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Tag: candidate

  • ‘Nobody can impose candidate on Akwa Ibom’

    ‘Nobody can impose candidate on Akwa Ibom’

    Former Akwa Ibom State Finance Commissioner Obong Bassey Akpan  is a governorship aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He spoke with Kazeem Ibrahym in Uyo, the state capital, on his aspiration, zoning and other partisan issues.

    Why are you running for the governorship when you are not favoured by zoning?

    I want to say that I have consulted widely and am still consulting and I must say that, based on the collective feelings of the good people of Akwa Ibom State, there is a consensus that I should serve them in office as governor of the state. So far, I have visited about 24 local government areas and I would formally declare after covering the remaining seven councils. Power comes from God and He gives it to whoever He pleases. My prayer is that God should give us a governor who loves Akwa Ibom. Akpabio has done well; he is a good governor, but God should give us a better governor that will take the state to the next level. I am not going to be a governor by zoning, but I will be by Divine prophecy and if you feel that prophecy is not good or that it came from a false prophet, then I leave it to God to decide, because the Bible said that who is he that has spoken and it comes to pass when the Lord of Host has not commanded it. David in the Bible did not become a king by zoning, when God sent Prophet Samuel to go to the House of Jesse, God said I have found for my people a king in the House of Jesse. When Samuel got there, he thought it will be the first son which was zoning, Samuel thought it will be the second son and that was zoning and that applied to the third, while the Bible did not tell us what David’s position was, Samuel only asked if there was any one remaining and was told there was one in the bush taking care of the sheep and David became a king not by zoning, but by Divine prophecy.

    Let me give you another instance. Solomon, who took over from David, did not become a king because of zoning; he was the tenth child of David who was born by a controversial woman. So, God can make something out of nothing. He said, that I choose to bless whom I choose to bless and I choose to hate whom I choose to hate. Esau did nothing wrong, but God said Esau I hate and Jacob I love. So, between Esau and Jacob is the play out of a programme that is Divinely orchestrated by God. I see my aspiration to become the Governor of Akwa Ibom State as the will of God. You may begin to wonder how I will do it, but I tell you I will do it through the support of the people of Akwa Ibom State and God in Heaven. Like I tell people, our Governor is a human being and he has the right to support whosoever pleases him. Don’t forget that Biblical Saul wanted his first son, Jonathan, to take over from Him, which was his right. But, God said it must be David. So, the governor has the right to support who he chooses to support and the governor has demonstrated this right through the Akwa Ibom Consolidation Alliance (ACA) that he is supporting his SSG, Mr. Udom Emmanuel as the next governor of the state. But, the people of the state are supporting my aspiration to lead them as governor through the instrumentality of Akwa Obong Abasi 2015. I leave my fate in the hands of the Akwa Ibom people come May 29, 2015.

    Why were you dropped from the State Executive Council by  Governor Akpabio?

    My removal or sack from office is as a result of my interest in becoming the Governor of Akwa Ibom State based on the popular demand of the people of the state. I saw my sack as a step forward to pursue higher goals in life. That was why when the governor gave me my sack letter, he wished me well in my future endeavours.

    I am happy because my modest contributions to the administration of Governor Godswill Akpabio are well noted. But since I left government over four months ago, I have been waxing stronger by the day.

    As an aspirant, what is your pedigree? 

    I graduated from the University of Uyo with a very good Second Class Upper Division; I narrowly missed First Class and I have worked in the bank for about 11 years. I left the bank as a vice president in 2007 to serve the people of Akwa Ibom State as the Commissioner for Finance. I have an MBA from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. I have had 18 years cognate experience. My service to the state as commissioner for finance for seven years without any blemish and with accolades, especially from my Governor that I am one of his best commissioners, makes me feel satisfied.

    But, what is more interesting is that Governor Akpabio served Obong Victor Attah as a commissioner for seven years and I also served him for seven years as a commissioner. Governor Akpabio once said that the only person in his cabinet that acts like him, dress like him, talks like him and gives like him is his former commissioner of finance (myself). I believe those are words of a king and it has its own powers.

    So, having served for seven years with my own contributions towards uncommon transformations, I am in a vintage position to understand the dynamics and workings of the government. I am in the position to understand what happened in the last seven years in all facets of the state economy. I was also in the position to understand the vision for the greater Akwa Ibom State. So, I think that I am best positioned to take over from Akpabio by the special grace of God. Akpabio, who also served Attah, took over from him, notwithstanding the fact that Attah had his own candidate. So, I have the vision, charisma, exposure and experience to be the next governor of Akwa Ibom State and in all of these I still believe that God has the final say in the affairs of men.

