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  • Rivers APC condemns violence in PDP

    Rivers APC condemns violence in PDP

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State has condemned the violence at a reconciliation meeting of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Its Publicity Secretary, Chris Finebone, in a statement, said: “Our concern stems from the fact that our party believes that politics in any party anywhere in the 21st Century should be devoid of violence.

    “We believe that politics should largely be ruled by contest of and superiority of ideas; we believe that politics should rely on the deployment of decent arguments and logic rather than the exhibition of brute force.

    “We should build rather than destroy our delicate heterogeneous society where the seeming weaknesses of the minorities provide strength for the majority groups; where our differences and diversity have become a source of our unity.

    “It is on record that we were the index victims of the injustice and violence of the dramatis personae behind the recent member-on-member violence in the PDP in Rivers State.

    “We spoke out loud to the world, but many refused to listen. Now the chicken has come home to roost!

    “Rivers APC would like to call on politicians of all political parties to act responsibly and always remember that the survival, growth and development of our state and the peaceful co-existence of our people, residents and visitors must be the responsibility of all of us.

    “We must build Rivers State and not destroy it because we owe a peaceful and progressive Rivers State to ourselves and future generations!”

  • APC warns against cover-up

    APC warns against cover-up

    The dust raised by the botched bid to smuggle $9.3 million cash into South Africa, ostensibly for arms, is yet to settle.

    All Progressives Congress (APC) alleged that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led Federal Government was working with some members of the National Assembly to cover up the scandal.

    In a statement issued in Lagos  by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said the cover-up attempt manifested clearly at the House of Representatives on Tuesday when Deputy Speaker Emeka Ihedioha curiously refused to entertain a debate on a motion seeking a probe of the issue that has further ridiculed Nigeria in the global community.

    It said the refusal of the Deputy Speaker becomes even more suspicious amid allegations that some members of the House has each received $50,000 bribe to quash the motion.

    The APC however hailed its Representatives for staging a walk-out to protest against the inexplicable decision not to allow the issue to be debated, saying by their actions, they have aligned with the majority of Nigerians who  are eager to get to the bottom of how such a huge amount of money could be smuggled into another country by the Nigerian authorities, despite being fully aware of the limitation on the amount of money that can be taken into any country.

    The party said while the Senate had already launched a probe into the issue, Nigerians would have preferred that the probe is done openly.

    It, however, expressed the hope that the Senate will do a thorough job to unravel the circumstances surrounding the cash smuggling gate.

    ‘’It is shocking that those who were elected by the people will fail to act in the interest of the people. But then, we in the APC are not really surprised at this development, going by the antecedents of the Jonathan administration and his party, the PDP. Thank goodness, every day the PDP and the government it has sired at the centre are showing why they should not be voted back into office.”

    The party insisted that the Jonathan administration and all concerned must come clean on the circumstances surrounding the ferrying of the huge funds to South Africa, including why a government that has spent millions of naira to promote a cashless policy decided to transport 90 blocks of $100,000 each to another country in violation of that country’s laws.

    ‘’The resort to “procedural error” is not enough to explain this irresponsible and illegal action, neither is it enough to explain why a duly-constituted government will behave like a rogue government or even like insurgents who will be shopping for arms in the open market.

    ‘’Fortunately for Nigerians, South Africa’s National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has said the issue is still under criminal investigation, meaning all attempts to sweep the scandal under the carpet, as the Jonathan Administration is used to doing, will fail,’’ it said.

    APC called on all well-meaning Nigerians as well as Civil Society Organisations to ensure that the circumstances surrounding this scandal are unraveled in the interest of Nigeria and her people.

  • How to avert electoral violence, by APC chieftain

    How to avert electoral violence, by APC chieftain

    Lagos State All Progressives Congress (APC) Publicity Secretary Comrade Joe Igbokwe yesterday spoke on the danger of political violence, urging the security agencies to be at alert as the nation prepares for elections.

    He commended the Lagos State Police Commissioner Kayode Aderanti for arresting the suspected killers of the APC chieftain, Alhaji Azeez Asake,  last week.

