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Tag: APC National Chairman

  • We were all consulted, says Senate spokesman

    The last may not have been heard about the endorsement of Senator Ahmed Lawan for Senate President by the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Spokesman for the “Ahmed Lawan for Senate President Group of Senators, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, told reporters in Abuja yesterday that APC senators-elect were carried along in the adoption of Lawan for the position.

    Abdullahi’s explanation contradicted that of Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume, who claimed that the announcement of the adoption of Lawan by the APC National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, came to senators-elect as a shock.

    The party chair announced the party’s position on Monday at a dinner attended by the APC senators-elect with President Muhammadu Buhari at the State House.

    Although Abdullahi did not mention Ndume, he was categorical that “it is not good for somebody to peddle lies.”

    He added that when Oshiomhole announced the adoption of Lawan as the party’s choice for the Senate President of the Ninth Senate, the party chairman spoke in the presence of some governors, including those of Oyo, Kebbi and Borno states.

    Abdullahi, who doubles as the Chairman, Senate Committee on Media & Public Affairs, quoted Oshiomhole to have appealed to them to support Lawan to avoid the mistake of the past.

    “Immediately he said that, there was instantaneous and spontaneous applause by senators who were there. For somebody to say there was surprise and shock following the announcement, he was economical with the truth. There was no shock, rather there was relief,” Abdullahi said.

    Abdullahi who said that the APC has learnt its lesson from the mistake of 2015 when Dr. Bukola Saraki became the Senate President against the directive of the party, assured that there would be no such crisis this time around.

    According to him, there was no clear directive by the party in 2015, prompting senators to go their different ways in the chamber.

    The APC, he said, has a great role to play in who becomes the Senate President.

    He said: “If the party has promised Nigerians good governance, it is only fair and proper for the party to play some role to deliver that good governance. For me, we have learnt our lessons from whatever happened in 2015.

    “Even when I’m walking on the street, people say please you people should make sure you learn from your past mistakes. As far as I’m concerned, we have unity of purpose.

    “We the senators-elect, we have made a choice. We have the right to say this is who we want. Our choice is Ahmed Lawan. Do you expect that Mr. President and the party should abdicate their responsibility? This is what they accused us of in 2015. Now they have spoken, why are you complaining?”

    He insisted that the announcement by Oshiomhole should have been enough for a genuine party loyalist to drop his ambition and toe party line.

    Abdullahi said there was no doubt that Nigerians would be the best for the emergence of Lawan.

    “It is not good for you to have bills that are not assented to,” he said.

    He said that on the day of inauguration of the Ninth Senate in June, by the grace of God, Ahmed Lawan will be Senate President.

    On alleged winner-take-all posture of the APC, he said that it does not necessarily mean that the party’s senators would take all positions in the Senate.

    The position of the party chairman on the issue, he said, was that the majority would have its way while the minority will have its say but the two must co-exist

    Abdullahi, who said they had been engaging the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) senators-elect, noted that contrary to insinuation, the PDP senators-elect were not interested in any fight.

    On the slot of Deputy Senate President, he noted that the party has the responsibility to zone positions.

    Abdullahi said: “One thing I know and which is certain is that the party has zoned the Senate President to the Northeast. As for Deputy Senate President, I don’t know; the party will decide. When the party decides, there will be no dissent. If you dissent, it will be like a fly that wants to follow the corpse to the grave.

    “I won’t come here and start boasting about number but I want to tell you that on that very day. The party is responsible for zoning and the senate presidency has been zoned to the Northeast.

    “I don’t have the idea on what the party is doing on the position of deputy senate presidency. The party will ensure that a senator from each of the geopolitical zone benefit from the leadership positions, that is, two presiding officers and the four principal officers.

    Read also: APC: why we picked Lawan for Senate President

    “Let me tell you very clearly that we have been engaging our colleagues in the PDP and I will tell you that majority of them are actually working for us to see that we have a harmonious, rancour-free and non-tumultuous senate.

    “They are right by doing so because they are mandated by their people to come and represent them and to take dividend of democracy home not to take victories of fight on the floor home.

    “Fighting on the floor of the Senate cannot translate to dividends of democracy because the people want to see the roads infrastructure, health facilities and schools that you are able to attract to their constituency.

