The Nation Newspaper

Tag: APC

  • 2015: Jonathan will be the easy for APC to beat

    2015: Jonathan will be the easy for APC to beat

    Yobe State Commissioner for Water Resources Alhaji Sidi Yakubu Karasuwa has said the All Progressives Congress (APC) will defeat President Goodluck Jonathan in the 2015 election.

    Karasuwa said: “Actually as far as we are concerned, personally I will prefer Jonathan to contest. Why? Because, he is the one we can easily beat because he has done so many things that he cannot be marketable.

    “There are a lot of things under this administration of Jonathan that one can tell Nigerians and it is not something hidden. See the corruption in the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and all over the place. Today, hundreds of billions of dollars are gone; tomorrow is the same; next tomorrow is still the same? Look at his Petroleum Minister who is spending over N10billion just for charttering aircraft. What about the tragedy recently at the Immigration recruitment? The list is endless.

    “So, politically talking, politics is about presenting the score card of the present administration for you to criticise or support; so, we in APC have so many things now at hand that we can present to Nigerians and tell them that Jonathan is not competent to rule this country.

    “I heard some time that PDP wants to make him a consensus candidate and if that happens, we will have an upper hand. As far as APC is concerned, the contest will be a walk-over for us.”

     

  • APC warns Accord against politicising ‘forest of horror’

    APC warns Accord against politicising ‘forest of horror’

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has warned the Accord Party against politicising the grief of the people with its comment on the Soka forest horror.

    The Interim Publicity Secretary of the APC in the state, Mr. Dauda Kolawole, in a statement said: “The people of Oyo State are in a state of grief and shock at the horrendous discovery of ritual killers’ den in the state. The situation calls for sober reflection from all and sundry. To be confronted with this cheap politicking in the name of infantile accusation by the Accord is like opening the fresh wound of the people of the state who are still mourning their dead and lamenting the ugly incident.”

    The APC said from emerging testimonies of the kidnap victims, it was obvious that the den had been in existence for almost 10 years, a period that covered what it called “the drab government of Senator Rashidi Ladoja” and his successor.

    They said rather than accusing the government of insensitivity, it was the security consciousness of the government that led to the discovery of the den and the prompt response of government had become a thing of commendation from all and sundry.

    “We are aware that the Accord had been attempting to use this unfortunate event to come back to reckoning by instigating the people and selling them cheap lies of government using the forest as a camp for mad people. We are also aware that Accord chieftains have infiltrated the rank of sympathisers at Soka with the objective of creating a violent scene and disrupting the peace of the state. Unfortunately for them, the evidence of victims who told the world that they were not insane, have put a lie to their campaign of destruction,” the APC noted.

  • ‘APC ‘ll win Ekiti, Osun polls’

    ‘APC ‘ll win Ekiti, Osun polls’

    House of Representatives member Hon. Abiodun Awoleye (Ibadan North Constituency) has said that the All Progressives Congress (APC) will win the governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun states. He predicted doom for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), saying that the party has failed Nigerians in the last 14 years.

    Awoleye, who spoke with reporters in Lagos, said the achievements of the APC governors are laudable, adding that the people of Ekiti and Osun will vote for continuty.

    He said: “We have a seven-point cardinal programme, which covers electricity generation, war against corruption, food security, integrated transport network, free education, devolution of power, accelerated economic growth and affordable health care in the manifesto. This is another reasonthe people will embrace the APC in the Southwest and across thje country. ”

    However, Awoleye advised the people to closely monitor the electoral commission to avoid bungling the elections as it did in Anambra State last year. He said the electoral time-table released by the umpire was designed to rig the elections in favour of the PDP at the state and federal levels.

    He added: “The Presidency must have influenced the schedule of the time-table, believing that, if President Jonathan does not win the election, the whole nation will be in turmoil, especially with the threat from the Southsouth that Nigerians should forget about oil, if Jonathan does not win the election.

    “I expected the INEC as a good umpire to arrange the time-table from the bottom to the top. The House of Assembly election should come first, followed by the National Assembly, governorship and the presidential election. Unfortunately, the reverse is the case.

    “The INEC headed by Prof. Jega cannot be trusted. His attitude toward recent the election in Anambra is a sign of what to come.The commission is expected to be fair to all political parties in the country. Jega needs to carry all stakeholders along to ensure that there is transparency and fair game.”

