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Tag: APC

  • APC urges FG to come clean on reasons for fuel scarcity

    APC urges FG to come clean on reasons for fuel scarcity

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has urged the federal government to level up with Nigerians on the reasons for the ongoing debilitating fuel scarcity that has further compounded the pains inflicted on the citizens by an incompetent government.

    In a statement issued in Abuja on Wednesday by its Interim National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said the fact that the scarcity has persisted has put a lie to the government’s well-worn line that the long queues at filling stations were caused by panic buying.

    It said the queues that have been witnessed in Lagos and other major cities in recent days are the longest and the most chaotic in Nigeria in recent years, and have shown that the situation is not just due to panic buying but a consequence of a more serious problem.

    ”The truth is that ordinary Nigerians are suffering the consequences of the runway corruption in our country’s oil sector, much as the government would want the citizens to believe otherwise. With huge funds unaccounted for by the NNPC, the so-called subsidy shrouded in secrecy and those who robbed the nation blind under the guise of fuel subsidy walking free, it was just a matter of time for the country to witness the kind of scarcity that has now grounded socio-economic activities across the land.

    ”We know that this Federal Government lacks credibility and has consistently lied to Nigerians on various issues affecting them, and we urge it to come clean for once on the reasons for this fuel scarcity and also step up efforts to end it.

    ”Coming at a time that power supply is at the worst and Nigerians rely on their electricity generators to stave off darkness and heat, it is downright cruel and totally inexplicable that the government would compound the monumental suffering of the people by its inability to provide fuel which they need to power their generators. Furthermore, hapless commuters are paying exorbitant fares to move from one point to another,” APC said.

    The party said a government that has been touting uninterrupted supply of fuel as an achievement, even when that is the least that the people expect from their government, has now lost perhaps the main feather in its cap due to massive corruption, dwindling resources due to unprecedented looting of the commonwealth and blatant incompetence.

    “These are the factors that have made it impossible for the government to issue, on time, the approvals to oil marketers to bring in the much-needed fuel, revive the nation’s refineries or even build new ones.

    “The implication is that Nigerians should brace up for more fuel scarcity in the weeks and months ahead, even if the current one is resolved one way or another,” it said.

     

     

  • APC denies copying PDP’s manifesto

    APC denies copying PDP’s manifesto

    •Accuses Presidency of voodoo opinion poll

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) said yesterday it has never in any manner copied the manifesto of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), because it is empty.

    It insisted that the recent poll by KA Research Ltd, Africa Division, which gave it a 10 per cent edge over PDP was more authentic than NOI Polls allegedly traced to the Minister of Finance, Dr. (Mrs.) Ngozi Okonjo–Iweala.

    APC accused the Presidency and PDP of practising voodoo with doctored opinion poll.

    The party made its position known at a briefing in Abuja by its interim National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, preparatory to the launching of its “ROADMAP” tomorrow.

    He said: “You see, we did not copy any manifesto. Honestly, if anybody is going to copy any manifesto, PDP’s manifesto is the worst to be copied. It should be clear to everybody.

    “In fact, when we merged, Nigerians were yearning for merger on a daily basis. We held news conferences. We raised a merger committee. We set up a manifesto committee led by Chief Audu Ogbeh. It was a beautiful piece of work. But you can see that we have even gone a step further with our roadmap.

    “When our manifesto committee was raised, we needed that manifesto to meet Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC’s) requirements to register. What we have is the roadmap, built on what the manifesto committee did. It will be suicidal for any party in Nigeria to copy PDP’s manifesto. I am not even aware if they have any. If they have, it is not even good. Why would anybody copy them?”

    Mohammed said contrary to insinuations, it was the PDP, which was poaching APC members because it was jittery.

    He added: “I listened to the national chairman of the PDP in Ilorin on Monday and he talked about poaching. We never poached. You see, when we started the process last year, we announced to the whole world that the defunct ANPP, the defunct ACN and the defunct CPC would enter into a merger and become one party.

