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Tag: atiku

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

    •’Pdp on mission to rescue Nigeria’

    National leaders, presidential aspirants and governors of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday declared the readiness of the party to retain the governorship seat in Ekiti State and 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 National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, at a rally staged on the highway at the foot of the new flyover in Ojumose area of Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.

    A 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.

    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. This country is experiencing civil war because of killing, 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 the APC leadership and are ready to vote out the broom party.

    Emmanuel said it is only in PDP states that things are working. He  urged Ekiti residents to vote continuity and give their votes to Olusola.

    He also called on 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. Darius Ishaku (Taraba), Prof. Ben Ayade (Cross River), Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa (Delta), and Mr. Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa), who was 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.

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

    He said 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.

    “I want to say that over 99 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 yesterday (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.”

  • Atiku woos PDP’s Southwest delegates

    Former vice president and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential hopeful, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has enjoined delegates of the party from the Southwest to support his candidacy in the primary.

    The Chairman of All Atiku Support Groups (AASG), Mr Oladimeji Fabiyi, who represented the former vice president at the inauguration of the Southwest Zone Leadership of the Atiku Democratic Movement made the call in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

    Fabiyi said Atiku is a candidate with a clear vision and good strength of character to return the PDP to power and the nation to glory.

    The chairman described the former vice president as a bridge builder par excellence, a unifier, a successful businessman and a complete democrat.

    According to him, Atiku has remained a loyal friend and a good in-law to the Southwest.

    Fabiyi noted that as a demonstration of his love for the Southwest, Atiku recently appointed former Ogun State Governor Otunba Gbenga Daniels as the Director General for his presidential campaign organisation and occupies a strategic position in the campaign organisation.

    The chairman called for support for Atiku, considering the loyalty and friendship he had shown to the people of the Southwest.

  • Atiku visits IBB in Minna

    Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar yesterday visited former Military President, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida at his hill top mansion in Minna, Niger State.

    The crowd, which waited for Atiku for over four hours, were prevented from entering the mansion as Atiku drove past without acknowledging them at exactly 3.45pm, after hiss meeting with Babangida.

    The Nation read the disappointment on the faces of the supporters.

    An aggrieved supporter, Nabila Mohammed, said: “I am not happy at all because we have been waiting here in the last four hours. He could not even wave at us. This is a man we have been fighting for, he just came out and ignored us, he is not fair to us but we will support him.”

    Atiku’s media aide, Paul Ibe, said the visit was private.

  • Atiku, Turaki knock Fed Govt over Plateau killings

    Two presidential aspirants on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and a former Minister of Special Duties, Alhaji Tanimu Turaki, have knocked the Federal Government over Sunday’s mass killing of Plateau villagers

    In separate interviews yesterday in Abuja, the two politicians blamed the security approach adopted by the Federal Government in the management of the crisis.

    Describing the killings as unfortunate Atiku said: “It is not every security breach you use hard power on. You need to establish dialogue between leadership of various communities that lived together over the years.

    “So the issue of using mere crude and hard power is not the only solution. There is also the need to use soft power on the issue of peaceful coexistence among communities”.

    On his part, Turaki, blamed the killings on the failure of the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Federal Government for failing to address security lapses across the country.

    Turaki said: “If you recall, a few months ago, the National Security Agency had appeared before the Senate and disclosed that the greatest problem that the Nigeria security agencies have today is that the agencies work at cross purposes.

    “There is no cooperation, there is no synergy. If critical security agencies are not sharing information or working together, then how do you expect them to come up with tight security architecture that will safeguard the lives and properties of Nigerians? And that is what is happening”.

    Turaki, however, expressed the confidence that the PDP had all it takes to reclaim the leadership of the country in 2019 and return the country to a path of growth and prosperity.

    He said: “The PDP has men and women of impeccable integrity. Men and women that are known to be bridge builders, that have the needed education and experience. That is why we say PDP is different from every other political party in the country.

  • Kwankwaso shun APC convention, hold closed door meeting with Atiku

    Former Governor of Kano State, Sen. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso on Saturday stayed away from the National Convention of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to hold a closed meeting for former Vice President Atiku Abubakar at his Asokoro, Abuja residence.
    The former Kano state Governor who is a delegate to the convention b6 virtue of being a former Governor and a serving Senator was one of those whose absence at the convention was quite noticeable.
    He has been having a running battle with his former Deputy and current governor of Kano state, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.
    The Nation learnt that Kwankwaso who arrived Atiku’s residence at about 8.30 pm may have discuss issues relating to 2019 presidential race and his possible defection back to the PDP.
    Details of their meeting which lasted about 45 minutes were not available, but it was gathered from a source close to the meeting that the visit of Kwankwaso was to pay Sallah homage to Atiku who was not in the country during the Eid El Fitr celebrations.
    The source said that both leaders also used the occasion of the visit to discuss the state of the nation.