    “The government that we are going to form is that of the APC and the chief executive will be running the policy of the party. A parliamentarian want his people to benefit from the dividend of democracy have to work with those who are in government.

    “Our colleagues in the PDP are not interested in any fight. We are engaging them and we are talking. They know the truth and I know that we shall work together and succeed together.”

  • Oshiomhole: Aggrieved APC members have a right to be aggrieved

    National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Comrade Adams Oshiomhole on Monday said members of the party have a right to be aggrieved over conduct of primaries.

    He however told them losing one nomination does not amount to the end of their political careers.

    Oshiomhole said losers of primaries should learn from President Muhammadu Buhari who lost three times before winning the presidential election at a time when he was beginning to lose hope.

    Oshiomhole, who spoke while receiving reports of the Reconciliation Committee for the North East zone from Nasarawa State Governor  Tanko Al-Makura, said although democracy was attractive and problematic, it remained the best form of governing a people.

    He told the committee members the National Working Committee (NWC) will study the recommendation and act on it as quickly as possible.

    The former Edo State Governor expressed confidence that the party will come out of the post –primaries crisis stronger and win the general elections.

    He said: “You are the first to submit a formal report to us and we are very grateful. I assure you that to justify the time and effort you have invested and the time spent by the people and the confidence they have reposed in our party and your committee by appearing before you, we will study this report and NWC Will act on it as quickly as possible.

    “It is quite reassuring that people recognize that there is no house where there is no grievance. What matters is whether the family has the competence to manage disagreement within the family.

    “The only place where there is no disagreement is heaven and since none of us has been there, we can’t even speak to what happens there.

    “But in the real world, people have a right to feel the way they feel. They may be right, they may be wrong, but it is all part of democracy.

    Oshiomhole added: “I read a lot of things in the media, some of which are not quite informed. The truth is that if you look at the issue of political parties around the world, the UK for example, the Labour party is more prone to internal contestations than the conservative.

    “The more Democratic and liberal a political party is, the more freedom that people feel that they cannot be sanctioned and so, you will have such discordant voices.

    “We can learn from those voices and run a better party and a better system in the future.  No matter what anybody wants to say, our party is leading hey example.

    “For example, we are the only party that allows people to contest election against a sitting governor.

    “All the sitting governors of the PDP had automatic ticket and so you are not even allowed to murmur about your governor.

    “But here in obedience to our rules, we allowed people wishing to challenge sitting governors to do so and in one case, a governor could not return.

    “Democracy is attractive wind also problematic.  But like they say, it is still the best way to run a system and a country.  So, I am very confident that going forward, we are going to win this election.

    “The whole essence of this reconciliation is to let people know that the fact that you lost one nomination submit the end of your political future.

    “We have the best teacher in our family in person of President Buhari who contested elections three times and lost.  He almost gave up.

    “He went for the fourth time and won.  He has thought is that this process is only for long distance runners and not a 100 meters dash.

    “Secondly, if our primary purpose for seeking nomination and getting elected is to serve the people,  and improved on the quality of life, then even if 20 of us file out to contest election as governor, we know ab-initio that only one person will be elected even if all 20 are angels.

    “But if democracy is working and working well, that one person that emerge will govern in such a way that will add value to the quality of life of every citizen because the main objective is to improve the quality of life of the people.

    “At the end of the day,  the deliverable is what will change as a result of my membership of the APC.  I am excited that you said people have not decamped and have confidence in the leadership of the party.”

     

     

  • Group purchase nomination form for Buhari

    …Says President not a millionaire

     

     

    A group of Nigerians under the auspices of Nigeria Consolidation Ambassadors Network on Wednesday stormed the APC National Secretariat with a dummy check of N45 million to purchase nomination for and expression of interest form for President Muhammadu Buhari to contest the presidential nomination of the party.

    Also an Enugu based business man who identified himself as Chief David Ibe presented a check of N5 million to the APC national Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole for the expression of interest form for the President.

    It was however a busy day at the APC secretariat as interested aspirants who have been waiting for the release of the timetable besieged the place to purchase the nomination and expression of interest form.