    “We went into the process as prescribed for us by relevant laws and the constitution. That was the first stage. This is why I keep explaining to people that three things happened in Nigeria, which changed the political landscape. The first was on July 31, 2013, the day INEC approved the merger. From that day, the political calculations, the political permutations in the country changed.

    “The second was exactly a month after when seven PDP leaders and their governors walked out of a convention and PDP has not recovered from that. The final was the day the new PDP joined the APC.

    “So what happened was on the one hand via merger, which was perfectly legitimate; then we had an implosion within the PDP. It was that implosion, which led to the walking out of the leaders, which finally led to their coming to join the APC. We did not poach.

    “Now, it is true that probably if there had been no merger, there will be no such platform. Those governors and those PDP senators would have been probably forced to stay in PDP. This is because there would have been no options for them.

    “Come to the ACN, they will say it is a Southwest party. Go to ANPP, they will say it is a northern regional party. Go to this, they will say it is one man party. Now because our own leaders had the foresight of embarking on this merger, despite the cynicism of everybody, by the time the implosion happened, there was a national platform for them. This is what the National Chairman of PDP, Adamu Muazu, is mistaking for poaching. We never poached anywhere.”

    The APC interim National Publicity Secretary said the PDP National Chairman was mistaking defection for poaching.

    Said he: “However, while the law makes it permanently legal, legitimate for a governor, the deputy governor, the president or the vice president to move over from the party upon which he or she is elected to another party, it is not so easy with the legislators.

    “So there is no ceremony if a governor crosses to APC tomorrow. But for a legislator to be able to move, it is expected that there is a faction within your party. Also there are procedures in the House. So, those 44 or 45 senators, who moved from PDP to APC, and the 37 members from the House of Representatives, who moved from PDP to APC were only following all righteousness to inform the House and the Senate President. Obviously, it is because of the faction within the PDP. Even today, I read that Oyinlola said he still remains the authentic National Secretary of the party.

    “So whatever we have done, look at it from the view point of the constitution, from the view point of the law. We have always been law-abiding. They are the ones poaching. We did not poach in any way.”

    On the controversy over opinion poll, Mohammed said APC did not conduct the survey on its own.

    He gave insights into how the poll was conducted and released some indices to show that it was a credible exercise.

    According to him, “for the benefit of the President and his likes who are hard of hearing, let’s give more specifics on the polling company and poll:

    “•The survey has been conducted by KA Research Limited, Africa Division, on behalf of APC Nigeria within the 2015 Pre-Election Polling Programme, between December 9, 2013 and January 12, 2014.

    “•The survey results is based on a Face to Face Nationwide Survey conducted in 36 States + FCT in Nigeria; with sample size of 21.091 interviews; representing 18+ population of Nigeria living in urban and rural settlements.

    “•The survey respondents have been selected using multi-stage random sampling methodology across all Nigerian states; interviewed by experienced and trained local field teams in each state.

    “•The survey results have a margin of sampling error of +/- 0.7 per cent, including design effect.

    “•KA Research Limited (KARL) is a privately-owned international research company, based in Brussels, Belgium and Istanbul, Turkey; operating in more than 60 countries with its own offices, subsidiaries and affiliates in Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA Region).

    “•The company specialises in social and political polling; economic and media research in EMEA Region; its clientele includes private, governmental, non-governmental and academic clients, think-tanks; such as World Bank, United Nations, UNICEF, UNDP, Save The Children, USAID, DFID, University of Michigan, University of Maryland, CSIS, Brooking Institutions, National Democratic Institute, ABC News, BBC World Service, NHK Japan, ARD Germany, Deutsche Welle, Radio France International, Coca-Cola and Burger King Corporations; the company is also cooperating and working closely with major global research and consulting companies in EMEA Regions.”

    The APC spokesman said the release of the poll outcome had created confusion in the Presidency.

    He said: “First, the Presidency was confused. They seemed to think the APC conducted this survey itself. No, they got things wrong.

