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  • ‘APC determined to bring Nigeria back from ruin’

    ‘APC determined to bring Nigeria back from ruin’

    It is with great pleasure that I stand in front of you all at this historic event of the unveiling and presentation of All Progressives Congress (APC) political party and its logo to Nigerians in the State of Maryland. Welcome!

    The All Progressives Congress, also known as the APC, was formed in February 2013; the result of the amalgamation of the four biggest opposition parties in Nigeria – the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), the All Nigerian People’s Party (ANPP), and a faction of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA).

    On July 31, 2013, the APC received approval from the nation’s electoral umpire, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to become a political party. Subsequently, INEC withdrew the operating licenses of the three previous and merging parties (the ACN, CPC and ANPP), now referred to as the legacy parties.

    The merger was fashioned to take on the so-called ‘all mighty’ People’s  Democratic Party (PDP) and to offer a recipe for peace and prosperity to the beleaguered, longsuffering people of Nigeria.

    The APC is committed to the principles of internal democracy. It focuses on issues of serious concern to the Nigerian people, and is determined to bring corruption and insecurity to an end, thereby stopping and reversing the trend of increasing despair and hopelessness among Nigerians, both at home and abroad.

    The resolution to solve these issues, as well as the restoration of hope, the enthronement of true democratic values for Peace, Democracy, Justice and Good Governance necessitated the birth of the APC, and continue to fuel its growth, even today.

    This movement has not been without obstacles and challenges clearly designed to sabotage and undercut its efforts. Even at its inception, In March 2013, two other associations – African People’s Congress and All Patriotic Citizens – also applied for INEC registration, adopting APC as an acronym as well, a clever, but cynical attempt to dilute the young coalition’s brand ahead of the 2015 general elections. Undeterred, the party leadership pressed forward, offering to alter the Party name to avoid any conflicts, because its leaders were confident that the strength of this movement is not in its name, but in its ideals and its commitment to them. Thankfully, by divine order, the All Progressives Congress was registered without a change of name.

    The PDP has essentially ruled Nigeria unchecked since 1999, and in 15 years, its only achievement has been to kill the optimism and dash the hopes of all Nigerians who emerged from under the brutality of successive military dictatorships. Consider, if you will, what the last 15 years have meant for Nigeria under PDP leadership:

    • a battered economy that increasingly marginalizes the average Nigerian into poverty, while, at the same time, enriching the cabals that have unconstitutional control over state resources in Nigeria; a rise in the impunity of the brazen use of the mechanism of Government at the highest levels by the PDP leadership to intimidate any and all opposition; the loss of manufacturing jobs to neighboring countries as a result of epileptic power supply; Increase in medical tourism to countries like India and South Africa due to the deplorable state of the health system in the country, the appalling and reprehensible condition of our educational system, where students have spent more time at home than in schools; Breakdown of the social and physical infrastructures; Budget Performance which is below 60% annually; Internal terrorism manifesting in Boko Haram insurgency and kidnapping.

    The APC is determined to bring this great country back from the brink of destruction and ruin by combating the seven major challenges I just outlined with the following goals: National unity and integration; A serious and holistic approach to defending against threats to security, not just a military one; A restitution of constitutional law and order; Ensuring rapid economic growth with equity, as well as economic policies built around, and for, the working class; Consolidating Nigeria’s emerging democratic tradition; Human development; And Meeting the energy needs of the Nigerian people while Instituting a sustainable management of the environment.

    Many of us want change, in fact, perhaps the overwhelming majority of us desire to have such a decisive and impactful change in our polity, in the way we are governed, in the processes of governance, in the dynamics of our national economy, and in the nature of social cohesion among our peoples.

    Under the leadership of the current government, several national issues which threaten the unity of and democracy in our great nation have become apparent. These issues include: Ethno-religious conflicts, militancy and insurgencies; Endemic corruption and electoral malpractices.

    There is a clear correlation between insurgencies and the high level of unemployment, poverty and the accompanying disaffection, especially among our youth, whose anger and frustration then make them easy targets for recruitment in these seemingly endless suicidal campaigns of terror.

    The Government recently declared a state of emergency in Adamawa, Yobe and Borno states to curb the activities of the increasingly emboldened insurgent groups, chief amongst them, the organization known as Boko Haram. Such is the impunity with which the group operates that it hoisted its flag in 11 Local Government Areas in Borno State. And they are not alone. Far from being a regional issue, the slaughter of Nigerian citizens on a daily basis in one part of the country or the other is a stark reality our country currently faces. Armed Robbery and Kidnapping are on the rise and these threaten the security and unity of this nation.

