The National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has urged clerics to pray for peace. Tinubu, who spoke at the weekend at the 18th Founder’s Day and Convention/ Dedication Service of the Overcomers Pentecostal Prayer Ministry, Abule Egba, Lagos, also enjoined clergymen to pray for Nigeria’s success. He said: “Clerics have been praying for peace and development. They should not relent. I don’t want them to be tired of praying because their prayers are essential. I want them to pray so that together we will make our country great. “I congratulate the General Overseer, Pastor Sam Ogedengbe, for turning 60. He and others have been praying for Lagos State and Nigeria. I want them to continue.” The APC National Leader, who was the chairman of the occasion, inaugurated the church auditorium at 72, Jibowu Road, Abule Egba. He thanked Lagosians for supporting Governor Babatunde Fashola. Said he: “When we brought Fashola as our governorship candidate, sceptics criticised us. I am happy that he has proved them wrong by performing.” Ogedengbe, who is also the Senior Special Assistant to Governor Fashola on Religion (Christian), urged politicians to think about the welfare of the masses. He said they should improve the people’s living condition “because they voted them into office.” The event was attended by personalities, such as the Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Dr. Femi Hamzat, who represented Governor Fashola. Others are Commissioner for Home Affairs and Culture, Mr. Oyinlomo Danmole, former Health Commissioner, Dr. Leke Pitan and ex-Commissioner for Agric and Cooperative, Mr. Enoch Kolapomoye Ajiboso. The special guest speaker, Pastor J.T. Kalejaiye, of the Redeemed Christian Church of God and other clerics attended the ceremony.
Tag: APC
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Fayemi begins re-election campaign with prayers for peace
•Governor warns politicians against violence
Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi was yesterday in his hometown, Isan in Oye Local Government Area to tell his kinsmen that he is running for a fresh tenure.
Dr Fayemi kicked off his re-election campaign in a grand style.
The day began with a church service at St. Martin’s Catholic Church, where the governor warned politicians against violence in the pursuit of their ambitions.
Fayemi, who intends to contest the June 21 governorship election on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), said he dedicated the day to pray to God for the peaceful conduct of the poll.
He said he does not want anyone’s blood to be shed on the altar of politics, urging aspirants and their supporters to go to the election field, which he described as a “marketplace of ideas”, to sell their programmes and allow the electorate choose the best person to lead them.
The four-in-one event featured a campaign rally at Isan-Ekiti, the opening of Fayemi’s Campaign Office at Ado–Ekiti and unveiling of the JKF re-election campaign logo, which were attended by the governor’s kinsmen, government officials, APC members and the public.
On the need for a peaceful poll, Fayemi said the state has witnessed peace since he assumed office in October, 2010, adding that Ekiti is no more a state that experiences “one week one trouble”.
Urging politicians, security agencies, voters and other stakeholders to ensure that the peace is not disturbed, the governor said: “If there is an election that should be issue-based and devoid of violence, it should be this one. We are all witnesses to the fulfillment of God’s purpose in our land.
“Our people are not stupid. They will make up their minds on whether they want to return to the sordid past of one-week-one-trouble or maintain the path of peace and development we have been experiencing since I assumed office three-and-a-half years ago.
“We are here to pray for the peaceful conduct of this election and in my broadcast earlier this morning, I emphasised the importance of a peaceful election and why we must contribute to its peaceful conduct. No ambition, not even mine, is worth the spilling of any person’s blood and I urge everyone to conduct him/herself in a non-violent manner.
“This is a contest of ideas and the people can judge us on how we have conducted ourselves since October, 2010. Those who believe they have better ideas are free to take them to the people and leave the people to decide the direction of our journey.
“The people know the difference between the good and the bad, light and darkness. The people have seen the difference between what Ekiti used to look like and what it is today.”
In his homily, the Catholic Bishop of Ekiti Diocese, Rev. Felix Ajakaye, urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to be independent in name and in deed, saying “Ekiti people are honourable and would not take nonsense”.
He warned politicians to stop disrespecting the electorate by giving them money in exchange for their votes, adding: “This is another season of politics when people will be running after politicians and this is the time for highest bidder politics. For people who collect money from the highest bidding politician, they will lose at the end because such money never last.”
The bishop, who said he heard some people complaining that Fayemi does not throw money around like some politicians, urged the governor to maintain this attitude.
