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Tag: Chief John Odigie-Oyegun

  • APC will not protect corrupt politicians – Oyegun

    APC will not protect corrupt politicians – Oyegun

    The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie Oyegun said Thursday that the party will not offer anybody accused of corruption any form of protection from prosecution as being insinuated by Nigerians.

    Speaking when he received Senator Florence Ita Giwa at the National Secretariat, Chief Oyegun said even though he was not aware of any case of corruption against her, it is important to stressed that insinuation that those joining the party from the PDP are seeking protection from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission were not true.

    He said: I know that those who don’t wish us often tend to misinterpret some of this happening as running away thinking that they would have protection from the EFCC.

    “Of course, I am not aware in your case that anybody is harassing you with the EFCC. In any case, it is obvious and played out today that we do not offer sanctuary to anybody running from the arms of the law. The evidence is all over the place”

    He said further that he has “been severally criticised for saying that the change we stand for is something that cannot be accomplished and completed in the life of our present four year tenure. It will not be completed even in eight years.

    “The task is enormous, challenging and worth fighting for. We stand on the threshold of history. God put this nation called Nigeria for a purpose and he does not make mistake. We have a manifest destiny.

    “We thank you for volunteering to join us to work. This is not a food is ready party that has become very clear. I thank Mama Bakassi for doing so much for your people. I want to assure the two of you that you won’t suffer any loss of status or recognition and you will occupy your proper place.”

    While welcoming her and her supporters to the party, he said “We welcome you to the headquarters of the APC headquarters. It is an honour that has been bestowed on only very few persons. One thing made your presence significant here. Traditionally, the South-south has been the heart of the unity and oneness of this nation, whether during the civil war or post-civil war.

    “Of course, our party does not have the presence it ought to have in the South-south. So when people of your calibre join us for the struggle, we from the South-south are particularly glad and happy.

    “We are in difficult and troubling times. President Buhari is trying strenuously to rebuild the shattered economy, to diversify our economic potential which up till now most unfortunately rested solely and unintelligently on crude oil. The result of the collapsed economy in addition to the collapse in the crude oil market has disrupted our economy, which has manifested in the individual deprivations of Nigerians all over the country.

    “In spite of the obvious difficulties that the nation is passing through, people like you voluntarily wanted to assist in this responsibility of helping in nation building.”

    In her remarks, Senator Florence Ita Giwa said she was forced out of the PDP of the impunity done to her by the party, saying “coming to the party is like a home coming, and I am identifying with the people I have known before. I feel very comfortable identifying with the caliber of people in the APC.

    “I will like to correct the erroneous notion that I decamped or they call it defection because there is no party to defect from. I personally stopped attending meetings in the last two years because of the impunity done on me.

    “It is on record that at 2015, I had went to the presidential candidate to say that I  was leaving the party, so I was potentially one of the politicians that were forcefully driven out of the party.

    “Again, with all sense of modesty, as a politician, you have to be good to your people for them to love you on whatever party you come from and till today, the love of my people are still electrifying today as when I started politics 25 years ago and I fill I should no longer waste my time. That is why I kept away because there are two groups running around and some of us are too serious to show our face in that kind of place.”

     

  • APC determined to win Anambra guber election – Oyegun

    APC determined to win Anambra guber election – Oyegun

    National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun said Thursday that winning the forth coming Anambra governorship election was a test case for the APC led government’s bid to mainstream the south east in the power equation of the country.

    Speaking when he received APC South East Zonal Committee for the Anambra 2017 Governorship election at the National Secretariat in Abuja, Chief Oyegun said the APC was determined to win the election.

    Odigie-Oyegun: “It is clear that the quality of the committee underscores the importance in which the Party hold the Anambra governorship election and the importance in which we hold return of the South East to the mainstream of Nigerian politics.

    “At national level, it is a matter of prime concern. We are very keen to return the nation to the balance it used to have, a balanced federation. And it is most important for that purpose that the South South and South East must participate.

    “We must try to achieve a semblance of equality and full participation by all geopolitical groups in the power equation of this country. We are joining you in making Anambra a test case.