    “Unlike the PDP, we do not conduct surveys ourselves; instead, we commissioned professionals to conduct our polls. We used experts in the field so that the results are accurate and above reproach. In this instance, our poll was conducted by KA Research Limited, Africa Division. It was the largest survey of its kind ever conducted in Nigeria. I understand how this might have been confusing to the Presidency, since the PDP does not use unbiased, professional pollsters.

    “This explains why the results were such a shock to the PDP. The Presidency suggested we were practising some kind of voodoo. It seems the voodoo is coming entirely from the PDP and its survey company.

    “Second, just who is the PDP/Presidency’s polling company? It is a firm named NOI Polls. And just who is this firm? Do those initials ring a bell? The Presidency’s pollster is none other than Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala (NOI), the Coordinating Minister herself!

    “And considering she recently lost track of more than $20billion at the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), why would anyone trust any number she ever produced?

    “If there’s anyone practising voodoo, it’s NOI polls. And when you ask the Coordinating Minister about her polling company, make sure to also ask her about the money that’s disappeared, and that the people of Nigeria need their money back!

    “So, now that we’ve set the record straight and we know our survey numbers are the correct and credible ones, let’s review those results one more time:

    “When asked, “If the elections were held today, would you vote for Goodluck Jonathan or the candidate of the All Progressives Congress,” the APC candidate held a 10-point b lead over the President. By a margin of 44 per cent to 34 per cent (with 22 per cent undecided), the APC candidate was the clear national choice.

    “When asked, “In general, do you think things in Nigeria are going in a good direction or bad direction,” by a staggering more than two-to-one margin (50 per cent-24 per cent), Nigerians responded that the country was going in a bad direction.

    “When asked, “What issue would you like the President and National Assembly to focus on most,” an overwhelming majority (60 per cent) said job was the dominant issue that the government should address.

    “And then when asked if they found the following statement convincing or not, “Goodluck Jonathan has done nothing to create jobs, and far too many people are still unemployed.” Decisively, 58 per cent of Nigerians found that argument about Jonathan convincing.

    “Finally, when asked if Jonathan was doing a good or bad job fighting corruption, 59 per cent of Nigerians thought Jonathan was a doing a bad job fighting corruption.”

    Asked what the APC had realised from the poll, Mohammed said it was obvious Nigerians were after change.

    He added: “The message is clear: The nation is going in the wrong direction. The country wants change and would not vote to re-elect Jonathan in part because the number one issue to Nigerians is job and the nation believes Jonathan has no credibility on the issue of job creation.

    “Nigerians also believe Jonathan has done an extremely poor job fighting corruption (that he’s actually closed his eyes to corruption) and that the resources that should be invested in job creation, infrastructure and economic development have been stolen and wasted – undermining the nation’s opportunity.

    “We hope the PDP will also come clean on its own survey company; the fact that it is owned by a serving minister whose initials are used to name the company, and the fact that it has been feeding doctored opinion poll to Nigerians.

    “We have chosen to call the opinion polls they conduct on behalf of themselves and for themselves ‘’incestuous’’. We have nothing more to add!”

  • Amaechi: I’ll deliver on projects

    Amaechi: I’ll deliver on projects

    •To spend ‘public fund judiciously’’

    River State Governor Chibuike Amaechi yesterday described the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the vehicle for change in Rivers State and in Nigeria.

    He also promised to deliver on infrastructure, spend public funds judiciously and ensure the safety of lives and property in Rivers state.

    Amaechi spoke yesterday in Port Harcourt, while inspecting Elioparanwo and Ogbogoro Roads in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of the state.

    He pleaded with Rivers people to identify with the APC.

    He said: “The people of APC are progressives.  APC is progressive.  All of us are progressives. So, you cannot like me and not like APC.  Yes, they may like me for who I am, but they should also like APC for the fact that we bring change.

    “I represent change and I think that the people should also like APC for being a vehicle for change.”

    Amaechi also urged the contractor to ensure that the 3.25 kilometre Elioparanwo road was completed before the rainy season.

    He said: “I am paid to do this job. I am employed by the Rivers people. So, I am bound to deliver.  The responsibility of a governor is to deliver on infrastructure, the lives and well-being of the citizens and ensure that they have security.

