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  • 2015: APC scales first hurdle

    2015: APC scales first hurdle

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) is believed to have made a difference with the way and manner it organised its first presidential primary, which produced Gen. Mohammadu Buhari as its flag bearer in next year’s election. MUSA ODOSHIMOKHE, who witnessed the event, takes a look at what transpired at the shadow poll.

    The hullabaloo about who becomes the flag bearer of the All Progressives Congress  (APC) in the 2015 presidential election was put to rest last week, after the party’s Third National Convention and presidential primary, which took place at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.

    The election was contested by former Head of State General Mohammadu Buhari, former Vice President Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso, Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha and the publisher of Leadership newspaper, Sam Nda-Isaiah.

    Buhari who emerged after the keenly-contested shadow election was humble in victory, saying it the triumph of democracy. The process leading to his emergence had been adjudged the most transparent electoral exercise in recent times. From every indication, the election was purely a family affair and the contestants behaved in like manner, displaying the spirit of sportsmanship and believing that they have a common cause to change the direction of the rudderless ship of the country heading for the cliff.

    Right from the moment when delegates started arriving the venue that fateful Wednesday, around 9 am, till the evening when the event finally got underway, an atmosphere of friendship and conviviality pervaded. This is in spite of the fact that delegates had to wait for long before accreditation finally started at 3 pm.

    The law enforcement agents went about their job with the same spirit. Observers believe kudos must be given to Lagosians, delegates and others visitors alike who showed the highest form of discipline during the exercise.

    By the time the voting started in the wee hours of Thursday, precisely by 1.20 am, it was obvious that the carnival-like event will remain evergreen in the minds of the delegates, particularly those from North, who were thrilled by the Lagos-based entertainers like Tony Tetuila, Nice and Seyi Law.

    Similarly, the delegates from the Lagos axis were mesmerised by display of artistic splendour showcased at to the venue by the northern delegates.

    The comperes, which included Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Tony One Week and Desmond Elliot, put up a good performance that brought laughter and smiles on the faces of all those present. This helped to relax frail nerves. At the end of the day, it was described as one of the most organised political carnival in the country in recent times.

    The National Chairman of the APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, through his huge sense of humour and unassailable wit, melted the heart of the most hardened contestant. The message was clear: that this was not a time to make claim for personal victory, but a victory for all Nigerians in a battle to reclaim the lost glory.

    Similarly, the National Leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu said in his address that the APC convention was unique and that it suggests that history was about to be made in the country. His clarion call was for all participants to rise to the occasion, to assist the country to come up a redeemer who will make personal sacrifices to liberate the country from the yolk of poor leadership.

    He said: ‘’Many of us had attended political conventions before, but this is different. It is different because I can feel the hand of history upon all of us, guiding us to accomplish something vital for our nation. In this period of compound crisis, we are not here just to hold this convention; we are here to seek a captain that will rescue Nigeria.

    ‘’If you listen carefully and closely you will hear something unique and inspiring; it is the voice of change. It is his voice that led you to join this party. It is the voice that made you to become a delegate to this party. It is this voice that will lead us to victory in the election in 2015. It is the voice of the people in the cities, towns and in the villages.

    ‘’It is the voice of the young and the old; it is the voice of north, south, east and west. It is the voice of Christians and Muslims alike. It is the voice that calls for a new day and a better Nigeria than what we have had in the last 15 years. It is your voice and your determination and it is my voice too. It is the voice of our children singing of their hope, singing of their dreams and telling us what about the future.’’

    While announcing the result, the Chairman of the National Planning Committee of the convention and former Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi, said the convention was historic and keenly contested. He added that it was a victory for democracy and that it would go a long way to show the world that the APC was capable of getting it right, because its members are so determined.

    Buhari said while making his remark after receiving the insignia of the authority as the APC flag bearer: “I wish to commend the Lagos State Government and steadfast in hosting this convention. There was a time Lagos was devoid of the beautiful ambience. Today, Lagos is the cleanest and a safe place in Nigeria. This is due to the leadership and the preference given to it by Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and Babatunde Fashola, the two governors since 1999. They are team of professionals to this wonderful transformation that Nigerians are proud of. The architect of this convention must be commended; it is a testimony to the fact that democracy as a concept that is greater than the interest of the individual in a free and functional political system.

    “What has just happened is not about winning or losing, but about the triumph of liberty, freedom of choice of association, which is the hallmark of democracy. To my fellow contestants, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso, Owelle Rochas Okorocha and Mr. Sam Nda-Isaiah, I wish to thank you all for the keenly contested primary we just had. We have to ensure that our party is democratic and send our message to Nigerians voters in the coming election. I congratulate you all on the success of your respective campaign. I extend my greetings to you all in accepting the outcome of this convention and agreeing to support my presidential nomination. I salute you all in the coming days and how we shall confront the challenge ahead. My particular thanks and gratitude go to the delegates, the governors from travelling far and wide, through this vast and particular hostile environment to come here and dutifully participate in this exercise.

    “My dear fellow country men and women, it is with a deep sense of humility that I stand before you to accept the nomination of my party of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to be its candidate and flag bearer in the 2015 presidential election. My nomination is not because I am better than any of the other contestants. But, we should all prepare to join hands together to rescue our dear country Nigeria from those who have led us into the current state of insecurity, poverty, sectarian divide and hopelessness among our people.