    The party stalwart was allegedly killed by suspected thugs of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos, shortly after the PDP zonal rally held at the Tafawa Balewa Square, Onikan. The APC said the thugs are loyalitsts of a top PDP chieftain in Lagos State.

    Igbokwe told reporters in Lagos that the killing was a bad omen, urging the police to get to the root of the impunity.

    He said: “Impunity and political brigandage are enveloping the country and we need to fight it as the 2015 elections draw near. The police, armed forces, DSS, SSS , CDC, our courts and the NYSC are institutions needed for democracy to grow. The Commissioner of Police has asked those keeping illegal arms to surrender them to the police in their own interest. We are in total support of this directive.”

    Igbokwe alleged that the suspected killers were given protection buy a prominent PDP chieftain holding a sensitive position in the country. He said his antecedents have shown that he has capacity for mischief and violence.

    He added: “We are asking the government to call this PDP chieftain to order. We have it on records that he has been a violent politician who uses every means to achieve the desires of his heart, irrespective of the feeelings of others. He is violent, ruthless and potentially dangerous and he sees politics as a do or die affair. He is in the government to defend every Nigerian, irrespective of whether they are in the APC, PDP, tribe, religion or region.

    “To use his powers to advance the cause of the ruling party is a threat to the national unity and a threat to democracy. This chieftain and his boys must be called to order.”

  • ‘Ekiti APC ‘ll bounce back’

    ‘Ekiti APC ‘ll bounce back’

    Hon. Ranti Adebisi is the Chairman of the Ekiti State Local Government Service Commission. The All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial aspirant in Ekiti North District spoke with EMMANUEL OLADESU and  RAYMOND MORDI on his ambition, the transition in Ekiti and implications for the APC’s future.

    Why do you want to go to the Senate?

    Ekiti North Senatorial District comprises of 11 councils. It used to be five local governments, but with the creation of additional Local Council Development Areas, the number has increased to 11. Ekiti North Senatorial District also comprises of two federal constituencies-the Oye-Ikole Federal Constituency I and Moba-Ido/Osi-Ilejemeje Federal constituency II. Currently, the incumbent senator is from Ido/Osi Local Government and we have never had a senator from Ikole Local Government, which is where I come from. Ikole local Government is the largest the local governments in the senatorial district. The last senator from that area was in the 1950s, which was before I was born. Apart from the fact it is our turn to produce the next senator, I believe that I am a grassroots person and I have worked diligently well. I have been a progressive since I came into politics. I was once a governorship aspirant in the state; I contested for the governorship with the incumbent governor at the primary level.  The moment Dr. Kayode Fayemi was picked as the party’s candidate, other aspirants defected to other political parties. I was the only governorship aspirant that remained in the party, out of the 16 of us that contested.

    What  is the greatest problem facing the people of your constituency?

    It is lack of good representation. In spite of the various levels of representation, Tip O’Neill, former United States Speaker, said all politics are local. That is, you have to come down to the grassroots. What we have now, is what I would call an elitist representation that does not really work with the people. We have a senator in the Red Chamber that is very articulate, like an average Ekiti man. When you have a senator representing the people who only appears during the electioneering season, then, it is no longer representation.

    We are lacking a lot of federal presence in our senatorial district. I’m hoping that with my exposure, and with the level of interaction that I would be able to create at the national level, I would be able to bring federal presence.

    The result of the June 21 governorship election shocked many Nigerians. Are you not afraid of a bandwagon effect in next year’s elections?

    There is nothing like bandwagon effect in Ekiti right now. Yes, the result was very shocking, but I’m on ground. That is one of the reasons why we’re asking for a level-playing field for all aspirants to come out, if they are sure of themselves. For me, my popularity cuts across political parties. I’m a household name in Ekiti State. When it comes to what happened on June 21, many people are thinking it was against our party, the APC. But, it is not necessarily so. Governor Kayode Fayemi has performed creditably well, in terms of infrastructural development. We were hearing all these new coinages such as stomach infrastructure. It’s an insult to Ekiti people and those of us in the APC believe that we still have a firm grip of the political terrain in that state and we are not afraid of contesting. There is nothing like bandwagon effect in Ekiti politics. The politics in Ekiti now is the politics of personality. Ayodele Fayose won the election not because he belonged to the PDP. He supposedly won the election because he could identify with the grassroots. Many people have been questioning why our governor conceded the election. We are actually working on our party congress right now. You will be surprised to see the overwhelming enthusiasm from our members. You may be forced to ask, is this a party that just lost an election? But, I would tell you that we never believed we lost an election. We lost the election on technical grounds, which we are going to unravel in the next few weeks.