    The legislator described the national conference as a jamboree. He said: “The national conference cannot address any problem. Right from time, I have been opposing the conference. These people are just looking for a way to enrich their old friends, who are financially broke.The composition of the delegates is faulty and it is also a waste of money. Over 400 members are to attend the conference. The President nominated over 60 delegates.

    “How do you expect a positive result from such a gathering? With the institutions in place now, which is the National Assembly, we don’t need any dialogue and, if there is a reason for it, it should be a Sovereign National Conference where people will decide the future of the nation. After the conference, they will take it to referendum and it automatically becomes the law. The N7 billion to be spent on the national conference could be use to create jobs for the unemployed graduates.”

     

  • Community hails Ahmed, Saraki

    Community hails Ahmed, Saraki

    Patigi community in Patigi Local Government Area of Kwara State has passed a vote of confidence in the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC), led by Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed and Senator Bukola Saraki.

    The APC chieftains, supporters and loyalists spoke at a caucus meeting in the local government, where they reviewed the state and council’s development activities.

    The people thanked the government for building Patigi-Kpada new alignment road.

    They also expressed their satisfaction on the compliance with specifications.

     

  • APC, PDP and succession battle in Sokoto

    APC, PDP and succession battle in Sokoto

    Correspondent ADAMU SULEIMAN writes on the struggles of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to retain Sokoto State and the plot by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to effect power shift in the next election.

    POLITICS is in the air in the caliphate. The two main political parties-the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)- have returned to the drawing board. Ahead of next year’s governorship election, a lot of scheming, permutations and other partian activites are on. Many aspirants are erecting billboards, pasting posters and organising rallies. Political watchers contend that a fierce governorship battle is underway in Sokoto State.

    The APC governor, Alhaji Aliyu Wamakko, is locked in a supremacy battle with his predecessor and defector to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa. The governor has boasted that the ruling party will rule the state beyond 2015. But, Bafarawa has dismissed the statement as a product of illusion, saying that power will shift to the PDP next year.

    In 2007, the two gladiators became political foes. When circumstances brought them together recently, they could not cohabit under the same political roof. Although both emerged as leaders of the APC, following the merger of the legacy parties, Bafarawa had to opt out of the fold, citing irreconciliable differences.

    Wamakko was unperturbed by Bafarawa’s exit. He immediately fortified his structures and mobilised his supporters for action. The governor declared that, in 2015, there will be no vacancy in the Government House, adding that the PDP will lose its deposit at the polls.

    Wamakko will complete his two terms of eight years on May 29, next year. As a chieftain of the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), he served as the deputy governor. As a PDP chieftain, he would be rounding off as the governor. But, as the APC leader, he wants to hand over to an annointed successor. The governor has always said that he would hand over to “an APC winning candidate”.

    Wamakko is attempting a succession project. This is an area where his predecessor, Bafarawa, failed. For Bafarawa, the failure of his annointed candidate in the 2007 poll is still painful. His party, the Democratic Peoples Party (DPP) could not fly on the election day. Now, he is trying to sponsor a candidate in the PDP to prove the point that he still has the muscle, structure and winning formula. But, there are hurdles to cross.

    Wamakko is of the opinion that change has occurred in Sokoto, following the launch of the APC in the state. At a rally, he said: ” Sokoto people are willing agents of change. We unanimously support the cause of total departure from bad to good governance for a new Nigeria in peace and unity where justice, security , respect for the constitution, rule of law, collective participation, transparency, accountability, infrastructural and human resources development, and economic stability would prevail and be sustained for the benefit of the state country as a whole.”

    Unlike Bafarawa, the governor has not moved against his deputy, Alhaji Mukthar Shagari, who has refused to defect from the PDP to the APC. The deputy governor’s co-travellers include Ibrahim Milgoma, Abubakar Sadiq Sanyinna, and Abubakar Kantoma, who now look up to Bafarawa for leadership. In their view, the time is ripe for Wamakko to lose his grip on the state.

    It is believed that the most formidble PDP governorship aspirant is Shagari, who hopes to remain in office till next year, despite the political differences between him and his boss. The deputy governor told reporters that he is still loyal to Wamakko, although they now belong to different parties.

    “I have a harmonous working relationship with my boss, Wamakko. My loyalty to him as his deputy remains. We understand ourselves on personal and official transactions. Our political differences will not affect our personal or working relationship. I am still and will continue to be loyal throughout,” he said.

    Shagari is from the South Senatorial District. The PDP primaries will not be a walk over for him. He has to contend with other contestants, including Yusuf Suleiman, Abubakar Umar Gada, (East District) and Ahmed Mohammed Gusau (Central).