    “I stand before you today, to ask that you join me, in a common cause. This cause is not the personal fulfilment of one man. This common cause is nothing but the love for our nation and the concern for its present condition and I resolve to make things better for Nigeria. What I say today is for all Nigeria, Christians and Muslims, southern and northern, rich and poor, young and old, men and women, we are all citizen of Nigeria. There is no divide line among us; we are going to work as one together. My choice and the choice of my colleagues is to make progress together, preserving the nation’s future, is a sacred obligation to all of us in this great party. Leaders should be committed to fulfil this obligation; otherwise they have no business being leaders. The current administration does not believe in this obligation, by their action they are leading us to calamity. At any international conference, the Nigerian delegation is usually among the largest, but at the same time the least respected. But, in the political influence, we are among the weakest. To us at home, we continue to live in a situation where the Power Holding Company seems only to have the power to hold us in darkness. Shall we continue in a situation that our 250 daughters have been abducted and the government has failed to rescue them or provide credible information about the steps they are taking? Shall we live in a nation where several people were put to death in search of job in a stadium and yet no one has taken the responsibility for the tragedy? Shall we live in a nation where the ranks of the poor swell and their poverty increase where a few people enjoy unprecedented wealth? My answers to these questions are no, no and no. It is time to close these demeaning spectra in our nation history. I ask that you join the effort not for me, but to establish a better nation for all of us. I understand and accept the hard challenge ahead. When all is said and done, let it be written that Mohammadu Buhari gave it all for this nation.

    “I want to make these five pledges about the government you will elect next February: We will govern Nigeria honestly, in accordance with the constitution. We will strive to secure the country and efficiently manage our economy. We will strive to attack poverty through good economic growth and attacking corruption through impartial application of the law. We will tolerate no religion, regional, ethnic or gender bias in our government.

    “We will use the best Nigerians for the right jobs. Our government will equally stand for the cause of the common man whether you are a Christian from Bayelsa State or Muslim from Kaduna State. You are first and foremost a Nigerian in my eyes. I shall treat equally as my people, as my family, brother and my sisters. There can be no genuine love in our country without meeting all these people in our diversity.’’

    The Speaker House of Representatives Aminu Tambuwal commended the delegates for leaving their comfort zones to be at the convention. “I commend you for coming to this venue, to conduct, one of the most desirable and commendable efforts in ensuring that democracy continues to prosper in Nigeria. By coming together, of the membership of the new Peoples Democratic Party (nPDP) to form the APC which has never happened in the history of Nigeria, I must commend the leadership of both parties for the great sacrifice.

    ‘’Today, we are going to present to Nigerians and I believe the most credible alternative to what we have in Abuja today. We have here those who are interested in the co-existence of Nigeria and to support whoever emerges from tonight activities by voting out the incompetent, malfunctioning and maladministration that we have in Abuja today.

    ‘’That sacrifice from Nigerians is desirable for us to continue to enjoy lasting peace in Nigeria. It is desirable for us to continue to have a Nigeria that we call our own. What we are witnessing today, a situation whereby some parts of Nigeria are being taken over by Boko Haram insurgents is regrettable. The APC by the grace of God will arrest that situation almost immediately we come to office,’’ he said.

    Chief Ogbonnaya Onu said: “History is being made in our dear country; for 15 years one political party has been governing our great nation. For 15 years, we have seen that the problem they inherited, which they have not been able to solve. For 15 years, you have seen that Nigeria is suffering tremendously. The time for change has come and the APC is forum which Nigerians will use for that change.

    “Nigeria, change is on the way; all those who have suffered tremendously on insecurity in our country, there is great hope that with the APC government; we will be able to secure our great country. Our economy has been doing so poorly; we produce crude oil and the 6th largest producer in the world and yet we import most of the petroleum products we use in our country. We are exporting jobs leaving our young men and women unemployed. The young in Nigeria, I can assure you that hope is on the way,’’ he said.

    Chief Audu Ogbe said: “We thank those of you who are joining us and in particular Senator Barnbas Gamade. I will like to ask some few questions. Who among us are so blind that they cannot see disaster coming? Who is so deaf that to the bombs which occur daily, blowing up our people, while like Pharaoh we wake and sleep in Abuja saying it is not yet time to end the insurrection? Who is not or conscious that cannot see the faith of our very future? Who is so sick of mind that he or she cannot see the biggest threat facing us as a people?

    ‘’Over 50 per cent of our youth have no job; there are no roads; there are no accommodation, electricity and other basic things to drive the economy have been grounded by leadership that lack the vision. We have become a nation of consumers, importing everything from biscuit to tomatoes paste, honey, tissue paper, exercise books and other basic things all in the name of being a consumer nation. The demand for the dollar is so higher that the naira is getting weaker and weaker. It is obvious that disaster is staring us in the face and it is to prevent this disaster that all of us are here.”

    APC National Women leader, Hajia Ramatu Tijani said: “I want to commend our fellow women who have come here because we believe in our great party. The path before us at this convention is to assure Nigerians and the world that we are different. We want to show that we believe in the government of one-man-one-vote.”

    Commending the outcome of the polls, Atiku congratulated Buhari, noting that he will put in his best to ensure that the party wins the next year election. He said: ‘’I am very confident that you will provide the needed leadership to this country. I have no doubt that you will work with dedicated and qualified Nigerians to protect our citizens, improve our economy, create jobs, improve education, reform governance and fight corruption.

     

     

  • Benue youths hail APC for Buhari’s emergence

    Benue youths hail APC for Buhari’s emergence

    A group of Benue State youths, under the aegis of Benue Grace Group(BGG), has hailed the All Progressives Congress (APC) for choosing former Head of State, General Muhammadu Buhari, as the party’s presidential candidate ahead of the 2015 general elections.

    The group also praised the party for choosing a former Minister of State for Trade and Investment, Sameul Ortom, as Benue State governorship candidate. state.

    In a letter to the of the party’s national leadership in Abuja, the group hailed APC National Chairman Chief John Odigie-Oyegun for leading the conduct of credible primaries for the emergence of the candidates for the various offices.

    BGG noted that the outcome of the primaries showed that internal democracy prevailed in the party.