    How would APC members, including  those holding offices, work harmoniously with a governor who is from another party?

    We are all stakeholders in Ekiti project. Our political system is evolving. Gradually, we would start maturing in our democratic process. For instance, the office that I hold presently, the chairman, Ekiti Local Government Service Commission, has tenure. That means I’m not going with the governor on October 16. Don’t forget, we have a majority in the House of Assembly, which has 25 APC members to one PDP member. So, it might be an opportunity for us to test the constitution. For those of us in the various commissions in Ekiti State, whose tenure has not expired, I believe we can work with the incoming administration because what matters is Ekiti; we are all stakeholders. We would have to work with each other, whether we like it or not.

    What is the assurance that some members of the House of Assembly would not defect to the PDP?

    Well, I will give them the benefit of doubt. It is true, even when there is no crisis; people are defecting on daily basis in Nigeria. It is part of the teething problems we are having in our democratic process. Gradually, things would start changing, but the various parties in the country need to start working on ideological principles. That way, we would begin to see the difference between the APC and the PDP, and the progressives and the conservatives. The way things are now, you will see many progressives in the PDP and many conservative elements in the APC. Very soon, water would find its level.

    What have you done to deserve the position of a senator?

    Well, in my senatorial district, even beyond my senatorial district, I have done so much, working with the grassroots, helping the jobless people and assisting those people who have problem paying their tuition fees. I’m a software engineer by profession. I have trained many people in the areas of developing software programmes. With my performance in the local government system, I have made a mark. When I came on board, the whole system was in shambles. My workers see me as the man who has come to revive the system. I pride myself as the only chairman since the creation of Ekiti State that has always been in his office every day. Most of the previous chairmen were coming on part-time basis, even though they were full-time chairmen. Within 15 months, I have been able to clear the backlog of promotion arrears for 10 years. I conducted promotion examinations that people refused to participate in before I came in. Now, when I call for promotion examinations, my workers are happy. Do you know what I did to accomplish that? Before I set the promotion examination, I usually give them what I would call a seminar, prepare materials for them. The essence of the examination is not to fail them. It is test their ability to understand what is going on, the changes that are taking place within the system. Today, we have conducted more than three promotion exams within a span of 15 months, to clear the backlog. You know, Ekiti is a civil service state. We have also been able to clear the backlog of people waiting for advancement; you know when go for further studies, they expect to be elevated after their studies. We had serious crisis with the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), but today we have cordial relationship with them because of my intervention. Even with the meagre resources available to us, I introduced in-house trainings; on a monthly basis, we conduct two trainings. We have sent some of them on overseas training, which is something that has not happened before. So, we have built the confidence of the workers; people now come to work. We have eradicated ghost workers in the local government system in the state. Currently, what we are working on after the creation of the new LCDAs is the deployment of staff. Within two/three weeks of their creation, we have been able to deploy staff to the new councils. This is because we want it to stay because it is the yearnings and aspirations of Ekiti people. We have equally reached out to the communities, to make sure that these councils survive because the local government system is the closest to the people. We have made sure that the communities have taken ownership of these councils, by donating buildings, materials and money, so that they can augment whatever resources the government has for the take-off of these councils. These are some of the things that I have been able to do that has given me the confidence that I can give a good representation to my people and my party at the national level.

  • APC: plot to unseat Amosun a joke

    APC: plot to unseat Amosun a joke

    OGUN State All Progressives Congress (APC) has described a plot by the opposition to defeat the party in 2015 as a wishful thinking.

    The party spoke yesterday following  a purported plan by the Labour Party (LP) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to merge for the 2015 elections.

