The Nation Newspaper

Tag: APC

  • FG terrorising Osun, APC cries out

    FG terrorising Osun, APC cries out

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday alleged that  the PDP-led federal government  has started  terrorizing and  intimidating the  people of Osun State, “with a view to cowing them ahead of the August 9 governorship election in the state.”

    The  APC cited the deployment  to the state of agents of the Department of State Services (DSS), some of them masked and clad in black.

    National Publicity Secretary of the party, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said  the move was to “harass innocent citizens in an unprovoked and primitive show of power that can only be described as sheer gangsterism.”

    He said:”As widely reported, DSS agents, armed to the teeth and riding in over 50 trucks, drove around Osogbo and other parts of Osun State on Wednesday blaring siren and shooting sporadically in the air, thus disrupting the normally peaceful life in the state.

    ”Residents who were visibly traumatized by the shameful display of state power ran helter-skelter and wondered why their government has

    sent masked men, or ninjas, to terrorize them.

    “They now understand that the masked thugs who have been following the PDP candidate around on his campaign trail were actually government sanctioned. This is a  power show taken too far, even with the well-known impunity tendencies of the Jonathan administration.”

    The  APC said as many as  5,000 more DSS men are being dispatched to the state before the election, on the basis of an orchestrated petition alleging that certain APC leaders are planning to foment trouble during the election.

    ”Flooding Osun with irresponsible DSS officials to terrorize the residents is another low for a government that is notorious for abuse of power and federal institutions. It is no longer news that the military, the police and other security agencies are working for the Jonathan aministration, rather than for all of Nigeria. What is new is that the security agencies have now been unleashed on the citizenry,” he added.

    ”What rankles even more is the constant assurances by President Jonathan that the election will be free and fair. How can we have a credible election in an atmosphere of state-led gangsterism? How can we have a credible election when the FG that is supposed to protect the people and ensure violence-free polls is the same one that purveys violence? Where else in the world do secret police announce themselves by firing to scare away harmless citizens? When did masks become part of the uniform of the State Security Service agents?” the party queried.

  • APC chieftain condemns use of soldiers in elections

    APC chieftain condemns use of soldiers in elections

    A security consultant and chieftain of the All Progessives Congress (APC), Dipo Okeyomi, has described as over-kill the plan to use soldiers during the governorship election in Osun State.

    Okeyomi said there is no need to militarise a civilian election when the country is not in a war situation whereby the electorate would need tight security to and from polling centres.

    He, therefore, described the action as a danger to democracy and a temptation to the military authorities.

    Okeyomi advised the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and Federal Government to allow the electorate to decide their preferred candidates among the contestants, instead of pursuing what he called desperate politics.

    “Nothing can be more desperate. That is what it is. And it is unfortunate that international community would be mocking us as unorganised country. How can a state election be such militarised? It is an attempt to deny the electorate their right to  troop out to vote for their choice candidates,” he noted.

    The politician also said that his finding among the electorate in Osun State had shown him that the incumbent governor Rauf Aregbesola, is people’s choice, urging the Federal Government to respect the people’s right to express their preference as stipulated by the principle of democracy.

    Okeyomi further stated that the physical transformation of Osun State by  the Aregbesola administration in the last four years informed the people’s readiness to give the governor a second term to complete many projects he is currently handling.

    Parents of school children, he stressed, had never had it so comfortable with the free uniform and new buses the government has provided for them.

    “These were done to encourage mass education without making the parents going through financial stress. Free diet for the basic school pupils has proved to be a success as well,” Okeyomi said.

    He then warned the Federal Government to allow peace to reign during the election by instructing the soldiers and other security agencies to allow the electorate free access to polling booths to cast their vote without fear. He said failure to do this might be counter-productive because the people of Osun are passionate about the rate of development going on in the state.

    “They should not underrate the feelings of these people. They are ready to use their vote to show appreciation to a governor who has brought change to their towns. So, denying them the opportunity would not be met with a smile,” he said.

