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Tag: atiku

  • ‘Atiku doesn’t have what it takes to defeat Buhari’

    Osita Okechukwu is the Director-General of the Voice of Nigeria (VON) and a staunch supporter of President Muhammadu Buhari. In this interview with reporters in Enugu, the All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain assesses the President’s chances of securing his second term mandate. CHRIS ORJI was there.

    You have been insistent that President Buhari will defeat Atiku Abubakar in next month’s presidential election. What makes you sound so confident? 

    My position is based on many parameters that suggest President Muhammadu Buhari is going to win the election. One, on the day that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) finished its primary in Port Harcourt, I was one of those that celebrated Atiku’s victory, because if they had for instance nominated or voted for the Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal, we could have been in a bigger problem. Atiku has a huge baggage and integrity deficit. Besides, he is representing a party that degraded Nigerian democracy, created unemployment, squandered our commonwealth. He was in charge in the first four years of the PDP. So, if there is any probe of the 16 years of the PDP, Atiku Abubakar and Chief Olusegun Obasanjo should be held culpable, because in that 16 years they were the principal actors.

    While the then President Obasanjo was junketing around the world, trying to rehabilitate himself, Atiku was in charge for four years. He was also the chairman of National Council on Privatization (NCP) that sold state owned assets. It was highly controversial, less than transparent process.

    Are you writing Atiku off just on your perception of his integrity?

    He is Hausa-Fulani like Mr. President. So, ethnicity and religious cards are cancelled. Going by the Igbo parlance, they are of the same age grade bracket, in the sense that as at the last count, Atiku is 72, Mr. President is 76. So, there is no differential, because this election is a referendum on the incumbent. Even those who have grouse against Mr. President cannot sincerely say that Atiku is the prime-alternative. On the age bracket, he cannot say he is a youth. On ethnicity, he cannot say he is not a Fulani. On religion, he cannot say he is not a Muslim. That is nothing he (Atiku) could do differently. One of the trump cards he could have used, which is restructuring, he has been unable to define it and it is difficult to define as well. Let us be honest, it is difficult. Those who are trying to define it behind him were trying to throw away the 1999 constitution of Nigeria, which is both impracticable, if not impossible.

    What makes you think it is impossible to do away with the 1999 constitution and have a new one?

    It is impracticable, unless you are calling for anarchy. If you want to throw away the 1999 constitution or even Section 9 of that constitution that talk of amendment or alteration, it then means that you are saying that the councilor in your local ward should not be councilor anymore. The man who represents your House of Assembly constituency should not be there. Your governor should not be there and your Federal House Representative should not be there.  Your senators should not be there and the President should not be there. This is because from the councillorship to House of Assembly, to the Federal House of Representatives, to the Senate, to Governor, to the President, they are based on the 1999 constitution as amended. That is why they say the constitution is the ground norm. So, if you are going to do serious restructuring, fundamental restructuring, you must look at Section 9 of the 1999 constitution that talks of the conditions and provisions to make amendments.

    What does this section say?

    In simple terms, it says that you must have 24 states Houses of Assembly behind you. You must have two-thirds of the National Assembly. That is two-third of 109 of the senators, not quorum of those present; two-third of 360 of the Federal House of Representatives; not quorum of those present. If you have two-thirds of the National Assembly and 24 states House of Assembly behind you, before God and man, any fundamental restructuring requires that. So, Atiku and those who are canvassing for him had not been able to explain it. What they told us in elementary government or political science class 101 is that there are two types of constitution. One is flexible and the other one is rigid. The 1999 Constitution is on the rigid side. So, for us who want restructuring, we need consensus. We need the art of compromise from the different sections of the country and Atiku had not built that. On the integrity quotient, he has integrity deficit and he has not built any consensus platform across the country. On the message, he has no message. I asked Yinka Odumakin and my friends in the Southwest who are talking vehemently about restructuring under Atiku to explain it to us. They were unable, except to talk glibly about administrative restructuring, which is today being gradually addressed under Buhari.

    They said the Constitution was made by the military, not the peoples constitution, but they forgot that 1999 Constitution pulled its weight from the 1979 constitution, which was people based and other amendments. If you look back to America where we copied our model, what they tell you is first amendment. It took years before the second amendment. It took years before the third amendment. So, it is not done in a pool. So, when they came with restructuring as an agenda, it fell in flat in their face. Restructuring did not gather the traction they envisaged.

    Are you saying that Atiku stands no chance against Buhari?

    I have tremendous respect for His Excellency, Atiku Abubakar. We know each other very well. I am very close to him, but he has no chance against Buhari.

    But, it appears that the country is not faring better under this government, going by the worsening unemployment and poverty now. So, are we seeing a case of the kettle calling the pot black?

