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Tag: Comrade Adams Oshiomhole

  • Group purchase nomination form for Buhari

    …Says President not a millionaire

     

     

    A group of Nigerians under the auspices of Nigeria Consolidation Ambassadors Network on Wednesday stormed the APC National Secretariat with a dummy check of N45 million to purchase nomination for and expression of interest form for President Muhammadu Buhari to contest the presidential nomination of the party.

    Also an Enugu based business man who identified himself as Chief David Ibe presented a check of N5 million to the APC national Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole for the expression of interest form for the President.

    It was however a busy day at the APC secretariat as interested aspirants who have been waiting for the release of the timetable besieged the place to purchase the nomination and expression of interest form.

    Read Also:Buhari not sympathetic to killer herdsmen, says Presidency

    Former Zamfara state Governor, Mamuda Shinkafi and former FCT Minister, Akpan Udoedehe, were some of the early callers at the secretariat to buy form to contest for the governorship of their state.

    Speaking while presenting the dummy check to the APC Chairman, National Coordinator of the Group, Sunusi Musa said the group which was formed in 2017 to propagate the second term bid of the President decided to pull resources together to purchase the nomination form for the President.

    He said they were aware that the President was not a millionaire, but has millions of supporters across the countries who are angling for him to continue in office.

    He said “We believe in the leadership of President Buhari; we can count on him to consolidate the good work he has started for another four more years.

    It is for this reason Mr. Chairman we have decided to “pull our meagre resources together and purchase the expression of interest and nomination form for President Buhari as he present himself to our party members to be chosen as its candidate for the 2019 general election.

    “Our members from the various villages, local governments and states have contributed to making this happen. We know President Buhari is not a multi-millionaire cash wise, but he has millions of supporters who are always ready to come together to pay for his nomination form.”

    He said further that “Members of our great party across the country are in unison on the applause you deserve for the work you have started towards redemption of the party. Your leadership has brought the stability the revolution of ideas and the team spirit of change that is needed in this journey of making Nigeria great.

    “We are members of the National Consolidation Ambassadors Network (NCAN) here present are representatives of our members from the different states and zones of the country. Our resolve since our formation over a year ago is primarily to ensure that President Buhari sought for another term as well ensure that the President emerge victorious in the 20 l9 elections.

    “Our reason for embarking on this project is based on the recognition of the fact that the President has started laying a foundation for a better Nigeria and there is need to consolidate on the gains so far made. It is for this reason, that we are pride ourselves as Network of Consolidation Ambassadors.

    “From September 2017 till April 2018, NCAN was in the forefront calling on President Buhari to seek re-election in order to consolidate on the good work that he has been doing by building on the foundation he has laid for a prosperous Nigeria.

    “As God will have it, Mr. President acceded to the call of voice of reasoning and declared his intention to seek re-election in 2019.

    “We have no doubt that Mr. President has both action and word being working and laying a foundation for greater and prosperous nation that our generation and future generation will be proud of. Under his administration Nigeria has become a country sought after for investments in the world; Nigeria has assumed its leadership role in not just Africa but the world.

    “Nigeria‘s moribund infrastructure is being revived. There is no state In Nigeria that does not have several Federal Government infrastructure project either completed or being, executed under President Buhari.

    “We have a stable and steadily growing economy that is departing from the monotonic oil dependence: Agriculture is now an attractive venture as farmers are becoming multi-millionaires Nigeria is now an exporter of Agricultural products as oppose to what it was three years ago.

    “For the first time since the return of democracy, Nigerians have a President who can beat his chest and state that he has never stolen from the purse of government.

    “We have a President who is not having meetings at night to strike shady personal deals but rather is ensuring that every agreement entered into by Nigeria is in the interest of the country and for its generations unborn.

    “This has indeed boosted the confidence of investors hence the increase in flow of Direct Foreign Investment into the country. Looted funds are being recovered and ploughed back to developing our country’s deficit infrastructure.

    “Almost a million farmers under the Anchor Borrowers Programme are benefiting from low interest loans that they accessed without “chua chua”. 500 000 previously unemployed graduates me now employed under the NPower Scheme; 400,000 extremely poor families are receiviiig_5,000 Naira monthly and that is changing, their lives. Over 8 million children are being fed daily in our public schools across the country.

    “Today, and for the first time in our history, we have a government that is honest and sincere in investing in the lives of the poor, the masses and the underprivileged.

    “Before President Buhari came on board, 14 local governments of this country were under the control of the terrorist group Boko Haram. That is no longer the case anymore. In the North Eastern part of this country which was hitherto a theatre of war, farmers are returning to their farms. Businesses are reopening and roads closed for over three years have been reopened. Live is returning back to normal.

    “The Niger Delta agitators, whom were forced to become militants due to deliberate neglect of the people of Niger Delta by successive regimes, have seen reason to give peace a chance due to sincere effort being made to develop the region.

    “No doubt Change indeed is being delivered as promised. We cannot afford to go back to Egypt. We cannot afford to destroy the future of our children. The foundation laid by President Muhammadu Buhari must be reinforced.”

