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Tag: Bindow

  • Bindow embraces Buhari as Atiku’s victory divides Adamawa

    Governor Mohammed Umar Jibrilla (Bindow) of Adamawa State has declared unreserved loyalty to President Muhammadu Buhari and support for his candidacy of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the 2019 presidential election.

    The declaration came against the background of the emergence of a son of the state, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, as the presidential candidate of opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), a development which has divided an Adamawa State that was otherwise solidly behind Buhari.

    The state Commissioner of Information and Strategy, Mr Sajoh Ahmed, who spoke for Bindow at a press conference in the Government House in Yola Monday, condemned what he described as a looming blackmail by elements who he said were planning to design a poster pairing Bindow with ‘the presidential candidate of another party’, a ploy which he said was wicked and baseless.

    “Bindow is an APC governor working for APC and has no intention to support or canvass support for any presidential candidate outside APC. He has no support for any candidate other than Buhari,” he asserted, adding that anybody who prints any document to portray anything to the contrary should be disregarded.

    Read Also: 2019 election: Atiku can’t stop Buhari’s victory–UK APC

    The commissioner who refrained from specifically mentioning Atiku’s name in his initial address, submitted at the question and answer session of the press conference that Atiku as an Adamawa man winning the presidential ticket of a major opposition party was ‘a factor’ but that Bindow already had the candidate of his party and that Adamawa would always choose reality rather than promises.

    He said Buhari had done enough for Adamawa State since he became president to make the people prefer him to any other candidate.

  • Bindow leads in fiercely disputed APC gov’ship primary

    Governor Mohammed Umar Jibrilla (Bindow)  of Adamawa State took a commanding lead in the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primary as results from the local government areas began to reach Yola, the state capital last night.

    Results had come in from eight local government areas at press time.

    In Hong LGA, Bindow  got 13,915 votes while Nuhu Ribadu received 515 and Mahmoud Halilu Ahmed (Modi) polled 310.

    In Guyuk Bindow had 7,359, Ribadu 218, and Modi 143. Bindow also led with a wide margin in Shelleng, polling 13,316 votes as against Ribadu’s 472 and Modi’s 198. In Song, 13,315 votes were announced for Bindow, 287 for Modi and 185 for Ribadu.

    The figures from Gombi were Bindow 8,705, Ribadu 587 and Modi 503. Bindow received 8,215 in Maiha while Modi and Ribadu got 332 and 195 respectively.  From Michika, Bindow polled 13,180 votes, Modi 254 and Ribadu 154. The figures from Madagali showed 11,578 for Bindow, 196 for Modi and 112 for Ribadu.

    Modi and Ribadu condemned the conduct of the primary, saying it was fraudulent.

    The duo told reporters separately that no primary took place anywhere in the state and were perplexed how results were being announced for a non- existent primary.

    Modi said:  “The guidelines were flouted so much that an electoral officer who supervised the exercise in Mubi North (Governor Muhammed Jibrilla’s home local government area) announced the result of the election and declared one of the aspirants winner on camera, something which should only be done by the chief returning officer.”

    Nuhu Ribadu, on his part, said:  “Thousands of our supporters trooped to voting centres across the state, but there was no election, no officials to attend to them and no election materials.

    “The whole thing is incredible.  How can you conduct a direct primary election in the night? It’s just not possible.”

  • 2019: My re-election will end ‘politics of godfatherism’ – Bindow

    Gov. Mohammed Bindow of Adamawa on Tuesday said his re-election for second term would end “the politics of godfatherism in the state”.

    Bindow made the assertion while addressing APC delegates and party executives from the Adamawa Central Senatorial District.

    NAN reports that the district comprised seven local government areas: Hong, Gombi, Song, Girei, Yola North, Yola South and Fofore local government areas.

    The governor recalled that the same delegates he was addressing, voted for him during the 2014 primaries “without the influence of money bags’’.

    He said that he was optimistic that the delegates would repeat the same gesture in the forthcoming primary elections in the state.

    Bindow said that his administration would continue to empower the people whom he alleged, had been neglected by the political elite in the state.

    According to him, “the masses made me governor and the same masses remain the people I can still rely on.

    “To us, we do not have any godfather from anywhere and the era of godfatherism is gone in Adamawa.

    “Let the people decide who will govern them and not some few money bags who should decide who governs the state.

    “Our sin is because we have refused to share the meagre state resources to them.