    President Goodluck Jonathan was reported to have endorsed a working arrangement between PDP and LP. This was aimed at shoring up the chances of the PDP to produce the next governor.

    But the APC, in a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Mr. Sola Lawal, scoffed at the plan, saying it would not succeed.

    The party said the existing chaotic internal dynamics within the two opposition parties would end up frustrating efforts at any unholy gang up.

    “In 2011, all the present members of PDP and LP in Ogun State were all in PDP with only a sprinkling of them in PPN. Yet, defunct ACN, a precursor to APC, trounced them.

    “Without the executive power of government in its hands, the APC pummelled the combined forces of the opposition.

    “Now, consider how much-easier it will be with the superlative performance of the Amosun’s administration to send them to their electoral grave,” APC stated.

  • Akinyelure: PDP can’t displace APC in Southwest’

    Akinyelure: PDP can’t displace APC in Southwest’

    Southwest All Progressives Congress (APC)  leaders have resolved to work hard to make the zone the stronghold of the mega opposition party by winning next year’s elections in the six states. BISI OLADELE encountered them at the maiden zonal meeting of the party in Ibadan, Oyo State capital.  

    The Vice Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Southwest, Chief Pius Akinyelure, has a challenge. Elections will hold in the six states-Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo and Ekiti-next year. The region is perceived as the stronghold of the APC. Can the party triumph at the polls?

    Exuding confidence, the zonal leader said that victory is possible. But, he emphasised that the chapter should put its house in order, learn from past mistakes and work hard.

    Akinyelure presided over the maiden meeting of APC chieftains from the zone at Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

    The chieftains were basking in the euphoria of the APC’s success in the Osun State governorsjhip election. The convivial atmosphere  buried the pain over the loss of Ekiti State to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) .

    However, despite their belief in the ability of the party to win the governorship polls in Oyo, Lagos and Ogun, and partliamentary polls in Ondo, Ekiti and Osun, they acknowledged that a lot of work should be done, especially in the areas of giving more opportunities to youths, internal democracy, mobilisation, selection of competent candidates and mandate protection.

    Chieftains who spoke on the challenges ahead included Lagos Central leader Prince Tajudeen Olusi, Senator Ajayi Boroffice, Oyo State APC Chairman Chief Akin Oke, Senator Ganiyu Solomon and Dr. Tunji Abayomi. Their views are presented below:

     

     

     Boroffice

    We lost Ekiti at the governorship election, yet we have not lost Ekiti State as a whole. We are still very much strong in the state. We have learnt our lesson in the Ekiti election and by the time Osun State election was conducted, those lessons sprang forth and you could see that all the efforts of the PDP to rig the election, to steal the mandate, failed. Now with the defection of Governor Mimiko to PDP, I think it is a good development for us because for a long time there have been many people in the Labour Party that will love to decamp to APC at the higher level but because of the constitutional provision, it was a constraint.

    Now, the defecting has opened a door for them to decamp to whatever party they like and people’s choice so far is the APC and I want to assure you that but for this meeting we will be holding another rally at the local government level receiving people both from Labour party and the PDP because there are some people in labour party who are progressives and cannot feel at home in the PDP and there are some people in the PDP who believe that Mimiko is an Ebola virus that is going to kill the PDP and these people are leaving the PDP to join the APC. In fact, I can see God’s hand in his defection. Putting all these together, I think the chances of the APC in the southwest come 2015 is altogether strong.

    “We are being energised by these development in Ondo State. We now have a structure in place:  the local government executives are in place, the ward excos are in place, the unit excos are also in place. So, their functions are now being activated to harvest. All these plans will build a formidable party that will claim the state. Conduct an opinion poll today in Ondo State of the chances of both parties winning an election in 2015, the response will be 70 per cent in favour of the APC.

    There are no stumbling blocks to be identified. I think, in the Southwest, what we have to do is to make sure that we put our heart together. I cannot envisage any stumbling block. We must not be complacent as we did in Ekiti. We must be ready to meet force with force and also to ensure that our people are ready, not only to vote but to watch and guide their votes form the polling boot to the collation centre. I think that is the only thing that can be a stumbling block. And of course, we have curbed the issue of intimidation by police and army. And I hope that by 2015, the amendment to the electoral law which makes it illegal for the Federal Government to deploy the army and the police, and SSS will have been ratified. That again will brighten the chances of free election.

