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Tag: APC

  • Niger-Delta youth, women group pledge support for Buhari

    THE Niger-Delta Youths, Women Security for Buhari under the platform of the All Progressive Congress, APC, yesterday pledged their unflinching loyalty and support for the president-elect, Rtrd. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari.

    The group, in a meeting held in Sapele, Delta State, gave the pledge while endorsing the APC’s South-South Security Coordinator, Commander Bibi Oduku, as the only known leader of the group that will represent them adequately.

    The meeting, which was convened by Comrade Felix Ubokan with representative from Edo State, Comrade Sagbene, Ondo State, Comrade Emiloju Nicholas, Comrade Freeborn Umukoro, Comrade Okaretie Godspower, Comrade Chuks Agali and others, said the endorsement was in fulfilment of Commander Bibi Oduku’s successful handling of the security matters during the election of Buhari.

    While expressing explicit confidence in the leadership of Commander Oduku to pilot the affairs of the Niger-Delta region under the incoming administration of Gen. Buhari, they said only tested persons with successful track record of hard work can represent them in the region.

    The convener of the meeting, Comrade Felix Ubokan who called on the incoming administration of Gen. Buhari to see Commander Oduku as their eye and leader who can bring relative peace to the Niger-Delta region.

    Speaking further, Ubokan said a recent publication in The Nation newspaper of May 10, 2015, where the women Coordinators of the group (Niger-Delta Youth, Women Security for Buhari) were referred to as Niger-Delta women leaders for APC was a typographical error and should be pardoned.

  • APC hits back at Aliyu,Lamido

    APC hits back at Aliyu,Lamido

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has lashed out at Niger Governor Babangida Aliyu and his Jigawa counterpart Sule Lamido accusing them of getting stuck in the pre-election mode.

    In a statement issued on Saturday by APC National Publicity Secretary Alhaji Lai Mohammed urged them to “wake up to the reality that electioneering campaign is over and it is time for nation building.”

    Mohammed, said the governors’ recent vituperation against the APC and the President-elect is “uncouth, ill-intentioned and in bad faith.”

    ”Nigerians have switched from pre-election to post-election mode, making the unsolicited advice and the rehash of the vitriolic electioneering campaign rhetoric from the two governors totally out of tune with reality,” Alhaji Mohammed said in a statement in Lagos.

    ” APC’s commitment to Nigeria,according to him, is “sacrosanct, irrespective of the state of the economy, hence we do not need any cheeky advice from Governors
    Aliyu and Lamido. We are not making any excuses, but we will let Nigerians and indeed the world know how much the economy has been wrecked and the role of anyone in bringing the economy to
    its knees.”

    He added: “the two governors’ historical revisionism has been beclouded by the trauma they suffered – and are still suffering – from the shellacking they received during the elections, hence they have forgotten even the role they played in seeking to scuttle the change that Nigerians so much desired and for which they voted.

    ”Governors Aliyu and Lamido are so bitter and traumatized that they have forgotten it was their party, the PDP, that divided Nigeria along its ethnic, religious and regional fault lines. They have forgotten that it was their party that cleaned out the commonwealth in its desperation to win at all cost, at a stage shunning the Naira for
    US dollars and helping to crash the value of the local currency.

    ”Governors Aliyu and Lamido are also imagining where they would have been now, had they not betrayed the G7 of which they were original members, seeing the group up to the starting line but cunningly refusing to take off when the race was flagged off. They made a wrong choice and lost out, and they must live with the consequences of their choice, instead of continuing to snipe at some imaginary enemies

    ”The chance to be part of a historic opportunity to rebuild Nigeria was offered to the two Governors on a platter of gold, but they chose to put their personal interests above the national interest. The fate they have now suffered is a direct consequence of their shortsightedness and selfishness, and they must accept the full blame
    for that.”
    The APC pledged to redeem its campaign promises,irrespective of the parlous state of the economy, saying however that “the change that Nigerians have voted for will not come overnight but through a gradual, painstaking and consistent acts of good governance,discipline and perseverance.