    The lack of Internal democracy within the ruling party and the resulting problems have resulted in the blatant disregard of the constitution as witnessed by the recent debacle in Rivers State where the State Police takes direct orders from the Presidency to undermine the authority of the democratically elected Governor, who is supposed to be the Chief Security Officer of the State. About the same time, 5 members of the State House of Assembly in Rivers attempted to impeach this same Governor of the State on trumped up charges with the support of the Presidency, all within the PDP.

    The overwhelming majority of Nigerians is increasingly tired of, frustrated with and bewildered by the incompetence, unresponsiveness and irresponsibility of our elected officials, as they should be. Since our independence in 1960, every successive democratically elected administration has performed worse than the previous one with respect to the general welfare of Nigerian citizens and the well-being of our economy.

    ***.

    Let me take a moment to briefly address our economy. While it’s both true and laudable that Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product or GDP, grew by approximately 7% last year, that figure represents a net 1% shrinkage from the previous fiscal year, and is still nowhere near the 8-10% annual growth rate needed to reverse poverty trends to meet the goal of lifting Nigeria into the league of the 20 largest countries by 2020.

    Furthermore, in spite of the apparent growth, the Government, in its handling of the economy, has failed to make a difference in the economic plight of the average person. 1 in 4 Nigerians is unemployed; 1 in 3 among the youth. 7 out of every 10 Nigerians live in poverty. Yet, somehow, in the midst of all this, 8 of the wealthiest 15 Africans call Nigeria home.

    Personally, I’m amazed. With the amount of corruption, fraud and misappropriation; the mind boggling levels of organized looting being perpetrated and perpetuated by political brigands in power and their business partners, I would think we should score 15 out of 15 of the wealthiest Africans. Our oil sector alone has lost $100 billion to fraud and corruption over the last 10 years. That’s the size of three federal budgets, gone, just like that. When the top 105 Nigerians possess 41% of the national wealth, but the bottom 20%, tens of millions of people, own a meagre 4%, it’s time for a change. Not just a cosmetic face-lift, but a dramatic, genuine, transformative change. And it is within this context, as an agent of this quest for change, that the APC is casting its vision towards the 2015 general elections.

    The Party’s platform is a seven point cardinal program addressing the critical areas of:

    • Energy,

    • Systemic corruption,

    • Food security,

    • Transportation and  Education,

    • The balance of power between Federal, State and Local governments

    • The National economy, and

    • Health care.

    The party’s vision is that of a progressive state anchored on social democracy; one that is economically viable, socially secure, and politically stable; a state, where the creative energy of every Nigerian is directed towards productivity to generate wealth for the well-being of its people.

    The APC, with this mindset, therefore recognizes, highly values and is ready to harness the abundant energies, enterprise and intellect of all Nigerians, particularly the Nigerian youth and women, to move the country forward so that Nigeria can assume its proper place in world affairs commensurate with its size and status as the leading African nation in the world, and, more importantly, reposition it decisively on the route to an emerging, modern, stable democracy with a productive economy that is based on equity and justice for all citizens.

    I wish to express my appreciation to the members of this newly formed chapter who as notable Nigerians are rising up against the tyranny, impunity and criminality of the present leadership in the country while aligning yourselves with the “change-oriented” party. You are our compatriots in Diaspora and are no less stigmatized by the cultural reputation of corruption attached to our national identity nor immune to the plight of loved ones facing hardship at home.

    I wish at this juncture to salute the courage of our leaders, namely Major General Muhammed Buhari, Chief Bisi Akande, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Chief Ogbonaya Onu for sacrificing their individual ambition to midwife the APC.

    I stand here to make a humble commitment to you that we shall continue to push for, and pursue an agenda that will rescue our nation from  the shackles of hardship, poverty and irresponsible mismanagement of our economy by the PDP Administration.

    The APC will provide leadership motivated and inspired to serve our people and promote their wellbeing; leadership determined to serve with honour and integrity in a social contract with the people who will vote them into power.

    We are one people with allegiance to one nation under the Sovereignty of one God who has bestowed on us His love that transcends human understanding. It is, therefore, an ultimately destructive act of ingratitude to Him for any individual or party to attempt to exploit religious divisions for electoral victory at the peril of our national unity.

    God has blessed Nigeria specifically with so much human and natural resources that any administration should be so fortunate as to deliver the promises of peace and prosperity on behalf of its people, providing leadership that mobilizes the creative energy of the citizenry to generate wealth through industry and lift the Nation out of poverty.

    It is the promise of the leadership of the All Progressives Congress that this party will always choose the path of honour, integrity, accountability and responsibility to provide good governance and life more abundant.