    “You cannot have government money in your kitty and not be able to utilise it.  You must deploy it to the development of the people.  It is about priority. What you choose to do.”

    The Rivers governor, however, expressed displeasure that Rivers State was losing revenue, because some of its oil wells were being transferred to neighbouring states.

    He also decried the dwindling Federal Government allocations to the state, noting that the state expected the Federal Government to release its full allocations.

    Amaechi noted that the financial picture across states in the country was gloomy, as a result of the dwindling allocations and corruption in the oil sector.

    He said: “The problem is the Federal Government. They have cut off the resources of Rivers State Government and Rivers people.  They have taken away the oil wells in Soku and given them to Bayelsa State.  They have taken the ones (oil wells) between Oyigbo and Etche and given them to Abia State. So, our resources continue to dwindle.

    “We used to do 19, 20 billion(naira). Now, we are doing 13. Last month was 15.  We do not know how much we would do this month.  We pray that it improves. That is one. Then two is the fact that the level of stealing in the oil sector is affecting the revenue in all the states. So, we do not have enough.”

    While on the inspection, the Rivers governor, according to his Chief Press Secretary, David Iyofor, received tumultuous praise from Elioparanwo people.

     

  • APC: Opportunity beckons

    SIR: The Nation of February 20, page 55 titled “APC, Buhari and 2015” is a very commendable and timely effort by the 4th FORCE. It is a brilliant exposition of the stark choices before APC as it approaches the next general elections. The author has so fluently and convincingly expressed the opinion of so many Nigerians, even from the South-south, aghast at the deteriorating turn of events for a once vibrant and promising nation. His analysis of Buhari’s profile is clear, faultless. We are therefore sad and worried about the unhealthy scheming and subterfuge going on within his party.

    We have now experienced President Jonathan for four years. We do appreciate that he has been trying his best for this country, but apparently against insurmountable odds. And it seems he is overwhelmed by the enemies of his transformation agenda, entrenched and operating perhaps more from within as fifth columnists, than from anywhere else. So I think that Buhari’s time has come.

    But what about Tinubu? Should he remain a kingmaker operating only from behind the scene? The fact is that both Buhari and Tinubu constitute the central core, the genesis of the APC. Indeed, were it not for the gradual polarization of Nigeria along religious divides, it would be ideal, even mandatory, for the party to field its two most prominent candidates side by side. A Buhari/Tinubu combination would present an excellent drive for the government and nation on the path their vision will create. A drive, I believe, into a brand new order, genuine development and prosperity for all.

    Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu also boasts an intimidating profile. His diverse activities during his tenure as Lagos governor project him as a stable and unwavering democrat. He is further distinguished by his phenomenal capacity for identifying, nurturing and then projecting out extraordinary talents as unrivalled architects of new centres of development. Due to his foresight and planning, he is especially credited with the consolidation of Lagos as the nation’s richest, most modern and vibrant economy.

    Therefore, for the APC, a unique opportunity beckons. A political party is primarily defined by the character of its president, or candidate, and the key officials he appoints to assist him run his government. It is an expensive waste of time and energy playing around with neophytes in preference to a fully tested and proven veteran.

    • John Ingwu

    Calabar

     

  • Senator Tinubu to hold 10th Town Hall Meeting

    Senator Tinubu to hold 10th Town Hall Meeting

    Senator Oluremi Tinubu (Lagos Central District) will hold her 10th quarterly Town Hall Meeting with her constituents on Friday at Rockview Plaza in Park Lane, Apapa G.R.A., Lagos, at 9am. The theme of the meeting is: “Consolidating our democratic gains”.

    Senator Tinubu would give her quarterly report and get feedback from her constituents. Youths, traders and All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders are expected at the meeting.

    Senator Tinubu sponsored the bills to provide social security for the elderly; and amend sections of the Labour Act, which restricts employment opportunities for women.

    She is working with other senators on a bill seeking Special Economic Assistance for Lagos State.