     

    Abayomi

    Let’s take it state by state. In Lagos, I believe we are predictably okay. In Ogun, we are relatively okay. In Oyo, we are relatively okay? In Osun, we are dependably okay. In Ekiti, we need to do some additional work. In Ondo State, we need to do a lot of work. If we add everything together,  I think we should be okay.

    Obviously, the INEC declared us as the winner. Anybody can go to the tribunal?, and I think really we should have gone to the tribunal against Omisore, especially on Ife results. The election that was conducted in Ife raises a lot of doubt as to the number of vote committed to Omisore. So, I believe we should initiate a counter petition especially, but apart from that I think everybody followed the election in Osun. I believe that Omisore just wants to be relevant having been embarrassed by the result. You need to understand that before the election, Chief Omisore had boasted, and his party too, that there was simply no way that they will not win in Osun State. Not only that, you will recall that the chairman of the PDP governors had also boasted, so also the vice president. So, the embarrassment was a little large and it needed to be curtailed a little bit by way of petition.

    What happened was that the Labour Party was an irritant in Ondo Sate. It is a party that has no head, no arm and no neck – you know what I mean. It is a party that is surrounded by only one person. You will recall that when Mimiko was going to start his campaign, he said, “When we decided to use Labour party to realise our ambition.” So, the Labour Party (LP) is really a party not to be in a position to be competitive politically in this country. The only significant person in the party in this country is Mimiko. In the future, the coast is clearer, it is now a battle between the titans and that is the APC which houses the progressives and the PDP which houses the retrogressives in terms of achievement. The nation in the last 14 years has enjoyed civil rule. But the only thing the government has guaranteed us is the chance to die. They have not guaranteed us anything. We do not have water, electricity. It took me four hours to go from Lagos, a major commercial city of Nigeria, to Ibadan, the most populous city.  And then, we cannot have any public hospital, none of us has a public primary school where we can put our children without a disturbed conscience. We are not expecting much from the PDP. Only the people of PDP expect much from  thePDP and not the people of Nigeria.

     

    Oke

    As far as we are concerned, I think in the last three years that we have been in the realm of affairs in the Southwest, outside Lagos state, we have done enough to warrant a return in the six states.

    In all human endeavours there are bound to be difficulties and challenges. The reality in Ekiti is beyond human comprehension beacuse what happened in Ekiti is difficult to explain for now and I will leave that to the tribunal. With what happened in Osun, I believe Oyo is okay and Lagos is alright. In Ogun, we have some of our members complaining and there are little quarrels but that has been resolved if that is what you are referring to as stumbling blocks.

    In Ekiti, the scenario will be a different thing come 2015. In Osun, no doubt we are going to win. In Oyo, I can assure you we are coming back by the grace of God. In Ogun, by the grace of God, the difference between our leader and the governor – I know our leaders are doing everything possible to settle the differences. I think Governor Amosun has done more than enough for the people of Ogun to return him back come 2015. In Lagos, we have no doubt because it is the bedrock of progressives in Nigeria – we are going to win.

     

    Olusi

    The chances of our party of retaining Southwest states is very bright. One has to remember that APC is determined to move Southwest forward and to pursue a change for the entire federation of Nigeria. However, history has taught us that when you are pursuing a change from a position to another, particularly a position that will be unpalatable to those who are looting the treasury of our country, then you are going to be confronted with stiff opposition and therefore we are ready for that. Today, we are the predominant party in Southwest part of our country and definitely we are going to maintain that position. We are now ruling a number of states like Oyo, Osun, Ogun, Lagos, Edo and our governors are performing well and they have the support of the masses, so, we have no fear that we are going to win the whole of Southwest.

    I am not satisfied with the Ekiti State election and I have made my view known in the national dailies recently. If you look at the Osun State guber election, you will see the performances of the electoral officers, that shows how INEC must be an unbaised umpire.