He said Fayemi’s refusal to throw money around resulted in the delivery of many life-changing policies and projects.
Bishop Ajakaye said even though the people of Israel murmured against Moses in the Bible, he led them to the Promised Land.
Urging Fayemi to remain focused, he said: “You cannot satisfy everybody. If you want to satisfy everybody, things will end in shame. Some of the people that are benefiting from you are the same people that will go out and say that they have not gained anything from you.
“If you construct roads, they will complain; if you do not construct roads, they will complain. Continue to be stingy because the era of sharing money to the people is over in Ekiti.”
The cleric urged Fayemi to protect the good name he has built over the years and always remember that everyone is watching him.
He suggested that lawmaking should be made part-time to give room for people who have a genuine passion for working for the people without monetary motivation.
Isan-Ekiti indigenes, under the aegis of the Home Support Group, at the rally said Fayemi has performed well in office and merits another term.
They donated a car to aid the governor’s campaign.
The governor was joined on the campaign podium by his wife, Bisi; deputy, Prof. Modupe Adelabu; the first civilian governor of the state and APC National Vice Chairman, Southwest, Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo and top government officials.
The Onisan (traditional ruler of the community), Oba Sunday Ajiboye, prayed for the governor, saying his ancestors will back Fayemi to win the poll.
President of Isan Progressive Union (IPU) Chief Bade Gboyega said all indigenes will support Fayemi, who he said had done the community proud by his administrative style.
Addressing a crowd at the rally, Fayemi thanked them for their support. He said all parts of the state have felt the impact of his administration, adding that he is encouraged to contest for another term by his desire to serve Ekiti people better.
Fayemi said he has represented Isan people well as his administration has been corruption-free and ensured development.
He urged the people to be wary of “the party of looters”, which he said is desperate to return to power, saying Ekiti people have resolved not to go back to the era of criminality and brigandage.
Fayemi said: “In our three-and-a-half years, there is no place the dividends of democracy have not reached. There is no road in Ekiti now that will make you change your brake pad or make your engine knock. No government official has been arrested by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) since we assumed office and we are enjoying peace. I heard the looting party is threatening to come back, but we say forward ever backward never.
“Ekiti State shall not return to the era of criminality, brigandage, trouble, thuggery, one-week-one-trouble. In this journey, I will never walk alone. Ekiti will not go back to darkness. The light has come to Ekiti and the light will stay in Ekiti.”
After the rally, the campaign train moved to Ado-Ekiti, where the governor opened his campaign office in Ajilosun and unveiled his campaign logo.
Fayemi said the building had witnessed many cries and struggles, but it is time to experience laughter.
Explaining the significance of his campaign colours, he said: “You can see the dominance of blue, which represents love and peace. The red here symbolises energy, not blood. It stands for energy, drive, commitment and compassion, not violence or criminality. The white represents purity. That is the purity of our minds and purpose.”
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Politics of religion dangerous for Nigeria, says Tinubu
NATIONAL leader, All Progressives Congress of Nigeria (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, yesterday decried the resort to religion by some politicians to curry votes, and said it was a dangerous signal for the country.
“The current religiously divisive politics our current leaders are playing will not augur well for our body politic. Religion has been elevated to a point where it is now used as a tool to curry and win votes,” Asiwaju Tinubu said at the church dedication of the Overcomers Pentecostal Prayer Ministry and 60th birthday of its General Overseer, Rev. Ogedengbe Samuel, in Lagos.
He said that while morality could not be taken out of politics, “I must serve notice that governing the country along religious lines and manipulating religious sentiments will endanger our body politic.”
Nigerians, he stressed, should be conscious of the fact that “no nation has ever survived a religious war. No religion has ever being able to wipe out another.”
He asked Nigerians not to look at politics purely from the prism of religion but from the perspective of development.
“We can only make progress if we begin to look at progress from the perspective of development and the capability of people we want to lead us and not from the prism of religion as many would want to do. The desire to hold power must stem from a commitment to rid Nigeria of frustration, lack of medical care, good roads, insecurity and poverty,” Tinubu said.
In the audience were Lagos State Works Commissioner Femi Hamzat, former Health Commissioner, Dr. Leke Pitan, Pastor Kalejaiye, the leader of the Cherubim and Seraphim worldwide and His Eminence Olufemi Akinsanya.
Rev. Samuel doubles as special adviser on religious affairs to Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State.