     

  • Edo r-APC members join PDP

    Members of the reformed All Progressives Congress (r-APC) in Edo State have defected to the People’s Democratic Party.

    Many of the Edo r-APC defectors were supporters of Kwankwassyia movement in the state.

    They adorned the famous red cap of the movement as they marched through the streets of Bénin City to the state secretariat of the PDP.

    The defectors were former members of the PDP who joined the now defunct ruling ACN in 2012 during the administration of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole.

    They described their return as home coming.

    Read Also:Abductors of Edo APC chieftain demand N20m ransom

    Chief Osamede Adun, the Aiyobahan of Bénin Kingdom, who led the defectors, said he has remained with the PDP in soul even though he was a member of the APC.

    Adun said he was first forced to leave the PDP because the threat to his business interest by the state government.

    He however said he was not worried if more taxes were imposed on him because he and his supporters are determined to rout out the APC.

    Chief Adun promised that his supporters would not contest any position in the forth coming elections but that they hoped their demands would be met when it’s time for sharing after electoral victory.

    State Chairman of the PDP, Chief Dan Orbih, who gave the party’s membership cards to the defectors, said the Edo APC led by Godwin Obaseki is now experiencing ‘political Ebola.’

    Chief Orbih condemned what he termed frequent overseas trip by Governor Obaseki saying the solutions to the state problems were not in abroad.

    Orbih urged Governor Obaseki to remain at home instead of traveling to different parts of the world to find solutions to problems in the state.

    He said the defections were a sign that the Edo APC is weak and has failed to deliver on electoral promises.

    He accused Governor Obaseki of abandoning Edo people and bringing people that are unknown to Edo politics to dominate affairs of the state.

    Special Adviser to Governor Obaseki on Media and Communication Strategy, Mr. Crusoe Osagie, could not be reached for comments.

     

  • Saraki’s ambition almost destroyed APC — Oshiomhole

    National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, has said that he has been vindicated on his comments that Senate President Bukola Saraki left the party because of his personal ambition and not because he had the interest of the nation at heart.

    He said that Saraki’s personal ambition almost destroyed the APC, adding that it is a good thing that the Senate President has moved on.

    Oshiomhole, in a meeting with APC leaders from Kwara State, said the declaration of the Senate President’s decision to contest the presidential ticket on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) had vindicated him, charging APC members in the state to jettison their personal ambitions and work towards ending the reign of Saraki in Kwara politics.

    The Chief Press Secretary to Oshiomhole, Simon Ebegbulem, quoted the APC Chairman as saying, “When I was saying that all these defections is not about APC but the personal ambition of these people, they took hired writers to say I was being too hard. But Saraki’s declaration has vindicated me.

    “Thank God he has moved on, because his inordinate ambition was almost destroying our party, but he has failed.

    “These are not principled politicians but bread-and-butter politicians who can go the extra mile to pursue their selfish ambitions and never think about the well-being of Nigerians.

    “As things stands today, APC remains the darling of the Nigerian people because PDP is the vomit of yesterday and our people will not chew it back today; not under three and half years. People have not forgotten and people will never forget.

    “In fact, a senior palace chief in Nigeria said this generation of Nigerians will not forgive the PDP in a hurry. Even to say you want to forgive, you must do reparation.

    “The damage they did to our economy, the damage they did to our electoral process, even the culture of rigging was institutionalised by them. They introduced do or die politics.

    “They are the ones buying weapons for young people to go into thuggery while their own children are schooling abroad. They introduced all these vices.”

    He said that reclaiming Kwara state from the grip of Saraki is a task that must be done, and asked APC leaders to ensure they conclude the election of executives from the wards to the state this weekend.

    He said: “The last time I spoke with the Minister, he told me we have accomplished 80 or 85 per cent. That, for me, is not good enough, because we don’t have more time. So this week, we must achieve 100 per cent by whatever means. If you can’t do it, we have to help you get it done.

    “The two Deputy National chairmen working with the National Organising Secretary and the North Central Vice Chairman constitute a committee to complete whatever is left. It will not exceed Sunday this week.

    “I also want to appeal very strongly that at this hour, we don’t want a situation where because of what is happening in Kwara, people who ordinarily will be quite happy to be a strong pillar of support, everybody wants to be a governor, everybody wants to be a senator or in the House of Reps.

    “Our party is a party of change and we want to discourage people from putting their personal interests over and above the interest of the people of Kwara State.

     

  • Oshiomhole: Saraki will be impeached legally

    National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole said on Friday that the party will work for the impeachment of Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki in accordance with the laws of the land and in accordance with democratic norms across the world and not by thuggery.

    Oshiomhole also said that the only thing the Senate President can do to avoid impeachment will be to take the honourable part and resign his position which he occupied by provision of being a member of the majority party in the senate, adding that there is no way a minority party can rule over majority in the senate.

    Addressing a news conference at the party headquarters in Abuja, the APC chairman said that since becoming the senate President, Senator Saraki has never done anything with the interest of the nation at heart, adding that every action of the Senate President has been dictated by his personal interest.

