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Tag: APC

  • APC empowers 100 widows

    APC empowers 100 widows

    The Crusader Movement, an arm of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ejigbo Local Council Development Area (LCDA) Lagos has empowered over 100 widows as part of its activities to mark the end of last year.

    The group’s Executive Secretary, Dr Olusunmade Olatunde praised the party’s national leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, for the wisdom with which he is steering the affairs of the party.

    He said the programme was aimed at complementing efforts of the party’s leaders at the grassroots through such people-friendly programmes with the ultimate goal of keeping the party in people’s minds.

    Olatunde said the group assisted the widows to show that it is a caring organisation, adding that the gesture is for every widow within the LCDA irrespective of their party affiliations, religions or tribes.

    He thanked the Chairman of Isolo LCDA, Hon Shamusideen Olaleye for his support.

    The beneficiaries from across the six wards in the council area, got N10,000 each and other items like grinding machines, sewing machines and big power-generating sets.

    Mrs Fatimah Mustapha, who spoke for other beneficiaries, said: “We are grateful to the group for reaching out to us. At least, with this machine, I will be able to generate more money and cater for myself and my children.”

  • APC opens office in Bayelsa

    There was tension in Bayelsa State yesterday as the All Progressives Congress (APC) opened its secretariat in Yenagoa and decorated it with its flag.

    The office, it was learnt, was inaugurated by the states Interim Chairman, Chief Richard Kpodo, and other loyalists of former Governor Timipre Sylva, who dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the APC.

    The twin two-storey building, located at Tombia roundabout, is owned by Kpodo, a former security adviser to Sylva.

    The edifice served as an office complex for Kpodo’s transport business, popularly called Perry Rich.

    The office was opened about 12noon. Residents, including politicians, trooped out to catch a glimpse of it.

    It was learnt that about 30 persons entered the premises and indicated interest to join the party.

    Politicians reportedly drove to the area to confirm whether APC has opened its secretariat in President Goodluck Jonathan’s state.

    Kpodo said the development signalled APC’s seriousness in the state, adding that he donated his facility to underscore his passion for the party.

  • Ekiti ex-acting Governor Aderemi dies

    Ekiti ex-acting Governor Aderemi dies

    A former acting Governor of Ekiti State, Chief Friday Aderemi, is dead.

    Aderemi, who was also Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, died yesterday.

    He was 74.

    He was the Chairman of the Ekiti State Education Trust Fund until his death.

    The late Aderemi, a native of Ayetoro-Ekiti and a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), died at the State University Teaching Hospital, Ado-Ekiti, capital of the state.

    He was elected in 2003 to represent Ido/Osi Constituency 2 at the Ekiti State House of Assembly.

    An Electrical/Electronics engineer, the late Aderemi became the Speaker of the House of Assembly in 2004 after the impeachment of his predecessor, Sola Ajigbolamu during the Ayo

    Fayose-led administration.

    Governor Kayode Fayemi, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Olayinka Oyebode, said the late Aderemi served Ekiti State diligently in various capacities and contributed immensely to the development of the state.

    The governor said Aderemi, who also served as Speaker of the House of Assembly before becoming Acting Governor, presided over a historic state parliament that protected the interest of the people of the state during a trying period.

    He said Aderemi’s death has robbed the state of a great leader who could be looked up to by younger generation in nation building, peacemaking, conflict management and building strong institutions that will stand the test of time.

    Fayemi described the late Aderemi as an uncommon statesman who served the people with humility, diligence, enthusiasm, selflessness and commitment to the cause of the common man.

    The governor said the history of Ekiti, as a political entity, would not be complete without a generous mention of the late Aderemi’s contributions as a teacher, legislator, Speaker of the House of Assembly, Acting Governor and chairman of the Education Trust Fund.

    Fayemi said although the late Aderemi sat on the governorship seat for two days (between October 16 and 18, 2006) before a state of emergency was declared by the then Federal Government, the late politician acted in the best interest of Ekiti people.

    Fayemi explained that the late Aderemi’s life was exemplified by service to humanity as a teacher who moulded the future of the young ones for over three decades in public schools before venturing into politics.

    The governor said the deceased was privileged to have been elected into the House of Assembly twice, first in the old Ondo State in 1983 and in 2003 in Ekiti State.