    Fortunately, we have had quite a number of good opinion leaders joining the movement and we now have the critical mass with which to project this great effort. We are fully with you in this effort. Certainly, by next month the Party leadership will set up a national campaign committee for Anambra state. We are determined to work, not to manipulate to win the forthcoming Anambra governorship election.”

    Also Speaking, the Committee Chairman, Dr. Jim Nwobodo said the Anambra governorship election is important for APC as a national Party, adding that everything legally possible must be done to win the State.

    Nwobodo said: “Anambra is an important State in the South East, economically and politically.  It is a State where very prominent and wealthy Igbos come from, some of whom are aspiring to contest for the forthcoming Governorship election. There may be attempts to influence the primaries with money and buy nomination.

    “But this Committee has resolved that the most popular choice of the people of Anambra State will emerge, irrespective of how deep his pocket may be, through a transparent primary. This is because imposing an unpopular candidate is a recipe for failure and bad governance.

    “Beyond the primaries, APC government should do something to convince the people of Anambra State and indeed the South East, to vote for an APC governorship candidate and that they are still part of the government of the day.”

    The Committee which was presented by APC National Vice Chairman (South East), Hon. Emma Eneukwu is chaired by former governor of old Anambra state, Dr. Jim Nwobodo.

    Former Abia state governor, Dr. Uzor Kalu is Vice Chairman. Other members of the Committee are Sen. Emma Azu Agboti (Secretary) Sen. Ifeanyi Ararume, Sen. Nkechi Nwogu, Chief Cosmas Maduba and Chief Gbazuagu Gbazuagu.

     

     

  • Ebonyi APC Crisis: Court summons Oyegun, Buni

    Ebonyi APC Crisis: Court summons Oyegun, Buni

    The crisis rocking the Ebonyi state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has taken another dimension, as the National Chairman of the party and National Secretary, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun and Hon. Mai Mala Buni respectively have been summoned before Justice A. A Nwaigwe’s High Court sitting in Abakaliki.

    The two leaders of the party are to appear in person to answer questions why they should not be committed to prison for disobeying an order of interlocutory injunction restraining them, their agents and privies from conducting any new congress aimed at electing new executives of the party in Ebonyi state.

    The Nation gathered that the crisis exacerbated when the national chairman was said to have transmitted a letter to the state deputy chairman, Eze Nwachukwu as the state Acting chairman of the party.

    While Nwachukwu claimed that Nwobasi was suspended, the state chairman of the party on his part insisted that he still remained the authentic chairman of the party, describing his deputy as an “impostor”.

    Justice Nwaigwe had on November 6, 2014 restrained the respondent from appointing caretaker committee in place of the executives elected during the ward, Local government and state congresses conducted in the state on November 11, 16 and 29 respectively pending the determination of the substantive suit.

    The counsel to the applicants, Godwin Onwusi noted that the APC National chairman and National Secretary had earlier been served Form 48 which is the notice of consequence of disobedience to court order that may commit the duo to prison if found guilty.

    Onwusi while briefing journalists in Abakaliki noted that he applied to the Court for Order of committal to prison (Form 49) for the respondents to appear before the court and explain why they should not be committed for prison for contempt.

    In the Form 49, he said “Take Notice that pursuant to section 72; order 1X, Rule 13(1) and (2) of the Sheriffs and Civil Processes ACT, CAP S6 LFN updated to 2010 and Order 42 Rule 9 (3)(C) of the Rules of this Honourable Court, the Counsel, on behalf of the applicants, will on the 4th day of May 2017 at the hour of 9 O’clock in the forenoon or soon thereafter, as the business of the court will permit, apply to this Court for an Order of committal to prison of the 1st Respondent/contemnor and the party sought to be committed as agent/privy of the 2nd respondent/contemnor for having disobeyed the order of this court made on the 6th day of November, 2014”.

    “That while the substantive suit was and is still pending in Court, the party sought to be committed as agents/privy signed and issued a letter dated 23rd February, 2017 to one Pastor Nwachukwu Eze appointing him the Acting Chairman of the APC, Ebonyi state, notwithstanding that the order restrained both the respondents and their agents/privies from doing so,” Onwusi maintained.

