we do”, and the people shouted vote them out, “I did not say that but you did which means you know what to do at the right time”.

    Ajuga recalled that when former late American President Ronald Reagan won to be the president of that country, “When he came for reelection he told the Americans, if I have done well return me if I have not done well vote me out, so what we need do come 2019 is to vote out PDP as they have not done well”.

    He said, “We cannot stay here and say vote them out with our mouths, we need to go all out and get our Permanent Voters Card (PVC), it is the only weapon we require to vote out bad government not by mouth or fighting so please go out and get that arm which is PVC before the Election Day”.

    “We need to all go home and tell our people on the need to vote out PDP starting from Bende our local government area and up to the state level as they have not done anything for the people of our council area”.

    “Let them come out and point at any road they have done for us in any part of our local government area for the past three years they have been in office, therefore the people of Bende council area have no need to return them to power, so it is APC all the way come 2019”.

    Ajuga noted that since President Mohammadu Buhari came into power that he has been developing the South East despite the fact the people of the zone did not vote for him, “President Buhari has not relented in developing the area like the Enugu-Port Harcourt express way, the second Niger bridge among others and I bet you more are still coming”.

    In his contribution the chairman of Diamond Football Academy and a house of representative aspirant, Martins Ikechukwu Apugo said that he was in Alayi to lend his support to his friend and also alert the people of Bende on the need to vote for APC come 2019.

    Apugo former member of PDP said that he left the party because for the past 20 years they have been in power that have nothing to show except wasting of the people’s resources and looting of their common wealth.

    The politician who is from Umuahia described the state capital as a glorified local government headquarters, pointing out that there is not standard stadium, no befitting government house, bad roads and inability of government to pay workers’ salaries among others.

    On the question that he wants to go to the House of Representatives, the former ASEPA boss said, “Yes I want to go there to make laws and also help to create job opportunities for our teeming youths in my area which will in-turn reduce crime rate”.

    Apugo then called on the people of the state to reject PDP in the coming election and join the APC which has brought the desired change while the former ruling party which is now the opposition has failed the people for the past 20 years.

    In his reaction a former chairman of Bende council area, Chief Ngozi Chukwu Ngozi assured the people at the meeting that APC has a good chance to win in the state as the ruling party has not done anything in the state except on the media.

    Ngozi called on the people to join hands together to chase the PDP away from office, stressing that the ruling party in the state is now a redundant party as they have exhausted the little ideas they have.

    Responding one of the political ward chairmen assured the people and the convener of the meeting that they will go home and spread the good news and that they have been given the leverage to harvest more followers for the party in the council area and state in general.

  • Why money bags won’t succeed Ajimobi – APC governorship aspirant

    A governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress in Oyo State, Engr. Remi Olaniyan, has said that the 2019 governorship election in the state will not be determined by the amount of money spent by aspirants, but that only those without the goodwill of the people will rely on money to win election.

    He said such aspirants will fail because the electorate knows who they want to be their governor.

    Olaniyan, who spoke to journalists in Ibadan during a press briefing, said he was in the race to succeed the state Governor Abiola Ajimobi in 2019 because of the conviction he had that he was qualified, saying that the era of moneybags dominance of Oyo politics had gone.

    He reminded that majority of those who became governor in the state were not money bags.

    The governorship aspirant who hailed from the Oke-Ogun zone of the sate said, “The electorate in the state have developed their interest in politics of the state in the last few years and it will be difficult for anyone to confuse them by offering them money. The period of moneybags, when peoples’ conscience was bought cheaply, had gone and we will not return to it.

    “You have to look around and see the profile of the aspirants that are showing their interest in occupying political positions in the state. I don’t need to share money before I can succeed Ajimobi and I implore our people to reject such Greek gift. I served the state for 26 years as civil servant before retiring into private business that has flourished because of proper management.

    “I have connected myself with the people in the state and even established partnership with a Catholic hospital in Rome through my foundation so that our people can enjoy some privileges. That is a better profile than using money to buy people. Only those who have no goodwill among the people will rely on money.”

    While commenting on the feud between national leader of the party, Bola Tinubu, and the party national chairman, John Odigie-Oyegun, the aspirant said that the two were elders of the party with interest in its success.

    “We should not blow this beyond what it is. Both have common interest which is the good of the party so whatever their differences cannot be said to be personal. Both leaders will resolve their differences ahead of 2019.”