    Read Also:Buhari not sympathetic to killer herdsmen, says Presidency

    Former Zamfara state Governor, Mamuda Shinkafi and former FCT Minister, Akpan Udoedehe, were some of the early callers at the secretariat to buy form to contest for the governorship of their state.

    Speaking while presenting the dummy check to the APC Chairman, National Coordinator of the Group, Sunusi Musa said the group which was formed in 2017 to propagate the second term bid of the President decided to pull resources together to purchase the nomination form for the President.

    He said they were aware that the President was not a millionaire, but has millions of supporters across the countries who are angling for him to continue in office.

    He said “We believe in the leadership of President Buhari; we can count on him to consolidate the good work he has started for another four more years.

    It is for this reason Mr. Chairman we have decided to “pull our meagre resources together and purchase the expression of interest and nomination form for President Buhari as he present himself to our party members to be chosen as its candidate for the 2019 general election.

    “Our members from the various villages, local governments and states have contributed to making this happen. We know President Buhari is not a multi-millionaire cash wise, but he has millions of supporters who are always ready to come together to pay for his nomination form.”

    He said further that “Members of our great party across the country are in unison on the applause you deserve for the work you have started towards redemption of the party. Your leadership has brought the stability the revolution of ideas and the team spirit of change that is needed in this journey of making Nigeria great.

    “We are members of the National Consolidation Ambassadors Network (NCAN) here present are representatives of our members from the different states and zones of the country. Our resolve since our formation over a year ago is primarily to ensure that President Buhari sought for another term as well ensure that the President emerge victorious in the 20 l9 elections.

    “Our reason for embarking on this project is based on the recognition of the fact that the President has started laying a foundation for a better Nigeria and there is need to consolidate on the gains so far made. It is for this reason, that we are pride ourselves as Network of Consolidation Ambassadors.

    “From September 2017 till April 2018, NCAN was in the forefront calling on President Buhari to seek re-election in order to consolidate on the good work that he has been doing by building on the foundation he has laid for a prosperous Nigeria.

    “As God will have it, Mr. President acceded to the call of voice of reasoning and declared his intention to seek re-election in 2019.

    “We have no doubt that Mr. President has both action and word being working and laying a foundation for greater and prosperous nation that our generation and future generation will be proud of. Under his administration Nigeria has become a country sought after for investments in the world; Nigeria has assumed its leadership role in not just Africa but the world.

    “Nigeria‘s moribund infrastructure is being revived. There is no state In Nigeria that does not have several Federal Government infrastructure project either completed or being, executed under President Buhari.

    “We have a stable and steadily growing economy that is departing from the monotonic oil dependence: Agriculture is now an attractive venture as farmers are becoming multi-millionaires Nigeria is now an exporter of Agricultural products as oppose to what it was three years ago.

    “For the first time since the return of democracy, Nigerians have a President who can beat his chest and state that he has never stolen from the purse of government.

    “We have a President who is not having meetings at night to strike shady personal deals but rather is ensuring that every agreement entered into by Nigeria is in the interest of the country and for its generations unborn.

    “This has indeed boosted the confidence of investors hence the increase in flow of Direct Foreign Investment into the country. Looted funds are being recovered and ploughed back to developing our country’s deficit infrastructure.

    “Almost a million farmers under the Anchor Borrowers Programme are benefiting from low interest loans that they accessed without “chua chua”. 500 000 previously unemployed graduates me now employed under the NPower Scheme; 400,000 extremely poor families are receiviiig_5,000 Naira monthly and that is changing, their lives. Over 8 million children are being fed daily in our public schools across the country.

    “Today, and for the first time in our history, we have a government that is honest and sincere in investing in the lives of the poor, the masses and the underprivileged.

    “Before President Buhari came on board, 14 local governments of this country were under the control of the terrorist group Boko Haram. That is no longer the case anymore. In the North Eastern part of this country which was hitherto a theatre of war, farmers are returning to their farms. Businesses are reopening and roads closed for over three years have been reopened. Live is returning back to normal.

    “The Niger Delta agitators, whom were forced to become militants due to deliberate neglect of the people of Niger Delta by successive regimes, have seen reason to give peace a chance due to sincere effort being made to develop the region.