    In Sokoto, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Tambawal is a factor. Although he has not officially defected from the PDP to the APC, it is believed that he does not enjoy cordial relations with the PDP leadership. Other APC chieftains in the South District, including Senator Dahiru Tambawal, former ANPP governorship candidate, Yusha’u Ahmed Kebbe, and Farouk Malami Yabo, could also lay land mines for Shagari. They all have governorship ambition.

    In Sokoto, there is poster war. Supporters are mobilised to destroy billboards of opponents. This is creating tension in the state.

    The campaigns are also hot, ahead of the polls. The gladiators are firing salvos. To Wamakko, the PDP is day dreaming. He said that he left the party because of its record social injustice, disrespect for majority interest, lack of respect for the rule of law, corruption and lack of recognition for the federal constitution.

    On the podium, Bafarawa replied the missiles. He said that he could not share the same platform with his successor, who he accused of disrespect for his person, deception and egocentricity.

    However, Wamakko has been able to successfully convince some of his predecessor’s associates and supporters to team up with him in the APC. For example, in Isa, the home town of Bafarawa, the governor has many supporters.

    Also, the Dingyadis, Kwabos, Chisos, Alkalis, Danrabis, Harandes, and Margais, who previously looked up to Bafarawa for leadership, have now shifted their loyalty to the governor.

    The succession battle is now a matter of ego for Bafarawa, who had made three futiled attempts to wrestle power from Wamakko.

    In 2007 and 2011, the former governor had fielded Maigari Dingyadi. But, he was defeated by Wamakko. He had also supported Yusha’u Ahmed, but he failed at the poll. The question is: will the PDP now assist him to achieve the aim of installing a lackey as governor in 2015?

    A party source said that the PDP leadership is ready to support Bafarawa with logistics in his push for power shift. “We are doing our home work to tackle trade with the opposition, ahead of 2015. All our members are active and doing what is expected to return the state”, added the source.

    However, victory appears to be a tall ambition for the PDP. Recently, the party was decimated by the defection of many federal and state lawmakers, commissioners, council chairmen and other party chieftains to the APC.

    Prominent PDP chieftains who have not defected to the APC are Senator Ahmed Maccido and House of Representatives member Umaru Bature. Both of them are from the Central District and they are eyeing the governorship. It is believed that Wamakko is eyeing the senatorial slot.

    Maccido is a prince of the Caliphate. Sources said that he is likely to attract support from the traditional institution and the masses, who believe in the stool of Othman dan Fodio, his progenitor. There are fears that, if Maccido emerges as the PDP candidate and the monarchs support him, the governor may be on collision with the traditional rulers. But, a source said that this scenario is a figment of imagination.

     

  • OAU don turns bitumen into asphalt for road repair

    OAU don turns bitumen into asphalt for road repair

    A lecturer at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) Ile-Ife, Osun State, Dr. Bayonle Ademodi, has refined untapped crude bitumen in Agbabu, Irele Local Government Area of Ondo State, to Cold Mix Asphalt (CMA).

    Ademodi, an Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering and Consultant on Bitumen and Heavy Crude Oil, is now using the substance to fill failed portions of roads in Ondo West Local Government Area.

    The lecturer hails from Ondo Town in Ondo State.

    For years, the Federal Government has been importing bitumen for the repair and construction of roads, even though Nigeria has been said to have the third largest deposit of this natural resource in the world.

    Speaking with reporters after demonstrating how he converted the crude bitumen to CMA, Ademodi said he had been using the resource to fill pot holes in the last one month.

    He said motorists and motorcyclists have been enjoying smooth rides in areas where the material was applied.

    Ademodi, who is an All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain in Ondo State, suggested that a Ministry of Bitumen and Heavy Oil Resources be established to focus on the exploitation of the resources for domestic and export markets free of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries’ (OPEC’s) regulations.

    He lamented that the Federal Government refused to utilise the resources due to Nigerian factors, which listed as “unnecessary politicisation of issues, ethnic consideration and the fact that it is not easy to make easy money from the exploitation”.

    The academic said bitumen can be used to repair/construct roads; as fuel for power plants; and to create jobs.

    He said: “Nigeria should take advantage of the fact that its heavy/extra heavy oil did not fall under the OPEC quota. Venezuela developed the world famous ORIMULSION fuel, which has been used for years domestically and exported to energy hungry countries like China, India and Japan as fuel for generating electricity in thermal power plants and land based diesel engines.