    Let us be honest. I subscribe to the old paradigm that the incumbent had to bear the brunt. Yes, we are not distancing from it. All we are saying is that the rot was inflicted on the country by the ancient PDP regime. When President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua of blessed memory lamented about missing 16 billion dollars, let us say it was not up to that, but actually the return on investment made in electricity was not commensurate to the money busted. And somebody will tell you, don’t talk about that. That same person is on the other hand talking about 1963 Constitution, that we should adopt it. You talked about unemployment. Going by the World and National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) records, we had $228 .76 billion collectively three years to 2012. This time around, in three years to 2018, we had $92.2 billion. Since we are talking about unemployment, we had $112 million in 2012 and $88 million in 2018, a difference of 66 per cent versus 46 per cent  — World Bank and NBS sources. You now ask yourself, if you got smaller money, how on earth can you produce more jobs when the federal roads are dilapidated. It was like we stopped where PTF ended. In 2004, oil sold about $145 per barrel. Between 2009 and 2014, it was above$ 100 per barrel. When President Buhari came, it was below $40. It later rose to $60 and $70. Today, the price of oil is below $60 per barrel. Please can you count them? When you measure the fund at his disposal and what has been achieved, you will rate Buhari higher. Today, there is an appreciable improvement in power supply. We are also trying to leverage on standard gauge rail line. The Lagos-Kano will soon be completed. By late last year, the Federal Ministry of Transportation under Rotimi Amaechi advertised for the Eastern Corridor Rail line. Six other water supply projects of $50 million each were also advertised last year that will come into fruition. So, when we talk about unemployment, it was an outcome of the rut of the past years. Nobody, not even a magician can fix a rut of 16 years in three years.

    Why dwell so much in the past?

    We must not forget, where and when the rain started beating us. For instance, Jonathan took over the affairs of the country as Executive President on May 6, 2010. The next few days, he awarded Green Field Refinery for $23 billion. The then Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala announced it and we were jubilating in our corner.  The three Green Field Refineries awarded for $23 billion were to be located in Bayelsa, Kogi and Lagos State and had a three year span for completion. That contract was awarded in 2010. We did not see the refinery. We did not see the money. If those three Green Field refineries were completed, by now the Nigerian state won’t be expending humongous funds to buy refined products instead of refining it.

    Why?

    What was their anger? That they even came back to tell Nigerians to bring 20 per cent counterpart funding and that was not the case. By then we had a foreign reserve of over $46 billion. We had more than $20 billion in Excess Crude Account. The three Green Field Refineries that could have stopped importation of refined petroleum products from our accounts, subsidy or whatever you call it, was bungled. Because that is the greatest drain on us and we are running a mono economy. On the one hand, you sell crude, on the other, you buy the refined products from your co-producers. We are talking about not only the PMS, but diesel, kerosene, industrial products like LPFO and HPFO. That is part of the problem that we are in.

    Why are we talking about modern transportation and electricity? So, if President Buhari had met enough funds, he could have done better. The only problem we had is because no foreign government will dissociate you from the past of your country. We are even happy that because of his integrity quotient, the international community is listening to us. That is why he was able to source about $2 billion for super grid highway, so that those who are generating power through renewable energy, solar, wind, mini-hydro plants, can have their power evacuated. What we have is narrow transmission line. Look at the Mambilla Hydro power plant. It has been on the drawing board since 1973. He is the first person that started the project. The Second Niger Bridge had been on the drawing board since 1970. He is the first President that brought the first bag of cement, the first shovel of gravel, the first shovel of sand and the first set of rods to start the foundation. That is where we are.

    Read also: Atiku not our candidate, says Ohanaeze Ndigbo

    You have harped so much on the President’s integrity quotient. Not long ago, one of his estranged associates, Buba Galadima, warned that nobody should say anything about the President’s integrity again, alleging that members of the President’s family he used to give N2000 to travel from Abuja to Katsina before are now billionaires. Atiku even alleged that the President’s family members bought Etisalat and Keystone Bank. Can you react to these allegations?

    My answer on the issue of corruption is that the anti-graft agencies are still alive. If you have evidence, credible evidence, please file your papers. Rumour is not one of the chapters in the Evidence Act. If you have, you go to one of the anti-corruption agencies. When we approached the EFCC against the then President Obasanjo, they did not listen to us. We went to court to look for mandamus. It was when we came to the election that President Muhammadu Buhari said, no, the CNPP, if you are the people supporting my election, let us talk about my election. Let us not talk about the past. That is why I said that if President Buhari today opens the vault, they will all be in jail. So, it is not about sitting somewhere and saying the President’s children or relatives bought this or bought that, please, blow it is open. One of the greatest things we achieved in 1999 is the Freedom of Information Act. Credit goes to the then President Jonathan who signed it. It says that if there is no security encumbrance on any matter, the law opens the book for you.

    What would you say about the worsening insecurity in the country?

    We are praying that the insecurity should abate. But the Igbos, as I said before in our local parlance, if the rain is beating you and you want the rain to stop, the first solution the Igbos proffered is that you should know where the rain started beating you. When you had $23 billion to do refineries and to stop importation of refined products and you did not stop, this is one of the consequences. When you have rail line to finish in a jiffy and you didn’t, that is the consequence. When you suddenly sold all the federal houses; if you appoint a Minister, you now pay huge bills for him to rent house in Abuja. These are the consequences. You appoint a DG, you now pay up to N5 million for him to rent a house. These are the consequences. You threw away the baby and the bath water. That is the PDP records. To fix it, we have started by laying the foundation of critical infrastructure. That is the solution.

     

  • Atiku, minister trade words over use of state resources for campaign

    People’s Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar has accused President Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress (APC) of using state resources for electioneering campaign.

    It is all lies, Information and Culture Minister Lai Mohammed said.

    Besides, the president has said he would not open the treasury for campaign funding

    Atiku said Buhari and the APC had been acting contrary to claims by the President that he would not use state resources for election.

