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Tag: All Progressives Congress

  • INEC proposes Sept.16 for Lagos bye-election

    INEC proposes Sept.16 for Lagos bye-election

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Friday proposed Sept 16 for the conduct of a bye-election to fill the vacant Eti-Osa Constituency I seat in the Lagos State House of Assembly.

    Dr Mudashiru Mustapha, INEC Administrative Secretary in Lagos State, announced the proposed date at a stakeholders meeting attended by party leaders at the Lagos headquarters of the commission.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that Mr Kazeem Alimi of the All Progressives Congress, who occupied the seat, died on July 18.

    He succumbed to a brief illness at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, two weeks after celebrating his 50th birthday.

    Mustapha said the proposed date for the bye-election was chosen after taking into consideration the activities of the commission across the country and the upcoming Eid-el-Kabir holidays.

    He said that the commission was also guided by the Electoral Law which stipulates that the bye-election be conducted within 30 days of receiving an official notice of the death of the lawmaker.

    ”We officially received the notification of the death of Hon. Alimi on Wednesday. That is why we called this meeting to jointly decide on a date for a bye-election to fill the vacant position.

    ”We are proposing Saturday, Sept. 16. Once we agree, we notify the headquarters for final approval, after which we roll out the timetable for political parties to start preparations for the election.

    “We have notified security agencies, written to the National Youth Service Corps to provide us with ad hoc staff, we need to hold training and put other logistics in place to ensure a successful bye election.

    ”The date might not be too convenient, but I’m appealing to political parties and other stakeholders to work it out, ” he said.

    NAN reports that some of the party leaders at the meeting expressed divergent views on the suitability of the proposed date.

    Rev. Solomon Orji, Lagos State Chairman, Green Party of Nigeria, appealed that the date be extended to allow political parties prepare and participate adequately in the election.

    ”The timing is too short to allow about 22 political parties to prepare for the bye-election. We are appealing for an extension, ” Orji said.

    Mr Akin Badmus, State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Movement, however, said the electoral law should be adhered to, since it stipulates that a bye-election be held within 30 days.

    Mr Kola Ajayi, State Chairman, Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) urged the commission to give the council 24 hours to mobilise all the political parties and discuss the proposed date.

     

  • APC rakes in N60m from Anambra Guber poll

    APC rakes in N60m from Anambra Guber poll

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has generated more than sixty million Naira from the sales of the nomination and expression of Interest forms, even as the National Working Committee (NWC) held a closed door meeting with the aspirants.

    Eleven aspirants, paid the sum of N5.5 for the form, while the only female aspirant was given the form free to contest the primary in line with the party guideline.

    Addressing the twelve aspirants at a close door meeting yesterday at the party National Secretariat, APC National Chairman Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, assured them of a free, fair and credible election.

    Oyegun said: “We have called for this meeting to have an interactive section with you (aspirants) because we do hear a lot of things and if you have any doubt or anything that you think we haven’t done right, this is an opportunity to point them out and we will see what we can do.

    “But I assure you that there will be truly fair, free and credible primaries. So, that is the whole purpose of this meeting.”

    The twelve aspirants present at the meeting including the immediate past National Auditor of the party Chief Gorge Mohgalu, Senator Andy Uba, Sir Paul Chukwu, Barr. Nonso Madu, Prince Don Okonkwo, Dr. Chike Obidigbo and Engr. Johnbosco, Engr. Bart Nwibe, Dr. Nwike, Adaobi Kalu Uchegbu and Dr. Tony Nwoye.

    Inaugurating the seven man screening committee, National Organising Secretary, Senator Ostia Izunaso asked the committee to score the aspirants in all areas, pointing out that any candidate who scored less than fifty percent stands disqualified from the race.

    He told the committee to look into the area of support for the party by all the aspirants, their qualification among others, adding that any of the aspirants to be disqualified must be informed in writing as to the reason for his disqualification.

    He said the Appeals committee was also mandated to sit only on written petitions from aggrieved aspirants adding that they must not act on mere hearsay during their sitting.

    While the screening committee is headed by the Ondo state Deputy Governor, Agboola Ajayi, the Appeals Committee is headed by the Minister of Communication, Adebayo Shittu.

