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Tag: APC

  • APC Convention praiseworthy

    SIR: One of the most significant issues that deepen democratic culture in any country is the transparent conduct of party conventions through which officers are elected to run the party’s affairs. In that wise, kudos goes to the All Progressive Congress, APC for the credible manner it conducted its maiden National Convention in Abuja recently.

    Apart from the huge attendance, with politicians drawn from all the six geo-political zones, the smooth and rancour-free manner that characterized its conduct is worthy of emulation by other political parties.

    At the end of the exercise there were visible signs of a deliberateattempt to forge not only unity of purpose amongst the party members, but to strengthen national unity as well. This is noteworthy. And it will go a long way towards the sustenance of inter-party peace, such that the elected officers would not be distracted by settling feuds.

    Instead, the members would concentrate their energy in promoting the political philosophy and ideals which the party stands for, as enshrined in their party’s constitution and manifesto. Ultimately, the people whose interests the flag bearers are supposed to serve would benefits from the dividends of democracy.

    The very fact that the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, APC’s arch rival has come out to commend the process that saw to the emergence of Chief John Oyegun as the National Chairman is praise worthy. It should serve as a moral lesson for politicians of different shades to imbibe as Nigerians look forward to issue-based campaigns devoid of violence, name-calling and unwarranted brickbats.

    What Olisa Metuh, the PDP National Publicity Secretary said is instructive: “the new leadership(of the APC) should ensure an issue-based opposition that will purposefully and constructively engage  and challenge the PDP with decency and maturity as prescribed by democratic tenets and principles”. Well said. The hope however, is that the same PDP would not be the first to politicize even rather sensitive issues ranging from grave insecurity through massive corruption in high places to the raging youth unemployment in Nigeria, which the World Bank had since 2010 warned Nigeria had assumed a scary time-bomb situation.

    The APC should build on the critical and delicate issue of geo-political equity in the election of its flag bearers. Now that the choice of the National Publicity Secretary of the party, the Deputy Chairman, as well as Zonal Chairmen  have been elected based on national spread, that should serve as a template for future elections.

    What Nigerians require at this perilous moment of our history are men and women of unquestionable integrity and committed patriots ready to sacrifice their whims and caprices of personal gains to satisfy the needs of the greater majority of Nigerians. And that starts with the

    calibre and character of the APC ambassadors.

    Nigerians are out there waiting for a strong, virile and ideology-based opposition to assuage their pains and reverse the drift to a state of anomie. The next few months are therefore, critical to

    APC in meeting these challenges head-on. It cannot afford to fail, fumble or falter. As Chief Oyegun rightly noted in his acceptance speech: “the very task of salvaging Nigeria will, on its own, be hard

    because the rot is deep. We must learn to let go of past grudges and previous grievances and move forward together as members of the same family.” One cannot agree any less. Here is wishing all newly elected members of the APC leadership a purposeful, pragmatic and peaceful tenure in office in the service of the party and the nation at large.

     

    • Idowu Ajanaku

     

  • APC NEC product of transparent democracy, says Atiku

    APC NEC product of transparent democracy, says Atiku

    The emergence of the Chief John Odigie-Oyegun-led National Executive Committee (NEC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is a product of transparency, democracy and compromise, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has said.

    Atiku, who is also one of the national leaders of the party, was quoted in a statement of solidarity in Abuja to the new APC executive members ahead of today’s inauguration of the party’s NEC.

    In the statement by his Media Office, the former vice president urged the new party officials to sustain the tempo and public enthusiasm, which greeted their election last weekend in Abuja.

    Atiku expressed delight at the peaceful conduct of the  party’s inaugural national convention.

    The statement said: “As a party member, he was proud that the elections were conducted without incidents or rancour.”

    It added that the level of maturity among APC followers was evidence of their commitment to decent democratic conduct.

    The former vice president  expressed satisfaction with the peaceful conduct of the elections, despite predictions of chaos and crisis from certain quarters before the national convention.

    He said there is always a reward for loyalty, adding that aggrieved members should remain loyal to the party.

    Atiku also advised the party leaders and members not to rest on their oars because the challenges ahead are still enormous.

    He said: “Complacency is a dangerous attitude, especially for an opposition party struggling to capture power and bring change.”

    Atiku apologised for his inability to attend the inauguration ceremony, because  of compelling need to honour urgent commitments overseas.

