Former Head of State and 2011 presidential candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), yesterday shunned the mega rally organised by the party in Akure, to canvass vote for the party’s governorship candidate in the October 20, poll, Soji Ehinlanwo.
A statement by the Director General, Soji Ehinlanwo Campaign Organisation (SECO), Mr. Yomi Adetimehin, had at the weekend said that Buhari would be in Akure to present the party’s candidate and his running mate to the electorate.
Only few members of the party were mobilised to the venue of the event, and the rally did not start until 4.30pm which was against the official time scheduled for the rally.
It was learnt that there is now division among the party leaders over the choice of candidate to endorse for the coming election.
THE former head of state and 2011 presidential candidate of Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), General
Muhammudu Buhari (rtd) will today present the governorship candidate of the party for October 20 election in
Ondo State,Prince Soji Ehinlanwo and his running mate, Mrs Damilola Oluyemi to the electorate in the state.
A statement signed by the Director General, Soji Ehinlanwo Campaign Organisation (SECO), Mr Yomi Adetimehin, said the effort is an attempt to bring desired change to
Ondo State. He said the event is fixed for Democracy Park, Oja–oba in Akure, stressing that it would draw members from across the state and focus on CPC’s theme of real transformational change in Ondo State, particularly the
determination of the CPC to free the state from the present rudderless government. According to the statement, ”Our Party wishes to note that in recent times,
some elements who are not members of our great party are being sponsored by the ruling Labour Party (LP) to make
ridiculous claims on the pages of newspapers and other public places to
distract our party and its governorship candidate – Prince Olusoji Ehinlanwo.
”This is presenting to the people of Ondo State that there is a sure alternative that will bring succour to millions of long suffering Ondo State indigenes as well as make the state a main reference point in good governance in Nigeria.
“We will like to state that we are encouraged by the overwhelming support of our people and we remain strongly committed to bringing about
unprecedented development to Ondo, if we are elected into power “As a result of what our candidate and our party represent as well as the threat that they now pose to the ruling LP, we are not surprised by the current smear campaign being sponsored and orchestrated by the party aimed at giving the impression that our candidate and CPC are no longer
interested in the governorship race.
“This is totally false and we urge the public to totally disregard this wicked lie from agents and sympathisers of a government which has become so jittery because of the rising profile of
our candidate and the CPC in Ondo State.”
The statement said: ”We remain committed to the goal of liberating the state in October 2012 from the inept administration of Governor Mimiko and putting in place through the instrumentality of the free and collective wish of our people a government that is transparent and accountable, dynamic and visionary as well as with a strong and genuine connection to the citizenry.”
Political leaders in the north have began a process of reconciliation and unity ahead of the 2015 Presidential elections. They are insisting that leaders must put aside their political ambition and concentrate on addressing the problem of disunity in the region.
Former Sokoto State Governor and Presidential candidate of the All Nigeria Peoples Party in the 2007 elections, Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa, said after a meeting with the former Head of State, Major Gen. Muhammadu Buhari that the major concern in the north now is not political agitation for offices, but the unity of the region.
The former governor said before now, discussion about moving the north forward was centred on political parties, pointing out that the time has come when such discussions should shift from political party affiliation to the general interest of the north.
“I think there is solution to our disunity in the North because before now, discussions towards achieving unity has been based on political parties. But now, I came to visit Gen. Buhari to discuss the way forward for our people in the North.
“Our strategy is that we will take our time, plan things and see how we can come out with the way forward. And like I said, I have come to see him, I will not tell you the strategy we will adopt. This visit is a step forward.
“What we are looking out for now is unity. We are not talking of CPC, ANPP or any other political party. All we are after is to see that the North is united.
“I think everybody is going to drop his political ambition for now until the time comes because what is important now is our unity. The people will decide the next political direction when the time comes”.
Bafarawa said: “I didn’t come as a member of ANPP to visit Gen. Buhari, and I did not come to see him on the ground of his own party, CPC. I came to him to discuss in order to chart the way forward on how we can unite in the North because the North is in disarray.
“We need to unite since we are masters of all trade when you talk of political activities in the North. All the political parties in the country can be found in the North. Therefore, we have to concentrate and put our house in order.
“That is why I have come to see my brother, Gen. Buhari on how we can unite ourselves before we even talk of political parties. I came to see him in order to move the Northern region forward.
Gen. Buhari said he was in support of everything the former Sokoto state governor said.
The Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) at the weekend said its National Executive Committee (NEC) and Leader, Gen. Mohammed Buhari (rtd) recognised the former consultant to European Commissioner (EC), Mr. Soji Ehinlanwo, as the party’s governorship candidate for October 20 election in Ondo State.
This debunked a statement credited to a man, Jayeoba Francis, alleging that CPC had not picked any candidate for the election.
The CPC Southwest National Vice-Chairman, Raszaq Muse said: “The public should be wary of the antics of some unscrupulous and demented impostors, particularly one Jimoh Amodu, who has been parading himself as CPC Chairman in the state.”
He said there is no crisis in the party in Ondo State, adding that the emergence of Ehinlanwo and his running mate followed due process.
Amodu said the stakeholders who should have witnessed the congress from the 18 local government areas were absent Muse, who addressed reporters in Akure, the state capital, explained that Amodu had been suspended from the party for having a case at Magistrate Court, Akure.
He alleged that Amodu also has another pending case following a search on his apartment by policemen from the Area Commander’s Office, Akure, who allegedly found some incriminating items.
The National Vice-Chairman said the party’s congress and governorship primary were held between July 30 and August 2.
He added that the public was notified on these, including the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the police, the State Security Service (SSS) and the party’s national officers.
Wuse said: “At the congress, a lawyer, Mr Lekan Obolo emerged as the state chairman, while the duo of of Soji Ehinlanwo and Mrs Damilola Oluyemi emerged as Governorship and Deputy Governorship candidates of the party respectively.
He said their candidature has since been affirmed and widely published by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
But Wuse accused the ruling Labour Party (LP) of sponsoring some dubious characters and moles to destabilize the party.
“We are aware that the financier of these miscreants only recently returned back to his paymasters in the LP, we know as a fact that they are only being scared of the growing acceptance and popularity of CPC in the state and South West Zone” Wuse said.
The CPC leader assured that merger talks between his party and Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) would work out successfully to unseat Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2015.
Former Head of State Gen. Muhammadu Buhari has accused the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of making Nigeria difficult to stabilise because of what he calls its penchant for rigging elections.
The 2011 presidential candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) vowed to join forces with other well-meaning Nigerians to ensure free, fair and credible elections in 2015.
Speaking with our correspondent in an interview in his Kaduna home, Gen, Buhari said opposition parties’ merger plans were on course so that they could defeat the PDP in 2015.
Besides, he said the Boko Haram insurgency, in which many have been killed, was caused by injustice.
His words: “The type of rigging pattern perfected by the PDP must be stopped. People must be allowed to vote for candidates of their choice. If our election processes are free, fair and credible, there will be no problem in Nigeria. But the PDP government is making the country very difficult to stabilise with its rigging pattern.
“This is the evil that we have to fight in this country to move forward. I have said it so many times that multi-party democracy system is the best.
“Elections must be free and fair. That is what the CPC is all about. I couldn’t get it done in the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), but God willing, we will realise this ambition.
“The only thing that will stabilise this multi-party democracy system is to have free and fair elections. All hands must be on deck to ensure this; unless that is done, those who are in government will not sit up and ensure social justice.
On Boko Haram, the former military ruler believes injustice is at the root of the problem. “The PDP has said that they will rule forever and I know this is not possible, Gen. Buhari said, adding: “I am sure if you go down memory lane, you will see what we have gone through. In 2010 when opposition parties tried to merge and form an alliance, there was no time. And there must be understanding from parties to accept an alliance.
“Now, the time is on our side. The ACN, the CPC and the ANPP have realised now that to defeat PDP, opposition parties must come together. The merger is on course.”
In a swift reaction, the National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olisa Metuh, welcomed Gen. Buhari’s call for opposition parties to form an alliance to defeat the PDP.
Metuh, who spoke to our correspondent on telephone yesterday, encouraged Gen. Buhari and his allies in the opposition parties to go ahead and form the mega alliance against the PDP, stressing that if the PDP loses in a free and fair election, the party will accept defeat.
He said: “We encourage as many opposition parties as possible to form alliance against the PDP to fight future elections. If they win in a free and fair election, the PDP will respect the will of the people.
“We are not against free and fair elections. We are not against alliance against the PDP. What we are against is violence and distortion of facts. We are against inciting the people against constituted authority in the land. We are against threats and tendencies that tend to heat up the system.”
According to Metuh, the PDP has delivered on its electoral promises and that the ruling party “would continue to deliver on its manifesto”.
He said the party had made it clear to its political office holders at all levels that their chances of securing tickets for the 2015 elections will be based on performance.
