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Tag: Board of Trustees (BoT)

  • 2019: Group drums support for Buhari

    Modibbo Haruna Buhari Charity Organisation (BCO), an NGO, has passed a vote of confidence on President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, saying he deserves a second term.

    Mr Modibbo Suleiman-Masaka, the National Chairman, Board of Trustees (BOT) of the organisation, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Keffi, Keffi Local Government Area, Nasarawa State, on Wednesday.

    Suleiman-Masaka said that Buhari’s laudable projects had direct bearing on the lives of Nigerians.

    He also drummed support for Buhari’s re-election bid, explaining that their support was based on the president’s numerous achievements in the areas of security, corruption, agriculture and economy, among others.

    “Buhari has done a lot and is still doing his best; he deserves second term to enable him continue with the good works he has being doing for Nigerians.

    Read Also: Buhari to Osun: vote APC to shut out corrupt leaders

    “We have searched everywhere but there is no any candidate to compare him with President Buhari in 2019.

    “President Buhari had done well and is still doing well, we will continue to mobilise and drum support for his re-election bid in the interest of development.

    “It is in view of this that we as an NGO after assessing his achievements in office, we pass a vote of confidence on President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo’s re-election bid come 2019 ,” he said.

    Suleiman-Masaka called on Nigerians to support Buhari’s anti-corruption crusade with prayers for the success of the war.

    He also called on Nigerians to offer special prayers for peace, unity and violence-free general elections in 2019 in order to elect God-fearing leaders.

    The BOT chairman restated the organisation’s continued commitment to preach peace and harmony among Nigerians in the interest of national development.

  • “It’ll be tragic for PDP to rule Abia for another 4yrs”

    A member of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prince Benjamin Apugo has said it will be tragic if the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) rules Abia State for another four years.

    Speaking with select journalists at his Nkata Ibeku, Umuahia country home, Apugo said for nearly two decades the affairs of the state have been in the hands  of the PDP, Abia has suffered tremendously as there was  practically nothing to show for all the years they were in power.

    “If the PDP rules the state for the next four years, there will be nothing like Abia State again, people will die of malnutrition and hunger because in the past 20 years PDP has been in power, there are no good markets, infrastructure and the general things that can create wealth in the state.”

    The BoT member said the only way forward is for the people of the state to vote for APC in 2019 so that the needed change will come to the  state as in other APC controlled states across the country.

    He opined that the success recorded by President the Muhammadu Buhari- led administration in the fight against corruption and the amount so far recovered from looters has endeared him to the Igbo.

    He said, “We the Igbo especially in Abia, are beginning to appreciate the achievements of the Federal Government, we have nothing to fear under Buhari; APC will give us nomination in 2023.

    When PDP was in power under former President Goodluck Jonathan, Boko Haram came to Abuja, bombed everywhere but now the President has fixed Nigeria by not only tackling the insurgents, stopping more corruption, he has just started it and he needs another four years.”

    Speaking further on the decision of the nPDP to suspend further discussion with the Presidency, Apugo who is also a member, assured that the nPDP will not pull out of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    “We can’t leave the house we built, we helped the president to win election in 2015 through mass mobilisation, he contested three times before and lost. The truth is that nobody should bring his personal problems to and put it on the nPDP as a bloc, we have talked with the party and the Federal Government and we have agreed, the only mistake Buhari has made so far is neglecting us and not putting members of the nPDP in positions of trust.”

  • PDP chair: Dokpesi flays role of BoT members 

    PDP chair: Dokpesi flays role of BoT members 

    One of the aspirants in the race for the national chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Raymond Dokpesi has knocked some members of the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT) for campaigning for some of the chairmanship aspirants.

    Dokpesi, who accused the BoT members of trying to hijack the party ahead of the national convention, also faulted attempts by the BoT members in the Southwest to exclude some aspirants from the race.

    He called on members of the BoT wishing to become national chairman to first relinquish their seats in the BoT and join the race. Chief Bode George and Prof Tunde are two members of the BoT in the chairmanship race.

    Speaking shortly at the party’s Abuja secretariat shortly after returning his nomination papers, Dokpesi stressed the need for the PDP to have a chairman strong enough to lead the party to victory in the 2019 general elections.

    He said, “Members of the BoT want to take over the party. Some people want to use the BoT to take over the day to day running of the party.

    “Members of the BoT have been going round with some aspirants. They have been meeting delegates and stakeholders of the party.

    Some of them (BoT members) smart as they are, are peddling rumours that the BoT has endorsed some aspirants as their choice of national chairman. But we know that the BoT has not met”.

    Faulting the decision by some Southwest BoT members to exclude some chairmanship aspirants, Dokpesi said it’s wrong to exclude the aspirants without consulting them.