    “In Oyo State, many people are reading negative meaning to a few what is going on within the party but to those who are inside there is no rift ” , he said.

     

  • APC stalwart to Odigie-Oyegun: resign now

    A stalwart of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa State, Chief Perekeme Kpodo, on Thursday, called for the immediate resignation of the party’s National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun.

    Kpodo, a former interim chairman of APC in Bayelsa, said Oyegun should leave the party’s exalted office for negligence of his duties and sowing a seed of discord among notable members of the party.

    He said Oyegun was the brains behind previous attempts to sideline a known pillar of APC and former Governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu, from the activities of the party and the Federal Government.

    He said the national chairman tried to underplay the roles of Tinubu in the brith of APC and his invaluable contributions to the party’s victory at the 2015 general elections.

    Kpodo, who spoke in Yenagoa, Bayelsa, said that the way Oyegun had carried on with the affairs of the party after the victory of APC in the elections was an indication that he contributed nothing in the electioneering that led to the emergence of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    He insisted that after the victory, Oyegun could not manage the success of the APC, but instead promoted selfish agenda that threw the party into avoidable crisis.
    He said: “Tinubu is one of those, who masterminded the victory of the APC. He is the party’s think-tank. It is public knowledge. He spent money, struggled and did the brainwork with some of his associates and allies.

    “President Muhammadu Buhari also joined the train with his political associates. Their hard work led to the formation of this party. With that force, they grabbed power coupled with the fact that People were tired of PDP because the party was deep into impunity and embezzlement of funds. They were collecting money without hinderances and the former President aided them.

    “Everybody hoped on APC to change the impunity. APC came and won. However, the greatest mistake is the party chairman, Oyegun. He couldn’t manage the success of APC. He failed to handle the party the way it was expected of him. Oyegun went to sleep after the victory.

    “He couldn’t engage party stakeholders. He couldn’t wade into crisis and settle disputes quickly. He failed to organise meetings, seminars and other programmes to strengthen the party.

    “With what has transpired so far, Oyegun spearheaded the attempts of sidelining Tinubu. Tinubu, who did all these good jobs was sidelined from the government. Nobody heard about him. People became surprised.

    “Meanwhile Oyegun was the one trying to set confusion between Tinubu and Mr. President. He created an impression that they were quarreling”.

    He advised Oyegun to stay on his political lane and admire the sagacity of Tinubu if he could not work with him, noting that trying to ignore the former Lagos governor would spell doom for APC.

    He said: “Tinubu delivered almost all the states in the South-West. When we compare Tinubu and Oyegun, we can see the differences in their political values. Tinubu became a governor of Lagos State and since that time we have seen how he has carried the Yoruba race along and how he redefined Lagos.

    “He brought in Fashola, Ambode and there has been a progressive programme of continuity in Lagos. If he had been given a better opportunity at the Federal level, this idea would have been integrated into the programmes of the federal government.

    “But Oyegun was a governor who did nothing in Edo State. Edo became shambles until he left. When he left, nobody recognised him and he had no followers. He couldn’t even win his unit during the last election. If not for former Governor Oshiomole, APC would have been disgraced in that election”.

    Kpodo, however, commended Buhari for speaking out against the “arbitrary tenure elongation” of Oyegun and bringing Tinubu to reconcile the grievances in APC.

    “We thank God that the President realized on time that we have to go back to the old structures. He called Tinubu back realising that without him this party is finished”, he said.

    But he said Oyegun should leave the stage for working against the reconciliation efforts of Tinubu and challenging the the President’s position on tenure elongation.

    “The President has spoken that tenure elongation should be scraped. He is the leader of the party. But Oyegun instead of obeying the order, decided to set up a committee to review tenure elongation.

    “What is he reviewing? He is challenging the President. It shows he wants the APC to have crisis. It is time for him to resign and go. He is just the problem of APC”.

  • APC fixes Monday for tenure extension decision

    The National Executive Committee (NEC) of All Progressives Congress (APC) said it would take final decision on the party’s executives’ tenure extension on Monday.

    National Chairman of the party, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, announced this on Wednesday in Abuja at the end of a three-hour meeting between governors elected on the party´s platform and the National Working Committee (NWC).

    The party had on Tuesday, constituted a 10-member technical committee headed by Gov. Simon Dalung of Plateau to advise its leadership on the way forward on the tenure issue.