     

  • APC to presidency: don’t profit from Boko Haram insurgency

    APC to presidency: don’t profit from Boko Haram insurgency

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has said the failed attempt by a presidential aide, Reno Omokri, to link suspended CBN Governor Sanusi Lamido Sanusi to the heightened attacks by Boko Haram, has shown the presidency may be seeking to profit, politically and otherwise, from the insurgency that has dispatched thousands to their early graves.

    In a statement issued yesterday in Lagos by its Interim National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said Omokri’s attempt to push an article he authored into the public domain, using a fake name, is the clearest indication yet that the Presidency has a case to answer and may have been feeding Nigerians with doctored information.

    It said the attempt to blame the recent spate of attacks by Boko Haram on Sanusi raises some pertinent questions: Is the presidency trying to gain political mileage from the death of innocent Nigerians, including school children, whom it could not protect? Could this be why the government has largely treated the insurgency with levity, especially in its early days? Does the presidency know more than it is telling Nigerians on Boko Haram? Is there a government Boko Haram that acts on instructions from some quarters? Is anyone in government profiting financially from the battle against Boko Haram that they may be sabotaging efforts to end the insurgency?

    ‘’The best way to know the answers to these questions is for the State Security Service to immediately arrest and question Omokri on why he was trying to act by subterfuge to misinform Nigerians, how long he has been engaged in this shameful and irresponsible act, what his connections are, if any, with Boko Haram, and whether or not his handlers, including the President, approve of his chicanery,’’ APC said.

    The party said Omokri’s dangerous game should be seen within the context of some curious coincidence between several past Boko Haram attacks and certain low moments and/or at critical junctures in the administration of President Jonathan, giving the impression of an unseen hands playing the puppeteer.

    Giving some instances, it said the Jan. 20th 2012 deadly attacks in Kano that left about 162 dead occurred at the height of the fuel subsidy protests that shut down the country; the Christmas Day attack in Suleja that killed about 37 people and injured 57 seems to be a distraction from the series of deadly attacks that had rocked the country earlier; the fact that Boko Haram struck within days of Alaemieyeseigha and Diyarbakir amnesty that attracted widespread criticism, and then the resurgence of Boko Haram that coincided with Sanusi’s suspension.

    ‘’The coincidences become even more curious when viewed against the apparently informed statements by two Governors in the North-east, where recent attacks have been concentrated. First, Borno Governor Kashim Shettima called attention to the fact that we need to do more to fortify our troops if they are to defeat Boko Haram, only for the statement to be twisted out of context and a vicious offensive launched against him by presidential attack dogs

    ‘’Secondly, Gov. Murtala Nyako of Adamawa, himself a retired military top brass, wondered aloud why the checkpoint near the FGC in Yobe was removed before the attack and who ordered the removal? Why the authorities have not been able to trace the deadly weapons being used by Boko Haram to the manufacturers? Who transports the weapons and how is that possible when the states affected are under a state of emergency? why retired Gen. Shuwa was killed and the army failed to respond during the attack on his residence, and why the air force base in Maiduguri was attacked even with an army unit nearby

    ‘’Thirdly, the fact that the attacks have spiked as we move closer to the 2015 elections, and a presidential aide is trying to link a perceived enemy of the Jonathan Administration to the insurgency suggest the government may be viewing the terrorist attacks as a wild card to be leveraged one way or the other ahead of the elections,’’ APC said.

    The party said while these are complex issues, the first step in resolving them should start with Omokri, the President’s Social Media attack dog who may have now overreached himself!

  • APC councillor stabbed to death in Port Harcourt

    APC councillor stabbed to death in Port Harcourt

    •Amaechi condemns murder as PDP warns against threat to members’ lives

    A member of the Legislative Assembly of the Akuku-Toru Local Government of Rivers State, Sotonye Melford Georgewill, was on Sunday night stabbed to death in Port Harcourt.

    Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi described the murder of the All Progressives Congress (APC) councillor, who represented Ward 2, as “very sad and shocking.”

    He said the state government would await the outcome of police investigation, before deciding on the next line of action.