    “I want to assure you that we will continue to work for the masses and not to work for the interest of the few.

    “They have confessed that we have worked but their grouse is that of not giving returns to them,’’ he said.

    Read Also: Why Kwankwaso visited Kano

    The governor recalled that while he was campaigning for the 2015 governorship election, people sought for infrastructure development, and that was why he embarked on massive roads construction to address the infrastructure deficit in the state.

    He advised the delegates to vote for continuity and for his administration to complete and consolidate the ongoing projects and programmes.

    He urged the delegates to also vote for president Muhammadu Buhari who addressed the insecurity challenges of the North-East region as well as awarded contract for massive construction of roads within the state.

    Alhaji Barkindo Mustapha, Coordinator for Bindow Campaign Organisation for Adamawa Central, urged the delegates to consider the quality and achievements of Bindow as they were set to elect the party’s governorship candidate.

    Mustapha, who is also the state Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftancy Affairs, assured the people that the state government would soon clear the backlog of salary arrears owed to local government workers.

  • Adamawa APC adopts Bindow as gov candidate

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Adamawa State yesterday adopted Governor Muhammadu Bindow as its governorship candidate.

    APC Chairman in the state, Alhaji Ibrahim Bilal, spoke at the party secretariat in Yola when Bindow formally declared his intention to run for second term.

    Bilal said all the 138 executives of the party from state to ward level endorsed Bindow.

    The state executives had earlier opted for indirect primaries to pick candidates for 2019, an option widely condemned.

    But Bilal said the state excos was ready to ensure Bindow’s victory under direct or indirect option.

    The decision might have sealed the fate of brother of President Buhari’s wife Mahmoud Halilu otherwise known as Modi.

    He visited the secretariat on Monday to formally declare his governorship aspiration.

    A former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Nuhu Ribadu also picked the nomination form.

    But he was yet to make his formal declaration before the party at the state level as at yesterday.

    Speaking at the APC secretariat, Bindow gave himself a pass mark in the last

  • I won’t defect to PDP, Governor Bindow insists

    ADamawa State Governor Jibrilla Bindow yesterday insisted that he has no reasons to defect from the All Progressives Congress to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    He said reports on his alleged defection were malicious and baseless.

    The governor said that since President Muhammadu Buhari has done tremendously well, there was no basis for him to leave APC for another party.

    He said he remains steadfast in the bid for President Buhari’s re-election come 2019 and fully committed to the APC ideals.

    The governor spoke in a statement through his Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Macaulay Hunohashi.

    The statement reads: “Over the last three years, we have shown commitment to the yearnings of the good people of Adamawa State to improve their standard of living through progressive implementations of agriculture, health, education, peace and security, water supply, youth and women empowerment programmes as well as infrastructural development.

    “And what is especially pleasing for me is that the people of the state recognise and appreciate our efforts to make Adamawa a better place for them and therefore they have supported this administration in every way possible.

    “At the national level, President Buhari has done tremendously well for this country in security, economy, fight against corruption, employment, health, education and infrastructural development.

    “Like I have said many times in the past, President Buhari is the best thing to happen to this country. He means well for Nigeria. He is passionate about this country. He is trying to get a great future for Nigerians So what reasons do I have to defect?”

    He said  false defection plan reports were  planted by some politicians in order  to malign him and cause mischief.

    “These reports are plotted by some politicians who desperately want him to join the opposition. They should dump the opposition parties and join me in APC as they are so fixated to be in the same party with me.

    “They are always welcome to join me in the APC”.

    On his part, the Adamawa State APC Organising Secretary, Ahmed Lawal, described Bindow  as the most loyal member of the party in the state.

    He added: “It  is worthy of note that he is the first Senator to join the APC from the PDP over four years ago.

    “Bindow has done so much to move the party forward and he has made Adamawa State a better place for all. Therefore, he has the confidence of every party member as well as the good people of the state.

    “His transparency and accountability to the people of Adamawa state on how financial and material resources were expended as well as the distribution of projects across the states is almost perfect. No Governor has done so much for Adamawa like Bindow has in three years.

    “Come 2019, the party and the people will ensure that this true democrat returns as governor of the state with a landslide victory.”

  • Bindow: I’ve nothing to do with Atiku’s rally

    Adamawa State Governor Muhammadu Bindow has described as “malicious and false”, an online report alleging that he donated N70 million towards Saturday’s rally for former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.