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Giving Tambuwal a helping hand
NO one perches more precariously on the horns of dilemma today than the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal. His body is in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), but his spirit is in the All Progressives Congress (APC). That is not all. He has presidential ambition, but he cannot begin to explore his options either openly or even secretly, let alone exploit it, for he is constrained by his position kept gingerly by sheer political gymnastics. To worsen his predicament, he would love to defect immediately to the main opposition party, but since the APC cannot yet numerically produce the Speaker by simple ballot, he would need to wait until more defections into the opposition party can be orchestrated to strengthen his hand.
But why should the APC leaders care? First, because he has done them immeasurable favour by keeping the lower chamber in their sphere of influence. And second, because he is one of their best bets for the presidency. He is young, modern, unencumbered, and brimming with crossover appeal. This is why he needs a helping hand. The APC should coax more Reps to defect in order to make it safe for the Speaker to cross over and begin consultations for a possible presidential race. He should not be disadvantaged by staying out of the race simply because he is watching the back of the party in the lower chamber.
The other contenders to the APC ticket, Muhammadu Buhari, Atiku Abubakar and Rabiu Kwankwaso are free to explore and exploit their chances. And they have done so with gusto, their initial explorations advanced by hack writers of all shades and vocal and gutsy party members such as the inimitable rhetorician, Nasir el-Rufai. Except I err gravely, Hon Tambuwal is also interested in the APC presidential ticket, the seed of which was sown perhaps last year when one of the nation’s avid kingmakers, former military head of state Ibrahim Babangida, offhandedly suggested to the Speaker to consider running for higher office on account of his stellar performance and attribute. If his ambition predates that Babangida suggestion, then I probably underestimate Hon Tambuwal’s vast and impregnable repertoire, and what insidious role power, influence and position play in helping a politician make up his mind.
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APC’s roadmap to recovery
The launch of the All Progressives Congress’s draft position on key national issues ahead of the 2015 general elections is a positive development and a progressive step. For too long, we have held elections based mainly on abuses and personality clashes. Politicians therefore promise nothing and deliver nothing.
I have pored through the skeletal document and, as a first step forward, a trailblazer in recent times, it is commendable. It provides a deed by which the party could be taken to task during electioneering, and on which it could be held accountable if installed in power. Such decisions as a commitment to establishing a state police, granting mining rights to the communities and people and paying serious attention to the poor and needy shows that the party actually cares about the future of the country.
However, the document’s silence on issues such as federalism, that is, what should be the federating units; devolution of power and resource control could not have been mere oversight. It is obvious to all that this country could no longer be run as one from the centre. Dodging this very serious issue is playing ostrich on an issue that is at the heart of national unity, stability and security.
The failure of the APC to take a stand on resource control, to me, is indicative of inability to generate a consensus on it. It speaks to the inorganic nature of the party and what could yet afflict the country if it should win the presidential election and control majority of seats in the National Assembly.
We would also like to have more details on how it intends to achieve its limited objectives. It does not help to say the party is unwilling to publish its working documents since they are trade secrets. The essence of the roadmap is to convince the electorate. It does not amount to much to pledge a commitment to free education at primary and secondary school levels and to science and technology students of tertiary institutions if we have no way of understanding that the party realises the enormity of the cost implication.
The social welfare scheme is quite ambitious, especially if taken along with the resolve to provide jobs. The party is promising the creation of 20,000 jobs in every state as soon as it takes over. It is promising to introduce a re-orientation of the education system towards science and technology. It is committed to the care for the youth post-National Youth Service Corp, pledging to keep them on the payroll for 12 months after the service.
The APC has a duty to convince us that it did not hurriedly put together a document to win votes. We cannot afford to travel the same way we did in the Second Republic when the National Party of Nigeria said it stood for Green Revolution and massive delivering of Housing to Nigerians. At the end of four years in office, asked what his administration had achieved, Alhaji Shehu Shagari said, “peace and stability”. Three months after it forced itself on an unwilling people again, the regime was overthrown by the military.
In a similar circumstance in 1955, prior to introducing the revolutionary free education programme, the Action Group released a blueprint on how it would be accomplished. It comprised how many children were in school at the moment, how many more were expected to be accommodated, how many classrooms had to be built and the cost of doing so. It also explained how to recruit the teachers. The likes of Chiefs Adekunle Ajasin, S.O. Awokoya and Sanya Onabamiro worked out the details.