    “No doubt Change indeed is being delivered as promised. We cannot afford to go back to Egypt. We cannot afford to destroy the future of our children. The foundation laid by President Muhammadu Buhari must be reinforced.”

     

  • Buhari backs Oshiomhole for APC national chairman

    24 governors support President’s second term bid, says Okorocha

    Former Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole looks set to become the next national chairman of the the All Progressives Congress (APC), with the majority of the governors elected on the platform of the ruling party backing him.

    At a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Aso Villa last night, the governors, led by Progressives Governors Forum Chairman Rochas Okorocha, proposed to the President their interest in the former labour leader.

    Sources at the meeting said the President did not object to the request.

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Boss Mustapha and Chief of Staff to the President Abba Kyari also attended the meeting.

    Seventeen governors attended. Two were represented by their deputies.

    Seven governors: Rotimi Akeredolu (Ondo), Rauf Aregbesola (Osun), Akinwunmi Ambode (Lagos), Ibrahim Gaidam (Yobe), Mohammed Abubakar (Bauchi), Abubakar Badaru (Jigawa) and Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto), were absent.

    The issue and the endorsement of the President for second term by the governors were the only isues discussed at the meeting held at the First Lady’s Conferemce Room, sources said.

    The party’s national convention to pick members of the National Working Committee (NWC) will hold in Abuja on May 14.

    After the meeting, Okorcha said all the 24 APC governors were backing President Buhari’s second term bid.

    The President at the last APC National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting, declared his intention to seek another term.

    Okorocha said governors communicated their support for the President’s reelection.

    He said: “We came to welcome him back and to commend him for his boldness and courage to declare his intention to run for second term as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which we the 24 governors of the APC duly support.

    ”And we have come to encourage him that he must go ahead with his vision,” he added.

    According to him, the meeting also addressed the coming convention and congresses to make it hitch-free.

    ”We also agreed that we will not allow the issue of many contestants to destroy our party.” he said.

    Asked if Oshiomhole’s endorsement came up, Okorocha said the public would be “duly briefed in due course”.

     

  • Oyegun assures Tinubu of support

    Oyegun assures Tinubu of support

    National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun has assured former Lagos state governor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu of his full support in the reconciliation efforts within the party.

    Oyegun, in a letter dated February 23, 2018 was however silent on the issues raised by the APC leader in his letter.

    The Nation learnt that Oyegun’s letter was written after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential villa on Friday afternoon after Friday prayers

    A copy of the two paragraphed letter sited by The Nation reads: “I thank you for your letter dated February 21, 2018, for your prayers and good wishes for my health. I wish you the same and pray that our good God keeps you strong and grants you His peace.

    “Let me once again formally congratulate you on the peace making assignment Mr. President has entrusted you with. It is most challenging but I believe you will ultimately justify the confidence reposed in you by Mr. President. In this you have my fullest support.

    “Be assured, dear Asiwaju, of my highest regards now and always”

    Tinubu had, in a well publicised letter accused the APC national chairman of frustrating reconciliation efforts by taking decisions regarding some state chapters the party.

    Also, the Cross Rivers state chapter had accused the national leadership of undermining the reconciliation efforts by ordering a Congress to elect a chairman for the party in the state barely one month to the end of the tenure of the present executive in the state.

    Read Aslo: Tinubu to Oyegun: stop frustrating peace moves

  • Osinbajo, Tinubu, governors attend Buhari’s book presentation 

    Osinbajo, Tinubu, governors attend Buhari’s book presentation 

    Eminent personalities on Thursday attended President Muhammadu Buhari’s book’s public presentation in Abuja.

    The book  ‘Making Steady, Sustainable Progress for Nigeria’s Peace and Prosperity’, was presented to the public at the old Banquet Hall of the State House.

    It was a mid-term scorecard on the President Muhammadu Buhari administration.

    Among those that graced the public presentation of the book, that started few minutes past 12 noon, were the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, who is the keynote speaker at the occasion.

    Also at the occasion was the Chairman of the occasion and the APC National Chairman, John Odigie-Oyegun and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha.

    State governors at the event were Abiola Ajimobi (Oyo), Rauf Aragbesola (Osun), Jigawa, Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun), Darius Ishaku (Taraba), Abdulaziz Yari (Zamfara).