  • Fix Mafoluku roads

    I WANT the chairman, hon. Bolaji ariyo, of the oshodi local government area to change his attitude towards the development of roads in the Mafoluku area of Oshodi.

    All the roads in the area are bad. Motorists have abandoned them for motorcyclists who are also not happy with their state.

    I want the chairman to come to the area. If he does, he will be greatly surprised. People are suffering there. I want him to end our problems by starting repairing them.

    In Mafoluku, we support the All Progressives Congress (APC). It is our party. This is the only party we know. We love Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He is an excellent leader. We support Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola. He is working.

    We want the chairman to emulate these men of honour by swinging into action on the road development in Mafoluku.

    We are waiting and watching in hope that work will start soon on these roads.

    Lanre Ahmed,

    Babayanju Street,

    Mafoluku, Lagos.

  • Governorship poll: Oyegun, APC leaders relocate to Osun Monday

    …PDM drops candidate

    As part of the final leg of the preparations for the governorship poll in Osun State, the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun and top leaders of the party will from Monday relocate to Osogbo, the state capital

    Also, the Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM) on Friday said it has withdrawn Mr. Oludare Timothy Akinola as its governorship candidate for the poll.

    The relocation of APC leaders was contained in a statement issued in Abuja by the APC National Chairman, Odigie-Oyegun.

    The statement said: “This is to inform the general public and millions of our dear members, and supporters that as from 4th August 2014, the National Secretariat of our great party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) – the Change Agent – will relocate to Osogbo, Osun State, until after the 9th August, 2014 gubernatorial election.

    “The relocation to Osogbo is in deference to an ancient African proverb which states that rats cannot eat the fish of the man who is awake and watchful. Hence APC leadership wishes to reassure our millions of members, supporters and compatriots, that we shall keep awake to guide and protect our mandate.

    “This also serves as notice to all state chairmen of the 36 States and the Federal Capital Territory to attend the final public rally of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osogbo on Tuesday, 5th and the subsequent meeting with the National Working Committee on Wednesday, 6thAugust 2014, after the grand rally on the 5th.

    “I use this opportunity to salute the courage of the good people of Osun State for their courage and steadfastness in the face of intimidation and militarization of the state.

    “I appeal to our dear compatriots in Osun State to ignore all manner of provocation and turn out massively to vote for Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola to continue his good works, and clean government, in his second term.

    On its part, the PDM in a statement signed by its National Chairman, Dr. Oluwole Akinwumi, said it had dropped Akinola as its candidate for the governorship poll.

    The statement said: “The Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM) took the decision in June to withdraw Mr. Oludare Timothy Akinola as its candidate in the forthcoming Gubernatorial Election in Osun State and the party has not changed its position in this regard.

    “The decision of the party and its reasons for withdrawing Mr. Akinola as its flag bearer was communicated to the Chairman INEC, the Chairman of PDM in Osun State and Mr. Akinola himself.

    “The party is therefore surprised to find listed in a newspaper publication, the name of Akinola as one of the 20 gubernatorial candidates participating in the August 9 governorship election in Osun State on the platform of PDM.

    “This press statement is issued to draw attention to the earlier decision of the party to withdraw Mr. Akinola from contesting the election on its platform and to dissociate the party and its members in Osun State from the newspaper report.

    “Our party members in Osun State and the general public are to take note.”

  • FG terrorizing Osun ahead of governorship poll – APC

    FG terrorizing Osun ahead of governorship poll – APC

    The All Progressives Congress on Friday accused the Federal Government of terrorizing and intimidating the people of Osun State ahead of August 9 governorship election in the state.

    The party in a statement issued in Lagos by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, wondered why the government will send agents of the Department of State Services (DSS) to the state when the present situation does not warrant such action.

    According to the APC, some of the DSS agents were masked and clad in black, “ostensibly to harass innocent citizens in an unprovoked and primitive show of power that can only be described as sheer gangsterism.”

