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Tag: APC

  • Former Zamfara governor arrested, released

    Former Zamfara governor arrested, released

    Former Zamfara state governor, Senator Ahmed Sani Yerima Bakura was on Saturday arrested by the police in Kaduna and detained for four hours for allegedly making an inciting statement on a live Radio Nigeria hausa phone-in programme, Hanu Dayawa.

    The federal lawmaker was quoted as saying that leaders of the All Progressive Congress (APC) will stage a peaceful demonstration at the Eagle Square in Abuja if the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) refused to register the party.

    However, the state Commissioner of Police, Olufemi Adenaike who earlier said that they never arrested the senator later told journalists that he merely invited the senator to clarify a statement he made on radio when he started receiving calls from concerned citizens of the state.

    While expressing disappointment with journalists for “blowing issues out of proportion”, he said “let me start by saying that I am seriously disappointed by journalist, in the sense that you are blowing nothing out of proportion.

    He said, “If you put yourself in my shoes, you are the commissioner of police of a state. And you start getting calls from concern citizens of the state that somebody has made an inciting statement on the radio, will you go to burukutu (local brew) joint and start drinking? You have to make a move.

    “All I did was to go the radio house. And I met the distinguished Senator and I said, “please, I want to know what you said”. He said, “no problem, let me finish”. And I will come with you to the office. This is what has transpired. And I am surprised that people are saying many things. “CP has arrested him. Or that CP has orders from Abuja. The distinguished senator is not under arrest. The Senator is not under arrest.

    “All we did was to find out what he said. And he said they were going to go on a peaceful demonstration. And I said, define what you mean by peaceful demonstration, considering that Kaduna State is a volatile state.”

     

  • ‘APC will tackle Nigeria’s problem’

    The Special Adviser to Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola on Environment, Hon.Bola Ilori, has expressed optimism that the All Progressive Congress (APC) will rescue the country from its present precarious situation. Ilori, who is a chieftain of the Action Congress of Nigeria(ACN), spoke to reporters at the High Court premises,Akure,the Ondo State capital when on a solidarity visit to the party supporters at the tribunal. He said the merging of the parties underscores the collective resolve aimed at rescuing the people of the country from the ‘’ruderless Peoples Democratic Party government”. Ilori emphasised that the merger is not to advance the political interests of the two leaders; Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), adding that it is in the national interest. The former Chairman of the Alimoso Local Government Area of Lagos State predicted success for the APC at the general elections. Ilori said the political leaders have overcome the problems that undermined the previous alliances, urging Nigerians to brace up for change at the centre. He described the PDP as a divided house assailed by a protracted civil war, adding that a house divided against itself will fall. Ilori stressed: “PDP has over the years used billions of dollars to produce darkness and poor quality of education. There is mass unemployment, particularly among the youths. The opposition is concerned. APC will soon flow down to the state level when all the necessary things are sorted out at the national level. Nigerians will reject PDP in 2015 and embrace the APC because they are tired of the inept PDP administration”. On the electoral litigation involving the ACN and Labour Party (LP) in Ondo State, Ilori said that, with the unprecedented evidence before the panel about all the illegalities that characterised the last governorship election, the case would be addressed in favour of Akeredolu. The politician urged the party supporters to remain steadfast and pray to God for the panel to uphold truth and justice.

  • The unveiling of APC emblem

    The unveiling of APC emblem

  • ‘APC will tackle Nigeria’s problem’

    ‘APC will tackle Nigeria’s problem’

    The Special Adviser to Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola on Environment, Hon.Bola Ilori, has expressed optimism that the All Progressive Congress (APC) will rescue the country from its present precarious situation.

    Ilori, who is a chieftain of the Action Congress of Nigeria(ACN), spoke to reporters at the High Court premises,Akure,the Ondo State capital when on a solidarity visit to the party supporters at the tribunal.

    He said the merging of the parties underscores the collective resolve aimed at rescuing the people of the country from the ‘’ruderless Peoples Democratic Party government”.

    Ilori emphasised that the merger is not to advance the political interests of the two leaders; Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), adding that it is in the national interest.

    The former Chairman of the Alimoso Local Government Area of Lagos State predicted success for the APC at the general elections.

    Ilori said the political leaders have overcome the problems that undermined the previous alliances, urging Nigerians to brace up for change at the centre.

    He described the PDP as a divided house assailed by a protracted civil war, adding that a house divided against itself will fall.

