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Tag: APC caucus

  • Reps APC caucus endorses Oshiomhole for party chairmanship

    •nPDP ultimatum ‘ll be addressed, says ex-governor

    MEMBERS of Caucus of All Progressives Congress (APC) in the House of Representatives have endorsed  former Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole’s bid  to be the party’s chairman.

    House Leader Femi Gbajabiamila, while answering questions from reporters after a two-hour closed door meeting with Oshiomhole yesterday, said members were satisfied that the former governor has the capacity to steer the ship of the party successfully.

    His words: “We came, he discussed with us for over two hours, and when we sit together for over two hours, a lot of things must have been accomplished.

    “He comes with a rich pedigree in administration and governance and he has laid some of his programmes on the table for us.

    “We had a very serious heart-to-heart discussion and we were all on the same page.

    “Like he said he came to solicit for our support and the result of that solicitation is, as a caucus of APC in the House of Representatives, we believe in him and according to what we call in political lingo, we more or less have endorsed him  for the position of the chairman of the party.”

    On his own part, the party chairmanship candidate said he had crafted strategies to take the party to the next level.

    He said having met with the leadership and members of the APC, Oshiomhole explained that he shared his intention to contest for the office of the chairman and to solicit for their support.

    “As you know, our party is democratic and the chairmanship office is not by appointment but by election and members of the House caucus are automatic delegates of the Congress, where the election will take place.

    “I also shared with them my vision and thoughts on variety of issues and how I hope to address those issues as they affect the running of our party and the relationship between the party and members of the caucus, as it affects the responsibility of the party to interact with the executive elected on the platform of the party at both the national and state levels – that is the National and state Assemblies.

    “Of course, it’s not a secret that there are a couple of issues right now affecting our party in various states. We  exchanged views as to how these issues can be resolved and I have no doubt that once we have a democratic organisation, there is bound to be contestation, agreements and disagreements.

    “I think the challenge of leadership, which I believe I am determined to provide, is to be able to find courage and good heart to listen and to proactively intervene and to help people who have issues to find common ground to coexist.

    On the ultimatum and conditions given the party by the New Peoples Democratic Party (nPDP) he said it shows that they were still interested in the APC and that the party would work out a modality to accommodate dissenting voices

    He assured party faithful that it was a challenge that would be surmounted by the party, “I don’t think it’s a big issue, some people have expressed discontent over one thing or the other.

    “I think, from my own background, when people wrote to you to say we have issues, we want you to address these issues, it means the issues are negotiable, they are ready to discuss, they have an open mind.

    “If they are not ready to discuss, then there will be no point issuing any so called ultimatum,” he said.

    Speaker Yakubu Dogara, who was at the question and answer session, only moderated without adding to what was said by the two speakers.

     

  • Offa killings: APC caucus decries carnage

    •Backs lawmaker’s senatorial bid

    A group within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the southern senatorial district of Kwara State, the Caucus for Progressive Change (CPC), has decried what they described as “unfortunate and avoidable killing” of defenceless civilians and men of the Nigeria Police Force last week during broad daylight attacks on banks in Offa.

    The group also threw its weight behind the senatorial ambition of Hon. Saheed Popoola, the member representing Offa in the Kwara State of House Assembly, saying his nomination is as a result of the need to position someone who has always worked with the people in the national assembly in the interest of the district. The group made the statements after an emergency meeting held on Friday at Ajasepo, Irepodun local government area of the state.

    “The brazen attack during broad daylight by an organised armed gang on banks in Offa again calls for more proactive moves from the government. The Kwara State governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, must live up to the oath he swore to by ensuring the security of lives and properties in Offa town in particular, the Kwara South senatorial district and the state in general.

    “Offa is central to both our economic and social life as a people in this senatorial district. The caucus sympathises with the Olofa, sons and daughters of Offa. May the almighty God heal all wounds inflicted by the satanic event,” the statement which was signed by Alhaji Tajudeen Hussein, the senatorial leader and other APC chieftains from all the six councils in the district, read in part.

    Similarly, a call has been made on the Inspector General of the Police to promptly investigate the wanton killings by armed bandits in Offa. The Organising Secretary of the Joint Active Citizens of Kwara (JAACK), Joe Mahmud, made the appeal in a statement released in Ilorin on Friday after the robbery attacks in Offa that lasted almost two hours. “The operation was carried out in a commando -like fashion where private citizens were mowed down and security operatives brutally murdered. Confusion became the order of the day.

    “It is therefore clear that the state government is helpless in this situation and there is the need for the federal government and police high command to step into the matter and secure lives of law abiding citizens of Offa local government area of the state. The only place to turn for help at this critical moment is Abuja to guarantee security of lives and properties of the good citizens of Offa and entire Kwara South Senatorial District,” the group said.

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • You’ve done well, APC Caucus, NEC tell Buhari

    You’ve done well, APC Caucus, NEC tell Buhari

     

    President Muhammadu Buhari won a major backing yesterday.

    The National Executive Committee (NEC)of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its national caucus passed a vote of confidence in him .