  • Hate speeches fallout of 2015 Presidential election – Oyegun

    Hate speeches fallout of 2015 Presidential election – Oyegun

    National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun has said that the rising wave of hate speech, negative religious and ethnic utterance and actions as is currently being experienced in the country is a fallout of the 2015 presidential election which should not be allowed to continue.

    In a statement made available to newsmen on Wednesday, Oyegun described perpetrators of hate-speeches, images and songs currently circulating in part of the country as worst perpetrators of terrorist activity than Boko Haram insurgents.

    Reacting to the audio recording which he described as “dangerous and despicable”, the APC National Chairman called on security agencies to promptly apprehend those behind the recording and other similar acts, “no matter who they are.”

    He said: “Every ethnic-based crises of whatever nature had started with hate speech. When people within the same country frame and define one another in the manner intended to set them up for violent attack, then they are setting themselves up for a major disaster.

    “The ‘merchants of hate’ don’t know or just don’t care about the consequences of the fire they are stoking in the country. But they have the experiences of other countries to learn from. Rwanda remains a classic example on our continent. “However, even as terrible as Rwanda was, it would be nothing compared to what could happen if a huge country like Nigeria is allowed to fall into the disaster of hate-driven conflict. This is why we must all rise, regardless of our political differences and condemn these ugly and shameful acts with one voice.”

    Odigie-Oyegun observed that even though ethnic distrust is not new in the country, the rising wave of hate speech, negative religious and ethnic utterance and actions as is currently being experienced, is part of the fallouts of the 2015 presidential election.

    “Anyone participating in an election knows that there could only be two outcomes, you win or you lose. When you lose, you prepare for the next election. What we have seen however is that since 2015, some politicians and political groups have carried on as if they wish the country itself to collapse just because they are no longer in power. This is tragic indeed,” he said.

    The APC chief appealed to the Acting President to direct the security agencies to ensure that those behind these odious acts are promptly arrested and swiftly brought to justice, saying “we cannot sit idle and watch a few disgruntled individuals to destroy our democracy, and God forbids, the nation that we all fought hard to achieve and build”.

  • APC will not dissolve Kogi Excos

    APC will not dissolve Kogi Excos

    The National Working Committee of All Progressives Congress (APC) has assured leaders of the party in Kogi state that it has no plan to dissolve the state chapter of the party or any organ of the party in the state.

    Speaking with newsmen at the end of their meeting with the leadership of the party at the part national secretariat, leaders of the party in Kogi state led by Senator Alex Kadiri and Dino Melaye said they have received the assurance of the party that the dissolution of the state leadership was not part of three agenda of the meeting of the NWC.

    Speaking on behalf of the Kogi APC leaders, Senator Alex Kadiri said “We met with the national chairman and his team and we agreed “that the national working committee will not tamper with the APC in Kogi State. That is very very important to us. We got an affirmation from the Chairman that that is not in their agenda for their (NWC) meeting on Wednesday

    “The executive of the APC at all levels in Kogi State will not be dissolved because there is a procedure for the dissolution of the party executives at the State level even at the national level. 

    “We also disabuse our minds vis-a-vis the mind of the national chairman over the fact that people have accused some persons of moving funds from Kogi to Abuja. We do not have facts to give you on this. The chairman has assured us that his hands are clean on this matter and we believe him. 

    “That the Tony Momoh led reconciliation committee have actually submitted their report and the report will be considered by the national working committee at their meeting because APC members in the State are anxiously waiting for the outcome of that report. 

    “It is that report that has made the leaders of APC to be calm and not to do anything that will disrupt the party. And it is not our intention to destroy this party. But we have always said this that politics is a game of interest and relevance. If your interest is not being protected and people do not find you relevant, then there’s no point being there. 

    “And we are satisfied with the position of the national chairman that he will never do anything to frustrate the leaders of the APC in Kogi State. And I can assure you that on our part, all the serving senators in APC, personified by Dino Melaye,  all the former senators from Kogi State including Senator Ohiare, Abdul Abubakar and myself are all behind senator Dino Melaye in this fight. 

    “We believe that his fight is just, we believe that it is not right for APC to fold its hands and see the only APC Senator left in Kogi State to be taken out of the Senate chambers. We believe that we must fight to keep our senator in the national assembly. 