    Amaechi, who spoke yesterday at the Rivers State House of Assembly, Port Harcourt, while presenting the state of the nation address to the lawmakers, urged the good people of the state to be calm and never to take the law into their hands.

    Witnesses told our reporter yesterday in the Rivers State capital that the councillor, who was married with two children, was murdered in front of his grandfather’s residence, along Accra Street, near the Lagos Bus Stop in the old Port Harcourt Township, popularly called Town. It was about 9:45 pm.

    It was also gathered that Georgewill came to the front of the house to attend to someone who earlier called him through the telephone and indicated that he was waiting for him outside.

    On getting to the car that was waiting in front of the house, the witnesses stated that two men came out of the vehicle, one of who stabbed the councillor on the chest. He fell to the ground, while the murderers escaped, shooting into the air in the thickly-populated neighbourhood.

    Shortly after the killing, some policemen in a white Toyota patrol van took away the body of Georgewill.

    Rivers Police Spokesman Muhammad Ahmad said he was indisposed and not able to speak.

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Rivers State chapter, which claimed that the murdered councillor was a member of the party, however, warned against the continued threats to the lives of its members across the state.

    The Rivers PDP said: “Hon. Sotonye Bobmanuel, a serving councillor in Akuku-Toru LGA and a member of the PDP, was assassinated a few days after the kidnap of three stalwarts of the party, who are still being held captive.”

    The Special Adviser on Media to the Rivers Chairman of the PDP, Mr. Jerry Needam, alleged that the councillor’s murder was nothing short of a calculated plot by political opponents to provoke the party’s members and ignite crisis in the state.

    He said: “It is now crystal clear why these agents of disharmony and destruction were hell-bent on seeing the former Commissioner of Police, Mbu Joseph Mbu, transferred out of Rivers State.

    “There is no denying the fact that Governor Amaechi’s agents, the APC and the Save Rivers Movement (SRM), are responsible for the unfortunate acts of lawlessness in Rivers State.

    “Even in the face of all this, Governor Amaechi remains unperturbed and is rather busy celebrating.

    “We condemn these inhuman and lawless acts in their entirety and call for an immediate  stop of the senseless insurgency and also appeal to the security agencies to wake up to these challenges posed by these undesirable elements and enemies of the state. This is the only way to guarantee peace and harmonious co-existence in the state, since no one person or group has a monopoly of violence.”

    Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, the Senior Special Assistant, Media to the Rivers Chairman of the APC, Chief Davies Ibiamu Ikanya, urged Rivers people to ignore the confused and violent PDP members, who were asked to produce the killers and kidnappers.

     

  • Nasarawa deputy governor joins PDP

    Nasarawa deputy governor joins PDP

    The Nasarawa State Deputy Governor, Damishi Luka, on Monday renounced his membership of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    This is contained in a statement signed by his Director of Press, Danjuma Joseph, and made available to reporters in Lafia.

    The statement said that the deputy governor would soon make public his reasons for leaving APC.

    “The Deputy Governor has submitted his letter of withdrawal from APC and will brief the press on Tuesday on his next line of action,” the statement said.

    It said that the deputy governor would consult with his associates before deciding on the next line of action.

    It also said that he would brief the press on Tuesday to give more explanation on why he decided to leave.

    He therefore urged his supporters to remain calm and be law abiding as their destinies were in the hands of God.

     

  • Gundiri dumps APC for PDP

    Gundiri dumps APC for PDP

    A founding member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Adamawa State, Markus Gundiri, has dumped the party for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Addressing reporters yesterday in Yola, Gundiri said his decision to defect to the PDP was based on “breach of trust and lack of accommodation” in the APC.

    Gundiri, a governorship candidate on the platform of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in the state, said his action was aimed at “strengthening democratic norms and principles”.

    He said he was initially optimistic that the merger to form the APC would provide a rare opportunity for the APC to defeat the PDP in 2015.

    Gundiri listed “injustice and impunity’’ displayed by the interim committee of the APC as other reasons that forced him to dump the party.