    For the APC to retain power in Lagos in 2015, we need to be aggressive in our campaign, we have made a number of achievement in Southwest. See what is happening in Ogun State, see what we have achieved in Lagos State and see what is going on Oyo State. We need to talk and persuade the people, and we need the people to make some sacrifices for the betterment of the people.

     

    Solomon

    The issue of internal democracy is a principle we have to imbibe with the party and our leaders have always been singing it into our ears. They have also exhibited that in the elections in Anambra, Osun and Ekiti. So, they also know the situation on ground now, and they know that party members are willing to participate with their candidates. We will not do anything to the contrary.

    As regards to some other challenges, there will be natural challenges, challenges of candidate, challenges of a now mega party but I don’t see the challenges as insurmountable, because we have at the elms of affairs veteran politicians who have seen it all and we will tap from their wealth of experience in tackling those challenges.

    The chances of our party is very bright in 2015 and in the three remaining states in Southwest we shall return.

    We have so many aspirants to contest for the Lagos State governorship seat in 2015, its good for the party and we shall continue to encourage them, but we should ensure that we create a platform and choose the aspirant with the highest support from party members to emerge as the party’s candidate. Its not about the party choosing alone but its about the electorate knowing about the competence of the candidate and we shall not take the chances of the electorate for granted. The party has not zoned the governorship ticket to anywhere.

  • APC: Buhari is the man to beat

    SIR: With the endorsement of the president Goodluck Jonathan by the People Democratic Party (PDP) for the next year presidential election, Nigerians are eagerly awaiting the opposition All Progressives Congress to choose its presidential standard bearer, who will slug it out with the president under the emerging two-party structures.

    To say that the PDP has done its best to move the nation forward is to say the obvious. However, its best is not enough to harness the potential of this greatly endowed nation for the good of the citizenry. The party has been in government since 1999 till date, yet, the reality of our development is just like taking one step forward and two backward. Insecurity, corruption, unemployment, poverty in the midst of plenty, epileptic power supply, poor roads and prostrate economy are the lots of our nation. Although voodoo economists are telling us contrary story about the reality of our development, however, some of us know that they are just pooling wool over our eyes to cover their inefficiency.

    If there is any auspicious time for the opposition to wrestle power from the PDP, the time is now. However, APC has a great task at hand if she is to accomplish this task. Enemies of progress of this nation are already waiting for the time when the party will conduct its national congress to choose its presidential standard bearer, what they believe will lead to the implosion of the party. True to the permutation of the detractors, the number of those jostling for the presidential ticket of the party is rising by the day and this is giving the lovers of the party a concern about how the party will come out of the congress unscratched.

    To be candid, there is nothing bad in aspiring for the highest office in the land. However, if APC really meant to wrestle power from the PDP, stalwarts should be honest with one another and must be prepared to sacrifice. The situation at hand does not call for experimentation. Nigerian presidency is not just for anybody. It is a complex position which needs complex and tested people, not parvenu, who are just out to give the leadership of the party a jungle to clear. The sacrifice made by the leaders of various legacy parties that merged together to form the APC was highly acknowledged by Nigerians because they saw it as the signal that the liberation of the nation was nigh.

    In view of the enormity of the task ahead, if the party is to achieve its aim of winning the power at the federal level in the next election. I am appealing to the leadership of the party to rally round the former head of state, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari to fly the party’s flag in the next year presidential election.

    My reasons for arriving at this position are simple. Firstly, Buhari is a household name in Nigeria, and has his followership cutting across geopolitical zones. Secondly, he is a tested hand and his qualities as disciplined, upright, incorruptible individual with tenacity of purpose are all added advantages.  Thirdly, the fact that he had about 12million votes against 22million votes of the Peoples Democratic Party in the last presidential election shows that with support from the leadership of the party from other zones, he could easily make up the lost votes and emerge the winner. This cannot be said of any other aspirant.

    • Adewuyi Adegbite

    Apake, Ogbomoso.

  • Our vision for education, by APC

    THE All Progressives Party (APC) took a cursory look at the education sector and gave a verdict: standards and quality service delivery are poor. This was at a lecture by the Kings College Old Boys’ Association (KCBA) to commemorate the 105th anniversary of their alma mater at the MUSON Centre, Onikan, Lagos.