    “We also believe that the process of recall being orchestrated are all based on falsehood. Dead persons names are there, people who do not have PVC to vote were there and i hope you remember that total votes cast for all those who ran for senate for Kogi West in the last election came to about 133,000, but those who claim to have signed petition to withdraw Dino from the national Assembly are around 188,000. It is an exercise in futility. He has done us proud and we will stand by him.”

    Meanwhile, the party has, however, said it has not taken any decision as regards the chairman of the Kano state APC chapter, Alh. Umar Haruna Doguwa. 

    In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary Malam Bolaji Abdullahi, the APC National Working Committee (NWC) said though it aware of the crisis rocking the state chapter but no decision has been taken. 

    “We wish to state that in respect of Kano, no such decision has been taken by the NWC. Although, we are aware of issues in the Kano State chapter, efforts to find lasting solutions to the problem are ongoing. In view of this, the statusquo is maintained until the ongoing process is completed. 

    “Party members, stakeholders, leaders and indeed the general public are advised to disregard the false reports.” 

  • Late Bauchi Deputy Governor’s wish

    The dying wish of the late former Deputy Governor of Bauchi state and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Garba Gadi is for Nigeria not to fall into the hands of those he described as “rogue elements”, his family has revealed.

    In a statement in Abuja weekend, his grand son, Ghazali Mohammed said his grand father was particularly concerned about efforts by some Nigerians to frustrate the anti-corruption crusade of the Buhari administration and appealed to Nigerians to do everything possible to disallow these group of Nigerians the opportunity to occupy leadership position in the country again.

    Gadi, who was  Co-chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Merger Committee has been ill for about two years and died of cancer at an Indian hospital last week. He has since been buried in his home town according to Islamic rites.

    Ghazals Mohammed said “my grand father admonished Nigerians and in particular the APC not to allow rogue elements to rule Nigeria again.” 

    “If nothing else, he said that President Muhammadu Buhari has instituted policies designed to plug the leakages of our public finance forever. With transparency instituted, everything will fall in place. 

    “This is why these rogue elements at every turn are putting obstacles on the anti-graft war being waged by President Buhari. They are also obstructing Buhari’s foreign loans meant to develop the country’s deficit infrastructure. They don’t want Buhari to succeed and .” 

    He said before his death, the late Garba Gadi informed them that he has forgiven those who illegally impeached him as the state deputy governor and has put the issue behind him, but was grateful to the team of lawyers led byAbubakar Malami, SAN, Okoi Obono Obla Esq and Femi Falana, SAN who offered him pro bono services in the course of the legal battle to upturn his impeachment.

    “His sole worry before he died was corruption which he believed is at the root of Nigeria’s underdevelopment, the emergence of Boko Haram and gross unemployment,” Muhammed said. 

    The late Garba Gadi was removed as the deputy governor by the former governor of Bauchi, Malam Isa Yuguda, when he refused to join him to decamp from the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party ( ANPP) to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the matter is  which is still pending at the Supreme Court. 

    He later joined the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), where he became the Chief of Staff to the Chairman of the party, Prince Tony Momoh, and represented the CPC in the merger committee that gave birth to the APC.