    Read Also:More pressure on Saraki to quit Senate presidency

    Oshiomhole vowed that apart from having Senator Saraki impeached as senate President, the party will work hard to ensure that he does not return to the senate during the 2019 general election, stressing that the people of Kwara State are fed up with his brand of politics which has not impacted positively on them.

    He accused Senator Saraki of betraying the party to clinch the senate Presidency by entering into an alliance with the opposition party and offering them the position of the deputy Senate President.

    While accusing the Senate President of putting personal interest above national interest, Oshiomhole said that attempt to use the invasion of the National Assembly on Tuesday to portray himself as the conscience of the nation is to insult our collective intelligence as a people.

    Oshiomhole said: “We decided to call for this press conference basically to respond to issues raised by the Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki during his press conference.

    “It is important that we respond to some of the issues he canvassed so that the public is not misled into turning villains into heroes and twisting the facts that are not hidden to the Nigerian public. It is important that we help the Nigerian public by refreshing their memories.

    “The senate President raised the issues of the fact that he has always acted not on t basis of his own personal interest, but that he has always acted on the basis of national interest. The truth is that it is doubtful if the senate president has ever acted either in the National, interest or in t interest of his own political party before his defection recently.

    “Without going back to ancient history, it is important to look at how Senator Bukola Saraki became the President of the Senate. He decided, clearly, against the party position to enter into a deal with the opposition PDP and got a faction of the PDP, taking advantage of the provisions of the provision while majority of the APC senators were holding a meeting at the International conference Centre to resolve the issue of leadership of the senate and other principal officers that are expected to be produced by the ruling party with majority senators.

    “By putting his personal interest over and above the interest of the party, he went into alliance with PDP and conceded the position of the position of deputy senate president to the opposition in other to obtain the support of the opposition for him to become the senate President.

    “So, for the first time in our democratic history in Nigeria, we had a situation whereby, whereas the APC had majority of senators, it went on to elect a PDP person as deputy senate President. This action alone portray Senator Saraki for who he is and that his personal interest come before an6 other interest, including the National, interest and that of his politics party.

    “Having went into this unholy alliance with the opposition and mortgage the rights of the ruling party, he appointed opposition senators to Head strategic committees whose activities can affect either for good or for bad, the working of government and the relationship between the government and the legislature by grading away those strategic and sensitive positions.

    “Senator Saraki did that in other to continue to protect himself against the wishes of his party as senate President. That showed that the only thing that was constant in his mind was to cling on to the position of senate president even if it is at the expense of his own party and the country.

    “Even the media has consistently draw attention to how senate Saraki is managing the senate to the extent that questions have been raised as to whose interest the senate was serving.

    “You do not have a partisan politician appreciate that in an election year, every democratic government around the world would do everything possible to ensure that it is seen to be working for the people of the country.

    “Like any other political party in government, Nigerians expected the APC government under President Buhari to do everything possible this year to make up for lost time in terms of budget implementation and addressing critical infrastructures without which sustainable development is impossible.

    “The senate under senator Saraki choose to delay the budget up to the end of the first half of the year and to coincide with the period of the rainy season such that those aspect of infrastructure such as roads cannot be constructed during the rainy season.

    “These were not errors of the Head under his leadership, but clearly designed to frustrate the capacity of the government to address critical infrastructural deficit without which the ordinary man cannot feel the impact of governance.

    “Again on receipt of the budget, the President cried out that it was a clear distortion from the well thought proposal that he submitted to them. He appreciated that while they can make alteration to the budget, he did not expect that it will be completely rewritten as to make far more provisions for recurrent expenditure with very little for capital projects. He said this budget will be difficult to implement.

    “So, when I said he has never put the interest of Nigeria first, I support this statement by reference to the deliberate delay of the budget and deliberate manipulation of the provisions in the budget in a way that will compromise the capacity of the government to address critical infrastructures.

    “It is no longer a secret that as senate President, he tried to conspire with others to create a semblance of division within the ruling party having failed to truncate the convention, when they assembled a handful of people who were neither delegates nor contest for any office at the convention to purport to have formed a political party.

    “There is nothing for me to add to the illegality of this action and the false foundation that Senator Saraki tried to leave than to adopt the well thought out presentation of Femi Falana.”

    He said the actions of the senate President and his utterances did not portray hi. As a man who have the interest of his people at heart, saying “Those things did not portray him as someone who is concerned about sustaining democracy because sustaining democracy also implies absolute commitment to the rule of law.

    “If the rule of law is compromised and Nigeria is reduced to banana republic when it will be survival of the fittest, he is probably not the strongest man in town to cling on to that office. So, each time he takes an action that constitute a breach of the constitution, he is, by his own action undermining the foundation and weakening the fabrics of our democracy.

    “However, upon his illegal defection, which he had to do hurriedly because the number of senators he was playing on their fears that they will not be able to return to the senate.

    He said further that Senator Saraki had planned to reduce the APC to a minority party in the party and compiled a list of 36 senators who were to sign their agreement to defect to the PDP, but was frustrated when some of the senators refused to sign.