    The letter, which was signed by the group’s Chairman Emmanuel Abah; a former National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) President Orkuma Hembe and BGG’s Secretary Christopher Iduh, reads: “The APC has, in the short period of its existence, raised the bars of honesty, accountability, transparency, among others. It has set new standards, providing a formidable and worthy alternative for Nigeria and Nigerians to access justice and fair play as far as politics is concerned in Nigeria.”

    BGG said the emergence of Gen. Buhari had shown that money politics would soon give way for competence and selflessness and replace mediocrity and impunity.

    The group said it found it worthy to participate actively in politics because of the choice of Ortom as APC governorship candidate in Benue State.

    It said: “We are an assemblage of different pressure and professional groups from Benue State, made up of active and passive political actors alike. Today, we gladly inform you that we have found good reason to become fully active in partisan politics because of the emergence of Dr. Samuel Ortom.”

    BGG noted that the choice of Ortom, through a consensus agreement among the party’s delegates, party leaders and other stakeholders, as the party’s governorship candidate in Benue State, showed APC’s magnanimity, tolerance and non-discrimination.

    The group added: “The emergence of General Buhari in Lagos at a convention where he informed delegates ahead of voting that he had no money to give them, yet won the primaries, indicates that Nigerians crave for change…

    “We assure you of our total support for all APC candidates, from the lowest to the highest office in the land.”

     

  • ‘We will give one million votes to Buhari, APC’

    ‘We will give one million votes to Buhari, APC’

    A group, Urhobo Nationalist Movement (UNM), has assured that the All Progressives Congress (APC) would get its one million votes in the next year’s presidential and governorship elections.

    The group vowed to mobilise Urhobos against the re-election bid of President Goodluck Jonathan, as a payback for the president’s alleged betrayal of the Urhobo nation in the state Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP’s) governorship primary.

    The National Chairman of UNM, Alhaji Mumakai Unagha, said the Urhobo nation would “do everything humanly possible to deliver their 1,000,000 votes to APC in the 2015 presidential and governorship election.”

    He accused President Jonathan of directing his Ijaw kinsmen to work for Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, instead of the Urhobo candidate endorsed by the Urhobo Progress Union (UPU).

    He said: “If Mr. President and the Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Clark could work against Urhobo interest, then the Urhobos will certainly pay them back”.

    He accused the Ijaw militant leader, Chief Government Ekpemukpolo (alias Tompolo), of mobilising Ijaw delegates to vote against the Urhobo aspirant during the PDP governorship primary election on the allegation that he was directed by the president and Chief E.K. Clark.

    “We are highly shocked at the decision of the Ijaws during the PDP governorship primary, although they have rights to support whom they wish, but we believed in one goal and aspiration,” he said.

     

  • ‘Nigerians ready to vote out Jonathan’

    ‘Nigerians ready to vote out Jonathan’

    All Progressives Party (APC) National Publicity Secretary Alhaji Lai Mohammed spoke on the Rockcity 101.9 FM, Abeokuta on preparations for next years elections and issues that will shape the contest.

    How prepared is the APC to take over the government at the centre in 2015, particularly with the menace of Boko Haram, which your party and the PDP have been pointing accusing fingers at each other as the master minds?

    I find that question very odd. somebody was voted as the president of this country and under our constitution that person is the commander-in-chief of the armed forces and he swore that he will secure our lives and properties, so, if at all there is any threat to our security, it is that person who was elected as president and commander-in-chief that hasresponsibilities to protect me and you. When that person who has failed in that responsibility now gives us an excuse, that it is the opposition that is behind the insurgency, then it means two things, one, he has lost the moral authority to remain as president and commander-in-chief two, he has failed woefully in his responsibilities. If your house is on fire, will you be looking for who started the fire first before you make moves to put off the fire? We have lost 22,080sqkm of territory to Boko Haram, we have lost 15,000 lives, as we speak today some parts of our territory have been taken over with strange flags hoisted and all you are telling us that, it is the opposition. If it is the opposition, why can’t they arrest those suspected members of the opposition?

    Gen Obasanjo said the man never appreciated that Boko Haram is not a threat to his administration but a threatto the continued existence of Nigeria, he got it wrong, as a matter of fact, at the beginning, he thought he could benefit from the insurgency by saying “look at me o, because am a Christian, a minority” and so he didn’t pay attention to it. Anyhead of state would look at Boko Haram as a threat to the Nation, honestly, this thing about we pushing blames, we have no business with handling security, all we can do is to advise him. Look at what our governors in the north-eastern states are doing, of course we would not publicize it, I can tell you that there is no month that our governors don’t contribute to the war efforts.

    Why is the government still saying the APC has not been cooperating?

    Ask them, what sort of co-operation are they looking for, you ask for a state of emergency, you got it three times, yet casualties continue to mount. As a matter of fact, the Chibok girls were adopted during the state of emergency, the 60 children killed in Boni-yadi were killed during the state of emergency, the innocent killing of students in Potiskum was done during the state of emergency. It got to a point that we begin to doubt the sincerity of this government, all they are probably doing is to allow them capture as much territory and then turn around to say there won’t be an election in those areas because it is the PDP that stands to benefit if there is no election in the north-east region. What kind of co-operation does he want from our governors that they have not given him; on the contrary, he is the one who has abandoned them. Has he ever visited Chibok, Potiskum, Buni-yadi? Yet, he can go to Burkina-Faso; he can go everywhere, on the contrary.

    In what way is the APC different from the PDP in terms of agenda and programmes?

    Absolutely false, the APC  manifesto is a 45 page booklet, which we have tagged “relief, recovery and reform” I can tell you immediately what we intend to do under our government, we will create three million job within the first four years of government, we will provide a meal a day to the primary school students, we will give an unconditional transfer of money to all vulnerable Nigerians, we will pay post youth corps allowance, under our housing, we will build one million houses within a decade, there is poverty alleviation, create a social insurance scheme, we will co-operate with our neighbours to use military force to tackle Boko Haram, use military and non-military tactics. We are not like PDP.

