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Tag: APC

  • Kwara APC, PDP bicker over clash

    Kwara APC, PDP bicker over clash

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara State have traded words over Monday’s street brawl in Ilorin.

    Street urchins paralysed activities in parts of Ilorin when they engaged in a fight over collection of rent.

    APC alleged that the violence and disruption of business activities were perpetrated by PDP thugs.

    The party’s spokesperson, Sulyman Buhari, in a statement said: “We condemn the violence, disruption of business activities and destruction of properties in Post Office, Taiwo Isale, Niger road, Unity road and other areas of the state by PDP thugs. PDP has declared war on the people of the state.

    “According to the information at our disposal, the action was due to the failure of the PDP leadership to fulfill promises made to the thugs who were mobilised to its Sunday rally.

    “The frustration of the opposition PDP has led to a declaration of war on residents. If this violent trend is not arrested – it is capable of turning the state to a war-ridden zone.

    But the Publicity Secretary of the PDP caretaker committee in the state, Mohammed Alhassan said APC’s accusation was not true.

    He said: “What happened was purely an act of misunderstanding between some groups which does not have anything to do with party affairs. However, trying to achieve cheap publicity by disseminating wrong information to the general public is an act of irresponsibility on the part of APC’s leadership and its allies.

    “APC should address issues rather than engaging in cheap blackmail of our party. APC leaders and their members should also be aware that a more intimidating event will soon come up with the visiting of President Goodluck Jonathan come Monday 3rd March 2014.”

     

  • Peaceful council polls in Plateau

    Peaceful council polls in Plateau

    The election into 15 local governments of Plateau State was held in a peaceful atmosphere as there was no report of violence in any polling unit.

    Governor Jonah Jang, who cast his vote at his Ladura ward in Du, applauded security agencies for the peaceful conduct of the election.

    But one of the contending political party the All Progressives Congress (APC) alleged intimidation of its supporters, resulting in disenfranchising.

    Interim state secretary of APC, Alhaji Salisu Nakande said, “The election was peaceful and we commended the state electoral commission for their preparation, the distribution of electoral material was good and timely but later in the day we began to notice malpractice.

    Garba said: “There was no voting in some polling units in APC stronghold, we noticed ballot box snatching by PDP agents, the security agencies compromised in favour of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).”

    Commissioner for Justice Edward Pwajok noted that the election is being conducted in accordance to law, adding that, all litigations and injunctions trying to stop the election have been cleared from the State High Court to the Appeal Court.

     

  • What’s the motive of defecting politicians?

    What’s the motive of defecting politicians?

    SIR: Preparatory to the 2015 general elections, political permutations have thrown up an unprecedented trend of defections from one political party to the other. Thirty-seven members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the House of Representatives were the first to cross-carpet to the All Progressives Congress (APC), while eleven other PDP senators are angling to switch to APC. Some members of APC have also defected to Labour Party and PDP respectively.

    This defection blues presently rocking the political space is not new in Nigerian politics, but it has kept tongues wagging. The motives behind defection vary from one person to another. In fact, I can say without any fear of contradiction that most defections these days were borne out of ulterior motives and self-serving agenda of the defectors.

    Defection opens a floodgate of exodus of party members who rightly or wrongly felt aggrieved, short-changed or disenchanted with the way their party was being run, especially in the Second Republic. Politicians who know their onions translate their movement to other parties into victory and success, while others who fail are doomed politically and consigned to the dust bin of history.

    What is the mind of the Constitution and the Electoral laws on defection as it continues to dominate public discourse and raise so much legal and political dust? What impact will this development create in our democracy? The law made it clear that a candidate who is elected on a platform of a given party and defects to another ceases to be a member of that political party. It is, therefore, at the discretion of a jettisoned party to either declare his seat vacant or not. The PDP and APC adjudged to be the strongest today are mostly immersed in this defection fever with the PDP threatening to declare the seats of the defectors from the party vacant.