    In a statement yesterday by his Media Adviser, Mr. Paul Ibe, the PDP presidential candidate called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to sanction the President and the APC for violating the constitution and the Electoral Act.

    The statement said: “Recall that the National Chairman of INEC, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, had in December of last year warned incumbent office holders against using state resources or apparatuses for their campaigns, or deploying same against their opponents.

    “Prof. Yakubu, who issued the warning at a lecture titled: “Political corruption and other emerging issues for the 2019 elections” in Abuja, noted that the commission has the power to monitor campaign financing and sources of funds according to the Constitution and the Electoral Act 2010 as amended.

    “However, in negation of the constitution and the Electoral Act 2010 as amended, the Buhari administration and the APC have taken to the illegal deployment of state resources to its advantage for the election.

    “We wish to remind President Buhari and the APC that the use of state videos released by the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture is illegal under the Electoral Act 2010 as amended.

    “The media is awash with advertisements with the hashtag #PMBDIDIT and signed by the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture and referencing so-called achievements of the APC administration in the states of Abia, Kwara, Lagos, Ebonyi, Delta and Kano, among others.”

    These, Atiku said, were without doubt, 2019 presidential campaign materials produced by the Ministry of Information and Culture using state resources and apparatuses to benefit President Buhari.

    “This appalling conduct, which is clearly in violation of Section 100 of the Electoral Act, is even more shocking when it is recalled that the state resources being used to the illegal advantage of President Buhari are being drawn from agencies which for over three years, prior to this election, failed to perform their duties to the benefit of Nigerian citizens. The Ministry of Information and Culture must stop this illegality immediately.

    “We demand that INEC issues an immediate cease and desist order to both the Ministry of Information and Culture and to the broadcast channels running it.

    “We also insist that INEC register the media spend behind it as part of the APC’s total N1 billion campaign spend limit.”

    It urged INEC to warn the ruling party to refrain from such conduct.

    “Now that the party has clearly flouted the law in negation of the electoral umpire’s warning, we urge that INEC sanctions them accordingly,” the PDP said.

    Atiku, also yesterday in Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital, in continuation of his campaign for the forthcoming presidential election, pledged that women and youths will constitute 70 per cent of his cabinet, if elected president on February 16.

    He said youths will constitute 40 per cent of his cabinet while women will have 30 per cent, noting specifically that the Minister of Sports will not be more than 30 years of age.

    The former vice president, however, cautioned the ruling APC and security agencies over any plot to rig the forthcoming general elections, even as he called on electorates to shun religious politics.

    Atiku has also restated his commitment to the total defeat of the Boko Haram insurgents in Borno, Yobe and other parts of the Northeast geopolitical zone.

    Mohammed, last night, denied that Buhari’s administration is using state resources to fund the President’s re-election.

    He said the allegation by Atiku Campaign Organisation and the PDP amounted to suffering from acute paranoia.

    He said the massive achievements of the Buhari administration have rattled PDP and the Atiku Campaign Organisation.

    The minister said: “It is up to those who made the accusation on the use of state resources for electioneering campaign to prove it, in line with the maxim that he who alleges must prove.”

    In a statement through his Special Adviser on Media, Mr. Segun Adeyemi, the minister said the PDP candidate’s action was  an acknowledgement of the administration’s impressive achievements.

    The minister said: “In publicising the activities and achievements of the Federal

    Government, the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture is only carrying out its statutory role. Long before the elections, the ministry has used various platforms, including Town Hall Meetings, to publicise the activities and achievements of the administration.

    ”We understand that the PDP and the Atiku Campaign Organisation have been rattled by the achievements as well as the effectiveness of the campaign to publicise them. We are sorry we can’t help them.”

    He, however, expressed surprise that the PDP that said the Buhari government has not achieved anything has now turned around to admit that the media is awash with video testimonies from Nigerians on the administration’s achievements.

  • We did not endorse Atiku, says Ohanaeze

    The apex Igbo socio- cultural organisation , Ohanaeze Ndigbo has distanced itself from the alleged endorsement of the presidential candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar in the forthcoming election.

    Some Igbo leaders had during a meeting on November 4 last year in Enugu endorsed Atiku.

    The meeting was attended by the leadership of the PDP including Atiku and his running mate, Peter Obi; Senate President, Bukola Saraki and a host of others.

    The clarification came from the Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the organisation , Mr Chuks Ibegbu yesterday in Enugu at a media briefing to mark the second anniversary of the current executive of the organisation

    Ibegbu said that the clarification became necessary following misconceptions of the event adding that the said endorsement was done by the friends of Atiku, insisting that the organisation had not endorsed any particular candidate.

    Read Also: Fayemi denies plot to frustrate Atiku’s campaign in Ekiti

    He said that Ohanaeze needed to be circumspect, “as our children are in all the political parties”.

    “ It is erroneous to say that we endorsed Atiku. Ohanaeze Ndigbo did not endorse anybody . That meeting at Nike Lake Resort was organised by friends of Atiku.

    “However, due to our peculiar circumstance in the country, we will identify with candidates that will restructure Nigeria if voted into power, ” he said.

    He said that the organisation would soon meet to take a holistic position on the 2019 general elections.

