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Tag: Bolaji Abdullahi

  • Herdsmen killings, a threat to our 2019 ambition – APC

    Herdsmen killings, a threat to our 2019 ambition – APC

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) National Public Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, has expressed fear that the current wave of killings by herdsmen in parts of the country would constitute a serious threat to the party’s 2019 presidential bid.

    He therefore wants the problem resolved immediately.

    Abdullahi, while speaking in Ikeja, Lagos, on Thursday night at the reading of his book, “On A Platter of Gold,” said the killings have “the potential to affect our political fortune if we don’t deal with it decisively with the way we dealt with Boko Haram.”

    “If we fail to do that, we also know the consequences because we had a recent experience,” he said in response to a question at the event.

    We are worried with the way herdsmen kill people.

    “The significant part of it is that even as we speak, there are also interpretations of what is going on regarding the herdsmen that approximate closely to the interpretation President Goodluck Jonathan was being given about Boko Haram.

    “You will recall that some people said what happened in Benue was a communal clash, some said it was Ortom who had some militia and refused to pay them and it was the militia who turned their weapons against the people.

    “It is frightening for us to hear this. At the party level, we are having conversation, that we want to see the President and tell him that this interpretation you are being given is potentially destructive to our party and your own position as the President and potential candidate of the party.”

    Responding to another question on why Buhari has not visited Benue State to douse the tension generated by the killings, Abdullahi said: “We don’t know the information the President has and we don’t know what the security people are telling him. When you are in power, you are being held hostage.”

    Abdullahi, who served former President Jonathan as Minister of Youth and Sports, used the occasion to shed light on the circumstances that led to his sack.

    Jonathan, he said had wanted him to deliver a speech publicly condemning the now Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, who is well known as his (Abdullahi’s) mentor.

    The former minister said he declined to do the dirty job.

    “I said no and it is not because I am loyal to Saraki that I said so, but I will do it for everybody I have relationship with,” he said.

    “To ask me to be the one to abuse him, no way. I take it to be hypocritical of me to stand for something and not get the repercussion. There was no bitterness at all with Jonathan or to get at somebody. Anybody reading this book will be looking out for vengeance words, but I tried to be objective.”

     

  • APC Convention: Delay is in party’s interest — Abdullahi

    APC Convention: Delay is in party’s interest — Abdullahi

    Spokesman of the All Progressives Congress ( APC ), Mr Bolaji Abdullahi, says though the delay in holding the party’s national convention does not look good, it is in the interest of the party.

    Abdullahi spoke with newsmen in Lagos on Friday, promising that another convention would hold soon.

    “We will hold our convention this year. We know the delay doesn’t look good on us, but it was in the best interest of our party,” he said.

    The party spokesman said that the delay, contrary to speculations, had not in any way violated the constitutional provisions regarding party conventions.

    Abdullahi also fielded questions on recent endorsements of President Muhammadu Buhari for a second term and the reported reappointment of Mr Rotimi Amechi as the Director General of the Buhari Campaign Organisation.

    According to him, the President has yet to inform the party of his intention to run for a second term.

    He, however, said that being its leader, the party would support him when and if he does.

    “The APC is not involved in Amechi’s appointment as DG of the Buhari Campaign organisation because it is at the level of aspirant.

    “His appointment has nothing to do with the APC and the emergence of our candidate for the 2019 presidential election.

    “The President would have become the candidate of the party before it can get involved with its campaign.

    “It will be wrong for the party to be involved because it will undermine its credibility to other aspirants for the presidential ticket,” he said.

    Abdullahi said that the APC constitution has laid down procedures for the emergence of candidates, which the party would strictly adhere to.

    “We will ensure that we obey our constitution as far as the selection of candidates is concerned,” he said.

  • Football remains the greatest unifier of Nigerians – APC

    Football remains the greatest unifier of Nigerians – APC

    The All Progressives Congress ( APC ) has said that sports in Nigeria, particularly football, remained one of the greatest unifier of people across political affiliations, religion, gender, tribe and other divides.

    Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, APC National Publicity Secretary stated this in a statement on Saturday in Abuja.

    Abdullahi joined millions of Nigerians in celebrating and congratulating the Super Eagles for their qualification to next year’s FIFA World Cup in Russia.

    He also congratulated the Ministry of Sports, the Nigerian Football Federation, the technical crew, management, and backroom staff for securing Nigeria’s sixth appearance at the World Cup.