    “At a point, he has on his list, about 36 Senators who were about to defect. But consequent upon our election, we took preemptive steps to reassure some of those senators.

    “The first meeting we held after our election was with Senator SARAKI to try and listen to his grievances and this I did in company of the Vice President and he acknowledged that those steps were taken when he was leaving, to listen to what I called negotiable and verifiable grievances.

    “But however, his real grievances are not negotiable which is about ambition, value and his fundamental values and the values of the APC. When he defected, he went to Ilorin to tell the people part of the truth that he was leaving for two reasons.

    “He alleged that Buhari gave out over 200 juicy appointments without allocating some to him and he chooses to speak for the Speaker of the House of Representatives that he was also not given. He lamented that he was not given a share of the so called 200 juicy positions.

    “My question is, giving SARAKI, the Senate President juicy position; does that coincide with the Nigerian project? Or the interest of the people of Kwara State of his Senatorial zone. At no time did he refer to the interest of the people of his constituency or the people of Nigeria.

    “The second reason he gave was that he was being persecuted. That is alleged persecution of his person and not his people. He never pretended that any of these actions had anything, to do with the people of Nigeria, but his person.

    “I think the governor of Kwara State was more explicit in collaborating his claim when he said that he as governor and Saraki as senate President were being link to armed robbery cases. Again, that has nothing to do with the Nigerian project or the Kwara people.

    “What is the truth? Who linked Senator Saraki to armed robbery? Was it the federal government t or arrested armed robbers? It is the armed robbers that alleged that the weapons with which they carried out the operation were procured for them by senate President. This is contained in the police report which is no longer a secret.

    “He has not denied knowledge of these people since some of them were captured in his entourage during his condolence visit. So. If armed robbers linked the name of the senate president, is the APC or the government to blame?

    “A crime that led to the killing of about 35 persons cannot be dismissed with a wave of hand and in any jurisdiction, when your name is linked to such heinous crime, people don’t clap for you. It is the duty of the security agents to investigate and establish whether they are valid or invalid.

    “So, if he was linked to armed robbery, which cannot be an offense of the government or the APC. The best defense I have heard is that the robbers said that he did not ask them to use the weapon for armed robbery.

    “In support of my thesis that Saraki has never acted in the national interest, my final submission is on the way he adjourned the senate. The senate calendar is not a secret to the presiding officer and the calendar that was known was that the senate was going to adjourn on a Thursday.

    “But by Monday night, SARAKI used his guest house, wrote out names of senators with provision for them to sign for senators to decamp from the APC to the PDP, but some of the senators refused to sign. That is what frustrated his calculations to turn the APC to a minority party in the senate. Is it a coincidence that as he was reading the names of defectors in the senate, his counter in the House was also doing same.

    “So, there was coordination for defection day. But happily, the preemptive measure we have taken to address genuine grievances frustrated their number such that from 36, he could not get more than 14 senators to decamp including one that subsequently overcame the manipulation.

    “Between Tuesday and Thursday, the senate was expected to discuss the supplementary budget for INEC. INEC requirement are not things that you buy from the shelf. You have to order them from the manufacturers and so, time is of the essence.

    “But the senate under SARAKI adjourned without considering the matters before it including the budget for INEC. So, if SARAKI adjourned the senate ahead of schedule to resume towards the end of nominations, can that act be said to coincide with national interest.

    “If you decide to frustrate INEC by denying it the funds that it requires, can you be said to be a defender of democracy? If INEC don’t get their funds and therefore are unable to conduct t credible election, will that not lead to further consequences for our democracy?

    “So, I submit that SARAKI, s action were calculated to undermine democracy. Those who fought for democracy y did not do it so that it can be runner at the mercies of a senate president whose interest is clearly at variance with national interest. There was a request for virement which was also not considered.

    “A substantial part of the 2018 budget meant for capital project was supposed to be sourced through loan and under the constitution; you cannot borrow from foreign countries without the express endorsement of the national, assembly. Without those loans, the budget cannot be implemented.

    “While this was pending, Senator SARAKI put his personal interest above his office and chooses to adjourn the senate, leaving these huge national issues unattended to. So, for an officer that behave like that, how he can argue that anything he did was not about himself.

    “Everything he did has never been informed by National interest. There are also allegations of lack of transparency and we have seen Nigerians trying to demystify what they earn. We have an arm that is completely unaccountable because of the way he has presided.

    “Therefore, his attempt to use the incident at the National Assembly on Tuesday to portray himself as the conscience of the nation is to insult our collective intelligence as a people.

    “There is the futile attempt he has made to suggest that the Tuesday’s incidence was an attempt to carry out an illegal impeachment. How can a presiding office arrive at such a conclusion that there was a plan to carry out an illegal impeachment.

    “Until an action takes place, you cannot determine the outcome, if impeachment itself is unlawful, then you can understand where he is coming from. It is lawful to impeach anyone, including the President the Senate and his deputy if the number required to do so is present.