    He said electing Aderemi again into the state legislature after 20-year break spoke volumes about the trust reposed in him as a dependable servant of the people.

    The governor added that the late Aderemi’s humility was unparalleled in accepting to serve as the Chairman of the State Education Trust Fund after he had left office as Speaker and Acting Governor.

    Fayemi said: “Chief Aderemi saw politics as an opportunity to serve the people and he did that to the best of his ability serving as a worthy representative of his constituency in the old Ondo State and Ekiti State.

    “He was a decent politician and diligent parliamentarian no wonder he was elected Speaker in the Second Assembly in Ekiti State and he brought maturity to bear in presiding over the affairs of the Assembly.

    “Providence thrust the governance of the state on his shoulders when he emerged as Acting Governor on October 16, 2006 and acted in the interest of the people for the two days he spent in office.

    “Despite his attainment of enviable political heights in life, he lived among his people in Ayetoro-Ekiti and was ever ready to contribute to the development of his community in particular and the state in general.

    “May the gentle soul of this great Ekiti son and legend continue to find rest in the bosom of the Lord as we all mourn his demise.

    “On behalf of the government and people of Ekiti State, I commiserate with his immediate family, friends, associates and other Nigerians whose lives have been touched by this patriot.”

  • ‘Oyegun Committee may not visit Kwara’

    ‘Oyegun Committee may not visit Kwara’

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) Reconciliation Committee may not visit the Kwara State chapter for now, its chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, has said.

    The former Edo State governor told our correspondent on phone that the committee was busy with similar assignment in Sokoto and Kano states.

    “We have no plan to visit Kwara State now. It is not yet part of our plans. The problem in Kwara can be solved locally. We have been talking to our people in Kwara”, he said.

    There have been anxiety in the Kwara APC, not among the party followers, but among some party leaders, who are facing political adjustment difficulties. While prominent leaders, including the National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Layiwola Mohammed, have been working with the defectors from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the camp of the former Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) governorship candidate, Mr. Dele Belgore (SAN), is still lukewarm.

    However, many APC politicians have resolved to work for peace and unity, noting that this is the first time that the progressives will have the opportunity to be in power in the Northcentral state.

    Oyegun said that the crisis of confidence in Kwara APC will soon fizzle out, urging the chieftains to embrace and work in harmony.

    He added: “We have no problem in Kwara as such. The leaders are in touch with the chapter. We don’t have plan yet to visit the chapter. The challenge is not what our people in Kwara cannot solve. We have much to do in Kano and Sokoto. That is the situation for now”.

  • Senate unshaken by defections, says Enang

    Senate unshaken by defections, says Enang

    The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Rules and Business, Ita Enang, has said the threat of defection by aggrieved Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) senators to the All Progressives Congress (APC) will not affect the activities of the Senate when it resumes next week.

    Enang told reporters yesterday in Abuja that the planned defection would not affect the Senate because the lawmakers are “responsible senator who are always interested in the unity and progress of the country.”

    He said the senators considered the interest of the country first before thinking of their political affiliations.

    Enang added: “The senators see themselves as one. What is paramount in their minds is how to develop the nation. We will all work together as a single body to address issues dispassionately.”

    The senator declined to comment on allegations that PDP lawmakers were demanding automatic tickets to remain loyal to the party.

    “The issue of defection is a matter being anticipated and I would not want to make comments on such issues,” Enang said.

    He stressed that the senators, on resumption next week, would start deliberations on this year’s budget.

    The senator said since last year’s appropriation cycle ended on December 31, the National Assembly has the responsibility to ensure that the 2014 Appropriation Bill is considered and approved early to enable the executive begin its implementation.

  • APC dividing Nigeria, says PDP

    APC dividing Nigeria, says PDP

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said the All Progressives Congress (APC) is attempting to divide Nigeria along religious lines.

    It accused the opposition of religious bias.

    The ruling party alleged that the APC was planning to impose Islam on the country.

    A statement yesterday by the PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, alleged that the opposition was causing religious divisions and violence across the country.

    The statement reads: “This revelation, which came even from Muslims, goes to vindicate the PDP and confirm our earlier stand that the APC is a party of bloodthirsty, religious and ethnic bigots (who are) averse to the unity of the country and the peaceful co-existence of our people…”

  • Politicking with aviation?

