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Tag: APC chieftain

  • Be wary of Oshiomhole, APC chieftain tells Tinubu

    …Oshiomhole is our answer, ex-lawmaker

     

    A chieftain of the All Progressive Congress in Edo State, Mr. Blessing Edigin, has urged Chief Bola Tinubu to be wary of what he termed antics of former Governor of Edo State, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole.

    Mr. Edigin said Oshiomhole is capable of dumping his benefactor after assuming power.

    But a member of the zonal Executive Committee of the APC in the South South, Mr Ernest Irieka, said Oshiomhole is the answer to problems of APC

    Edigin who spoke in an interview in Benin City urged Oshiomhole to stop unnecessary plot against Chief John Oyegun.

    He urged the party members to ensure true democracy prevails and Chief Oyegun is returned as national chairman of the party.

    Edigin opined that Oyegun is the best option to sustain peace that is prevalent in the polity.

    His words, “I am not a stranger to Oshiomhole. I was in the forefront of his campaign team in 2007 when he finished his tenure as national president of the Nigerian Labour Congress(NLC) and was gunning for the governorship position in Edo State.

    “He also had the support of many top personalities of the state extraction like the former governor of the state, Chief Lucky Igbinedion; High Chief Gabriel Osawaru Igbinedion, Pastor Osagie Ize Iyamu and several others.

    “As soon as he got into office it was this set of people, his benefactors, that he pounced on first, insulting them at every available opportunity for no just cause.

    “Chief Bola Tinubu should be wary of Oshiomhole he is such a crafty chap that can do anything to dump his benefactors if the need be.

    On his part, Irieka said the South South party leaders jettisoned Chief Oyegun not because of sentiment but the interest of the future of the party which he said was in danger.

    “So I believe that we have a man who has the track record, we know how this man fought the god fathers in Edo. And godfatherism is the problem with Nigerian politics and that is how Edo became strong. Somebody was telling me how N25billion was saved by Oshiomhole while he was governor and that was how the roads in Benin were built. If he was not prudent with money he would not have built it.

    “Now we have such a man and you expect us to waste his talent? No way. And I know that Oshiomhole will not insist that only Edo state remains under the APC, he will want to extend it beyond that, a few of our leaders in the South South have the same desire but the terrain is difficult. The South South is a very difficult region but Oshiomhole fought the PDP cabal which some people who are claiming to be APC leaders in the South South have failed to do in their state.

    “If we don’t now manage the problems here well we are going to run into trouble and that is why we came together to say Oshiomhole is the answer. We are in the government at the Federal level, even some governors in the South South from the opposition party who have seen the need to join us but if they see we are not serious they will not come. So we need a man who is firm, honest, dogged, fearless to lead us to the promise land in the South South and that man is Oshiomhole” he stated.

  • Preach gospel of change, APC chieftain tells members

    A stakeholder of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bende Local Government Area of Abia State, John Ajuga, has told members of the party in the area to go home and preach the change mantra for more members to join the party.

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

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

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

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

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

     

  • APC chieftain to Oyegun, others: retire now

    AN All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, Timi Frank, yesterday advised the  National Working Committee (NWC) led by Chief John Odigie-Oyegun to go and learn how to run a ruling party from the main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) .

    He asked the party’s leaders to tell the world whether President Muhammadu Buhari is no longer the leader of the party because he opposed plans to elongate the tenure of the National Working Committee and State Working Committees.

    In a statement in Abuja, Frank said the party’s National Chairman, Chief John Odigie Oyegun, should honourably resign his position as party chairman and retire to his farm before disgracing the President and the party.

    Frank said it was wrong for the party to tell the world that the earlier decision of the party’s NEC still stand despite President Buhari’s objection.

    He noted that the National Working Committee of the party has done more damage to the party than good.

    He said: “I’m telling Chief Oyegun to retire now before he disgrace President Buhari because it is shameful and disgraceful for NWC to say Buhari is not the leader of the APC. This is a way of disgracing him before Nigerians and entire world that the  has no say in his own party.

    “I remember several times, the party under Chief Oyegun could not hold meeting, not to talk of taking any decision because the President, who they claimed to be leader of the party then, was not available. So, we want to know what has change now. When it is time to take decision in their favour, Buhari is the leader of APC, but  when the president took certain decision against Oyegun and his NWC, Buhari is no longer of the leader. This is an embarrassment to the President.