    “So, he cannot preempt that. From their own statement, they claimed to be aware that the Senate Preside t was going to be illegally impeached and so mobilized thugs to the senate. They told the world that they have adjourned till 25th September.

    “But meanwhile, about 15 PDP Senators were in the Senate and imported things that molested two of our members they signed in the senate. D8s you find any APC senator in the senate? If APC senators were not in the senate and it was PDP Senators that were there, what is the basis of the false claim that there was an attempt to carry out an illegal impeachment.

    “In any case, SARAKI is not going to be the first senate president to be impeached and I doubt is he is going to be the last. But definitely, he will be impeached according to law and democratic norms. The only way he can avoid impeachment is for him to do what is honourable.

    “We saw Senator Akpabio who was the PDP leader in the senate. Once he made up his mind to leave the PDP, he wrote to inform the PDP even before his defection that he was resigning.

    “So, Senator SARAKI has demonstrated neither character nor being a man of honour. I told him when we held a meeting that he came to join the APC as a senator and it is on our platform that you became senate president. Once you made up your mind to leave, the honourable thing to do is to resign as senate president.

    “If he does not resign, he will be impeached according to law and not by thuggery or by mob or anything that undemocratic. He cannot sustain a minority rule in the senate and that is what is hunting him in the senate.

    “When I say that the senate president will be impeached, let me emphasis that he will be impeached properly according to law. The constitution is clear how a presiding officer can be impeached and because several impeachment has taken place, we are not about to witness what has not taken place before.

    “We have enough precedent to fall back on. I have looked at the constitution which does not say that an impeachment is illegal. It is done, you cannot arrive at the conclusion that it is unlawful. How can we be accused of planning an illegal impeachment when it has not commenced.

    “If he think that by saying that he will preempt the APC from having him impeached, he is deceiving himself. I think that the time of SARAKI is over, the way he has manipulated the politics of Kwara stat, he failed to understand that the Nigerian project is far mor complicated than being at the mercy of his own dynasty.

    “He will not only be impeached, we will work hard to have him defeated as a senator in his own Senatorial zone come 2019 by the people of Kwara stage who are fed up with Saraki. Go and check the results of the elections that made him a senator and you will find out that the President got more votes from Kwara Central that Saraki got for himself.

    “So, he can’t claim that the vote the APC got from his Senatorial zone was because of him. They were inspite of him and that is why his leaving is of no political consequences as far as electoral issues are concerned. We tried to talk to him, not out of fear, but out of conviction that as a presiding officer, there are rules of engagement and we don’t him to get so emotional as to affect those rules of engagements.”

  • I’ll go any length to restore peace in APC, Says Oshiomhole

    National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, Monday disclosed that he was ready to go any length and reach further understanding with aggrieved members of the party to restore peace within the APC.

    Oshiomhole revealed this during a book launch held in Abuja. The book written by Senator Bukar Abba Ibrahim is titled “Poorlitics: The Little Boy from Goniri and The Progressives’ Manifesto”.

    The former Edo State Governor stated that he was willing to ensure peaceful coexistence across the country and ready to promote fairness and justice within the party.

    The party chairman said if there are verifiable claims from those allegedly maltreated or denied justice, peace talks should be a collective efforts.

    His words: “I have been reading in our newspapers like Oshiomhole has been going round, not sleeping, talking to people who are politically aggrieved and so on and so forth. Whether it is allegation, accusation or acknowledgement, I am not too sure.

    Read Also:APC, PDP in war of words over Saraki, Dogara, others

    “We are offering juicy promises according to them and offering all kinds of inducements for people to remain where they are. I said well, if there is any Nigerian who, think I am a coward, I am not capable of fighting, he can ask from out former President, Olusegun Obasanjo with whom we had to wrestle in the village square in Abuja.

    “But the truth is it is better to invest every effort, go any length in the pursuant of peace and understanding. If there are genuine evidences that people have been unfairly treated, it fits into my background that you can’t decree peace; you can only work for peace and peace is a by-product of justice and fairness. So, for all of us, who are committed to peace, we must be seen beyond rhetoric to be committed to fairness and justice.”

    “Whenever we have evidence that anyone have been unfairly treated or denied justice, we have the collective duty to play our part and ensure that the cause of injustice and unfairness is addressed satisfactory so that the foundation for sustainable peace and harmony is laid, not only in our political live but even in our social and economic life.

    “Therefore, I am not ashamed and therefore affirm that I’ll continue as Nigerian who wants peace in Nigeria, as chairman of the governing party to ensure there is peace in my party and as human to ensure there is peace in the world,” Oshiomhole added.

    He applauded the Senator for taking time to publish the book, thus discouraging money politics in the country.

    However, he called the public to support President Muhammadu Buhari’s anti-corruption campaign to check money politics in the 2019 poll.

    According to him, peaceful election is possible in the country for the senator to have contested with low resources and still remain relevant in Yobe politics till date.

    He further canvassed for an extension of tenure for members of the national assembly but discouraged any effort that could promote similar motive in the executive arm of government.

