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  • Opposition party will rebuild Nigeria, says Tinubu

    Opposition party will rebuild Nigeria, says Tinubu

    Leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, declared yesterday in Kano that the opposition parties remain resolute in their desire to reconstruct Nigeria into a sturdy and bright home that will terminate the prevailing poverty rate, unemployment and insecurity.

    Asiwaju Tinubu, a key player in the promotion of the All Progressive Alliance (APC), said the country is sufficiently blessed with leaders endowed with the ability to turn the nation around by chasing away, “the demons,” whose activities have remained a source of impediment to the general growth of the Nigerian society.

    He spoke at the Third Convocation of the Kano State University of Science and Technology (KUST), Wudil and the conferment on him and other prominent Nigerians of honorary doctorate degrees of the institution.

    “History teaches that those who stay resolute shall win in the end; we are resolute for there is no shame in wanting democracy, no shame in wanting prosperity, fighting against poverty, ignorance and diseases, just as there is also no shame in believing in justice, striving for a better life and demanding good governance,” he said.

    The ACN leader, who was honoured with the Doctor of Science, Honaris Causa in recognition of his immense contribution to the development of academics, said “a heavy cloud hovers over-head and there seems to be no woe by which we are not besieged: poverty, unemployment, diseases, religious and ethnic divides as well as terror, sadly, our house is weak because of poor infrastructure.”

    He added: “To lift this nation from its low state, you must equip the people with the knowledge needed to face the challenges on ground. Education is a practical dynamic thing that must be adapted to our needs and reflect our circumstance; it must give us the skills needed to become architects of the destinies we seek and not idle bystanders in our lives.”

    Citing the crisis in the education sector, he said: “we should not abide by a system whereby 1.7 million candidates seek admission to universities, where only 500,000 places exist in both private and public universities.”

    He said it is dangerous for the country to ” give our people skills for jobs that do not exist, while the work at hand goes undone because of lack able labour,” and expressed the determination of the APC to “create the change that will render extinct Boko Haram and other violent movements across the land. In the face of increasing progress and prosperity, such groups shall remain where they belong; small, fringe and inconsequential. By wedding innovative technology and good governance, we guide the nation to her better future.

    “There will be no need to even contemplate a state of emergency in Nigeria, there will only be a nation and 36 states of emergence towards development, prosperity and hope.”

    Tinubu described the award as a symbol of unity and hailed the authorities of the University for considering him and others worthy of the honour.

    His words: “We are one in Nigeria regardless of cultural, religion or political differences. I am touched to the heart by this expansive gesture. In doing this, you ignored the imaginary divide between North and South because of your nationalistic courage; you recognise no such divide exists except in the minds of those who would keep us down, divided and at each other’s throats.

    “In your wisdom, you realise that we are one. Come what may, we shall remain one. I commend your courage and wisdom. You must maintain this standard because we need this type of courage and wisdom to see our nation through its current tumult. Although storms break all around us, we shall not faint. We shall not cower in fear for our purpose is right and our ways are democratic and just.”

    Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso of Kano State, who is the founder and visitor to the University, in his speech recalled the commencement of academics in the university in 2001 with 548 students, pointing out that today, “twelve years later, the University is graduating 696 students for the 2011/2012 session with a total enrolment of almost 10, 000 students and 23 academic programmes.”

    According to him, the university’s projection is that a decade from now, it will have a students’ population of 25, 000.

    Also honoured yesterday were Senator Hamisu Musa; the Emir of Daura, Alhaji Umar Farouk Umar; and the late Alhaji Mudi Spikin.

    In his brief speech, the institution’s Chancellor, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, congratulated the graduates and wished them a successful career in their future endeavours, urging them to be good ambassadors of the institution.

    At the ceremony were former military Head of State General Muhammadu Buhari, Governors Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun) and Abiola Aimobi (Oyo), former Ogun State Governor, Aremo Olusegun Osoba, former EFCC Chairman, Malam Nuhu Ribadu and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Malam Aminu Waziri Tambuwal.

    Also there were ACN National Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande; National Publicity Secretary of the party, Alhaji Lai Muhammed; the Emir of Dass, Alhaji Bilayaminu Usman; former Governor of Benue State, Senator George Akume; Bashir Adamu; Senator Kabiru Gaya, Kawu Ismaila; former Minister of Labour, Alhaji Musa Gwadabe; Deputy Governor of Kano State, Alhaji Abdullahi Ganduje; Chairman of Kano Elders’ Forum, Alhaji Magaji Dambatta, former Deputy Governors of Kano State, Abdullahi Gwarzo and Magaji Abdullahi .

  • 2015: Katsina PDP panics over APC

    2015: Katsina PDP panics over APC

    Ahead of the 2015 general election in Katsina State, the ruling People Democratic Party (PDP) is having sleepless nights over the emergence of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Assistant Editor, Dare Odufowokan reports

     

    Fear of losing the April 2015 governorship election in the state is said to have sparked panic within the Katsina State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Checks by The Nation revealed that leaders of the ruling party in the northwest state are worried that the party’s candidate in the forthcoming election may suffer defeat in the hands of the emerging All Progressive Congress (APC).