    If you fail to get the ticket, would you accept to become the deputy governor or the SSG?

    For me, I don’t think there is a better aspirant that will defeat me at the primaries. I am very confident and I am contesting the office of the governor and nothing else. You must have heard that I am very stubborn; that I was offered ministerial and senatorial positions and I refused, and that I was asked to become the next SSG, but I also  refused. I asked my people what they want me to become and they said the Governor. So, I know that power belongs to the people and I am happy that I enjoy the collective acceptance of the people of Akwa Ibom State. The choice of who becomes governor lies with people who should be allowed to do so through their mandate.

    And I pray that God will give us the governor who will show love to the people of the state. In 2007 notwithstanding that the former governor supported his son in-law to become the governor, the people preferred Godswill Akpabio.

    Some people are saying that you are backing  former Secretary to Government Umana Umana for the governorship?

    I have received several text messages on that matter and I believe that there is no ambition that is bigger than the collective interest of the people. Umana and I are brothers. But, we see ourselves contesting same position in government. My presence at Umana’s birthday was a pointer to the fact that, no matter the political arena you found yourselves, you must always be your brother’s keeper. Everybody can contest the governorship, but we will have only one governor.

    I will work with Umana Okon Umana so that Uyo Senatorial District can produce the governor. At that point I was referring to the interest of Uyo Senatorial District. Now, if you have it within Uyo Senatorial District and you have Umana and myself, the question will be who is the best? The answer is that late Obong Akpan Isemin, First Civilian Governor of the state is from Etinan Federal Constituency like Umana, former military governor Otuekong Idongesit Nkanga is also from Etinan Federal Constituency like Umana while Uyo federal constituency produced Obong Victor Attah, so which federal constituency is remaining to produce a governor, it is my Itu/Ibiono federal constituency in fairness and equity.

     

  • Rivers 2015: ‘A candidate is as strong as his team’

    Rivers 2015: ‘A candidate is as strong as his team’

    Few weeks ago, Chief Beks Dagogo-Jack confirmed his interest to seek the governorship ticket of People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2015 elections. Since then, the stake has been raised further as other major stakeholders take him up on several issues. In this brief encounter he spoke on his experience, strategy and chances. Sam Egburonu reports

    Your recent press conference announcing your decision to join the race for the Rivers State Governorship ticket in the PDP seems to have ruffled some feathers . Why is that ?

    I’m not sure whose ruffled feathers you noticed but as you well know every race involves several  competing interests and each new entrant into a race depending on his or her weight typically impacts the odds in the race.

    Specifically, it has been observed that last week, the Minister of State, Nyesom Wike whilst addressing press men made specific mention of your name amongst others who he claimed are political paper weights he will beat even in their respective wards. What do you say to that?

    I think those comments were quite  unfortunate and undignifying, especially from a cabinet member who should be a mature bridge builder. Also as you know, we are currently still  at the party primaries stage, which is very largely an internal party affair to be managed strategically in readiness for the main election without unduly weakening the electoral fortunes of our party. I will rather not respond to his claims of superiority. .

    So even if you want to avoid responding to his claims, the general public would want to know your political stature as a gubernatorial candidate?

    Let me remind you again that politics is a team game with people of like minds coming together to build a leadership organisation and agenda . The political structure typically has different layers of leaders, workers, volunteers, etc, who come on board with various political assets. I have been involved in this process at different levels for several decades now.  I’ve been involved in developing campaign materials and governance blueprints for candidates at both governorship and presidential campaign levels. I’ve been a leader of my ward,  PDP Ward 12 in Akuku-Toru Local Government for so many years now overseeing all elections at the ward. I’ve been an active supporting elder of the PDP in my  LGA for as many years. I’ve served in various appointive posts at state and federal levels in cabinet and senior non-cabinet positions. I have also run a primaries race as a senatorial aspirant as far back as the NRC days. The main point to note here is that in all of these experiences, I resolved from day one not to be a jack of all trades but to remain devoted to my skills as a technocrat with proven track record of performance, knowing that in any team I belong, there shall always be  those more versed in the field operational aspects of elections.  I tell you, I am not a neophyte in this business yet I totally believe that a candidate is only as strong as his team is.