    “It is my hope and prayer that with time, we will have more security of tenure for everyone, particularly in the legislative arm because they will need all the experiences. I can understand the logic of limiting the executive because we don’t want to be on our way to Zimbabwe or another Mugabe in Nigeria.

    “For legislation, I believe the argument for continuity is very valid and I hope that you will continue to be an example of what can be done differently…” he added.

    Personalities present at the event include Secretary to the President, represented by Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, Borno State Governor, Shetim Mustapha, former APC Chairman John Oyegun, traditional rulers among other top politicians and government office holders.

    Earlier, Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki encouraged politicians to adopt the model of the writer and his political principles.

    He said foremost nationalists such as Alhaji Aminu Kano, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe and Chief Obafemi Awolowo adopted the same method to have succeeded and became renowned leaders.

    “I have known Senator Bukar Abba Ibrahim for many years.  I first met him when I went with my father, Dr. Abubakar Olusola Saraki, to secure land for our bank in Yobe State.  Senator Ibrahim was the Governor then.  He generously provided land for our bank.

    “It is amazing that he has taken his time to develop the concept of Poorlitics, which is a system that allows people, even when they are from a humble background, to succeed in politics by offering practical, development-oriented, progressive political leadership.  This is exactly the same route to success taken by the founding fathers of Nigeria, like

    “It is this same system that forms the basis of the politics of Senator Bukar Abba Ibrahim and there is no doubt that he has recorded tremendous success. He has risen from being a very poor peasant boy in his village in Yobe State, to be elected three times as Governor of Yobe State and three times as Senator, with three successful wives. One became a Minister of the Federal Republic; another is a serving Permanent Secretary,” he added.

  • Oshiomhole vow to reposition APC

    …Orders “Fake Director” out of secretariat

     

     

    The new National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole on Tuesday told staff of the national secretariat of the party to brace up for the new realities in the party and be ready the changes that will occur in the party in time to come.

    While holding a meeting with the staff of the party, moments after taking over from his predecessor, Comrade Oshiomhole took his first decision, sacking a man that has been parading himself at the secretariat for the past four years as Director of Finance of the party.

    The Nation gathered that at the moment, the party has only two full-fledged Directors and has not employed any Director of Finance since its inception.

    The “fake Director of Finance” identified as Timothy Akojuru was said to have worked with the defunct All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP) as Director of Finance.

    Before going into a closed door meeting, Oshiomhole has publicly told the workers while taking over that he would improve their welfare and ensure that they were well enumerated, but must work hard to earn whatever they will be paid.

    Read Also:Plateau killing: PDP blames Buahri, APC

    A source who attended the meeting said that the former Labour leader hinted of a possible downsizing of those working in the secretariat as all the staff must have one function or the other to perform.

    The source said that Oshiomhole told the staff that a situation were drivers for example were more than the available vehicles within the secretariat will no longer be allowed, stressing that all those who have no business working in the secretariat will not be allowed to remain.

    The source said when the new chairman asked the “fake Director” what is responsibilities within the secretariat was, he simply said “I’m a director of finance.”

    The source said “Oshiomohle was surprised and quickly asked the Deputy National Chairman, Lawal Shuaibu and the National Secretary, Mai Mala Buni to confirm the statement, but none of them could defend him.

    “Instead, Sen. Shuaibu was said to have asked him where and how he got his appointment letter, but Akojuru could not provide a satisfactory answer. At this point, the new chairman asked him to leave the meeting or he invites police to arrest him”.

    Akojuru was said to have applied for the position of Director of Finance in the secretariat, but has not employed nether was a letter of appointment issued to him, but has remained in the secretariat, reporting for duty on a daily basis.

    The former Edo State Governor was also said to have informed the staff that the secretariat, even though a party secretariat will be administered like every other office, stressing that all staff must henceforth report for duty as early as 8.00am when other offices open for business as the current resumption time of between 9 and 10 am.

    While assuring staff of better welfare, Comrade Oshiomhole also directed the staff to stop loitering around the secretariat during working hours.

    At the time of this report, Oshiomhole was locked in a meeting with members of the National Working Committee and senior staff of the party, with a view to charting the way forward.

  • Oshiomhole fails to resume as new APC chairman

    The new National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole failed to resume at the national secretariat of the party on Monday as promised by him during his inauguration on Sunday evening.

    However, a few of the National Working Committee members elected alongside Oshiomhole reported to the secretariat briefly apparently to inspect their offices.

    One of those who reported to the national secretariat at about mid-day was the newly elected National Organising Secretary, Barrister Emma Ibediro who came to the secretariat with his supporters and went straight to the office of the Organising Secretary where they prayed before taking pictures in the office with the supporters.

    Ibediro who was sponsored for the position of National Organising Secretary by Imo state Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha defeated the former occupant of the office, Senator Osita Izunaso in a keenly contested battle that saw tempers rise during the convention.

    Read Also:Oshiomhole’s resumption shifted as staff waits anxiously

    The newly elected National Youth Leader, Abubakar Shuaib also reported to the secretariat and stayed briefly before leaving.