    This followed President Muhammadu Buhari´s recent opposition to NEC’s approval of tenure extension for the NWC and all executive committees of the party at all levels across the country, made at its meeting on Feb. 27.

    Buhari had said at another meeting of NEC in Abuja on March 26 that the NWC’s tenure extension decision was illegal and unconstitutional.

    The NEC had extended the tenure of the Odigie-Oyegun-led NWC and other executive committees by one year, starting from June.

    The president had explained that the decision was causing acrimony within the party, with some members not comfortable with the matter, dragging the party to court.

    ´´The Governors and the NWC of our party decided to sit and look at the issues that were seemingly dividing us.

    ´´I want to say to you with absolute satisfaction and pride that all the issues that you have been commenting on has been completely and totally resolved,’’ Odigie-Oyegun said.

    He said that the technical committee constituted to look into the issue would submit its report latest on Thursday to enable the NEC to look at it.

    ´´The Chairman of the technical committee has reported that his report will be ready latest this evening or by the very most, early tomorrow morning.

    ´´This report will be placed before NEC on Monday and appropriate decision will be taken and thereafter, we shall announce to you the further steps we are going to be take,´´ he said.

    The chairman, however, added that the party´s next steps would depend on its NEC considering on the committee´s recommendation.

    He assured that the APC was back as one united and focused party, strongly behind Buhari and its executives across in the states.

    Commenting on the issue, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Malam Bolaji Abdulahi, told newsmen that final decision on the tenure extension issue was with the party´s NEC.

    ´´It is left for the NEC to decide, and if the committee recommends that the position of NEC should be maintained, then there will be no need for an elective convention.

    “Then, the president and those who are concerned that the decision we have taken is correct or not, will have more confidence in the position of the party.’’

    The APC spokesman, however, said that if the technical committee recommended that congresses should be held, the party´s NEC would consider that.

    Governors elected on APC platform, had at a meeting with Buhari on Tuesday unanimously agreed that the party should hold a congress to settle the extension issue and others.

     

  • Abia APC crisis: Party leaders pass vote of confidence on Nwankpa led Executive

    Stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have thrown their weight behind the embattled State chairman of the party, Hon. Donatus Nwankpa and members of the State Working Committee (SWC).

    The stakeholders after passing vote of confidence on Nwankpa’s led leadership, also ratified the suspension of a chieftain of the party Chief Ikechi Emenike (a former governorship candidate in the state who was suspended by his ward members for alleged anti-party activities) in  conjunction with the SWC and other leaders of the party

    The motion for the vote of confidence passed on Nwankpa which was moved by the Southeast Zonal Woman leader, Mrs. Sally Chinebu and seconded by a former minister of Labour and productivity, Chief Emeka Wogu.

    Speaking at the meeting, Wogu extolled the exemplary leadership of Nwankpa saying,”he has done well, adding that, “The chairman has been fair to all concerned. He has taken the party to an viable height. I jointly agree in the motion, that Honorable Nwamkpa will continue this executive as chairman of APC in Abia state.

    “As we passed votes of confidence on our Chief Nwankpa-led executives, we shall all rise and condemn the antics of some people in this party, particularly, Chief Ikechi Emenike and his cohorts. We totally condemn their activities”.

    In his speech, the leader of APC caucus in Abia state and a member of the Board of Trustees of the party, Chief Sam Nkire described Nwankpa as a good and experienced party administrator.

    He backed the suspension slammed on Emenike over his penchant in sabotaging the party in the state.

    “If Donatus Nwamkpa is running for an election today, I will support him. I adjudge him as a good chairman.

    “Emenike was suspended through his ward to his local government and to the state. He took the party to Court and the constitution of APC says you must exhaust all peaceful means before going to court. So, he disobeyed the constitution of the party”, he noted.

    Former Deputy Governor of Abia State and a member of the Board of Trustees of APC, Dr. Chris Akomas who corroborated Nkire lauded the leadership qualities of Nwankpa and further expressed confidence that the Abia APC chairman will do more in keeping the party together.

    He frowned at the attitude of some disgruntled elements in APC, who according to him were on a mission to destabilize the party, stressing that Abia APC was intact and united under Nwankpa-led executives.

    Senators Nwanunu, Chris Adighije, Nkechi Nworgu, Dr. Nyerere Anyim (2015 governorship candidate of the party), former member of the federal House of Representatives, Acho Obioma (former Speaker of Abia House of Assembly), former Speaker Abia State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Stanley Ohazuruka, three APC members in Abia House of Assembly, Chief KC Ugboaja, (Rtd) DIG of police, Azubuko Udah, Comrade Benedict Godson and other notable APC chieftains in the state.