This is a challenge to other political parties. Let us hang the next elections on development issues. Let the PDP and APC come up with their manifestos and roadmaps. Let’s take the federal and state governments to task on what they have done for the people. There is no doubt the system as it is has failed to work; the Nigerian state is failing and the ship of state is threatening to sink. We can no longer pretend that it is business as usual. Playing politics with religion, ethnicity and other primordial values has made us all victims. Only a leadership that could think out of the box is suitable for this period. An inept, confused and clueless administration can only compound the national crisis.
The next elections must be about the party that has the best agenda for pulling Nigeria out of the woods. It must be about the Nigerian children and their future. We cannot afford to fail the coming generations.
In 2015, Nigerians have a duty to ask all the necessary questions and demand answers. Politics is too serious an issue to be left to politicians alone. The critical mass, the educated, the professionals, must rise now.
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‘APC will take over Abia in 2015’
Donatus Nwankpa, a former Minority Leader in the Abia State House of Assembly and former House of Representatives candidate of the Peoples Progressive Party (PPA) for the Obingwa/Ugwunagbo/Osisioma Federal Constituency in 2011 is the current state Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abia State. In this interview with Sunny Nwankwo, he speaks on the party’s readiness to win the state in 2015, his emergence as the chairman of the party in the state and the activities lined up to strengthen the party for future challenges in the state. Excerpts…
There is this claim that there is no APC in Abia State. Is the APC really dead or is it on ground in the state?
There is a book which says that Africa did not have a political system. In my response to the book, I noted that when Lord Lugard, the colonial master, came to Nigeria, he said the aim of the indirect rule was to start from the existing political system in Africa and not to destroy the existing political system at that time. My question was this, if Lord Lugard, who came, saw and felt the system at the time in Africa, declared that it existed, then how come that someone who was in Europe said there was no existing political system? Who is right and wrong? You are talking to the state chairman of the APC in Abia State and before this interview, we just had a state working committee meeting. You can now decide whether the APC exists or not.
When did you become the chairman of the party in the state?
I became the state chairman in late December and I was given the flag for the state last Saturday at the inauguration of the South-East party executive, which took place in Owerri.
Why was Owerri chosen as the venue for the inauguration?
It was a South-East meeting and not a state meeting. The states in the South-East, namely Anambra, Ebonyi, Imo, Enugu and Abia were represented. At times, the people in the PDP go to Abuja to collect their flag while ours was done in Igbo land, so I think we should be applauded.
It was reported some time ago in the media that there was tussle over the chairmanship position of APC in Abia State. Was there any harmonisation before the inauguration?
Yes! It took place in December. What you said was happening before then, from October to December, and you should know that it was a teething problem of the fastest growing party in Africa. It was not peculiar to Abia State and it can be seen in any place where there is prospect. It was the challenge of a new dawn and we have overcome it.
It has been alleged that the National Vice Chairman, South-East, of your party, Dr. Nyerere Chinenye Anyim, imposed you on other members as the state chairman of the party. How true is the insinuation?
How can somebody impose me on other members? Don’t I have a political origin? I am a household name. So, with my political experience, that cannot happen. I have been a minority leader in the Abia House of Assembly, which inherently means the leader of the opposition in the state. The allegation arose because I am now taking on a ruling party. Initially, Hon Ndukwe Adindu, who is also my friend and a former minority leader before me, had a stake at the leadership position, which I also had. In our usually parliamentary disagreement to agreement method, we settled our differences and remember that the two of us have come a long way.
Can we know the other executive members of the party in the state?
Well, there is Dr Ndukwe from Bende Local Council, who is our state secretary. We have Prince Eguatu Egbulefu from Aba-South, who is our state treasurer . And Comrade Ben, our state publicity secretary, who is from Ukwa. The list includes Obi Aham from Umunneochi LGA, who is the state organising secretary, Austin Anyaegbu from Ikwuano is our state youth leader, while Hon Mrs Helen Ojukwu is our state women leader. I will not forget to mention our state administrative secretary from Obingwa in the person of Erondu Junior Erondu. This is an interim executive.
What is the mission of your executive in Abia State?
Our mission is to pilot the transformation of the APC in the state and give it a winning streak and mentality. We want to position it for the great task of administering Abia come 2015 when we will take over the mantle of leadership in Abia State. We also seek to formulate policies that will lead to a congress and to register members for the APC. There will be a nationwide registration of APC members because we do not want fictitious names in our register. We want people to know the realistic members of the APC, which is why we are going to register members from their units to the national level. Therefore, this foundation team will pilot the party to its objective.
