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Tag: All Progressives Congress

  • 2019: APC Governors to meet President Buhari

    State Governors of the All Progressives Congress ( APC ) are billed to meet with President Muhammadu Buhari in their bid to pressure the president to seek re-election in 2019.

    The News men gathered that the meeting which has been fixed for 2.p.m., may also deliberate on some national and party issues including the President’s disapproval of tenure elongation for APC national executives.

    It would be recalled that the governors had on Feb. 22 met behind closed doors, after which the President pledged to address the nation on whether he will seek re-election in 2019.

    The Chairman of the APC Governors’ Forum, Gov. Rochas Okorocha of Imo, who spoke to State House correspondents on the outcome of the February meeting, said the president was to address the caucus of the APC on the matter.

    Read Also: APC leadership: ‘Buhari’s position lawful’

    “We discussed so many issues that affect the nation, our party and Mr President’s ambition to run for 2019 elections.

    “Anyhow, Mr President in his usual manner has requested that we give him time and that he will address the nation and the caucus of the party very soon.

    “So we should be full of expectations that Mr President will make officially known to Nigerians his intentions.

    “But we hope that his response will be in line with what the governors are thinking,’’ Okorocha said after the February meeting.

    NAN

  • I have never looted the treasury – Aliyu

    Threatens court action

    Former Niger State Governor, Babangida Aliyu has said that he did not loot the state treasury during his eight year tenure in the state and threatened to challenge the allegation in court.

    Aliyu made the denial in a statement he signed in Minna on Monday while reacting to the recent release of list of treasury looters in the country by the Federal Government.

    “ I wonder why the federal government should include my name in the 24 treasury looters list released again by the Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed,’’ he said.

    He threatened to challenge his inclusion on the list to a logical conclusion after consultations with his lawyers.

    The former governor explained that nobody had confronted him with any document that he received N1.6 billion from the former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd) and urged the government to prove it.

    He alleged that the All Progressives Congress (APC) was doing everything possible to blackmail him because he refused to join the party.

    “The APC government has embarked on calculated blackmail against my person because I refused to join the party.

    “We all have our minds and what we believe in politics is a thing of the mind.

    “In the orchestrated plot to tarnish my image, I am presently before the Federal High Court and a Niger High Court for the same alleged offence.

    “This is to show that the government is hell bent on bringing me down but they will not succeed,’’ he said.

    Aliyu said that as a governor he served the people of Niger to the best of his ability.

    “As a Governor, I left a landmark for posterity, no amount of blackmail or character assassination can wipe me out from the minds of the people,’’ he said.

    NAN

     

  • Why Buhari has no moral ground to fight corruption – PDP

    ….Says President a beneficiary of corruption freebies

     

    The verbal war between the ruling All Progressives Congress (PDP) and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) appears to be escalating by the day.

    Following Friday’s release of a list of alleged PDP treasury looters by the Minister of Information and Culture Minister, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the two main political parties have continued to exchange accusations of corruption.

    In the latest tirade, the PDP said President Muhammadu Buhari has no moral rectitude to fight corruption. It accused the President of being a direct beneficiary of “corruption freebies” deployed by his party leaders to fund his 2015 presidential election.

    The PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, in a statement on Saturday, said the billions of Naira deployed for President Buhari’s 2015 campaign were proceeds of corruption.

    “The President, who declared that he had no resources to run a presidential campaign in 2015, ought to have known, particularly as a leader, that the billions of naira deployed for his campaigns were proceeds of corrupt activities of known All Progressives Congress (APC) governors and leaders”, it added.

    The opposition party challenged the President to make open the sources of fund available to his campaign in the 2003, 2007 and 2011 race as well as the names of the donors.

    The PDP said it is particularly interested in the fund allegedly provided by an unnamed South-south governor for the 2011 presidential election as well as how the cost of litigation was paid by the then Buhari Campaign.

    It insisted that the APC and the Federal Government cannot list names of looters and attempt to shy away from the fact that President Buhari and his party are direct beneficiaries of fund looted by APC governors.