    ”We are therefore calling on our compatriots to give their unalloyed support to the incoming Administration as it embarks on charting a new path for the long-suffering nation, while shunning the naysayers who, in their own time, frittered away the

  • Obasanjo to Buhari: How to move Nigeria forward

    Obasanjo to Buhari: How to move Nigeria forward

    A think tank established by former President Olusegun Obasanjo to study critical areas of the economy and make recommendations to guide the incoming government on a smooth take off Thursday submitted its report to President elect, General Muhammadu Buhari at his private office along Lobito crescent in the Wuse 2 area of Abuja.

    The Committee which was established four months ago by former President Obasanjo under the Centre for Human Security of the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library studied five key areas of education, power, the economy, security and infrastructure.

    Head of Buhari’s Media team, Mallam Garba Shehu told newsmen that Vice Chairman of the Committee and former Minister of Finance, Dr. Kalu Idika Kalu presented volumes of the report of the committee to Gen. Buhari during a brief ceremony held behind closed doors.

    He also said that former Chairman of Cadbury Nigeria, Dr. Christopher Kolade who was head of the power committee, gave various stages of the proposed power sector development plan to include, short term, medium term, long term solutions.

    Shehu said under the short term solution, the plan seeks to raise the country’s power generation to 10,000 MW within a short period of time, adding that “the whole idea was that Obasanjo set up his own think- tank with the aim of carrying out a study on challenges facing the country in five key areas of Education, Power sector, Economy, Security and Infrastructure. The study was commissioned four months ago so that the outcome will be made available to the incoming administration after the election.”

    He quoted Buhari as appreciating Obasanjo and his team for their effort, describing their intervention as a great impetus for the incoming government.

    Buhari, he said regretted that the out-going government that is supposed to give him tips on how to take-off has done nothing so far and thanked Obasanjo and his team for their gesture, assuring them that his incoming administration will be needing their advice as time goes on.

    Speaking with Journalists after the meeting with the President elect, Chairman of the Governing Board of Centre for Human Security of the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, Professor Akin Mabogunje said the centre has been working on some critical areas of the economy which they hope will be of help to the incoming government.

    He said the “Centre for Human Security of the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library has being working on a number of critical issues for the development of this country and they have now sent a delegation of those who’ve been involve with the preparation of those policy documents to talk to the president-elect and get him to appreciate what is being done to help his administration. That’s why we are here.”

    Prof. Mabogunje said they looked into such sectors like education, security, economy, power and Infrastructure, saying these “are the areas we’ve made recommendations and which we hope the new administration will be able to work on.”
    Asked how the President elect received the report, the Professor of Geography said “he was very happy that we’ve been thinking about how to help him hit the ground running and he expressed his appreciation for what we’ve been doing.”

    However, Chairman of the APC Transition a Committee, Ahmed Joda who was also present at the ceremony refused to comment on the work on the committee saying “I am here not in the capacity of the chairman of the transition committee. I am here because I am Chairman of one of the committees of the centre that considered security issues at the Obasanjo centre for human security”.

  • Buhari must fulfill campaign promises – Lamido

    Buhari must fulfill campaign promises – Lamido

    Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido, on Thursday urged the President-elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari ‎and the All Progressives Congress to fulfill their pre-election promises to Nigerians.

    The governor said Nigerians are expectant and will not tolerate any excuse from them.

    Lamido, who spoke with journalists in Minna, Niger State, reminded the President- elect that no condition was given when the promises were made.

    “They tried to break and distort Nigeria harmony. They tried to turn tribe against tribe, brother against brother, raising false hope. They must fulfill all their promises because there was no condition of good or favorable economy when they were making these promises.

    “Do not give any excuse because we will not tolerate any excuse because there was no condition given when they were soliciting and asking for votes.”

    Lamido accused APC of not raising any developmental issue while campaigning, saying the party was busy blacklisting the Peoples Democratic Party.

    “During campaigns, APC were busy blacklisting the PDP, they did not raise any developmental issue. They were busy harping on Nigeria problems which include Boko Haram, corruption and other security issues. ‎They didn’t know that a day of reckoning will come. Now, they have to fulfill all those promises they made,” he stated.

     

  • APC celebrates ‘star’ pupils at victory party

    APC celebrates ‘star’ pupils at victory party

    To mark the party’s victory in the last elections, Lagos Mainland chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has celebrate its constituents’ educational achievements.

    The event held at Lady-lak Primary school, Yaba, was attended by top party leaders, administrators, artisans, traders and civil servants.