People have alleged that some of the national executive positions appear to be dominated by Muslims and there is no prominent Igbo name there. What is your take on this?
That is not true! The National Vice Chairman, South-East, Dr. Nyerere Anyim, is an Igbo man, the Deputy National Organising Secretary; Senator Osita Izunaso, is an Igbo man. The National Women leader, Mrs. Sharon Chiazor, is also an Igbo person. The National Youth leader, Mr. Uzo Igbonwa, is an Igbo man, so I do not know what else you are saying. You either may be talking about a speculative list or probably listened to information that is intended to give a wrong impression and sabotage our party. What is the highest position held by an Igbo man in the PDP? Olisa Metu, the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, holds the highest position by an Igbo man in the PDP executive. For your information, the National Chairman of our party is a southerner, a Yoruba man.
Given the slow rate of activities in the APC, do you think the party can make an impact in Abia State come 2015 general elections?
Abia is a progressive state and APC is written in the heart of the people because it did not emerge today. Will you tell me that Lord Lugard created Nigeria? All he did was to bring the Northern and Southern protectorates together to form a central administration. Having said that, APC is an amalgamation of ANPP, ACN, CPC, DPP, a faction of APGA and other interest groups.
These interest groups include the new PDP, which is now in our party. Is there anywhere they manufacture new people to play politics? You start from the known to the unknown and these people are already on ground. What is needed is the administrative tinkering, restructuring and reengineering. It is a transformation to a new level because this is the first time in Nigeria we are having a pre-election merger and not an alliance. What we have had previously in this country is a makeshift alliance and not a merger. As I speak to you, the APC is making wave in the House of Representatives and I can assure you that APC will take over the House of Representatives, if not now, in 2015. The senate is not an exception, mind you.
I also want to tell you without any fear of contradiction that we already have 16 governors in our fold while others are on the sidelines waiting to join us. There is therefore no ground to ask if we are ready for the election. Why was the Anambra State election an embarrassment to the country? It is because it was a game plan to undermine the APC and in the course of doing that, it became a show of shame to INEC and the federal government because they were unable to find a rigging style to undermine the majority of the people who believed in the APC and our candidate, Dr. Chris Nwabueze Ngige. By the grace of God, the stolen mandate will be upturned through the judiciary.
Are there big wigs in Abia State politics who are in the APC?
Prince Benjamin Apugo is a member of our party. Hon Acho Obioma is in our fold too. The former National Chairman of PPA, Barrister Sam Nkire, is with us while the former deputy governor of our state, Chris Akoma, will soon join us. We also have people like Chief Ikechi Emenike, Sir. Stanley Ohajuruka and Barrister K.C Ugboaja, who have equally embraced us. There are other names too numerous to mention now. APC is interested in generational change and transformation. I know the APC is written in your heart because you are a progressive and any media person who is not a progressive has problem. APC has come to change the mentality of the PDP. What is the mentality of the PDP? It is taking Nigerians for granted and that is why the helplessness of Nigerians before elections is obvious. There has always been a lackadaisical approach amongst Nigerians towards elections because they know that whether they vote or not, the PDP has already written results and nothing will be done about it. As at today, Nigeria has technically arrived at what it should be; a two party system, which means that Nigerians now have alternative choices.
Like other political parties, has your party zoned positions in the state?
I am a team player. I will not arrogate to myself powers that I do not have. The state executives, congress of the APC and members of the party will determine where they will zone the various offices. I assure Abians that in whatever we do, we are conscious of fair play, fairness and equity. We are conscious of the feelings of the people and will not play with their sensibilities.
Abia is a PDP state, do you not think that the APC will have a serious challenge in trying to win power?
Are you a believer in “as it is in the beginning, then forever it shall be?” That principle only belongs to Almighty God. The time of change has come and the wind of change is blowing across the globe and Nigeria. Abia cannot be an exception! For the past 16 years, Abia has been in political wilderness and now progressives will take over the state and lead it to its natural place, which is among the committee of civilised, advanced and comfortable states of this country. There is a divine hand that is saying ‘Pharaoh, set my people free; PDP, let my people free’, and that is what is going to happen.