    “ Ohanaeze Ndigbo has been canvassing for our people to identify with candidates that will restructure Nigeria .

    “ We still stand on that and in the next few days we shall meet to take a holistic position on the elections , ” he said .

    Ibegbu noted that within the two years in office of the Chief John Nwodo led Ohanaeze Ndigbo , “we have given our modest contribution by re- jigging Igbo leadership and issues concerning our people”.

    He said that the current leadership of the organisation had built synergy with its affiliate groups with a view to achieving unity in the among Neighbors.

  • Atiku blames APC for joblessness, insecurity

    PEOPLES Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has attributed the spate of insecurity in the country to failure of Federal Government to provide jobs for youths.

    Speaking at the party’s campaign rally in Minna, Niger State yesterday, Atiku said if voted into power, the PDP government would provide the needed jobs that would tame the menace of insecurity.

    He said: “So, this is a promise and a commitment I am making on behalf of PDP, if you vote for PDP. I want to commit to you that if you vote for PDP, the insecurity which they have not been able to control, we shall control it.

    “They have been unable to control insecurity because they have been unable to provide jobs and businesses for the people. So, by the time we provide jobs and businesses for our young men and women, you will hear less crime and less insecurity.

    “So, I want to promise you on behalf of our great party to sack the All Progressives Congress (APC) government and let us send them packing. Like I used to say, Buhari must go. APC must go.”

    The PDP presidential candidate blamed the ruling APC for the social and economic ills plaguing the country, stressing that the ruling party has reneged on its campaign promises to the Nigerian people.

    “In 2015, they came to tell us that PDP did not do anything. We should change. And we changed. And they promised to fight corruption, to improve our economy and also to secure our country. Have they achieved anyone of these three?

    “When they came in, there was insecurity only in the Northeast. Today, there is insecurity in Northwest and Northcentral. And we have lost more lives at any other time in the history of this country in peaceful times. They have failed as far as security is concerned.

    “When it comes to the issue of economy, we have lost more jobs; over 10 million jobs, to the extent that Nigeria has been declared the headquarters of poverty in the world. This is a record.

    “Have they fulfilled that promise? Now I want to promise you that if you vote PDP, we will restore the jobs that had been lost. You either get a job or get a business to do”, Atiku added.

    Also speaking at the rally, Senate President Dr. Bukola Saraki, restated the resolve of the PDP to run issue-based campaign.

    Saraki, who is the Director-General of PDP presidential campaign, maintained that the 2019 elections would be a referendum on the APC administration, which he described as a total failure.

    Saraki said: “A government that has been with us for three an

    PDP National Chairman Prince Uche Secondus, who was also at the rally, also berated President Muhammadu Buhari and the APC.

  • Tinubu blasts PDP, Atiku

    ALL Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu was yesterday unsparing on the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate in the February 16 presidential election Atiku Abubakar.

    The PDP, according to the former Lagos State governor, is seeking power to return the country to  the dark days when the economy crumbled and Nigerians groaned under its reign between 1999 and 2015.

    To him, it amounts to standing logic on its head to compare the PDP standard bearer to incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari, who is seeking re-election on the platform of the APC.

    Tinubu issued a statement titled: “We accept President Buhari’s assignment” on his appointment to lead President Buhari’s re-election campaign as the Co-Chairman of the APC Presidential Campaign Council. He said the two candidates – Buhari and PDP’s Atiku Abubakar  –  are miles apart when it comes to vision, mission and character.

    His words: “The character of the two candidates cannot be more distinct. President Buhari is a straight and honest man.  Leave a naira on the table with Buhari in the room. You will find the naira on the table when you return.

    “When Buhari says ‘yes’ or ‘no,’ you know where he stands.  He means what he says, no more, no less. With Atiku, things are more nuanced. When Atiku speaks, he may mean ‘yes,’ ‘no,’ ‘maybe,’ ‘I don’t know,’ ‘come back tomorrow,’ ‘all the above,’ or ‘none of the above.’

    “His compass has four needles pointing in different directions at the same time. He knows of no direction to take. President Buhari’s word is his bond. When Atiku speaks, it is to give you the slip.

    “We cannot afford a President whose ways and mind is a maze of contradicting urges and colliding desires. This shows he has no vision for the nation and no guiding principles, except the naked pursuit of power for the naked use of that power.”

    Tinubu spoke of Atiku’s role in the Obasanjo administration. He said: “Atiku had his chance to shine as VP when he controlled the privatisation programme of the Obasanjo government. He abused this assignment. He helped squander billions of dollars on power generation that did nothing but generated darkness.

    “That government had so much money at its disposal and that is exactly what it did. It disposed of the money, yet, failed to treat the poor or build for the future.

    “Atiku laid waste to the national treasury for eight long years. That is enough for one lifetime. We should not reward him by giving him another eight years because the more he feeds, the stronger his hunger grows.

    “His is a thirst that can’t be quenched and a hand that cannot be restrained from taking whatever is on the table.

    “As the PDP candidate, he is now the leader of an avaricious horde that seeks to reattach its mandible once again to the public wealth and forever lay siege to our nation’s future. Nigerians would do well not to pay them any attention.”

    The APC stalwart also made scathing remarks on the PDP.

    Drawing a comparison between the ruling and the main opposition parties, Tinubu said: “This election concerns more than two competing personalities and political parties. It is a contest between two different visions for the country and the futures these visions portend.