    Also given a clean bill was the Chief John Odigie-Oyegun- led National Working Committee (NWC).

    The caucus met till late on Monday night at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. The NEC met at the party secretariat yesterday.

    The NEC meeting, which started at about 2:20pm, ended at 4:40 pm.

    It declined to debate a “motion” seeking an automatic return ticket for President Muhammadu Buhari ahead of the 2019 presidential election.

    House of Representatives Speaker Yakubu  Dogara, who addressed reporters on the outcome of the meeting, said the “motion” seeking to adopt the President for a second term was not treated “because that is not why we are here”.

    National Publicity Secretary Bolaji Abdullahi said the only motion taken was to pass a vote of confidence on the President, adding that there was none on his adoption for a second term in office.

    Abdullahi said an unidentified NEC member shouted from the back of the hall that a motion be taken to adopt the President for second term, but that the motion was not taken.

    Dogara said the meeting reviewed a paper on the line of activities that the party would embark upon in the coming months, pointing out that there was no definitive and conclusive date for its convention.

    The Speaker said: “The meeting was for stock taking and to remind ourselves of the covenant we made with the people of Nigeria, review how well we have done and what we need to do in order to deliver on the promises we made during campaign.

    “I can tell you that after a very illuminating address by the party chairman, the President took turn to address the NEC members and he was very clear in his vision about where we are taking Nigeria to.

    “We reminded ourselves about the achievement we have recorded in terms of combating terrorism in the Northeast, the fight against corruption, which is one area where we are doing very well and the exiting from recession as the achievement the party has recorded.

    “While we can say we have done quite a lot, there is still much to be done. The resolve is that we should rededicate ourselves as a party to the service of our people and the only thing that will guarantee our place in this country is the service we render to our people.”

    On amendment to the party’s constitution, he said: “Obviously, we had that on the agenda and there were other items in the agenda which just passed as information. The proposal for the review of the constitution is being sent to our emails and it is when we have reviewed this that we will be able to take a binding decision on them. But as it is now, it was just noted for information.”

    Dogara added: “Today’s meeting was not about 2019 elections. When we talk about 2019 in the context of the agenda you saw, we are talking about membership registration, the drive for membership and others. We are not talking about elections.

    “Even though there was a motion on the floor that called for a vote of confidence on the President, some of us felt it was not necessary because there is nowhere that his confidence is shaking. But the motion was taken and passed.. But there was a second leg to that motion, which calls for the adoption of the candidacy of the President, but it was deffered for now and no decision was taken because that is not the major reason why we are here.”

    Speaking on aggrieved members, Dogara said: “I don’t think that you can find any family that is as large as the APC family without some squabbles. No such family exists in the whole world and if there are disagreements, they are okay because without disagreements, you cannot even move forward.

    “Progress comes when people refuse to agree with the status quo and they put forward their positions. If their positions are good enough, they are adopted and we move forward. So, for us, I don’t think we are having a situation or run into a situation whereby we have crisis that the party cannot overcome.

    “What I will advocate is that we should be the ones as the APC family to define what type of crisis and not allow crisis define us. So, we will do everything possible to reach out to whoever is aggrieved. We are not like other parties that will say ‘to hell with you’ because we value every member of this family.”

    Abdullahi added: “The motion that was put was after the Minister of Agriculture had briefed the NEC about the activities and achievements of his Ministry. One of the NEC members said we should move a motion passing a vote of confidence on Mr. President. There was no formal motion moved on the issue of second term for Mr. President.

    “Somebody in the crowd shouted that we should move a motion and we don’t even know that member. But the motion that was formally moved was that NEC should pass a vote of confidence on Mr. President and that was after the brief given by the Minister of Agriculture, especially when he said that by 2018, Nigeria will have no need to import a single grain of rice. That is the context and I need you to understand that very well.

    “The only discussion or conversation on 2019 was the activity of the party in 2018, especially the issue of convention. It was agreed that since we have all these activities lined up, including the mini convention, congresses and elective convention, a small team be set up to put dates to these party activities up to 2018.

    “There was no discussion about election of 2019 or who will be the party flag bearer. The committee will decide when all these activities will take place. The NEC passed absolute vote of confidence on Oyegun and the NEC.”

    Chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum and Zamfara State Governor Abdulaziz Yari said the Caucus meeting “shows our unity in the party, shows our strength and our commitment to the party and to Nigerians,’’.

    Senator. Bukar Abba-Ibrahim said the outcome of the meeting dismissed the speculation that it was convened to remove the leadership of the APC.

    ”It is a big family reunion and we are all happy and this party is going to dominate the Nigerian political space for a very long time to come. I don’t want to predict any number of years.’’

    Oyegun described the caucus as “very fantastic”, adding that the party would be stronger after its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting on Tuesday in Abuja.

     

  • Rivers APC caucus suspends chairman

    The members of the caucus of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State have suspended a chieftain of the party, Chief Allwell Onyesoh, as its Chairman.

    Onyesoh, a former Rivers Commissioner for Education and later Sports, was accused of denigrating, ridiculing and disrespecting for Governor Rotimi Amaechi.