    A member of the National Working Committee of the PDP who is from the state said the PDP leadership in Katsina State is disturbed by the threat posed by the merger of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and the All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP).

    He, however, said the party under the leadership of Governor Ibrahim Shema is not folding its arms while the new party run riot on the political space of the state.

    The source, who pleaded anonymity, said, “This is not an easy one for us in Katsina. The merger of Buhari’s CPC and the ANPP is a serious threat to the PDP in the state.

    “On their own, the two parties have followership in Katsina. General Buhari and Aminu Bello Masari are respected sons of the state. When such parties now go into a merger, it is certain to bring headache to the ruling party and we are really worried by the development.

    “Politics is a game of numbers and it is the party with the largest followership that wins. So we are bothered that the combination of the two parties must be checked if we are to retain our hold on the politics of the state.”

    Also, recent statements by leaders of the PDP in the state indicate that the party is having sleepless nights over the emergence of the APC ahead of the 2015 general election in the state.

    For example, the speaker of State House of Assembly, Alhaji Ya’u Umar Gwajo-gwajo, recently warned members of the party in the state against the dangers of its losing an election in 2015.

    “We will all be in trouble in an event we lost an election,” the speaker warned.

    According to sources, Gwajo-Gwajo, who gave the warning at the PDP Daura Zonal meeting few weeks back in Kankia, averred that ‘in case we lost an election even a messenger from our side will see hell; we will not have it easy with the opposition.’

    The speaker’s fear is built on the daily progress being made in the state by the opposition, especially the APC, while members of the ruling party look on helplessly.

    “The speaker lamented that despite the goodies enjoyed by the PDP members and the good job done by the party in the state, members could not come out to defend their leaders whenever they are being verbally attacked by the opposition.

    “He wondered why PDP members could not talk when opposition are attacking their leaders. He argued that Governor Shema has done a lot in the state but the opposition is now very critical of him while PDP members watched helplessly,” a source who was at the meeting reported.

    The speaker was later to admonishs members of the party to put more efforts in propagating the ideals of the party at all levels if the PDP is to defeat the APC in 2015.

    “He even added that the party must revive regular meetings to discuss the way forward and woo new members because the new APC is spreading its tentacles all over the state. He said because the new party is having regular discussion with the people, they are daily winning more and more PDP members over,” our source said.

    The speaker is not the only one sounding notes of warning over the fate of the ruling party in 2015. Another PDP chieftain in the state and former governor of defunct Kaduna State, Alhaji Muhammad Lawal Kaita, is also worried that the party is ‘too far away from the people.’

    Speaking recently with party members and leaders, Kaita said the PDP needs to put its house in order so as to be able to confront the emerging opposition party. He cautioned the party against underrating the new party.

    The politician also urged members of the party to imbibe the culture of regular meeting as according to him ‘it is through such meetings that issues of the party will be addressed.’

    Although Governor Shema will not be eligible to seek re-election in 2015, the PDP is desirous of retaining its hold on the state. In line with this, the party is working round the clock to produce a gubernatorial candidate that will be acceptable to the people.

    But analysts say the current fear amongst party leaders may not be unconnected with certain factors in the politics of the state that daily make the possibility of the ruling party defeating the emerging APC a tall dream.

    “During the last general election in the state, many people saw the victory of PDP at the governorship poll as fraudulent. This feeling was based on the fact that the party performed below par at the national assembly elections a week earlier.

    “The CPC won all three senatorial seats in the state and twelve out of the fifteen House of Representatives seats available leaving PDP with just three. How Governor Shema was able to emerge the winner of the governorship poll is still a subject of serious debate today.

    “Consequently, there is no doubt in the minds of PDP leaders that then CPC is a very popular party in the state. Way back in 2003 and 2007, the ANPP ranked neck and neck with the PDP in the politics of the state. The party was the toast of the southern parts of the state and is still very loved by the locals in those areas even today.

    “The merger of these two parties in Katsina will surely create panic within the troubled PDP whose sitting governor would not be seeking another term. The current tussle for the governorship ticket of the party is also likely to further weaken the party before the governorship contest,” Abu Kankia, Vice Chairman of the Coalition of Registered Political Parties (CRPP) in the state, said.

    Within the PDP, those said to be nursing governorship ambition include the Deputy Governor, Abdullahi Faskari; Senator Ibrahim Ida; Musa Sada, who is the current Minister of Mines and Steel, and the Comptroller- General of Customs, Dikko Inde. Others are the current Commissioner for Agriculture, Musa Adamu; Nura Khalil; and former Executive Secretary of the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF), Muttaqa Darma.

    Already the rivalry among these heavyweights is said to have polarised the party into groups with each loyal to one of the aspirants. Several attempts by the leadership of the party to heal the cracks failed as incidents of clashes between the various groups continue unabated in the state.

    Also suspected to have led to the panic within the PDP in the state is the news of PDP members daily dumping the party to join the emerging APC across the state.