    It is therefore my pleasure to unveil the logo of the All Progressives Congress in the United States of America chapter of the party. Long live APC! Long live Nigeria!!!

    Thank you and God bless.

    — Being excerpts from a speech by Senator Robert Ajayi Boroffice at the presentation of the logo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) U.S chapter on February 8, 2014

  • Suspension is illegal, says APC

    Suspension is illegal, says APC

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has said Thursday’s suspension of Malam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi as Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) by President Goodluck Jonathan is patently illegal, poorly thought-out and in bad taste, noting that it will definitely have negative consequences for the nation’s economy.

    In a statement issued in Lagos on Thursday by its Interim National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party also said the action is the clearest indication yet that President Jonathan, whose body language does not abhor corruption, is willing to silence any whistle-blower, no matter his or her status.

    ‘’As the country wallows in unprecedented corruption under the rudderless and corruption-hugging Jonathan administration, the President may have finally decided to send a strong signal to all Nigerians that it will not tolerate any exposure of corruption under any circumstance. What better way to do this than to silence the man who has exposed the alleged missing 20 billion dollars in the NNPC accounts?’’ it queried.

    APC said that Sanusi’s suspension has also shown clearly that President Jonathan as a leader does not care if he destroys national institutions on the altar of personal ego and political expediency.

    ‘’First it was the judiciary which came under his sledge hammer, when he suspended then President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Ayo Salami, just to satisfy the hawks in his party. Then it is the turn of the National Assembly, the Police and nowthe financial sector. President Jonathan should not destroy our institutions before he bows out of office next year. These institutions are older than him and will definitely outlive him,’’ APC warned.

    The party said while Section 11 (f) of the CBN Act 2007 empowers the President to remove the CBN Governor, the section is clear that he can only do so if he has the support of two-thirds majority of the Senate. ‘’Nowhere in the Act is it said that the President can suspend the CBN

    Governor, as he has done in another of his serial rape of the country’s laws,’’ it said, adding that the reasons given by the presidency for Sanusi’s suspension are as puerile as they are unprecedented, and amount to calling the dog a bad name just to hang it.

    The party said the questions that arise, based on those ridiculous reasons, are: ‘’Why has it taken almost five years of Sanusi’s tenure for the President to realise the irregularities of CBN under Sanusi?

    Why is the President acting on questionable allegations against Sanusi at a time the CBN Governor has opened the can of worms in the NNPC?

    Why has a President, who has always treated glaring corruption allegations against his political appointees with so much levity, now so quick to move against a CBN Governor who has never been accused, let alone indicted of corruption?

    APC expressed serious concerns at the implication of Sanusi’s suspension for the nation’s economy, especially on the value of the Naira; local and international investments; the stock market; inflation and the overall health of the economy.

    ‘’Coming at a time when the economy was already under pressure due to internal and external factors and is in need of significant investments in several sectors, such as power and manufacturing to maintain its economic growth rates, the uncertainty caused by the suspension will leave both local and international investors questioning the economic direction of the country and therefore their investment approach to Nigeria.

    ‘’At best, new investments will be delayed until investors consider that economic and political stability has been restored, and at worst, which is more likely, both new and existing investors will pull back.

    ‘’The Nigerian Stock Exchange that was already witnessing a withdrawal of portfolio investors, due to the US tapering exercise, is likely to be exacerbated as more investors, local and international, exit the market, further putting downward pressure on the country’s exchange rate at a time the CBN is already having difficulty defending the currency. In fact, the devaluation of the national currency looms.

    ‘’All these factors will also drive higher inflation rates with its attendant economic, social and political costs. No one can say for certain exactly how costly this action will be for the nation but there are no doubts it will be high,’’ the party said.

    It called on Nigerians to stay strong in their determination to fight the canker worm of corruption, even as the government of the day makes clear it will not hesitate to punish whistle-blowers and reward corrupt persons.

    ‘’If anyone in this country is still doubting that the Jonathan administration lacks the wherewithal to fight corruption, operate under the rule of law and take Nigeria to greater heights, that person should now clear the doubt. This administration has clearly reached the end of its tethers and should be voted out next year to pave the way for a party that is willing and able to rescue Nigeria,’’ APC said.

  • APC urges military to rev up preventive strategy

    APC urges military to rev up preventive strategy

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has strongly condemned the spate of mass killings by Boko Haram in the Northeast. It called the insurgents cowards for targeting unarmed civilians, especially women and children, in their dastardly attacks.