  • 2019: Atiku urges free, fair PDP primaries

    Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has pleaded with the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to ensure free and fair contest for the party’s 2019 presidential ticket.

    Atiku, who was at PDP national secretariat on Friday, formally informed the leadership of the party of his intention to seek the party’s presidential ticket.

    The former Vice President assured the party chiefs of his willingness to accept defeat and support whoever wins the ticket, provided the exercise is just, free and transparent.

    He commended the party for the transparent conduct of the Ekiti governorship primary election.

    “If the feat recorded during the governorship primary in Ekiti State is repeated in other primaries that will come, this party is destined to reclaim its role and retrieve power generally through our electoral process,” Atiku said.

    He recalled that impunity and manipulation of the PDP past nomination processes were responsible for the party’s defeat in the 2015 elections.

    Atiku, however, observed that with the precedent set by the new leadership of the PPD, the party was on its way to reclaiming power in 2019.

    He said: “This meeting is not intended for anything other than my desire to seek the presidential ticket of the party. I am here to put you on notice and I believe that I should do this before reaching out to other organs of the party.

    “I want to thank you and look forward to working with you. Whether as presidential candidate or not, you can always expect me to fulfil my obligations as a loyal member.”

    Responding, the National Chairman of the PDP, Prince Uche Secondus, assured Atiku of free, fair and transparent presidential primary.

    Secondus said the PDP National Working Committee (NWC) has been working hard to rebrand and reposition the party.

     

     

  • No endorsement for Atiku, others yet, says Bayelsa PDP

    The Bayelsa State Chapter of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has declared that there is no preferred presidential aspirant yet.

    It dissociated itself from the purported endordement of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar by former President Goodluck Jonathan.

    The former vice president on Tuesday visited Jonathan in his home state as part of his “sensitisation tour.”

    But the Bayelsa PDP said all aspirants were free to visit the state to seek support from the members and leadership of the party.

    Bayelsa PDP Chairman Moses Cleopas, in a statement, said the position of the party on presidential aspirants was endorsed by Dickson.

    He said the party would receive all aspirants and accord each of them the respect, hospitality and the courtesy they deserved.

    He stressed that while it was the position of the party to receive and hold consultative talks with all aspirants, the party in the state would not endorse any particular candidate before the convention.

    Cleopas explained that after receiving all the aspirant the party stakeholders would collectively take a decision on endorsement at the PDP convention.

    He said: “The Bayelsa State chapter of the PDP will receive all presidential aspirants under the platform of the party. The party in Bayelsa will ensure that all presidential aspirants are treated fairly with the respect and courtesy they deserve.

    “However, it is the position of the state chapter of the party that there would be no endorsement of any particular candidate before the convention.

    “The position of the state would be decided collectively and expressed at the convention ground.”

    Cleopas said it was encouraging that people of integrity with the requisite political clout were aspiring to run for President in the 2019 election on the platform of the PDP.

    He said the PDP had the strength to wrest political power from the APC in 2019, with its vast spread and visible presence in all the 774 local government areas and every ward in the country.

    The party chairman who stressed that Bayelsa is a PDP State, thanked the leaders and members of the party for turning out to receive one of the presidential aspirants,  Atiku Abubakar, at a very short notice and encouraged them to do same for other aspirants.

  • PDP will return to power in 2019, by Jonathan, Atiku

    Former President Goodluck Jonathan and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar on Wednesday expressed optimism that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would return to power in 2019.

    They said the party is getting stronger.

    They spoke with journalists when the ex-President hosted Atiku at his home in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

    On PDP chances in 2019, Jonathan said in a statement issued by his spokesman, Ilechukwu Eze, that the party is better poised to win next year’s presidential election.

    He said: “Yes, we had some issues in 2015. But as you know politics is a very dynamic business. I believe PDP is coming back and getting stronger.

    “Even though we are in the opposition with fewer governors, PDP is still the strongest and largest party in the country.”

    Jonathan said he was pleased that the former Vice President who came to Bayelsa to commission State Government projects paid him a visit.

    The ex-President said he had enjoyed a long relationship with Atiku, beginning from his time as Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State.