    From the public utterances of the Minister of State it can be deduced that he feels exclusively entitled to the ticket based on the huge investments he single handedly incurred to rescue the party at the state from Governor Rotimi Amaechi. What would you say to that?

    I recall that it was the famed Douglas Adams who said that if any man has the capacity to single handedly  procure his election to any office, he must be stopped at all costs in the interest of democracy. Politics is about change and progress which involves people’s free choice. Investments or sacrifice is an ongoing phenomenon in building political parties the world over. People have invested in the party at different critical times long before now. If every one who make investments and sacrices to a party dictates exactly how they should be settled, then I’m afraid our democracy risk being captured by private forces to serve private interests. Politics is for public service and development;  it’s not a commercial business and should never be approached as such.

    Do you think your attempt to consciously separate political skill sets would work in our current political system which seem to have been hijacked by field operatives ?

    You know I firmly believe that a key reason why we are still struggling to entrench democracy as a system for delivering effective development lies with this current very dysfunctional culture you talk about and indeed it’s so unfortunate we degenerated to this level because this was not the case even in the First Republic. I will illustrate with a few examples. In those days, politics still had the Adedibus and the Awolowos yet no Adedibu would aspire to be an Awolowo and verse versa. Both are comfortable with the natural slants in their capacity. An Adedibu would be seen and respected as an effective operative or a garrison commander whilst an Awolowo would be seen and respected as a visioner and a transformational leader. Our late political icon was able to leapfrog the human capacity index of the South-West over the national average with such effectiveness that decades after, the benefits are still with us.

    How do  you rate your chances ?

    I offer myself as a committed change agent. I have proven track record as a worker and a project leader. I have considerable regard as a public servant accross the state. I have been around long enough to learn from our past mistakes. I have imbibed a culture of integrity and goal-getting.   I am not seeking office to achieve personal material goals. Our people have begun  evaluating the aspirants. The people will decide.

  • ‘No going back on withdrawal of PDM candidate’

    ‘No going back on withdrawal of PDM candidate’

    The Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM)  yesterday dissociated itself from the continued reference to Mr. Oludare Tomothy Akinola as its candidate in next weekend’s  governorship election in Osun State.

    National Secretary of the party, Dr. Oluwole Akinwunmi,said the party withdrew Mr.Akinola as its candidate as far back as June and “has not changed its position in this regard.”

    “The decision of the party and its reasons for withdrawing Mr Akinola as its flagbearer was communicated to the Chairman INEC, the Chairman of PDM in Osun State and Mr. Akinola himself,” Akinwunmi said.

  • Olu Falae rallies support for SDP candidate

    Olu Falae rallies support for SDP candidate

    Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidate Mr. Olusegun Akinwusi will bring calm, integrity and transparency to Osun State, if voted for in the August 9 poll, the party’s National Chairman, Chief Olu Falae, has said.

    Falae, in a message to party members, called on the electorate to vote for Akinwusi as the best option among the governorship candidates.

    He said: “Our candidate is a distinguished retired public officer. He is a complete gentleman and I am certain that he is the perfect person Osun State needs at this time. So, I strongly called on Osun people to massively vote for him.

    “He is not just bringing integrity into governance; he has served the state as Head of Service and came out with clean hands. He was an honest public officer who knows what to do. Osun people will do themselves a great honour to support and vote for him as a technocrat.”

    Falae, who is an Afenifere chieftain and a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), regretted that the election, like other recent elections, was being subjected to money politics.

    Monetisation of politics, he noted, was not pronounced during the 1999 general elections when he stood as a presidential candidate of the All Peoples Party (APP) and the Alliance for Democracy (AD).

    “It is regrettable that due to high level of poverty in the land, parties that control funds at state and federal levels buy election all over Nigeria,” Falae stated.

    He praised the SDP members for their steadfastness and by proofing that politics is not only about money or mere pecuniary gains, but about good governance and people’s welfare.

    Falae bemoaned the high level of corruption in the  polity, regretting that dishonest individuals without regard for the masses are now at the helm of affairs.

    Campaign teams of SDP continued their mobilisation yesterday at Olaoluwa, Ayedire, Ila and Boluwaduro local government Areas.

    The teams were in Ifedayo, Ife-South and Oriade local governments last Tuesday.