    The Chairmen of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the APC were invited by the association to unveil their parties’ vision for education in the country. However, while the APC was represented by its Deputy National Chairman, Southwest, Chief Segun Oni, the PDP neither attended, nor sent a representative.

    Oni, who described the APC as ‘’a party of change”, noted that though education is  an vital instrument for national growth and development, its  standards are falling while performance is poor, no thanks to poorly trained and motivated teachers.

    “The problems of quality run through the whole system; it could be worse at the tertiary level if something urgent is not done,” he said.

    Oni, who  decried the over reliance on certificates as against real education, blamed the Federal Government  for not being alive to its responsibility as the major regulator. He urged the government to focus on policy direction and quality control.

    He listed APC’ s programmes to include: reinstatement of the abandoned teacher training colleges; review of the 6-3-3-4 curriculum (or improve on it, if need be); encouragement of science and technology; investment in research and development; institution of quality control; and  elimination of gender discrimination.

    Others, according to Oni, a former Ekiti State governor,  include provision of opportunities for the girl child, establishment of vocational centres, re-introduction of History and Civics in schools and provision of a conducive environment for private participation in education and incentives for those with disabilities.

    Former Lagos State Commissioner for Education, Dr Leke Pitan, who spoke on the need for Special Education, canvassed the inclusion of normal children and their physically-challenged counterparts in the same class to enable them learn together. He recalled that as a commissioner, he met few centres in Surulere when he assumed duties but established 25  before he left office.

    Former Anambra State governor Peter Obi, who lauded APC’s position, however, said: “I don’t think any party in Nigeria has a vision for education; none.”

    He lamented that comparatively Nigeria spends enough money on education, but does not get commensurate returns.

    “Nigeria is one of the highest spenders on education, but does the money get to the programmes they are meant for? We talk of minimum wage, but we do not talk of minimum productivity.

    “What is happening today will hurt us tomorrow. We are drifting towards anarchy. Let’s reduce the cost of governance and the irresponsibility of governance,” he said.

    Earlier, a former Federal Permanent Secretary in the Yakubu Gowon military administration, Chief Philip Asiodu, in a remark, said though the idea of Unity Schools was good in concept, it was poorly executed. “They (unity schools) grew to 102, but were poorly funded even the quality of governance deteriorated. Many of them today are certainly not centres of excellence,” he said.

    At the event were former President, KCOBA, Dr Sunny Kuku; President, Hakeem Belo-Osagie; the school’s Principal, Otunba Oladele Olapeju; old boy/founder, Trinity House, Pastor Ituah Ighodalo and Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) Chief Executive Officer, Mr Mustafa Obi, among others.

  • APC urges Nigerians to defend votes in 2015

    APC urges Nigerians to defend votes in 2015

    •Party chiefs receive Kogi defectors

    Leaders of the main opposition All Progressive Congress (APC) yesterday asked its members to defend their votes and kick the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) out of power in next year’s general elections.

    Two of the party’s presidential aspirants, General Muhammadu Buhari and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as well as National Chairman Chief John Odigie-Oyegun made the call at the Lokoja Township Stadium at a massive rally to receive defectors from the PDP.

    The former military ruler told members of the party that they should collect their voter cards; those who have not registered should do so. This, he said, will put them in a better position to remove the PDP from power.

    Gen. Buhari said the APC is determined to secure and effectively manage Nigeria, promising that if elected, the party will provide good healthcare, security and qualitative education.

    “APC will stop the stealing of the money that belongs to all. This is the only opportunity we have to get the only country we have back into good reckoning. Let those who cannot perform give  way to those who can do the job,” he said.

    Gen. Buhari told the party supporters that henceforth, “in the next five months, no sleep no rest until we take the Aso Rock”. He asked them to ensure that they register and obtain the permanent  voter card. “Next year is going to be very tough; we are determined to get Nigeria back to work,” Gen. Buhari said.

    Atiku told the gathering that they lost the Government House to the PDP because they failed to defend their votes in the last election and enjoined them not to allow that to happen in the next elections.