    Recently, three hundred members of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Gurzar Kuka village of Danmusa Local Government Area of the state reportedly defected to the Congress of Progressive Change, CPC.

    Sources said a member of the House of Representatives, (Safana/Danmusa/Batsari federal constituency), Gambo Musa, received the defectors who are from Danmusa B ward of the Local Government Area.

    “It is our joy that the people of the constituency have started to know what is good for them. We welcome you and pray that more people will defect to APC in the area. This is your party and we receive you as full members of our great party. We assure you of equal treatment with all members of the party,” the lawmaker said.

    Sources said the spokesperson of the defectors, Awwalu Gurza, said they are joining the APC because of their conviction that the party is the best for the people of the state.

    Stories of such defection by PDP members into the APC are now very common within the state and sources within the ruling party revealed that the leadership of the party finds this very disturbing.

    “On several occasions the leaders of the party have met the governor and other stakeholders to discuss the disturbing trend. Efforts are now on to revive all organs of the party from the wards to the state level. The fear is that if something drastic is not done, the APC may swing a surprise at the next general election,” a source said.

    But Alhaji Babajo Ibrahim-Funtua, a chieftain of the ruling party, is of the opinion that in spite of the current frenzy over the emergence of the APC, the PDP in Katsina is capable of retaining the state in its kitty come 2015.

    While he enjoined party loyalists to embrace efforts aimed at resolving differences among members, Funtua said a united PDP will defeat the merging political parties in Katsina State in 2015.

    Ibrahim-Funtua, who is also member of the National Board of Trustees from Katsina State, however, cautioned members against heating up the internal party politics and fuelling sentiments based on selfish interest, which, he said, were detrimental to the party’s success.

    He emphasised the need for combined efforts by members at all levels to resolve internal differences and woo more supporters ahead of forthcoming election in the state.

     

  • APC: A merger here to stay

    Politics concerns everything in life and it is usually a very serious affair. In Nigeria, the major political story dominating the airwaves is that of a newly formed political party – the All Progressive Congress (APC), born from a merger of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), and the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA). As the seconds click towards the 2015 general elections, the polity is heating up. And at the centre of the heat is the APC, famed potentially to be the biggest opposition party to arise in the country.

    Faced with hurdles, even before the APC started flying, the party’s christening generated controversy when two other political parties claimed to have submitted application bearing the same acronyms. But, considering that the first goal of the APC is to unseat the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), that issued can easily be resolved.

    Since the coming of the fourth republic in Nigeria, the PDP has held sway both at the federal government level and in many other states too. But, today, that popularity is waning, even among erstwhile supporters. Suddenly, there seems to be a yawning need for change in Nigeria shared by many people. To them, the PDP as a party is just not capable of delivering the democracy dividends anymore. This perhaps account for the overwhelming support which the APC has been receiving in states under ACN, CPC, ANPP, and APGA rule.

    A week after the formation of the party, Lagos State governor Babatunde Fashola, likened APC to a marriage. But, from indications, this is not a marriage of convenience. And it seems for once, the PDP stranglehold is really threatened. I consider that a relief. Joining Fashola on this cause include the governors of Ekiti, Kayode Fayemi; Ogun, Ibikunle Amosun; Oyo, Abiola Ajimobi; and that of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola. Others are Adams Oshiomhole of Edo; Rochas Okorocha of Imo; Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara; Tanko Al-Makura of Nasarawa; and Kashim Shettima of Borno State. And state after state, directed by governors of those states, the APC chant is growing louder.

    Watching events since the party was formed by a coalition of four political parties in February, I’ve seen people after people embrace what the APC stands for; change. This change is not just about change of power, rather it is a change for a better life. Already, APC has stated that its priority programmes include agricultural development, job creation, free education, affordable healthcare, infrastructural development, adequate power supply, eradication of poverty and corruption and rapid technological advancement and industrialisation. No doubt, this is what we need at this moment.

    And, I’m particularly happy that Fashola is in the forefront of the APC cause because in Lagos, Fashola has succeeded in shoring up development from where his predecessor left off. The little frustrations the Lagos State government has suffered in its developmental strides has come largely from an obstinate PDP-led federal government that would rather gloat on triumphing over political opponents than seeing overall progress put in place.

    However, now that the APC, a true opposition party, has come home to roost, the fight to wrestle power and consequently a better future for Nigeria and Nigerians must not be left solely in the hands of politicians alone. In this guise, religious, ethnic, and professional groups must also come on-board to stop the mortgage of the country’s future. This PDP tyranny must be fought. Already, some mischievous pundits are saying APC is full of strange bedfellows. Recently, referring to cracks in the APGA, Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, had said that only few people stayed away from joining the new party. Okorocha said, “As far as I know, the real members of APGA are with APC and Nigerians are aware of that.”

    The truth is that, as it is, proponents of APC believe in the party’s unity.

    In a letter to the editor which was published in The Nation newspaper of Monday, May 20, governor Fashola agreed “that all previous merger attempts have been unsuccessful.” But, advising personnel of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Fashola said the body should leave the choice of whether the APC be or not to be left to Nigerians to decide.