    The party said the President and his party leaders have huge confessions to make on how they raked in state stolen resources to prosecute the 2015 elections.

    The statement said, “If the Federal Government and the APC are serious about fighting corruption and not just out to persecute PDP members, they should have begun with the probe into the source of the billions of naira used for President Buhari’s 2015 presidential campaigns, particularly in the face of allegations that the fund was looted from treasuries of various APC states.

    “Can President Buhari in all honesty claim ignorance of reports in the open media that a South-south governor looted several billions from his state accounts and diverted the sums into Buhari’s 2015 campaigns?

    “Can the Presidency and the APC inform Nigerians what steps the Federal Government has taken to investigate this allegation, which has been in the public domain and to clarify their roles as beneficiaries of the alleged looted funds?

    “If they are not complicit, why are they not demanding the truth in the matter and the possible refund of the fund for the good of the people?

    “We challenge President Buhari to tell Nigerians what he has done regarding the leaked memo showing N9 trillion ($25billion dollars) corrupt oil contracts at the NNPC as well as the alleged stealing of N1.1 trillion worth of crude oil, all in a sector under his direct purview as minister of Petroleum.

    “The Presidency should tell Nigerians what has been done to recover the stolen N18 billion Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) intervention fund and the N10 billion National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) fund alleged to have been stolen from the Treasury Single Account (TSA) by APC officials and Presidency cabal.

    “Furthermore, the Buhari Presidency must immediately explain why it has been providing cover for the cabinet minister reported to have bought a property worth N280 million in Abuja from corrupt enrichment.

    “How can a President who enjoys the company of perjurers, looters and is never aware of the activities of corrupt people around him, fight the menace of corruption?

    “Indeed, Nigerians have pulled off the facade of lies and propaganda of the Buhari Presidency and APC deception machinery and what they see now is the stark pretentiously sanctimonious Buhari Presidency”.

     

  • Akala Support Group: Present Akala as your joker in 2019

    *Praises Tinubu at 66

     

    A group of loyalists to former governor Adebayo Alao-Akala on Thursday urged the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state to present the former governor as its governorship candidate in the 2019 election, saying he is the only joker to coast into victory in the much awaited poll.

    The group made the call at a rally held at the hilltop Premier Hotel, Mokola, Ibadan.

    Attended by former commissioners, members of the state House of Assembly and scores of supporters across the state, the group emphasized that the sterling performance of the party at the federal and in Oyo State necessitates the sustenance of the massive achievements of the Governor Abiola Ajimobi’s administration.

    The Akala Support Group also showered encomiums on the National Leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, on the occasion of his 66th birthday.

    The group, in a communique issued at the end of the rally, said Akala should be called upon to contest in order to “satisfy the yearnings of the people in the state, it is imperative to make a clarion call on His Excellency, Otunba Christopher Adebayo Alao-Akala to contest in the governorship election of Oyo state in 2019, so that the succor, humane posture, economic activities, infrastructural development that was once entrenched in governance of the state during his past tenure could be repeated with renewed vigor. The earlier mentioned criteria suit him best. “

    It continued: “The joker to winning the 2019 Oyo governorship by any political platform is to present Alao-Akala because of serious yearnings for him by the generality of people in state.

    “The clarion call by this body should be immediately transmitted in a formal letter to His Excellency, Otunba Christopher Adebayo Alao-Akala.

    “There is need to locate the right person for Oyo governorship election in 2019. The candidate should be someone who can increase the pacesetting bar of Oyo State, someone who will sustain, equally re-order both social and political development of the state.

    “That, for a way forward in Oyo State in 2019 governorship elections, there is a need to separate the chaff from the wheat among the gubernatorial aspirants as it is presently an all -comer affair where political lilliputians are gladiating without individuals who have high pedigree in governance.”

    Those who spoke at the discourse include Oloye Adekunle Adebowale, a former Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) State Secretary Comrade Olu Abiala, one time chairman of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) Comrade Amuda Babatunde, Oloye Agbo Adeyemo, former commissioner, Mrs Kemi Jayeoba-Olorunsogo and Mrs. Falilat Adeyemo.