    The laws of the land should be applied across boards on all defecting elected politicians in accordance with the constitution and the electoral laws. The court should also prove that sentiments have no place in law. If this happens now and justifiably too, a precedent will be established and the issue of defection will be laid to eternal rest.

    It should be noted that the provision for declaring the seat of a defected member of the legislature or executive vacant was to discourage political nomadism. Elected representatives defy the law and defect because the 2010 Electoral Law as amended is not applied accordingly.

    The mass media which should hit the nail on the head has been shy or rather pretentious on this matter. Instead of providing information, education and direction to the most appropriate perspectives on the issue, the fourth estate of the realm decided to throw the issue to the public domain for judgment. So many phone-in programmes and vox pop have been carried out without any of such efforts pin-pointing the exact application of the law. They rather left people more confused than they were before the issue came up. The Nigerian Bar Association is equally standing aloof on this matter.

    In this case, those who should be the drivers of the decision-making process and opinion-moulding have turned out to be pretentious onlookers. An analyst once said that for the fact that one has converted to either Christianity or Islam does not make him or her righteous or guarantee him heaven at last. The character and attitude of the defectors, if not changed, will make no difference in their sojourn in their new parties.

    • Sunday Onyemaechi Eze

    (sunnyeze02@yahoo.com)

     

  • APC governors: Why we are different from PDP

    APC governors: Why we are different from PDP

    •Accuse Jonathan of embarking on ‘church tourism’ over 2015 elections

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) governors yesterday said the party is different from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) because it is people-centred.

    The party also described President Goodluck Jonathan’s visit to churches ahead of the 2015 elections as “church tourism,”.

    The governors spoke at the first Progressive Governance Lecture in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital. The lecture has “Unemployment and the Crisis of Governance in Nigeria: the Way Forward” as the theme.

    It was organised by the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF).

    Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi said of the difference between the APC and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP): “Some people now say that both PDP and APC are the same. They say there is no difference. Governor Kwankwanso was in PDP, he is now in APC. Governor Rotimi Amaechi was in PDP, he now is in APC. I urge you to also check what those governors were doing when they were in the PDP.

    “We have never said that all the people in PDP are bad leaders. That has never been our argument. Our argument has been that the influence of the-end-justifies-the-means politicians in the PDP is overwhelming. And that is why they are not making any progress beyond this jobless growth that we are witnessing. When you go there, you can see it. Governor Kwankwanso runs a free education programme now in Kano. Governor Amaechi runs free education in Rivers. Governor Nyako does the same in Adamawa. So, there are many ties that bind us together and we believe that ideologically, we are Siamese twins. And that is why they are here. We also want to enrich what we are doing with the examples they have shown in their states and other states. Of course, you can see the difference in Ibadan. I am not saying this just to humour my brother, the governor of Oyo State. I was born, grew up here and know this city like the back of my hand and I know the progress that it has witnessed in the short period of time that Governor Ajmobi has taken on the reins of power. You know what is going on in Lagos, Ogun, Edo, Osun and Ekiti states.”

    Fayemi and other party leaders, who spoke at the lecture, said the 2015 election would be a contest of ideas, not of physical strength, sentiment or violence.

    On the determination of the party to revitalise Nigerian economy through job creation and other initiatives, Fayemi said: “The reason why we are progressive is that we believe that we owe a duty to our people, that it is not a favour to our people to empower them to become people who have self worth in their own right. And job is not about earning a wage. It is about the dignity that it gives our people. That is why we are making this the first in the series if the PGF lectures. And there is a direct nexus between governance and employment. The disconnections that the lecturer have pointed out, the issues that have been raised are also borne by the evidence before us. The strategic committee of this group headed by Governor Fashola has been receiving results from the polls that we commissioned in the 36 states of the federation. The polls we have been doing make it clear to us that the number one issue for Nigerians across the length and breadth of the country is joblessness. Next is insecurity. But as Governor Kwankwanso has highlighted, there is a connection between joblessness and insecurity. When you look at what we are witnessing in the Northeastern part of the country today, there are those who say it is religious, there also those who want to make us believe it is ethnic. But as a student of security, the most critical factor responsible for crisis in the North is economy. That is what has made it possible for some Nigerians to believe that they have no future than to throw themselves in arms way in the name of creating an alternative republic. That, for us, is what we need to tackle. When we cut off the oxygen that is fueling the crisis in Borno, Adamawa, Yobe and other parts, we clearly must understand the connection between insecurity and poverty.”