    In a November 3 document signed by Alhaji Shuaibu Oyedokun, the Southwest BoT had cleared Chief Olabode George, Prof Tunde Adeniran and Prof Taoheed Adedoja for the race.

    Other aspirants like Otunba Gbenga Daniel, Alhaji Rashidi Ladoja, Mr. Jimi Agbaje, Mr. Akintayo Akin-Deko and Prof Wale Oladipo were excluded from the race.

    Dokpesi said the action of the BoT members has already done some damage to their aspirations.

    “For one or two persons, a lot of damage has been done to the persons said to have been excluded from the list”, stressing however that the affected aspirants would have to work hard to get their campaign rhythm back.

    The media mogul however said the issue picking a consensus candidate may still arise, adding that the aspirants will sign the terms of agreement in the days ahead.

    On his plans for the party if he emerged chairman of the PDP, Dokpesi said he will work hard to unify the party and ensure that all broken bridges are rebuilt.

  • Former PDP national secretary defects to APC

    Former PDP national secretary defects to APC

    A former national secretary of People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and indigene of Enugu State, Chief Rex Onyeabor, has defected to the All Progressive Congress (APC).

    He was also a member of the Board of Trustees (BOT) member of PDP.

    Notable members of the party in the state, including former Senate President, Ken Nnamani; former Governor of old Anambra State, Senator Jim Nwobodo, had earlier  defected to the APC.

    Onyeabor, who was also the former coordinator of former President Goodluck Jonathan’s campaign organization in Enugu state during the 2015 general elections, announced his defection at Ugboka, in Nkanu East LGA of Enugu state.

    He said one of the reasons for his defection was the fact that PDP was not likely to survive her current protracted crisis.

    “Apart from being former national secretary, I was BOT (Board of Trustee) member which is the highest advisory body in PDP and I attended a lot of meetings, virtually every meeting, reconciliation meeting.

    “There are some people who are still there attending meeting to reconcile; you see what they are doing now, Modu Sheriff and Makarfi and recently Jonathan and Seriake Dickson; it is not likely that an agreement will be reached very soon.

    “So I look at all the efforts we have made in the past trying to restructure the party, trying to bring the party out of the melancholy or depression of defeat, it has not worked; that’s why I decided to pick my bag and take a walk,” he said.

    He further stated that APC provides the best platform for changing Nigeria for now, noting that though APC might not be the best party in the world but that it was better than other
    parties in Nigeria today.

    Also Speaking at the event, the Enugu state chairman of the party, Dr. Ben Nwoye expressed happiness  over  the influx of political bigwigs into his party saying that they were joining not only to help win elections but to also organize the party as some of them are political
    technocrats and bureaucrats.

    “I’m excited and I’m honoured to be part of the political revolution in Enugu state. We have never had a strong opposition in Enugu state since 1999.

    The entire South East have had other parties as members of the State Assembly, Senate or Reps, but Enugu state remained under PDP completely. It took men like these to ensure that that happens.”

  • PDP leaders to pay sympathy visit to Buhari in London

    PDP leaders to pay sympathy visit to Buhari in London

    The Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Board of Trustees (BOT), Sen. Walid Jubril, says the party leaders are ready to visit and sympathise with President Muhammadu Buhari in London.

    Jubril, who denied that the party promoted the rumoured death of the President, said that the PDP was rather praying fervently for Buhari’s safe return to Nigeria.

    “Let him be well and come back and continue with his leadership of Nigeria.

    “If we are to be given the opportunity, the PDP leaders will even go to London to wish him well and sympathize with his family,” he said in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kaduna.

    The BOT chairman, also spoke on the lingering crisis in the party, saying that  “the PDP will never die”.

    According to him, the party is making efforts to end the lingering crisis facing it and forge ahead.

    “By the grace of God we are coming clean and the PDP will never die, it will remain as a very strong party.

    “There could be differences; differences will come and go, we will emerge stronger and ready to win all elections like we have won in Rivers, Taraba, Gombe, and we are going to win in Anambra, Ekiti hands down.”

    The BOT chairman cautioned key stakeholders against confusing party members, saying they should allow ongoing reconciliation efforts by well-meaning Nigerians including former President Goodluck Jonathan.

    He said that apart from Jonathan, other stakeholders in the party are also engaged in the reconciliation efforts.

    “I am very sure that there are moves by very responsible party leaders on way forward for our party and we are making a lot of contacts.”

    According him, the former president is consultating with the BOT and all the enstranged groups in the party.

    “He has spoken with Ahmed Makarfi and Ali Modu Sheriff and he is also talking with me as BOT chairman.

    “People should give the former president the opportunity to make proper scrutiny and come out with agreeable solutions on this matter.

    “They should not be in too much hurry to further confuse members; we are talking about political solutions.”

    Jubril dismissed reports of alleged attempt by the Makarfi faction to break away and register a new party.