    “Nigeria’s heavy/extra heavy oil is equally amenable for use as power plant fuel and considerable progress has been made in research in this regard. Nigeria’s heavy oil has been used to successfully raise steam in a mini-steam boiler, a precursor stage to electricity generation.

    “The resource is a potential substitute for natural gas, Low Pour Fuel Oil (LPFO) and coal as process fuel in industries and thermal power plants. Our work has shown that it can conveniently replace substantial quantities of LPFO, otherwise known as black oil, the cost of which has skyrocketed astronomically and which, in turn, is responsible for the high cost of goods ranging from cement to sundry consumer products in Nigeria.

    “Similarly, Nigeria’s bitumen exists in the two forms of solid tar sands and liquid deposits. Considerable success has been achieved in the utilisation of these two types of bitumen for the manufacture of road asphalt. In this regard, there are two possibilities: Hot Mix Asphalt and Cold Mix Asphalt.”

    The don said he would continue to mount pressure on the Federal Government to fully utilise the resource.

  • Nigeria can’t survive another period of PDP’s misrule, says Aregbesola

    Nigeria can’t survive another period of PDP’s misrule, says Aregbesola

    •APC fixes Osun primary for April 12

    Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola said yesterday that Nigeria may not survive another period of misrule by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    He urged Nigerians to work towards replacing the ruling party at the centre.

    Aregbesola spoke at the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Secretariat in Abuja after submitting his nomination form for the August 9 governorship election.

    He said: “Politicians, particularly in our type of society, can celebrate any political power, but not just any politician. We are politicians with passion for the people and zeal for change. It is the combination of those two things that informed commitment to give Nigeria a rebirth. Going through the years of the PDP’s bad management of our nation, it is the duty of patriots to work assiduously for their replacement. I do not think our nation can survive another period of misrule by the PDP.”

    Telling the APC National Deputy Chairman, Aminu Masari; National Organising Secretary Senator Osita Ozinaso and others the achievements of his administration, Aregbesola that he wants a second term in office to complete the work he has started.

    He said: “To continue the good work we started in November, 2010, we decided to seek re-election. We have obtained the nomination form and I am joyfully here to seek the nomination of the party to again run for the governorship position in Osun.”

    Aregbesola said his administration has almost completed 10-kilometre roads in each local government and is “processing 1,000 kilometres of roads that are 70 per cent completed”.

    He said his administration met a destroyed healthcare sector and is rehabilitating nine hospitals.

    The governor said he set up a social security scheme for the elderly, which gives stipends to the aged monthly; created jobs for youths and serve nutritious free meals to about 300,000 pupils daily.

    He said: “Due to good governance, we have removed fear from the state. I ask the inept PDP that was there for 90 months to tell us what it did for the people. The only thing that is left is the memory of mis-governance.”

    Masari said APC is the panacea to Nigeria’s problems, adding: “With the type of governors we have, we have demonstrated good leadership.”

    The former House of Representatives Speaker, who said he just rose from a meeting with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), said the commission’s Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, assured parties that the 2015 election would be free and fair.

    He expressed optimism that the APC would win the presidential and other elections.

    Ozinaso said: “Ward congresses in Osun will hold on March 29. The local government congresses will hold on April 1 and the state congress April 5. The primary will hold on April 12.”

    He said the party would be fair to all aspirants at the primary.

  • Death toll rises in Tiv-Fulani crisis

    Death toll rises in Tiv-Fulani crisis

    •Aondoakaa condemns killings

    The carnage which started on Sunday in Gbajimba, Guma Local Government Area in Benue State continued yesterday as suspected Fulani herdsmen killed 26 Tiv farmers.

    The number of Tiv farmers killed so far in Gbanjimba stand at 51.

    Special Adviser to Governor Gabriel Suswam on Investment, Abraham Kwaghngu, told The Nation that the attackers, who were over 200, launched another round of attacks yesterday morning and set many houses ablaze.

    “As I speak, the gunmen are burning Gbajimba, unchallenged, in the presence of soldiers deployed to the area.

    “We have counted 26 bodies, I think the soldiers just came to supervise burning of Gbajimba,” said Kwaghngu.

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmaker representing Makurdi North , Avine Agbom, told our correspondent that half of Gbajimba has been reduced to rubbles.

    “Soldiers went to Gbajimba with three Armoured Personal Carriers (APCs), but stood by and watch as helpless Tiv farmers were killed indiscriminately and their houses set ablaze.”