Political opponents have often referred to the APC as an amalgamation of strange bedfellows and that sharing of political offices will disintegrate the coalition. It is also said that the primaries of the 2015 general election will sound the death knell of the party. What is your take on these?
Those are statements of our detractors who are consoling themselves. They said we would not last three months but we have lasted until this very moment. We participated in an election where they used the apparatus of the state brutally to the point that the Chairman of INEC (Independent National Electoral Commission) admitted that the election was an embarrassment. We had an interim executive and it has worked. They said the new PDP members would not join us, but today they have joined us. This is the first time, the Yoruba, Hausa, Igbo, South- South and Middle Belt are coming together to seek for change. Tell me a revolution in the world which has been carried out by strata of persons? Did strata of persons carry out the Russian Revolution? People of distinct origins, environment, and mentality carried out the industrial revolution that is taking place today in Malaysia, India, and China. The most important thing that binds us together is our ideology of positive thinking, change, fair play and equity and that is because the APC is rooted in the culture of social justice.
Any last word for Abians?
Abians should take charge of their destiny and embrace the change that the APC will bring to them come May 2015.
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APC accuses PDP of planning to compromise voters
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been importing kerosene to distribute free to potential voters in Ekiti and Osun states, the All Progressives Congress (APC) alleged yesterday.
Director of Publicity of the APC in Osun State, Mr. Kunle Oyatomi, in a statement, said it had information that the missing N48.9 billion from the nation’s account is allegedly being used by the PDP to import kerosene, part of which it would distribute free to people in Osun and Ekiti states, in order to win their votes.
The statement added that: “The Yoruba nation should show to this wicked people that if up until now, all they could do was to bring misery and suffering to our nation, giving free kerosene that will burn in a matter of days, cannot blind our people to the fact that the PDP is a curse to Yorubaland and does not deserve the Yoruba votes.
“From 1999 – 2010, the PDP destroyed everything our great leader, Chief Obafemi Awolowo did for us in the West and to top it all, they maginalised the race and made it look like it didn’t matter in Nigeria.
“Whatever they may do in the West between Ekiti and Osun. The PDP can’t win because they are not popular due to the monumental destruction they brought to the Yoruba people and Yoruba nation.”
The APC also alleged that “the PDP in Osun is sprawling the nooks and crannies of the state to buy up newly issued voter cards, offering between N5,000 and N10,000 for each card it could get from prospective voters.”
“The APC is alerting the security agencies to take this information seriously and do everything within their powers to stop PDP’s nefarious action.
The party enjoined citizens to protect themselves from fraudulent people who want to take their birthright from them in order to use it against them eventually.
“It will be a personal tragedy for anybody’, the party said, ‘who will throw away his right to elect his own leader for the mess of porridge for N5000 or N10000.”
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Face governance, APC tells Jonathan
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara State has urged President Goodluck Jonathan to face good governance, instead of talking about 2015 elections.
APC also called on Nigerians to discountenance the President’s boast of recapturing the state for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2015.
In a statement, the party’s interim spokesperson, Sulyman Buhari, said: “The frustration of the PDP and its leaders is understandable after the desertion of the sinking party by Kwara people but the unrepentant style of misinforming Nigerians by the President is un-presidential and condemnable.
“President Jonathan has forgotten some basic facts of history, PDP has been in existence since 1999 at the federal level but there was no PDP in the state, until 2003 when the Sarakis adopted the party.
“Kwarans supported and joined en masse due to the love for the Sarakis.
‘’It is a shame that President Jonathan-led PDP had no impact or achievement to lay claim to when he visited Kwara State. The President is being deceived, even his supporters in Kwara are known to be saying it around town they know President Jonathan can’t win election in Kwara.
“Their treachery is to dent the Sarakis, the same structure that made most of them – and this plot will certainly hit the rocks. There is no stolen mandate in the state.
“Any person who tagged a representing mandate as the mandate given to Governor Abdulfatai Ahmed, a stolen mandate is either being mischievous or too inept to understand the mandate. Stolen from where to where?
“Kwarans are the beneficiaries of this mandate and their interests are assured in the APC.
“The reality of Nigeria today is that the Federal Government is now defrauding its poor and unemployed citizens to the tune of billions of naira and Nigerians are being killed through the pseudo-recruitment exercise.”
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No vacancy in Gombe, says PDP
Ahead of the 2015 gubernatorial race in the state, the Gombe state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party has declared that there is no vacancy at the state government house.