    Ilori stressed: “PDP has over the years used billions of dollars to produce darkness and poor quality of education. There is mass unemployment, particularly among the youths. The opposition is concerned. APC will soon flow down to the state level when all the necessary things are sorted out at the national level. Nigerians will reject PDP in 2015 and embrace the APC because they are tired of the inept PDP administration”.

    On the electoral litigation involving the ACN and Labour Party (LP) in Ondo State, Ilori said that, with the unprecedented evidence before the panel about all the illegalities that characterised the last governorship election, the case would be addressed in favour of Akeredolu.

    The politician urged the party supporters to remain steadfast and pray to God for the panel to uphold truth and justice.

     

  • Why APC can’t fail, by Ogbeh

    Why APC can’t fail, by Ogbeh

    A Chieftain of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Chief Audu Ogbeh has explained why promoters of the proposed All Progressives Congress ( APC) cannot afford to fail in their bid to give Nigerians who yearn for an alternative in the 2015 general election an opportunity.

    Speaking to The Nation yzesterday in an exclusive interview, Ogbeh said the promoters owe it a duty both to Nigerians, democracy and indeed Africa, a duty to ensure that the move is successful.

    Three major opposition parties, the ACN, the All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP), the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and a faction of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA ) recently announced the plan to coalesce into the APC.

    “We owe it a duty to Nigerians and democracy and Africa to ensure that it is successful. It will even be good for the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) itself and good for what we are trying to do in Nigeria, which is to build two very strong ideological blocs and then Nigerians should be the deciding factor, to decide whether they want what we are offering or prefer to be where they are.

    “And in that case, we would have done our duty by saying to them, you now have an alternative if you don’t like where you are. And we are saying to them also, we are making new commitments and promises, if we are unable to perform, kick us out, if we perform, stay with us. But from now, politics is set to be politics of issues and programmes, not politics of election manipulation or the distortion of facts just to remain in office”, he said.

    On his part, Ogbeh said he has very high hopes that the APC would be a reality. He said his optimism was borne out of the fact that the PDP of today was formed at inception from an amalgam of 16 political associations or groups.

    “As for me, I have very high hopes because, at inception, the PDP that we see today came from an amalgamation of 16 different political associations, so, if they were able to found theirs, and they think it is impossible for us, I find it quite funny”, Ogbeh said.

    Giving an appraisal of the progress so far made, he said the plan has exceeded the expectation of even the most optimistic among the promoters.

    “We are making very good progress, we have made more progress than even our biggest optimists expected us to make and the opposition thought it could never happen.”

    He said the APC is looking forward to forming the next government and controlling the majority of the states of the federation.

     

     

     

     

     

  • Group lauds Buhari, Tinubu on merger

    Group lauds Buhari, Tinubu on merger

    A group, the ‘Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) Total Loyalty,’ has described the formation of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the greatest step taken by the opposition in the last 53 years.

    The group lauded the ACN, Congress for Progressive Change (CPC),All progressive Grand Alliance(APGA) and All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP) for forming the new party.

    The leader of the group, Alhaji Toyin Balogun, said the merger will dislodge the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and instal a credible administration at the centre.

    He noted the public enthusiasm that greeted the birth of APC, adding that it underscored the peoples’ yearning for power shift to the progressives.

    Balogun wondered why Nigerians have continued to wallow in poverty, despite the abundant of human and natural resources in the country. He described 2015 as the year of mass liberation from the misery, urging Nigerians to support the new party.

    He added: “The coming together of our major political parties- ACN, CPC, ANPP and APGA- to form a single front to bring to an end the dishonorable reign of the anti-people party is laudable.

    “It is long overdue. We thank God. It is timely. With the merger, we can be assured of a brighter future for Nigeria. The merger will not just bring about good governanc, it will also deepen democracy.

    “Nigeria has many people living below poverty level. When democracy was restored in 1999, there were a lot of expectation.

    “But 14 years after, the PDP has aggravated the problem. The party has no programme for Nigeria. PDP has been a national burden to the country. This must not continue. 2015 is our year of liberation.

    “We commend the effort of our leaders, most especially our indefatigable leader, a true nationalist, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. He has made sacrifice and put Nigeria first. He is on a rescue mission. His name is already in the book of history”.

    Balogun also praised Gen. Mohammadu Buhari (rtd) for his commitment, adding that the former military Head of State has lived up to expectation.

    He urged the APC leaders to forge ahead in unity in the national interest.

    Balogun said the leaders should put to shame the detractors plotting the collapse of the merger.

    He said: “ For those that are forever locked in yesterday, hoping to see the merger derail, the tears of thousands that died as result of bad road, millions that died of hunger, hundreds that died as a result of insecurity and those that fell to the bullet of trigger happy policemen are daily crying for vengeance and God has listened by making the merger work”.