    “The most important thing that this merger will achieve, is that it gives the people of Nigeria a real choice as to who to trust with their affairs,” Fashola wrote.

    “This is instructive because a choice between the PDP and the PDP is not a choice.”

    Before the advent of APC, no other party could have been so ambitious to position itself as a formidable option. Likening the opposition to an ‘automobile workshop without basic tools,’ Fashola decried the opposition’s inability to fund power projects, fund security agencies, or fund anything.

    “When we create that choice and the people of Nigeria decide that they want to stay with the party that has brought us this far then they will have made their choice – A real choice.”

    If this real choice was absent in previous mergers, the PDP must be realising now that this time, the merger is for real. And it is potent too.

     

    • Akinmosa wrote from Agege, Lagos.

     

  • 247 APGA members join APC

    Angry with the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), 247 politicians have joined the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    The leader of the ex-APGA members, Ogemdi Ikwuakor, said they were dissatisfied with APGA.

    “And to worsen our predicament, the group we are supporting, led by Maxi Okwu, has continued to give us hopes that all would come to normalcy.

    “But it surprising that even when they told us that the High Court has reinstated Maxi Okwu as our National Chairman. They did not tell us that the Appeal Court’s stay of execution is still there.

    “Presently, we are confused as to what to believe and most of us have political ambitions to actualise.

    “We have this fear that APGA may not produce candidates for local government election and governorship election.

    “ So, we have to join the APC because at least there is no crisis in the party and if three parties can come together it shows that the party will go places.

    “We know that 2015 election is not going to be easy but both the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and APGA are in crisis with several factions and that is a plus for APC.”

     

  • High turnout of supporters as APC is launched in Kogi

    An impressive turnout of eager supporters marked the launching of the All Progressives Congress (APC), yesterday in Kogi Central Senatorial District of Kogi State.

    Addressing the supporters at Okenne Town Hall, a chieftain of the party, Prof Yusuf Aliyu, hailed them for their large turnout.

    The supporters were from the five local government areas – Okene, Adavi, Ajaokuta, Okehi and Ogori/Magongo – which make up the senatorial district.

    Aliyu said APC is a merger of all progressive parties in Nigeria, adding that the purpose of accepting the party in the state was to take over power from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2015.

    The politician promised that the new party will salvage the country from collapse.

    He said APC has a roll-call of tested and trusted national leaders, adding that the party will give Nigerians and the people of Kogi Central a new political direction for a fresh lease of life.

    Also, a prominent politician and former Commissioner for Agriculture in the Ibrahim Idris administration, Sulaiman Enesi Jimoh, assured the people that the new party will work for the progress of Ebira people in the state.

    He also said the APC will close the leadership gap created by the demise of Senator Ahmed Tijjani Ahmed some years ago.

    The former commissioner advised the people to embrace the new party, adding that it is the only platform to promote Nigeria’s peace, unity and progress as well as the state’s.

     

     

     

     

  • No personality clash in APC, says senator

    No personality clash in APC, says senator

    •’We’re still probing N16b VP’s house

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) will not suffer from personality clashes despite the merger of political parties, it was learnt yesterday.

    Vice-Chairman, Senate Committee on Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Senator Domingo Obende, who said this in Abuja, noted that the leaders of the APC are mature and have wealth of experience to run the party.

    Obende also said the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) senators are likely to toe the path of national interest in their contributions to the debate on the state of emergency in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states today in the Senate.

    The lawmaker representing Edo North in the Upper Chamber said the country is on the path of “government change”, with the emergence of APC.

    On whether personality clashes will derail the formation of the APC, he said individuals in APC came together to form the party with the aim of salvaging the country from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) misrule.

    Obende said: “I believe that because they are adults and are intelligent and know that the nation is drifting apart, they must come together with their own ideas that will bring about peace. To be able to do the rightful selection as regards leadership of the party.

    “If this is done, I believe we are going to be on the path of government change.

    “This is what I am looking at because if you check what has been happening for the past eight years, you will agree with me that the present government is not taking us to anywhere that we can call a destination.

    “If four or five political parties have come together, believing that they have the quality to lead Nigeria to somewhere, I think they should be given a chance. I very much doubt that there is going to be personality clash.

    “I believe that APC at the end of the day will rule this country.”

    The lawmaker also said the Senate is in the process of unravelling what led to sharp increase in the cost of building the Vice-President’s (VP’s) house in Abuja.

    He noted that the committee has not been furnished with the information it demanded from the contractor handling the N16billion project.

    Obende said until members of the committee receive the information as to the bill of quantity and drawings of the house, the committee cannot give its blessing for additional funding.

    Said he: “We insist that before we can improve on the funding, we need to see the drawings, we need to see the bill of quantity.

    “We also have our consultants. Let them look at it. Are we going to spend this much from tax payers’ money, presuming that it is going to be occupied by a family because whether you have four wives and one man, you are still a family.

    “This is the way we look at it. As we speak, we have not been able to arrive at any conclusion, whether the project will go on or not. But if we get all the documents we are asking for, basically, we are not here to stop the wheel of progress, we will allow the project to go on.”