    Meanwhile, Former Abia state Governor and APC chieftain, Orji Uzor kalu and Chief Executive officer of Masters Energy Petroleum and former governorship aspirant under PDP but now in APC, Dr. Uchechukwu Ogah were represented at the event.

  • We’re on same page with Buhari—APC governors insist

    Governors of the All Progressives Congress ( APC ) on Wednesday dismissed media reports that there was disagreement between them and President Muhammadu Buhari over tenure elongation for the APC national and state executives.

    Gov. Abdul-aziz Yari of Zamfara stated this when he briefed State House correspondents alongside Gov. Rochas Okorocha of Imo on the outcome of the meeting between the APC governors and the president in Abuja, on Tuesday.

    He said that all the 24 governors of the APC were on the same page with President Buhari over the issue of the national leadership of the party.

     “We have seen so many captions that there is disagreement between the governors over the issue of our party Chairman or about the party leadership.

    “No, we had a meeting with Mr. President yesterday ( Tuesday ), and we extended the meeting tonight and we followed up with consultations with the President now.

    “We consulted and all the 24 governors of the APC are in the same page with Mr President that we are going to respect our party constitution; we are going to respect the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.’’

    According to Yari, the governors have collectively agreed that there should be congresses at local, state and national levels.

    He revealed that the committee set up by the National Secretariat of the party headed by Gov. Simon Lalong of Plateau would be presenting its report later today.

    `The governors are also meeting with the working committee today so that we come up with convention committee names as well as a timetable for the election.’’

    Read Also: APC governors meet Buhari again in Aso Rock

    “So, there is no deadlock in our meeting, we have progressed and very soon you will have the names of the convention committee members; as well as the timetable.’’

    Gov. Okorocha on his part said, “I just want to let you know that there is no crisis in the APC at all and we want to use this opportunity to advise the media to stop spreading rumours of crisis in APC. There is no single crisis in APC.’’

    “But let me correct one impression, the issue of congress and convention does not mean that the previous people who have served the party have done badly.

    “And it does not mean that they cannot come back or that they cannot re-contest, that is not it.

    “We are simply saying that their tenure has ended and those who wish to re-contest can re-contest and can be elected into our party structure.

    “So, we are all one as family and we are set to go for 2019 elections in victory.’’

    NAN

  • 2019: Former Nasarawa SSG joins governorship race

    The former Secretary to the Government of Nasarawa State, Mr Philip Dada, on Tuesday declared his interest to run for governorship of the state in 2019 under the All Progressives Congress ( APC ).

    Dada made the declaration when he met with APC ward officials of Karu, Karu Local Government Area of the state.

    He said that he joined the race because of his plan for the development of the state through people oriented programmes.

    “For the past one year, I have been consulting with stakeholders especially the Gbagyi among other elites about my interest to join in the governorship race in the state come 2019 to enable me contribute my quota.

    “The door is now open; I will continue my consultations to the zonal and state offices of the party even to the national party office.

    “I will also be consulting key stakeholders in the state to seek for their support and blessings,” he said.

    According to him, he has gathered enough experience to appreciate the problems of the state and best way to tackle them.

    “I want to use my experience in government to develop Nasarawa State, if given the mandate and opportunity to serve the good people of the state.

    “As a former SSG and a retired director at the State House Abuja, I can say I am qualified to rule the state,” he added.

    Dada solicited the support of all APC stakeholders across the state for the realisation of his governorship ambition.

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    He commended Gov. Umar  Al-makura and the leadership of the party under Mr Philips Tatari Shekwo, for providing a free play field for all the aspirants to exercise their rights.

    Dada advised delegates to shun money bag politics, to guarantee the emergence good leaders that would take the state to the next level of growth and development.

    The aspirant also admonished the youths to avoid all acts capable of tarnishing their image, and allow politics to be played according to the rules.

    Alhaji Abdul Rauf, the Karu ward chairman of APC,  described Dada as a humble and dedicated party member who has contributed to the development of the state.

    He assured the aspirant of their support, noting that he is the only Gbagyi man to indicate interest to contest for the governorship position in the state.

    News men reports that Dada served as SSG under former governor Abdullahi Adamu.

    NAN