    He accused soldiers of conniving with Fulani herdsmen to kill Tiv farmers.

    A Fulani man has been lynched to death by a mob in Gboko. According to an eyewitness, the Fulani man was brought to a bank in Gboko by Uwouku Abanka, the father of a Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) governorship aspirant, Andy Uwouku.

    It was gathered that the elder Abanka’s driver had allegedly tipped some hoodlums that his boss was coming to the bank with a Fulani.

    The hoodlums waylaid the Fulani man, who was dressed like a Tiv traditional chief, in front of the bank and hacked him to death.

    Uwouku escaped but his vehicle was set ablaze in the front of bank.

    It took intervention of armed policemen before normalcy was restored.

    Police spokesman Daniel Ezeala confirmed the incident.

    On Gbajimba attack, he said he was yet to get the report.

    Former Attorney General and Minister of Justice Mike Aondoakaa has condemned the killing.

    The former minister said the attack on Benue could bring about famine as farmers were being killed daily.

    Aondoakaa called on the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to assist the victims.

     

  • Fayemi, Aregbesola deserve second term, say office holders

    Fayemi, Aregbesola deserve second term, say office holders

    All Progressives Congress (APC) Political Office Holders from the Diaspora, Southwest chapter, have adopted Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi and his Osun State counterpart, Rauf Aregbesola, for second terms.

    Rising from a meeting in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, the group said Fayemi and Aregbesola should be allowed to continue beyond one term because of their sterling performances.

    Members unanimously agreed that they have both delivered brilliantly on their campaign promises and deserved to be re-elected.

    The group said the interventionist programmes of both governors in all sectors have brought relief and hope to their people.

    It said their creative and visionary leadership had revitalised education and health care delivery and improved security.

    The group praised the governors’ programmes in youth empowerment, sport, environment, food production and rehabilitation and construction of roads.

    It said it carefully studied the “progressive achievements” of Fayemi and Aregbesola before rallying support for them.

    Mr. Olufemi Adefolaju (Ekiti State) and Adeyemi Taiwo (Osun State) moved the motion for the adoption of the governors for second terms. The motion was seconded by Segun Erinle (Ekiti State) and Jerry Adetona (Osun State).

    Also at the meeting, which was presided over by a member of the Osun State House Assembly, Hon. Femi Fafiyebi, were Chief John Filani and Mr. Muyiwa Olarewaju.

     

  • Pupils’ killings: Visit Yobe now, APC advises Jonathan

    Pupils’ killings: Visit Yobe now, APC advises Jonathan

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has advised President Goodluck Jonathan, as the father of the nation and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, not to be afraid to visit any part of the country for whatever reasons.

    In a statement in Lagos yesterday by its Interim National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party reminded the President that he has not yet visited Yobe State, one month after the killing of many school children in the state, to commiserate with the government and the bereaved families.

    It said the first month of the killings, which is tomorrow, provides another opportunity for the President to visit the state.

    APC said since the President’s planned return from his latest foray abroad on Tuesday coincides with the first month of the killings, he should fly straight to Yobe.

    ‘’As we said in our earlier statement on this issue on March 10th, ‘far from being a mere formality, such a visit will provide great succour to the families of the victims, reassure them and other residents of the state that their government has not abandoned them to their fate, and also serve as a morale booster for our gallant troops who are battling the terrorists, against all odds’,’’ it said.

    APC reminded the President that since the killings, he has hosted a wasteful centennial celebration, travelled across Nigeria to illegally kick-start his campaign for the 2015 elections and journeyed to Namibia, Italy and The Netherlands, in a needless junketing that belies the massive security problems facing the country.

    ‘’Mr. President, charity begins at home. You cannot be engaging in photo-ops abroad when your country is burning,’’ the party said.

    It said President Jonathan’s insensitive junketing and law-breaking campaign rallies across Nigeria best illustrate the old saying ‘’Nero fiddling while Rome burns’’.

    APC advised President Jonathan, as the father of the nation and Commander-in-Chief of the Nigerian armed forces, not to be afraid to visit any part of the country for whatever reason.

    ‘’In this case, President Jonathan’s pointed avoidance of Yobe, where the death of innocent school children highlights the senseless nature of the Boko Haram insurgency, is a morale booster of sorts to the cowards who murdered those children

    ‘’If however the President has any reason why he does not want to visit the scene of the gruesome murders to commiserate with the bereaved families, he should tell Nigerians who have continued to wonder why he has been avoiding the state,’’ the party said.