    Party leader Olawale Oshun said it was organised to “thank everyone for the success of APC in the presidential, National Assembly, governorship and House of Assembly elections.”

    Oshun said APC’s victory was justified because of the party’s impact on the communities it serves.

    “We are happy that our party, APC, won all these elections in the Mainland Local Government Area. More importantly, we also want to show that the raison d’etre for any political party is the positive impact it can make by improving the lives of the people.

    “A political party must be able to justify its existence, not just by winning elections, but by forming a government that improves the living standards of the people be it in education, healthcare and infrastructural development. This why we have also chosen this occasion to reward educational achievements on the Mainland,” he said.

    Awards were presented to five pupils who made the local government proud by winning three awards at state level.The prizes included plaques, books and cash.

    The pupils are Rahimot Aminu and Ayomide Ajibola, both of Ansarudeen Primary School, Ebute Meta, who jointly won the primary school category of the Brighter Rewarding Future (BRF) Quiz Competition, Season IV in 2013; and Ofotokun Grace and Kidri Akanbi, both of Hussey Military Primary School, who came third in Season VI of the same competition in 2015.

    Taiwo Omotosho, a pupil of Modupe Cole Memorial Childcare and Treatment Home, Akoka, a school for children with special learning needs, was the cynosure when her educational achievements were announced. She came  first in the Special Student category of Season VI of BRF Quiz Competition. Omotosho is also  the overall best pupil in all special schools in Lagos State in 2014.

    “These students are from our local government area and they are the reason we are happy, not just because we won elections but because we are making positive impact. We will continue to support such sterling performances and I assure everyone that the APC will continue to produce administrations with the best people-oriented policies,” Oshun said.

    A public servant, who asked not to be named, praised the party leaders for their wisdom in showing the connection between politics and governance.”

    “This kind of recognition is very rare in political circle and this is the first time I will experience such. Today’s gathering is sending out a very important message that political organisation should and must translate to tangible results of a better society. I applaud the Mainland APC,” she said.

  • APC alleges plot by Akwa Ibom REC to impede inspection

    •REC: allegation baseless 

    The Akwa Ibom State All Progressives Congress (APC) has accused the Resident Electoral Officer (REC), Mr. Austin Okojie, of planning to scuttle the inspection of electoral materials as ordered by Justice Adedayo Oyebanji of the National and State Assembly Elections Petitions Tribunal sitting in Uyo, the state capital.

    Justice Oyebanji, on May 8, granted a prayer by the counsel to the petitioner, Chief Assam Assam (SAN), for the tribunal to grant leave for the inspection of the polling materials to verify the authenticity of 450,0000 votes.

    The 450,000 votes were said to have been scored by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) senatorial candidate in Akwa North West Senatorial District and Governor Godswill Akpabio.

    The tribunal also ordered that the inspection be carried out within 10 days in the presence of the respondents or their agents and security agents.

    But a chieftain of the APC, Mr. Akanimo Edet, alleged that Okojie had directed 10 Electoral Officers (EOs) in the senatorial district to mix up the senatorial election ballot papers alongside other ballot papers used during the general elections.

    Edet said the action was meant to halt the successful inspection of the over 450,000 ballot papers used in the March 28 senatorial poll.

    According to him, investigation revealed that efforts by the petitioner, Chief Inibehe Okori, inspect the materials had been undermined by the electoral body on the prompting of Akpabio.

    Edet said: “The commissioner had summoned a meeting of the Eos, where he instructed that the senatorial ballot papers should be mixed up with others to make the inspection nearly impossible to cover up the fraud.

    “Our Investigation also reveals that there is massive ongoing filling of incidence forms in a bid to make up for the bogus figures declared for Akpabio. This is at variance with the card reader analysis records, which is one of the contentious issues the governor is battling to provide answers to in the tribunal.

    “When lawyers to the petitioner went to the electoral commission to facilitate the inspection, as ordered by the tribunal, INEC officials declined to oblige the petitioner the right for inspection. They said the REC and the Head of Operations were not available to approve the inspection. They insisted that the REC who was nowhere to be found must approve the tribunals order.

    “The duo making themselves unavailable is part of the conspiracy between the REC and Akpabio to ensure that the inspection does not go unhindered. It is also part of a plot to ensure that the inspection does not take place within the 10 days period allowed by the tribunal. The tribunal has a 180 days lifespan and a total of 35 petitions are before it.”