    The Nation gathered that the resumption of Comrade Oshiomhole was shifted at the request of the former National Chairman, Chief John Odigie Oyegun, who pleaded that he needed a little more time to tidy up his hand over notes.

    Comrade Oshiomhole had promised to resume at the national secretariat as early as 8.00am on Monday, but it was gathered that he may now resume on Tuesday.

    A source within the party told The Nation that “Oshiomhole is anxious to resume. But the hand over note is not ready yet. The former chairman pleaded that he be given till the end of today to finalise the hand over note. So, Oshiomhole will not be coming to the Secretariat today again. He will be here tomorrow when the hand over would be done”.

    When The Nation visited the APC national secretariat, staff were seen in high expectations awaiting the arrival of Comrade Oshiomhole, with many of them hanging around the secretariat in groups discussing the outcome of the convention.

    Those of them whose principals were not re-elected were seen clearing their desk in readiness for the arrival of the new occupants of the offices.

    Anxious journalists who reported to the secretariat in anticipation of Comrade Oshiomhole’s resumption left disappointed after waiting for several hours without any concrete information as to when the new national chairman was reporting to the secretariat.
    Campaign posters that littered the Secretariat before the election has disappeared, while congratulatory banners have taken over.

    It was however gathered that Comrade Oshiomhole held a closed door meeting with some APC governors at his residence in readiness for the task ahead.

    Comrade Oshiomhole was elected unopposed as the new national chairman of the APC at its national convention at the Eagle Square in Abuja on Saturday and Sunday.

  • Obaseki hails Oshiomhole’s election as APC National Chairman

    …Commends Odigie-Oyegun for purposeful leadership

     

    The Edo Sate Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki, has hailed the election of his predecessor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, as the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Speaking after Oshiomhole was announced the elected National chairman of the APC at the party’s National Convention in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, on Saturday,  Obaseki noted that “the former governor’s emergence is an acknowledgement of his people-centered  leadership and his commitment to the advancement of the nation.”

    Obaseki who also congratulated other elected officials of the party, said, “We are very proud of Comrade Oshiomhole’s emergence as the National Chairman of our great party, the APC. He is adequately equipped to foster unity and provide a new direction for the party, as we move closer to the general elections in 2019.”

    He saluted the immediate past National Chairman of the party, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, for providing purposfull leadership that brought the APC to global reckon after defeating the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2015 general elections.

    The Governor described Chief Odigie-Oyegun as a worthy leader with honour.

    “Chief John Odigie-Oyegun’s impressive rise to prominence was the product of a combination of hard work, humility and faith in God.

    “From his humble background, he was taught the inestimable value of hard work, integrity and a good name.

    “In the federal civil service, Chief Odigie-Oyegun distinguished himself and was propelled to the enviable position of a federal permanent secretary.”

    According to Obaseki, “Chief Odigie-Oyegun’s forthrightness, civility and decorousness garnered from his impressive years of service to our great country in the civil service, marked him out for higher national call to serve our country after his retirement from the federal civil service.

    “These sterling qualities earned him the confidence of Edo people, when they turned out in their numbers to entrust him with their mandate as the first Governor of Edo State, in the aborted third Republic, from 1992-1993.

    “As a loyal and dedicated party man, his leadership qualities earned him the position of the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and under his leadership, the APC grew into the largest party in Nigeria and displaced the then ruling party, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) from power at the center, through popular vote in the 2015 presidential election.”

    Recalling the achievements of the former APC National Chairman, Obaseki noted: “In particular, the 2015 presidential elections marked a turning point in the political history of our great country and reset the destinies of over 180 million Nigerians for greatness.

    “It was the first time since the return of democracy in 1999, that an opposition party would obliterate a “behemoth” ruling party.

    “Chief Odigie-Oyegun’s sagacity and wealth of experience helped in stabilising our great party during our most trying moments, when members of the decimated opposition wished us doom.

    “He is passing the baton of leadership of our great party, the APC, after successfully navigating the party out of troubled waters and making it stronger, stable and better prepared for the challenges of the future.

    “Edo State is proud of this illustrious son for his immense contributions to the entrenchment of democracy in this country.

    “History will forever adjudge Chief Odigie-Oyegun a worthy son of Edo State, one who elevated our politics and ushered in a new era of positive change and development for our great party and our country.”

    Oshiomhole’s election at the well attended APC National Convention in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, followed the withdrawal of other aspirants from the chairmanship race.

     

  • My commitment to APC is total, says Oshiomhole

    Former Edo State Governor and one of the top contenders for the office of the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole said Monday that whether or not he emerge the National Chairman of the APC, he will continue to work hard to ensure that the party retains power.

    Oshiomhole who spoke with newsmen after he was screened by the party’s screening committee said the process leading to the emergence of a new Leadership was more important than the outcome.

    While describing democracy as problematic, the former NLC President said there was still no better way to govern a people who are no children than through democracy, adding that he was confident of emerging victorious at the end of the convention.

    He said: “I am used to contestations and competition and I am a democrat. That was why I did not agree with those who said extend our tenure without election. I think democracy is problematic, but there is no better way to govern a people who are not children who should be spoon fed.