    Politicking with aviation?

    •The APC allegation of sabotage in the Gombe Airport landing incident, if true, is worrisome and sinister

    Partisan allegations are often like crying wolf, because of politicians’ habit of trying to score quick ones. But when such accusations are about air safety, and the aviation authorities had before demonstrated the penchant to politicise official duties, it is better everyone takes notice; and a putative crisis nipped in the bud.

    That should be the logical reaction to the All Progressives Congress (APC) allegation that a fire truck was put on the runway of Gombe Airport, Gombe, to prevent its partisans from landing, thus stalling their bid to attend a vital meeting in the Gombe State capital.

    Alleging that the incident which forced the aircraft bearing APC partisans to land at Bauchi Airport was plain sabotage, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, APC interim national publicity secretary, in a statement on the incident declared: “In view of the seriousness of this unprecedented act, the willful endangering of the lives of those on board the aircraft deliberately prevented from landing and the fact that the action contravenes global aviation standards, we call for a comprehensive investigation of the incident by the National Assembly.”

    That is hardly an illegitimate request.

    But the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has dismissed the APC allegation, insisting the opposition party was playing politics with aviation and air safety.

    Yakubu Dati, FAAN spokesperson, countered that the Gombe Airport, which does not operate 24 hours, was on January 2 when the incident happened, closed to check fire tenders, a routine exercise, until a fire truck, belonging to the Gombe State Government, broke down and blocked the runway. Though the truck was removed less than one hour after the incident, it was during efforts to remove the obstacle that the aircraft carrying the APC chieftains arrived; and was diverted to Bauchi to land.

    Even then, Mr. Dati could not solve the puzzle surrounding how and why the Notice to Airmen (NOTAM), which the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) reportedly despatched immediately, that all flights should stay off the airport until the fire truck was removed, never got to the pilot and his crew, flying the aircraft bearing the APC partisans.

    That, Alhaji Mohammed insisted, was the most damning evidence of bad faith and sabotage, which the National Assembly must probe. But even on that, Mr. Dati has countered: the APC was crying wolf where there was none; and reading political motives into strictly aviation safety matters.

    That ought to have been fair allegation and counter-allegation, which ought to be left to a detached third party to probe, with each side getting the benefit of the doubt.

    Still, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), a FAAN sister Federal Ministry of Aviation parastatal, has at least once fanned partisan issues in purely official matters. Recall: when the Jonathan-Amaechi imbroglio started, NCAA was involved in the Akure Airport detention of the governor’s aircraft, with allegations that the Rivers State governor was flying an illegal aircraft in Nigeria’s airspace. It would take a House of Representatives probe to uncover the facts and put the governor in the clear.

    The same NCAA was neck-deep in the N255 million two bullet-proof BMW cars purchase scandal, involving Stella Oduah, the aviation minister. Given President Goodluck Jonathan’s reluctance or inability to move against her, despite damning evidence, and resolutions by both the House of Representatives and the Senate, might the latest FAAN incident be the latest help from the minister’s sphere of influence to an embattled president?

    It would be too sinister to think that were so!

    Still, any hasty conclusion would be premature. That is why the APC requested that the Gombe Airport incident be probed by the National Assembly. That way, the facts would be laid bare and who knows? Nigerians would be reassured that their country’s air space is no fatal pawn in the chess of politics.

  • APC’s dance with death? Scrutinise PDP supporters before ‘porting’ them to APC

    APC’s dance with death? Scrutinise PDP supporters before ‘porting’ them to APC

    As APC the political saviour? There is a gathering storm beyond the–‘Resign from elected office if you change party’, which is a principle I agree with, but parties have never applied it in Nigerian political history nor in the USA.

    Though I am neither Buhari fan, nor Tinubu fanatic, I am happy that APC started well but did it gather all the peripheral parties before, to use the IT term, ‘porting’ the New PDP elements? Now APC is compromised, some say contaminated, as a moral authority and ‘saviour’ with a progressive ideology. Absorbing willing PDP governors is a masterstroke, ‘The 2013 Civilian Coup’, not for any corruptly acquired ‘war chests’ rumoured to be the political custom, but only if the governors were screened and found efficient, people loving, non-corrupt and ideologically compatible to APC’s progressive agenda -which we have not seen.

