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Tag: Atiku Abubakar

  • Middle Belt groups blasts Atiku over comment on ‘missing’ 23 soldiers

    The Middle Belt Conscience Guard, has descended furiously on former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, over his reaction to the report of alleged missing of 23 soldiers after an ambush by Boko Haram insurgents in Borno State.

    There were reports on Monday that no fewer than 23 Nigerian soldiers went missing after Boko Haram insurgents ambushed a military convoy at Boboshe village in Bama local government area of Borno.

    Atiku, while reacting, expressed concerns over the whereabouts of the missing soldiers, while bemoaning the security situation of the country.

    The ex-Vice President, however, got more than he bargained for as the Middle Belt group said his comment was rather a mockery of the currentl government.

    Prince Raymond Enero, National Coordinator in a letter addressed to the ex-VP on behalf of the group, said it was very unpatriotic of a former leader to jump into conclusion without making necessary findings.

    Enero said Atiku’s recent outbursts about the nations show he’s out to distablize the peace and tranquility of the nation.

    The letter reads below.

    We had to reach you through this open epistle to express our displeasure over your recent treacherous and unpatriotic activities to the Federation of Nigeria, which we believe are counter-productive and capable of undermining peace and security in the country.

    This forum was stunned to the marrow to read your malicious, hazy and preposterous propaganda on the alleged missing and unaccounted 23 Nigerian soldiers, you claimed in a tweet disappeared when Boko Haram terrorists purportedly ambushed a military convoy at Boboshe village in Bama LGA of Borno State.

    Without any verifiable proof and basing your judgment from the proclivity of dissent serviced by a media report with anonymous attributions, you lent your voice to a fictitious story.

    There is no doubt that your tweet, expressing a phony concern on the alleged attack and missing soldiers sought to legitimize an incident which never occurred anywhere.

    This was after the Director of Army Public Relations (DAPR), Brig. Gen. Texas Chukwu denounced media reports alluding to alleged terrorists attack on a military convoy and missing soldiers, emphatically debunking that, “There was nothing like that. No ambush on soldiers.”

    This group was disheartened to know of your excitement about the triumph of terrorism against your people and the nation. And this has been your consistent posture since you declared interest in the 2019 Presidency of Nigeria, as reflected in your vehement and callous attempts to discredit the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari on security.

    It is quite unexpected from a supposed leader of your status, to engage in such plain subterfuge against your own country. It is more sad to consciously assist in the propagation of the triumph of terrorism and celebrating the enemies of the a country you once led and is still seeking its leadership.

    This forum recall a public statement credited to you in 2016 where you vaguely boasted that if you were the President of Nigeria, you would have ended Boko Haram terrorism in months. The current outing of disparaging the counter-insurgency war under the Buhari Presidency flows from your obsession with mendacity to diminish the leadership value of the present administration in the reckoning of Nigerians.

    Sir, may we make it plainly clear to you that you are part of the problems of Nigeria. We suspect your inordinate and satanic quest for the leadership of Nigeria, in conspiracy with debased souls of your ilk as responsible for the conflagrations in most parts of Nigeria. The agenda is to tarnish the image of the Buhari administration, while you market yourself as a better leader and the Nigeria’s best problem solver.

    Some weeks back in Borno state, Mr. President was embittered upon the realization that the spate of violence and killings in the country are secretly sponsored by politicians with tall political ambitions like you. And when you take to social media to promote insecurity in Nigeria and spur baseless anxieties in Nigerians, it is the height of expletive in the pursuit of a leadership dream.

    We have strong reasons to suspect, you must have been the major brain and financier of the prevailing wave of violent conflicts around the country, which the Presidency through the military and other security agencies have continued to subdue at every manifestation. But it appears, you are shamelessly bold in evil against Nigerians.

    Those close to you and your close confidants have accused you of stealthily sponsoring the terrorism-inclined sect, Independent Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) led by Mazi Nnamdi Kanu to destabilize Nigeria.

    This was shocking enough and doubtful, until you came out of your shell recently when you took your presidential campaigns to Umuahia, Abia state, by showing wordy sympathy and support to the violent agitations’ of IPOB, which has been the group’s main operational weapon.

    As elder statesman, while you justified the cause, which has never been objected by any Nigerian anyway, it was quite insightful that you never spared a word to condemn their violent siege on the Southeast region. Perhaps, it is because they are operating in accordance with your dictates?