    The APC spokesman said it was indeed a delight watching the Super Eagles defeat the Chipolopolo of Zambia in front of excited home fans at the Akwa Ibom International Stadium, Uyo.

    He noted that the victory put Nigeria on an unassailable 13 points at the top of Group B and charged Nigerians to take advantage of the feat to further foster harmony amongst themselves.

    Bolaji, a former sports minister, however, called on the sports authorities not to rest on their oars but to begin early preparation ahead of 2018 to ensure that the Super Eagles perform well at the global tournament.

    NAN

  • We didn’t ask Alhassan to resign – APC

    We didn’t ask Alhassan to resign – APC

    The National Publicity Secretary of All Progressives Congress (APC), Malam Bolaji Abdullahi, said on Friday the party has not asked the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Sen. Aisha Alhassan, to resign from the post over her recent comments in the media.

    Abdullahi also said the minister’s appearance at the party’s National Secretariat, Abuja, on Thursday, was not on a summon.

    Alhassan, who had been widely criticized over the comment on her choice of presidential aspirant for the 2019 general election, had a closed-door meeting with the party’s leadership in Abuja.

    The minister had reportedly said she would support former Vice President Atiku Abubakar if he shows interest in the 2019 presidential race, saying the man had been her “godfather.”

    The comment drew the flak of APC stalwarts, who dubbed it anti-Buhari and anti-party, saying she was disloyal to the government and should resign or be sacked.

    At the end of the meeting, which lasted about two hours, Alhassan avoided journalists’ enquiry on her mission at the secretariat.

    Abdullahi said the minister had just a meeting with leadership of the party, but “was not asked to resign her position as may be speculated.”

    ‘’No, that did not come up. What we said was that we understood the context in which she said what she said.

    ‘’But, it was an act of indiscretion for someone occupying the position she is occupying in the party to make that kind of statement,’’ he said.

    NAN

  • Alhassan to APC: I’m sorry over comment

    Alhassan to APC: I’m sorry over comment

    Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development Hajia Aisha Jummai Alhassan— who last week said she would not support President Muhammadu Buhari should he decide to seek reelection in 2019 —has apologised for her “indiscretion”, the All Progressives Congress (APC)  said yesterday.

    The minister, who said she would support former Vice Presdent Atiku Abubakar who is her mentor, to run in 2019, met for  two hours with party leaders led by National Chairman John Odigie-Oyegun. She was summoned to clarify her statement.

    National Publicity Secretary Bolaji Abdullahi told reporters after the meeting that Hajia Alhasan had accepted her fault, adding that while she had a right to give support to whosoever she like, the timing of her statement was wrong.

    The minister, who arrived at the secretariat at about 1.50 pm, did not leave until 4.05 pm.

    She declined to speak with reporters, saying:  “I can’t talk when the APC spokesman is here with me. I’m not the party’s spokesperson.”

    Abdullahi, who saw her off to the car,said the party recognised the minister’s right to say her mind but was of the view that with her position in the government and the party, the timing of her statement was wrong and capable of sending the wrong signal to Nigerians.

    He said: “Since the issue of the comment she made came up, the party had not said anything regardless of what individuals might have told you because we are a party that recognise the right of her members to express their opinions or views.

    “We also had an opportunity to discuss with the minister to understand what she said and in what context she said so before knowing how to respond. So, when she came, we asked her to explain to us what truly transpired and in what context she said what she said and she did offer the explanation.

    “Now, having offered her explanation, we acknowledged that as a member of this party, she is entitled to her opinion and she is entitled to her choice. However, as a senior member of this party, her statement represents an act of indiscretion because with the kind of position she occupies within the party, she is a party leader in her own right, what she said was not what she was supposed to say at the time that she said it.

    “She ought to have exercised greater judgement than she did and she acknowledged that yes, maybe she ought not to have. Maybe the timing was wrong and she apologised if she had put the party in any difficult position.

    “I want you to take note of the fact that nobody is questioning her right to take the position she has taken. We have not come out to say, ‘why are you saying you are supporting this person?”

    The APC spokesman said the party never discussed the option of resignation with the minister. “That did not come up.”

    He added: “If this was 2018 and the people have filed their applications to say they are contesting and she now comes out and says she is supporting this person, how can that be an issue? But we are still in 2017. We are still far away.

    “(Former Vice President) Atiku (Abubakar) has not said he is contesting. He has not collected any form. He has not announced to anybody that he is contesting. So, that is what we mean by the timing.”