    A statement yesterday by his media aide, Martins Dickson, said the report, trying to portray him as engaging in anti-party activities, was cheap blackmail by those worried about his rising profile and that of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.

    The statement reads: “The publication is false, malicious, misleading and an attempt to mask the rising profile, virtues and sacrifice of the governor in upholding and promoting APC as the most popular party in Adamawa.

    “The authors of the lies have run out of substance to discredit him and have resorted to cheap blackmail.

    “Bindow’s works are spread across the 21 councils for all to see, and there’s no amount of falsehood that will make anyone believe that a governor and party, that has done so well, will be involved in anti-party activities.”

     

  • Wammako, Bindow, Aliero, Goje, 184 Reps shun R-APC

    52 Senators, Reps, others to stand firm

    APC: no faction

    LEADERS WHO MAY GO

    • Bukola Saraki
    • Yakubu Dogara
    • Rabiu Kwankwaso
    • Monsurat Sunmonu
    • Isa Misau
    • Dino Melaye
    • Soji Akanbi
    • Muhammed Shittu
    • Shehu Sani
    • Suleiman Hunkuyi
    • Sha’aba Lafiagi
    • Rafiu Ibrahim
    • Kabiru Marafa
    • Aliyu Abdullahi

    REPS WHO WILL STAY

    • Kebbi 8
    • Sokoto 6
    • Zamfara 6
    • Katsina 13
    • Kano 14
    • Jigawa 10
    • Kaduna 8
    • Niger 10
    • Kwara —
    • Kogi 3
    • Nasarawa 4
    • Plateau 5
    • Bauchi 10
    • Yobe 6
    • Borno 10
    • Adamawa 4
    • Gombe 6
    • Taraba 4
    • Benue 4
    • Lagos 18
    • Osun 8
    • Oyo 13
    • Ondo 5
    • Ogun 7

    The plot to cause a split in the All Progressives Congress(APC) has suffered a major setback, with some  leaders of the party  refusing to join the Reformed All Progressives Congress(R-APC).

    Some bigwigs, who have opted to remain in APC, include former Governor Abdullahi Adamu; former Governor Aliyu Wammako; former Governor Danjuma Goje; former Governor Adamu Aliero; former Governor Kabiru Gaya; Governor Abdullahi Ganduje; Governor Yahaya Bello and Governor Jibrilla Bindow. There are  several others.

    Joining some of the APC chieftains, including those who were in new Peoples Democratic Party (nPDP), are over 184 Representatives and no fewer than 52 senators in the Parliamentary Support Group (PSG).

    The APC leaders prefer to remain in the party to chart their own political path instead of teaming up with Senate President  Bukola Saraki, House Speaker Yakubu Dogara, Governor Aminu Tambuwal, Sen. Rabiu Kwankwaso, some senators and members of the House to nurture the R-APC.

    It was also learnt that the PSG leaders in the National Assembly met Wednesday evening to rally against the R-APC’s anti-President Muhammadu Buhari plot.

    “Many APC members do not buy the idea of forming R-APC to “settle scores and promote self-aggrandisement,” a source said yesterday.

    The source, who spoke in confidence, said the political outlook and permutations do not favour R-APC

    The source said: “Unlike the case in 2014, there is a crack in the nPDP (now transformed into R-APC) and it does not have the number to cause any upset in the ruling APC. The factionalisation plot is dead on arrival because of sheer ambition.

    “There was wholesale merger/ defection in 2014 by nPDP to APC but some of these leaders prefer to remain in APC. Ex-Governors Wammako, Goje, Aliero and Abdullahi Adamu, among others have distanced themselves from R-APC which is being promoted only by three leaders.

    “Some APC leaders are also aware of the ultimate goal of R-APC leaders to defect to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) if the terms of their current negotiation are acceptable. They cannot understand why they will be in R-APC (a transit camp) today and hop to PDP the next day.

    “A few R-APC leaders are confused. They seek refuge in PDP and African Democratic Congress (ADC) at the same time. For instance, while Kwankwaso has been having talks with PDP, there are indications that he is more at home with ADC, already adopted by ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo’s group just for the sake of a presidential ticket.”

    In Sokoto State, Wammako has made it clear that he will not join forces with Governor Tambuwal in R-APC to destabilise APC

    “All the three senators and six out of 11 members of the House of Representatives have shunned the bait from Governor Tambuwal to join R-APC. They have pitched tent with their leader, ex-Governor Aliyu Wammako,” the source said.