    “The former vice president conveys his support, loyalty and cooperation to the NEC of the party at all times,” the statement said.

     

     

     

  • Group takes campaign for APC candidate abroad

    Group takes campaign for APC candidate abroad

    A group, the Fayemi 2014 Group, has urged Ekiti voters to cast their ballots for All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Dr. Kayode Fayemi on Saturday.

    It said Ekiti has entered a golden era during Fayemi’s first term in office and therefore, he should be re-elected to sustain the momentum.

    A statement by its convener, Adegboyega Dahunsi, said the Baltimore, United States (U.S.)-based group has taken the campaign for Fayemi around Europe.

    “Our first launching at Brooklyn, New York was welcomed with pomp and pageantry! The news got to Europe. It radiated in Belgium, Germany and London and far,” he said.

     

  • ‘Charges against Afuye confirm clampdown’s plan on APC leaders’

    ‘Charges against Afuye confirm clampdown’s plan on APC leaders’

    THE fact that Ekiti State Commissioner for Integration and Intergovernmental Affairs, Funminiyi Afuye, who was whisked to Abuja two weeks ago from the scene of a rally, has been charged for terrorism and treason confirmed a plan to clamp down on All Progressives  Congress (APC) leaders and members before Saturday’s election.

    The party’s spokesman, Segun Dipe, who made this known in a statement yesterday, said Afuye was not caught with any weapon during the rally.

    Afuye’s only crime, Dipe said, was that he joined his other party members in the usual ‘feet sweeping’ rally which APC was known for.

    He said the APC had raised the alarm on many occasions that a clampdown on the party leaders, members and sympathisers was being orchestrated to ensure that they were out of circulation during the election next Saturday.

    “Similarly, three APC members from Ikole local government have also been whisked to Abuja with many others listed for arrest and arraignment for terrorism.  The APC members whisked to Abuja are Anu Onipede, Babatunde Adeosun and Olufemi Ojo,” he said.

     

  • 2015: Governorship ticket tears Adamawa PDP apart

    2015: Governorship ticket tears Adamawa PDP apart

    A disagreement in the Adamawa State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is threatening its cohesion. The scramble for the 2015 governorship ticket is tearing the party apart, making the political future of Deputy Governor Bala Ngillari to hang in  the balance, writes BARNABAS MANYAM.

    Swift and unprecedented changes are taking place in the Adamawa State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). As a result, the political future of  the deputy governor, Bala James Ngillari, is hanging in the balance. Ngillari’s profile  rose swiftly when he refused to defect alongside  Governor Murtala Nyako, who dumped the PDP for the All Progressives Congress (APC) last year.

    At the time, PDP bigwigs in Abuja were in support of his bid for the governorship in 2015 on the platform of the former ruling party. But, since then, a lot of developments have taken place. Now, and new and equally credible aspirants have also emerged.

    Ngillari was taken aback by a media statement credited to the  PDP chairman, Chief Joel Hammanjoda Madaki, that the  governorship ticket has been zoned to Adamawa Central Senatorial District.

    Stakeholders in the party were surprised that Madaki could go public with such a sensitive matter, without discussing at the PDP  executive committee meeting. They say even though the high chief may have his own opinion, he should not have presented as if it is the party’s official position.

    One of the governorship aspirants,  who has been fighting to build the PDP for more than six years, Dr. Umar Ardo, was the first to respond. The genial Ardo said the chief may have been quoted out of context by the newspaper, even though he admitted that he had not read the publication.

    According to Ardo, it may also have been Madaki’s personal opinion, which may not go down well with many party faithful. He added however, that as a good party man, he would accept it in good faith.

    Given his close relationship with Madaki, observers say Ardo was being economical with the truth. “He has been a close ally of the elder statesman for many years. In fact, he is like a brother to him. So, he will not publically oppose him,” said a party chieftain.

    The deputy governor is a politician with impeccable qualities. He has climbed every surmountable mountain in his political life. But, he prefers to work quietly from the background.

    From the remarkable role he played during the Oputa Panel, to his days in the National Assembly, Ngillari has been very active politically. He had already secured his ticket to return to the  House of Representatives for a second term, when he was picked the deputy to Vice Admiral Murtala Nyako.