The state’s Secretary General of the party, Alhaji Buba Shanu said this in reaction to the All Progressive Congress declaration to oust the ruling party in the state at the next elections.
According to him: “PDP both at the national level and Gombe state, will take this as a serious business because we have infrastructure and systems in place to take care of the business
“At the National level, when the management of PDP sneezes, Nigeria catches cold. This tells you that we are the people to beat. We are the leaders, not the followers and therefore, nothing can stop us”.
He said the scenario is the same at the state level where the ruling party is going to continue to rule for a long time.
Asked whether Governor Dankwambo would stay in office beyond 2015, Shanu said: “I don’t only just think he will be in office, I know for certain he will be in office.”
He said the strength of the incumbent administration among others are its planning, prudent, transparent and participatory nature and the fact that there has been no stealing, killing, maiming or coercion since it came on board.
He said this is a clear departure from the immediate past where coercion, killings and maiming were rampant, even as the then governor woke up every day without planning and decided how he wanted thing to be.
He denied rumours in some quarters that three PDP Councillors defected to APC in Kwami local government, home of the state Interim Chairman of APC, saying “I am not aware of anything like that.”
On attempts to disrupt the state government’s reorientation and rehabilitation exercise, the PDP stalwart said it may not be wholly political, hence the need to look inward with a view to frustrating future attempts.
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Immigration jobs deaths: APC seeks criminal probe
Party condemns Sanusi’s bullying
Alison-Madueke ‘must be removed’
After a seven-hour meeting in Abuja, the All Progressives Congress (APC) delivered yesterday a verdict on the state of the nation.
The President Goodluck Jonathan administration has lost control of the ship of state, the party said.
It also blamed the ruling government for the death of 19 applicants during last Saturday’s Nigeria Immigration Service(NIS) recruitment test.
It accused the government of exploiting unemployed youths instead of creating jobs for them.
The party also demanded a criminal investigation of the incidents which 19 applicants, including expectant women, died.
Besides, the APC condemned what it described as the ferocious and unwarranted attacks against suspended Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Sanusi Lamido Sanusi for exposing alleged $20billion theft in the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).
The party queried why Sanusi will be under suspension while Petroleum Resources Minister Diezani Alison-Madueke, who superintends NNPC, is still in office.
On the orgy of killings nationwide, the APC urged the Federal Government to take steps to address it.
It also warned the government against its ongoing plans to impose a total emergency on Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states to remove democratically elected governments in those states.
The party, which gave its verdict on the state of the nation after a seven-hour session of its National Executive Committee (NEC), also fixed May 24 for its National Convention.
The convention will be preceded by Ward Congress (April 5); Local Government Congress (April 12) and State Congress (April 23).
Addressing reporters on the NEC communiqué, APC Interim National Publicity Secretary Lai Mohammed, said the party was of the opinion that the pervasive corruption and incompetence of the Jonathan administration led to the death of the 19 applicants.
It accused the Jonathan administration of fleecing 770,000 applicants of N770million, using a consultant as a conduit pipe.
The communique said: “Following its deliberations, the National Executive Committee of the APC commiserated with the families of the people who died on Saturday, March 15th, 2014 at several venues of the job test by the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS). We also extend our sympathy and prayers to those who were injured in the stampede, and wish them a speedy recovery.
“The needless deaths of our youth, which resulted from a combination of exploitation, corruption, greed and incompetence of the relevant authorities, represent a needless violation of their right to life and dignity.
“Out of sheer greed, N1,000 each was collected from the over 770,000 unemployed applicants shortlisted.
“The Jonathan-led PDP government, therefore, fleeced unemployed youths and their parents of Seven hundred and seventy six million naira (N770 million naira) using a consultant as conduit.
“ Even then, the available vacancies of about 4,500 have already been filled through the back door by over 3,000 candidates of PDP Apparatchik and government officials.
“The pervasive corruption and incompetence that have become the hallmarks of the Jonathan Administration paved the way for this unprecedented greed in which hapless job seekers were extorted by the same government that has failed to provide jobs for them.
“Yet, this government has no social security or any form of safety net for the vulnerable army of the unemployed. It should be made clear that this government encourages and baby sits corruption, stealing not only from the pension fund of Nigerian citizens, but also from the unemployed and from our collective patrimony, the NNPC.”
The APC demanded what it termed a criminal investigation of the job stampede deaths.