    In a statement yesterday in Abuja by its Interim National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party insisted that nothing in the world could justify the senseless slaying of innocent civilians by a band of marauding insurgents, and reminded the terrorists that they cannot win the ill-advised war they have launched against their fatherland.

    It condoled with the government and people of the affected states, especially Borno, which has borne the brunt of the attacks, over the killings as well as the destruction of houses and other property.

    The APC said while the Nigerian military has undoubtedly recorded some successes in its battle against the terrorists, it is time for it to rev up its strategy for preventing the kind of mass killings which the insurgents have been perpetrating in recent times, especially in the remote areas.

    The party urged the military to increase its intelligence gathering capability with a view to nipping in the bud the attacks on civilians and military targets, including barracks.

    “However, we make bold to say that successful intelligence gathering cannot be possible if the stakeholders are not carried along; when soldiers have not taken the pains to win the hearts and minds of the local communities and where decision making on key and pressing problems centres around Abuja.

    “The delay in acceding to requests from troops on the field concerning logistical challenges, due to unnecessary bottlenecks at the level of the political authorities, is exploited by Boko Haram to carry out daring and deadly attacks not just on civilians but on the military itself.

    “Therefore, it is absolutely important to provide the brave and patriotic personnel we have sent to the battle against the insurgents with everything they need to prosecute a successful battle. We must also ensure that we are not just fighting to win the battle, but to also win the peace,” it said.

    The APC also urged the Presidency to stop being unnecessarily defensive and concentrate on providing the military with all that it requires to defeat the insurgents.

    The party described as counter-productive, unwarranted and ill-advised, the not-so-subtle attacks launched against Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima by the presidency, for simply stating the obvious, that our soldiers need to be adequately equipped and properly motivated, if they are to be able to subdue Boko Haram.

    “We know that several of the Presidency’s attack dogs are terribly under-employed and that they need to face the klieg lights time and again to justify the huge taxpayers fund being expended on them, but the truth is that they ridicule no one but themselves and the presidency when they have to bark at the victims of the deadly Boko Haram attacks from the comfort of their padded offices in Abuja.

    “Governor Shettima is in the eye of the storm, so to say, and has wisely gone to Abuja to brief the presidency on the situation in his state after the last round of attacks. For the same presidency to unleash perhaps its most vicious and unrelenting attack dog against the same Governor amounts to bad judgement, which also undermines the fight against the insurgents.

    “The Presidency’s attack on Governor Shettima is also unfair and grossly insensitive to the plight of the people and government of Borno, who deserve nothing but our support and succour at this difficult time,” it said.

    APC praised Shettima for his unflinching support to the military in its battle against Boko Haram, as well as the efforts of his administration to alleviate the suffering of the victims of the terrorist attacks, urging him to continue along that path until victory is achieved.

  • Anambra APC begins registration of members soon

    Anambra APC begins registration of members soon

    The All Progressives Congress APC will begin the registration of its members in Anambra State soon .The hint was given in Awka by the party’s Interim Publicity Secretary in Anambra State, Mr. Chukwuma Agufugo.

    It would be recalled that APC conducted registration of its members before the November 16, 2013 Governorship election.

    Agufugo, while speaking with our correspondent in Awka, said though there was such exercise before the election, that there were challenges during the exercise.

    The challenges, according to him, were that the register sent to the state did not have polling numbers on them, while those who were incharge of the registration had problems of spelling names correctly because they were not from the area.

    He said that the national leadership of APC would soon send new registers to Anambra like the way they did to other states during the recently held registration exercise in the states.

    As at the time of filing this report, the interim state executive of APC was about to meet at the party’s state office along Zik Avenue to discuss the issue and perhaps pick a date for the exercise.

    According to Agufugo, we are going to meet with the party executive members to discuss on the way forward in our party especially, as it concerns the registration of members

    “And I believe within a short time, the party will come out with a new date for the exercise in Anambra, and those areas we had challenges before will be taken care of”

     

  • Why court must stop Mark, Tambuwal, by 79 defectors

    Why court must stop Mark, Tambuwal, by 79 defectors

    Senators, Reps who dumped PDP for APC battle to keep seats

    The 79 legislators, who sued the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and leaders of the National Assembly over threats to declare their seats vacant, justified their decision to defect from the party yesterday.

    The lawmakers – 22 PDP Senators and 57 members of the House of Representatives, including those who have defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) – argued that Senate President David Mark and House Speaker Aminu Tambuwal could not declare their seats vacant.

    They contended before the Federal High Court, Abuja that Mark and Tambuwal cannot rely on the provisions of sections 68(1)(g) and 68(2) of the Constitution in declaring their seats vacant because there is division in the PDP and a faction of the party has merged with other parties.