    This time around, it remains to be seen, if he will spring a surprise. But, the statement by  Madaki, who holds the traditional title of the Nzomoro Kaku, meaning the defender of the Bwatiye nation, may have jeopardised the hopes of the prodigious deputy governor.

    Going by Madaki’s statement, the deputy governor, who is from the Northern Senatorial District, is out of contention for the  ticket, in spite of the fact that he has contributed so much to  the party and had refused to defect to the APC.

    PDP bigwigs in Abuja are of the view that Ngillari should be allowed to spend one term in office as governor.

    Ardo, in an interview some  months ago, said that President Goodluck Jonathan had already destroyed the PDP zoning formula and that the governor of Adamawa State can come from anywhere, because zoning is now irrelevant in the PDP.

    The chapter has more than 25 governorship aspirants, who are from  the three zones and more are still coming out. There is no telling who will clinch the ticket from aspirants eying the coveted ticket.

    For now, many of the aspirants like Ngillari and Gen. Mohammed Buba Marwa, who are all from the Northern Senatorial zone, are oiling their machinery to do battle against others like Dr. Dahiru Ahmed Modibbo, who has allegations of corruption hanging on his neck, courtesy of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the ICPC.

    But, observers say some of these cases lack merit. But, that remains to be seen. Meanwhile, Dr. Modibbo is prosecuting his ambition.

     

  • Germany-based publisher hits Ekiti for Fayemi

    Germany-based publisher hits Ekiti for Fayemi

    As the Ekiti State gubernatorial election draws near, incumbent governor and candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Kayode Fayemi has been receiving support from many sides, including the Diaspora. The publisher of a Germany-based international magazine, The African Courier, Femi Awoniyi, hits Ekiti, stumping for the governor SEUN AKIOYE writes

    For three weeks, Femi Awoniyi, the publisher of the Germany-based international magazine, The African Courier has been spreading a simple message in his home state of Ekiti: “Re-elect governor Fayemi for continued development of Ekiti State.”

    His model for conveying this message is in the form of interactive sessions with the youths, town hall meetings and mass rallies in all the electoral wards in the state.

    “Ekiti has never had it so good like in the past three-and-half-years and we should not stop the progress train,” said Awoniyi, an indigene of Ipole Iloro-Ekiti. “Everywhere you travel to in the state you see the positive touch of government.”

    His constant message on the campaign trail is that Ekiti will witness even more progress if Fayemi is re-elected and this message so reinforced has assumed a prophetic stance.

    ”There will be a boom in industrial development if Fayemi wins,” he predicted. “We direly need investment in the state to complement the good job that Fayemi is doing to enable us lay a solid basis for self-sustaining social and economic development of the state and that investment will only come if the business climate is right.”

    Awoniyi should know about development. Before becoming a journalist, he studied metallurgical engineering and worked in steel making and auto manufacturing for many years and living in a developed country for many decades has created a yearning for development.

    The publisher has been busy on the campaign trail. On June 5, he organised a rally in Ipole-Iloro, where over 300 people attended and also participated in the 10-km march though Ado-Ekiti by hundreds of youths which ended with a rally at the Moremi Park, on June 9. The event was to protest the killing of a young man a day earlier by the police and also to protest against the rude behaviour of the police towards Governor Fayemi, he addressed the rally.

    He has also organised youth forum in Aramoko. It was attended by more than 100 youths and several adults including the chairman of the local government and several councilors, where he appealed to them not to be swayed by those offering them cash for their votes, and to stand with Governor Fayemi for the continued progress of the state.

    The publisher, who is the convener of the Ekiti Diaspora Europe 2014, an organisation of Ekiti indigenes in Europe which has been organising seminars and workshops on the gubernatorial election in Germany and England also revealed that many overseas-based Ekiti State indigenes are in the country working for the re-election of Fayemi.

    “The reason why we came to campaign for Fayemi is to contribute to the development of the state because a vote for him is a vote for the future,” he said his eyes burning with optimism.

    He explained that despite living abroad, Ekiti indigenes in the Diaspora yearned for progress in their home state after seeing what damages seven years of insecurity, political instability and corruption did to the state before Fayemi became governor in 2010.”We have to stay on the path of progress that we have embarked on,” he said.