    Earlier, welcoming the guests to the state, Oyo State Go ernor, Abiola Ajimobi, reeled out his achievements in the last 1000 days, stressing that his administration has redefined governance. He pointed out that it has also brought back an enabling environment for businesses to thrive

    “The revolution is unprecedented. From the ashes of the second dirtiest city, we have raised the level of cleanliness to make Ibadan one of the neatest. We are attracting investors due to conducive atmosphere.

    Your presence here today adds to our huge intellectual account.”

    Highlighting the danger of unemployment, Ajimobi said it has become urgent for any responsible government to act fast.

    “By taking on this challenge, we are telling the world that when we eventually take over federal governance, we will tackle this and other challenges confronting the country.” He said.

    The Chairman of the occasion and former Lagos State Governor Asiwaju Bola Tinubu said irrespective of the position various Nigerians hold about the country or the party, the APC governors and its leaders came together for the progress of Nigerians.

    He said they embraced progressive politics in order to lift citizens out of their frustration, adding that party leaders and members laid down their differences and political idiosyncrasies in the larger interest of the country.

    The guest lecturer, Dr Ayo Teriba, dissected the current state of the economy, particularly unemployment. He disclosed that though Nigeria is among the five fastest growing economies in the world, the country has double digit unemployment rate, which he put at 23 per cent.

    As a way out of the current parlous state, Teriba recommended that government must take data reading more seriously, revamp rail transportation, support economic intelligence and reform policy processes, among others.

    He said: “To make democratic governance a tool for delivering economic tangible and enduring economic benefits in the future, Nigeria needs to make monthly employment data available before the end of each month, fix rail transportation, rethink fiscal policy, refocus monetary policy, and ensure that elected officials accept responsibility for policy formulation and coordination. Appointees can implement but elected officials must adopt modalities for ensuring transparency and accountability in policy mplementation. Examples of successes in using democracies as a tool for economic advancement abound.”

    The Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum and Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha, said agreements at the lecture would be implemented in APC-controlled states .

    The governors and party leaders visited the Lekan Salami Stadium, Adamasngba where they addressed crowd of party supporters who came to welcome them to Oyo State.

    They were led by the National Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande and National Leader Gen. Mohammadu Buhari. The governors include Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers), Murtala Nyako (Adamawa), Rabiu Kwankwanso (Kano), Borno State Deputy Governor Alhaji Umaru Mustapha, his Osun State counterpart, Titilayo Laoye-Tomori, Dr Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti), Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun) and the Edo State Secretary to the State Government, Prof Julius Ihonvbere.

    Former Ogun State Governor Aremo Olusegun Osoba and former governor of Ekiti State, Chief Niyi Adebayo were also there.

  • APC warns against plot to remove Shettima

    APC warns against plot to remove Shettima

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has warned the Federal Government against plotting to remove the elected governor of Borno State, Kashim Shettima and appoint a military administrator, under the guise of intensifying fight against the Boko Haram insurgency.

    In a statement in Ibadan yesterday by its interim National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said the Presidency should realise that there was a limit to impunity, and that if anyone should be removed over the protracted insurgency in the state and in the Northeast, it was President Goodluck Jonathan.

    “What is happening in the Northeast in general and Borno State in particular is failure of leadership at the highest level of government, especially because the imposition of a state of emergency in the three worst-hit states has given the President emergency powers to deal with the protracted crisis.

