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Tag: APC-Diaspora

  • APC Diaspora honours Oyegun

    The Committee of Diaspora Chairmen and members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Diaspora Chapters has honoured the immediate former chairman of the party, Chief John Odigie Oyegun, with a prestigious Executive Excellence Award (EEAwards).

    Oyegun was honoured alongside Deputy National Chairman (North) Senator Lawal Shuaibu at the Nicon Luxury Hotel, Abuja.

    The Chairman of the organising committee, Ambassador Ayoola Lawal, said Oyegun was honoured for leading the party to victory.

    Shuaibu, said the committee, was honoured for his deep commitment and contributions to the growth and development of the APC and her members at home and in the Diaspora.

    Lawal said the award was meant to “recognise and appreciate the contributions of party leaders who have distinguished themselves in the course of rendering their service to the party and also to inspire incoming members of the Executives in further advancing the development and growth of the party both home and in the Diaspora.

    “This is to encourage better performance by members of the Executive at all levels to make the party the best formidable political party on the continent in the nearest future. The award is going to be an annual event using the same global standard and Key Performance Indicators (KPI) in selecting future recipients.”

    The Chief of Staff to Oyegun, Mr Edwin Ekhinmwin, described Oyegun as a man of excellence. The awards were presented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mustapha Boss, to Oyegun and his Wife as well as Senator Lawal Shuaibu, respectively.

    The United Kingdom (UK) Chairman of APC, Dr Philip Idaewor, read the citation of Senator Shuaibu.

     

  • APC Diaspora hails oba, Obaseki

    APC Diaspora hails oba, Obaseki

    The Chairman of Conservative Commonwealth Association for Romford Constituency in the United Kingdom (UK) and member of UK’s chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Diaspora, Mrs. Gloria Adagbon, yesterday congratulated the Benin, Edo State, monarch,  Oba Ewuare II.

    She said: “His development agenda stands him out as a visionary leader.”

    In a statement, the lawyer and social media influencer expressed confidence in the oba and felicitated with Edo residents for having a monarch who she said would address key challenges in Benin Kingdom.

    Mrs Adagbon also congratulated Governor-elect Godwin Obaseki for outlining his administration’s blueprint for sectors.

    The APC chieftain noted that Obaseki’s development agenda correlated with that of Oba Ewuare II.

    She said: “It must be noted that it is not too often that you have a new oba and a new governor – both focusing on a similar agenda for development. Just like Oba Ewuare II, who ascended to the throne of his ancestors accepted his staff of office to lead his people, Edo Governor-elect Obaseki shall also be sworn into office on November 12  to lead the people of Edo State.”

    Mrs. Adagbon, who is also a member of President Muhammadu Buhari’s Media Team, added: “This is certainly a  significant development that will bring positive change for Edo State.

    “It is a new dawn in Edo State as there is a synergy of purpose in Oba Ewuare II’s reformist agenda of re-enacting a cultural renaissance and Obaseki’s vision of restoring the state’s socio-cultural values.”

    Recalling the monarch’s inaugural speech, Mrs. Adagbon said Oba Ewuare II spoke admirably about his people and their expectations, “setting a development agenda that he will embark upon as he ascends the throne. The depth of his vision was profoundly remarkable.”

    The statement also said: “It highlighted the problems of unemployment, especially among the youths and his concerns about living standards. This bears a striking correlation with the agenda of Governor-elect Obaseki, who has placed job creation as a major focus of his incoming administration.

    “The correlation between the Oba’s agenda of partnering with government to attract domestic and international resources for the establishment of clusters of agro-based industries can be seen in Obaseki’s vision to create employment through the diversification of the economy; investments in agriculture and establishment of agro-based industries.

    “While the Oba is focusing on tourism and production through arts and crafts, Obaseki, coincidentally, pledged, during the electioneering campaign, to invest in initiatives that would boost tourism and promote the socio-cultural values of the people.”

    According to her, Oba Ewuare II has rekindled the cultural renaissance in which Obaseki promised to invest and develop policies for to make Edo State a centre for tourist attractions.

    Mrs Adagbon said this would also promote the Bini culture and tradition.

    She added: “Reforming palace administration to adequately respond to the people’s sincere and deep-longing for justice, equity and stability also correlates with Obaseki’s agenda, which is hinged on justice, stability, peace and progress, in line with his commitment of citizens first; putting the people’s interests above others, improving living standards and general well-being of the people.”

     

  • Outcome of APC diaspora Chairmen conference

    Outcome of APC diaspora Chairmen conference

    The Diaspora Chairmen of the All progressives Congress (APC) recently held an e-conference to review the state of the party and the nation on the anniversary of the pivotal election that brought the party to power exactly one year ago.

    The conference was conveyed to coincide with and commemorate the one year anniversary of the pivotal and historic election (March 28, 2015), that brought change to the political landscape to Nigeria.