    The candidate criticised the way the interim committee of the APC was constituted in the state without “due recognition and respect’’ for senior partners in the coalition that formed the APC.

    He alleged that trained registration supervisors were not allowed to handle the APC membership registration in some local government areas as demanded by law, adding that the exercise was cancelled in some local government areas.

    Gundiri called on his supporters and the electorate in the state to support the PDP to move the state forward in 2015.

    He said arrangements were on to receive him and his supporters into the PDP.

    But some of his supporters have vowed to remain in the APC. His running mate, Abdurazak Namdas, said the followers of the defunct ACN are still in the APC.

    The State Interim Public Relations Officer, Salihu Baba Ahmed, said as far as APC is concerned, Gundiri was still a member as he has not formally withdrawn his membership.

    “For us to acknowledge his defection, he has to go back to his ward and tender his membership card or even come to the state interim committee and tender the membership card.”

     

  • ‘PDP can survive without Obasanjo’

    ‘PDP can survive without Obasanjo’

    Ogun State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chairman Chief Adebayo Dayo, in this interview with Jeremiah Oke, speaks on the crisis rocking the party, defections to the All Progressives Congress (APC) and preparations for next year’s elections.

    What is your reaction to the election timetable recently released by the INEC?

    When Professor Jega assumed office as the INEC Chairman, we are all rejoicing that the Messiah, who will salvage the commission and perform wonders, has arrived. Now that he is ready to carry out his duties, why are people complaining about ordinary timetable? If you are sure of your party, whatever timetable presented by the INEC, you have to accept it. It is the right of the INEC to tell us how the election will be conducted. Either the presidential election comes first or the governorship election comes last, I do not see anything bad in it.The most important thing is to prepare for the election. It is the people that are not prepared that are complaining about time-table. But, as for the PDP, we are ready.

    You said the PDP is ready. But there are factions in the Ogun State chapter. Is the party really ready?

    There are no factions. Chief Fadairo completed his tenure when we had the last congress, even though there were disputes after the congress. Dayo Soremi took over from Chief Fadairo. Later, Dipo Odujirin was talking about the non-existence of the executive in Ogun State. Odujinrin did not participate in the March 2011congress. Meanwhile, there was no reason for him to participate in the election because the whole 36 states of the federation had their congresses the same day the ward, local government and state levels. There is no reason why that of Ogun State should be different.It is unfortunate that people who are holding sensitive positions in the country insist on imposition, instead of the due process. Odujinrin was imposed, but we said no, we don’t want imposition. We insisted on the congress, which was held in the presence of the INEC officials, security agents, and press men.

    But, to our surprise, the National Secretary then, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, ensured that our executive was not recognised at the national level. They also went to court and the court ruled that we had a legitimate congress because there was an order from the national headquarters that Dayo Soremi-led executive should conduct the congress. It was in February, last year that I received a letter from the NEC which stated that our committee has been recognised by the NWC. That was when we started representing Ogun State at the NEC meetings and other national assignments.

    Your explanation has confirmed that there is division in the chapter. How do you intend to win election in 2015 when the house is divided?

    The PDP is one in Ogun State. Dipo Odujirin has nowhere to go, even though we heard that they had decided in Baba Obasanjo’s library to defect to the APC. But as at today, I know they are still in the PDP. Obasanjo himself said he will keep his membership card and he will stay in the PDP. Other dissenting members have come to terms with the court ruling. We are one and we work together. Few days ago, I was in Imeko-Afon to visit Chief Adejobi, one of the staunch members of Baba Obasanjo’s group.The situation is unlike when the former governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, had his own PPN as a faction of the PDP. Today, most of the people in the PPN are back in the PDP. For instance, the representative of the PPN in my own local government is now my Personal Assistant.

    Do you agree that the Ogun PDP crisis led to the sack of Oyinlola, Oni and others from the national executive?