    “As the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, President Jonathan is in control of the instruments of coercion, which he can and has been deploying at will. If, therefore, some seemingly implacable dead-enders have continued to kill, maim and destroy in any part of the country, no one but the President should be held liable. Everyone knows a governor does not deploy troops.

    “Also, it is trite to say that the raison d’etre of any government is the protection of lives and property. This means that the moment any government fails in that key responsibility, it can no longer justify its reason for existence,” it said.

    APC said Shettima and Borno indigenes were the victims in the senseless war waged by Boko Haram, and that what they deserved were succour and support, not victimisation by a federal government, which seemed to have run out of ideas on how to subdue the sect.

    The party said no one should lend any credence to the denial, by the Presidency, of the evil plot to remove Shettima, “because this Presidency’s words have never been worth the paper on which they are written.”

    “Several times in the past, this Presidency issued a straight-faced denial, only to go ahead and do exactly what it said it wouldn’t. Against such lack of credibility and integrity, we do not believe the Presidency’s denial,” it said.

    APC said it was becoming clear that the Presidency might be using the state of emergency in the Northeast to fight its political battle and get rid of those it perceived as a stumbling block to its interest in 2015.

    The party said if that was not the case, the Presidency would not be flying a satanic kite of plotting to remove the governor when it was clear that “this governor has done everything possible to support the Federal Government and the brave men and women fighting the sect, in addition to providing succour to Borno people, who have been traumatised by the activities of the misguided terrorists.”

    It said: “The state of emergency has run its initial course and has even been renewed, yet the insurgency continues. This means the Federal Government must think out of the box to evolve new strategies to tackle the insurgency. One of such is to heighten intelligence gathering, which will make it possible for our security forces to preempt attacks. Another is to win the hearts and minds of the local population so they can do more to help fish out the insurgents.

    “We are sad to note, however, that the Federal Government seems to have its own agenda, which may include allowing the insurgency to fester so that elections will not hold in the area next year. If anyone thinks this is outlandish, such a person underestimates the desperation of this Presidency going into the 2015 elections.”

     

  • APC agent of positive change, says Goje

    APC agent of positive change, says Goje

    Former Gombe State Governor Senator Danjuma Goje yesterday said the All Progressives Congress (APC) is an agent of positive change.

    Goje, who represents Gombe Central, spoke in Abuja about his defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    He said: “I don’t personalise politics. I look at issues. In Gombe State today, we believe that APC can bring about changes. We believe the APC can change Nigeria.”

    On the refusal of the Senate leadership to read the letters of the defecting senators, he said the development did not stop them from registering as APC members in their states.

    Goje said: “We have submitted our letter to the Senate leadership. There are other senators who have not come to the floor to announce their defection but they have gone to the public to declare.

    “We are not playing to the gallery. We have gone beyond that level. In the House of Representatives, people have defected and nothing happened. The laws have not changed.”

    Asked whether there could be room for reconciliation with PDP, the senator said: “It will be against my religion to say that I have no heart of reconciliation.

    “To say that I don’t have the heart of reconciliation will not be right. I am human. If God Himself forgives, who am I not to forgive?”

    On his relationship with his successor, Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo, Goje insisted that he was not a politician, who arrogate to himself the credit of producing governors.

    For him:“Power belongs to God” and God produces those who occupy positions of authority.

    The former governor said as a former member of the House of Assembly, a former governor, a former minister and now a senator it would be wrong for anybody to insinuate the people have deserted him.

    The lawmaker also debunked the allegation that he destroyed APC in the state, insisting that those in doubt should visit Gombe State to see things for themselves.

     

  • Kwara APC, PDP clash over comments

    Kwara APC, PDP clash over comments

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara State has described the comments by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as deceitful.

    PDP had, at its Sunday rally, claimed that APC was dead on arrival in the state.

    The leadership of the party put together the rally to welcome some indigenes appointed by President Goodluck Jonathan.

