The Nation Newspaper

Tag: All Progressives Congress

  • No chance for APC, others in Mushin LG polls  

    No chance for APC, others in Mushin LG polls  

    The Accord Party has urged the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) as well as other political parties to forget about winning any seat in the forthcoming council poll in Mushin Local Government Area of Lagos State.

    The Lagos State Chairman of the party, Mr Gbenga Kool told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that Mushin people would not vote for any other party except Accord Party.

    NAN reports that the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) has fixed July 22 for local government elections and July 29 for run-off if the need arises.

    Kool said Accord was the only party that meant well for the people in the grassroots, and the support it had enjoyed in the state, especially in Mushin, had been impressive.

    He said the performance of Mr Dauda Kako-Are, the representative of Mushin I Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, in the delivery of democracy dividends was another natural reason why Accord would win in the area.

    The Chairman said that the people in Mushin would vote for performance rather than people who would serve the interests of their godfathers.

    “You see, Mushin is for Accord Party; there is no question about that. The party is the only party that loves the people and is delivering things that meet the expectations of the people.

    “See what happened in the last House of Representatives election in Mushin. People voted for Kako-Are who challenged imposition and defected to Accord party.

    “The people did that because the man is an enigma who has touched their lives in many ways. The love for the party is growing by the day both in Mushin and other parts of Lagos state.

    “People are trooping into the party by the day and no one should be surprised if the party wins other local government areas in the election.

    “Accord is on the forward march; APC or any other party cannot stop it,” he said.

    The party chairman said Accord would contest all the councillorship and chairmanship seats in most of the local government areas of the state.

    He said that the primary elections of the party would hold on Saturday and candidates would emerge through acceptable democratic standards.

    Kool described the nomination fees levied by the LAISEC as unacceptable, saying it would shut out some parties.

    “The N100, 000 nomination fees for Chairmanship aspirants, N75, 000 for Vice-Chairmanship, and N50, 000 for councillorship by LASIEC is wrong.

    “What is the money for? Billions have already been voted for the elections and you are still charging these fees, saying it is for administrative purposes.

    “This is wrong. I think the case is already in court,” he said

     

  • Buhari mourns Prof. Borishade

    Buhari mourns Prof. Borishade

    President Muhammadu Buhari has commiserated with the family of former Minister of Education, Prof. Babalola Borishade, who died on Wednesday.

    Buhari, according to a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on media and publicity, Garba Shehu, sent his condolences to the government and people of Ekiti State, professional colleagues, political associates and friends of the renowned academic and political strategist.

    According to him, Borishade’s antecedents in the academia and public service will continue to speak for generations to come.

    The President believed Borishade distinguished himself in patriotism by diligently serving as a minister in four ministries, and initiating laudable projects and regulating structures that have remained the reference points in all the institutions after many years.

    He recalled the unwavering support of the septuagenarian to the policy team of the All Progressives Congress and his contributions in ensuring victory at the polls for the party in 2015.

    He prayed that the almighty God will grant the soul of the departed former minister eternal rest, and comfort his loved ones.

     

  • President Buhari mourns Prof. Borishade

    President Muhammadu Buhari has commiserated with the family of former Minister of Education, Prof. Babalola Borishade, who died on Wednesday.

    President Buhari’s condolence message is contained in a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, on Thursday in Abuja.

    The President also condoled with the government and people of Ekiti State, professional colleagues, political associates and friends of the renowned academician and political strategist.

    According to him, Borishade’s antecedents in the academia and public service would continue to speak for generations to come.

    He noted that Borishade distinguished himself in patriotism by diligently serving as a minister in four ministries, and initiating laudable projects and regulating structures that had remained the reference points in all the institutions after many years.

    President Buhari recalled the unwavering support of the septuagenarian to the policy team of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and his contributions in ensuring victory at the polls for the party in 2015.

    He prayed that God will grant the soul of the departed former minister eternal rest and comfort his loved ones.

    Borishade, who was a four time minister between 1999 and 2011, died in London on Wednesday at the age of 71.

    He served as minister in the ministries of Education, Power and Steel, Aviation as well as Culture and Tourism.