    Awoniyi hopes that Ekiti people will be allowed to freely and peacefully exercise their voting rights, warning against any attempts to manipulate the election. “Nobody can run roughshod over Ekiti people without dire consequences for the country,” he said, expressing his fears of a violent upheaval if the results of the polls were tampered with.

    “President Jonathan will discredit himself in world opinion if insecurity spreads to the southern part of the country as a result of his party’s attempts to rig elections,” Awoniyi warns.

    Finding Awoniyi on the campaign trail should be easy, most evenings in Ado-Ekiti, he could be seen at the parks, crowded street corners, restaurants and other popular places where people frequent, handing out flyers – which he printed from Germany – to the people and speaking to whoever cares to listen. Looking at the solitary campaigner, one is reminded of an old preacher who is dedicated to preaching the good news of his God.

  • Three killed in Ilorin street brawl

    Three killed in Ilorin street brawl

    •Police: two dead

    •APC, PDP trade blame

    Hoodlums suspected to be supporters of a party in Kwara State engaged in a free- for-all yesterday in Ilorin, the state capital.

    Three persons were said to have been killed and 15 others were injured.

    But the police confirmed that only two persons died in the process.

    Among those who were injured were three siblings, who were said to have been hit by stray bullets.

    Trouble started last Friday after some members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Alore area of Ogidi ward in Ilorin West Local Government allegedly defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    It was gathered that the hoodlums clashed with one another as they could not agree on a sharing formula for the N20,000 reportedly doled out to them.

    Another version linked the crisis to a clash between the hoodlums and some vigilance group men shortly after the programme.

    The fracas, it was gathered, started at Abayawo and later spread to Alore-Ode Adana-Omoda, Ode- Alawusa Okelele, all of Ilorin downtown.

    It was gathered that in a reprisal attack on Sunday, a man simply identified as Ebba, was allegedly killed at Ode Alwusa.

    To avenge his death, hoodlums went on rampage yesterday by setting up bonfires and paralysing commercial and social activities in the affected areas.

    The “hoodlums” wore masks, brandishing dangerous weapons went on a rampage that lasted for almost five hours.

    Combined team of soldiers and anti-riot policemen were drafted in the areas at 10am to disperse the warring factions.

    Before the arrival of the security personnel, some youths in the areas also took up arms against the “hoodlums”.

    Several property, including cars, were damaged.

    Police spokesperson Ajayi Okasanmi said 12 persons have been arrested.

    The APC and PDP have accused each other of causing the crisis. APC spokesperson Sulyman Buhari said that “the APC expresses sadness that the life of a young Kwaran can be brutally cut short by PDP thugs due to mere controversies surrounding the distribution of a largesse given to PDP members by a former senator.

    He said: “PDP’s violent activities are of concern to the APC. The APC has consistently alerted the people and the police on the violent disposition, gangterism and the rich record of violence the PDP flaunts. Surprisingly, the PDP has broken its own record of violence in the state. We warn the PDP to desist from oiling its evidently weak political machinery with the blood of Kwarans.”

    But the PDP in a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Rex Olawoye, accused the APC supporters of attacking PDP members shortly after their alleged defection to APC on Friday last week.

    He said: “Our party is saddened by yet another violent attempt on its supporters. There has been a well oiled plan to cow our members by the opposition elements.  “A similar occurrence happened in Omu Aran on Saturday, where daredevil APC thugs invaded what was supposed to be a private meeting of the Ifelodun chapter of the party, and chased all the stakeholders present away.”

  • Afenifere chieftain, others hail APC leaders

    Afenifere chieftain, others hail APC leaders

    Afenifere chieftain Senator Ayo Fasanmi has congratulated the All Progressives Congress (APC) leadership on the success of its national convention.

    Fasanmi said the rancour-free convention and the emergence of a new executive committee showed that APC would wrest power from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2015.

    He said the fusion of the legacy parties that gave birth to the APC was in the interest of the nation, adding that the party was on a rescue operation to restore Nigeria’s glory.

    Fasanmi said: “It is unbelievable that a nation endowed with human and natural resources has been virtually brought to its knees by corrupt, inept and purposeless government. There is mass unemployment, infrastructure decay, insecurity, poverty and hunger in the land. Everything has broken down.

    “I have no doubt that the APC National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, and his executive members will lead the party to electoral victory next year. I congratulate the former Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande, for successfully handing over to competent hands led by Odigie-Oyegun.”