    On the likely position of the opposition lawmakers when the emergency rule imposed on the three states is being considered, Obende said: “The ACN as a body has the right to oppose whatever that is going on in the nation. It also has the right to support whatever that is going on.

    “But we have a caucus in the National Assembly and the aim of the caucus is to move along with the national tide. If we are going for good, we will move along with it.

    “As we see that the nation is drifting, it is our duty to bring it back to alignment. What I think we are going to be looking at tomorrow is not the position of ACN, but the position of the nation. Is it going to be better for the country or it is not going to be better for the country?

    “I believe we should not forcefully abort the baby right now. As a caucus of the ACN, we have not taken a decision and it is only after our meeting that we will come up with a position and I believe the position is going to be in the interest of the nation.

    “We are not going to be party dogmatic. Our position is going to be a position in the Nigerian interest.”

    On whether he has any regret on his bill proscribing same sex marriage in the country, following global trends on the issue, the senator said: “I do not have any regret.”

    He added: “When a nation is a sovereign nation, she makes laws for herself and her citizens. Our laws are not meant for the international community because they have laws governing them. We should also have laws governing us.”

     

  • APC won’t be hijacked by moneybags, says ex-governor Shekarau

    The All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP) presidential candidate in the last election and former Kano State Governor Ibrahim Shekarau yesterday said the new opposition party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), will resist any attempt by moneybags to hijack it.

    Shekarau, who is a key figure in the merger of opposition parties to form APC, said the founding members of the new party have designed it as the last hope of the masses.

    He said: “It is going to be a party that will be grassroots-oriented, where the masses can have a stake. We are duty-bound to discourage moneybags from taking control of the party.”

    The chairman of the ANPP merger committee told reporters in his Kano home that APC was determined to make justice and fair play its watchword.

    According to him, internal democracy remains the cornerstone of the party.

    He said the understanding among APC leaders, which resulted in the merger, will be pursued tirelessly to give the party a different ideological and programmes’ outlook.

    Shekarau said: “Anything that will encourage bickering will not be tolerated.

    “We want to be totally different from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) by pursuing justice for all, building a party that will give everyone a chance to pursue his or her political ambition through the entrenchment of internal democracy to sustain peace and stability of the party. This way, the ultimate goal of unseating PDP in the next poll will be achieved.

    “No individual will be allowed to hijack the party for his own goal. Every decision taken must be collective and it will be in the interest of all members and the party.”

    The former governor, who also holds the title of Sardaunan Kano, dismissed allegation of sabotage levelled against former Borno State Governor Ali Modu Sheriff.

    He noted that Sheriff has cleared himself of those allegations.

    Shekarau said: “As far as I am concerned, I cannot say yes or no over whatever allegation that have been levelled against Modu Sheriff. This is because I don’t know the minds of members of the party.

    “I believe all the major players are solidly with us. But that does not mean we may not see some funny development. For now, there’s no reason to panic.”

    On his likely position in the APC executive, Shekarau explained that as a loyal party man, he would offer to serve in any capacity the party deems fit.

    The former governor dispelled the speculation that the APC leadership will emerge soon, going by the cumbersome process it is undergoing.

     

  • APC, PDP and the battle for ‘swing’ states

    APC, PDP and the battle for ‘swing’ states

    Assistant Editor, Dare Odufowokan, takes a look at how the looming political battle between the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the emerging All Progressives Congress (APC) may be fought and won in 2015

     

    Following the confirmation of the merger plan at the special conventions of the three co-operating political parties, namely the Action Congress of Nigeria (AC N), the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and the All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP), the stage appears set for a titanic political battle between the ruling Peoples Democratic Party and the fast emerging product of the merger, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2015.

    The two political camps are sounding confident about how and where they will get the required votes to win the next general election, but beneath the ongoing political bravado from both sides, there seems to be a rough consensus about the shape the forthcoming political race is likely to take.

    Sources say top strategists from both camps have been working round the clock in anticipation of what pundits say will be a close battle between the two leading political parties across the states of the federation, given the current and emerging political scenarios in the country.

    While the two parties would be going for broke in the struggle for the presidency of the country, analysts say the real battle lies in the governorship contest in the thirty six states of the federation as the performances of the rivals in the gubernatorial elections, which is likely to precede the presidential contest by a week or two, will make or mar the quest for the presidency.

    Given the current situation where the allegiance of some governors, especially of the ruling PDP, to their parties are being questioned, some states have emerged as swing states or battleground states ahead of the 2015 general elections.

    The implication of this on the forthcoming election is that the ability of the two contending parties to swing victory in about thirteen states that appear up for grabs, as we speak, will determine which of them will control the federal government at the conclusion of political hostilities in 2015.

    Given the role of money and state apparatus in the politics of the country, pundits are of the opinion that the political affiliation of the governor of each state as at the time of the election will go a long way to determine which party will emerge victorious in which state.

    Consequently, the ongoing crisis within the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF), especially among PDP governors has made it difficult to predict the likely performance of the party in some of the states it currently controls. Should some of the governors revolt against the party and or defect to the APC, as currently being insinuated on both sides, their various states will be up for grab in 2015.