    It is obvious that after your plot to use IPOB to destabilize and threaten the security of Nigeria failed, your actions and utterances’ are suggestive that you are probably the sponsor of the armed militias perpetrating the killings in the Middle Belt region and other parts of the country, in the guise of “Fulani herdsmen.”

    And we believe it is in furtherance of your pursuit of the agenda of clouding the stamp of the positive mark President Buhari has earned in tackling insecurity threats in the country.

    And apparently, you are not satisfied that the desired impact of your evil plots on Nigeria have not been allowed to blossom . So, you have resorted to gratifying yourself with falsified exploits of Boko Haram terrorists, as indicated by your latest tweet on alleged attack on a military convoy in Borno state.

    Yet, this is what you know as untrue, inaccurate, imaginary, or fictive concoction; but peculiarly your cruel and sadistic disposition and antics in the pursuit of a presidential ambition.

    We want to put it to you that securing the leadership of any nation is not through subterfuge or crooked strategies. It is barbaric to inflict pains and misery on a people you scheme to govern, to divert attention from your odious leadership personality, which we all know is a liability, rather than an asset to Nigeria.

    It is obvious Nigerians are not prepared to make a detour into the dark days of a ravenous and corrupt leadership again. You parade the infamous record as the only Politically Exposed Person (PEP) at the time you held office as Vice President of Nigeria to be probed by a U.S. Senate’s Permanent sub-committee on Investigations, chaired by Senator Carl Levin for violating US financial laws.

    Senator Levin’s committee submitted its report on February 4, 2010, which indicted you of corrupt acts, including alleged money laundering activities and bribery in the Siemens scandal.

    The Senate report was explicit that you and your fourth wife Jennifer Douglas violated American laws as recipients of bribes for which you have been barred from entering the US. These past years, you have hedged an articulate response on your indictment by the US Senate for the alleged financial crimes.

    It is time for you to rescind from such evil against your country, because it’s doubtful whether Nigerians would allow someone with such moral baggage to lead them again. The US indictment hanging on your neck has not been exited, even if you have been cleared by courts in Nigeria. Former Delta state Governor, Mr. James Ibori was similarly freed of corruption charges by Nigerian courts, until courts in the United Kingdom found him guilty. And your case is likely to follow this pattern.

    We hasten to call on the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami to initiate and expeditiously commence the process of your extradition to the United States to face trial on charges of corruption leveled against you as contained in the US Senate report.

  • Restructuring the way forward for Nigeria – Atiku

    The former Vice President and presidential aspirant under the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has said that restructuring of the country is the only way forward which will guarantee equity.

    Abubakar said that the north which has been against restructuring has taken up the gullet to ensure that the country is restructured for the benefit of all and for the good of all.

    Speaking in Umuahia when he visited the PDP Abia state chapter, to seek their support during the upcoming national convention of the party, Abubakar said that restructuring was the way to go to keep the country intact and on the path of progress.

    Abubakar noted that the north has been doing all it can to ensure that restructuring takes place in the country which will go a long way to unify the diverse people  and also stop the continuos agitation going on across the length and breadth of Nigeria.

    He said, “The North has already announced that restructuring is acceptable to them.So it’s a question of what the northern leaders and southern leaders meeting together to agree on the issues”.

    The former Vice President said that the problem of agitations in the country like the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) arose because of the lopsided nature of the federation which favors one section of the country against the others.

    Read Also: Secondus, Atiku deplore ‘police attack’

    Abubakar said that one of the ways to stop the several agitations goings on across the country is to ensure the equal distribution of both political and social appointment so that every section of the country will be satisfied.

    He explained that the agitations going on in the country such the IPOB and others like them arose because they are all children of disequilibrium in the political set of the country in recent time.

    Abubakar said, “When you restructure this country and you give more resources to empower the component units of this country you will not have the problem of IPOB and their likes”.

    “IPOB, Agenifere, Niger Delta groups and others like them are looking for self-determination and when you devolve more powers and resources the issue of self-determination will be a thing of the past”.

    On the issue of security, the former VP said, “Security is one of the fundamental challenges of the country, I have been an advocate of either local or community policing to deal with local issues”.

    “We have one single polices which is not good and also not working as I do not know of any country that practices a federation and have this kind of policing, a centralized, one single police, I don’t know”.