    According to the conference, after so many years of pro-democracy struggles, with many lives lost, Nigerians thought they were being ushered into a new lease of life of functional and responsible democracy, but woke up to a new nightmare of unrestrained official pilferage of the commonwealth to such an extent that our country tetered on the brink of economic collapse and faced security challenges unheard of in our national history.

    The Party thanked Nigerians for voting the APC and President Muhammadu Buhari at the 2015 general election. The conference also thanked Nigerians for the continued support being accorded the APC-led Federal government of President Buhari, and calls for the commitment, support and determination of all to see through the successful prosecution of the war on corruption so that our country truly changes for the better in all ramifications.

    The chairmen therefore called on Nigerians to step up and help ensure that all agencies of government begin to work for and in the interest of the Nigerian people and state at all times. Saving Nigeria from the scourge of corruption – economic and political, in all ramifications is task for all.

    “Affirms the loyalty of the Diaspora chapters to the national leadership of the party and the government led by President Muhammadu Buhari, the conference calls for coherent linkage of government with our chapters and Nigerians abroad.

    “In this regard, conference congratulates Hon Abike Dabiri-Erewa for her appointment as the Senior Special Adviser (SSA) to the President on Diaspora and foreign Affairs. This is a well-rounded appointment judging from the experience and dynamism of Mrs Dabiri-Erewa. Like all other Nigerians in the Diaspora, our party diaspora Chapters look forward to working closely with her.

    “Congratulates the party for the successful outcome of both recently held National caucus and National executive committee meetings. The news report from these meetings have been very positive especially the statement regarding the adoption of President Buhari to be the candidate of the party in 2019, thus effectively stomping the divisive possibilities and instabilities that angling for the office could create in the party.

    “The conference is pleased with the effort of President Buhari to kill and make corruption history in Nigeria through the various methods being presently employed in the war against this disease that has clearly destroyed the institutional and moral fibres of the Nigerian state and society.

    “The conference advises, however, that all efforts of the present government will soon be reversed in the near future, if there is no robust, fully comprehensive National data management system with the capabilities for multilevel and multidimensional crosstalk. This is the only way to safeguard the institutions of state, the private sector and indeed Nigerians against fraud, and also provide robust data for functional National planning.

    “Notes that the government has recently inaugurated a platform to address the issue of a unified national e-data. The conference therefore emphasizes that in this specific area of the national data management system, the Diaspora members of the APC, having a first-hand experience of the benefit of sound National data management, are well placed to help the government achieve a fully operational National Data management programme in Nigeria within the life span of the current government. We therefore call for urgent action to draw Diaspora expertise, contacts and commitment, and leverage same into realising this long overdue National project.

    “The conference congratulates the government in convening a National Economic Council retreat and publishing the outcome of the retreat. We are pleased by this development and feel again that this is one area where the party, government and the country could benefit substantially from the leveraging capabilities of the Diaspora members of the party in driving National development,” the conference said.

    The conference thus concluded that party leaders should begin the active process of ideological branding and marketing of the party, as one rooted in progressivism and social democracy through people centered policies and interaction with the Nigerian people.

    “This ideological plank of the party should be closely interlocked with government policies at all levels, such that the party’s manifesto becomes the mirror through which all APC governments’ policies are viewed,” the chairmen summed

    Signed.

    1. Philip Idaewor, Chairman, APC UK
    2. Stephen Adeayo Tella, Chairman, APC SPAIN.
    3. Ayoola R. Lawal, Chairman, APC Scandinavia
    4. Chief Olanrewaju Balogun Chairman APC France
    5. Lawrence Adesola Adelekan, Chairman, APC Philippines
    6. Mr Tony Isama, Chairman, APC USA
    7. Mr Olalekan Ogunwede, Chairman, APC Germany
    8. Prince Hammed Adefioye, Chairman, APC Republic of Ireland
    9. Mr festus Ogbeide, Chairman, APC South Africa
    10. Chief Victor Bruno Omoregbe, Chairman, APC Republic of Benin
    11. Charlies O. Micheletti, Chairman, APC Ghana
  • Saraki, Dogara: APC diaspora calls for sanctions

    Saraki, Dogara: APC diaspora calls for sanctions

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) Scandinavia Chapter has vehemently condemned the result of the elections held at the National Assembly on Tuesday which produced Senator Bukola Saraki as senate president.
    The APC Scandinavia Chapter condemned  what it called ‘manner and way, Saraki and his APC cohorts treacherously worked against the party to emerge the president of the 8th Senate and Honourable Yakubu Dogara as speaker of the House of Representatives respectively.
    “It is ignominy and derogatory drama that some APC members could pull together with PDP members to elect a PDP deputy Senate president and majority leader of the 8th Senate.
    “It is a clear pointer that some APC members are still having the mindset of Jonathan led administration in the present APC led administration,” noted Lawal Ayoola, National Coordinator, APC Scandinavia Chapter.
    According to Ayoola, the chapter urges the national leadership of the party to weigh in and set the record straight by meting out the appropriate sanction and punishment against any individual or group for any anti-party activity.
    “This is a litmus test and a clear opportunity for the party leadership to send the clear signal that the party’s interest supersedes any individual ambition or interest and this is real change and business unusual,” he maintained.
  • Buhari is the man for the task – APC Scandinavia