    “I expect our National Chairman and APC to go and learn how to run a ruling party from PDP. There is no crime in learning what you don’t know.”

    Frank said he will resign his position as the Deputy National Publicity Secretary of APC at the expiration of their tenure to pave way for new leaders, saying: “I will not be part of illegal tenure extension.”

     

     

     

  • APC chieftain sues Odigie-Oyegun over tenure extension

    APC chieftain sues Odigie-Oyegun over tenure extension

    An aggrieved All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, Dr. Wale Ahmed, has taken the party’s national chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, to court over what he described as illegal extension of his tenure.

    Ahmed, a party stalwart from Lagos, said the ruling party has violated its own  rules and principle on periodic national convention as stipulated by its constitution.

    Odigie-Oyegun, was elected chairman in June 2014 for a four year tenure, which would expires in June.

    The plaintiff said the chairman and other members of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party were given illegal anticipatory tenure elongation to enable them put the national convention in abeyance, without due consideration for the APC constitution and 1999 Constitution.

    Section 223 (1a) and (2a), of the 1999 Constitution stipulates that  “the constitution and rules of a political party shall provide for the periodic election on a democratic basis of the principal officer and members of the executive committee or other governing body of the political party.”

    It also says: “the election of the officers or members of the executive committee of a political party shall be deemed to be periodical only if it is made at regular intervals not exceeding four years.”

    The  APC Constitution (2014 as amended) provides that : “all officers of the party elected or appointed into the party’s organs shall serve in such organs for a period of four years and shall be eligible for re-election or re-appointment for another period of four years only, provided that an officer elected or appointed to fill a vacancy arising from death, resignation or otherwise shall notwithstanding be eligible for election to the same office for two terms.”

    Joined in suit No. FHC/L/CS/364/18 before the Federal High Court, Lagos Division  are: the Deputy National Chairman (South), Chief Segun Oni;Deputy National Chairman (North), Senator Lawal Shuaibu; National Secretary Mallam Ibrahim Gubi; National Vice Chairman (Southwest) Chief Pius Akinyelure; the APC and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    Ahmed is praying the court to declare as null and void and of no effect the purported elongation of the tenure of the NEC, contrary to the extant laws.

    In the originating summons by his counsel, B.A.M Fashanu (SAN), the plaintiff claims  that the defendants, jointly or severally, have erred in law.

    He is praying the court for:”A declaration that the first to sixth defendants have no power under the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,  1999, to extend the tenure of the elected organs/officers beyond four years from their election /inauguration

    “A declaration that the purported extension of the tenure of the extant National Working Committee (NWC) and /or other executive committees or their members of the All Progressives Congress at various levels for another 12 months from June 30, 2018 by the National Executive Committee of or by the All Progressives Congress, is illegal, null and void and of no effect

    “A declaration that any provision of the sixth defendant’s constitution or any memorandum, circular or pronouncement of the first to sixth defendants purporting to extend the tenure of the first to fifth defendants beyond their extant elected or inaugurated four year tenure is in conflict or is inconsistent with the provision of Section 223(1) (a) and  223 (2) (a) of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 and is null and void to the extent of its inconsistency.

    “An injunction restraining the first to sixth defendants, their servants and/or agents, from taking any steps to implement the purported tenure elongation of the presently elected/constituted organs/officers of the All Progressives Congress, which pronouncement or decision was made on or about the 27th of February, 2018, or in any manner howsoever, stay in office beyond four years from the date of their election/inauguration.

    “An injunction restraining the seventh defendant, its servants and /or agents, from recognising the decision or any decision of the first to sixth defendants to extend the tenure of the sixth defendant’s extant elected organs/officers beyond their elected/constituted four years, or, taking any step, in any manner howsoever, to implement such decision.”

    Ahmed, a former member of House of Assembly and one-time Commissioner for Special Duties said he is in  court to protect the image of the ruling party and the sanctity of the constitution.

    He said the APC should, through its convention, create a level playing field for all qualified members of the party who may wish to contest for any party office at the convention when the tenure of the executive committee expires in June.

    Ahmed added: “We must avoid a situation whereby a dangerous precedent will be laid by the deliberate violation of party constitution, rules and regulations on leadership recruitment and renewal of tenure. Our party is known for its avowed commitment to the rule of law, the due process and the constitution. We must obey our own laws and respect the constitution of the country.”

    Crisis had hit the APC, following the purported tenure elongation for the NEC and the NWC, following their Abuja meeting of January 26 and 27.