    Alao-Akala was Deputy Governor of the state from 2003 to 2007 and Governor from 2007 to 2011. He contested and lost in 2011 and 2015.

     

  • 2019: Let’s give Atiku Abubakar a chance, lawmaker urges PDP

    Mr Dipo Olorunrinu, (PDP Amuwo-Odofin Constituency I), Lagos State House of Assembly has urged the party to give former Vice-President Atiku Abukakar a chance to run for the 2019 Presidential election.

    Olorunrinu, the only PDP member in the state Assembly, gave the advice in an interview with the News men in Lagos on Wednesday.

    “Let me quickly congratulate his (Abubakar’s) boldness and courage to come out for this position at a time when our party needs a very credible and formidable personality.

    “Abukakar is someone that has people around him. We should give him a very big applaud for coming out.
    “Let’s see what he has on the table. Personally, I want to appreciate his decision to rule.

    “The truth is that, Abubakar’s declaration will actually give the ruling party a run not just for their money, but also their interest in governing in 2019.

    “Abubakar is somebody that cuts across geo-political and ethnic zones and he should be given a chance,” Olorunrinu said.

    The lawmaker said that Abubakar had garnered enough experience over the years and not seen to be a tribalistic person but a nationalistic politician.

    Read Also: 2019: Atiku pledges 40% affirmative action for youths

    He said that some people didn’t want Abubakar because of their personal interest.

    On the rising number of PDP aspirants for the seat of the President, the lawmaker urged them to support the best aspirant that could guarantee victory for the party in 2019.

    He urged all aspirants to desist from selfish interest that could ruin the PDP’s chances in the next general elections, saying that the party should be fair to all.

    On the apology tendered by the PDP to Nigerians for its past mistakes, Olorunrinu said that the step showed the party’s remorsefulness, sympathy and readiness to make Nigeria great again.

    “I can assure you, the party might have failed but learnt how not to fail again.”

    Abubakar officially declared his intention to run for the 2019 presidential election on the platform of the PDP on Tuesday in Rivers.
    His declaration came few months after he left the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Abubakar made his position known while addressing stakeholders of the PDP drawn from the 23 local government areas of Rivers at the Government House, Port Harcourt.

    NAN

  • Election 2019: APC Chieftain urges youths to obtain PVC

    Alhaji Suleiman Umar, Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress ( APC ), Niger, has called on eligible Nigerian youths to take the advantage of the ongoing voter registration to get themselves registered.

    Umar made the call in an interview with the News men on Tuesday in Minna.

    He said that the desire of Nigerians to have responsible and responsive leaders depend on the ability of the youths to participate effectively in the electoral processes.

    According to him, to have a voice that matters as a Nigerian in 2019, you need to get a Permanent Voter Card ( PVC ).

    “It is only by obtaining your PCV that you can vote for your preferred candidates.

    He also urged Nigerians who have earlier registered and yet to obtain their PVCs to do that as soon as possible.

    Read Also: APC ‘won’t discuss tenure elongation at today’s NEC meeting’

    He described the PVC as the power of the electorate to elect credible leaders that would ensure good democratic governance.

    He said that failure of eligible residents to register was a disservice to the nation.

    He advised political leaders to embrace the principles of political tolerance and understanding among their followers.

    According to him, politicians must embrace peace and unity as well as preaching on political tolerance and better understanding among our followers.

    NAN

  • APC is doomed if Tinubu’s reconciliation fails – Party Stalwart

    A leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa State, Chief Perekeme Kpodo, has said the APC will be doomed in the forthcoming general elections if the ongoing reconciliation by its national leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, fails.
    Kpodo, a former Interim Chairman of the party, appealed to all APC members and leaders to support the former Governor of Lagos State in his moves to reconcile the aggrieved members of the party ahead of the 2019 general elections.