    Is APC sacrificing integrity by its ‘APC dance with death’ i.e. with evil masquerades and yesterday’s historically established architects of Nigeria’s serial military, economic, electricity, refinery and political failures including letter writers?

    APC initiators are not saints, but appear the lesser evil when Nigerians need miracle ‘Good Governance- No Greed’ parties’. In the unregulated political arena, most politicians of all parties and all civil servants profiteer, stealing, by ‘divine right’ from the public purse. However the APC team apparently has done more for the people than those in the PDP and they ‘smell’ sweeter on the Corruption Index. Can APC lose its ‘saviour’ identity by these antics? It is already made overweight and unattractive by consuming everything PDP-good, bad and ugly. It may develop a tummy ache and have to vomit PDP rubbish.

    There is an argument that the APC must not make the Awolowo mistake of ‘puritanism’ said to have cost Awolowo the 1979 election to Shagari. Recent revelations suggest the military took the election from Awolowo and gave it to loser Shagari, precipitating a 35 year democracy backslide. Is voter results’ manipulation not a crime? The lesson for APC is that Awolowo’s moral force won the population’s vote and the election battle. However it lost him the war as it created enough fear in the ruling military class as to deny him victory like they did for Abiola later. It is now clear that the military never stopped planning a comeback anyway but it would have found it harder to fault a sounder Awolowo government than a wayward Shagari government with Umaru Dikko shenanigans. Remember that Jonathan was actually voted in by Nigerians for non-interference in round one of the last elections. Unfortunately, the subsequent avalanche of PDP baggage -paid employees, members, hangers-on, election riggers and probable thugs has resulted in the dead weight that is Jonathan’s current failure. This uncontrolled mass ‘porting of PDP’ to the APC, with admission of anything PDP, new and dropouts, may ‘win’ the short term battle for numbers in National Assembly and at governors’ meetings. However it will hamper the APC in the voting wars of, 2015, when it will need firstly, moral and ideological leadership to attract votes. Secondly, when APC will need to retire its current generals like Tinubu and Buhari and search for and throw up Nigeria’s real Kennedys, Mandelas, Martin Luther Kings and maybe Obamas like Fashola et al. They will marshal a new generation of front-liners to change the face of politics in Nigeria. Traditionally the old generals and politicians on Nigeria do not lie down well until they die still struggling to ensure Nigeria’s further failure. The old seek gratification, homage and payment into the grave. ‘The party must pay for my funeral’. The terrorists are with us-politicians.

    Will APC convert the PDP baggage ‘stalwarts’? Will the ‘I don port’ PDP bite at the heart of APC? APC must be cautious of having 100 past PDP stalwarts, a Trojan Horse, all with cell phone direct links to the old PDP hierarchy and destructive PDP machinery inside the APC fortress. Will they foment trouble instructing their followers to cause a violent exit, destroying the APC? And what quality of followership have the PDP leaders taken with them as they ‘port’ or change sides? Does the APC want the opposition’s ‘ace thugs’ hiding in its new political agbadas and babanrigas? Oyo State was dragged low into moral and human rights abuses by thuggery under PDP control. The APC and INEC, if serious, must talk to Governor Ajimobi about how he ‘de-thugged’ the elections and governance. Was it money, amnesty, employment, publicity or imprisonment? Who is screening the PDP followership ‘porting’ to APC? Are there any members of ‘Reformed Association of Thugs-RATs? APC should avoid ‘porting’ known thugs and murderous ‘petty’ strongmen. Clean up the parties!

    And who will de-fang the violent NURTW through positive publicity like enlightenment, positive newspaper stories, TV coverage of motor-park management and interviews. Elevate the esteem of the NURTW membership to make them ashamed to ‘thug’ in 2015. Nigerians are not burdened by apartheid or slavery but by ‘party’ slavery. Even apartheid victims had 46,000Mw electricity. Nigeria has 3,000Mw after 14 years of PDP apartheid! APC must not im-‘port’ the devil’s baggage. APC: Do not dance with death, stay ‘clean’ and the voters will ‘port to you’. Marry the devil, and die with the devil’s virus. Meanwhile what is APCs Solar Energy Strategy, please? APC should also check Kenya’s Solar Sunny Money Solar Roller and Geothermal Rift Valley programme shown on BBC.