    While Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello told reporters that the NEC had granted one year tenure elongation to the Odigie-Oyegun-led NWC, his Zamfara State counterpart and Chairman of the APC Governors’ Forum, Abdulaziz Yari, said the NEC lacked the power to extend the tenure, adding that the power of the Convention to extend the tenure can only be exercised only by way of constitutional amendment.

    He said: “The power of the NEC of our party cannot go beyond doing so by way of constitution amendment. Article 30 of the APC Constitution and the schedules hereto, can be amended only by the National Convention of the party.

    “The process of amending the constitution is also expressly provided in Article 30 Sub-Section 2. This states: “Notice of any proposed amendment by any member or organ of the party shall be given to the National Secretary, at least, 14 days before the date of the National Convention. The Notice shall be in writing, shall contain a clear statement of the proposed amendment and reasons for the amendment.”

  • APC Chieftain, others attacked by thugs in Ebonyi

    APC Chieftain, others attacked by thugs in Ebonyi

    A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ebonyi, Dr. Paul Okorie, was on Monday attacked by suspected political thugs at Ugwulangwu area of Ohaozara Local Government Area of  Ebonyi.

    The thugs also attacked Mr. Nnachi Okoro, Ohaozara APC Chairman, one John Ogbonnaya, and  two members of the party.

    The trio according to reports were allegedly brutalized by gun wielding thugs from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in the state, numbering over 50 who were led by three Ebonyi government officials from the local government area.

    Okorie told our Reporter in Abakaliki on Tuesday that the attackers invaded the venue where stakeholders were holding a meeting preparatory for the visit of the APC State Working Committee (SWC), slated for Friday, Feb 9.

    Okorie, a former Commissioner for Works and Environment in Ebonyi and other victims are currently receiving treatment at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki (FETHA).

    He described the unprovoked attack as callous, wicked and barbaric.

    Narrating the incident to journalists, he said: “We scheduled a meeting of a section of Ohaozara Local Government Area of APC for the three wards in Ugwulangwu, preparatory for the visit of the SWC of our party for the Continuous Voter Registration sensitization.

    “The meeting commenced peacefully at about 5p.m. yesterday (Monday, Feb 5), the meeting was going on smoothly when midway, some hoodlums, came in and disrupted the meeting. “So, at a point they went back; we thought they had gone and continued with our meeting when suddenly they came in with over 30 boys in three branded buses, all heavily armed with different types of dangerous weapons.

    “They shot sporadically and we were thoroughly clubbed and beating as you can see the cuts and bruises all over our body. “They escaped in their vehicles, and also took our mobile phones, money and other valuables.”

    The APC chieftain urged the electorate to be on guard and assured that no threat or intimidation would make the party to back down on its resolve to wrestle power from the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP). He urged the Police, Army and other security agencies to provide adequate security for every citizen of the state.

    He called for the arrest and prosecution of the perpetrators of the dastardly act.

    Police spokesman, Mrs. Lovett Odah, when contacted, said no formal report on the alleged incident had been received by the Command Headquarters.

    She said the Police would react appropriately only when the matter has been officially reported and preliminary investigations made.

    She, however, said she would liaise with appropriate authorities to ensure the Divisional Police Officer for Ohaozara Local Government Area, visits the scene of the crime.

    “The Police are yet to receive any report on the alleged attack either at the Command or in the Division. “However, we shall detail the DPO in Ohaozara after due consultations to visit the scene of the crime to commence investigation,” Odah said.

    She restated resolve of the Police to effectively provide protection and adequate security to every citizen of the state. She urged the public to always report promptly to the police any breach of law and order in their areas or threats to their lives.

    Meanwhile, the state Chairman of APC, Mr. Eze Nwachukwu, has condemned the attack and vowed that the party would explore every legal avenue to bring the perpetrators to justice.

    He further reassured the party’s commitment to peaceful and violence free elections in 2019, and urged politicians not to make the election a do-or-die affair.

    He said the party has lodged a formal report at the Police Command in Abakaliki.

    “We got the news of the barbaric and brutal attack on our party members while in a peaceful meeting at Ugwulangwu yesterday, and we have taken the necessary action including lodging a formal report at state Police Command.

    “The attack is condemnable and we promise the perpetrators that APC will explore every available legal means to bring them to justice. “We are law abiding and wish to reassure the electorate and Ebonyi residents that APC is committed to peaceful and violence free elections in Ebonyi in 2019.