    You have known Asiwaju Bola Tinubu for a while now. Is it true that he is an autocrat? References have been made to the way he selects candidates for elections.

    I served as his Chief of Staff when he was governor, and as the chief of staff, am the first person he sees officially in the morning and the last person at night, I was present at every organ of decision of government and I can tell you that, there are very few Nigerians that are as democratic as Bola Tinubu. Yes, he has a very strong will, I agree he has a very strong personality, I agree that he has his own ideas about certain issues but he has always impressed me as a person who will bow to superior ideas and arguments. Many of the people who talk about Tinubu have not worked closely with him. He is not an angel, of course there is no angel alive, I keep referring to this, that 80 per cent of those who served him, from 1999 till date are still with him,there are few leaders in Nigeria who has done this. If he is that autocratic, or self-centred, most of us won’t be around him. Those saying so are assessing him from far-off. Oh yes! He has taken decisions that have rattled a few people but for him one thing is permanent, the party and Nigeria.

    You were also at the thick of the crises that rocked the Afenifere and the AD, which led to some of you leaving to form AC. Was this as a result of Tinubu’s desire to form a political empire that made him to rebel and disrespect the leaders of the Afenifere?

    I think we should not try to re-write history. There was a crisis within the party and I say this with all seriousness, AsiwajuTinubu saw farther than most of the leaders at that time. What did he see? He saw that if we didn’t take time, we will play into the hands of the PDP and that was exactly what happened, under the guise of being Yoruba’s, we very foolishly in AD agreed not to field a candidate for the presidency, we adopted the PDP president and where did that land us? We lost five of the six governors of AD; we were humiliated in all the national assembly elections except in Lagos. It took us eight years to be able to recover a substantial part of that, now, it’s instructing that of all the governors of the AD then only Bola Tinubu survived, like they say, the rest I now history. He later became the rallying point to recover those lost areas working with the likes of GovOsoba, Niyi Adebayo, BisiAkande and co. Now if he has lost Lagos in 2003, there will be no rallying point for anybody, so it’s not correct for anyone to say it was his political ambition that led to the crises in AD, those who say that are being unfair to him.

    President Jonathan has been described as Nigeria’s best President since 1960. I think one should give it to him.

    I don’t know what you described as a good President, but am happy that Gen. Obasanjo came out with a verdict that he has performed below average and I share that opinion. This is not been sentimental or been in the opposition, you ask yourself, what happened to security under his government, did it get better? What happened to poverty has it reduced? Has it disappeared? Unemployment is it better, infrastructure! What happened to it? If your roads, power has improved, then this is a good government. No part of this country is safe, Boko Haram, kidnapping, armed robbery, the country has just been called as the third poorest country, we been told that our herd ship will increase with the devaluation of the naira, of course they throw figures at you, that they have done this and that, corruption has grown wings under this government. How then can a president like that come before you, what kind of audacity is that.

    (Cut in) Should Mr President be blamed for all these? There are institutions created to handle them. If they don’t do their job, should the President be blamed for it?

    We didn’t vote for any of them, we voted for the president, he is the chief executive officer of this country. If you have a factory and the factory is not doing well, are you going to blame the production officers,you will fire him? Those ones would say well, it’s not my fault, what you do is to fire them. It’s obvious that we are going through a very difficult time under him.

    Is it not obvious that at a point, the country may have to devalue its currency? We have depended on one product for too long and the states have not helped to energise the economy by finding ways to increase IGR and stop dependence on the federal allocations?

    Yes it’s true, we are a mono-economy, we rely heavily on oil, but we have enjoyed sixteen years unprecedented, uninterrupted boom in oil price, high price of crude, we should have spent that money to diversify our economy, we should spend that money to encourage industries to grow, we should have spent that money on infrastructure but what did we do, we wasted those opportunities. You know how many industries that have relocated out of this country because of power, it’s the failure of this government to diversify the economy that led to the collapse of our economy simply because price of oil has gone down, other OPEC members have not devalue their currencies. UAE (United Arab Emirates) makes the bulk of its money originally from oil but today, they rely on money from tourism and real estate then crude oil money because things work there. I remember that APC warned about two years ago, with the discovery on shale oil and gas, our oil will become uncompetitive, we warned that the cost of production is the highest in the world, we warned that the organised stealing of crude will bring dire consequences to the nation, and what did they tell us, they say we are alarmist, the minister said we are not broke and they are devaluing the naira, we are not broke, we will introduce austerity measure but don’t worry, it won’t affect you. To the argument that we could have done better but the states are not supporting them, I ask which state did they go to for anything and they deny them? Let them tell us that they came to an APC state to say they went to build an A-P-Z and we denied them because we don’t belong to same political party we won’t co-operate, they don’t have anything to say, they are incompetent, clueless and are corruption on its own .Unfortunately, we are all going to pay for this.

    The PDP has said that it’s a better party, at least, in the area of internal democracy. Is there any difference between APC and PDP in this regard?

    In our own party, we printed so many forms for anybody who want to be president; they printed only one form, what is the difference between us? What is happening in Cross-Rivers, what is happening in Akwa-Ibom, Lagos state,they have to repeat their congress. If anybody is talking about love of internal democracy, today, we have about five strong presidential aspirants campaigning; we didn’t say we have no form for them.

    People can see what is happening; we have a strong robust internal democracy, we have a code of ethics for all our aspirants, they must all agree that only one person will get it and whoever gets it, the others will co-operate. They should come and learn from us.

    Is it true that the APC has instructed its members in the Ekiti State House of Assembly not to cooperate with Governor Fayose?