     

  • APC Scandinavia hails Buhari’s anti-corruption Drive

    APC Scandinavia hails Buhari’s anti-corruption Drive

    Members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Scandinavia have commended the President Muhammadu Buhari-anti corruption campaign which has exposed several public office holders.

    This is contained in a statement issued on Wednesday and signed by the Chairman, APC Scandinavia, Ayoola Lawal, in which he also commended the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Department of State Security (DSS) as well as the Ministry of Finance for the whistleblowing policy which has smoked out some of the biggest evil acts of corruption by our so-called leaders and politicians.

    According to Lawal in the statement, the huge amounts of money that are being recovered from different parts of the country is disappointing for any developing country like Nigeria.

    “Lawmakers ought to have come up with a concrete policy that will strictly convict offenders of public offices and for misappropriation of funds meant for public good. Also, anyone accused of corrupt practice should be made to step aside to allow investigation take place, properly.

    “No doubt that this country needs a lot of funding and investment to get it to where citizens desire for it to be, which is for it to favourably compete with western worlds. Sadly, elected and appointed opportunists have decided to fend for selfish selves at the expense of the general population.

    “It is rather unfortunate that such a potentially great nation like Nigeria has been left at the mercy of clueless, wicked and heartless individuals who care less about the suffering of the masses whose taxes they feed on and greedily syphon.

    “It is no more news that so many brave, intelligent and industrious men and women in Nigeria have been wallowing in abject poverty due to lack of employment, underemployment and or poor infrastructures that could enable entrepreneurial initiatives.

    “Now that the battle against corruption is real and ongoing, it is a call on the judiciary and the lawmakers to live up to the expectations of Nigerians by giving the appropriate support to the war against corruption declared by the Buhari-led administration.

    “The sentiments of affected colleagues should not stop lawmakers and members of the judiciary from dispensing fair judgments when the need be,” he said.

    The APC Scandinavia leader further urged Nigerians to support the fight by patiently following the revelations and exposing those that they know are part of the misappropriation of public funds or abuse of office.

    “Let the whistleblowing continue,” he said.

  • ‘1.4m PVCs yet to be collected in Lagos’

    ‘1.4m PVCs yet to be collected in Lagos’

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Lagos State says there are 1, 425, 282 Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) yet to be collected in the state.

    The new Administrative Secretary of INEC in the state, Dr Mudashiru Mustapha disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

    He spoke on the sideline of the commission’s Stakeholders’ Meeting with political parties on Tuesday.

    NAN reports that the event, which had no fewer than 20 state chairmen of different political parties in attendance, was organized by INEC to seek support for the Continuous Voters Registration (CVR).

    The CVR exercise, scheduled to be flagged-off by the commission on April 27 nationwide, will also provide avenue for people who were yet to collect their PVCs to do so.

    Mustapha said: “There are so many PVCs yet to be claimed by their owners in Lagos State. We want residents to go to INEC offices in each of the 20 Local Governments in the state.

    “We want to canvass for the support of leaders of political parties for mobilization of eligible residents for the forthcoming nationwide Continuous Voters Registration exercise.

    “The commission needs your understanding, support and cooperation to mobilize residents for this continuous voter’s registration, even though we have done the needful in awareness campaign.

    “There is no way we can achieve success without leaders of political parties, we want to solicit your support because you are closer to the people and live among them.

    “Voter card is the power people have to elect their representatives, they must be encouraged to come out en masse and get registered. Help us sensitize and mobilize the people.”

    Earlier, Mustapha assured the party representatives that the commission had put necessary measures to ensure a hitch free exercise.

    Mrs Seye Soriyan, the Head of Department, ICT/Voters’ Registry, also highlighted the eligibility and procedures for the fresh registration, transfer and distribution of PVCs.

    Soriyan said that the exercise would be from Monday to Friday every week between 9 a.m. and 3.p.m. at the INEC office in each of the 20 local government areas of the state.

    According to her, each of the local governments will have five Registration Area Officers who will register eligible residents and distribute PVCs ready for collection.

    Soriyan said eligible persons for registration include those who turned 18 years after the last exercise in 2015 and those who did not register before.