    Buhari is the man for the task – APC Scandinavia

    • Accuse the Jonathan-led administration of building a warfare instead of a welfare system

    The Coordinator of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Scandinavia, Lawal ‘Gustaf’ Ayoola has described General Mohammadu Buhari, Presidential candidate of the APC as the best man to make Nigeria a better place for all.

    Ayoola argued that as Nigerians yearn for change from the ruling Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), General Buhari is the tested and trusted man for the job.

    He further added that other Nigerians in the Nordic countries (Norway, Denmark, Finland, Sweden and Iceland), like himself, left what they do officially to join the change team out of their beliefs in the credentials of the former general.

    Speaking on the effects of the postponed elections, Ayoola noted that it was a wrong signal to the international communities.

    “The postponement is a very dangerous step for our democracy because it sends a wrong signal to the international communities and to Nigerians in diasporas, which is not good for Nigeria besides the image of the President,” he observed.

    Furthermore, he noted that sometimes it is hard to understand the heart of the present administration of the ruling party because according to him: “they tend to do things for personal interest without considering the ripple effects in a larger perspective.

    “I think they are very myopic in their thinking and this is one of the reasons why Nigerians should say no to this present administration”

    According to the APC Coordinator in Scandinavia, average Nigerians who merely look at the country as just being Nigeria may need to have a rethink because many of the things that happen within the country are far more than just being Nigeria.

    “Insurgency for instance started as just a Nigerian thing, and it has now become a major threat to Africa and the world at large due to government’s failure to curtail it.

    “Many African countries are looking up to the Nigerian-led government.

    “The general perspective in the Scandinavia is that if anything goes wrong in Nigeria, it may affect almost the whole world. This is a general view of the super powers since Nigeria is the most populous black nation in the world.

    “When things are normal in your country, many foreign countries will be willing to trade with you and in the case of the otherwise like it is now, expatriates will keep moving out to other African countries with stable economic activities.” Ayoola enlightened.

    In a separate statement, Balogun Kamorudeen, Interim Secretary, APC Scandinavia, Finland Chapter, noted that political interference with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is totally unacceptable.

    Kamorudeen said: “It runs contrary to the principle of INEC, an electoral umpire, which had in a seven-hours meeting with the presidency, and the National Council of State assured on its readiness for the February 14 and 28 general elections.

    “In actual fact, the INEC chairman stated in a press conference that they have made provisions for displaced electorates in the North-East to exercise their civic duties, towards electing their candidate of choice.”

    He also said that many Nigerians, civil society groups, human right activists, as well as the U.S. Department of State frowned at this unfortunate coup-like postponement stressing that Countries like Afghanistan, Pakistan, Syria and Iraq conducted general election despite facing more violence than Nigeria.

    While lamenting the current situation of things in the country especially insurgency and the alarming corrupt practices among public office holders, Ayoola said: “We live in the paradise on earth but we are not satisfied when we remember our country.

    “The issue of Boko Haram is something that could easily be handled but the problem is not the insurgents but leadership and compromise in the part of the Nigerian military,” he said.

    The coordinator further said that there is need to probe into what action was carried out in the cases of a couple of Boko Haram members that were apprehended if gallant Nigerian soldiers fighting for the peace of the country deserve to die in the name of mutiny.

    “Many African leaders would ignore the handwriting on the wall; they will also not listen to advice from proper quarters but history is there to visit, especially in the case of Gbagbo,” he warned.

    Ayoola, a Masters Degree student of Global Management and the Founder of Nordic African Association (NAA), an association that serves as a bridge between the Nordic countries and African nations, said: “We all own this country but very few are heading it, it does not mean that all of us are bad. That is why we always advice Nigerians and other Africans to live as a good example wherever they are.

    “We are not being funded by anybody. We fund ourselves because we just believe we can make this country better. So we want to see how to influence the political system of Nigeria the Scandinavian way,” he summed.

  • Nigerians in diaspora support Buhari

    Members of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in the diasporas have charged fellow Nigerians at home and in the diasporas to use their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) to elect the desired change for the country.

    The group urged Nigerians who believe in a new Nigeria to cast and protect their votes and ‘ensure a violent-free election’.

    It described the next four years as too long for the future of Nigeria and Africa to be entrusted to the hands of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led administration.