    In Kano, two out of the three senators and 14 of the 24 House of Representatives members “have left Kwankwaso to his fate”. They are in alliance with Governor Abdullahi Ganduje.”

    A former governor said yesterday: “I do not have an uncertain political future; I remain in APC and not any other group.”

    APC is said not to be threatened by the R-APC. This, said the sources, is because “as some of these leaders are leaving, the APC is also gaining more members, including Sen. Hope Uzodinma and Sen. John Enoh. “Sen. Sunday Ogbuoji from Ebonyi have also defected from PDP to our party,” he said, adding:

    “In fact, there is a prospect of an alliance pact between APC and All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) as part of looking into the future.”

    The source confirmed that some party leaders, senators and Representatives may leave APC due to political aspirations and other interests.

    Some of those who may go include, Dr. Saraki; Speaker Yakubu Dogara; ex-Governor Murtala Nyako; Sen.  Rabiu Kwankwaso; Sen. Monsurat Sunmonu; Sen. Isa Misau; Sen. Dino Melaye; Sen. Soji Akanbi; Sen. Muhammed Shitu; Sen. Shehu Sani: Sen. Suleiman Hunkuyi; Sen. Mohammed Sha’aba Lafiagi; Sen.  Rafiu Ibrahim; Sen. Kabiru Marafa; and Sen. Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi.

    Some of these leaders from Bauchi, Zamfara, Kaduna, Oyo and Jigawa have “irreconcilable differences” with their governors. A few others are no longer wanted by their constituents. Some are ambitious; others have been committed to nPDP instead of the APC right from 2015 and others have local peculiarities, The Nation learnt.

    “Ordinarily, Nyako does not have business with R-APC but because of local politics in Adamawa State, he has chosen to leave APC. For example, Sen. Soji Akanbi from Oyo State wants to be a governor and he may adopt another party to realise his ambition.”

    “Speaker Dogara has the same local challenge and also his political fate is tied to his mentor, Governor Tambuwal. Tambuwal is said to have made up his mind to leave APC because of his presidential ambition.

    “There are issues in Kaduna, Jigawa and Kogi states which have forced R-APC leaders to hibernate elsewhere,” the source said.

    Members of the PSG on Wednesday met in Abuja on how to stop R-APC members’ plot against President Buhari in the National Assembly.

    The breakdown of the senators in the Upper Chamber is as follows: APC 65; PDP 39; APGA two; dead senators (two) and senator in prison (one).

    A ranking senator said: “The PSG can mobilize at least 52 senators and over 184 members of the House of Representatives to curtail the political rampage of the R-APC leaders.

    “We have done our homework to put the President in good stead and be able to concentrate on his job. We will not take things for granted.

    “This was why we met on Wednesday to take stock and put counter-measures in place against R-APC members.”

    In an interview yesterday, a respected member of the APC in the Northeast said R-APC leader Buba Galadima fell out with Buhari when the President decided to expand his political base out of the old CPC conclave in 2015.

    Now Kwankwaso’s acolyte, Galadima was among those whose sectional antics ensured Buhari lost three times before 2015. People like him lost relevance the moment Buhari opted to reach out outside the old Northwest base.

    *In Benin yesterday, the report of the involvement of Kassim Afegbua, erstwhile media aide to Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, was dismissed as “comic relief”.

    An APC leader from Edo North said: “I am not surprised at all that Afegbua would seek relevance by joining them (R-APC).

    “He was rehabilitated by Oshiomhole with an appointment in Edo State between 2012 and 2016.

    “In the APC primary in 2016, whereas his boss was backing Godwin Obaseki, he betrayed him by working for another aspirant who lost woefully.

    “Rather than sack him, Oshiomhole was magnanimous enough to retain him as Information Commissioner. Well, you could explain his working for a different candidate as his democratic right. But guess what, when Obaseki became a candidate in 2016, he decided to work for opposition PDP.

    “Just imagine the lack of honour and principle. How do you place such a person? So, for us in Edo, we are just laughing. Edo APC is 100 per cent for and behind Oshiomhole. “

     

  • Wammako, Bindow, Aliero, Goje, others fate uncertain

    There were strong indications yesterday that some leaders of the New Peoples Democratic Party (nPDP) might not leave the All Progressives Congress (APC), contrary to expectations.

    It was also learnt that the formation of the Reformed All Progressives Congress(R-APC) was the first stage of plans by the nPDP leaders to leave APC.