  • Restructuring will address IPOB agitation – Atiku

    Former Vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar has stated that true federalism and restructuring being clamored by different ethnic groups in the country would address secession threat by members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB)

    Atiku stated this in a chat with journalists at the state secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Finbarrs road, Umuahia, the state capital at the end of a closed door meeting with national delegates of the PDP during his visit in the state.

    Atiku while debunking insinuations that the Northerners were averse to restructuring further stated that devolution of power and creation of state said that the all that was needed is for all the sections of the country to come to a roundtable to redefine how best to move the country forward.

    Atiku who was earlier received at the Exco chamber of the State by Abia State Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) under the watch of President Buhari of destroying the achievements of the 16 years of PDP leadership in the country within three years of being in power.

    Read Also: Secondus, Atiku deplore ‘police attack’

    Former vice president and presidential hopeful of the PDP informed his host that he was in the state to woo support of the national delegates ahead of the party’s national convention and presidential primary coming up later this year.

    He used the opportunity to commend the efforts of the Ikpeazu’s led administration in the state which he (Atiku) noted has brought transformation and development to the state. This is even as he described Aba, the commercial nerve of the state as a city with great economic potential which any serious government cannot overlook.

    “I believe that when you restructure this country and you give more resources and powers to component units of this country, you will not have the problem of IPOB. IPOB is looking for self-determination and when you devolve more powers and resources that will take care of the agitation.

    “Our great party is at the cross road as well as the country. We have never been so divided in all my life in this country the way that we are divided today between the North south and east and Christians and Muslims. It is a very serious issue.

    “We have the issue of insecurity. You are not secure in any part of the country. Of course, we have one of the greatest economic declines in the history of this country. There has never been a time when we recorded more than 11million people out of their jobs in this country; this is the first time that we are witnessing that. In every aspect of the country, we have gone back while other countries are forging ahead, we are declining. There is no unity, no security and the economy is bad as well.

    “Therefore, it has become imperative that we put our heads together and unite and make sure that we elect a leader that can reverse all these negative growth this party (APC) has brought to this country. It is on record that 16years of PDP administration in this country has improved the standard of living of this country.

    “During the PDP, Nigeria was declared debt free country but within three years, all the 16 years achievements of the PDP have been reversed completely by the APC led administration, so there is need for us to elect a leadership that can reverse all these negative growths that we have achieved in the last three years.

    “I have been an advocate of either local or community policing to deal with local issues. I do not know of a federation that has a Centralized Policing.”

    In his response, Dr. Ikpeazu described Atiku as a man that has great administrative and leadership experience who has been able to make his marks in both public and private sector and expressed hope that he (Atiku) uses his experience to bring transformation to all sectors of the country.

    According to Ikpeazu, it is important that Nigerians should take the right decisions in choosing who leads them if the country must move forward from its precarious state.

  • Atiku meets with PDP Reps Caucus in N’Assembly

    Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar is to meet with members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Caucus, in the House of Representatives The Nation has learnt.

    According to a source, Atiku is set to meet tonight in the National Assembly with lawmakers elected under the PDP platform.

    He is meant to convince the lawmakers on the benefits of his candidacy to them and  the nation in general.

    Many members of the PDP Caucus were seen in their offices waiting for the arrival of  the former Vice President on Wednesday evening.

    A ranking PDP lawmaker who spoke with our reporters on the condition of anonymity said they would listen to what Atiku and other candidates have to say.

    “All presidential aspirants in the party would be given an opportunity to sell their candidature to us. We will then meet and decide on the person whose candidacy would do the country the greater good.

    “Many of us are still in the office because Alhaji Atiku Abubakar is meeting with us this evening.

    “There is no gainsaying that the (PDP) National Assembly Caucus is an influential block that all of the serious  aspirants should meet with”, he said.

    The source further stated that the former Vice-Preisdent’s visit will be followed by that of other candidates vying for the party’s presidential ticket.

    According to him, the House Caucus has not made up its mind on any candidate,” but we will back any candidate that emerges in a free and fair primary to succeed in the major election.

    “I can say, I and many of my colleagues don’t want to get emotional about any aspirant. The feeling is that we must produce a northern candidate in a transparent manner and we all back him fully during the elections”, he added.

    In a related development Former Minister of Works and Lagos State Peoples Democratic Party politician, Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe, has thrown his weight behind the former Vice President .

    According to him, Nigeria is at crossroads and needs the kind of experience Atiku possesses.