     

    PDP states

    Today, the ruling party has its members as governors in twenty three states, accounting for nearly two-third of the thirty six states of the federation. The situation leaves four other parties to share the remaining thirteen states, about one third of the total number of states in the country.

    But with indications daily emerging that some of the PDP governors may dump the party in search of other political platforms ahead of the 2015 general elections, pundits say President Goodluck Jonathan’s party can only beat its chest assuredly in just about twelve of the said states.

    This uncertainty has thrown up about eleven PDP control states as battleground ahead of the 2015 general election, with both the ruling party and the emerging APC ready to do battle for their political souls.

    For now, the PDP and President Jonathan can be sure of victory in about the two southeast states of Abia and Enugu where its governors are popular and also committed to the party.

    With Governor Theodore Orji of Abia State needing the support of both the party and the presidency to curtail the menacing advances of his returning erstwhile godfather and former governor, Orji Uzor Kalu, his commitment to President Goodluck Jonathan’s second term ambition has been steady.

    In his state, Orji has also managed to become popular as a performing governor largely on the strength of his unending political brawl with his predecessor than for anything else. He appears to have a firm grip of the political machinery of the state and this may help him deliver the state again to the PDP in 2015.

    The trio of Bayelsa, Cross Rivers and Akwa Ibom states are also likely to remain in the hands of the PDP come 2015. This is largely due to the loyalty of the governors in the state to President Jonathan, coupled with the fact that little or nothing of the opposition is currently being felt in the states.

    Save for Akwa Ibom State where James Akpan-Udoedehe, the ACN gubernatorial candidate in the last election, is keeping the ruling party on its toes, the opposition parties in Bayelsa and Cross-Rivers states have gone to sleep.

    In Plateau, Bauchi, Taraba and Gombe states, the PDP is looking good ahead of the forthcoming election. Barring any last minute surprises and or political maneuver by the emerging APC or any other party at that, the ruling party appears set to retain its hold on these states.

    Though the governors of Sokoto and Kebbi states are rumoured to be displeased with some actions of the national leadership of the party in recent times, the two are yet to give anybody serious cause to doubt their commitment to the PDP. If the situation remains the same till 2015, the ruling party is likely to win the elections in these states again.

     

    The battlegrounds

    However, the PDP is most likely to suffer defeats in Rivers, Niger, Adamawa, Kwara, Jigawa and Kano states. The governors of these states have one axe or the other to grind with either the PDP leadership or the presidency. This has led to strong indications that they are no longer comfortable with their membership of the party and may move elsewhere soon.

    Should this happen and the opposition, especially the APC, convince them to move into its camp, their various states will become swing states where any of the contending parties can claim vital victories.

    While Governor Rotimi Amaechi has been engrossed in an unending feud with President Jonathan for months now in what many describe as an ego war, Governor Babangida Aliyu of Niger State’s reported interest in the presidency come 2015 has pitched him against the PDP establishment.

    It is this same fate that has befallen Governor Sule Lamido of Jigawa State. With posters proclaiming his desire to gun for the presidency all over the place, he appears to have drawn the ire of the presidency and as such may have to seek an alternative political platform in 2015.

    The supremacy battle between Governor Murtala Nyako of Adamawa and the national chairman of the PDP, Bamanga Tukur, who hail from the same state, has weakened the party tremendously with talks that Nyako may soon dump the ruling party.

    Governors Rabiu Kwankwaso and Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kano and Kwara states respectively are not known enthusiastic supporters of the President. Kwankwanso specifically has been quite critical of some of the President’s actions in recent past. All these make their states appear as likely political battlegrounds in 2015.

    Also, the races in states like Ebonyi, Delta, Kogi, Benue, Katsina and Kaduna will be tight. These are states where the oppositions are quite strong. The 2011 elections were closely fought in these states with the winners emerging with narrow victories. So with the merger of three leading opposition parties coming against the PDP, these states can swing either way.

    In Delta for instance, the decision of Senator Pius Ewherido of the Democratic Peoples Party (DPP) to join the APC and the fact that Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan will not be eligible to seek another term, the race has become very open. Consequently, the state is a swing or battleground state.

    Katsina and Kaduna were states where the CPC and the ANPP had impressive showings in the last election. With the two parties joining the AC N to form the APC, the PDP will definitely be given a run for its money in these states come 2015.

    There are also the two “undecided” states of Anambra and Ondo. The two are currently standing independent of the two leading gladiators. While Governor Peter Obi of Anambra is holding firmly to the remnant of a faction of the troubled All Prgoressive Grand Alliance (APGA), Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State is of the Labour Party (LP).

    But analysts say the two will not remain aloof for long. With the predictions that they will soon pitch their tents with either of the PDP or APC, these two states remain swing states where anything can happen in 2015 depending on where their governors decide to pitch their tents.

     

    APC strongholds

    As we speak, the APC is firmly in control of eleven states. The AC N came into the merger with six states firmly in its kitty. The states are the five southwestern states of Lagos, Oyo, Ogun, Osun and Ekiti. The party is also in control of the south-southern state of Edo.