  • Rivers High Court bombed

    Rivers High Court bombed

    Another set on fire

    PDP, APC in blame game

    The political crisis in Rivers State seems to be getting worse, with Sunday night’s bombing of the high court on Omoku Road in Ahoada, headquarters of Ahoada East Local Government Area.

    Besides, an explosive device was discovered yesterday within the court’s premises.

    Also yesterday, the Rivers High Court in Okehi, headquarters of Etche Local Government Area, was razed. Documents were burnt in the incident, which Council Chairman Reginald Okwuoma described as a deliberate act by the opposition to ensure the declaration of a state of emergency in the state.

    The Registrar of the Rivers High Court in Okehi, Ken Dappa, was shocked by the burning of the court by yet unknown arsonists. He described the incident as “condemnable”.

    The main opposition All Progressives Congress (APC), Rivers chapter, accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of being behind the violence in the state, but PDP Chairman Felix Obuah blamed those he called government agents for the bomb blasts.

    The representative of Omuma/Etche Constituency in the House of Representatives, Ogbonna Nwuke, who is a former Rivers Commissioner for Information, said attacks on courts’ premises were “senseless”, noting that enemies of democracy were at work.

    The Officer-in-Charge of the Bomb Squad of the Rivers Police Command, Taiwo Akingbeyin, and the command’s spokesman, Ahmad Muhammad, confirmed the “explosion” in the Ahoada court and the razing of the Etche court. They urged residents not to panic.

    A senior member of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), who would not want to be named, was at the Ahoaha court for his clients’ cases. He said the bomb “seriously damaged” a section of the court housing the secretariat of the NBA, Ahoada Branch.

    The lawyer also said that yesterday morning, a wrapped object, suspected to be another bomb, was discovered within the court’s premises.

    Joint Task Force (JTF) officers cordoned off the area as workers, lawyers and litigants scampered to safety.

    The court, presided over by Justice Charles Wali, who is handling the suit on the speakership of the state’s Assembly between Otelemaba Dan Amachree (who represents Asari-Toru Constituency) and Evans Bipi (Ogu/Bolo, First Lady’s ex-domestic aide), could not sit.

    The judicial workers, litigants and lawyers, according to the lawyer, were asked to vacate the premises.

    On December 18, last year, Justice Wali’s office and car park were hit by explosion at 3 am. A guard on duty was missing, two days after the judge restrained the self-acclaimed speaker (Bipi) from parading himself as the Assembly’s helmsman.

    The motion on notice for interlocutory injunction was adjourned on December 16 till yesterday for hearing, but the court could not sit yesterday because of the explosion.

    The main opposition party, in an online statement by the Interim Publicity Secretary of the Rivers chapter, Chief Andy Nweye, titled: “APC condemns Extension of violence to the Judiciary by the PDP”, described as barbaric, the bombing of the Ahoada court.

    APC said: “We totally condemn the present resort to physical violence against the judiciary and officials of court in Rivers State by members of the PDP.

    “The extension of violence to the judiciary in Rivers State by the PDP and their agents started to assume a dangerous dimension, after Justice Wali of the Ahoada High Court granted an injunction on December 16, restraining the member representing Ogu/Bolo in the Rivers State House of Assembly, Evans Bipi, from parading himself as the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

    “A few hours later, the court building was bombed by suspected PDP members/agents. In the night of Sunday, January 5, elements suspected to be members of the PDP bombed an Ahoada High Court building.

    ”Less than a week earlier, the PDP had widely circulated a press statement, signed by the PDP Chairman, Mr. Felix Obuah, claiming that the Governor of Rivers State was trying to use the same Ahoada High Court to protect the Leader of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Chief Chidi Lloyd, a claim that is vexatious, malicious and patent falsehood.

    “The Ahoada High Court complex has been cordoned off by the police, because of two objects confirmed by the police to be bombs, planted on the premises. These bombs have been planted by the PDP and its agents, to prevent the sitting of the Ahoada High Court, for the hearing of arguments on interlocutory injunction barring Evans Bipi from perpetually parading himself as Speaker of the State Assembly.”

    The party said rather than file papers and argue their case in court, its opponents had resorted to preventing the court from sitting through planting of bombs at the court premises.