    While speaking at the inauguration of Women and Youth Support Group (WAYS) for Atiku 2019, Ogunlewe said that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has the experience of a president that Nigeria needs to rework the national economy and bring the country.

    Atiku’s political career, he noted began in 1989 in the days of the Peoples Democratic Movement.

    “In those years, Atiku has remained steadfast to the course of strengthening democratic institutions and bringing people together to pursue common good for the country.”

    The meeting was yet to commence as at the time of filing this report.

  • Buhari’s government most corrupt since 1999 – Atiku

    Former Vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar has described the present federal government of President Muhamadu Buhari as the most corrupt since the return of democracy in 1999.

    Atiku spoke in Abakaliki on Tuesday while addressing supporters of the People’s Democratic Party,PDP, at the Ebonyi State Secretariat of the Party. He was in the state to campaign for Presidency under the party.

    He said the only achievement the All Progressive Congress, APC, led government can boost of is fighting corruption but argued that fighting corruption is not the only responsibility of government.

    “What is happening today in our country is in contravention with all our provisions of our constitution. In our federation, we are supposed to have an inclusive government but you know that this federal government is not inclusive.

    You know that this federal government is not united; you know that this federal government is incompetent; you know that this federal government is more corrupt than any government we have come through since 1999”.

    ”So, let nobody come and deceive you on corruption, they are more corrupt than any government that I know since 1999 and we shall be revealing their level of corruption. Fighting corruption alone is not the only responsibility of government”.

    “Our unemployment is accelerated high and there have never a time we had more than 11 million people, young people, young women thrown out of job. Today, we have more than 11 million unemployed people. Today, we have witnessed much insecurity in this country. Today, we are witnessing high inflation the APC government has brought to us in this country”, he said.

    Read Also: R-APC: PDP summons Atiku, Makarfi, others

    Atiku told the mammoth crowd that he was in the state to seek their support to throw out Muhammadu Buhari from Aso Rock.

    He said the coalition formed by PDP and about 40 other parties is the first step in voting out the president in next year’s general election.

    “On Tuesday, 40 political parties came together to meet themselves to present one candidate for presidential election. The coalition is going to have one candidate for presidential election, one candidate for governor, one candidate for senator, one candidate for House of Reps, one candidate for House of Assembly, one candidate for party chairman.

    ”We need this alliance because what I have seen in the last three years is what I have not seen in the last 35 years in this country. Therefore, we are determined, we are united and we are ready to make sure that in the next election whether state or national or federal, we will kick out APC in every state in this country”.

    “We have never experienced the level of poverty we are facing today. They are selling crude oil around $70 dollars per barrel, when we came in 1999 it was around $10dollars per barrel. I want to assure you that your party is ready to take that power but we can only do so through your support and your unity of purpose. You are our bosses, if you tell us to go right we will go, if you tell us to go left we will go but at the end of the day you must accept responsibility if you take us to the wrong direction”, Atiku said.

    While receiving Atiku, Ebonyi state Governor, David Umahi said south east will negotiate 2019 presidency and that the zone will vote for a presidential candidate who will develop the zone.

    “The people of Ebonyi state, the people of south east will sit down with anybody that is asking our votes to rule this country to negotiate. South east will not follow wrong path again. Anybody that wants the votes of south east will sit on the table with the leaders of south east, we shall agree, we shall write it, we shall sign it, we shall seal it.

    “At a time I am the chairman of south east governor’s forum, we shall come together and all the areas of marginalization that we have been talking about, it is a time to discuss with our PVCs. The people of south east will be decided by the leaders of south east and any leader that is in agreement with our terms, we will follow the person”,he said.

    Umahi noted that Atiku has all it takes to be President of the country.

  • The Obasanjo-Atiku rapprochement

    THERE seems to be a general excitement among Nigerians over the prospects of a rapprochement between erstwhile president, Dr. Olusegun Obasanjo, and his deputy, Atiku Abubakar. Of course, it is about 2019. Before now, most analysts suffered an apparent quandary in appraising the prospects of Atiku emerging as the next president of Nigeria, that is, after the 2019 general elections. In one breath, they would endorse Atiku as not only in the best stead to defeat the incumbent president, Muhammadu Buhari, but also possessing the comportment, the experience and the amiability to give the country a lift, especially against the backdrop of the general thumbs-down for the Buhari administration.