    The party said, ”As widely reported, DSS agents, armed to the teeth and riding in over 50 trucks, drove around Osogbo and other parts of Osun State on Wednesday blaring siren and shooting sporadically in the air, thus disrupting the normally peaceful life in the state.

    ”Residents who were visibly traumatized by the shameful display of state power ran helter-skelter and wondered why their government has sent masked men, or ninjas, to terrorize them. They now understand that the masked thugs who have been following the Peoples Democratic Party’s candidate around on his campaign trail were actually government sanctioned.

    “This is a power show taken too far, even with the well-known impunity tendencies of the Jonathan administration.”

    The APC said it gathered that 5,000 more DSS agents are being dispatched to the state before the election, because of an orchestrated petition alleging that certain leaders of the party are planning mayhem during the election.

    It added: ”The real purpose of this fake petition and the consequent deployment of thousands of secret police to Osun is to harass, intimidate and arrest the leaders of the APC in the state, in a repeat of what transpired in Ekiti.

    ”Flooding Osun with irresponsible DSS officials to terrorize the residents is another low for a government that is notorious for abuse of power and federal institutions. It is no longer news that the military, the police and other security agencies are working for the Jonathan administration, rather than for all of Nigeria. What is new is that the security agencies have now been unleashed on the citizenry.

    ”What rankles even more is the constant assurances by President Jonathan that the election will be free and fair. How can we have a credible election in an atmosphere of state-led gangsterism? How can we have a credible election when the federal government that is supposed to protect the people and ensure violence-free polls is the same one that purveys violence? Where else in the world do secret police announce themselves by firing to scare away harmless citizens? When did masks become part of the State Security Service agents uniform?”

     

  • APC: Legislators’ demand unconstitutional

    APC: Legislators’ demand unconstitutional

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has slammed the PDP members of the Nasarawa House of Assembly for demanding the dissolution of the panel set up by the Chief Judge to probe the impeachment charges against Governor Umaru Al-Makura, saying the call is unreasonable, unconstitutional and way too late.

    In a statement yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said the demand by the lawmakers shows they either have a very poor understanding of the Constitution or they are blinded by their desperation to impeach the governor.

    ‘’Either way, they have boxed themselves into a tight corner. Holding an illegal sitting in Abuja with a fake mace is as ridiculous as the demand by the lawmakers for the dissolution of the panel set up by the Chief Judge.

    ‘’Section 188 (5) of the Constitution is clear: ‘Within seven days of the passing of a motion under the foregoing provisions of this section, the Chief Judge of the state shall, at the request of the Speaker of the House of Assembly, appoint a panel of seven persons who in his opinion are of unquestionable integrity, not being members of any public service, legislative house or political party, to investigate the allegation as provided in this section’.

    ‘’It is important to point out to the desperate lawmakers that the key words in that section is that the Chief Judge must appoint persons WHO IN HIS OPINION (emphasis ours) are of unquestionable integrity. At this juncture, it is neither the opinion of the Speaker nor that of the legislators that counts, it is the opinion of the Chief Judge.

    ‘’Therefore, neither the Speaker, the lawmakers nor the Chief Judge can dissolve the panel at this stage, and none of them can stop the impeachment process. Once the Chief Judge has appointed the panel under section 188 (5), he becomes ‘functus officio’, that is he has no further powers on the matter. This is the situation of things at present and the lawmakers can only await the report of the panel,’’ it said.

    The APC said, however, that it was not surprised by the unwarranted and illegal call for the dissolution of the panel by the PDP members of the Nasarawa legislature, because that call falls within the realm of the runaway impunity for which the PDP and the Jonathan Administration have become infamous.

    ‘’The Jonathan Administration, for one, is always scoring a first in the area of impunity. This is the first time in the history of our democracy that a House of Assembly is seeking to dissolve the panel of seven judges it requested to be set up. This is unacceptable and it will not fly.

