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Tag: APC governors

  • APC governors to FG: Strengthen security operatives

    APC governors to FG: Strengthen security operatives

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) under the auspice of the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF), on Thursday urged the Federal Government to strengthen the capacity of the security operatives to counter terrorism.

    PGF Chairman, Governor Rochas Okorocha, in a statement expressed condolence to the families of those killed and injured in Tuesday’s explosions in Jos, Plateau State.

    He said, “We urge the Federal Government to strengthen the capacity of our security services and provide all the equipment and resources that our officers and men in the frontline need to become an effective fighting force and to carry out counterterrorism operations.

    “Similarly, we call on the Federal Government to recognize that terrorism has never been defeated anywhere by sheer force alone; all avenues must be explored to ensure the safety of the lives and property of all Nigerians; this is the minimum requirement of government.”

    The governors noted that the blast which occurred just three days after a similar attack in Kano marked a significant escalation in the senseless attacks on Nigerians and an affront on the Nigerian state.

    Okorocha said that it is apparent that the attacks were intended to cause as much carnage as possible and also increase mutual suspicion among people of different faiths and ethnicity.

    Charging the citizenry to remain steadfast, the governors said, “We urge Nigerians to stand firm and not relent to the antic of terrorists who seek to return us to the dark ages.”

  • APC governors: It is dangerous to politicize national security matters

    APC governors: It is dangerous to politicize national security matters

    The Progressive Governors Forum (PGF) yesterday said that its members were duly notified that Thursday’s controversial meeting of the National Security Council had been called off.

    The forum’s Chairman and Governor of Imo State,Owelle Rochas Okorocha, in a rejoinder entitled : ” It is Dangerous to Politicize National Security Matters,” expressed worry over insinuation that APC governors boycotted the meeting.

    He said that contrary to statements from other quarters, the APC governors were informed on Tuesday night by the presidency that the meeting had been postponed.

    He said it is unfortunate that “ a meeting as important as that of the meeting of National Security Council at this trying moment is reduced to a partisan status.”

    He recalled that as at Tuesday night, 14 APC governors were in Abuja and on Wednesday morning, visited victims of the Nyanya bomb blast in Asokoro and National Hospitals where “we announced our intention to set up a trust to support victims of terror.”

    He added: “As a matter of fact, after the visit, we stated categorically ‘This is a time that we must all close hands to ensure the safety of lives and property. This is not a time to talk about politics with people’s lives’.

    “ It is, therefore, shocking and in bad faith that we are being accused of boycotting a meeting we were duly notified that it had been called off.

    “We want to reiterate our call to President Goodluck Jonathan to ‘deepen that particular section of our constitution which guarantees safety of lives and property of ordinary citizens. We urge him to show leadership at this moment and do whatever it is within his capacity and capabilities as President to fish out those who are involved in this act.’

    “We stand by this position and, hereby, re-affirm our commitment to work with the Federal Government and all Nigerians to resolve our national security challenges.”

  • APC governors decry police recklessness in Rivers

    APC governors decry police recklessness in Rivers

    Nine Governors of the All Progressive Congress (APC) yesterday rose from a meeting in Lagos where they frowned at the recklessness, impunity and outright misconduct of the Commissioner of Police, Mr Mbu Joseph Mbu in Rivers State.

    The governors include Mr. Babatunde Fashola (Lagos), Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers), Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun), Rauf Aregbesola (Osun).

    Others include Owelle Rochas Okorocha of Imo State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State, Umaru Al-Makura of Nassarawa State, Rabiu Kwankwaso of Kano State and Senator Chris Ngige.

    The meeting began at about 4pm at one of the chalets at the Lagos State Governor’s official residence in Marina, and ended at about 9pm.

    Briefing reporters after the meeting, Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum, Owelle Rochas Okorocha said the Forum reviewed the preparations for the commencement of membership registration.

    “Forum urges all prospective members, sympathisers and party structures to also support the process for a comprehensive documentation and registration of the members.