  • Confusion as APC expels Bayelsa Chairman for anti-party

    Confusion as APC expels Bayelsa Chairman for anti-party

    The National Headquarters of the All Progressives Congress (APC), at the weekend, said its Bayelsa State Chairman, Chief Tiwe Oruminighe had been expelled from the party.
    The party also confirmed the suspension of two other members of the State Working Committee (SWC), the Deputy Chairman of the party, Mr. Eddy Julius and the Secretary, Mr. Marlin Daniel.
    The party has dispatched separate letters of Oruminighe’s expulsion and the suspension of only two members of the executive committee loyal to him.
    There was, however, confusion as two separate letters containing conflicting punishments for the deposed chairman emanated from the headquarters.
    While the first letter said Oruminighe had been suspended, the second document said his punishment was outright expulsion.
    In the second letter dated August 4 and titled, “Expulsion from the Party”, APC said the decision against Oruminighe was reached at the 23rd regular meeting of its National Working Committee (NWC).
    The letter signed by the National Secretary of the party, Mr. Mai Buni, said the NWC took the action following the recommendations of the APC South-South Zonal Executive Committee.
    The letter said the committee deliberated on the report of the party’s Disciplinary Committee on Oruminighe’s anti-party activities in the state.
    “On behalf of the National Executive Committee of our party, All Progressives Congress, the National Working  Committee at its 23rd regular meeting of Thursday, 3rd August 2017 adopted the recommendations of APC South-South Zonal Executive Committee.
    “The committee deliberated on the report of the Disciplinary Committee that investigated your anti-party activities in Bayelsa State to the effect that you be suspended and ultimately from the party”.
    The letter, however, said the decision of the NWC was subject to the ratification of the party’s NEC.
    “As a consequence, you are to hand over all party property in your possession to the Zonal Vice-Chairman, Bayelsa Central Senatorial District with immediate effect while the National Vice-Chairman, South-South shall coordinate the state chapter of the party”, the letter said.
    Similar separate letters, titled, Suspension from  the Party, were also addressed to Julius and Daniel.
    Three of them fell out with the state leader of the party and former Governor of Bayelsa, Chief Timipre Sylva, shortly after the 2015 governorship election in the state.
    The feud led to the the division of the State Executive Committee (SEC) of the APC into two factions with other members of the committee declaring their loyalty to Sylva.
    The police and the Department of State Security (DSS) deployed a detachment to take over the secretariat of the party in the state at the weekend following tension created by the suspension.
    It was, however, gathered that the party in the state had selected Joseph Fafi, serving as a Vice-Chairman, Central Senatorial District, on the State Executive Committee (SEC) to fill the vacuum created by Oruminighe’s suspension.
    Already, most party members were in high spirits and were said to be jubilating over the choice of Fafi as the acting chairman of the party in the state.
    It was learnt that prior to the suspension of Oruminighe and the two executive committee loyal to him, other members of SEC held several meetings declaring confidence in Fafi.
  • Senator gives N17.6m scholarship to 880 students

    Senator gives N17.6m scholarship to 880 students

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) Senator representing Yobe South senatorial district, Sen Mohammed Hassan on Sunday promised to give N20,000 as scholarship to 880 undergraduates from 44 wards in his constituency.

    Hassan made this known at an interaction with newsmen in Potiskum after the commissioning of various projects.

    Hassan, who is the Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on Federal Capital Territory (FCT) said the beneficiaries would be selected from students studying in different institutions of higher learning.

    The lawmaker added that he would also pay the salaries of staff of Mohammed Hassan Arabic and Islamic School in Arikime apart from the provision of uniforms to the students.

    Hassan pledged to donate N2.5 million for the rehabilitation of Fatahul Rahaman Islamic School in his constituency, in line with his conviction that  education is one of the greatest legacies to bequeath the future generation.

    “I promised as part of my campaign promise to continue to encourage the younger ones to take the issue of education seriously.

    “That is why I decided to offer scholarship to 20 students from each of the wards in my constituency.

    “We have identified the students attending institutions of higher learning and we will be giving N20,000 to each of them.

    “It is going to be an annual thing to enable the students pay up for registration in school.

    “This is one of the ways I feel I should encourage our younger ones to rise to whatever height they wish to without hindrance,” he said.

    Similarly, the lawmaker pledged N20 million as part of his  contribution towards the  rehabilitation of the Central Mosque in Potiskum.

    “I came to Potiskum to among other things, commission a school that I built for the benefit of the people of Arikime community.

    “I gave the sum of N2.5 million to another school that does not have classrooms. They do not even have a place of their own. So, I decided to give them a token to support them,” he said.

    Hassan said that besides the projects on groung, plans were underway to construct a centre for remedial studies to support the students  with poor results.

    He decried the level of illiteracy among the people, saying all hands must be on deck to salvage the education sector in the state.

    “If you look at the educational standard of the people, particularly those from my constituency, you will realise that we are down the ladder.

    “I, therefore, want to use this opportunity to call on the Federal Government to continue to support all programmes that will uplift  the educational standard of the people.

    “I also want to call on everyone who has the wherewithal to support the needy in the society,”he said.

    He commended the National Assembly for earmarking N400 million in the 2017 budget for the take-off of the 80-bed hospital that he constructed.

    Hassan decried the general misconception by Nigerian that lawmakers were collecting monies for constituency projects with nothing to show for it.