    The statement went on: “Just yesterday, six individuals reportedly linked to Hon. Evans Bipi and Senator George Sekibo (the representative of Rivers East Senatorial District, an ally of the wife of President Goodluck Jonathan, Dame Patience, who wants to be Rivers Governor in 2015) were arrested on their way to Ogu/Bolo with seven AK-47 assault weapons, among others, by men of the JTF.”

    The party said the arrest of the six associates of Sekibo and Bipi had confirmed its worst fears that the PDP had resorted to using terrorism as official party policy.

    It insisted that it had every reason to strongly believe that the arrested, well-armed six men were part of the ruthless snipers PDP trained for use against political opponents.

    APC said: “Despite the PDP openly announcing the verdict that Justice Adama Iyayi-Laminkanra would give on the Obio/Akpor Local Government Council case, many weeks before the verdict was handed down, the APC did not resort to violence against the person of Justice Laminkanra, her court and any member or institution of the judiciary in Rivers State before, during and after the verdict was given.

    “We are deeply surprised that despite the obvious perpetration of these dastardly acts of violence against the judiciary by suspected members of the PDP and the GDI (Grassroots Development Initiative, which has as Grand Patron, the Supervising Minister of Education, Chief Nyesom Wike), the Rivers State Police Command and other security agencies in the state are yet to make arrest and it appears that they are not in any hurry to investigate this spate of bombings and attacks.”

    The opposition party also pleaded with the authorities to compel security agencies to wake up to their responsibilities of securing lives and properties of the state’s residents by promptly arresting, investigating and prosecuting all those involved in violence.

    APC stated that the quick action should be taken by the security agencies, to avert a situation whereby individuals and groups would resort to self-help.

    The representative of Omuma/Etche Constituency in the House of Representatives (Ogbonna Nwuke) also said the razing of the Okehi court raised many questions, especially why any reasonable person would want to attack court premises.

    Nwuke said: “Enemies of democracy are at work. Those who do not want to respect the rights of others, those who do believe in the rule of law and those who have no regard for people’s lives are at work.

    “The law enforcement agencies should apprehend these faceless persons, who for political reasons, think the best thing to do is to turn Rivers State into an environment of terror. This is the worst thing that should happen in this country.

    “The judiciary should take note that there are people who do not believe in the rule of law there are people who do not believe in the justice system and there are people out to intimidate others by all means, all in the name of politics.”

    The former Rivers information commissioner also urged law enforcement agents to protect the interest of the common man, which the judicial process represents.

    Nwuke added that emphasis must be placed on the fact that people could find justice when they go to court, have access to the law courts, with the judicial officers adequately protected.

    Obuah said: “The case that temporarily restrained Hon. Evans Bipi from parading himself as the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly was to come up today (yesterday) at the Ahoada high Court.

    “Our team of lawyers, made up of over 10 Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) from Abuja and Lagos arrived at the Ahoada High Court this (yesterday) morning to argue for the vacation of the interim order and saw the senseless and barbaric destruction of the Court.

    “The PDP makes bold to suspect that the reported bombing was carried out by the agents of the Rivers State Government to prevent the court from sitting, so that the court would not be able to vacate the interim order made by the Ahoada High Court Judge, Hon Justice Charles Wali.

    “Their aim also of bombing the Ahoada High Court is to further create a state of insecurity in Rivers State, to justify their continuous call for the removal of the State Commissioner of Police, Mbu Joseph Mbu.

    “The PDP wishes to remind Rotimi Amaechi and his agents of darkness that the interim order issued by Justice Charles Wali of the Ahoada High Court lasted for only seven days, and it has since expired. Therefore, bombing the court to prevent it from sitting is a wasted, wicked, callous and shameful exercise by agents of Governor Rotimi Amaechi.

    “The PDP condemns Rotimi Amaechi’s desperation for power and assures that Amaechi will be held responsible for any breakdown of law and order in Rivers State.”

    Justice Wali also ordered that the status quo ante bellum prior to the July 9 fracas on the floor of the Rivers House of Assembly be maintained.

    He ordered that Bipi must stop calling himself, acknowledging, allowing himself to be addressed as speaker or writing to any person/authority whatsoever in that capacity.