    The APC members in Scandinavia also accused the ruling party under the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan of offering special programmes that could only engage and condone corruption, terrorism, pure impunity, unsound economic policies with vision less leadership.

    According to a statement signed by Ayoola Lawal, Coordinator, APC Scandinavia, President Jonathan accused Nigerians in the diasporas for unfair criticisms of his administration.

    “President Jonathan’s policies and agenda have nothing to offer but lies and empty promises.

    “We in the All Progressives Congress (APC) Scandinavia, like every other Nigerians in the Diasporas, dream that through real and authentic leadership, Nigeria will be a better replica of contemporary Scandinavian countries,” the group claimed in the statement.

    Lawal opined that Nigerians deserve a new visionary leader, a government who will protect and promote their welfare and keep the country united as one irrespective of faith, tribe and political affiliation.

    “A government who will fight corruption to a standstill, provide quality education, trusted and affordable health care system, clean energy and supply, functional and reliable integrated transport networks, strategic economic development and growth.

    “A president who will make us more proud again as awesome Nigerians anywhere on this planet and work with the business community for effective administration is what Nigerians want to vote for. Nigerians are tired of People who use religion and ethnicity sentiments to divide the country,” he said.

    The group however expressed confidence in the Presidential candidate of the APC, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari as the only man ready to save the country at a period it described as ‘dark moment in time for our nation’.

    “The only man who is already tested and trusted with consistency of will and purpose to lead us on this journey to the Nigeria of our dream, the new Nigeria is Gen. Muhammad Buhari (rtd).

    “We call on all Nigerians living in Scandinavia countries and in the diasporas in general to pull together in one voice, persuade, influence and enlighten our families and loved ones back home in Nigeria to vote out President Jonathan and PDP led government by voting for the APC candidates, Muhammad Buhari/Prof. Oshinbajo as president and vice president come March 28.

  • 2015: Osinbajo woos Nigerians in Diaspora

    2015: Osinbajo woos Nigerians in Diaspora

    The Vice Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Professor Yemi Osinbajo has taken the party’s campaign to Nigerians in the Diaspora as he woos support of APC-Diaspora, Canada Chapter ahead of the February 14 general elections.

    Osinbajo made the move in a video-conference with members of the APC diaspora.

    Osinbajo who spoke to members in Toronto, Winnipeg, Ottawa, Edmonton, Calgary and Montreal, said that Nigeria was due for change.

    He said that the APC and Nigerians back home yearns for change from the policies of the current administration.

    The progress of Nigeria, he said, has been hindered since the Peoples Democratic Party took over in 1999.

    He promised that if the APC was elected into power by Nigerians, the party will correct all anomalies of the PDP and restore Nigeria’s lost glory as the pride of Africa.

    Osinbajo expressed optimism on the effectiveness and workability of his party’s policies in tackling the socio-economic problems plaguing the country.

    According to him, the administration of successive governments led by the PDP has been characterized by graft and corruption, whose effect inhibits the nation’s progress and development.

    He said that the APC recognizes corruption as the central issue facing Nigeria, adding that General Muhammadu Buhari, who has a reputation as a strict fighter against corruption will end the pandemic.

    Prof. Osinbajo said that the APC recognizes the enormous human resources available to Nigerians abroad, whose skills, talents, knowledge and experience are contributing to the development of other countries around the world.

    He added that APC government will identify such talents and integrate them in building a Nigeria of our dream if elected into power.

    In separate responses, leaders of APC-Diaspora, Canada Chapter, including the Chairman, Dr. Kayode Alabi, the Patron, Prof Isa Odidi, Vice Chairman, Ibraheem Haruna, and secretary, Rahman Ilupeju assured Prof. Yemi Osinbajo of the full support of Diaspora branches for the party and appealed to Nigerians back home to vote wisely.

    They also encouraged Nigerians to objectively analyze issues confronting the nation, assess the performance of the current government and the (PDP) as a whole, in comparison with development witnessed in APC controlled States in Nigeria and the good policies and plans itemized by Osinbajo and choose the path of positive transformation.

    Meanwhile, the Public Relations Officer, APC-Diaspora, Canada Chapter, Mr. Jerry Solomon, has appealed to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the law enforcement agencies to ensure a level playing ground for all aspirants.

    He called on INEC and the government to conduct a free and fair election and avoid the use of security apparatus to harass and intimidate electorates.

    He said these were the issues that usually lead to post-election violence.

    Solomon also advised the political parties and all the stakeholders to emulate Prof. Osinbajo and base their campaign strategy more on issues that borders on how to develop the country rather than attacking each other and using political thugs to cause violence and disturbing the peace of the nation.

    Mr. Lekan Olatunde, the facilitator of the program, in his closing remark, thanked all members for making the program a success and assured Prof. Yemi Osinbajo of the commitment and support of APC-Diaspora towards the course of positive change in Nigeria.