     

  • Obaseki grateful for Tribunal victory

    Obaseki grateful for Tribunal victory

    Governor Godwin Nogheghase Obaseki of Edo State has expressed gratitude to the people of his state for his recent victory over the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu at the Edo Election Petition Tribunal, which sat at the Edo State High Court in Benin City, the State capital.

    While the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared Godwin Obaseki the winner of the September 28, 2016 gubernatorial elections in Edo State, the PDP and Ize-Iyamu had written a petition challenging the result of the election and praying to be declared winner.

    The Tribunal, which sat to heart the petition however concluded proceedings on Friday, upholding the declaration of Governor Obaseki as winner of the elections.

    In a statement from the office of the governor, Obaseki said: “This victory at the tribunal  would have been impossible without the support of the multitude of well-wishers, soldiers and champions of democracy, who stood firmly with me and the good people of our state as we fought in defence of a mandate freely given, which we consider to be divine”.

    In addition, the governor appreciated President Muhammadu Buhari for what he described as “his fatherly counsel and unwavering commitment to democracy and good governance” and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo for “his wisdom, encouragement, and relentless support”.

    Continuing, Governor Obaseki also praised Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, National Chairman of APC for remaining a strong pillar and the judiciary for being an impartial arbiter and helping to defend democracy.

    Meanwhile, he acknowledged the impact of the media, saluting them for stirring rigorous debate, even as he lauded the support of the party faithful and the security forces who helped to maintain law and order.

    Also on the governor’s list of appreciation was his predecessor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, who he said helped to liberate the state from the home of political irresponsibility, praying that history would be kind to the former governor.

    He, however, urged opposition parties to join him in building a progressive and prosperous state, noting that although their opposition helped his administration stay focused, he would refrain from gloating in victory and that the season of contestation was over.

    He said: “To all my dear citizens of Edo State at home and abroad, let me state again that our victory at the tribunal is a challenge to work hard on our promise to move Edo forward. Finally, all appreciation and honour goes to God Almighty for being our guide and guard. May His blessings be upon us all”.

     

  • We obeyed party’s directive to remove Ndume – APC senators

    We obeyed party’s directive to remove Ndume – APC senators

    A caucus of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Senators on Wednesday told the National Chairman of APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun that they obeyed the directives from the Party to replace Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume as Senate leader.
    This was disclosed at the National Working Committee (NWC) led by Chief Oyegun while Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, led APC Senators to the closed door meeting.
     
    A source who attended the meeting told The Nation that “the meeting was not as smooth as Chief Oyegun painted it.”
     
    Oyegun had sued for a ceasefire in what he referred to as “the kind of abuse being used on one institution of government or the other.”
     
    He also told reporters that the meeting was “robust and addressed salient issues” affecting the smooth working relationship between the Senate and the executive arm of government.
     
    Findings showed that the Senate caucus blamed the party leadership for the frosty relationship between it and the Presidency.
     
    It was learnt that the caucus pointedly accused the party leadership of “double-standard” in its dealing with the relationship between the two arms of government.
     
    It was also gathered that the removal of Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume as the Senate Leader and his subsequent suspension featured prominently at the meeting.
     
    The APC caucus, it was learnt, told Oyegun that he was in a position to defend the removal of Ndume since the caucus merely obeyed party directive to effect leadership change.
     
    The source noted that it was the position of the caucus that “instead of defending the removal of Ndume and replacing him with Senator Ahmed Lawan as directed by the party, what the Caucus has been receiving are unwarranted attacks and attempts to run down the institution of the Senate.”
     
    APC Senators loyal to Saraki, it was learnt, used the opportunity of the meeting to poor out their indignation and frustration against Oyegun.
     
    On the suspension of Ndume, the source said that there may be “no going back” on Ndume’s suspension going by the body language of the majority of the caucus members.
  • Minister calls for improved surveillance on nation’s highways

    Minister calls for improved surveillance on nation’s highways

    National Chairman, All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, on Tuesday in Abuja, called for improved surveillance by relevant agencies on highways to stem rate of accidents.

    He made the call in a condolence letter to Gov. Yahaya Bello of Kogi on the death of Dr Onukaba Adinoyi-Ojo, on behalf of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC).