    It’s a pity that we are never ready to face reality. When PDP decided to field Ayodele Fayose as their governorship candidate, knowing fully well that this is someone who has been impeached, knowing also that under our laws anybody who has been indicted cannot hold public office. Within ten years, they insisted, thinking they are the only one who has the capacity for violence, democracy is by numbers. This is not the first time in Nigeria that a governor will rule with, the minority in the house, 1979, Balarabe Musa of Kaduna state, his party, PRP, won on the terms of his popularity as a person but the NPN had the majority in the house, they refused to approve his list of commissioners and at the end, he was impeached, that’s democracy. Balarabe Musa did not seek to call the police and allow his minority to impeach the speaker; he did not use the police to chase the other people away. Anyway, what do you expect of a Fayose, a governor-elect who led people to beat up a judge, but let me tell you, what is happening in the country today, the impurity cannot happen without the support of the police. The police prevented the speaker of the House of Representatives from entering his office and said they were looking for hoodlums; did AminuTambuwal look like a hoodlum? He got down from the car and introduced himself, what did they do? They turned their back, and now they are saying what they did was ungentle manly and I say these people are heroes of democracy. If my house is on fire and my children and wife are in there, and I can’t get fire brigade to save me, I will break the door, that’s what they did.

    Should two wrong make a right? In Ekiti, events there will affect the “people” and “the people” are in the majority.

    Why are you not asking Fayose to allow democracy to work are you asking theEkiti lawmakers to go and waste their lives, or that they should roll-over and let Fayose trample on them? We are either a democracy or we are move out of democracy. There are other ways you can win over legislators, by persuasion I go back to history, 1979, NPN didn’t have a majority in the national assembly, they went into an accord and late UmehEzeoke became the speaker, Wash Pam the deputy senate president, even when that accord broke down, they remain the speaker, that’s what I call politics, not the gangsterism going on.

    Politicians have raised the tempo of the 2015 elections, in terms of utterances during campaigns and other things. Are you worried about the elections? Pre and post elections events?

    We are scared. Election is a process and what happens in run-off is always important, if not more than the election day itself see what is happening now, like the right of the people to be registered to vote, talking about being able to vote, talking about a level playing ground, government should be neutral in the process leading to election, unfortunately what we are witnessing today does not say so. Let me be specific, look at the collection of permanent voter cards exercise, it’s been bungled, it’s a fiasco and we begin to wonder if it is not deliberate because these are states that belong largely to the APC.

  • ‘Don’t recount my votes’

    ‘Don’t recount my votes’

    THE All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in Ile Oluji Okeigbo/ Odigbo federal constituency, Festus Ayodele, appealed yesterday to the party leadership not to recount the votes which produced him as the candidate.

    Ayodele contested the APC primary with Mrs. Yejide Ogundipe, Emmanuel Adedeji and Pius Akingba.

    He polled 191 votes to win the primary; his closest rival, Mrs Ogundipe, scored 189 votes.

    Ayodele said Mrs. Ogundipe called to congratulate him and the party secretariat sent him a message to come for his certificate of return.

    He said he was surprised when he received a call from the secretariat that there was a petition challenging his victory.

    The candidate said the secretariat indicated that the votes will be recounted.

    “The primary election in my constituency was peaceful, free and fair and the votes were counted in the presence of security men, officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and agents of aspirants

    “After the sorting, the votes were counte. My score was 191, Pius Akingba scored 38 , the third person, Adedeji Emmanuelgot 100 votes, the last person, Yejide Ogundipe scored 189.

    “I received a petition from Mrs. Ogundipe that the votes were not properly counted. I want the secretariat to uphold my victory as it is, and I cannot agree to recounting after eight days of election” Ayodele said.

    But Mrs Ogundipe said her agent complained that the votes were not properly counted.

    “My agent said he was not satisfied with the counting, some of my votes were voided and the ones voided for my opponent was counted for him, so it just has to be recounted, that’s all.”

  • Aspirants disrupt APC primary

    Aspirants disrupt APC primary

    The Chairman of the Ekiti State All Progressives Congress (APC) National Assembly Primary Election, Mary Ekpere, has said the attempt by supporters of two senatorial aspirants to disrupt the party exercise was an act of sabotage.

    She said the conduct of the two aspirants, who could not control their supporters was condemnable, stressing that it was aimed at undermining the success of the party in the next year’s election.

    She said: “The action of Tony Adeniyi and Remi Olorunleke were condemnable. The entreaties not to frustrate the process fell on deaf ears. They were adamant to frustrate the party’s chances.”

    She added that the aspirants sought for the abortion of the electoral process, noting that 47 wards had already cast their votes when they demanded that votes should be burnt.

    According to her, it was only  Ayoleke Adu, one of the aspirants, that wanted the process to be concluded, stressing that the aspirant prevented the ballot papers from being destroyed.

    She added that the APC was a law-abiding party, noting that the electoral committee would give a detailed report to the party’s National Working Committee on the development.

  • Vote wisely, APC candidate urges electorate

    Vote wisely, APC candidate urges electorate

    All Progressives Congress (APC) House of Representatives candidate in Kosofe Constituency, Lagos State Prince Rotimi Agunsoye yesterday advised stakeholders to brace up for next year’s general elections.

    He described 2015 as a decisive year, urging the people to vote and defend their votes in the interest of democracy.

    The former Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, who won the ticket at the primaries, thanked party members for their support, advising them to remain loyal to the party and its leadership.

    Agunsoye told reporters in Lagos that the success recorded at the primaries can only be meaningful, if voters vote for the APC at the general elections.

    He promised to implement his campaign manifestos, if elected at the poll.

    Agunsoye said: “I have walked before the people of Kosofe in humility and sense of patriotism and service. I have served the grassroots with the best of my ability and the state in a strategic portfolio. I have been a party man and a community man. Now that I have been given the mandate, I will continue to work for the realisation of the developmental agenda of Kosofe and Lagos State.”