  • APC says no zoning of Anambra governorship ticket

    APC says no zoning of Anambra governorship ticket

    The National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) said that it has not zoned the Anambra Governorship ticket to any part of the state as being speculated.

    Malam Bolaji Abdullahi, APC National Publicity Secretary, made this known in a statement on Monday in Abuja.

    “The attention of the NWC of the APC has been drawn to a report that the party has zoned the governorship ticket in Anambra State to a particular part of the state.

    “This report is false, the party has not taken any such decision,’’ Abdullahi said.

    He added that the party was committed to providing equal opportunity to all aspirants to compete freely and democratically at the primary.

    The APC spokesman stressed that all aspirants cleared to contest in the coming primary should ignore the misleading report.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 12 aspirants including 11 male and one female were cleared to contest in the primary later in the week.

    The aspirants are Mr George Moghalu, Sen. Andy Uba, Mr Paul Chukwuma, Madu Nonso, Bart Nwibe Bart and Mr Patrick Nwike.

    Others are Mr Tony Nwoye, Mr Chike Obidigbo, Johnbosco Onunkwo, Adaobi Uchegbu, Adaobi Uchegbu and Uzoh Obinna.

    Sen. Osita Izunaso, the party’s National Organising Secretary, had expressed optimism that the party would emerge victorious at the Anambra Governorship election slated for Nov. 18.

  • Buhari will roll out palliatives to cushion hardship – APC

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) on Thursday assured Nigerians that the President Muhammadu Buhari administration will continue to roll out palliatives to cushion the pains of the current economic hardship in the country.

    In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, and made available to newsmen in Abuja, the party appealed to Nigerians to remain steadfast in the face of current challenges as the government was working to get the country back on track.

    The party was reacting to demonstrations across the country by civil society groups to protest the current economic hardship, assuring that despite the current hardship, there will be light at the end of the tunnel as there can be no gains without pains.

    The party commended what it described as exemplary conduct and professionalism displayed by security and allied agencies, particularly the Nigeria Police Force, during Monday’s protest marches by members of some civil society groups and celebrities for and against the government.

    The statement said, “The freedom to protest peacefully is a democratic right and the APC will continue to defend the rights of Nigerians to express their democratic rights no matter how they choose to within the ambits of the law.

    “As we continue to consolidate our democracy, the APC urges our security agencies to continue to adhere to the highest standards of professionalism at all times even as they continue to discharge their constitutional duties of protecting the lives and properties of citizens.”

     

  • Rivers Rerun: Wike’s leaked audio tape has confirmed our fears-APC

    Rivers Rerun: Wike’s leaked audio tape has confirmed our fears-APC

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has said that the audio recording where Rivers State Governor, Nyeson Wike was allegedly threatening to kill electoral officers has confirmed its earlier fears about plots by the governor and the PDP to achieve victory through sinister means during the Rivers legislative rerun elections.
    In a statement signed by the National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the APC said the only logical conclusion to be drawn from the audio recording was that the victory of the PDP during the election was achieved through underhand dealing and intimidation of electoral officials.
    Abdullahi said the APC has always abhor any form of violence especially as it relates to elections or any other matter and asked security agents to do the needful and ensure that sponsors and perpetrators of violence, no matter how highly placed, are brought to justice.
    An audio recording posted by an online newspaper revealed Wike threatening not to allow some electoral officials, especially those posted to Khana to leave the state if they failed to do what they have been paid to do.
    The statement reads: “The leaked audio recording indicating the Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike admitting to bribing some electoral officials and threatening to kill them if his instructions were not followed has confirmed the fears raised by the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the leadup to the recently conducted December 10, 2016 legislative re-run elections in the State.
    “Going by the revelations from the leaked audio recordings, it is obvious that Governor Wike may have engaged in unwholesome conducts that might have compromised the integrity of the electoral process and undermined his office as the Chief Security Officer of a state.
    “The only logical conclusion from this therefore is that the electoral victories of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) may have been achieved through underhand dealings and intimidation of officials.
    “Recall that on December 6, 2016, the APC alerted security agencies on reports of a massive arms build-up and other sinister plots that Wike and the PDP planned to execute on the day of the legislative rerun elections in Rivers State.
    “Nigerians have watched with grave concern how the process of the just concluded legislative rerun election has led to the death of ordinary citizens in the state including security officers. The statement that Governor Wike appeared to have made on record has now pointed directly at where responsibility should be placed for the violence that attended the election.
    “It is also evident that the allegations by the Rivers State government and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of an assassination threat on Wike and the allegation by Wike that APC Governors funded violence in the state during the election might have been deliberately contrived to cover-up the role that the Governor had played in the violence that attended the election.
    “The APC condemns any form of violence as it relates to elections or any other matter. In this instance, we urge security agencies to do the needful and ensure that sponsors and perpetrators of violence, no matter how highly placed, are brought to justice.”