    It was gathered that the R-APC might be the new template for an alliance with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Sources said the Presidency might persuade the APC leadership to foreclose talks with nPDP leaders.

    According to some sources, who spoke yesterday with our correspondent, not all nPDP leaders are committed to leaving the APC.

    A source said: “Following certain indices in their states, some nPDP leaders like Governor Jibrilla Bindow, Senators Aliyu Wammako, senator Adamu Aliero, Danjuma Goje, Yahaya Abdullahi, Jibrin Barau, Senate Deputy Majority Leader Bala Ibn Na’Allah and many members of the House of Representatives may not join the fray. Their fate is uncertain.

    “Do not forget that there are members of the Parliamentary Support Group, who defected mostly from PDP to APC, but still with the ruling party.

    “While some of our leaders are free to leave the APC, the scenario is different from the situation in 2014, especially for nPDP leaders and members from the North.”

    The source, who pleaded not to be named, said the plot to destabilise APC by some nPDP leaders was already picked up  through intelligence network by the Presidency and APC leaders.

    The peak of the plot was allegedly hatched at meetings in the Middle East.

    The  intelligence gathering was said to have informed the election of an all-inclusive National Working Committee (NWC) at the APC convention

    The source added: “In the last three months, we were aware of subtle manoeuvres by some nPDP leaders to leave our party. Some of them even met recently in some countries in the Middle East. We have all the intelligence reports.

    “In fact, one of the nPDP leaders, who bankrolled the R-APC briefing, was with a PDP governor in the Southsouth 24 hours before the conference in Abuja.

    To the source, it has been “an open secret” that Senate President Bukola Saraki, House  Speaker Yakubu Dogara; Governor Aminu Tambuwal; Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, some senators and members of the House of Representatives might quit APC.

    “They have just hatched the first phase of their plans to present to the whole world that there is crisis in APC”, he said.

    “The objective of forming R-APC, which is unknown to law, is to set the stage for the destabilisation of APC.

    “This was why, we were careful in managing the National Convention of the party. We decided not to create gaps which can cause a split in the party.”

    Another source in government thinks the nPDP leaders have crossed the red line, adding that the Presidency may prevail on the party’s leadership to foreclose talks with them.

    According to him, pro-Buhari elements and some leaders of APC prefer state-by-state negotiation with some aggrieved leaders of the party instead of group talks because of political peculiarities in some states.

    “Some nPDP leaders are actually paper weight in their states and APC can do without them. Of what use is holding talks with a senator or a member of the House of Representatives whose constituents had been stoning him in the past two years?” the source said, adding:

    “I think we are left with no alternative than to allow those who want to defect like Sen. Rabiu Kwankwaso and others to go.”

    There were indications yesterday that some nPDP leaders in Kebbi State have opted to stay in APC, following a promise to address their grievances.

    “We are excited that nPDP leaders in Kebbi State have offered to remain in the party based on agreeable terms.

    “This negotiation model is what has encouraged strategists of Buhari to insist on state-by-state talks with aggrieved leaders,” the source said.

  • Adamawa: Bindow, Nyako, others hold parallel congresses

    TWO different groups yesterday held parallel congresses in Adamawa State.

    The development may have further polarised the party as one of the groups is enjoying the support of Governor Jibirilla Bindow while the other is reportedly co-sponsored by former Governor Murtala Nyako and ex-Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir David Lawal.

    While the governor’s group held its congress at Mahmudu Ribadu Square, Nyako/Babachir faction held theirs at Lelewal Hotel.

    Speaking earlier, the chairman of the Nyako group’s congress, Hassan Turaki, a former speaker of the state Assembly, said that the Bindow’s  group- led congress would not see the light of the day at the end of the exercise.

     

     

     

  • Bindow cancels Christmas homage

    Bindow cancels Christmas homage

    Adamawa State Governor Muhammadu Bindow has cancelled the traditional Christmas homage to the Government House by traditional rulers and associations. He urged them to pray for the state instead.

    A statement by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Ahmad Sajoh, urged the people to reflect on the message and spirit of the season.

    The statement reads: “In keeping with the governor’s desire to ease the difficulties associated with mass movement during the yuletide, and in consideration of the security challenges experienced recently in some parts of the state, the governor has called-off the usual Christmas homage paid by traditional rulers, top public officers, organised groups and other stakeholders.

    “Instead, stakeholders are requested to pray for the state and exchange fraternal visits across all divides as a means of strengthening our bond.”