    The politician urged Lagosians to vote for continuity at the poll, adding that the APC will build on its achievements in government in post-Fashola period.

    He added: “Lagosians and the APC have a pact of development. The state is on cause under the APC government. What we need is continuity and the people will make it happen. From the House of Assembly to the presidential primaries, the APC threw up competent candidates. When the APC comes on board at the centre, there will be a new lease of life for Nigeria.”

  • APC and 2015 battle

    APC and 2015 battle

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has achieved a major breakthrough, following the success of its maiden presidential primaries. Will the party sustain the tempo? EMMANUEL OLADESU examines the obstacles it has overcome, its prospects at the polls and challenges on its way to 2015.

    PDP’s failed prediction

    When the legacy parties mooted the idea of a mega party, the ruling party described it as a joke. Olisa Metuh, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Publicity Secretary predicted doom for the opposition. He said the proposed fusion would hit the rock, owing to the protracted differences among their leaders. Others expressed the same feeling, saying that the “gang-up” would collapse like a pack of cards. So far, the prediction has not come to fulfillment.

    To the consternation of the PDP leadership, the APC held a free, fair, peaceful and successful presidential primaries at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos last week. With the emergence of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari as its flag bearer, the state is set for an epic battle between the opposition party and the PDP, on which platform President Goodluck Jonathan is seeking re-election.

     

    Post-convention challenges

    Despite the success, many APC chieftains acknowledged that the party has to overcome three hurdles. The first is the challenge of picking a running mate from any of the Southern states. Another is the challenge of reconciliation among chieftains at the state level, who are aggrieved over the outcome of governorship and parliamentary primaries. The third is the challenge of sustaining the tempo till next year’s elections.

    But, former Gombe State Governor Danjuma Goje spoke on the greatest hurdle for the party. Urging the party faithful to gird their loins, he said power shift is only possible when there is free and fair elections. He said: “The APC is determined to take over the governance of our country. Our member should be battle ready. They should not be intimidated and cowed. We must be courageous to defend our votes like the people of Osun. What the people of Osun did should be replicated. People are yearning for change. They are fed up with poverty, insurgency and everything about the PDP. We must police the votes.”

     

    Thorny road to primaries

    The road to the presidential primaries was laced with difficulties. But, the party leaders made sacrifices. When the merger of the parties was being consummated, many were skeptic. In Nigeria, opposition alliances have never seen the light of the day. The reason is that their leaders have always elevated personal agenda above the national interest.

    However, the birth of the All Progressives Congress (APC) marked a clean break from the past. The leaders of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (APC), the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), and a faction of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) agreed to fuse into a strong progressive platform. Later, aggrieved Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors and chieftains joined the fold. The ANPP Chairman, Chief Ogbonnaya Onu, his CPC and ACN counterparts-Prince Tony Momoh and Chief Bisi Akande- surrendered  their leadership of the parties.

     

    Litmus test

    The first test was the adoption of the name, logo, symbol and constitution. Up came a rival political association, which claimed that the APC stole its logo. But, the party survived the registration hurdle and forged ahead to enlarge its coast. There were minor disagreements when the interim leadership was set up. But, many chieftains showed understanding.

    But, a big crisis trailed the maiden national convention of the APC in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Three chieftains-Chief Tom Ikimi, Chief Timpreye Sylva and Chief John Odigie-Oyegun-vied for the national chairmanship. The odd favoured the former Edo State governor. Ikimi was bitter. He complained that he was marginalised and edged out of the contest. He defected to the PDP. His defection did not affect the party.

    Shortly before the convention, the defection of PDP governors created new challenges. The governors of Sokoto, Kano and Kwara states became the automatic leaders of the party in their respective states. Old rivalries were resumed. Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa, who had scores to settle with Governor Aliyu Wamakko, could not accept the governor’s leadership. In protest, he hurried left the party for the PDP, claiming that he was not carried along during the negotiation with the governor.

    In kano, former Governor Ibrahim Shekarau, who had scores to settle with Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso, also rejected his leadership. He also defected to the PDP. In Kwara, former APC leader Dele Belgore (SAN) said he could not work with Senator Bukola Saraki. He too defected to the PDP.  For a different reason, the governor of Borno State, Senator Modu Sheriff, left the APC for the PDP.

    But, the APC continued to wax stronger. Although it lost the governorship election in Ekiti State in controversial circumstance, the party fought to retain Osun State. It has also enlarged its coast in Enugu, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, and Rivers State.

    Ahead of the presidential primaries, there were other challenges that confronted the party. Some people canvassed consensus, saying that a shadow poll could unleash post-primary crisis. But, the party settled for democratic primaries, which it conducted successfully.

    A committee was set up to pave the way for a credible selection process. It was led by Chief Ogbonnaya Onu. The former Abia State governor, who reflected on the activities of the committee, reported to the delegates at the convention that the APC is lucky to have seasoned politicians as presidential aspirants. He said they were ready to make sacrifice. In fact, the five aspirants-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Kwankwaso, Owelle Rochas Okorocha signed an undertaking to abide by the outcome of the primaries, whether they win or lose.

    There was also controversy over the choice of venue. Some people raised an eyebrow when  Lagos was chosen as the venue. They thought that the national assignment should hold in abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). But, the National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, doused the tension when he explained that the APC could not hold the exercise in Abuja because it had earlier postponed it. When it was postponed, the PDP also rented the same venue. Since the PDP may hold its own primaries barely two days after, it could disturb the preparations by the ruling party. So, the arrangement for the Eagle Square was cancelled.

    Another controversy revolved around the composition of delegates. According to the guidelines, only elected council functionaries could participate as statutory delegates. But, in some states, elected council chairmen and councillors are not in place. To avoid trouble, the constitution was followed. The  caretaker committee chairmen and former council chairmen were not included in the list as statutory delegates.