    To certain level, it is correct. We had one national convention and six zonal congresses. The Southwest congress did not follow the rule of law and the party’s constitution. We in Ogun State went to court to challenge the validity of the zonal congress that produced Oyinlola and others as national officers. We believe Oyinlola and others were not duly elected at that congress, since the congress was faulty.

    The case of Ogun State is different from Adamawa. In Ogun, Chief Buruji Kashamu is fighting for the rule of law. He is fighting for the masses. He is fighting for the people to know their right. We have people here in the state who believed in staying in their living room and writing down names of those who are going to represent the state at the federal level. The court had pronounced the congress held in the Southwest illegal. I am close to 70 years now. Why must I be afraid to call a spade a spade? This country does not belong to a single individual. It belongs to all of us.

    Former President Obasanjo has not be participating in the activities of the party. Don’t you think it will affect the party?

    If a single individual says he does not want to go ahead any longer, would that consume a national party? The PDP still remains the only national party in Nigeria.

    So, what you are saying is that the PDP can win election without Obasanjo…

    With or without anybody, the PDP will win elections. When Chief Obasanjo won the Presidency, he did not win his polling booth, he did not win his ward, he did not win his local government and he did not win his state. Yet, he became the President because God wanted him there. For Jonathan to contest and win election, it is up to God and not that an individual will be telling us that it is over. If anybody loses his life today, people will continue to live. Despite the fact that we are having three solid groups in the Ogun PDP, we are still going to win election.

    Northerners are clamouring for power shift and Obasanjo is backing them. In view of the North’s voting strength, do you think it will be possible for Dr. Jonathan to secure second term?

    Where have you ever heard an African President losing election? Not that they usually rig, but the power of incumbency is very strong in Africa. People love Jonathan and they will vote for him in 2015 because of his performance.

    Are you saying both at the national, regional and state levels, Obasanjo is not a factor…

    What I am telling you is that, when he contested the presidential election, he did not win his ward, polling booth, local government and the state.

    G5 governors, Atiku and many National Assembly members have defected to the APC. Don’t you think it is a threat to your party?

    Well, politics is a game of number. But, don’t forget that, when we lost one person to the APC, 10 members of the APC will also defect to the PDP. So, if anybody leaves, there are thousands who are ready to join the party. The governors did not believe in the party supremacy. They are indisciplined and they wanted to dictate for the party, which is not acceptable in the PDP.

    Do you think Chief Obasanjo can move to the APC because you said he is planning to defect?

    Yes, they are already negotiating with the APC. Have you not heard that? They negotiated with Amosun and they have succeeded in working together. Is that the guarantee that Amosun will retain in Ogun State? If Obasanjo supports him, it is never a guarantee for him that he will return to government.

    Don’t you see Otunba Gbenga Daniel as a threat in Ogun State as he has instructed his men to defect to labour party ahead of 2015?

    When Daniel was in government, he has money and followers but today, all his commissioners who helped him are nowhere to be found. I am not saying he does not have money again but not like when he was in office as governor. His commissioner in my home town cannot win his ward again. Is that not the kind of people he relied on to win election in 2015? Although he has some people working with him but many have defected. I told you earlier that my PA was his leader in my home town. So, what left for him? As far as I am concerned, in Ogun state of today, labour party is not in existence.

    Atiku said the crisis in PDP has gone beyond redemption, and the new chairman Adamu Mu’azu is moving from state to state and region to region to ensure reconciliation of members. Do you have confidence in the leadership of Mua’zu that he can bring back the fortune of the party?

    Atiku has said such thing sometimes ago before he came back to the party, so I am not surprised. I believe so much in the leadership of Mu’azu. He does not need any magic to turn around the fortune of the party. Everything he needed is fully on ground and all he needs to do is to coordinate the party members and he has been doing that.

    Do you think national conference can address many challenges facing Nigeria most especially when some states have declared that they won’t send delegates to the confab?

    National confab is the only solution to Nigeria problem. People will be able to say their mind and I trust Mr. President; he must have done necessary things to ensure that the delegates are people of high moral standard. I know there is equal representation and they are going to give us the way forward. If they refused to send delegate the presidency knows how to handle that.