  • Ex-Sport minister Bolaji Abdullahi is APC spokesman

    Ex-Sport minister Bolaji Abdullahi is APC spokesman

    THE All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday got a new National Publicity Secretary when the party’s NorthCentral Zone unanimously elected former Minister of Sports Bolaji Abdullahi  to occupy the post.

    But the suspended Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the party, Comrade Timi Frank, said he reminds the Acting National Publicity Secretary pending the outcome of the case he instituted against the party in court.

    The suit, which was filed before an Abuja High Court, comes up for mention in December 5.

    Abdullahi from Kwara State is expected to replace Alhaji Lai Mohammed, who vacated the seat about one year ago when he was appointed Minister of Information by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Others elected along Abdullahi are Mohammed Zakari, who was elected Deputy National Treasurer.  Zakari Mohammed and Abdul Magun Ibrahim were elected to fill the vacant positions of Zonal Secretary and Zonal Organising Secretary.

    The event was attended by the governors of Plateau and Niger states, Simon Lalong and Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello, the representatives of the Kogi and Benue states governors, the representatives of Senate President Bukola Saraki, the National Vice Chairman of the zone, Alhaji Zakari Idde among others were present at the mini congress.

    Abdullahi was nominated for the position by the Deputy Speaker of the Nasarawa State House of Assembly, Godiya Akwashiki and seconded by  Senator Abdullahi representing Niger North senatorial zone before his nomination was confirmation through a voice vote.

    Three others were also elected to fill vacant positions zoned to the Northcentral as well as the zonal executive of the party.

    Speaking on behalf of other elected officers, Abdullahi assured that he would operate under different template and terrain with his predecessor and do everything humanly possible to endear the party to Nigerians.

    However, reacting to the development, Frank said he remain the authentic spokesman of the party until the court decides otherwise.

    Congratulating Abdullahi on the outcome of the zonal mini congress which endorsed him for the position, Frank said he was not against the ex-minister as a person, adding that “the process to become an authentic spokesman should be followed”.

  • Ex-Sports minister elected new APC spokesman

    Ex-Sports minister elected new APC spokesman

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) on Thursday got a new National Publicity Secretary when the North Central Zone of the party unanimously elected former Minister of Sports, Bolaji Abdullahi, as the spokesperson of the party.
    But the suspended Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the party, Comrade Timi Frank said he remains  the Acting National Publicity Secretary of the party pending the outcome of the case he instituted against the party.
    The suit which was filed before an Abuja High Court comes up for mention in December 5.
    Abdullahi from Kwara state is expected to replace Alhaji Lai Mohammed who vacated the seat about one year ago when he was appointed Minister of Information by President Muhammadu Buhari.
    Others elected along with Abdullahi are Mohammed Zakari who was elected Deputy National Treasurer, while Zakari Mohammed and Abdul Magun Ibrahim were elected to fill the vacant positions of Zonal Secretary and Zonal Organising Secretary respectively.
    The event was attended by the governors of Plateau and Niger States, Barr Simon Lalong and Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello respectively, the representatives of the Kogi and Benue States governors, the representatives of the Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki, the National Vice Chairman of the zone, Alhaji Zakari Idde among others were present at the mini congress which elected the former Youth Minister the APC spokesperson and three other national officers.
    Abdullahi was nominated for the position by the Deputy Speaker of the Nasarawa State House of Assembly, Godiya Akwashiki and seconded by  Senator Abdullahi representing Niger North senatorial zone before his nomination was confirmation through a voice vote.
    Three others were also elected to fill vacant positions zoned to the north central as well as the zonal executive of the party.
    Speaking on behalf of other elected officers, Mallam Abdullahi assured that he will operate under different template and terrain with his predecessor and do everything humanly possible to endear the party to Nigerians.
    He however told newsmen that he was conscious of the fact that the position of the spokesperson of the ruling party is an entirely different assignment from his former position as Minister of Sports.