    Reflecting on how the party passed the litmus test, Odigie-Oyegun said the party has made history. He thanked the aspirants and other party leaders for making it possible. He said: “You have made history. Our enemies predicted all manners of doom. Who is going to be doomed now? The aspirants are gallant contestants. In my almost 30 years of politics, I have not seen a wonderful thing like this.”

     

    Tinubu’s admonition

    At the convention, there was no error of judgment. Ahead of the shadow pill, the National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, sent a twitter message to delegates, urging them to vote wisely. He said: “Make this APC convention one that will be forever remembered at the moment Nigeria turned from failure to move forward its finest destiny. You came, not just as party members from your particular states or communities. You came here as representatives of a new Nigeria. We cannot afford th squander this moment.”

    Tinubu added: “A special energy is in the air.. We have attended party conventions before, but this is different. We are in a period of compound crises. We are here to pick a candidate that will rescue Nigeria. The voice of change is unique and inspiring. This voice will lead us to victory. It is the voice of the people in the cities, towns and on the farms. It is the voice of the young and the old in the North, South; the voice of Christians and Muslims. It is about the future.

    “In this convention, the history of our nation is to be re-written. Giving the challenges facing our county and that our party represents the last chance to avert national failure, we cannot afford to bungle the opportunity. We must rise over personal and parochial interest. The convention will demonstrate that only the APC has shown the capacity to govern the country in the spirit of democracy because it is the party of the time. The APC is the cure. Help is on the way. No more despair. The APC has better manifestos. If we choose well, we will hear the trumpet of victory. Nigeria will change for better. Enough of broken promises.

     

    Clamour for chamge

    The Planning Committee Chairman, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, said the maiden presidential primaries was organised to showcase the difference between the APC and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).  He described the APC as the product of the first successful merger of opposition parties in the country, adding that it is the first time opposition politicians will fight for federal power at the centre under a united platform. The former Ekiti State governor noted that the five aspirants are fit to rule Nigeria, adding that, apart from their competence, they have demonstrated a high degree of loyalty and commitment free and fair primaries.

    Noting that the shadow election is a major step towards next year’s elections. he said: “We will move forward from this event to fulfill all other formalities and commence an issue-based campaign of progressive and agenda-setting critiques aimed at reducing our land and its people. We will address the moral deficit that has led us to the breakdown of our value system, causing hydra-headed symptoms such as corruption, crass incompetence and ethno-religious bigotry. ‘These maladies have kept our nation under-developed, in spite of our vast resources. We shall reach out to the critical mass of people who believe change is possible. We will move on from here to win the presidential election in 2015.”

    The host governor, Babatunde Fashola (SAN), charged the delegates to vote for the best man for the job, warning against the consequence of missing the opportunity to make the right choice. He said the Jonathan Administration has broken its promises to Nigeria, advising the people to replace the dysfunctional government with a functional administration in 2015.

    Oyegun, who described the contest as a historic event, shed light on the party’s manifestos, which encompasses security, good governance, human capital development, social security for the aged, commitment to credible elections and a robust foreign policy. The former Edo State governor said any of the aspirants, who may emerge as the flag bearer, is ready to implement them, if the party wins next year’s elections.

    Oyegun added: “Nigeria has suffered a ruinous mismanagement under the PDP. Nigerians are fed up with the PDP and look up to the APC for a new Nigeria of our dream. Change is imminent. I and you can see it and feel it. The five aspirants are competent, But, all of them have resolved to provide the leadership needed by the country.”

    The national chairman congratulated the aspirants, urging them to go into the contest, where only one will be elected, but all of them would be winners. He added: ‘They are winners because they have resolved to support the winner morally and financially. To revive Nigeria, every one of us must be on board. They are winners because they live Nigeria and the party more than their individual aspirations.”

    Urging delegates to vote with a sense of responsibility, he added: “Vote in accordance with your consent, knowing that the votes you cast will change the future of Nigeria, your future and the future of the unborn generation. The PDP has no agenda for Nigeria beyond prolonging its bad rule.

    Test for two-party system:

    Elder statesman Onu said: “History is being made in our great country. For 16 years, only one party has been ruling us. The problem they inherited, they have not resolved them. Nigeria has been suffering. The time for change has come. The APC is the vehicle for that change.  With the APC in government, we will secure our country. The six largest producer of oil is importing petroleum resources.

    “The difference between the APC and the PDP is the difference between life and death.. Nigeria has to make a choice. The time to make a choice has come. The APC controls 14 states, including the two populous states of Kano and Lagos. The PDP is presenting just a candidate. But, in the APC, we believe in the constitution of Nigeria that whosoever believes in contesting for the Presidency should be given the opportunity. As the Chairman of the Presidential Election Committee, I can assure you that the five aspirants are competent people.”

     

    APC and the future

    House of Representatives Speaker Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, whose entry into the venue was hailed by delegates, said: ‘We are set to make history. I thanked the legacy parties for their sacrifices. We are presenting to Nigerians the most credible alternative ti what we have in Abuja. The APC is the party for today, the party for tomorrow and the party for the future. I call on Nigerians to vote out the incompetent and malfunctioning administration that we have in Abuja. today. It is desirable to have a Nigeria we can call our own.

    ‘Some parts of the country are being taken over by the Biko Haram. The APC will arrest the situation immediately we come to office. The greatest challenge before us after the primaries is to win the presidential election. I urge Nigerians to support  the APC candidate. We must salvage our democracy and our nation.