    The chairman said that the circumstances that led to Adinoyi-Ojo’s death were a painful reminder of the need for improved policing of the nation’s highways. 

    He said that such policies were necessary to rid the roads of insecurity and incidents that had led to avoidable human casualties and loss of properties on the nation’s highways.

    Odigie-Oyegun said that the party’s leadership received the news of the tragic death of Adinoyi-Ojo with grief.

    He condoled with the Government and people of Kogi and the immediate family of Adinoyi-Ojo, adding that he was a veteran journalist and a frontline member of the APC.

    “The death of Adinoyi-Ojo who was a governorship aspirant in the APC’s last Kogi primary election has left us with a great void and deep feeling of grief.

    “He was a versatile, brilliant and celebrated member of the media intelligentsia, literary community and academia who made indelible marks in the various fields locally and internationally.

    “Nigeria and indeed the international community has lost an illustrious son,’’ he said.

    He added that in the course of the deceased’s professional, national and international service, he brought great honour and pride to Nigeria.

    The chairman added that Adinoyi-Ojo had a meritorious and unblemished record of service in the media, saying that his articles, biographies and other literary works remained a collector’s item and reference point.

    “Prayers and fond memories are what we have to remember our dearly departed, please accept my sincere condolences,’’ he stated.

    He prayed God Almighty to give the late Adinoyi-Ojo eternal rest, and his family, particularly his three children, the fortitude to bear the pain.

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  • Oyegun thanks Ondo people for voting APC

    The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun has congratulated the Party’s Ondo State governorship election Candidate and running mate, Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN and Hon. Agboola Ajayi respectively on their landslide election victory.

     In a message issued on Sunday on behalf of the APC National Working Committee (NWC), Odigie-Oyegun while thanking the Ondo electorate for voting for the Party also expressed gratitude to the good people of Ondo State for their impressive turnout and peaceful conduct during the election exercise.

    The APC National Chairman equally thanked President Muhammadu Buhari and other party leaders for their invaluable support towards winning the Ondo state governorship election. He called for calm and appealed to the opposition parties and their candidates to accept defeat in good faith.

     Odigie-Oyegun: “The APC thanks the Ondo electorate for voting for the Party in the keenly-contested election. The Ondo electorate have voted for the candidate with a proven track record of performance and who will bring about the kind focused leadership and multi-faceted development which the state deserves. The Party assures that we will deliver on this expectation.

     “Also, the outcome of the Ondo state governorship election powerfully demonstrates the confidence and trust by our people in the overall leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari’s APC-led administration. The Party and the President hold sacred this trust.

    “With the 2016 Ondo State governorship gone, the task before the Party leadership is uniting the Party and healing wounds.”

  • Ondo: Abraham, Oke, Boroffice insist on fresh primaries

    Ondo: Abraham, Oke, Boroffice insist on fresh primaries

    ‎Three aggrieved leading governorship aspirants of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State yesterday rejected the decision of the party National Working Committee (NWC) to uphold the primary result, which favoured Mr. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN).

    The trio, Senator Ajayi Boroffice, Olusola Oke and Segun Abraham at a press conference held in Akure, the state capital, expressed shock over the action of the National Chairman of the party, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun.

    At the event, which was also attended by their teeming supporters, Abraham was avoidably absent but sent his apology.

    Speaking on behalf of other aspirants, Boroffice particularly described the decision of the  Oyegun to uphold the result, despite the majority of the committee members kicked against it as very undemocratic.

    He said they were consulting and would soon make public the next line of action on their political careers.

    Boroffice said: “as enumerated in our petitions, which we submitted to the Appeal committee that was duly constituted by the NEC with the approval of the NWC of APC and as contained in the primary election guidelines of APC, the followining are the planks upon which our appeals are based:
    “Fraudulent injection of 383 names into the delegates list that was used to conduct the primary election.

    “Issuance of delegate tag to non-delegates and allowing the non-delegates to vote in the primary election.

    “On investigation, 300 delegates tags were indiscriminately issued to non-delegates, two designated buses were provided to convey known non-delegates to the voting centre and voted to give undue advantage to one of the aspirants. “These among others, were discovered after the charade called credible election.