    ‘’What the House is suffering from now is called boomerang. Against sound advice, it went ahead to initiate the impeachment process. Well, it must now follow it to its logical conclusion. The Chief Judge cannot be made to dissolve the seven-man panel because he simply lacks the power to so do,’’ the party said.

  • APC leads opposition against soldiers’ deployment

    APC leads opposition against soldiers’ deployment

    •PDP defends military measure  

    •Adeleke cautions security agents 

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) led opposition yesterday to the deployment of soldiers by the Federal Government for the August 9 election.

    Osun State APC’s Director of Publicity, Research and Strategy, Kunle Oyatomi, in a statement in Osogbo, argued that the military is not saddled with internal security duties, adding that it is against the constitution.

    The party said the Nigeria Police is best suited for such duties constitutionally, insisting that a military siege for an election is a subversion of democracy and must not be encouraged.

    “The APC therefore insists that the Federal Government must drop the idea because it is inimical to the sustenance of democracy in Nigeria.

    “From Wednesday, immediately after the Ramadan fast, Osun State woke up to sporadic gunshots fired by security men practically announcing their presence that had been anticipated from wide-spread reports in the media, which indicated that the PDP intended to jolt the citizens with fierce-looking armed and uniformed men to pacify citizens in order to rig the August 9 governorship election.”

    The party said Osun citizens were unimpressed by the show of force by these armed gunmen who had earlier been sighted amassing at the DSS office along Gbongan-Ibadan road.

    The party said: “On Thursday however, the DSS security operatives got a shocker around 5p.m in the evening along Okefia, when in company of some masked men, the security operatives rent the air with a burst of sporadic gunfire to simply intimidate people.

    “Rather than scatter in fright, the people, with brooms in their hands, flooded into the street in utter defiance singing songs of praise of Aregbesola and the APC, and telling the security operatives who wanted to frighten them that no amount of threats and violence will change them from supporting the governor. The security people least expected what they saw.”

    It added: “The stage is being set for a showdown in the heart of Yorubaland and what is at stake here is whether or not democracy will stand a chance to survive 2015 in Nigeria.”

    But the State PDP Publicity Secretary, Prince Bola Ajao, who addressed reporters yesterday in Osogbo, defended the high security presence ahead of the August 9 poll, saying it was meant to protect lives and property.

    He explained that deployment would help in the maintenance of law and order before and during the exercise.

    The first Executive Governor, Osun State, Senator Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke, has also emphasised the need for security agents deployed for the election to conduct themselves “most professionally in the discharge of their duties and in accordance with their oath of office.”

    He said events in the last 24hours, when some of the security agents arrived in the state, “were not dignifying and edifying.”

    “There is just no point in creating unnecessary fear and intimidation against the law-abiding citizens of Osun State that cut across different political parties.

    “The alleged sporadic shooting into the air, as witnessed on Wednesday, July 30th 2014 in some areas in Osogbo by some security apparatus is unwelcome.”

    He appealed to President Goodluck Jonathan to display absolute neutrality towards the election.

    A civil society group, the Democracy Vanguard, has decried the heavy presence of the state security men.

    A statement by its state coordinator, Comrade Olowu Emmanuel, said the “intimidating” number  of the operatives “is a threat to the peace-loving people of the state”.

    The group noted that Osun has been one of the most peaceful states in the country and despite the governorship election that is only eight days away; the people have remained peaceful and are living in harmony.

  • APC threatens to boycott Niger East by-election

    APC threatens to boycott Niger East by-election

    TheAll Progressives Congress (APC) in Niger State said yesterday that it would boycott the August 16 by-election in Niger East Senatorial Zone, if the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) fails to redeploy the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Dr. Emmanuel Onucheyo.

    The party alleged that the REC was demanding money from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-led government.

    APC accused the REC of being a card-carrying member of the ruling party in Kogi State.