    The second republic senator urged aggrieved members to put the interest of the party and the nation at heart and embrace peace, adding: “It is God that gives power to anyone, takes it or denies anyone of i.”

    Fasanmi urged APC members to work together as a family to “rescue the nation from the PDP’s misrule and end the era of impunity and lawlessness”.

    An APC chieftain in Ogun State Mr. Bolu Owotomo also congratulated the party on the success of the convention.

    Owotomo urged Odigie-Oyegun and the National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, to explain to Nigerians “why APC is a better alternative to the PDP and how the party’s plans for the country if voted into power at the centre”.

    Owotomo, who is aspiring to represent Ijebu North East in the House of Assembly, said there was need to reconcile aggrieved members.

    He said: “We should ensure an issue based alternative that will purposefully and constructively engage and challenge the PDP with decency and maturity as prescribed by democratic tenets and principles.

    “I commend APC for a successful convention and congratulate Odigie-Oyegun, Mohammed and other officers on their election.”

    Ibadan North East Local Government Caretaker Chairman Mr. Ladi Oluokun also congratulated the APC on the peaceful conduct of the convention, saying it shows that the APC is built on “peaceful co-existence”.

    Oluokun said: “With this successful national convention, I am confident that Nigerians are gradually seeing a party with ideology. It has shown how united and peaceful we are as a party in all units. Nigerians yearn for positive change, which the party represents. I urge Nigerians to stand by the APC and vote en masse for the party in all elections.”

  • Face your duties, APC urges Mimiko

    Face your duties, APC urges Mimiko

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State has told Governor Olusegun Mimiko to stay out of the Ekiti State governorship poll slated for Saturday.

    It said Mimiko’s absence from Ondo State had affected the smooth running of the Sunshine state.

    APC said the governor has no right to “waste Ondo’s resources on frivolities outside his mandate”.

    In a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Prince Aderemi Adesanya, APC said: “The governor cannot leave bad roads, collapsed infrastructure and industries, among other deficiencies, behind and concentrate on political affairs in the neighbouring state.

    “We condemn unequivocally the state government’s recent directives to the Director of Local Government Administration to ferry local government workers to Ikere-Ekiti for the Labour Party’s (LP’s) rally with council funds.

    “Ondo State citizens pay the state’s radio station for their advertisements. We ask the governor and the station’s management to show evidence that the bulk of adverts belonging to Ekiti LP candidate Mr. Opeyemi Bamidele placed on the station were paid for by his campaign team.

    “The personalisation of government, its funds and machinery by the present administration is unprecedented in the history of governance in the state. Let Mimiko first fulfill his electoral promises and salvage the collapse of governance in Ondo State before going to Ekiti State to make electoral promises he and his party cannot fulfill.”

     

     

  • ‘Don’t disenfranchise Ekiti students’

    ‘Don’t disenfranchise Ekiti students’

    Labour Party (LP)  governorship candidate Hon. Opeyemi Bamidele  alleged plans by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to prevent tertiary institution students from voting at the poll.

    Bamidele said this in a statement signed by his media aide, Ahmed Salami, in Ado-Ekiti, that the governor had issued subtle threats to  students to leave their hostels and the state, after initially ordering the closure of their schools.

    He frowned at the recent closure of Ekiti State University for security reasons, adding that students were forcefully ejected from hostels.

    The LP candidate said: “What the APC intends to achieve by this is to disenfranchise majority of the students who have voter’s cards and are willing to vote out Fayemi and the APC.

    “This is to caution the APC-led state government and the governor of Ekiti State to desist from its plot to disenfranchise tertiary institution students in Ekiti State. It is very undemocratic and uncivil for any government to embark on psychological warfare with these youths all in an attempt to prevent them from casting their votes.”

    “To us, the ongoing forceful ejection of these students especially those from EKSU from their private residences in Ado Ekiti is a defeatist mentality and apparent fear being daily nursed by APC and its co-travellers ahead of this election”

    “It is a public knowledge that these students are significant population of the state with majority of them having voter’s cards. Those behind this plot may have known that they are not popular with the students, going by their odd policies of hike in school fees”

    “These students have left the hostels as directed by the state government on the  9th of June, but yet government’s agents are still trailing them about to make sure they vacate the state before Saturday. We urge the government to desist from this act and allow freedom of choice to reign”, it read.