    The PDP Caretaker Committee Chairman, Solomon Edoga, said the party would win in 2015.

    Edoga added: “We are grateful to President Goodluck Jonathan for appointing some of the sons and daughters of Kwara State to important offices. He asked me to tell you that more goodies are coming.

    ‘’He asked me to tell you that the leadership of the party, led by Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu, will visit the state next week.

    “PDP is Kwara, Kwara is PDP. We’ll not relinquish our right. We will not pack out of our house. We are owners of Kwara and we are going to get out of it. This occasion today would not have been possible without the leadership of the PDP in the state.”

    But the APC’s Interim Publicity Secretary, Sulyman Buhari, said: “How can any reasonable person describe a party that mobilised about 400,000 people within two months as a dead party? Do they know what a dead party is?

    “The deserted PDP without any structure in the state is an example of a dead party.

    “The gang up against our party and party leaders is a badly arranged pack of cards which is bound to scatter. Some of the unguarded statements credited to PDP leaders underscore their civility and intelligence.

    “The gathering was a jamboree with no meaningful impact or consolidation plans for the people.

    “Although people were mobilised from 16 local governments with cash and yet-to-be fulfilled promises, it couldn’t save them from the disappointment the rally represents.

    “The APC is a formidable party and Kwarans will continue to enjoy the benefits of their unflinching support to the government and our party.”

     

  • Judge’s absence stalls hearing in PDP’s suit against Amaechi, Nyako, others

    Judge’s absence stalls hearing in PDP’s suit against Amaechi, Nyako, others

    The absence of Justice Gabriel Kolawole of the Federal High Court, Abuja stalled yesterday, hearing in the suit by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), against five of its former governors, who defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    The PDP, is by the suit, seeking to sack the governors on the grounds of their defection to the opposition party.

    The governors are Murtala Nyako (Adamawa), Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers), Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto), Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano) and Abdulfatai Ahmed (Kwara).

    On the last date, Justice Kolawole ordered that a fresh summons be served on the defendants, upon complaint by defendants’ lawyers that they were wrongly served with processes, prompting the judge to order the plaintiff to ensure proper service on the defendants.

    Parties were to begin hearing in the case yesterday, but for the absence of the judge, who court officials said was away with the Chief Judge, Justice Ibrahim Auta, in a conference.

    When parties got to court, they learnt from the court registrar that the judge would be around by noon. At 12pm, the registrar shifted the proceedings to 2pm, hoping the judge would be back.

    When, at 2pm, it became obvious that the judge would not make it, the registrar suggested that the parties should return on February 26.

    Parties could not agree on when next to return. While the plaintiff’s lawyer, Alex Iziyon (SAN), agreed. To the date suggested by the registrar, the defence lawyers said they would prefer to return next week.

    Sued with the governors is the Independent National Electoral Commission (listed as the first defendant).

    It is PDP’s contention that the governors should be sacked on the grounds that upon their defection, they have forfeited their offices, which, as a result, have reverted to the party.

    Should the court accede to its request and sack the five governors, PDP wants the court to order the deputy governors or speakers of the houses of assembly of the affected states, or any officer next in rank, who is still its member, to assume the office of governor.

    The PDP wants the court to declare that by the combined provisions of sections 177 (c), 221 and 222 (c) of the 1999 Constitution, the five governors, who were elected on its platform, cannot continue to enjoy the mandate given to it (PDP) by the people/electorate of the concerned states, as they (governors) have defected to another party.

    It is also seeking a declaration that in the absence of any division in the PDP, the five governors have vacated or forfeited their seats upon their defection to the APC.

    The party wants a declaration that by the combined provisions of sections 87 of the Electoral Act 2011 (as amended), and sections 177 (c), 221 and 222 (c) of the 1999 Constitution, the offices of the defected governors have reverted to the PDP.