    But Okojie described APC’s allegation as false.

    The REC said he had been ill for three days and was in a hospital in Benin, the Edo State capital, for treatment.

    He said: “As I am talking with you now, I am in a hospital in Benin. I took ill about three days ago. I have a problem with my health. Which time will I now have to start telling the people to mix up ballot papers to confuse other people?

    “That is rubbish. I have not even been able to call any head, nor speak with any electoral officer. I left about three days ago. Even the date for inspection, I did not even know it. It was the legal officer who mentioned it to me a few days ago.

    “Then I said if they should go about the inspection, it would take them a long time to go through the 31 local government areas of Akwa Ibom State. Instead, I asked that all the election materials be brought to the headquarters so that the people could come to one place and inspect the materials. It was a way they could safeguard the idea of time and to ensure that things were done properly. And in these local government areas, we do not have good storage facilities…”

     

     

  • APC to Nigerians: disregard speculations on appointments, zoning

    THE All Progressives Congress (APC) has urged the citizenry to disregard speculations about the appointment of ministers and the zoning of offices under the incoming Buhari Administration.

    In a statement in Abuja on Monday, APC National Publicity Secretary Alhaji Lai Mohammed disowned the rumour concerning appointments, zoning of the National Assembly’s principal positions and other offices.

    The party said in the true tradition of the APC, all issues of public interest will be handled transparently and conveyed to Nigerians through the usual communication channels.

    ‘’No appointments have been made and no offices have been zoned. The main concern of our party at the moment is to ensure a smooth transition and to hit the ground running, in the overall interest of the long-suffering people of Nigeria.

    ‘’At the appropriate time, Nigerians will be informed of the appointments made and the offices zoned,” APC said.

    No appointments have been made and no offices have been zoned

     

  • APC to Fayose: stop lying on e-payment system

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State has asked Governor Ayodele Fayose not to discredit the e- payment system, initiated by his predecessor, Dr Kayode Fayemi.

    It said discrediting the scheme as harbouring ghost workers was insincerity taken too far.

    A statement by the Publicity Secretary, Taiwo Olatunbosun, said Fayose’s claim was another lie to explain away his “greed, insensitivity and lack of commitment to the welfare of Ekiti workers”.

    “The e-payment system is the system embraced all over the world, including many PDP-controlled states and at the federal level.

    The e-payment system has proved very effective in Ekiti State as workers were not owed any salary during Fayemi’s tenure.

    “The system has also been used by Fayose to pay workers since he assumed office; and so when did he suddenly discover that the e-payment system is not good?”

    The APC spokesman alleged that the governor was up to a systematic sacking of more workers.

    ‘We are aware of his plans to bring into the Ekiti State Civil Service outsiders from Ibadan.

    “Ekiti workers should ask Fayose why the same e- payment system ensured their regular salary payment under the Fayemi administration but it is now impossible under his administration, despite reduction in the work force as many workers, including permanent secretaries, have been sacked.

    ‘Many employment schemes that take millions of naira from government’s treasury have been cancelled by the governor, six months moratorium was granted in bond debt repayment, which enables him to save N3 billion.

    ‘There is 60 per cent cut in running grants and allowances to workers and traditional rulers. This is apart from N22 billion refund on federal roads constructed by Ekiti State and N2 billion Ecological Fund he had received.

    The question is what is Fayose doing with all these funds?” Olatunbosun said.

    He added that it was wicked of the governor, who claims to be a friend of the masses, to allocate N200 million monthly to himself as security vote and another N250 million running grant as first line charge.

    “How many times will this governor conduct verification exercise after the first two exercises during which three teachers died in a road crash on Ise-Ekiti Road while travelling for their verification exercise?”

    Olatubosun challenged the governor to tell Ekiti people how much he pays monthly to his sponsors who, he alleged, helped him fix the June 21 governorship election.

  • Ajimobi, APC to join Accord, Ladoja to inspect materials

    Ajimobi, APC to join Accord, Ladoja to inspect materials

    • Ondo Tribunal grants APC’s applications
    •Judges call for security in Ekiti

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State and its governorship candidate, Governor Abiola Ajimobi, have been allowed to join Accord and its candidate, Sen. Rashidi Ladoja, to inspect the materials used for the April 11 election.