It added: “That is why we are calling for a criminal investigation to unravel the circumstances that led to the deaths of those innocent Nigerians, to find out who authorised the fleecing of job seekers by a government agency, what happened to the money realised from the heist and why the relevant officials did not ensure a better arrangement that could have saved precious lives.
“The job stampede deaths constitute the latest in a series of events that have turned Nigeria into a massive killing field in recent times.”
The party faulted the insensitivity of the Jonathan administration to the orgy of killings nationwide.
It queried why the PDP-led Federal Government had been pretending as if all is well in the country, climaxing in the President gallivanting from one rally to the other.
The party said: “The orgy of killings in the past few weeks have left hundreds dead and many more maimed in Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Kaduna, Katsina and Plateau, just to mention a few.
“ Never in the peace time history of our dear country has there been such a high number of needless deaths.
“Amid all of this, the PDP-led Federal Government has been carrying on as if all is well. After presiding over a wasteful centenary celebration, President Goodluck Jonathan has been gallivanting around the country, addressing political rallies when he should be commiserating with families of the dead in the affected states, especially Yobe where innocent children were massacred by a cowardly band of terrorists, and Katsina, which he visited a few hours after hundreds of people were killed.”
The party, however, warned the Federal Government against what it described as a plot to impose a total state of emergency on Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states.
The communique said: “Also, it has come to our notice that, in pursuant of the Presidency’s stance to label anyone who offers it any advice on how to curtail the terrorists’ attack and boost the morale of our gallant troops, the imposition of a total state of emergency is being considered for Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states, which is a smokescreen to remove the democratically-elected governors of these APC states.
“We condemn this move unequivocally and urge the President to jettison the idea, if indeed it is being remotely contemplated, because it will not advance the cause of peace in the affected states.
“Against the background of the daily orgy of killings, we are compelled to say that the Jonathan Administration has lost total control of events in the country, with the result that Nigerians are now being left to their own devices.
“It is clear that the situation in our country today, whether it is in the area of security, job creation, fight against corruption or even growing of the economy, is far beyond the capacity of those at the helm.
While faulting attacks on the suspended Governor of Central Bank, Mr. Sanusi Lamido Sanusi for exposing the $20 billion scandal in NNPC, the party queried why the Petroleum minister, who supervises NNPC, is still in office.
It said:”We also note, as a party, the ferocious attacks and blackmail mounted against Lamido Sanusi, the Governor of Central Bank. How someone who publicly disclosed the brazen theft of $20 billion from NNPC became a candidate for character assassination and blackmail is questionable and condemnable. Sanusi’s suspension is an affront to law and a threat to Nigeria’s institutional stability.
“This is also a government of double standard.Why is the Minister of Petroleum Deziani still in office when the major agency she superintendents is under investigation over the missing $20 billion?
“Therefore, the only salvation for Nigeria is a purposeful and focused party like the APC.
“From the road-map, which we unveiled recently, it is clear that we recognise the enormity of the challenges facing our dear country, hence we made job creation our priority, followed by security and the fight against corruption, among others.
“We urge our compatriots not to despair or give up hope, because salvation is in the horizon.
“The APC today embodies the hopes and aspirations of our long-suffering people. We have no doubt that this country can and will work again, and we are up to the task of restoring hope to our beleaguered people.”
The party released the timetable for election into various offices from the ward to the national levels.
The National Convention will hold on May 24.
The communique added: “Finally, the party wishes to announce dates for its Congresses and National Convention.
“The Ward Congress will hold on 5th of April, Local Government Congress on the 12th of April. State Congress on the 23rd of April and National Convention on the 24th of May.”
Asked if the party has zoned its offices, Mohammed, said: “ No office is zoned to anybody or any part of the country.”
On the ongoing National Conference, he said: “ There is nothing to discuss on the conference. We have made our position so clear about why we are not attending and nothing has changed. APC as a political party is not attending.”
The meeting was attended by members of the party’s Interim National Executive Committee, led by Chairman Chief Bisi Akande, Governors Rochas Okorocha (Imo), Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers), Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun), Dr. Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti).
Some national leaders of the party at the meetinh are: Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, General Muhammadu Buhari, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Senator Ali Modu Sheriif, Chief Ogbonnaya Onu, Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje, Chief Olusegun Osoba, Senator Bukola Saraki, Senator Danjuma Goje, Senator George Akume and others.