    Speaking on Friday in Yenagoa, Kpodo said the choice of Tinubu by President Muhammadu Buhari to undertake the reconciliation task was right, unmistakable, in order and well-thought out.

    He said though he was not holding brief for Tinubu, given his socio-economic and political antecedents, he is a well-respected leader of the party with proven records of an excellent leader, a great mobiliser, an astute administrator, a great performer and a bridge builder.

    Kpodo said:  “I am optimistic that Tinubu’s reconciliation will succeed. But if his reconciliation fails, the APC will fail. Without reconciliation, APC will not go anywhere.

    “So, a respectable man as Tinubu should be commended for taking up the appointment of bringing the party together again. We should also thank Mr. President for picking him (Tinubu) for the reconciliation job. That is a wise decision on the part of the President.”

    He criticized the party national Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, for allegedly jumping the gun by attempting his own form of reconciliation at a time the President selected Tinubu for the job.

    He said: “The national chairman is trying to jump the gun. He has been there for some time now, no convention, no reconcilation, nothing whatsover, but now that somebody has been appointed for reconciation, he now starts doing the same thing. That is unthinkable of him and such action will not lead the party anywhere.

    “As for the coming elections, APC has bright chances so long it is able to put its house in order and genuinely reconcile everybody that is aggrieved. Once that is done, I believe all members of the party will go back to the trenches, mobilizing and sensitizing people in order to win the general elections.

    “I want to sound a note of caution here. The President who appointed Tinubu for the reconciliation job knew what he was doing. If he does not have regard and respect for Tinubu, he would not have appointed him. So, people talking rubbish should stop henceforth for the interest of the party.

    “Look at Tinubu’s record; even in this APC we are, we know what he has achieved so far. In establishing this APC, he played crucial role for its survival. How many of them (those castigating the person of Tinubu) can match his performance and records in all ramifications?

    “What I am saying really is that we should give Tinubu the full support he needs, because we really want to win the forthcoming elections. We want Buhari to win. We have to do everything possible to make sure we win the elections.

    “But this cannot be done if our house is not in order. We need to reconcile all the aggrieved persons in the party, mobilize the people and give everybody a sense of belonging in the  party.

    “It must also not be lost on us; the problems affecting the APC are greed, in-fighting and injustice. Because of those problems, we narrowly won the last general elections. So, we have to try as much as possible to make sure we ventilate the grievances of aggrieved members through Tinub’s reconciliation and ensure that President Buhari is returned in 2019.”

    Kpodo also said that the move to suspend of some members opposed to the tenure elongation of the national chairman was wrong and unthinkable.

    He said it was foolhardy to be disorganizing the party at a time of reconciliation and wondered whether it was wrong for people to kick against what they perceived as wrong.

    He said: “We are trying to reconcile the party and they are scattering it again. Does it mean there should not be any criticism in the party? We must criticize to rearrange so that everybody will now know where they belong. The meeting of South-South was held in Ebonyi, South-East, does it mean there is no place in the South-South to hold such a meeting?

    “The issue now is that the President appointed Senator Bola Tinubu to head a reconciliation committee, but what we are seeing now is that the national chairman is now moving about for reconciliation. The question now is why did he embark on this now? If he knew all this while he could reconcile the party, why did he not do it?

    “Look at the South-South states; we do not have a single state. Those who are vibrant and capable of winning the states are sidelined. We made it open during the last elections that we could not win any election without reconciling the party.

    “But some persons thwarted our efforts and what happened next, the PDP took over the states in the South-South. So, the issue is that reconciliation should take place genuinely. If people went to court, why suspending them? That is very wrong. It is meant to cause more harm than good for the party.”

  • Akeredolu remains Ondo Governor – APC

     

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo state on Friday reacted to the verdict of the Supreme Court on the commencement of hearing in a case filed against the outcome of September 3, 2016  primary in Ondo State by an aspirant, Dr. Olusegun Abraham.