    “The APC seeks a better Nigeria by reforming our institutions of governance that these institutions may better implement policies engendering dynamic economic development.

    “We seek not only growth but also a fair and just allocation to all segments of the society of the harvest of our national endeavours. Let no Nigerian be forever trapped in poverty and despair. Let all Nigerians be given the genuine opportunity to realise their full potential and contribute to this nation and their own lives as much as their talents and willpower permits of them.

    “We build a Nigeria where government leads the nation but does not rule over the people.”

    “On the other hand, the PDP pushes toward a future that takes the nation back to the malpractices of the past. Blind to the possibilities of a better day and afraid of the equality that true reform will bring, the PDP remains vested in the ways of corrupt governance and arrogant disregard for the public. For them, the unjust past is not just the object of their dreams; it is their sole destination.

    “Thus, this election is about two different policy visions and two different models of leadership. This election is about substantive issues and about character.

    “The APC will continue to build a political economy that will well serve Nigeria long after oil revenues are no  longer sufficient to sustain the nation and its ever-growing population.

    “We are diversifying the economy, giving basic food, health and educational assistance to the most-needy among us, improving agricultural productivity so that our farmers grow more to feed for increasing urban populations and also earn more to sustain their families, and about building needed infrastructure, including electricity and water, because we realise a national economy cannot grow beyond the capacity of the infrastructure that serves that economy.

    Read also: Ambode arrests soldiers, others for driving against traffic

    “Meanwhile, the PDP clan wants to return to the days where they rule the nation like overlords. They want to own every industry and control everything that has anything to do with the creation of wealth.

    “They seek to reverse the democratic maxim that government is the servant of the people. The PDP wants a situation where those in government are the masters and the people bow their heads to the interests of the mighty and the rich.

    “We have seen this before. Those who really care about Nigeria care not to see such malign governance again.”

    Tinubu assured the President that members of the Campaign Council would work hard to stop those who will halt the nation’s progress from coming back to power.

    He said the council would not let the President down “because doing so would also let down the nation”.

    Tinubu said: “The 2019 APC Presidential Campaign Council has been inaugurated by President Buhari. In his speech at the inaugural meeting, he did more than offer us guidance on the campaign. In his straightforward manner, he outlined the achievements of his administration, reminding the nation of the pillars of progressive governance and of our party.

    “I think I can speak for all members of the Campaign Council that we accept the assignments given by the President with devotion and a firm commitment to perform to our utmost the individual and collective tasks given.

    “It is a great honour and responsibility he has given us. We dare not let him down because doing so would also let down the nation.

    “Consequently, the members of the APC presidential campaign council accept our respective assignments as both high honor and heavy responsibility.

    “We will work diligently to re-elect President Buhari.  We do this not for personal accolades. We do this not merely to re-elect a party member. We do this because it is the best thing for Nigeria.  The campaign has begun!”

  • Let’s debate your achievements in 16 years, Amaechi challenges PDP

     

    Director General of President Muhammadu Buhari campaign Organisation Rotimi Amaechi on Tuesday challenged the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to a public debate on its achievements while in power for 16 years.

    He dared the presidential candidate of the party, Atiku Abubakar, to also engage him in a debate on his suitability for the office.

    Speaking at the kick- off of the reelection campaign of Adamawa state at the Ribadu Square in Yola, the Minister of Transportation assured the federal government will award a contract for construction of a rail line from Port Harcourt to Maiduguri through Yolanda and Mubi before end of January 2019.

    Amaechi, who accused the PDP of destroying the country in the 16 years it held sway, stressed the 2019 election will be a contest between PDP’s rich men and APC’s poor men.

    He said Nigerians must not allow those he described as thieves to return to power, saying “the National Chairman of the PDP apologised to Nigerians the party stole public money and that they will not do it again.

    “Don’t let them deceived you because a thief is a thief.”

    He asked the people of Adamawa to reelect Buhari and Governor Bindow, saying “If somebody has done well, you tell him thank you and the best way to do that is to re-elect him for a second term.

    “This election is an election between the rich and the poor. It is an election that is being contested between the rich in the PDP and the poor in the APC”.

     

  • Fresh S/South headache as Atiku rejigs campaign

    • Presidential candidate returns home to rejig campaign

    • Jonathan, Bayelsa gov clash over party’s candidates

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Alhaji  Atiku Abubakar, is facing fresh challenges in the Southsouth, thus slowing down his campaign ahead of next month’s election.

    The Southsouth leg of his campaign which was originally scheduled for flag off on Tuesday, January 8, has been put off to enable the party “organize a bigger rally.”

    Party sources however told The Nation that the postponement was brought about by the inability of the PDP governors in the zone to work together on how to drive Atiku’s presidential campaign.

    Atiku who had been in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) for some days, returned home yesterday  to rejig his campaign against the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

    It was also gathered that the party and Atiku are trying to find ways of mending fences in the Southsouth and the Southeast before the PDP campaign train moves to the two zones.

    Party sources yesterday spoke of challenges in some states in the Southsouth and Southeast including Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Edo, Anambra and Ebonyi.

    Some of the knotty issues before Atiku are whether or not he will spend a term in office; and non-committal on power shift to the South-South in 2023.