    Yet, some, if not most, would in the next breath go into a lecture on why Atiku Abubakar will “never be president while Obasanjo is still alive”. But beyond this hackneyed allusion, most of the analysts are hardly able to dwell in further details as to why, if other factors are given, the former president will be the only factor to determine Atiku’s fate. As in the aphorism that a lie told several times may become accepted as truth, most analysts got carried away with the vehemence and vociferous manner in which Obasanjo spoke about his aversion to Atiku’s presidential aspiration. At a point, he even took the matter beyond the realm of mortal intervention. He reportedly once said that if he was dead and Atiku was about to be inaugurated as president of Nigeria, he would beg God Almighty to allow him to return to earth to stop the inauguration after which he will return to heaven.

    As hilarious as that was, it did make Nigerians feel that Atiku’s case was finally sealed as far as Obasanjo is or was concerned. Nigerians agree that Obasanjo was serious in his opposition to Atiku’s ambition but they do not see his position as sacrosanct. In other words, they are optimistic that Obasanjo will, one day, change his mind about Atiku.

    Thus, even though those sympathetic to Atiku Abubakar’s cause never accepted that Obasanjo has the singular power to stop the former from becoming president, if every other thing is equal, the recent news of a possible understanding between the two should be heartwarming to them; together with several other Nigerians who, for various reasons, believe that President Muhammadu Buhari does not merit a re-election in 2019. But despite the criticism against the Buhari administration and the attendant need to stop his re-election in 2019, it is hard to see any clear cut strategy to affect that.

    Perhaps the loudest statement on the imperative of Buhari’s ouster in 2019 was the one by Obasanjo himself via his widely read and received open letter to Buhari in February this year. Of course, it is needless going into the details of that letter since they are very well know but it is pertinent to restate that Nigerians liked the posturing of Obasanjo, which, in a nutshell, was that Buhari should not present himself for re-elect in 2019. Obasanjo’s letter came at a period so much was being said about a “third force” that will dislodge Buhari from the Aso Rock Presidential Villa. It was also at a time Obasanjo came up with his pet project named Coalition for Nigerian.

    Naturally, the euphoria created by all that was palpable but more than six months later, it is difficult to say that the enthusiasm with which Nigerians received that idea has been sustained. Majority of Nigerians believe that Obasanjo means well but their fear is that he may be unable to mobilise enough forces to actualise the defeat of President Buhari at the 2019 elections.

    Thus, coupled with the vehemence and vociferous manner with which the Buhari administration equally tackled Obasanjo and the idea of a third force, that enthusiasm began to wane. The question has been: how, exactly, will the third force deploy its arsenals against Buhari? This question arose especially because the idea (of a third force) was being canvassed outside the ambience of a political party. As a corollary, the question pointedly became: under which political party will those who want Buhari out do it, given, especially, that Obasanjo wanted Nigerians to go neither for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) nor the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Initially, there were speculations that the Obasanjo coalition may adopt the Social Democratic Party but for reasons that are outside the scope of this article, not many Nigerians are enamored by that. Of recent, however, the coalition formally announced that it has adopted one of the newly registered political parties, the African Democratic Congress (ADC), as the platform on which it will further its war against Buhari

    Naturally, the following question has since arisen: Can ADC, a brand new party that is yet to be sold to Nigerians, defeat the ruling APC with an incumbent president (all things being equal) as its candidate, and who is believed to have over 10 million votes waiting for him in some parts of northern Nigeria? The answer is anybody’s guess and inevitably gives rise to another question: Is Obasnjo not merely entertaining Nigerians with rhetoric’s? Given the circumstances and especially the fact that time is of essence, some may be tempted to believe that Obasanjo and his coalition and or ADC may not achieve much in their bid to stop Buhari’s re-election.

    It is in a bid to find an answer to the above question that pundits have come to aver that Obasanjo may have to review his stance on working with older political parties and, indeed, more experienced politicians, if, indeed, he is serious in putting up a good fight against Buhari.

    Each time this matter crops up, the easy reference is Atiku Abubakar, the same fellow Obasanjo is said to have vowed to resurrect from the grave to stop from being inaugurated as president of Nigeria. But those who have bought into the Obasanjo agenda to stop Buhari are not discouraged by that. They concede to Obasanjo the right to nurse personal animosity against Atiku but they believe that for the purposes  of achieving the gargantuan task of stopping Buhari’s re-election, he has to put the past aside and work with his former deputy whom majority of Nigerian have expressed readiness to back in his presidential bid.