    “My belief is that when there are such decisions, it will be subjected to scrutiny and discussions by all organs and forums such as the national assembly, the ministers forum, former Governors, and we have the BOT and also the chairmen of various states.

    “Whatever we want to do, it must be subjected to their beliefs and understanding.

    “I wonder if anybody will say that he has gone to register on behalf of PDP; I will not accept that.”

     

  • Boroffice, Olanusi, others greet Akeredolu

    Boroffice, Olanusi, others greet Akeredolu

    A member, Board of Trustees (BoT) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Alhaji Ali Olanusi has pledged to be a good adviser of the Ondo state governor-elect, Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN) in his task of rebuilding the sunshine state.

    The former Deputy Governor, who was reacting to the victory of Akeredolu, described the frontline lawyer as transparent and humble, stressing that he would not be misguided by him.

    According to him, “Akeredolu has great respect for me, and I pray to Almighty Allah that I will not abuse the respect he has for me”.

    He appreciated God that the election which had been predicted would be rancorous was peaceful except some few cases before the election where a person was killed in Owo.

    The Supare-Akoko born politician said “The turn- out of voters was encouraging, it is necessary to thank the APC Executives in the state that worked for the party who actually supported Akeredolu and APC.

    The former Deputy Governor particularly commended those from other political parties who defected to the APC and worked strenuously to facilitate the victory of the party.

    He said “Those defectors who I am the leader actually perform wonderfully well, although at the initial stage, people we met in the party were hostile to us, but met our target of bringing victory to the party in the state”

    The APC leader urged the governor-elect to keep to his promises to the citizenry particularly the marginalised people of Akokoland, noting that Akeredolu toured all its communities and saw the bad road situation.

    Olanusi lamented that Akoko area with his abundant human resources was neglected by the present government, assuring that the APC’s administration would bring succor to its people.

    The Senator representing Ondo North, Prof Ajayi Boroffice wished the governor-elect, a successful tenure.

    Boroffice who noted that there are enormous challenges ahead of Akeredolu especially in areas of job creation, economy, security of lives and properties in the state, but are not insurmountable.

    He promised that he would continue to pray for him to have the strength to withstand the challenges.

    The Akeredolu Support Organisation (ASO) under the leadership of Tunji Light Ariyomo rejoiced with Akeredolu on his victory at the polls.

    In a statement,its spokesman, Steve Otaloro urged the governor-elect to see the massive solidarity as a moral burden on him to unite and galvanise the state and her people to spread the development across the state and avoid the pitfalls of the past leaders under minding the ordinary people.

    Also, the APC in the state described the Saturday’s election as peaceful and unprecedented in the history of the state.

    Its Publicity Secretary, Omo’ba Abayomi Adesanya commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on the prompt arrival and delivery of electoral materials to all the 300 polling units across the state.

  • PDP BoT urges warring parties to withdraw court cases

    PDP BoT urges warring parties to withdraw court cases

    The Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has urged party members who are pursuing court cases against the party to withdraw such cases and embrace reconciliation.

    The litigants were advised against involving external forces in the affairs of the party but to find amicable means of settling their differences.

    Rising from an enlarged meeting of the BoT, the Concerned Stakeholders group and the Caretaker Committee in Abuja Thursday, the party chieftains expressed concerns over the unity and stability of the party.

    They cautioned that ongoing court cases were capable of deepening the festering leadership crisis in the party, adding that trend could adversely affect the health of the party.

    In a communique read by Secretary of the BoT, Chief Ojo Maduekwe after the meeting, the party chiefs said the various organs and stakeholders have resolved to respect decisions taken at the party’s May 21 convention held in Port Harcourt.

    The meeting recognised the Ahmed Makarfi led Caretaker Committee set up by the convention to run the affairs of the party pending the election of a new set of officials.

    It also called on members and other interested parties to give recognition to the Makarfi committee to allow it perform its functions.

    The meeting added that the BoT, in consultation with key stakeholders, would henceforth preside over reconciliatory initiatives involving contending interests and groups.

    The Makarfi committee was enjoined to involve stakeholders and the various groups in the discharge of its assignment.

    Ex party chairman, Alhaji Ali Modu Sheriff and Makarfi briefly met with the party elders for 10 minutes, from 11.09 to 11.19 in the morning, after which they both left the Transcorp Hilton Hotel venue of the meeting.

    However, while Makarfi came back to rejoin the meeting, Sheriff never did. Chairman of the BoT, Senator Walid Jibrin explained that Sheriff could not rejoin the meeting because the timing was not convenient for him.

    Other at the meeting included the Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu; Prof. Tunde Adeniran, Ibrahim Mantu, Mrs. Stella Omu, Hajia Inna Ciroma, Senator Ben Obi.

    Also at the meeting were a number of former ministers, former governors and members of the National Assembly.