    Given the performance of its governors and the popularity being enjoyed by its leaders across these states, there is little or no fear of the party losing these states in 2015. Elections in Osun and Ekiti states next year are expected to further consolidate the grip of the AC N on the states.

    The ANPP brought three states into the APC. These are Zamfara State in the northwest and the duo of Borno and Yobe states in the northeast. The party, pundits say, look good to retain its control of the states beyond 2015.

    “There should be little or no fear of the ANPP losing its three states because the party is waxing stronger in the north today. The people want an alternative to PDP and the ANPP is one party they’ve known for long. I think the party will win some more states for the APC in 2015,” a source said.

    Currently, the CPC has one governor. He is Governor Umar Tanko Al’makura of Nasarawa State. Given his popularity as a performing governor, he looks good to retain the state for the APC beyond 2015.

    The cult followership enjoyed by the leader of the CPC, General Muhammadu Buhari, is another factor expected to swing votes the way of the APC especially in the northern part of the country.

     

     

  • Understanding the coming of APC

    Understanding the coming of APC

    SIR: All of the world, the only thing that is permanent is change. Framers of constitutional democracies worldwide made provisions for change in leadership by providing for two-party system or multi-party system. They put this very important clause in place to make way for change when there is need to do so. When there is one party system, the possibility of change is no longer there.

    Nigeria is supposed to be a multi-party democracy where change is inevitable if things are not going well as they are now. But the ruling party (PDP) has held the nation hostage since 1999. The party leadership has effectively used the wealth of the nation not for productivity and economic growth but to muzzle and stifle opposition. They have effectively used the nation’s resources for themselves, their wives, children, and even generations yet unborn. Every attempt made by the opposition to come together to challenge the octopus has met with ruthless obstacles put in place by the ruling party. They use our money to corrupt our hard earned democracy and to democratize corruption. As if that is not enough they tell us that their party will rule Nigeria for 60 years, whether we like it or not.

    In 2015 Nigerians deserve change of leadership, change of attitude, change in ideas, change in character, change in strategy, change in approach, change in plans, change in focus, change in conducting the affairs of state and in conducting the business of governance. Nigerians deserve new ways of doing things, new thinking in the art of governance, new men and women in the seat of government, and a real turnaround in transforming a country endowed with both human and material resources.

    Everything that needs to be done to bring about this change is being put in place right now by committed men and women in ACN, CPC, ANPP, APGA and others. All things considered, I know that APC leaders are determined to take this project of giving Nigerians an alternative to a logical conclusion, but the biggest headache is the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Is INEC fully prepared to provide a level playing ground for political parties this time around?

    The controversy surrounding the registration of the newly-formed All Progressives Congress (APC) is not a surprise for those who watch with keen interest, the unfolding events since the announcement of the birth of new the party by its proponents. There is no doubt that the opposition parties to merge caught the ruling party napping and sent down spines into nerves of the reactionary forces holding down the destiny of this nation that the hour of liberation is nigh.

    The scenario is an eye opener for the proponents for the APC of the enormity of the task before them. Also, it would afford them opportunity to know that they are on the right path and no amount of intimidation that would let them not to register the party and produce a credible candidate to contest on the platform of the party.

    The struggle to reclaim Nigeria is going to be a serious battle because we are dealing with people without conscience, hearts, minds, souls, heads, eyes and brains. The major objective of the APC is to fix Nigeria. The merger has become very necessary in order to save our democracy and the likelihood of turning Nigeria into a one-party state, which does not augur well for our nascent democracy.

     

    • Ademola Orunbon

    Epe, Lagos State.

  • Buhari: Jonathan lacks capacity to end insecurity

    Buhari: Jonathan lacks capacity to end insecurity

    • Change is rallying cry as CPC, ANPP dissolve into APC

    The National Leader of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), General Muhammadu Buhari, declared yesterday that President Goodluck Jonathan’s handling of the security challenges in the country has shown that his government lacked the capacity to deal with the crisis.

    The violence, the former military leader said, is pushing the country towards anarchy hence the need for well meaning Nigerians to step in immediately with a view to saving the country from going under.

    Buhari who was the Presidential candidate of the CPC in the 2011 elections, spoke at the party’s national convention in Abuja to ratify the planned fusion of the CPC, the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) into All Progressive Congress (APC).

    He said, “Anarchy is knocking on the door of many sections of this country and the Federal Government has not demonstrated that it has the good sense to understand what is going on, or the competence to check it.”

    “The nation is hopelessly adrift. But, if we are to survive, this vicious circle of violence that has engulfed this nation must be brought to an end; and we implore the National Assembly to take the lead in this quest for peace.

    “The government has failed in almost everything. It has proved unable to secure the nation’s internal environment: there is widespread and rising poverty and unemployment across the length and breadth of the country. There is spiralling lawlessness all over the country. There is a complete and total decline in the quality of social services and an irremediable dilapidation in the nation’s socio-economic infrastructure across board.”