  • PDM withdraws candidate from poll

    PDM withdraws candidate from poll

    The national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM) has withdrawn its Osun State standard-bearer, Mr. Timothy Oludare Akinola, from the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) list of candidates for the poll.

    Akinola’s name was withdrawn for alleged anti-party activities in a letter addressed to the INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega.

    The letter by the PDM’s National Chairman, Bashir Yusuf Ibrahim and dated June 23, 2014, said: “The PDM has taken the decision to withdraw Mr. Oludare Timothy Akinola as its candidate in the August 9 Osun State governorship election.”

    In the letter, PDM  accused Akinola of “holding meetings with opposition political parties’ candidates without its consent, insisting that this amounts to anti-party activities.

    “Other reasons for his withdrawal had to do with his continuous failure to honour invitation to meetings by the National Secretariat and his lack of preparedness and inability to present a concrete plan for campaign few weeks before the election.”

    Also, the party’s state Chairman, Alhaji Lasisi Bakare, in a separate letter to the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr. Olusegun Agbaje, intimated the commission on the development.

    “In the light of the above, our party will not be fielding any candidate to participate in the forthcoming election,” it said.

  • Group adopts candidate for NBA election today

    Lawyers  in the Media Forum (LIM) at the weekend adopted the Assistant National Publicity of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA)  John Austin Unachukwuas its candidate for Publicity  Secretary in today’s NBA election.

    On why he was adopted, LIM’s Chairman Mr. Charles Odenigbo said: “John Austin is the man for the job. He is credible. He has integrity. He has been tested and  found competent in all departments of the profession.

    “John  Austin was the pioneer Secretary of LIM. He is hardworking, firm and committed to the  ideals of  the association. That is why we found him a worthy ambassador of LIM and we have no doubt that he will make NBA and LIM proud as the Publicity Secretary.

    “ He is the candidate to beat in the election. We are behind him and are very ready to work with him as the Publicity Secretary of NBA. Together we we will lift the Bar and place it on information super high way.”

    Unachukwu has a Masters Degree in Law. A trained journalist, he has a Diploma in Journalism and was the best graduating student in 1994 Diploma class of the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Ogba Lagos. He is  a member of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) and the  Business Education Examination  Council (BEEC).

    He has been the Editor of the NBA Bar News since 2012, a platform he has used to endear himself to Nigerian lawyers.  As the Legal Editor of The Nation newspapers, he has also used the medium to drive the publicity of the NBA more than any other journalist in the history of the Bar.

    He is the Assistant National Publicity Secretary of  the Bar. He has understudied and  worked with  many  past  Publicity Secretaries of the Bar, including Abdulrasheed Muritala (Murray) and Emeka JP Obegolu.

    He understands the workings of the NBA,  information management and has the requisite qualifications and trainings to fly the flag of the NBA as its image maker.

    Having been adopted by the Eastern Bar Forum (EBF) and LIM, the stage is set for him to coast home in the contest.

    Unachukwu was born in Jos and enjoys tremendous friendship and support from the north,. He lives and practices his trade in Lagos where he enjoys a lot of goodwill and friendship.

    Widely travelled, he has coverered  law conferences in Australia, Dubai, South Africa, the United States of America, among others.

    With his election as the Publicity Secretary of the NBA, the Bar will witness a turning point, and international best practices in the management of its image.

    Other constestants to the office of NBA publicity secretary are Gbolahan Gbadamosi and Kunle Edun.

  • LP candidate denies defecting to PDP

    LP candidate denies defecting to PDP

    The Labour Party (LP) standard-bearer in Osun State governorship election, Alhaji Fatai Akinbade, has debunked the rumours that he was planning to defect to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Akinbade was the Secretary to the state government under the Olagunsoye Oyinlola’s administration and also chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    His media consultant, Mr. Kayode Oladeji, in a statement, also dispelled the speculation that he had been disqualified from participating in the governorship election.

    He assured that he would not only contest, but would win the poll.

    Akinbade linked the rumours to his co-contestants, whom he claimed were threatened by his enviable and closeness to the grassroots.

    According to him, he was no longer a member of the PDP and would not go back to the party, adding that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has already cleared him to contest the election.

    He said: “My opponents are threatened by my track records and acceptability among the people, especially the grassroots. They know that at the coming polls, I will beat them silly and that is why they are cooking all kinds of stories against me.”

  • ‘First Lady won’t impose candidate on Abia’

    ‘First Lady won’t impose candidate on Abia’

    The chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Abia State chapter, Senator Emma Nwaka has described the story making the rounds that the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan wants to impose the next governor in the state as false.