    Atiku urged the people to ensure that they vote out the PDP governments at the state and federal levels, adding that both Governor Idris Wada and President Goodluck Jonathan have failed Nigerians.

    Atiku, whose supporters were displaying his campaign posters, expressed confidence that the APC will emerge victorious in the next presidential election.

    Odigie-Oyegun said the party must not allow what happened during the last Niger East senatorial election to recur, pointing out that the party must be ready to defend its votes.

    He said the party lost that election because it failed to protect its votes and started celebrating even before victory was assured.

    Odigie-Oyegun said: “I was at an event during that election. The man who was the chairman of the occasion was a member of the PDP. When the results were coming in, he stood up and came to where I sat to show me the results. It was clear that we were winning because from all the results, there was nowhere they got 25 per cent.

    “But rather than protect those votes, we started celebrating even before the final results were declared. So, we must be prepared to protect our votes in the coming elections and vote out the PDP at all levels.”

    The chairman went on: “APC is growing so fast. Many of you know I have been here three times in the past and I tell you this is the greatest number of crowd I have seen. The PDP is finished anyway.

    “Have we forgotten the N20 billion? Have we forgotten the N225 million armored tank? Can we forget the $9.6 million? Can we forget Boko Haram? And, look at it here in Kogi State, look at the very stadium we are standing, where the government cannot fix its roofs.

    “But, I want to tell you that as soon as APC comes into power, we will change all these for the better. Teachers are not paid, workers are not paid and its a challenge for you to ensure that they do not rise again. It is not an easy job, but we shall not make the mistake we made in the past. I want to assure you that APC is the only party with vision, dependable and willing to do the needful.”

    Kano State Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso said the party was prepared to give the country a new leadership.

    “There is corruption on the land, in the air and water, crude oil theft, Boko Haram in the North, kidnapping in the South, no electricity and no jobs. This is why we need change in the country.  APC is prepared to make the country a better place,” he said.

    Kwakwanso, welcomed all the defecting politicians and urged all those who may have left the APC to make a detour to join hands with the progressives to salvage Nigeria.

    Deputy National Chairman (North) Senator Lawan Shuaibu said the event marked the end of the PDP in the state, with the exit of some of its former leaders since 1999.

    Shuaibu said that the APC believed in good governance, which, according to him, has been lacking in the state, pointing out that since the inception of PDP government, the state has witnessed no development and insecurity.

    National Leader Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu did not attend the rally because of flight problems. Former Kwara State Governor Bukola Saraki’s plane could not land.

    At the huge rally were National Deputy Chairman (South West) Segun Oni, former Governor of Kogi State Prince Abubakar Audu, former Minister of State for Petroleum Shuaib Abdullahi, APC National Treasurer Bala Muhammed and National Organising Secretary Senator Osita Izunaso.

    Among the defectors were Alhaji Ibrahim Aliko, a former speaker, Clarence Olafemi, another former Speaker, Abdulahi Bello two former acting governors, former chairman of PDP, Chief John Odanwu, Amb.  Isaac Onu, former members of the House of Assembly, including  a member representing Kogi Constituency, Salihu Akawu, and  10 former chairmen of local governments.

  • Ambode: I’ve the capacity to govern

    Ambode: I’ve the capacity to govern

    An All Progressives Congress (APC) aspirant in Lagos State, Ambode Akinwunmi, has said he has the capacity to govern the state.

    Ambode said God has endowed him with the capacity to build on the foundation laid down by former Governors Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Babatunde Raji Fashola.

    The aspirant said this when he visited Badagry, where he spent a chunk of his civil service life as the council treasurer.

    He solicited for the support of the party leaders towards realising his political ambition.

    Ambode promised to bring his managerial acumen to bear on governance in Lagos and would definitely address these needs if he is elected.

    “My experience in almost all the local governments stands me out as the one closest to the grassroots.”

    He was received by party leaders led by a former Special Adviser, Sunny Ajose.

    Ajose praised Ambode for visiting Badagry. He said Ambode is qualified to be governor because of his closeness to the grassroots.