    They argued that the two conditions precedent for lawful defection, as provided in the Constitution – division and merger – had occurred to warrant their defection.

    The planitiffs’ lawyer, Mahmoud Magaji (SAN), argued that – as against the contention by the PDP, its former Chairman Bamanga Tukur and Mark – the power to decide whether a defecting lawmaker’s seat is vacant or not, where his party is factionalised, is the court’s.

    Magaji, who adopted his final submissions in the case, argued that his clients were justified in abandoning the PDP and that the National Assembly’s leadership cannot, by virtue of their defection, declare their seats vacant.

    His argument was in reaction to arguments by Joe Gadzama (SAN) and Ken Ikonne (lawyers to the PDP, Tukur and Mark) to the effect that the plaintiffs’ seats automatically become vacant upon their defection, by virtue of the provision of Section 68(1)(g) of the Constitution.

    They argued in their counter affidavit that the suit was misconceived as the plaintiffs were under the wrong impression that it requires Mark’s and Tambuwal’s pronouncement for the seats of defecting law makers to be declared vacant.

    Both lawyers argued that there was never a division in the PDP to justify the plaintiffs’ defection and qualify them for exemption as provided under Section 68(1)(g) of the Constitution.

    The section deals with instances when seats can be deemed vacant. Section 68(2) deals with the powers of the Senate President and Speaker to declare seats vacant.

    Gadzama, who tendered two judgments from earlier cases involving the Tukur-led faction and the Abubakar Baraje-led faction of the party, argued that the PDP was never divided.

    Ikonne argued that the plaintiffs failed to prove that the party was actually divided to the point of being turn apart. He also argued that the plaintiffs misconceived the nature of the powers vested in the Senate President under Section 68(1)(g) of the Constitution.

    Ikonne said his position was informed by his understanding that the provision of Section 68(1)(g) is not only mandatory; it is self-executing.

    “This is because the vacancy happens by virtue of the operation of the law,” he said.

    Gadzama and Ikonne, who had in their preliminary objections queried the competence of the suit and urged the court to strike it out, urged the court to dismiss the suit, should it resolve the objection in favour of the plantiffs.

    Replying, Magaji argued that the existence of the suits, whose judgments Gadzama tendered, was a confirmation that the party was polarised. He argued that what the Tukur-led PDP sought in one of the cases was that members of its Executive Council be declared the authentic leaders of the party.

    Magaji contended that there was nowhere in the suit decided by Justice Evoh Chukwu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, where anyone denied division in the party. He drew the judge’s attention to a portion of Justice Chukwu’s decision (pages 72 to 75), which he said supported his position.

    Magaji argued that it is only the court that can decide when a seat is vacant where a member defects to another party when there is a division in his old party.

    He urged the court to disregard the defendants’ objection to the suit and grant his clients’ prayers and reliefs.

    Tambuwal, represented by Alex Marama, challenged the suit’s competence and urged the court to dismiss it. He argued that the suit amounted to an abuse of court’s process because it was wrongly filed.

    Tambuwal argued that the suit ought to he initiated by way of writ of summons as against originating summons filed, because issues raised required the calling of oral evidence to resolve.

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), represented by Al-Hassan Umar, chose to be neutral in the proceedings. It filed neither an objection nor a counter affidavit in the suit. It argued that the dispute was a PDP affair.

    Justice Ahmed Mohammed refused Magaji’s request that the court should sanction Senator Ita Enang, who he said urged Mark to declare the seats of some of the plaintiffs vacant, despite a subsisting interim order of the court directing parties to maintain status quo.

    Justice Mohammed, in rejecting Magaji’s prayer, held that the court’s rules made sufficient provision for how issues relating to disobedience to court’s orders should be handled.

    He held that since there was no formal application for an order against Enang, Magaji failed to provide evidence against the senator, “the court is not in a position to sanction the said Senator“.

    Justice Mohammed has fixed judgment for March 26.

    Defendants in the suit include Tukur, Mark, Tambuwal, the PDP and INEC.

    The plaintiffs are, in the originating summons, seeking a declaration that:

    •the circumstance prevailing at the national level and various state chapters of the PDP (4th defendant), which led to factions/ divisions as witnessed at the Special National Convention of the 4th defendant held on 31st August 2013 and holding of a parallel convention simultaeneously at Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre, followed up with the emergence of new National Executive Committee constitute and qualify as crisis, faction and division anticipated under section 68 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended;

    •any of the plaintiffs or other members of the PDP who pursuant to the crisis that led to factions/divisions in the 4th defendant, joined new faction of the 4th defendant or desires to join it or another political party (individually or as a group) is/are saved by the proviso to section 68(1) (g) of the Constitution, as amended without losing his/their elective seats; and a declaration that:

    •in view of the proviso to Section 68 (1) (g) of the Constitution as amended, the 1st defendant or any other officer of the 4th defendant or any person or authority whatsoever cannot declare vacant the seats of any of the plaintiffs or other members of the 4th defendant that joined or who may desire to become members of another political party, in view of the present crisis that created factions/divisions in the 4th defendant.