    Chairman of the PDP in the state, Onyekachi Nwebonyi denied the involvement of his party members in the attack.

    “I am just hearing about it now from you, nobody from my party attacked them, they should go and find the people who attacked them”, he said.

  • Leadership: APC chieftain makes case for youths

    Leadership: APC chieftain makes case for youths

    A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Tunde Ajibulu has said moves to side-line the youth in the development of the country will be counter-productive.

    Ajibulu, who spoke to reporters in Lagos, said youths’ contributions to the country’s socio-political and economic progress could not be quantified.

    He wondered why the roles of the youth in nation-building should be relegated; noting that they must ensure they are well represented in the forthcoming general elections in 2019.

    The APC chieftain added that he would continue to support efforts to harness the potential of youths in the country.

    He said: “My desire is to ensure that Nigerian youths gain ascendancy in the politics of the country.  There are so many issues that will eventually affect the Nigerian youths if their decisions are not properly analysed and discussed.”

    He urged the authorities to double their efforts in bringing lasting peace to the country, noting that those calling for the break-up of the country should have a rethink.

    “I am not a fan of the leader of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu. I have never hiden it and I was particularly agitated when former President Olusegun Obasanjo advised President Muhammadu Buhari to dialogue with the leaders of the IPOB.

    “With all due respect to Obasanjo, I believe he is right to an extent. I think President Buhari has to dialogue but that must be done with respected and distinguished people in Igbo land.

    “The Igbo cannot even say they want to leave. They are the number one tribe that has gone everywhere and have prospered in Nigeria. They have mansions and industries in various parts of Nigeria. So, where are they going to take those mansions to? The real Igbo traders and businessmen are the real engine room of this country.”

    He called on the leadership of the APC to entrust responsibilities in the hands of youths, particularly in the fight against corruption.

    “Any Nigerian, irrespective of age, should be allowed to seek elective office as long as the individual is of sound mind and meets the constitutional and educational criteria.

    “I am in total support of this bill. As long as a man or woman is sound in mind and meets the constitutional and educational criteria, why can’t the person run for an elective position? How old was John F. Kennedy when he won his first election?

    “How old was Gen Yakubu Gowon when he became Nigeria’s Head of State? We have been inundated by politicians that came on the scene 50 years ago in their 20s and 30s and they are still relevant today. So, it’s about time fresh blood is injected into the system.

    “The President appointed 23 Heads of federal agencies two years into his regime! The last Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) government’s appointees were still running those key agencies. Today, there are hundreds of, if not thousands more PDP members still running or enjoying the benefits of board memberships, et al, in this administration. It is a worldwide standard best political practice to divide the ‘spoils’ within the party from the most transparent and sophisticated democracies to the most despotic dictatorships.

    “The APC leadership has to step up and defend the mandate of its members, loyalists, and supporters from the odium the so-called cabal has smeared us with. Where was the cabal when Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu was breaking his back, running helter-skelter to make things happen? Where was the cabal when President Buhari sat in the trenches negotiating, sacrificing his principles and cajoling to reach an agreement that birthed the APC?

    “Where was the cabal when Senator Musa Kwankwaso delivered millions of votes? Where was the cabal when the Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki ‘mutinied’ against the sitting President and his party, the PDP and led five governors to the APC, delivered the North Central states for the first time to the opposition?

    “So, what right does the executive/party has to condemn Saraki or Senator Ike Ekweremadu–a PDP member who emerged as the Deputy Senate President? The country is still being run by PDP appointees. The latest is the Head of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA). We got to know this from the ensuing $43 million drama that the Director-General of the NIA was appointed by President Goodluck Jonathan in 2013. It is mind-boggling.

    “Another shocking scenario unfolded recently when the former Senate Majority Leader (number three man in the 7th Senate) under Goodluck Jonathan’s government, Victor Ndoma-Egba was appointed the Chairman of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) board.”

  • Udom can’t get second term, says APC chieftain

    Udom can’t get second term, says APC chieftain

    A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Akwa Ibom State, Chief Samingo Etukakpan, he said that  Governor Udom is Emmanuel will not be re-elected next year.

    He said one of the ways of actualising the mission of sacking Emmanuel from power is to mobilise Akwa Ibom youths to install a governor of the people.

    According to him, the governor was foisted on Akwa Ibom people to protect the interest of his master and Senate Minority Leader, Godswill Akpabio.