    A top source, who spoke in confidence, said: “Despite Atiku’s personal outreach, there are still some gaps to fill especially lack of trust between old PDP and the defectors from APC.

    “Also, some of those who were instrumental to Atiku’s emergence have developed cold feet because of alleged campaign of non-inclusion. One of them just withdrew to himself and relocated to London in the past few weeks.”

    Sources cited an alleged cold war between ex-President Goodluck Jonathan and Governor Henry Seriake Dickson over fall out of PDP primaries.

    One source said:”although Governor Nyesom Wike has pledged to assume duties as the Southsouth coordinator for Atiku-Peter Obi ticket, some governors in the zone do not defer to the Rivers State governor. They are not even ready to take instructions from him.

    “Certainly, there are challenges of how to win huge votes in Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Edo, Anambra and Ebonyi states.”

    Responding to a question, the source added: “Atiku is back from Dubai to rejig his campaign against APC. He will complete the fence-mending initiative and launch his campaign in the Southsouth and Southeast.”

    Another source, speaking on the postponed campaign flag off in the Southsouth said all is not well with the party’s presidential campaign in the zone.

    The source said that apart from the inability of some of the PDP governors to work together on how to drive Atiku’s campaign, there is also the challenge of much needed funds for logistics.

    Announcing the Port Harcourt rally postponement, Oraye St Franklin, Wike’s Senior Special Assistant for New Media, said it was caused by “logistical constraints.”

    His words: “We wish to inform our teeming supporters from across the Southsouth of the shift in date of the much anticipated PDP Southsouth rally.

    “This is to enable us organise a bigger, better and defining rally in the history of Nigerian politics, given that the South-South is the natural home of the Peoples Democratic Party. All logistical constraints are currently being worked out to make it a hitch-free experience for our party faithful from across the region and a truly epoch making event.

    “A new date would be announced shortly. The inconvenience on account of the postponement is regretted. Thank you.”

    But a top notch member of the campaign committee, speaking on condition of anonymity on the aborted zonal rally, said the Atiku campaign in the Southsouth “is still struggling to take off.”

    He added: “aside from the fact that Governor Wike of Rivers State who is supposed to drive the campaign is still not showing much enthusiasm, it has been difficult funding the campaign in the zone.”

    Another reliable source said a good number of the PDP governors in the zone are currently battling fierce opposition in their respective home states and consequently, are concentrating on winning re-election during the 2019 polls.

    The result of this is that Governor Wike, as the coordinator of the campaign in the Southsouth, is left, almost alone, to push Atiku’s campaign.

    “This explains all the logistic issues facing the presidential campaign efforts here in the Southsouth. All the governors are expected to drive the campaign together, but a few are too busy seeking re-election in the various state to put in enough effort for Atiku.

    “Take Governors Udom Emmanuel of Akwa-Ibom and Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta for example, they are battling serious opposition back home unlike in their first term.

    “The situation is almost the same for Governor Wike himself in Rivers. So, they are all expending a lot of resources, energy and time on their re-election bids, making their contributions to the presidential campaign to suffer. Other chieftains of the party in the zone, especially former public office holders are not providing the much needed support at a crucial time as this.

    “And very seriously, not much is being heard from Bayelsa and Cross Rivers governors. These two are also seeking re-election but majority of our party members feel they are not as pressed by the opposition as the others ahead of the 2019 general elections. The aborted rally could have been saved if all the governors got their acts together in good time to work towards its success.”

    The Nation learnt that a meeting of stakeholders in the zone has been called by the national leadership of the party with a view to discussing how to move the presidential campaign forward in the Southsouth and also choose a new date for the zonal rally.

    The national chairman of the party, Prince Uche Secondus, who is from the zone, is reportedly highly embarrassed by the development and is now ready to work with others to correct the mistakes of the past.

    It was also gathered that the presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, will be meeting leaders of the party in the zone in the coming week to once again discuss the mounting challenges being faced by his campaign in the zone. A rejig of the zonal campaign team may be on his agenda as he looks forward to the parley, The Nation gathered.

    A member of the Atiku Campaign Organisation said some challenges have been identified in the zonal structure.

    A few weeks ago, the national caucus of the PDP met in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital to pacify Governor Wike to drop his threat of quitting the party’s 2019 Presidential Campaign Council.

    The meeting was considered important ahead of the zonal rally of the party in the Southsouth zone. The PDP had held its zonal rallies in Northwest, Northcentral and Southwest.

    Those in attendance at the meeting were Atiku, Senate President, Bukola Saraki, Speaker, House of Reps, Yakubu Dogara and governors of Rivers, Abia, Cross River, Kwara, Sokoto and Ebonyi. Others include the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, PDP vice presidential candidate, Peter Obi, former governors Ayo Fayose and Liyel Imoke.

    Also in attendance were the party’s National Chairman Uche Secondus, Senator Ben Murray Bruce, former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Austin Opara, Senator Olaka Nwogu, Hassan Saleh and several members of the National Assembly.

    Some PDP chieftains in the zone fear that the grievances of the Rivers State governor are yet to be addressed.

    “Wike is the pillar of the PDP in the Southsouth today. He is the one who held the party together when many of our leaders here were undecided about what to do. So, unless and until he moves, nothing can happen here. His influence goes beyond his state and those toying with his demands should know better than to ignore him. The PDP presidential campaign needs him in the zone and beyond,” a former Commissioner in the state said.