    The judge also restrained Bipi from presiding either at plenary or committee of the House as speaker and acting in any manner whatsoever as the speaker.

    Bipi must also not do anything to obstruct, hinder, prevent or disturb Amachree from performing his duties as the speaker. Security agencies to enforce the order.

    The suit was filed by the Speaker of the Rivers House of Assembly (Amachree) and his deputy, Leyii Kwanee, with the Rivers House of Assembly, other lawmakers and the security agencies as defendants.

    Bipi, however, vowed never to obey a “kangaroo” order, insisting that he remained the speaker.

  • APC to Federal Govt: you’re incompetent

    APC to Federal Govt: you’re incompetent

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has described as “a cruel irony” the accusation of inconsistency and double standards levelled against its leaders by the presidency, saying an incompetent and flip flopping administration has no moral authority to point an accusing finger at anyone, least of all the patriotic and respectable APC leadership.

    ‘’The Presidency is behaving like a punch-drunk boxer who, clearly dazed by a barrage of right-on-target punches from the opponent, ran to the ropes and started punching the air, when he should be thinking of a comeback strategy,’’ the party said in a statement in Lagos yesterday by its Interim National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed.

    ‘’This presidency is definitely dazed from its own failings, the collapse of the party that sired it and the opprobrium being poured on it daily by Nigerians who are grossly disappointed at its woeful performance and clear lack of direction. We are therefore not surprised that in addition to incompetence and cluelessness, it has now resorted to twisting facts,’’ it said.

    APC challenged the Presidency to tell Nigerians when the party called on President Jonathan to respond to former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s scorching letter, as claimed by the Presidency on Monday.

    ‘’What we said, in our press release dated December 13, 2013 and titled: ‘APC to Jonathan: Don’t take Nigeria back to Abacha days’, was that President Jonathan should address the allegations that he has put 1,000 Nigerians on a ‘political watch-list’, in addition to training snipers at the same facility where Abacha’s killer squad was trained.

    ‘’Even then, our grouse about the President’s letter is not that he should not have responded, but that he should have exhibited a high level of decorum in his response, bearing in mind that the Presidency is an institution that should not be dragged into the mud, while the President is only a tenant.

    ‘’In order to show clearly that the Presidency either did not understand our subsequent press statement on the lettergate or has decided to distort our stand, we hereby reproduce the relevant part of the second statement we issued on December 26, 2013, on the basis of which the Presidency has misfired: ‘The party said while it is not interested in joining the fray over the issues contained in the letters written by both men, the decision by the President to go personal in his reaction crossed the threshold of decency and brought the Presidency – and indeed the country – into disrepute.

    ‘’’It said in other climes, the President would have simply issued a terse response to such a letter denying the allegations that border on national security, if any; as well as saying the former President’s observations have been noted, and that the government would study them and then engage with the former President in private, while assuring that the ship of state is on course’.’’

    On the accusation of inconsistency and double standards leveled against its leaders, the APC said the Presidency was simply shooting the breeze.

    ‘’The problem with this Presidency is that it still cannot get over the fact that our leaders, including Chief Bisi Akande, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari and Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, have decided to put their differences aside and make personal sacrifices to rescue Nigeria from the PDP death grip. The Presidency cannot understand why the permutations of its fake political consultants, that personality clashes between Buhari and Asiwaju will not let the APC see the light of day, have failed.

    ‘’Also, they have been gripped with mortal fear that the leadership of the APC has reached out to all Nigerians, irrespective of their political leanings. They cannot understand that those who are genuinely committed to rebuilding a nation that has been made so fractious by a bungling ruling party must be flexible and accommodating, while holding on tight to their principles,’’ the party said.

    It urged the Jonathan presidency to expend its energy on telling Nigerians why it should not be voted out in 2015 for running the most incompetent administration yet in our country’s history. It should explain to Nigerians why billions of naira have been squirreled away under its watch. It should tell Nigerians why they spent their Christmas and New Year holidays in darkness; why most of our qualified youth are unemployed, and why the government’s contrived economic growth has yet to result in economic development (that’s hoping they know the difference).

    ‘’These are the issues that should bother this clueless presidency, not whether the APC asked President Jonathan to respond to a letter or not. We are for issue-based engagements, not frivolity-based exchanges,’’ APC said.