    “As a representative of the people of Yobe South, for instance, I know what my people want and all I need is to ensure that the project will be of benefit to them and is reflected in the budget.

    “These projects are domiciled in the respective MDAs and they go through the approval process like other process of approval.

    “That is why we always put pressure on the Federal Government to continue to make releases so that projects can be implemented.

    “It doesn’t matter if today as a senator representing this senatorial district, I embark on constituency  projects, I expect whoever succeeds me to continue with the project.

    “Same thing with the executive arm of government.

    “Government is continuous and whatever we are doing is for the benefit of our people because we are to represent them,’’ he said.

    On the distribution of relief materials to victims of insurgency in the state, the lawmaker commended the Federal Government for giving consideration to his constituency which had been neglected.

    He said ”I went to the Acting President and made the case known to him.

    “He graciously summoned a meeting where the Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency(NEMA) and senators from the three senatorial districts in my state were invited.

    “I can confirm to you now that as a result of the meeting, we have  had positive response,” he said.

  • Fresh crisis rocks Kaduna APC over delegates election

    Fresh crisis rocks Kaduna APC over delegates election

    Fresh crisis rocked the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kaduna on Sunday, as the party’s Senators and House of Representatives members from the state, alongside other members of the party under the auspices of APC-Akida group kicked against recent election of the party congress delegates.

    Political thugs allegedly sponsored to disrupt the APC-Akida’s press conference injured a journalist and destroyed property at the Kaduna NUJ secretariat, venue of the press conference.

    APC party leadership had during its own press conference earlier on Sunday morning commended its members for conducting a successful congress ahead of the party’s non elective convention in Abuja.

    Acting Publicity Secretary, Salisu Tanko Wusono, while addressing journalists at the party secretariat commended the dedication of the team from the national headquarters of the party who organized the exercise, and officials of INEC that monitored the congress.

    He said APC in Kaduna state welcomes the outcome of the congress, stating that the exercise has demonstrated and consolidated the party as a united entity, vibrant and supportive of the values that brought the APC into being.

    “We call on the national headquarters of the party to expedite action towards enabling us to fill party offices that are currently occupied by officials in acting capacity, as provided for in the APC constitution,” Wusono said.

    Speaking on dissenting voices within the party, Wusono said, “It has come to the notice of the Kaduna state APC that some disgruntled elements want to tarnish the reputation of the party. These persons have been unrelenting in their effort to destroy the party and sap the spirit of its members. They have failed over three years, but they continue trying. They abuse the party process, and accuse the party of every ill, but their real goal is to hijack it.”

    “As leaders of the APC, charged with the duty of managing the party in Kaduna state, it is obvious that we are obliged to reject and dismiss any attempt to hijack what is entrusted in our care. The party is aware that these disloyal persons feel frustrated that they were not able to sabotage the congress we just conducted. As is their habit whenever party spirit defeats their politics of ego, these persons will soon be making wild claims. They cannot be considered serious.”

    But addressing newsmen later in the day  at the NUJ secretariat, Spokesman of APC Akida, Senator Suleiman Hunkuyi, representing Kaduna North Senatorial zone, alleged that, they were at the party secretariat last Friday from 2:30pm waiting for the party leadership and observers from the national headquarters to conduct the delegate conference till 7:30pm nobody showed up.

    Hunkuyi was flanked by Senator Shehu Sani, APC gubernatorial aspirants, Hon Isah Ashiru and Alhaji Haruna Saeed Kajuru, servings reps, Alhaji Hassan Shekarau, Alhaji Mohammed Usman, Malam Musa Soba, Dr. Tijjani Ramallan, Alhaji Audi Yaro Makama and Ambassador Sule Buba among others.

    APC Akida said it has written petition to the national leadership of the party rejecting what it called ‘selection of delegates’ for the convention and requesting the party to come and organise an acceptable delegates congress following the guidelines that would yield acceptable delegates from the state.

    Also speaking, Senator Shehu Sani representing Kaduna Central Senatorial zone, said the symptoms being shown by APC in Kaduna state is what killed PDP in 2015. “In no way should anybody accept any list concocted in the Government House palace. We won’t bow down to any tyrant. A list was prepared and sent to Abuja, we would not accept it.”