    A couple of weeks ago, a group of Yoruba leaders hosted Obasanjo in Lagos, amid speculations that the meeting was the first step towards persuading him to support the presidential ambition of his former deputy. About a week later, the two men met at a function in Abuja where they exchanged robust pleasantries amid widely held belief that the meeting was not just by chance but one that was well targeted and procured.

    Not unexpectedly, the opposition has expressed satisfaction over the current development, that is, an imminent rapprochement between the two men. The basis of the excitement is that such a development will strengthen it in the battle against APC. The argument is simply that the former president can adopt a Machiavellian approach and liaise with any Nigerian who has the capacity to make the opposition stronger. And here, a resounding approval has been given to Atiku Abubakar, the Adamawa state-born politician whose political reach across the country is said to be legendry.

  • Atiku hails Saraki, Ugwuanyi on victories at Supreme Court

    Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, has hailed the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki and Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi on their victories at the Supreme Court on Friday.

    Abubakar in a statement issued by his media office on Friday, in Abuja, said the judgments had further affirmed the judiciary as last hope for the citizens.

    He commended the Supreme Court jurists for the unanimity in their judgment, saying that the development had further affirmed that the judiciary was the real bastion of equity and good governance in any society.

    “I believe this judgment has given hope to Nigerians, that the judiciary will always be fair and firm on issues relating to individuals seeking redress in law courts.

    “I am a firm believer in the rule of law and I will never forget the role the judiciary played in emboldening me to continue with my efforts to provide good and quality leadership for Nigeria and Nigerians.

    “The multiple suits on corruption which I won in my days of trial as Vice President will never be forgotten in a hurry. It was an independent, firm and fair judiciary that made it all possible,’’ Abubakar said.

    The former Vice President praised the Judiciary for standing up to the truth and not leaving justice to the whims and caprices of those in power.

    He maintained that by its courageous and principled stance, the judiciary had further enhanced it place, role and relevance in consolidating the nation’s democracy.

    Abubakar however, said the victory was not only for Saraki but for the entire Senate.

    “The victory is for the entire National Assembly which has been facing challenges of legitimacy and intimidation arising from a not too cordial relationship with the executive arm of government,’’ he said.

    In the case of Gov. Ugwuanyi, he said the Court’s affirmation of the legitimacy of his election, had shown that he was indeed the true choice of the people of Enugu state.

    Abubakar noted that although the case lasted in the courts, the governor was not distracted but continued to passionately execute people-oriented projects in the state which according to him had significantly improved the lives of the people.

    Abubakar urged Ugwuanyi to continue on the tradition of excellence for the good of the people of the state, and for the PDP, in whom the people had for many years invested their political future.

    He also urged both Saraki and Ugwuanyi to continue to serve the people of Nigeria honestly, as they had been doing in their various capacities.(NAN)

  • Ekiti 2018: Atiku, Makarfi, Secondus, others storm Ekiti for Olusola

    Say PDP on mission to rescue Nigeria

    Fayose alleges intimidation, ‘rigging’ plot

     

    National leaders, presidential aspirants and governors of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) on Thursday declared readiness to displace the All Progressives Congress (APC) from the Presidency.

    They sounded the 2019 general election battle cry at the mega rally in Ado-Ekiti where they rallied support for the party’s candidate, Prof. Kolapo Olusola, in the July 14 governorship election.

    Olusola was officially presented with the party’s flag by the PDP National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, at a rally staged on the highway at the foot of the flyover in Ojumose area of Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.

    Mammoth crowd of party members, workers’ unions, students, youths, artisans, ethnic nationalities and members of the public utilized the opportunity to attend the rally.

    Former Vice President and presidential aspirant, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, said the PDP is on a mission to rescue Nigeria from insecurity and other challenges confronting it.

    Other national leaders who restated the readiness of the PDP to take over power at the centre are former national Caretaker Chairman and ex-Kaduna State Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Makarfi; former Sokoto State Governor, Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa; former Jigawa State Governor, Alhaji Sule Lamido; former Niger State Governor, Dr. Babangida Aliyu and Chairman, Board of Trustees, Senator Walid Jibrin.

    Atiku, Makarfi, Lamido and Bafarawa addressed the rally in their capacity as presidential aspirants.