    When contacted, the Special Assistant on Public Communications to Atiku, Mr. Phrank Shuaibu denied knowledge of any difficulty in campaigning in the Southsouth or Southeast.

    He said: “The campaign is on course, the timetable was only adjusted.”

    Sources in the APC and PDP said President Muhammadu Buhari and Atiku might rev up their campaign this week.

    While Buhari will inaugurate the party’s Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) tomorrow, Atiku is expected to address a rally in Lokoja.

    “Expect marathon campaigns in the next four weeks,” a top source added.

    Jonathan, Dickson feud over election candidates

    Sources also alleged a crisis of confidence in Bayelsa PDP between ex-President Jonathan and Governor Dickson.

    Jonathan is said to be supporting some candidates in the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Advanced Democratic Party (ADC).

    The candidates are a former Chief of Staff to ex-Governor Timipre Sylva and APC House of Representatives candidate for Ogbia Federal Constituency, Samuel Ogboku as well as ADC senatorial candidate for Bayelsa East, Senator Nimi Bariagha Amange.

    Jonathan opted to support the two candidates and the House of Assembly candidates in his zone following the humiliation of his preferred nominees at the PDP primaries.

    But some leaders and major stakeholders in Bayelsa State have also threatened to work against the presidential candidate of PDP, Atiku Abubakar if the ex-President continues to engage in what they perceive as anti-party activities.

    The development is said to have created  a wedge between Jonathan and the Bayelsa State PDP leadership.

    While the ex-President is out to make PDP fail election to prove a point that  he remains the godfather in Bayelsa State, the Governor and the PDP  apparatchik of the state are bent on electing all PDP candidates in the state.

    A top source said: “All is not well within the PDP family in Bayelsa State because of the backing for APC and ADC candidates by ex-President Goodluck Jonathan.

    “The former President’s favourite aspirants for Ogbia Federal Constituency, George Turner and a Lagos socialite, Albertine Doibo whom Jonathan sponsored  for Bayelsa East Senatorial District had lost in  the keenly contested PDP primary elections to Fred Azibapu Obua and Blessing Izagara respectively.

    “Though both Obua and Izagara are relatives of Jonathan, the former President is unhappy that his anointed candidates in Bayelsa East Senatorial District lost the PDP primaries.

     “He has therefore vowed to stop both Obua and Izagara at the polls. Jonathan who is yet to recover from the shock of the defeat is now sponsoring opposition candidates against the PDP candidates ostensibly to spite and undermine the leadership of Governor Seriake Dickson.

    “The ex-President wants to make a point that contrary to the  governor’s claim that the state is firmly under his control, he is not on ground.

    “While Jonathan is fighting the PDP candidates in the home front, he is mobilizing support for Atiku and his running mate, Mr. Peter Obi.

    “In fact Jonathan is believed to have  nominated  Obi for VP.”

     But the Bayelsa leaders and stakeholders  have also  decided to abandon Atiku as “a pay back to the former President for sponsoring opposition candidates against PDP.”

    Another source said: “contrary to assumptions, Atiku and PDP may not win Bayelsa State if the ex-President is not called to order.

     “Jonathan cannot eat his cake and have it at all, the party should prevail on him to halt his anti-party activities.

    “The alternative we have is to sacrifice Atiku–Obi ticket on the altar of political muscle-flexing and ego.”

    The  governor’s media aides declined to comment on the matter when contacted although they said  PDP would win.

    However, the media aide to the ex-President, Ikechukwu Eze, said: “It is manifestly dishonest, deceitful and preposterous for anybody to suggest that former President Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan is working against the interest of the party under which he rose to occupy the highest office in the land.

    “As one of the leaders of the party, having served as President under the Peoples Democratic Party, it is obvious that Dr. Jonathan has continued and will continue to work for the success of PDP across the nation.

    “He is also a father figure and a statesman whose door is open to all Nigerians desirous of visiting or consulting him on sundry matters, including politics.

    ” Even then he has always given his support and blessing to his party’s candidates in all elections.

    “Those who also push the narrative of a war between him and Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson are either adept at conjuring up a rift where there is none or are lovers of mischief who do not have the interest of Bayelsa State at heart.

    ” It is instructive  to note that those behind this misleading claim always draw blank when challenged to either provide evidence of such disagreement or cite any instance of former President Jonathan making negative comments against the Governor, either in private or public.

    “For now, what is important is for all members and lovers of PDP to forge a common front and strong force to help the party win big in the coming elections.

    “All efforts should be directed towards uniting and strengthening the party, and not sponsoring negative stories to divide and weaken it.”

     

  • Oshiomhole, Amaechi, Akume to Nigerians: shun PDP, Atiku

    National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, yesterday advised  Nigerians, especially  youths, to keep their distance  from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its presidential flag bearer, Alhaji Atiku  Abubakar, in their own interest and that of Nigeria.

    Oshiomhole with whom were Transportation Minister Rotimi Ameachi and former governor of Benue State, Senator  George Akume, told the people of  Plateau State to be wary of empty promises from the PDP in the build-up to this year’s elections.

    They spoke at the flag-off of the campaign for the re-election of Governor Simeon Lalong of Plateau State at Rwang Pam Township Stadium, Jos.