    Nwaka said as the state chairman of the party, such a case has never been brought to his table.

    He pointed out that when the time for the next governor of the state is due, such a person must come through the party’s primaries and nothing less.

    He spoke with our correspondent in Umuahia.

    Nwaka said the PDP, at all levels, is a political party that believes in internal democracy, since it has a system of choosing those who will fly its flag in any elective position.

    Nwaka further said President Jonathan and his wife Dame Patience are democrats and have always been firm believers in fair and credible election based on ‘one man one vote’ which has been entrenched in the party’s political system.”

    He said: “Even when the PDP loses an election through a court pronouncement in any part of the country, President Jonathan is always the first person to congratulate the winner without minding which political party the winner comes from. Is that not how a true democrat operates?” he asked.

    Senator Nwaka also said since he became the party’s chairman, the state governor, Chief Theodore Orji and his wife Mercy have never interfered in the running of the party.

    “I wonder how any right-thinking person would say that the wife of the President wants to impose a candidate on the state,” he said.

    Nwaka further explained that he has been an advocate of level-playing ground for all those who want to contest any elective post, adding that the only way to do this is to stand on the path of truth and nothing else.

    He said: “If I as chairman of the party in the state and the governor and his wife do not interfere in who gets what in our party, I wonder how the wife of the President wants to impose a governorship candidate on the party and the state.”

    The Abia PDP chief described the story as funny which is aimed at distracting the party, stressing that the wife of the President has never interfered in the running of the party in the state or in any state of the federation.

    Nwaka said the process of selecting who gets any elective position in the country is made clear by the constitution and any candidate who is to be sponsored will be done by the party after going through screening.

    Reacting, a PDP stakeholder in Item Ward “C” and the state Commissioner for Special Services, Legal and Due Process, James Kwubiri Okpara, said the issue of who becomes the next governor of Abia State will be determined by the people of the state, the party and the incumbent governor.

  • PPA candidate unfolds manifestos

    PPA candidate unfolds manifestos

    Anambra State Peoples Progressive Alliance (PPA) governorship candidate Mr. Godwin Ezeemohas promised to transform the state, if elected as governor on November 16.

    He said job creation, promotion of education, social welfare and industrialisation will be his priority.

    Ezeemo, who defected from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the PPA, said that he will also focus on security by preventing kidnapping of people. The governorship candidate described insecurity as a threat to peaceful living, adding that business can also not thrive without a conducive environment.

    Ezeemo visited the Onitsha Market, which was razed by fire. He sympathised with the trader and promised to give them succour.

    The politician lamented that the issues germane to safety and security at the market may have been ignored by the government.

    He said the industrial concerns that create jobs and means of livelihood for the youths will be given top priority by his administration.

    Ezeemo promised to look into the conditions of the market, assuring that a better accommodation would be provided for the traders, if elected as the governor.

  • 10,000 candidates write varsity entrance test

    No fewer than 10,000 candidates were at the Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUS) to participate in the 2013/2014 admission screening. The exercise lasted for three days.

    CAMPUSLIFE learned that most of the candidates were stranded as they could not afford the high cost of hotel accommodation. They were seen at the Jubril Aminu Hall of the university and the Nana Asmau Hostel trying to lobby their way into the rooms. Most of the rooms were under lock and key as most of the occupants were not around, following the ongoing ASUU strike.

    One of the candidates, Hauwa Adedokun, who came from Akure in Ondo State, said: “It is tough getting a place here. I have been hanging around since I arrived and I am yet to get someone to accommodate me. So, I have resorted to sleeping in the mosque.”

    Most of the students who were unable to find shelter in the hostel were seen, sleeping in open classes. On the first day of the exercise, the university security officials were on hand to maintain order and regulate traffic.

    Some of the candidates, who spoke to CAMPUSLIFE expressed mixed feelings. Shalangua Saidu, a candidate from Bauchi said: “Everything here is tough. I have been at the mercy of mosquitoes. I have not taken my bath since. I just hope I scale through the screening hurdle so that I will forget all these difficult tales.”

    But for a candidate of Law, Maryam Udoke from Nasarawa State, “it has been an adventure for me. I am enjoying every bit of it. Though, the mosquitoes here are wicked. Still, I enjoyed everything and I can’t wait to be an undergraduate in this university.’’