    The plaintiffs are pleading for an order “restraining the 2nd and 3rd defendants from conducting any proceedings in their respective chambers aimed at declaring the seat (s) of any the plaintiffs or other members of the 4th defendant who joined or intended to become members of another political party vacant” in view of the present circumstance in the 4th defendant as vacant.

     

  • 2015: APC hires Obama’s strategists as PDP plans rallies

    2015: APC hires Obama’s strategists as PDP plans rallies

    CAMPAIGNS for the 2015 elections are yet to open, but parties seem not to be taking chances.

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has engaged prominent international political consultants AKPD Message and Media to boost its electoral chances.

    President Goodluck Jonathan and governors of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors are also getting set. They met on Monday night behind closed-door to finetune strategies for zonal rallies to receive defectors and woo new members to the party.In a statement issued in Lagos on Tuesday by its Interim National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said the Chicago, U.S.-based firm is best known for its lead role in President Barack Obama’s presidential campaigns in 2008 and 2012.

    The party explained that the firm has also worked with key Democratic party candidates throughout the U.S. and has a strong reputation for supporting leading populist movements across the globe.

    “We have been working closely with AKPD Message and Media over the past few months and we shall leverage on the firm’s skill, experience and expertise throughout the upcoming campaign cycle,” APC said.

    “As a party destined to bring change and succour to the long suffering people of Nigeria, the APC is proud and excited to work with one of the foremost exponents of change in the world, especially with their track record of success in political climates akin to ours, notably in Kenya, Tanzania and Ghana. With this strategic partnership, the process of change in Nigeria has already begun and it can’t be stopped,” the party concluded.

    Speaking with State House correspondents at the end of the meeting, Abia State Governor Theodore Orji said it was also part of regular meetings with the President to review other activities of the party.

    According to him, the ongoing consultations between President Jonathan and traditional rulers and other interest groups across the country are expected.

    But he declined to confirm when exactly the President would declare his ambition to contest the 2015 presidential election.

    Orji said: “The meeting was in compliance with what the President promised us, that he will be meeting regularly with PDP governors. He met with us today and we reviewed party activities, especially the rallies that we are going to hold in the states and zonal levels.”

    “The rallies are meant to sensitize people. In Owerri, we are going to receive some people who are coming back to the party. In other states where people are coming back to the party, they will be received formally. We discussed party affairs.”

    On the President’s yet to be declared ambition, he said: “It is the President that knows when to declare. This consultation is what a President should do. A President should consult with his subjects, that is what he is doing. Declaration is not the issue now.”

    “The President will declare when he wants to; he will tell you if he wants to run or not. As of now, what he is doing is to interact with stakeholders and that is the function of the President, to meet with his people,” Orji added.

    The President recently met with the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero; Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuade; Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi; Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu and Oba Babatunde Akran of Badagry.

    At the meeting were Vice President Namadi Sambo; Secretary to the Government of the Federation Anyim Pius Anyim; PDP Chairman Ahmadu Muazu and his Deputy, Uche Secondus.

    Governors at the meeting included Sule Lamido (Jigawa), Ibrahim Shehu Shema (Katsina), Liyel Imoke (Cross River), Martin Elechi (Ebonyi), Theodore Orji (Abia), Mukhtar Ramallan Yero (Kaduna), Gabriel Suswam (Benue), Garba Umar (Taraba), Muazu Babangida Aliyu (Niger), Jonah Jang (Plateau), Isa Yuguda (Bauchi), Saidu Nasamu Dakingari (Kebbi) and Emmanuel Uduaghan (Delta),

    The Deputy Governor of Bayelsa, John Jonah and that of Adamawa, Bala James Ngilari were also in attendance.

     

  • For APC, time is ticking

    For APC, time is ticking

    Among the reactions to my column, last week, on the diatribe by the Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, against defectors from his ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the new formidable opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) were a few who said I was biased. Some of them said I should’ve equally criticised the defectors from PDP to APC. Others said I should’ve considered the merit or otherwise of why the defectors from APC to PDP defected before condemning them.