    She added that those who want to transfer their voting centers were also free to register during the exercise.

    Soriyan explained that those registered would be given temporary Voter Cards, before their PVCs became ready after six months.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that party leaders at the meeting had urged the commission to make the exercise less stressful by decentralizing it to the ward level.

    Political parties represented at the meeting include All Progressives Congress, Peoples Democratic Party, Accord Party, All Progressives Grand Alliance, KOWA Party, Labor Party, and Young Democratic Party (YDP) among others.

     

  • Adeleke’s death shocking, sad – Ajimobi

    Gov. Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State  has described the death of the first civilian governor of Osun  and serving senator, Isiaka Adeleke, as shocking, disheartening and sad.

    In a statement issued on Sunday in Ibadan by his Special Adviser on Communication and Strategy, Mr  Yomi Layinka, the governor said he received the news of Adeleke’s sudden death with shock and disbelief.

    Adeleke  died in the early hours of Sunday at a private hospital in Osogbo after succumbing to a protracted ailment.

    The governor described the late senator as a celebrated and committed politician, distinguished senator, grassroots mobiliser, socialite and great philanthropist.

    Ajimobi said:  “When the news filtered in that Sen.  Adeleke was dead, l was extremely shocked and amazed.

    “  I found it very difficult to believe, because he was bubbling with life when l saw him last.

    “Sen.  Adeleke was one person l admired for being a fine politician who committed his life to the service of humanity and his native Ede land.

    “Right from his days as the first elected governor of Osun State up till his death, he never wavered in stretching his helping hands to the poor and the needy.

    “His role in the dominance of the All Progressives Congress in Osun State, from when he decided to team up with the progressives, till death, is noteworthy.

    “ Sen.  Adeleke was an asset to our party. He will be greatly missed.”

    Ajimobi also commended the late senator’s contributions to debates on the floor of the Upper Chamber, which, he said, contributed immensely to quality legislation by the National Assembly.

    The governor expressed the regret that Adeleke died  at a time  when  his wealth of experience was needed to salvage the country from its current socio-political challenges.

    “His sudden death is even more regrettable because the people of Osun State, members of the APC nationwide and indeed all Nigerians will henceforth miss his gregarious personality, his zeal for development as well as his great mobilisation skills,’’ he said.

    Ajimobi also prayed God to grant the soul of the late senator Aljanah firdous and the bereaved family and  friends the fortitude to bear the loss.

  • APC postpones national caucus, NEC meeting

    APC postpones national caucus, NEC meeting

    The National Caucus and National Executive Committee (NEC) meetings of the All Progressives Congress (APC) scheduled for April 24 and 25, 2017 respectively have been postponed.

    This was disclosed in a statement signed on Thursday by the National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi.

    According to Abdullahi in the statement, ‘”he postponement is due to unexpected developments.”

    “New dates for the meetings will be communicated in due course,” he summed.

  • Lagos LG Poll: Aspirant urges youths to reject violence

    A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr Omoshola Omoshebi, has urged youths in Lagos State to reject politicians offering them inducements to cause mayhem during the forthcoming local council elections.

    Omoshebi, a chairmanship aspirant for Mushin Local Government, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Thursday.

    NAN reports that election of chairmen and councilors for the 20 Local Governments and 37 Local Council Development Areas of the state would hold on July 22.

    Omoshebi said that election should never be a do-or-die affair, adding that engaging in thuggery and violence would only stall progress and development.

    According to him, election violence has always affected meaningful socio-economic growth at the grassroots.

    “I urge youths being approached to perpetrate political violence and thuggery to have the strong will to say `No’.

    “If you are following Mr A and Mr B is winning, please take that Mr B as your brother too because both aspirants are still going to dine on the same table later in the day to chart a way forward.

    “Refuse to be embroiled in mischief making and criminal activities that can lead to breakdown of law and order, thereby, hindering socio-economic development in the society,” he said.

    Omoshebi urged politicians to embrace cohesion, avoid criminality in their conduct and ensure peaceful campaign ahead of the election.