    “The Forum deliberated extensively on the preparations by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) towards the forthcoming Ekiti and Osun states governorship elections.

    Forum urged all relevant stakeholders involved in management of the electoral process to ensure they put together appropriate arrangements to discharge their duties lawfully and with utmost responsibility to forestall a repeat of the electoral sham experienced in Anambra and Delta states; to restore the credibility in the electoral process”.

    “The Forum reviewed current developments in the National Assembly, noting the ongoing political realignments of members of the federal parliament. It charges the leadership of the National Assembly to remain consistent by respecting the rights and privileges of members to choose the political party of their choice without intimidation”.

  • APC governors may sue Fed Govt over loss of 40% allocation

    APC governors may sue Fed Govt over loss of 40% allocation

    •Finance commissioners threaten to pull out of FAAC

    There were indications yesterday that the All Progressives Congress (APC) governors would sue the Federal Government over the deductions of 40per cent of their states’ monthly earnings by the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee.

    Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi broke the news at a meeting of the APC Governors Forum in Abuja.

    Fayemi said: “W e have said we will take appropriate constitutional measures as far as the illegal deduction of FAAC is concerned. Every constitutional measure, nothing is ruled in, nothing is ruled out.”

    “We decided to take appropriate constitutional measures in order to tackle this vibrant abuse of the Constitution and the Appropriation Act particularly of the National Assembly.”

    Fayemi said the Commissioners for Finance are now on the verge of pulling out of the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee meeting.

    The governor recalled that in the last three months, the FAAC has always illegally deducted from states allocation, adding that the APC states have lost 40per cent of their earnings to the deductions.

    Fayemi said something must be fishing as there was no basis for such deductions since the prices of crude oil have not fallen below the 2013 budget benchmark.

    According to him, the prices of crude oil have not declined to less that $110 per barrel this year.

    His words: “We deliberated on matters of states, matters of our party, and discussed also issues that are pertinent to national finances, particularly the Federal Allocation work. We have come to a critical juncture as FAAC has gone in the last three months. You are not unaware of what has been going on. You are also aware of what our Finance Commissioners are about to do in removing themselves from the meetings of FAAC.

    “And we continue to insist that we condemn the illegal and unconstitutional deductions and averagely all of our states lost 40per cent of our normal earnings in the last two to three months from the Federal Allocation committee. And we believe that this is not defensible in anyway, we know that the benchmark that the National Assembly agreed for the budget 2013 is still very realistic because at no time this year (we are still in the month of October) that oil sold for less than $105 per barrel, for most often than not oil has sold for $110 per barrel. So, we see no basis for the incomplete allocations that are given to the states in this regard. “

    Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha said the danger posed by the recent election in Delta State unsettles the party, stressing this is “to condemn in its entirety that that was not an election at all.”

    He said that reports from the election are indications that it was a mere manipulation of the whole electoral process.

    Okorocha said: “We are worried that this may pose a big danger to 2015. From what we are seeing, we must stand up to it now or Nigeria may pay a bigger price for it in 2015.”

    He complained that in the Oguta election “another issue is when the winning party had over 2000 votes above the PDP. So, this has become very worrisome and it poses a big question to what 2015 will look like.”

    The APC governors, said Okoracha demanded that the Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC) should save its name and conclude the election in Oguta.

    The Imo State governor quoted INEC as refusing to conduct the election until the Commissioner of Police in Oguta guarantee security.

    On Anambra election, he said that APC appealed that the election must be free and fair.

    He said: “the Progressive Governors will not accept anything short of this. And Nigerians will not accept anything short of this-one man, one vote.”

    Warning that there should not be a repeat of what happened in Delta in Anambra, Okorocha called on the security to stand up to defend the nation’s nascent democracy.

    The six Governors at the meeting were Dr. Fayemi, Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola, his Oyo State counterpart, Imo State’s Rochas Okorocha, Ibrahim Gaidam of Yobe and Deputy Governor of Borno, Zainna Mustapha.