    The PDP also wants the court to declare that by the combined provisions of sections 177 (c), 221 and 222 (c) of the 1999 Constitution, upon the defection of the five governors, the mandate reverts to the deputy governor or speaker of the houses of assembly of the respective states or any officer next in rank, who is still a member of the PDP.

  • APC agent of positive change – Goje

    Former Gombe State Governor, Senator Danjuma Goje, on Monday said the All Progressives Congress (APC) is an agent of positive change created to improve the living conditions of Nigerians.

    He said that there is no doubt that most Nigerians strongly believe that the APC is in a better position to change the country for the better.

    The APC, he added, “will stabilize and fix the country.”

    Goje, who represents Gombe Central Senatorial District, spoke in Abuja about his defection to APC from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    He said, “You see I don’t personalize politics. I look at issues. In Gombe State today we believe that APC is in a better position to bring about changes that will go a long way to improve the present condition of the people of Gombe State and Nigeria in general. We believe strongly the APC is in a position to change Nigeria for better.”

    On the refusal of the Senate leadership to read the letter of the defecting Senators on the floor of the Senate, he said the development did not stop them from registering as members of APC in their states.

    He said, “We have submitted our letter to the Senate leadership. We have argued the issue on the floor of the Senate. We have registered for APC. There are other Senators who have not come to the floor to announce their defection to the party of their choice but they have gone to the public to declare.

    “We are not playing to the gallery. We have gone beyond the level to play to the gallery. In the House of Representatives people have defected and nothing happened. The laws have not changed. Given the same Senate, the same laws, people have been defecting. The law has not changed.”

    Asked whether there could be room for reconciliation with PDP, he said: “It will be inhuman of me and even against my religion to say that I have no heart of reconciliation.

    “Even God Almighty who created us forgives when we go against Him and do the right thing. To say that I don’t have the heart of reconciliation will not be right. I am a human being. If God Himself forgives who am I not to forgive.”

     

  • Fulani herdsmen invasion: Waku calls for state of emergency in Benue

    Former National Vice Chairman of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Senator JKN Waku, wants a state of emergency to be declared in Benue State to protect lives and property.

    Speaking to The Nation in reaction to the continued killing of people in the state by people suspected to be Fulani herdsmen, Waku said that only a state of emergency could save the situation from degenerating further.

    He said Governor Gabriel Suswam himself has admitted that the killings are beyond his capacity to tackle.

    Suswam had at the weekend called on the federal government to “do something” on the activities of the nomads that are threatening the economic life of the people of Benue State, adding that “the entire people of Benue are very worried how militias in their thousands are moving freely and causing destructions in the state.”

    Waku said: “The governor, who is supposed to be the chief security officer of the state is nowhere to be seen, having admitted that he tried to quell the killings but his efforts couldn’t yield result.

    “I only read in the national dailies that the situation has overpowered him, as he called on the federal government to do something. What can the federal government do? The president can only declare a state of emergency to protect lives and property before the situation gets out of hand.

    “If this is not done, the people may resort to self defence, which may degenerate.

    “Because that is how civil wars start. When people resort to self defence, it’s a recipe for civil war, which can be avoided.”

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain expressed shock over the President’s silence on the current situation, saying: “The continuous silence of the federal government can be interpreted as an implementation of its strategy to create crisis in the state which they consider is not in favour of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    “We are not sure whether this is part of the implementation of the federal government’s strategy to bring militants and militia into Benue State to carry out its bid and create an impression that the invaders are Fulani herdsmen.”

    Waku said the killings have been ongoing for about three years without any arrest made to bring the perpetrators to book.

    He said that over 5000 people have already been killed by the hoodlums and property estimated in billions of naira destroyed in Guma, Gwer West and other local government areas since the attacks.

    Waku predicted that there would be “terrible starvation” in the near future, not only in Benue but larger parts of the country, since the farmers have fled their farm lands.

    “When the period of starvation comes, it shouldn’t be attributed to a natural disaster because it is sheer negligence on the part of the federal government,” he said.