    Other members of the Federal Executive Council (FEC), other top government officials, members of the diplomatic corps and traditional rulers also attended.

    The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara was represented at the occasion.

    The programme was still in progress at the time of filing this report.

  • PDP faults APC leaders, governors over handling of President’s health

    PDP faults APC leaders, governors over handling of President’s health

    Rumours on the President’s health were debunked again yesterday.

    He is not confined to a chair, Nasarawa State Governor Umar Tanko Al-Makura said.

    President Muhammadu Buhari hosted an All Progressives Congress (APC) delegation in London on Sunday. The Presidency released the photograph of the meeting and a short story on the visit. After a brief silence, the critics returned to action yesterday, insisting that the President is gravely ill.

    Al-Makura was in the delegation led by APC National Chairman John Odigie-Oyegun. Also on the visit were Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi, Governors Rochas Okorocha (Imo), Nasir El-Rufai (Kaduna) and Yahaya Bello (Kogi).

    Al-Makura said the President was “agile, mentally alert” and brainstormed on state matters for about an hour with the delegation during the meeting at the Nigerian House in London.

    He described those doubting the photograph of the meeting as being “comical”.

    The governor, who spoke exclusively with our correspondent shortly after returning from London, said: “The President is fit enough to return anytime.”

    “We did not only visit the President, we walked, we sat down with him and we fraternised the way we used to do. He was not confined to any chair or any place.

    “The President was really looking himself and very healthy. He was very alert, very concerned about the country and he was abreast of the latest issues in Nigeria. He has information on everything going on in the country.

    “He maintained his agility, his strength, his wit and the alertness of his mind. As far as I am concerned, the President can come back anytime from now. He is fit to return home.”

    Al-Makura said: “For about an hour, we brainstormed on a number of issues, especially about national interest and the unity of this country. We spoke generally on how to handle issues or policies that will enhance the quality of life in this country.

    “The President also tried to find out how each state was doing from the governors on the trip. And he asked questions from party leaders and all members of the delegation.

    “After a long session, we ended up on the dining table where we feasted with the President.”

    On the allegation that the trip was a make-believe, Al-Makura said: “Anyone can embark on wishful thinking. I was a member of the delegation and I have told you the truth about the way we met and interacted with the President.

    “The onus is on who alleges to prove otherwise. Whoever says we didn’t go is casting aspersions on our integrity. This is really unfortunate. We have no cause to lie to Nigerians. I just came in this morning and I have all my travel documents intact.

    “I am surprised that anyone could say that we didn’t see the President. It makes me appreciate the extent to which a person can go comical.”

    Leading the critics is the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which has faulted the approach adopted by the APC and some government functionaries in communicating with Nigerians about the President’s health.

    In a telephone chat with our correspondent in Abuja, PDP spokesman Dayo Adeyeye chided the delegation, saying they were not being fair to Nigerians.

    Adeyeye said if the President was indeed well as shown to Nigerians, the APC delegation ought to have got from him audio and video messages to Nigerians.

    Adeyeye said, “For God’s sake, President Buhari was elected to represent about 200 million Nigerians and they are circulating just one photograph without any word from the leader.

    “That is not the right way to treat Nigerians who have been feeling the President’s absence from the country for close to three months. They are being unfair to the Nigerian people.”

    The opposition spokesman challenged the ruling party and its officials in government to do what others in the civilised world do in similar situations by providing detailed information on the President’s state of health.

    “The Presidency and the APC should learn to do the right. Nigerians deserve better treatment from a President they elected to run the affairs of their country.

    “It is very unfair to keep them in the dark concerning the health of the President only to be circulating just one photograph in the media for people who have been praying for the recovery of our President all this while”, Adeyeye added.

    Restating the commitment of the PDP to continue to pray for the speedy recovery of the President, Adeyeye maintained that the opposition party sincerely wished Buhari well.

    “As a party, we have been praying for the President’s speedy recovery and we will continue to pray for his recovery because when it comes to matters of health, nobody is immune to illness.

    “But the Presidency and the APC should stop taking Nigerians for granted with the way they are handling issues around the President’s health. This is not the way to treat a President they elected to govern them,” Adeyeye added.