    He said the patience of Nigerians and the constituent parts has been severely tried and stretched to its limits and citizens now owe it a duty to salvage the situation.

    On the planned merger of the parties, he said: “Many political analysts have long stated that the only way to stabilise the country is for opposition parties to merge and oust the ruling PDP.

    “This is a historic moment when several different political parties have resolved to come together to change Nigeria for the better and stop the mindless drift that has been going on for the last 14years. We must understand and accept that we are here gathered to make history or forever stand accused and condemned by it.”

    Buhari emphasised that the only way to stabilise Nigeria is for the opposition parties to merge and oust the ruling PDP.

    The parties in the merger are coming in as equals, he said, and have resolved that henceforth all votes must count.

    The National Chairman of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Chief Bisi Akande, who also addressed the convention, spoke of APC’s determination to save the country from PDP’s poor governance.

    He said: “We are, however, not unaware of the huge challenges we would face in this endeavour, and the series of minefields we are to cross in our common resolve to rescue this country from total collapse. It is against this backdrop, that we are gathered here today as we did in Lagos to fulfil one of the requirements under the law to actualise our coming together under a single political platform – All Progressives Congress (APC).

    “We have heard the Macedonian call of our people and we have set sail on an irreversible course to contest and assume power at the centre. Our undying quest to refocus and, possibly, to re-fix this massively endowed but hugely debased country has made us to set aside our individual interests for a larger national one. For every PDP’s years of the locust, we are offering, in exchange, a new regime of prosperity, fiscal discipline, security and a more emancipated society.

    “For about a decade and a half, since the People’s Democratic Party came to power, the development of this country has been arrested and almost stalled. Their strange institutionalised style of governance has engendered a general sense of hopelessness, despondency and inertia among the citizenry.

    “In just the same way as the entire democratic space has been fouled with fraud, leadership failure and high level insecurity, our social and economic management has been constricted through unbridled corruption and widespread poverty in the face of enhanced revenue earnings to such an extent that the strata of the Nigerian society too has been engulfed in mutual suspicion and fractured with national disunity.

    “This coalition of progressively minded leaders represents a major shift in Nigeria’s political paradigm. As leaders, and indeed, as political parties, we are convinced, beyond any shadow of doubts, that Nigerians deserve a better country.”

    Governor Raji Fashola of Lagos State was optimistic that APC would defeat PDP in 2015 and urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to shun bias in considering the application of APC for registration.

    His Ogun State counterpart, Ibikunle Amosun, spoke along the same line, saying INEC should be just in handling the APC application, while Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo asked for the support of the generality of Nigerians for the party.

    The running mate to General Buhari in the 2011 Presidential Election, Pastor Tunde Bakare, warned the government against any attempt to truncate the current democratic dispensation in the country as the APC is ready to defeat the PDP in 2015.

    Bakare moved the motion for CPC to dissolve and merge with three other opposition parties to form APC. The National Legal Adviser, Abubakar Malami, seconded the motion while Alhaji Yahaya Sule Hamman moved the motion urging the convention to adopt a resolution to approve the merger agreements.

    The motions were approved.

    At the Gusau convention of the ANPP it was shouts of ‘Change’ as the 6054 delegates mandated the party leadership to go ahead with the plan to fuse into the APC.

    The ANPP National Chairman, Chief Ogbonanya Onu, said it was time for the ruling PDP to start preparation to go into opposition in 2015.

    Like Gen. Buhari, he also deplored the present socio-economic situation in the country.

    His words: “As I look around I do not like what I see. The signs are troubling, the situation on ground is worrisome, light and darkness have no meeting points, poverty has crippled the country, and high rate of unemployment, the ruling party has plunged the masses into high rate of insecurity.

    “For 15 years Nigeria has not known peace and we are not at war as innocent citizens are being killed day and night as justice has become a scarce commodity.”

    He said despite Nigeria’s abundant resources, the people have remained poor.

    Promises are made and yet the same promises are broken thing, he said, adding that the situation has degenerated to this level because “we allow a dominant one party system in the political system, as monopoly in politics is completely unacceptable. It increases decay, scuttles competition, strangulates innovation and weakens creativity.”

    Onu said the merger has come to strengthen the unity of the country so that different ethnic and religious groups can come together and salvage the country.

    The Chairman of the organising committee and the host governor of Zamfara State, Alhaji Abdulaziz Yari, said the coming together of the CPC, ACN, and ANPP is to end the dictatorship at the centre.

    At the convention were the Presidential candidate of ACN in 2011, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, and Governors Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti) and Rauf Aregbesola (Osun).

    Chief Fani-Kayode in a statement on the merger said it “provides hope for Nigeria and it represents the only vehicle and platform that can deliver our nation from the hands of the PDP and the Jonathan administration.”

    He added: “I salute those that have found the courage to stand up against the tyranny, blackmail, pettiness and incompetence of the Jonathan administration and I, together with millions of others, stand shoulder to shoulder with them in their quest to restore and resurrect the fortunes of our country. The various resolutions to merge into one new party is a first step in the right direction.”