    Read Also: Ekiti people will resist rigging of guber poll – PDP

    Atiku urged the people of Ekiti to vote continuity as represented by Olusola, who is seeking to succeed his boss, Governor Ayo Fayose, in the July 14 election.

    He said: “The people of Ekiti, I have known you since 1992; all the projects completed and taken Ekiti to higher level have been done by PDP alone.

    “PDP guarantees you good hospital, road, infrastructure, education and many other dividends of democracy, it is time for you to ensure that this administration continues because that is the key to development.

    “What we are doing is a rescue mission, we will bring back peace, security and prosperity of this country. Make sure you vote and stay there till results are announced.”

    Secondus said: “The PDP is rebranded and repositioned; we are here to rescue Nigeria from insecurity, from collapse and from hardship Nigerians are presently going through under the APC government.

    “Many Nigerians are being killed in Taraba, Benue and Plateau States. How many of our people will you kill? APC and its people are not God.

    “We refuse to be intimidated, it is their style to intimidate. Thus country is experiencing civil war because of killing and Buhari is behind it, APC is behind it, PDP will take over.

    “They have the plan to arrest our people, our members but we will not be intimidated. The APC is broken already, the broom has scattered. We have the best candidate for this election and he will take over from Fayose to continue the development of this state.”

    Chairman of the PDP National Campaign Council and Akwa Ibom State Governor Udom Emmanuel said Nigerians are tired of APC leadership and are ready to vote out the broom party.

    Emmanuel claimed that it is only PDP states that things are working urging Ekiti residents to vote continuity and give their votes to Olusola.

    He urged security agencies to allow the conduct of a free, fair and credible election and ensure that the votes of the Ekiti electorate count.

    Other PDP governors who canvassed for votes for Olusola include Alhaji Ibrahim Dankwambo (Gombe), Mr. Dave Umahi (Ebonyi), Chief Nyesom Wike (Rivers), Mr. Daris Ishaku (Taraba), Prof. Ben Ayade (Cross River), Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa (Delta), and Bayelsa State Governor, Mr. Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa) represented by his deputy, Rear Admiral Gboribiogha Jonah (rtd).

    Other prominent party leaders who attended the rally include former Anambra State Governor, Mr. Peter Obi; former Ogun State Governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel; National Vice Chairman (Southwest), Dr. Eddy Olafeso, members of the National Working Committee and members of the Zonal Working Committee.

    Host Governor Fayose accused the APC of planning to the rig the governorship poll but maintained that the people of the state are ready to resist any attempt to manipulate the poll.

    He alleged that the intimidation ahead of the election had started with the alleged closure of the Akure Airport to prevent governors and other party leaders from attending the rally.

    Fayose said: “INEC, we know your plan that you want to rig for APC, we will follow you bumper-to-bumper. We know your preloaded agenda, how you are planning to release ballot papers to APC.

    “We knew what you did in Kogi, we knew what you did in Ondo, we know your plan. Whether APC resort to violence or not, Kolapo Olusola will be declared governor-elect of Ekiti State, Nigeria.

    “I want to say that over ninety nine per cent of those who will conduct the election are not from Ekiti; youth corpers, police, INEC are not from here, leave our state alone.

    “Look at this crowd, look at this young people, if you are living in our state, this is not a hired crowd, we don’t hire crowd here, these are people living in the state.”

    Fayose added: “Since Monday, they have been arresting PDP people, they arrested three teachers. In this election, it will be 16-0, it will be 16-0 again, the 16-0 is loading.

    “I got a letter on Wednesday that that I should come and welcome the President but I said I am not receiving the President because he has not done anything for Ekiti.

    “I want to condemn the Federal Government for what they have done; why do you have to close the Akure Airport? That is shameful, that is not patriotic, that is shameful.”

    Speaking after receiving the flag, Olusola, who was flanked by his wife, Janet, expressed confidence that he will win the election and will be declared governor-elect.

    Olusola said: “By the grace of Almighty God, we assure our leaders and Ekiti that we will sustain the good legacies of Fayose, we will improve on it and sustain the legacies.

    “I assure you of adequate security, healthcare, excellent infrastructure, civil service, education enterprises, and exemplary leadership among others.

    “Ours is a divine agenda.  It is a divine mission with divine agenda it cannot be conquered by APC. Congratulations Ekiti, your governor elect is talking.