    Ogbeh, who welcomed Gemade, his political foe in Benue State, to the event, said the delegates are the taproots of democracy in a party that promotes robust debate and dissent. He queried: “Who among us is so blind that cannot see disaster coming? who is dumb and cannot hear the sounds of bombings. Who is sick in mind that cannot see the crisis of the youth unemployment, the lack of hope and the lack of accommodation? “

    He added: “We have become a sad, miserable country. Economic policies have closed the door to growth.  We have become a sad, miserable country of importers of tomatoes, pencils and erasers, and toothpicks. Oil is now at 65 per barrel. It is because of the desire to halt these that you are here. Don’t be influenced by anything, except your conscience. pray before voting and vote wisely. Be prepared for change to come.”

    APC Women leader Hajia Ramatu said: “We are here to show that we believe in one man one vote. Before we cast our votes, we must reflect on the future of our country and the challenges we face. Our choice today will determine the fate of the APC. Remember the future of yourchildren before you cast your votes. we desire a better life.”

    Former Vice President Abubakar highlighted the challenges confronting the country. He said: “Nigerias want change because they are fed up with the PDP government; a regime of insecurity; they are tired of unemployment. We are paying for electricity and getting darkness and killing industries. They are tired the PDP mathematic where 16 is greater than 18 and seven is greater than 18. They are tired of the abuse of power; tired of the siege on the parliament and the tear gassing the Speaker. They are tired of the humiliation of the police and the army that has won laurels in the past and now a huge joke  in the beer parlour. They are tired of bad roads, collapsed school system and failure in examinations. I  pray that you will give me the opportunity to lead our party to lead the change.”

     

     Buhari’s promise

    Buhari presented a humble mien, castigating the tendency to monetise the exercise. The former military Head of State said that he had no dollar to share to delegates. The crowd applauded his frankness and sincerity as they clapped for him. Many people delegates believe that, if he wins, he will run a transparent government that will re-invigorate the anti-graft war.

    Urging delegates to vote for a man of integrity, he said: “Change and the hope of Nigerians are with you. We seek a new Nigeria. I place myself before you to elect me as your standard bearer. Personal ambition does not drive me. I have much to offer in this time of multiple crises. I am ready to lead Nigeria. I do not have any dollar to give to you to get your votes. The position is not for sale. If i have the dollar, I will not offer it to you.

    Burahi chided the Federal Government for creating more problems for Nigeria. He said: “Instead of ending problems, the PDP is multiplying the problems. I have led our nation  before. To solve our problem, we need a leader who has integrity, strength and abiding commitment to change.  I have always tried to place myself to the service of Nigeria. I rely on my army pensions. I have no company that benefits from the government. I am a simple man who wants to serve Nigeria.

    “I want to fight corruption. This is not a time for continuity. Failure and incompetence do not deserve continuity, but change. I will honestly govern Nigeria in accordance with the constitution and the rule of law. I will promote tolerance among the ethnic and religious divides. I will have a good foreign policy. I will select the best Nigerians to serve in my government.”

    Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso was hailed by members of his group, the kwankwasinya as he mounted the rostrum. He described himself as an experienced politician, recalling that he was a civil servant in Kano State for 17 years, member of the House of Representatives and Deputy Speaker, delegate to the 1994 Constitution Conference, Minister of Defence, Special Envoy to Dafur and performer in office.

    The governor, who promised to replicate his achievements in education, health care, and rural development, said he will restore security and fight corruption, if elected as the President.

    Nda-Isaiah said: “The APC has a divine responsibility to win the next presidential election to rescue our country. To win, we must go to the contest with our best. Nigeria needs a fresh face to lead it to change..”

    Firing salvos at the Federal Government, Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha said: “There is nothing wrong with the Head of State. But, something is wrong with the state of the head. Political power can only be justified when it is used for the welfare of the common man.”

  • Terrorism will never prevail – Buhari

    Terrorism will never prevail – Buhari

    The presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), General Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday condemned Wednesday’s terror attack in Kano and Thursday’s twin bomb blasts in Jos both of which claimed close to 40 lives.

    General Buhari, however, said that the brains behind the two incidents have failed in their mission to destabilise the country because as he put it, “Nigeria will remain strong and united in the face of what has now become an almost daily infliction of terror on a defenceless people.”

    “Once again, those who seek to influence our way of life, modify our faith and our most sacred core values, have struck, leaving in their wake lives brutally cut short, limbs badly broken and dreams forced to fade away,” he said in a statement.

    He added: “These people, whose actions are not sanctioned by any religion and who subscribe to no known decent values, will not succeed. Our people are resilient and strong, and our nation is capable, based on our rich human and material resources, of successfully tackling these nihilists.

    “We will together see the end of them and their reign of terror. They have failed because Nigeria will remain strong and united in the face of what has now become an almost daily infliction of terror on a defenceless people. Women, children and the aged are not spared by these barbaric purveyors of horror, intimidation and panic.

    “No religion condones the killings of such vulnerable and innocent people; hence we are sure these terrorists profess to none of the world’s great religions, much as they seek to mask their actions with the cloak of religion.

    “Because their ideals are primordial and whatever cause they claim to be pushing is not just, they will not succeed. In spite of their terror, our respective faith and how we practice them will flourish and expand. Our reputation as a people of deep faith and peaceful religious coexistence will shine through, it will not diminish, it will not be forfeited.”

    He commiserated with the victims and their family members and prayed that Allah will grant repose to the souls of the dead and comfort those who lost loved ones.

    General Buhari stressed that “terror must and will be defeated. All it requires is the political will, uncommon courage and unrelenting determination, and victory will be ours.”

    Two female suicide bombers and several innocent people died when the terrorists struck at the popular Kantin Kwari textile market in Kano on Wednesday while 32 people were left dead by a twin bomb blasts at the Jos Terminus market the following day.

  • DELICATE BALANCE

    DELICATE BALANCE

    The national convention of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has come and gone but memories of remarkable scenes created by supporters of the presidential aspirants linger. One supporter of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar stands precariously on the head of another supporter outside the convention venue. A truly unconventional pose.                                                                                                                       Photo: Muyiwa Hassan