    Ladoja and his party are challenging Ajimobi’s victory.

    As a first step, they sought an order compelling the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and its resident electoral commissioner to allow them inspect the materials used for the election in the 33 local governments.

    But the APC’s and Ajimobi’s lawyers made an application to be joined in inspecting the materials.

    The application also sought an order compelling INEC and the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) to issue them the certified true copies of all forms, including all forms EC8A, EC8B, EC8C, EC8D, EC8E and EC8G used for the election.

    Others are all forms EC25B and EC25 (1), forms EC40A, EC40B and EC40C used in the state.

    The applicants are also seeking inspection of all incident forms and reports used for the election as well as data results from card readers and updated voters register, among others.

    The application was granted by the tribunal.

    The three-member tribunal is chaired by Justice F. C. Obieze.

    Justices I. M. Muhammad Karaye and J. E. Ikeade are members.

    In Ondo State, the tribunal sitting in Akure, the state capital, yesterday granted all the applications tendered by the APC and its candidates in the National and House of Assembly elections.

    This followed the motion on notice filed by their counsel, Dr Tunji Abayomi.

    The Chairman, Justice Anthony Ogar, scrutinised the applications and granted that the motions be used as evidence before the court.

    The tribunal also granted substituted service of the applications to the respondents.

    Counsel to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidates Remi Olatubora told the court that his clients were yet to be served the motion on notice.

    Olatubora said the party would file its response as soon as the motion on notice is received from the petitioners.

    The tribunal in Ekiti State had its inaugural sitting yesterday, with a warning to counsel not to make frivolous allegations.

    It called for security for judges, lawyers, politicians and the public.

    The tribunal chairman, Justice A.N. Erahor, described the job at hand as a “crucial and critical national assignment that must be diligently prosecuted”.

    He will be assisted by Justice A.T. Lamina and Justice P.A. Obayi.

    Justice Erahor promised that the panel would handle all matters dispassionately and demonstrate impartiality.

    “If you notice any infraction in the course of the proceeding, just call our attention to it.

    “We don’t want any frivolous allegation against any member of this tribunal.

    “Nobody has monopoly of knowledge. I expect everyone to play their roles professionally so that all the issues can be handled firmly and fairly.”

    Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice Owoseni Ajayi assured the tribunal members of safety and a conducive environment.

    “As a government, we are assuring you of a conducive atmosphere, but without compromise.

    “We are urging you not to be distracted by political sentiments,” he said.

    The APC is challenging the victory of the PDP in elections conducted in two senatorial districts and four House of Assembly constituencies.

    APC counsel Ibrahim Olanrewaju and his PDP counterpart, Kolapo Kolade, promised to cooperate with the tribunal to ensure timely conclusion of petitions.

  • Buhari has no plan to persecute anyone – APC

    Buhari has no plan to persecute anyone – APC

    The All Progressives Congress on Monday said the President-elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, will not persecute anyone, urging outgoing public officials to clear their conscience.

    The party in a statement issued in Abuja by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said “those that had played poker with the nation’s destiny must be willing and eager to clear their conscience before man and God.”

    ”That the President-elect is a man of integrity is not an issue for debate, and he has made it clear that he will not be bogged down by endless probes.

    ”However, the hands of the incoming government will not be tied by those who have chosen to play the victim and exhibit a persecution mentality. Whoever has any reason to be afraid must lay bare such reason before Nigerians,” the party said.

    The APC said under the climate of change that Nigerians had ushered in with their votes, only the guilty needs to be afraid, adding that those with a guilty conscience, on account of their actions in the public sphere, must clear such so they can be at peace with themselves.

    ”The last time we checked, this does not fit the definition of persecution,” it added.

    The party wondered why  President Goodluck Jonathan chose a public forum to express his fears when he could have done so privately during his meetings with the President-elect.

    ”Since the presidential election was won and lost, the President and the President-elect have met privately a number of times. Why didn’t President Jonathan express his apprehensions during these meetings?

    ”Even if the two have not met, the President could have reached out to the President-elect over any fears that he may be nursing, instead of engaging in an action that seems like he was being preemptive and seeking to curry public sympathy,” the party stated.