    State Publicity Secretary Mr. Jonathan Vatsa, in a statement in Minna, said last week, APC exposed a proposal by the REC to the state government, requesting N44,375,850 for a National Inter-Agency Advisory Committee on Voter Education and Publicity.

    Although the REC denied the allegation, Secretary to the State Government Saidu Ndako Idris confirmed that a proposal with the same amount was brought before the government by the REC.

    Idris said N28.7 million was approved by the Executive Council.

    The statement said the party “strongly believes that this is enough reason for INEC to redeploy Dr. Emmanuel Onucheyo before the August 16 by-election to guarantee a free, fair and credible election.”

    APC said that “If he is allowed to preside over the election,it means that INEC has prepared the ground for rigging in the election”.

    The party also claimed that Onucheyo is a card-carrying member of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP, having contested as PDP governorship aspirant in Kogi State at the 2003 elections.

    “There is no doubt that as a PDP card-carrying member, Dr. Onucheyo cannot conduct a free and fair election under this circumstance” the statement said.

  • APC chieftains hold summit

    APC chieftains hold summit

    Chieftains and members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara South will on Sunday converge on the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, Lagos for a political summit.

    Top of the agenda is a review of the political situation in Kwara State as it affects the senatorial district.

    The Publicity Secretary of the group, Mr. Tayo Awodiji, said delegates are expected from seven local governments- Offa, Oyun, Ifelodun, Irepodun, Isin, Ekiti and Oke-Ero, adding that they expect representatives from communities in the area.

    Personalities expected at the event are the National Publicity Secretary of APC, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, former Minister of State for Health, Funke Adedoyin, Special Adviser to the Kwara State Governor on Communication and Strategy, Raheem Adedoyin, Special Adviser to the Kwara State Governor on Labour, Comrade Bisi Fakayode, former member of the House of Representatives, Bashir Bolarinwa, Messrs. Oladele Adekanye, Jide Jimoh, Bisi Yusuf, Tajudeen Ajide, Hakeem Bamgbola and others.

  • Ex-minister Abdullahi: APC holds key to Nigeria’s political future

    Ex-minister Abdullahi: APC holds key to Nigeria’s political future

    A former Sports Minister, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, has said the All Progressives Congress (APC) has the solution to Nigeria’s political development and stability.

    The former minister urged Nigerians to be careful about the party they will vote for in next year’s general elections.

    Abdullahi, who publicly declared his membership of the APC yesterday in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, said it is the only party that holds the key to Nigeria’s political future.

    The former minister told reporters that he had become a card-carrying member of the APC and was involved in partisan politics.

    He urged Nigerian professionals, who desire a positive change in the affairs of the nation, to join the party.

    Abdullahi noted that most decisions that affect the destiny of the people are taken at the political level.

    The former minister said he discovered when he was in office as a commissioner in Kwara State and a minister at the federal level that professionals, especially journalists with commitment, can make changes happen when they are called upon to serve.

    On the state of the nation, the ace journalist said: “The question you should ask yourself is whether or not you are better off today than you were six years ago; whether or not the education your children receive today is better than what they six years ago and whether or not the health services available to you today are better than what was obtainable six years ago.

    “So, if you conclude that they are better, then there is no need for you to change. But if, like many of us, you face the reality that they are not, then you will understand why we say that we need a change.

    “I have served at the state and national levels and I am convinced now that I should be more involved in contributing to solving problems, not just writing about them (problems). That is why I am now a full member of the APC.

    “Yes, I used to see myself as a technocrat. It was strategic because I needed to have an environment to perform the job I was given without necessarily becoming political or promoting myself. That’s because whether as a commissioner or minister, I was only there by the recommendation of my bosses. I needed to do the work assigned to me without failing.

    “However, I also discovered that much as that gave me the opportunity to perform, the truth is that it became a limitation in some ways. This is because when the decisions are to be made, which would affect the people, technocrats are not allowed to be in such gatherings. They are only called upon to implement the decisions and, even in doing that, they have to be careful because it may affect the fortunes of the politician.”