    Before the arrival of the APC-Akida group, some hoodlums stormed the NUJ premises chanting that, they won’t allow the press conference hold.

    However, despite the presence of about 30 armed policemen, few of the thugs made their way in, almost towards the end of the press conference and unleashed mayhem on journalists and left a cameraman from Liberty TV injured, while some cameras were destroyed and phones, tape recorders and other valuables were carted away.

    But Governor Nasir El-Rufai in a swift reaction condemned the thugs attack on the journalists, saying nobody will be allowed to stifle freedom of expression.

  • APC Chieftain Celebrates Akeredolu’s Birthday at Orphanage Home

    APC Chieftain Celebrates Akeredolu’s Birthday at Orphanage Home

    The Founder of Dele Ologun Foundation and a Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State, Mr. Dele Ologun over the weekend donated food stuff and cash to orphans and less privileged at the Ondo State Children’s Home along Oba Ile, Akure, the state capital in commemoration of the 61st and 64th birthday of the State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN and his wife, Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu respectively.
    Ologun said his passion for ameliorating the suffering of the masses and the uncommon passion of Akeredolu towards the less privileged in the State prompted him to donate to the orphanage home.
    Speaking to newsmen at the orphanage home, Ologun said “I am glad to celebrate the birthday of my mentor in line with his directive that those who wishes to celebrate with him on his birthday should go to the orphanage and less privileged home across the state to add more value to them.”
    Akeredolu who clocked 61 on July 20th had in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Segun Ajiboye said well-wishers who wish to celebrate his birthday with him should do so by celebrating with the poorest of the poor in their respective communities and at orphanage homes across the state.
    Materials donated by Ologun at the orphanage home are; one bag of rice, five cartoons of noodles, five cartons of pampers and two big packets of detergent soap.
    Others materials donated were two cartons of caparison juice, one park of tissue paper and sum of #50,000.
    The elated children at the orphanage home thanked Ologun for the gesture and prayed for more years of grace and sound health for the Governor.
    On the entourage of Ologun to the orphanage home was a Supervisory Councillor in Akure North Local Government Area of the state, Hon. Temitope Aluko, the state coordinator of Progressive Youth league, Comrade Blessing Akinlosotu, among others.
    This news medium reports that Dele Ologun became famous during the 2016 governorship campaign in the state when he branded about 10,000 loafs of bread with Akeredolu’s picture and APC logo which he used to mobilize voters within Akure metropolis towards the success of his party at the poll.
  • Buhari mourns Madam Omowunmi, sends ‘heart-felt condolences’ to Bisi Akande

    Buhari mourns Madam Omowunmi, sends ‘heart-felt condolences’ to Bisi Akande

    President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed “heart-felt” sadness over the death of Madam Omowunmi Bisi Akande, wife of the founding chairman of the governing All Progressives Congress, (APC).

    Malam Garba Shehu, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, in a statement issued in Abuja on Thursday, said Buhari’s condolence message was contained “in a letter penned by him”.

    He said the president had earlier spoken on telephone  to the bereaved party chieftain on Wednesday, where he (President Buhari) described the death of Akande’s wife of 50 years as an “irreparable loss’’.

    The President’s message read: “I received the very sad news of the death of your dearly beloved wife, Madam Omowunmi Akande this morning.

    “I am following our phone call with this letter of condolence, which comes from my heart.

    “To lose a wife, a dear wife after 50 years, a constant and loving companion through good and bad times, is a blow only a man of unshakeable faith can withstand.

    “Please extend my personal condolences to the immediate and wider Akande family and to friends of the family for this irreparable loss.

    “May Allah give you the strength and Iman to endure her passing away.’’

    It would be recalled that the Chief of Staff to the President, Malam Abba Kyari, on Wednesday, led the presidential delegation to condole with Chief Bisi Akande over the demise of his wife.

    Kyari described the death of the deceased as a loss to the nation.

    “Yesternight, I received a call from Acting President Yemi Osinbajo while he was with President Muhammadu Buhari in London.

    “He gave me the news of Madam Akande’s death and said that the president and himself are very sad over the sudden death of Mrs Akande.

    “He thereafter directed that I lead a presidential delegation to Ila-Orangun immediately to condole with Chief Akande,’’ he said.