    The party in a statement by its Director of Media&Publicity, Steve Otalorilot noted that some political

    confusionists have started misinterpreting the apex court’s verdict as outright removal of Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu from office and to be replaced with the applicant, Abraham.

    The party said “it is unfortunate that this group of people decided to confuse members of our party and the good people of Ondo State in favour of their leader.

    “Without prejudice to the judgement handed down by the Supreme Court, every member of APC is convinced that the primary was free, fair and transparent.

    “It is established that the authentic party register was used at the primary, which was adjudged free, fair and acceptable by the party which would still form the basis for the application of the plaintiff”.

    However, the statement urged all APC members and the citizenry to remain calm and refused to be confused on the court verdict, which is a mere permission to begin the hearing of the case itself.

    According to the statement”it is pertinent to let our members and people of Ondo State to know that the governor is unperturbed being a legal luminary who understands that the Supreme Court verdict only permits him to open up his defence and put the record straight.

    “The veracity of the matter is largely on Akeredolu’s side considering the avalanche of evidence in his favour.

    It said “Akeredolu’s character, popularity and conviction on the fair conduct of the primary prompted other contestants in the primary to congratulate him when he was declared winner.

    “It is also clear that the apex court’s verdict is a sheer approval to commence hearing of a case that has not begun.

    “Nevertheless, Abraham is currently alone on this legal journey as all other contestants in the primary have been working towards strengthening the party, while the national leadership of the party as well as our national leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is already working with Akeredolu and our party (APC) for successful implementation of all his people-oriented programmes.”

    The APC said the current unity among members of the party was a strong indication that” Abraham is standing alone in his illusion, trying to whip up a dead horse”.

     

  • 2019: APC chieftain mobilises support for Buhari’s reelection

    A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Mike Okoro, says President Muhammadu Buhari deserved a second term in 2019 to consolidate on the achievements recorded in his first term.

    Okoro, also an Aba-based business mogul, stated this in an interview with the News men on Thursday in Abakaliki.

    He listed road infrastructure, anti-graft campaign, and job creation, and youth empowerment, defeat of Boko Haram insurgency and maintenance of fiscal discipline as some of the landmark achievements of the President

    “Mr President has defeated the Boko Haram insurgency in the North-East and reclaimed territories annexed by the group.
    “Nigeria’s economy is gradually bouncing back and our external reserve streaming back to live.

    “Corruption in public service has reduced while fiscal discipline and responsibility are strictly adhered to in public procurement.
    “The present challenges which are part of the development challenges will be overcome with our support and prayers.

    “I think what we need do as person is to renew the mandate of Mr President so that he can consolidate on the achievements so far made,” Okoro said.

    He said that the President needed the patience, support and cooperation of every citizen to steer the country back to economic, social and political greatness.

    Read Also: Former Delta commissioner hails Buhari’s anti-graft war

    Okoro noted that Buhari’s administration was committed to restoration of hope and confidence of local and international investors.

    He said that recent clashes between herdsmen and farmers in parts of the country could be addressed through constructive dialogue and negotiation.

    The party chieftain, however, urged government to take a second look at the proposed establishment of cattle colonies, saying that it might not be a panacea to the recurring killings between herders and farmers.

    According to him, the proposal may also trigger more crises.

    “The nomads have been in the business of rearing their cattle from one part of the country, especially from the North to every other part of the nation.

    “We have not had the type of clashes and killings that have become the order of the day between the herders and farmers in the country.

    “I am not in favour of carving out portions of lands for the purpose of creating colonies for cattle rearing, rather I will ask that there should be a negotiation to find a middle cause for the problems,’’ he said.

    He urged eligible voters that not were registered in the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) to ensure they were registered to avoid self-disenfranchising during the election.