     

  • Blockade of Rivers Government House road, descent into anarchy —APC governors

    Blockade of Rivers Government House road, descent into anarchy —APC governors

    Eleven governors of the All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday described Thursday’s blockade by the police of the road that leads to Government House, Port Harcourt as a sign of the nation’s descent into anarchy.

    In a statement issued by the governors under the aegis of Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF), the governors said they received the news of the blockade mounted in front of Rivers Government House by the police with shock and disbelief.

    It noted that the Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, was as a result of the blockade refused access to his own office “in a manner that only translates to illegal takeover of Rivers State Government by the police authorities and suspension of all relevant powers of the governor as the chief security officer of the state as provided by the 1999 Nigerian Constitution.

    “This action of the Rivers Police Command is an assault on constitutional rule and portends a descent into anarchy.

    “Since July 2013, the situation in Rivers continues to constitute a major threat to our democracy.

    “The inability of federal authorities to exercise all the necessary constitutional and moral authority to ensure speedy resolution of the crisis has remained a source of danger for our democracy and the life of Governor Amaechi and those of other public officers serving in the state.

    “This is a bad precedent and we wonder if this is not a signal for a similar blockade to be mounted against the President at the Presidential Villa.

    “This is unfortunate and all Nigerians must rise to this challenge by calling on the Federal Government and all its agencies, including all arms of the security services, to respect the letter and spirit of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution.

    “In the specific case of Rivers State, provisions of Section 215(4) of the 1999 Constitution must be fully respected. This section provides that the Governor ‘may give to the Commissioner of Police of that state such lawful directions with respect to the maintenance and security of public safety and public order within the state as he may consider necessary, and the Commissioner of Police shall comply with those directions or cause them to be complied with.’

    “A situation whereby the Federal Government will use powers vested in it under the constitution to bully and intimidate state governments is unacceptable and should be resisted by every democratic government.

    “As Governors, we view the events of September 12 in Rivers as a direct affront on constitutional order in the country.

    “We wish to unequivocally state our resolve to work with all democrats in the country to ensure adequate protection of democratic governance. Enough is Enough!”

  • Day APC governors stormed Imo

    Day APC governors stormed Imo

    All Progressives Congress (APC) governors have stormed Owerri, the Imo State capital, to solidarise with with their colleague, Governor Rochas Okorocha. Correspondent OKODILI NDIDI captures the mood of the people who witnessed the second year anniversay.

    The crowd that welcomed them to Owerri, the Imo State capital, was huge. They cheered them from one end of the metropolis to another. Some waved brooms. Others waved their hands. For the eight All Progressives Congress (APC) governors, it was a popularity ride to the ‘Heartland State.’

    The host governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, was excited at the warm reception. He told the people that the progressives governors had a mission to rescue the country from under-development. As he intoduced them- Babatunde Fashola (Lagos State),Adams Oshiomole (Edo), Rauf Aregbosola (Osun), Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti State), Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun), Abiola Ajimobi (Oyo), Ibrahim Shetima (Bornu) and Tanko Al-Makura (Nasarawa)-the crowd jubilated.

    It was an awareness and sensitisation rally. It was also a solidarity visit to Okorocha by the men of goodwill. The implication was not lost on the observers. APC, they believed, has enlarged its coast to the Southeast geo-political zone.

    As from 7 am, the city was bubbling with festivities. The supporters of the governor thronged the Heroes’ Square, the venue of the rally. Politicians, statesmen, top government officials, women groups, youths and students were in one accord. They defied the scorching sun to honour the governors and the visitors.

    Exuding confidence, Okorocha formally informed the people that APC is the answer. Announcing his intention to join the proposed party, he said only the progressives can build a better society.

    The ceremony, which was also part of the activities for the ‘Imo Freedom Day’, marked his defection from the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) to the APC. He urged the people to embrace the new light and bid farewell to darkness.