    “It is important to bring into the public domain that on September 2, a new copy of the compromised delegates list was made available to all the aspirants by the election committee of APC around 10.30pm.

    “On the receipt of the purported new delegate list, we all made a written protest letter, including Akeredolu transmitted our letters to the primary election committee chairman informing him of our rejection of the substituted delegates list.

    “As democrats, having discovered the fraud in the process, we submitted ourselves to the process of redress as stipulated in the primary election guidelines of APC, believing that we are safe in the hands of supposed democrats.

    “The Appeal Committee, within the mandate of their authority, having regards to the preponderance of evidence laid before it recommended that the election be nullified and another election be conducted.

    “In line with the electoral guideline of APC, the report of the Appeal Committee was submitted the NWC for final ratification.

    “Considering our strength in the APC and a total votes of 1,617 in the primary election, as the Apex authority in the administration of APC in Nigeria, we have always assumed sanity and reasonableness on the part of the members of the NWC. “We hope the members of the committee will uphold justice and exorcised corruption from the process.

    “On September 22, the NWC considered the report of the Appeal committee and puts its decision on the recommendations of the Appeal committee to vote. The majority of the members of the NWC voted that recommendations of the Appeal committee be upheld.

    “To our dismay and in a manner at variance with democratic norms, the national chairman overruled the majority of the NWC. He rejected the path of truth and upheld the primary election that its process was chacterised with corruption.

    “We are determined to liberate our people and no undemocratic decision of a party and its leadership will be allowed to misdirect our attention from the goal.

    “Therefore, we hereby condemned in absolute terms the undemocratic decision of the NWC. Since the party and the official leaders of the party have found pleasure in covering fraud, we owe the people of ondo state a sacred duty of liberation”.

    On his part, Oke said he is still consulting and he would soon make his next line of action known.

    He noted that “Whatever you might have since on the social media that I am moving to Action Alliance (AA), APGA, is the desire of my supporters.

    “As at today, I have not moved from APC and if I want to move I will inform you people about my next line of action.

  • Melaye: Women protesters storm National Assembly

    Protest over the unwarranted attack on the person of Senator Oluremi Tinubu (Lagos Central) shifted to Abuja on Wednesday.
    Women numbering over 100 stormed the National Assembly to protest against uncomplimentary and indecent utterances of Senator Dino Melaye against Senator Tinubu (Lagos Central).
    Melaye attacked Senator Tinubu during a closed door session on Tuesday July 12, 2016 using indecent words against the Lagos Central lawmaker.
    The Kogi West senator was said to have threatened to beat up Senator Tinubu during the session.
    The protesters wore T-shirts with inscriptions such as “No to impunity for gender based violence.”
    The protester were heard chanting, “Stop violence against women”
    They also carried placards that reads: “Support gender equality opportunity bill”, “A Senator is a Senator, women are not threat object”, Senate Leadership silence in the face of violence against women is conspiracy”, “Say no to impunity.”
    Leader of the protesters Mrs. Kemi Nelson, in her address noted that “enough is enough.”
    She asked the Senate to immediately take a disciplinary action against Melaye in the interest of justice.
    She said, “This is impunity and it has to be stopped, we must be accorded our right.”
    Senator Tinubu had already petitioned Acting Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, Senate President, Bukola Saraki and the National Chairman of the APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun alleging threat to her life.
  • Atiku, Oyegun in closed door meeting

    Atiku, Oyegun in closed door meeting

    Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar Monday held a closed door meeting with the nation, leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) led by the National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun.

    Atiku who arrived the APC secretariat unannounced at about 12.50 was in company of Adamawa state governor, Muhammad Bindow Jibrila, walked straight to the office of the national chairman where they met for about 20 minutes before other national officers were called into the meeting.

    He however failed to speak with the press on his visit as he was shielded from the media by two NWC members despite signed that he wanted to do so.

    The agenda of the meeting was however not clear, but may not be unconnected with the state of the party that has been finding it difficult to pay its bills as well as the running of the party.

    The former Vice President has largely stayed away from the party secretariat since the APC came into power.