    I plead guilty to both counts, but only partially. I plead partial guilt on the first count because my silence on the defections to APC can be easily and seemingly justifiably construed as a blind endorsement of the opposition party. It was an endorsement, alright. But it was not a blind one; no Nigerian who has witnessed and/or experienced PDP’s brutalising misrule of the country in the last 15 odd years – a misrule which has made Nigerians much poorer today than they were in 1999 and which has also made their country much more insecure today than it was since then – would not shudder at the prospects of four more years of same under the behemoth, never mind the 60 more years of same it has been threatening Nigerians with.

    The huge turnout in the membership registration of APC a couple of weeks ago which prompted the PDP to accuse the party of preparing the ground to rig next year’s election – a strange accusation coming from a ruling party which prides itself as being the largest on the continent – was a clear testimony of the desperation of Nigerians for something, anything, to rescue them from PDP’s misrule.

    However, as a journalist and political analyst, I have a responsibility to point out to the public that it is not just anything that can rescue them, obvious as this is. Obviously anything which lacks the virtues necessary for good and transparent leadership can only lead to a change of guards, so to speak, rather than to a change from the misfortune of the people.

    The way the APC has carried on since it emerged as an amalgamation of All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and a faction of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), it stands the distinctive risk of becoming PDP, with all its ingrained “garrison democracy,” in all but name. For the sake of itself and of Nigeria, the APC must do everything it can to have internal democracy.

    In defecting to the PDP from APC, both Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, former Kano State governor, and Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa, his former Sokoto State counterpart, accused it, in effect, of being no better than PDP which it wants to replace. This was precisely why I thought it was strange that the two would defect to the PDP, which is obviously too set in its undemocratic ways to transform itself and offer the genuine article.

    However, both governors were justified to have felt exasperated with the way the top party hierarchy at the centre simply asked them to subordinate themselves to the governors of their states. The right thing the party should have done was to have provided a plain level field for congress elections of its officials from the ward level to the national within at most six months of its emergence. If it had done so most of the internal crisis the party is currently facing in several states would have been avoided. Certainly, its defectors would have had to look for other excuses.

    I say excuse because, in my view at least, the defectors should not have given up so early in the fight for entrenching internal democracy in the party, especially when they are unlikely to make any serious difference in the way the party they have defected to is run.

    It is not too late for APC to avoid creating itself in the terrible image and character of the PDP. It can avoid this pitfall ideally by first of all dissolving its interim executive organs at the ward, local government and state levels before the congress elections. These interim executives have generally constituted themselves into obstacles in the way of internal democracy.

    However, if dissolving them sounds impractical, the least the interim leadership at the national level should do is to bar them from contesting in the congress elections. It should also bar its own members likewise. Not least of all, it should send large enough teams of members with high integrity to conduct the elections.

    For example, for Kano that has 44 Local Government Areas (LGAs), the APC should send a 46-man team of outsiders to Kano, made up of a chairman and secretary and one person per LGA to conduct the elections. And for a state like Bayelsa that has eight LGAs, they should send a 10-man team, also of outsiders, with a chairman and secretary to conduct the elections. If this looks unaffordable the party should send teams larger than those it sent for the membership registration, say at least one member per two LGAs.

    Of course, all this would cost a lot of money which APC is not as well endowed with as PDP. However, with proper organisation the party does not need the huge outlays the PDP has been using to keep itself in power.

    If the well-endowed and the comfortable members of the party sincerely wish to rescue Nigeria from the clutches of what looks like an unreformable PDP, they should selflessly give their all, including their money and time, to ensure they create and sustain internal democracy in their party. The time to do so is not on their side.

    RE: Makun and the defections from PDP

    Sir,

    I agree with you that politicians are looking for shelter from the typhoon called poverty. Blame the social system which protects big business at the expense of the people. The truth, however, is that the Alice in Wonderland world awaits the politicians the day their charming promises fail to send the hungry and the homeless to sleep.

    Amos Ejimonye, Kaduna. +2347085284103.

     

    Sir,

    Are you surprised at any politician or Nigerian politicians and their comments? They all cling together when ‘the goings are good’ AND vituperate when their ‘goings get sour’. Not only Maku, not only Bafarawa and not only Shekarau! They are spread across all the political parties.

    Lanre Oseni. +2347064181045.

     

    Sir,

    It is surprising how you condemned Shekarau’s and Bafarawa’s defection from APC to PDP, while keeping mute on the defections of many governors and legislators from PDP to APC! To you any defection from the PDP to any party is like a blessing to the nation (or north), while defections from any party to the PDP is a curse to the nation (or north). The truth is: APC treated Shekarau, Bafarawa and many other members just like the PDP treated the five defecting governors and other members too. Please always be objective in judging peoples actions and inactions.