    NAN

  • Oyegun: Ekiti governorship poll, a must win for APC

    Assures aspirants of credible primary

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, has declared that the July 14 governorship election is a “must-win” for his party.
    He also assured all aspirants interested in the party’s ticket that a credible, free, fair and transparent primary election will be conducted to choose the flag bearer.
    Oyegun stressed that the Muhammadu Buhari Administration would not compromise the integrity of the ballot box despite the party’s quest to regain the governorship seat in Ekiti.
    The party leader promised that the APC structure in the entire country will mobilize all available resources to assist members in Ekiti to win the forthcoming governorship poll.
    Oyegun spoke in Ado-Ekiti on Monday during a one-day official visit to Ekiti State to flag off the membership mobilization drive into the party.
    The APC National Chairman registered new members at the state secretariat along Ajilosun in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.
    He was joined by some members of the National Working Committee (NWC) including the National Organising Secretary, Senator Osita Izunaso.
    Oyegun and his team made a stopover at the state secretariat where thousands of party members mobilized by governorship aspirants had waited to receive the team.
    The train later moved to Eagle Hall along Ikere Road where another crowd of party faithful had gathered.
    The National Chairman, Ekiti State APC Chairman, Chief Olajide Awe, Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, State Working Committee members and governorship aspirants sauntered into the hall at about 1.15 pm to a rapturous ovation by party supporters.

    Read Also: APC moves to reconcile Buhari, Saraki, others

    Oyegun said the flag-off of nationwide registration of new party members was brought to Ekiti to show the readiness of the APC to win the forthcoming governorship poll in the Southwest state.
    He said: “We did not choose Ekiti to flag off this event (new membership drive) by accident. Ekiti is facing an important election that will happen in this nation.
    “God has put it in our hand, God has put it on your laps and God has chosen Ekiti to be a major factor in the politics of this country in July 2018.
    “We in the National Executive have decided that the coming election in Ekiti is one we will work as hard as possible. No stone will be left unturned; it is a must-win election.
    “As you know, the Muhammadu Buhari Administration will not compromise with offering voters a level playing field, the Buhari Administration will not compromise on having a free and fair election.
    “It means whether we are in power at the federal level or not, we must all work hard to deserve the victory that belongs to us.”
    Oyegun also reeled out some guidelines to ensure that aspirants and their supporters conduct themselves with decorum and ensure that the party organizes a transparent primary.
    He said further: “The aspirants should not campaign as if there is no tomorrow, don’t campaign with enmity because there should be no discord in the party and anybody that wants to fly the party flag must sign an undertaking to maintain decorum.
    “We at the national headquarters, having guaranteed a free and fairprimary, because there cannot be peace without justice, will guarantee a free and fair primary.
    “We must not have bad losers, all aspirants must collapse their structures into the person that is chosen at the primary. There must be no division and factionalisation in the party.
    “No officer (in the state exco) should join the campaign bandwagon of any aspirant whatever position you hold. The moment you do that, you have factionalised the party.”
    Speaking on the issue of rumour to impose a candidate, Oyegun said: “I want to assure that in Ekiti State, we will have free, fair and credible primary. We will provide security at the primary, it will be an open event and will be covered and recorded on television from the beginning to the end.
    “There will be proper identification of delegates to prevent impersonation. Once the delegate list is out, every aspirant that pays the prescribe fee will be given the delegates list.
    “At the voting point, party chairmen of the local government (chapters) and wards will stand at a distance away but they will ensure that those that will vote are bona fide delegates and anybody found impersonating will be handed over to the Police.
    “A formidable group of (APC) governors will be mobilized who will superintend, guide and ensure that the election is totally free and fair.
    “Finally, as far as Ekiti governorship election is concerned, we are going to mobilise the entire country, the entire APC structure to ensure that you (Ekiti APC) are not alone and that all resources you need for the election are made available to you.
    “At the end of July, Ekiti will be APC.” Governorship aspirants who present include Chief Segun Oni, Dr. Wole Oluyede, Mr. Kola Alabi, Mr. Victor Kolade, Dr. Bayo Orire, Senator Gbenga Aluko, Captain Sunday Adebomi, Dr. Mojisola Kolade, Chief Diran Adesua, Mr. Bimbo Daramola, Senator Ayo Arise, Dr. Wole Oluleye and Dr. Makanjuola Owolabi.