  • APC, a welcome development – IBB

    APC, a welcome development – IBB

    Former Military President, General Ibrahim Babangida (rtd), has endorsed the emergence of All Progressives Congress (APC), saying it is a good political development for the country.

    He also said the merger of political parties into one formidable force has vindicated the policy of two party system his administration introduced in 1992.

    Speaking with Journalists on Thursday at his Uphill residence in Minna, Niger State, Babangida recalled that he was criticised and vilified when he introduced Social Democratic Party (SDP) and National Republican Party (NRC) but expressed happiness at the coming together of four of the opposition parties to form APC.

    The former military leader noted that the development may return the country back to two party system, adding that the emergence of APC was not only good development but a viable platform to provide credible opposition and choice for others.

    Babangida, who is a card carrying member of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said, ”I was a very good advocate of two parties system. When I said two party system, you people said I am a soldier, now you have seen reason why I went for two party system. I am happy for the emergence of APC, it is a welcome political development.”

    On the crisis trailing the leadership of Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) which snowballed into the formation of PDP Governors’ Forum, the former leader said the crisis was elite and media induced.

    He lamented that instead of mobilizing and enlightening the masses on programmes and policies, political leaders are struggling for power without carrying the masses along.

    He cautioned political leaders to stop dissipating energy on appointments.

     

  • APC woos PDP governors

    APC woos PDP governors

    As the civil war in the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) festers, the governors involved in the merger talks have continued to woo their PDP counterparts for the new party, the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Sources said that the APC zonal coordinators have been visiting their counterparts, persuading them to jump ship and team up with the progressive leaders to dislodge PDP in 2015 polls.

    The governors being targetted are also being persuaded to give the conditions for their defection or collaboration with the APC, the source added. Apart from the exchange of text messages, the governors on the two divides also meet at the Nigeria Governors’ Forum meeting and social events.

    A Southwest PDP leader, who spoke with The Nation, said that the national leadership is worried by the APC tactics.

    He said: “The leaders of the political parties that formed the APC are capitalising on the crisis in the PDP to snatch our governors. It is easy to target governors who are ending their second term, but the PDP is rising to the challenge.”

     

     

  • APC will rid Nigeria of corruption, other vices – Shekarau

    APC will rid Nigeria of corruption, other vices – Shekarau

    A former presidential candidate of the All Nigeria Peoples Party, Alhaji Ibrahim Shekarau, has said the newly formed All Progressive Congress (APC) will rid the country of corruption and other social vices.

    He stated that the party, which comprised “people of like minds,” will chart a new course for Nigeria and her citizens.

    Shekarau spoke at the induction and investiture ceremony of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT), held at the Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos, at the weekend.

    The event was organized to formally usher in the new national president of the body, Major. Gen. Umaru Usman (rtd) and his deputy, Mr. Frank Nneji, who were elected in May last year.

    Besides Usman and Nneji, several others, including the Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation, Mr. Adeseyi Sijuwade, an engineer, were also inducted into the body.

    “The APC has been defined in several quarters as ‘Armoured Personnel Carrier’ which has come to dismantle every elements of corruption in the land. It will breathe new life into our society and send packing those that had stalled our progress both as a nation and as citizens, “he said amidst a chorus of laughter from the gathering.

    However, the former Kano State governor, refused to disclose the strategies the party will adopt in ridding the country of graft.

    “Wait until the manifesto of APC is out, after that we will tell Nigerians how we are going to wage war against corruption in the land,” he said.

    On the prevailing insecurity in the land, the ANPP stalwart said: “We shall be addressing this soonest. I don’t want to pre-empt the manifesto and the priority of APC.

    “These are issues that are very relevant and central to our concern and efforts. We are going to address this very seriously. It is not going to be business as usual and we are not going to give Nigerians old wine in new bottles; it is going to be new drinks in new bottles.

    “And concerning the security problem in Kano, I don’t think it is fair to isolate the security problem of that state, as we are talking about something that is affecting the whole nation. Nigeria is being threatened security wise; it is the responsibility of every citizen. It is no longer the issue of government or security agencies. It is the responsibility of every citizen to be law abiding and vigilant.

    “80 per cent of security depends on information, unless the citizens are up and doing, nobody should sit back home and wait to be protected. We must sit up and be part and parcel of the arrangement and of course we challenge the government also to sit up.

    “At APC, we will be rolling out our programme to deal with the situation. The committee will make recommendation; I am sure what they will bring in and address some of these issues that will turn things around for the best.”