    Speaking in Eket, Etukakpan hailed President Muhammadu Buhari over the appointment of men of integrity and characters from Akwa Ibom State into federal boards.

    He said that the Niger Delta Development Commissioner from Akwa Ibom South, Mr. Sam Frank, has represented the state in the commission effectively through projects distribution and implementation.

    Etukakpan, who is also the international coordinator of Eket Federal Constituency Congress, praised the commissioner for not playing politics with project implementation, noting that he has engaged the youths in skill training and empowerment programmes.

    “The choice of Mr. Sam Frank as the NDDC commissioner for Akwa Ibom State has added value to the commission’s goals because he has ensured even distribution of projects,” he added.

    “He has touched the lives of over 100 youths of Akwa Ibom in various ways and given meaning to their lives by way of empowerment, and we are happy for this,” he said.

     

     

     

     

     

  • OBJ’s Letter: ‘See the letter as a Challenge’ APC Chieftain Advised

    OBJ’s Letter: ‘See the letter as a Challenge’ APC Chieftain Advised

    President Muhammadu Buhari has been charged not to let the recent letter by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, dissuade him from putting himself forward for the 2019 contest, but should use same to better his rating with all Nigerians.

    A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress ( APC ) in Delta state, Chief Ovo Ofigo, who gave the charge in a statement he titled “Failure is an opportunity for determined people to succeed”, said the letter by Chief Obasanjo should rather be seen as a wakeup call to the president, to live up to his campaign promises to Nigerians.

    Ofigo, who is also the National Coordinator of the Buhari Solidarity Movement (BSM), noted that Chief Obasanjo’s letter, though harsh on
    the president, was a welcomed development, which would in the end held the chances of the president in the upcoming election.

    He charged President Buhari to remain focused and used the remaining years of his administration to focus of doing what made Nigerians to vote for him in 2015, urging him to forgo his ambition of running for a second term if he is convinced within himself to contest.

    “The recent letter of former President Obasanjo to President Buhari is a welcome development. The letter among other things adjudged President Buhari as a failure in governance. Failure is an opportunity for determined people to succeed. Thus, President Buhari is determined of having a second term, then he has to take former
    President’s outburst as a welcome and healthy development”, he said.

    While saying that former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s outburst will definitely contribute more than 40% to President Buhari’s electoral fortunes in 2019, he added that “President Buhari should not forgo his second term ambition. Instead he should study critically the Obasanjo outburst and make amends.”

    Ofigo argued that “if power and energy are properly put in place, every other thing will follow-including sound economy that Obasanjo himself will vote for Buhari in 2019”, he said.

    He also appealed to Nigerians to give President Buhari ten calendar months to give us the desired change stressing that “he should be encouraged to transform Nigeria.”

    The former National Treasurer of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), described former President Olusegun Obasanjo as a patriotic Nigerian who loves Nigeria and President Buhari adding that,”He wants Buhari to succeed.”

    “I appeal to President Buhari to invite Ex-President Obasanjo for a round table talk. Obasanjo is not an enemy. He has spurred Buhari and those of us (The Apostles) to be ready to work harder in ten days ahead”, he said.

  • APC chieftain gets humanitarian award

    APC chieftain gets humanitarian award

    A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State, Mrs Ajoke Adegeye, has won the Amuwo Odofin Local Government Area’s chapter of the National Council of Women’s Societies Nigeria’s Icon of Humanity’s award.

    The award was held at the society’s investiture of personalities and election of executives at the local government area’s secretariat at FESTAC Town in Lagos.

    The society’s President, Mrs Iyabo Oyefeso, who presented the award, noted that the recipient was honoured for her passion to always serve humanity as well as her contributions to lifting up the downtrodden and the less privileged in the society.

    Mrs Adegeye expressed appreciation to the society for the award.

    She promised to contribute more to uplifting humanity.

  • APC chieftain is Enugu commissioner

    APC chieftain is Enugu commissioner

    The Enugu State House of Assembly yesterday confirmed the appointment of a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Peter Okonkwo, as commissioner-designate.

    The Speaker, Edward Ubosi, said Okonkwo’s appointment followed a December 7 letter by Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.

    Okonkwo, a former governorship aspirant under the Alliance for Democracy (AD), started his political journey in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) before joining the APC.

    House Leader Ikechukwu Ezeugwu moved a motion for Okonkwo’s confirmation while Deputy leader Onyinye Ugwu, seconded it.