    Oshiomole, who received hundreds of defectors from the PDP and other political parties at the rally, urged Nigerians to reject Alhaji Atiku.

    The PDP, according to him, is out to sell Nigeria and urged the people to say “no to Atiku.”

    Amaechi described Lalong as a humble person who has lived up to his campaign promises.

    He blasted the PDP for anchoring its campaign on alleged hunger in Nigeria.

    He said if PDP leaders who ruled Nigeria in the past had not milked Nigeria dry, Nigeria would have been better off today.

    He said:”The next election is not about Buhari and Atiku, but it should be about what the PDP has done in 16 years and what the APC has done in three years. Buhari is addressing the problems of Nigeria and very soon we will overcome the present challenges.”

    Wife of the President,  Aisha Buhari, who was represented by former Deputy Governor of Plateau State, Dame Pauline Tallen, said a vote for Buhari and Lalong is a vote for the development of Nigeria and Plateau State.

    She admonished women and youths in Plateau to mobilize massive votes for the President and all APC candidates during the 2019 general elections.

    Senator Akume said Buhari is far better than Atiku in meeting the yearnings and aspirations of Nigerians.

    Governor Lalong described Buhari as his political godfather.

    He said:”When I was elected in 2015, I never knew where to start, but when I went to Mr President, he extended his support.

    “He has given us peace on the Plateau and anytime I ask him for anything, he never hesitates in granting my request.

    “So, Buhari is my political godfather.’’

    The defectors, who formally joined the APC yesterday, were led by ex-factional Chairman of National Football Association (NFA), Chris Giwa, while chairmen of 45 political parties in the state endorsed Buhari and Lalong for the 2019 elections.

    Oshiomole urged the defectors to join the re-enforcement of the power of the broom in providing quality and purposeful leadership in the country.

  • Atiku rejects use of Incident Forms for 2019 poll

    PEOPLE’S Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar has kicked against the alleged move by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to use the controversial Incident Forms in the conduct of the 2019 general elections.

    The electoral body had, on several occasions in 2018, hinted that it would eliminate the use of the Incident Forms in the coming elections.

    However, the commission made a U-turn a few days ago, insisting that the Incident Forms would be used in the election. The Incident Forms are used where the Smart Card Reader failed to read the voters fingerprints.

    In a statement yesterday by his Media Adviser, Mr. Paul Ibe, the PDP presidential candidate rejected the decision on the use of the Incident Forms.

    The statement said: “This is unacceptable to the PDP and Atiku Abubakar. Any decision to use incident forms in the February 16, 2019 elections is an attempt to toe the line of President Muhammadu Buhari, who thrice refused to sign the amended Electoral Act, for fear of the use of card readers, which would prevent rigging by desperate power mongers.

    “Atiku Abubakar notes that data from the 2015 elections show that 75% of the almost 14 million people who voted without biometric accreditation in 2015, were linked to Muhammadu Buhari.

    “Atiku Abubakar notes that data from the 2015 elections show that 75% of the almost 14 million people who voted without biometric accreditation in 2015, were linked to Muhammadu Buhari.

    “There are no reliable and accurate means of knowing who those voters were and whether they were genuine voters or sham voters. This disproportionate number of voters, who voted without biometric accreditation in 2015, affected the integrity of those elections and we hold the INEC to its oft-repeated promise not to use anything but the Smart Card Readers and PVCs for the 2019 elections.

    “We know that the Muhammadu Buhari administration has been desperate to avoid the use of Smart Card Readers and PVCs for the 2019 elections and the reported volte face by the INEC can only raise concerns about the voice of Jacob and the hand of Esau.

    “Atiku Abubakar reminds the INEC that the world is watching and Nigerians are alert to see if the present chairman and board of INEC would place national interests above narrow oligarchic interest.”

  • Atiku seeks Nigerians help to chart a new course

    The Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has urged Nigerians to join him in charting a new course for Nigeria in the New Year.

    Stating that Nigeria has become the world headquarters for extreme poverty, Atiku expressed the conviction that with the support of Nigerians, the country can become the world headquarters for hope and extreme devotion to the cause of lifting the citizenry out of poverty.

    In a goodwill, the former vice president described 2019 as yet a blank page, saying that Nigerians must not settle for whatever it brings.

    The message reads: “Rather, we must take collective action, through our choices, in making it a year where we revive national hope, with visionary leadership that sees our economy and institutions working again as they did in our golden era.

    “We can chart a new course and open a new chapter that sees every Nigerian living in peace and prosperity with their neighbour. It can be the year when our youths finally get a job instead of being unfairly tagged as lazy.

    “With purposeful leadership, it can also be the year when we put an end to terrorism and usher in a golden age of peace.”

    Atiku added that freedom will not just happen by itself, stressing that change must be effected from the top to the bottom.

    He said: “We already have the vision, the vision of a nation that is a beacon of hope for the Black Race and the world at large, what we lack and what 2019 can provide, is the leadership that has the capacity to translate that vision into reality.

    “In 2019, Nigerians need a leadership that is 100 per cent  for 100 per cent of Nigerians, 100 per cent of the time. We have seen where division and sectionalism has led us to. Now let us try unity and patriotism.

    “Don’t lose heart and hope. Nigeria is no stranger to overcoming difficulties. In fact, we have an uncanny ability to perform our best when the worst is upon us.”