    He stressed that a hitch-free campaign and election would encourage patriotic and well meaning citizens contribute to the political and socio-economic growth of the state.

     

  • El-Rufai under fire over anti-Southwest, Tinubu comment

    El-Rufai under fire over anti-Southwest, Tinubu comment

    KADUNA State Governor Nasir El-Rufai was under fire yesterday for denigrating the contributions of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his Southwest base to the victory of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2015 elections.

    The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Debts, Senator Shehu Sani, took a swipe at El-Rufai, describing the governor’s remarks on the APC stalwart as the height of ingratitude.

    In a statement made available to The Nation, Sani, representing the Kaduna Central Senatorial District, said the contributions of the former Lagos State governor and the Southwest to the victory of the APC in the last general elections, was unparallel, contrary to El-Rufai’s claim.

    According to him, without Tinubu, the victory over the then ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would have remained a mere dream.

    Describing Tinubu as the “lungs of the APC while President Buhari is the heart’, the senator said it was unfortunate that “el-Rufai, who smiles with Tinubu during the daylight, stings him at night”.

    The statement reads: “The memo written by Kaduna Governor which tends to belittle the contribution of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Southwest is sad and unfortunate. It is perfidious and the height of ingratitude.

    “We must accept the stalk truth that without Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu and the principled position of the south West, dislodging Goodluck Jonathan and the then ruling PDP could have still remained a pipe dream, a hollow hope or a political mirage. El-Rufai defecated on a broom that is supposed to clean the littered floor of the nation.

    “President Buhari is the heart of APC and Asiwaju is the lungs. Tinubu’s contribution to the success of the party is unequal. El-Rufai smiles with Tinubu in broad daylight and stings him at night. He hugs Tinubu with a chest of hooks and shakes him with toxic palms.

    “Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is a man who built a castle for others to live and asked to appreciate the gift of a room in the boys’ quarters. Those who rubbished a hunter who borrowed them his arrow to disable an antelope will someday come back for same arrow to disable a lion.

    “Tinubu honoured many official invitations to Kaduna, unknowingly; he was back-stabbed with an acidic memo. Tinubu has a history of being betrayed and has a history of overcoming betrayal.

    “The future of the APC is with Buhari and the Southwest. Without Buhari and the Southwest, the change train will derail and end in smithereens like the fate of Yoguslavia or Soviet Union.

    “President Buhari should be watchful of those who prey behind him and pray before him. Tinubu is an indispensable major component of change. My knowledge of Tinubu dates back to the NADECO days when we were in the trenches during the struggle against military dictatorship.

    “El-Rufai should publicly apologise to Tinubu and the Southwest for degrading their contribution to the liberation of Nigeria. To insult a man publicly and apologise to him privately is eat your cake and have it. Those heavily drinking from the liquor of power should know that they will later or lately have to drive back home.”

     

  • PDP chief sad over absence of tangible FG’s projects in Rivers

    PDP chief sad over absence of tangible FG’s projects in Rivers

    The Rivers State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Felix Obuah, has expressed sadness over the absence of tangible Federal Government projects in the state.

    He alleged that two years into the administration of the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led, Muhammadu Buhari’s government, the Niger Delta state had not benefitted from capital-intensive and people-oriented projects of the Federal Government.

    Obuah, on Wednesday in Port Harcourt, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Jerry Needam, said the ruling party in the state frowned on the alleged obvious indifference towards Rivers.

    The PDP chairman cited the Port Harcourt International Airport, which he claimed had remained abandoned by the Federal Government.

    He alleged that the APC-led Federal Government had failed to complement the efforts of Governor Nyesom Wike in the execution of capital projects,  which he said would have improved the wellbeing of the people of the state.

    Obuah claimed that the APC-led Federal Government deliberately abandoned the Rivers and also accused the Buhari’s administration of treating the state badly, despite all the support Wike was giving to the Federal Government.

    He mentioned the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja and Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos, as projects completed in record time, whereas the Port Harcourt International Airport remained allegedly abandoned.

    Rivers PDP chairman also urged the APC-led Federal Government to have a rethink, by giving deserved attention to the state, described as the treasure base of the nation.