    The governor clarified that the APGA is not part of the merger plan. Hoever, he described the coming together of like-minded parties, individuals and groups as the best step in the right direction.

    “It is a matter of time; the APC will take over the affairs of the country. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has failed the people of the Southeast in the 12 years of democracy. The entire Ndigbo are for APC”, he said.

    Okorocha allluded to the APC’s selling point. He pointed out that the APC governors are achivers in their state, adding that he was not in a bad company. “These my brothers have transformed their states and are doing more; that is what the new party stands for. It means freedom to the people, the poor masses and the indigent widows, who have been victims of the PDP’s misrule”, he added.

    The governors decried the PDP’s style of leadership, assuring that the APC would offer a better leadership.

    Fashola, who drew a resounding ovation from the ecstatic crowd, described the APC as a great train of change. “We have set about a course that is irrevocably committed to giving power back to the people. We believe that Nigeria needs a change and APC will bring about that change”.

    Ajimobi noted that the PDP has gone from bad to worse, stressing that the only option left to salvage the nation is the APC.

    Shetima, said the exceptional performance of the APC governors is a pointer to their readiness to salvage Nigeria, urging the people to embrace the new party. “APC is on a rescue mission”, he added, enjoining the people of Imo State to support Okorocha.

    Amosun expressed delight at the huge turnout. Hailing Okorocha, he said that the people have not voted for him in vain.

    “This is what we want and this is what APC represents. The battle has just begun. APC must succeed for the benefit of Nigerians because there is no better platform”, he added.

    Al-Makura said the performance of Okorocha was just the beginning of what the people will witness, in terms of development, adding that it was worth celebrating. He urged the people to support the governor, especially now that the right party has emerged.

    “You cannot salvage the country with people who are fake; people who are pseudo-democrats,” he said.

    Fayemi said: “A time like this calls for visionary leaders as seen in all the states where the APC is holding sway. No amount of intimidation will deter us from working together to salvage the country.

    “No one is happy with what is going on. That is why we have embarked on this rescue mission; that is why we have embarked on the freedom journey”.

    Aregbesola, who held the surging crowd spell bound with his songs and dancing steps, described APC as a bulldozer that will crush everything on its path.

    He called on the people to reject unemployment, poverty, and hunger, which he said, PDP has unleashed on Nigerians.

    Oshiomole recalled that, when he led the workers’ protest to Imo State as a labour leader, he met a state with filthy streets, dilapidated infrastructure. “But now, everything in Imo State has changed”, he said.

    The governor called on the people to support Okorocha so that they can savour more dividends of democracy.

  • APC governors’ visit to Maiduguri courageous – Aliyu

    APC governors’ visit to Maiduguri courageous – Aliyu

    The Chairman of Northern States Governors Forum (NSGF), Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, on Tuesday saluted the courage of the nine All Progressive Congress governors for visiting Maiduguri, the Boko Haram stronghold, saying their action has not only demystified the myth associated with the fundamental group but a statement that situation in the capital city of Bornu State was not as bad as being portrayed.

    He said the planned visit of President Goodluck Jonathan to the state on Thursday will permanently open the state to other people and correct all misgiving about it.

    Commending the courageous governors while playing host to Major Gen. Baba Gana Mohammed Monguno, the new Commander of Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) of the Nigerian Army, Minna, at the Government House, Aliyu said their visit has also showed that the battle against terrorism would soon be over.

    Aliyu, the governor of Niger State noted that the APC governors braved all odds by visiting Maiduguri, stressing that the visit was a watershed, as their action helped make the people to have better understanding of the situation in the city.

    “I commend some colleague governors who visited Maiduguri some few days ago. Their visit and movement around the city made people understand that things are not as bad as they portrayed it. We at the Northern States Governors’ Forum have set up committees to look at the situation in Maiduguri and we are making progress with the report.

    ”I heard President Goodluck Jonathan will visit Maiduguri on Thursday. It is a very good decision because with the visit of the President, Maiduguri will be opened to people who have been afraid to visit the place, “the governor said.