  • Nigerians in diaspora back Atiku’s presidential bid

    A group of Nigerians resident in Dallas, Texas has thrown their weight behind the presidential ambition of former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar vowing to mobilize the American Black Congressional Caucus in his support.

    Operating under the auspices of Atiku Support Group, the Nigerians said their support was based on their believe that the former Vice President has what it take to lead the country and more importantly, because of his resolve to ensure that Nigerians in the diaspora are allowed to vote during general elections in the country.

    Chairman of the group, Sir Chris Onyeador said they will go all out to mobilize for the former Vice President, believing that when he becomes President, he will sign the law that will give them voting right.

    He said “unfortunately, we in diaspora are not eligible to vote. But we will use our large membership number to mobilize support in Nigeria for him to win the presidency in 2019. We intend to solicit support for his campaign by seeking full endorsement from the members of the black congressional caucus.
    “We hope that since he is the champion for extending voting rights to Nigerian citizens in the diaspora, he will have the political will to sign it into law when he takes office.

    “We have followed his public and private speeches regarding how to govern Nigeria better for the country to achieve its potentials, both in human capital and sustainable economic development. We also reviewed his past superior performance as the vice president during the Obasanjo administration, where he assembled good economic team to tackle the dilapidated economy after the military handover. The country needs Atiku now.”
    “His pedigree is unquestionably impressive that he will use his massive world influence to bring about economic development in the country. He is educated, detribalized, understands the geopolitical structure of Nigeria, and by extension will resolve the current political and tribal pogrom which has consumed the entire country.

    “Atiku has the vision to restructure the country within six months of taking office. We believe on his platform to provide infrastructure development, revamp our current dilapidated education system, invest aggressively in agriculture, and resolve the most lingering power problem.
    “Atiku has been the only candidate who is advocating to restructure the country. Restructuring where power will be decentralized and reverted to the states and local governments. Each state would utilize their own resources and develop at their own pace. The federal government as is currently constituted has so many appendages spread over which prevents or slows growth. He said.

  • Okowa denies backing Atiku’s Presidential ambition

    Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa has denied backing PDP presidential aspirant Alhaji Atiku Abubakar on his presidential ambition in the 2019 general elections.

    He said as a Governor he is not expected to endorse any presidential aspirant.

    Okowa said although the former vice president made statements that have endeared him to many Deltans, delegates from Delta State at the forthcoming PDP convention “will be allowed to exercise their discretion in their vote”.

    He said, “When he talked to Deltans, it was obvious that he made a lot of statements that interested our people and as I did say he is a friend of the state and if his programmes continue to interest the people,I will not be able to hold back the hands of the people.”

    Okowa who spoke at an interactive session with reporters on Wednesday in Asaba- the Delta State Capital said another PDP presidential aspirant Sule Lamido who visited the State recently was also well received, adding that Lamido has many loyalists in the State

    He said he hoped all PDP presidential aspirants will begin to talk to each other as not all of them will get into the final stages.

    Read Also: ‘Okowa has done nothing to get our votes’

    On the statement credited to new APC chairman, Adams Oshiomhole that his major task is to destroy PDP, Okowa cautioned politicians to exercise decorum, adding that he does not like grandstanding.

    He said,” Everybody has the right to play politics but they have to be very careful with the choice of words they use. The people want to hear what will please them and nothing else”.

    On the alleged sack of Delta Line workers, Okowa, said they were not sacked but relieved of their work after all incentives and benefits were being paid to them.

    He said, “Delta Line is a commercial venture and it is supposed to make money for itself but overtime the government has been pouring money into it but the return is millions of debts.”

    Continuing, “The only workable vehicles were only 80 and the rest were at different mechanic workshops across the state. And a situation were 5 drivers are attached to one vehicle is not acceptable.”

    “We all agreed that Delta Line workers should be relieved and they left with what is entitled to them. They are being owed 8 months and gradually, we are paying them all and the new management will retain about 120 workers.

    On rumor that 500 DESOPADEC workers have being deployed to the Delta State Traffic Management Agency, DESTMA, Okowa have denied knowledge of such deployment, adding that he was only aware of some of staff of DESOPADEC who were not working but were deployed to Post Primary schools for teaching

    He expressed dissatisfaction over the slow pace of work on the section A of Ughelli/Isoko/Asaba road by the contractor  handling the project, adding  that the work will recommence during the dry season