    Atiku insisted that only the PDP has the strength and structure to win the presidential election in 2019.

    He said: “It is actually the PDP that has the strength and structure to get back to Aso Rock. There is no other party that has the structure and strength like the PDP. Without PDP, APC should not have been in Aso Rock.”

     

     

  • 2019: Atiku seeks support of Dickson, Bayelsa PDP members

    •PDP aspirant to restructure Nigeria

    FORMER Vice President Atiku Abubakar yesterday took his 2019 presidential ambition to Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson and members of the state’s Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Abubakar, who arrived at the State Government House in Yenagoa at about 12pm, presented a document he developed on restructuring, titled: “Restructuring as a pathway to unity and development in Nigeria”, to Dickson.

    The ex-vice-President’s delegation includes a former Ogun State governor Gbenga Daniels, the immediate past Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Elder Godspower Orubebe among others.

    After a close-door meeting that lasted a few hours with the governor, Abubakar proceeded to the PDP secretariat, where a crowd of party supporters received him in a brief rally.

    Addressing the party faithful, he hailed Dickson for his developmental strides and thanked the people for allowing continuity and sticking with one party in the state.

    On continuity of governance, he said: “The last time I came here was several years ago. The changes l have seen in the state are monumental.

    “This is all because of you not because of one individual. You have been supporting this party since 1999 and what you are seeing today is as a result of your support and hard work.

    “Once you don’t change parties, you will see what is called good governance. Once you change from one party to another, this one will come, he will do this project and stop and another one will come and start another project and stop”.

    The former vice-president said he came back to the state to reconnect with the people and appealed to them to work with him to make the country like Bayelsa.

    Dickson described Atiku as a veteran in politics and insisted that the 2019 presidential election would be a referendum on restructuring.

    He called on PDP members nationwide to rise up to the challenge of taking power from the incumbent government.

    He said: “We have the challenge to take power from an incumbent administration and all of us know the nature and character of the government we are talking about.

    “I call for a rejection of a one-party dictatorship in the country. On behalf of our people, our position on restructuring, whether you call it true federalism etc. unless people want to be mischievous, they mean the same thing.

    In his remarks, Orubebe said Atiku would do for Ijaw and the Niger Delta what former President Goodluck Jonathan could not to do for them.

    Orubebe said Jonathan could not restructure the country in the interest of Ijaw and Niger Delta but that Atiku would undertake the task.

    He said the PDP was in need of a man like Atiku to win the election and advised the people to convince others to buy into the vision of Atiku.

     

     

  • Atiku to APC: be ready to accept defeat

    •Fayose: Apc planning to rig

    Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has advised the All Progressives Congress (APC) to be ready to accept defeat, if it loses the July 14 governorship poll.

    Atiku said the APC should emulate the democratic gesture of the PDP which accepted defeat after it lost the presidency for the first time in 16 years in the 2015 general election.

    The former Vice President spoke  in Ado-Ekiti on Monday, when he led members of the PDP Governorship Campaign Council on a visit to Governor Ayo Fayose at Government House, Ayoba Villa.

    Other PDP bigwigs present include Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, former Senate President, David Mark, former Kano State Governor, Ibrahim Shekarau, former Ogun State Governor Gbenga Daniel and Senator Eyinnaya Abaribe.

    Atiku expressed satisfaction with the level of preparedness of the PDP for the governorship poll. He also expressed confidence that the umbrella party would coast home to victory.

    He said: “We are satisfied that the PDP is prepared for this election. We hope that the APC will accept the outcome of the election. They should be democratic for the first time.

    “We have seen how democratic they are, but for the first time in 2015 we have opposition party taking over from the ruling party, we expect them to do the same.”

    Fayose alleged that the APC was planning to rig the election, “having been rejected by the people”. He said that the PDP had already won the election.

    He said: “They (PDP leaders) are here because they know that the PDP has won this election. Everyone is on the same page with us. The only thing the APC is holding on to is to rig the election. We have told INEC that this is a pointer to the 2019 election. They should save their image.

    “The country is bigger than all of us. Let me tell them, if rigging has been tried elsewhere it won’t work here. The people will defend this election. We are aware of plans to bring thugs here to disrupt the election, the people will stand up to them.

    “The PDP leadership is in the state today to strengthen our hands and assured us of their support. I want to say that this election is about the people for the people and it must be so. Ekiti election is not only about Nigeria, the whole world is watching.

    “We are looking forward to observers from all over the world, because I am the voice they want to suppress. We are prepared for the election and we are going to win.”