    Habibu Hamisu Ibrahim. +2348033262011.

     

    Sir,

    Dr. Nnamdi Benjamin Azikiwe (God bless his gentle soul) was once asked, why he joined d then NPP, and not NPN, UPN, GNPP, PRP, or any of the parties, so called then) in Nigeria’s Second Republic. He retorted, among others: “…I reserve to myself, the prerogative to pick and choose, those who will travel with me, comfortably in d same ‘boat’ … and I will not complain (about) the ultimate fate of the ‘canoe’!”

    Defecting politicians (either in APC, LP, APGA, PPA, PDP, whatever called) in Nigeria today are enjoying this prerogative of jumping into any ship or canoe they feel comfortable with and/or may guarantee them electoral success. So it’s a question of time, for us to see the ultimate outcome of these defections. For now let us watch, pray and wish them well/bon voyage!

    Chukwuma Dioka. +2348142171487.

     

     

  • ‘Change awaits Nigeria’

    ‘Change awaits Nigeria’

    With the large turnout of members of the All Progressive Congress (APC) for its just-concluded registration, Nigeria is due for the much-awaited change for better times, a chieftain of the party in Lagos State, Otunba Akinola Ogunyolemi, has said.

    He said it lent credence to the leadership acumen of the party’s national leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, whom he described as a great mobiliser who had been using his influence to bring all progressive elements in the country together to rescue the nation.

    He said the turnout was good for democracy and commended the extention of deadline for the registration, adding: “I urge all party faithful to get prepared for the forthcoming election in Osun and Ekiti states.”

     

  • APC registers over 720,000 members in Ekiti, Oyo

    APC registers over 720,000 members in Ekiti, Oyo

    THE All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State registered 226,527 people in its just concluded membership registration.

    The Interim Chairman, Chief Jide Awe, said despite provocations from the opposition, the exercise was successful.

    He thanked the people for coming out to register and urged intending members to register at their wards, adding that the registration was “continuous.”

    Awe, who earlier forecasted that the party would register 100,000 members, said he based his earlier permutation on a 100 per polling unit.

    He said the large turn out showed that the people have confidence in the APC and the Governor Kayode Fayemi administration.

    A breakdown of the figures, according to local governments, is as follows: Ado, 30,070; Oye, 23,130; Ekiti Southwest, 19,972; Ijero, 16,379; Ikole, 16,294; Ekiti West, 16,020; Irepodun/Ifelodun, 15,389; Ido/Osi, 13,100; Gbonyin, 12, 656; Moba, 11,028; Ikere, 10,568; Ekiti East, 10,070; Ise /Orun, 9,586; Efon, 8,594; Emure, 8,156 and Ilejemeje, 5,515.

    Awe said the February 12 closing date announced by the party was intended to assess the turnout, adding that the registration continues in wards.

    He debunked the allegation that civil servants were compelled to register as members of the party.

    In Oyo State, the party registered over 500,000 members.

    A source said the party was still collating data on the number of people registered in each local government.

     

  • Masari urges INEC to conduct credible poll

    Masari urges INEC to conduct credible poll

    Former Speaker of the House of Representatives and Interim Deputy National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Alhaji Aminu Masari has charged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a credible governorship poll in Ekiti State.

    The APC leader gave the charge in Ado Ekiti during a courtesy call on Governor Kayode Fayemi. He said the APC is worried by the lip service paid by INEC to conduct free and fair elections in recent time.

    Masari, who urged Ekiti people to carefully monitor the electioneering process, asked the electoral umpire to justify people’s confidence in the commission by making sure that the governorship election in Ekiti state is not a repeat of the Anambra hicupps.

    “The INEC should walk the talk. The director of ICT made available the presentation at the stakeholders meeting in Ado, but the presentation is not the issue, implementation is the solution. From our experience in Anambra and other places where INEC made presentations, promising that they were going to conduct credible election, it never happened. So even here in Ekiti, we are not comfortable and then we are comfortable. The election has to be free and fair because Ekiti is an enlightened society with the highest number of educated elite in Nigeria. I hope they will be able to monitor it to ensure the election is free and fair”, he said.

    He asserted that the APC would allow rigging in Ekiti.

    The former Speaker, who described the programmes of the Dr. Fayemi-led administration as second to none in the history of the state, expressed confidence that the party will defeat his opponents.

    On the return of some of the House of Representative members to the PDP, Alhaji Masari said regret is inevitable for the defectors, saying it is better to be people-oriented and principled politicians than being sycophants.