    After announcing the suspension of Onyesoh at a news conference yesterday in Port Harcourt, the members of the Etche caucus of the APC picked a former representative of Etche/Omuma constituency in the House of Representatives, Ogbonna Nwuke, as the protem chairman of the caucus, while Etche secretary of the party, Elder George Nwajoku, would act as secretary of the caucus.

    The three-page address of the caucus was signed by all the ten members in attendance,  including a former Rivers Commissioner for Energy and Natural Resources, Chief Okey Amadi, Nwuke, as well as Chiefs Nnamdi Okere and Ambrose Igbokwe Nwuzi.

    Onyesoh, while reacting through his spokesman, Emmanuel Kanayo, insisted that he remained the chairman of the APC’s caucus in Etche, while still having on his side, over 90 per cent of the members and elders of the party in the area and declared that his purported suspension was illegal, unconstitutional, null and void.

    Members of Etche caucus of APC said: “We are witnesses to the unbridled, uncharitable and unguarded actions and utterances of some of us, who are led by one Chief Allwell Onyesoh, who goes about parading as the leader of Etche.

    “Our brother and friend, Allwell Onyesoh, has become reckless in so many ways, in his desperate reactions to sensitive matters,  which ordinarily should call for great caution, tact and understanding.

    “Onyesoh has chosen, where reason ought to be needful, to exhibit great disrespect for our indisputable leader, Rt. Hon. Amaechi.”

    The ex-Rivers commissioner for education and sports was also accused of deliberate scheme to destabilise the APC in Etche and active negotiations with an unnamed opposition party, which he equally denied.

    Members of APC caucus in Etche said: “It is obvious that our brother and friend (Onyesoh) is propelled by self interest and not the interest of the Etche people, a rabid desire that relishes conflict and not its resolution and a penchant for promoting hate and abuse, instead of harmony and unity, peace and brotherhood.

    “As stakeholders, who have very serious stakes in the party (APC), we cannot sit idly by and watch as one of us, who is driven by vaulting ambition, who parades as the leader of the APC in Etche LGA and who has benefitted for many years, under the able leadership of Rt. Hon. Amaechi, dance naked in the marketplace.”

    The caucus members also declared that Etche people were irrevocably loyal and committed to the able leadership, according to them, being offered by Amaechi.

    They added that anyone dealing or transacting with Onyesoh would be doing so in his individual capacity and not as the leader of the Etche caucus.

     

  • Rivers APC caucus suspends chairman

    The members of the caucus of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State have suspended a chieftain of the party, Chief Allwell Onyesoh, as its Chairman.

    Onyesoh, a former Rivers Commissioner for Education and later Sports, was accused of denigrating, ridiculing and disrespecting for Governor Rotimi Amaechi.

    After announcing the suspension of Onyesoh at a news conference yesterday in Port Harcourt, the members of the Etche caucus of the APC picked a former representative of Etche/Omuma constituency in the House of Representatives, Ogbonna Nwuke, as the protem chairman of the caucus, while Etche secretary of the party, Elder George Nwajoku, would act as secretary of the caucus.

    The three-page address of the caucus was signed by all the ten members in attendance,  including a former Rivers Commissioner for Energy and Natural Resources, Chief Okey Amadi, Nwuke, as well as Chiefs Nnamdi Okere and Ambrose Igbokwe Nwuzi.

    Onyesoh, while reacting through his spokesman, Emmanuel Kanayo, insisted that he remained the chairman of the APC’s caucus in Etche, while still having on his side, over 90 per cent of the members and elders of the party in the area and declared that his purported suspension was illegal, unconstitutional, null and void.

    Members of Etche caucus of APC said: “We are witnesses to the unbridled, uncharitable and unguarded actions and utterances of some of us, who are led by one Chief Allwell Onyesoh, who goes about parading as the leader of Etche.

    “Our brother and friend, Allwell Onyesoh, has become reckless in so many ways, in his desperate reactions to sensitive matters,  which ordinarily should call for great caution, tact and understanding.

    “Onyesoh has chosen, where reason ought to be needful, to exhibit great disrespect for our indisputable leader, Rt. Hon. Amaechi.”

    The ex-Rivers commissioner for education and sports was also accused of deliberate scheme to destabilise the APC in Etche and active negotiations with an unnamed opposition party, which he equally denied.

    Members of APC caucus in Etche said: “It is obvious that our brother and friend (Onyesoh) is propelled by self interest and not the interest of the Etche people, a rabid desire that relishes conflict and not its resolution and a penchant for promoting hate and abuse, instead of harmony and unity, peace and brotherhood.

    “As stakeholders, who have very serious stakes in the party (APC), we cannot sit idly by and watch as one of us, who is driven by vaulting ambition, who parades as the leader of the APC in Etche LGA and who has benefitted for many years, under the able leadership of Rt. Hon. Amaechi, dance naked in the marketplace.”

    The caucus members also declared that Etche people were irrevocably loyal and committed to the able leadership, according to them, being offered by Amaechi.

    They added that anyone dealing or transacting with Onyesoh would be doing so in his individual capacity and not as the leader of the Etche caucus.