    “In this business, it is not just what you do, not how it is done and who is involved in the doing. It is about participation. I am excited and the people are no strangers.

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    “At least, I know one and we have contested against each other before. He rigged me out, I pursued him and I won and retrieved the mandate from him. I went back to seek second term and I won. I defeated him even in his local government. I won 18 over 18, defeating him in his ward, his unit, his local government and Senatorial district.

    “If I was able to defeat him as an ordinary union leader when they dismissed me that I was not a politician while he was already a senator and I was able to defeat him.

    “Now as a man who has had the privilege to preside over the affairs of Nigeria Labour Congress nationwide, a two time Governor, if I have to compete with somebody who was governor for 18 months, I don’t have any problem.

    “As for the others, let me say that in a boxing ring, heavy weights don’t engage feather weight. But serious speaking, I am happy that we are in a democracy and people are free to contest. Quite frankly, the process is much more important than the outcome. I am satisfied not because I will be chairman, but because my party is in power.

    “My commitment is not just for me to be Chairman. As chairman or no chairman, I will continue to work hard to see that our party retain power at the Centre and also run power in many more states and produce many more senators, House of Representative members and more House of Assembly members so that we will have the strength we need to deepen the change and sustain the changes.”

    Speaking on the outcome of his screening, Oshiomhole said “When you write an exam, you try to do your best, trusting that your examiners will find your answers will be good enough to give you a pass or even a distinction. That would only be at their discretion. I would say that I tried my best to speak to the issues which are basically how to move forward.

    “Nobody should seek to lead if you don’t have a level of understanding of what the challenges because you can’t do prescriptions without diagnosis. Fortunately, I have been a founding member.

    “I was one of the governors that participated in the merger meetings when we had to sit for the first time ac ACN governors, CPC Governor, ANPP governor and that of APGA to see how we can move forward.

    “So, I understand the mission and the vision of the APC because we were the founding persons of the party. So, I know what our dream was and the gap between that dream and the current reality. I am also clear as to what we need to do differently so that dream is realized.”

    He however dismissed speculations that he was sponsoring some of those contesting the chairmanship seat saying “I don’t react to speculations. I react to real issues. If they are speculations, they should be allowed to die as speculation.”

  • Okpekpe Road Race drives sports devt, tourism in Edo – Obaseki

    …as event witnesses unprecedented participation

     

    Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has said that the state government’s sustained support for Okpekpe Road Race is integral to its commitment to drive sports development and boost tourism receipts in the state.

    The governor, who was among the VIP runners in Okpekpe, was joined by his wife, Mrs. Betsy, former Governor of the state, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole and Minister of Youths and Sports, Bar. Solomon Dalung. The Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Philip Shaibu, competed as an elite runner.

    The event recorded unprecedented participation despite the heavy downpour, as Kenyan and Ethiopian athletes won the star prices.

    The governor said, “The state’s interest in sustaining the road race is part of the commitment to drive sports development and boost tourism.”

    He noted that government would continue to provide the needed support to ensure that the organisers maintain the set standards and continue to improve the race, adding, “We will continue to maintain infrastructure, security and other structures to ensure the success of the event in the future. This will also assist the organisers to improve the status of the event.”

    Obaseki stressed, “The state will continue to build on infrastructure to improve the life of the people in rural areas. We will leverage on the opportunity in hosting the race to promote the local culture of the people. The state’s tourism sector will benefit from this event, which will also open rural areas to tourists from across the globe.”

    Minister of Youths and Sports, Barr. Solomon Dalung, urged sports enthusiasts and stakeholders to support government’s drive to promote sports development, noting, “Through the support of stakeholders, the country can be repositioned for long distance races. This can only be achieved through the support of private investors as government cannot achieve such feat alone.”

    Dalung said the outcome of the 6th edition of Okpekpe Road Race was tremendous, noting, “More sponsorship is needed to take the race to the next level. If we continue in this direction, future editions and more events will translate to more job opportunities for youths.”

    The former governor of the state, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, expressed delight at the successful hosting of the 2018 edition of the race, noting, “The race has brought development to the people of Okpekpe town. The event has also improved the economic well-being of the people.”

    Commending the organisers of the event, Oshiomhole said, “The improvement recorded in hosting the event would assist the state government open the rural area for more development.”

    Representative of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), Norrie Williamson, described the organisation of the race, which is the only Silver Label Road Race in sub-Saharan Africa, as fantastic for the community. “The great atmosphere, organisation and excellent terrain all add to the fantastic hosting of the event,” he noted.

    Williamson further said that despite the weather, the enthusiasm displayed by participants goes to show that the event is a huge success.

    The traditional ruler of Okpekpe community, His Royal Highness, Apa Peter Osigbemeh, expressed appreciation to the state government and organisers for putting the community on the global map, noting “The race has brought unparalleled development to the people of the community.”

    For the male elite category, Kibet Alex of Kenyan came first with a time of 29.46. Another Kenyan, Simon Cheprot with 30.29, came second while the third position went to another Kenyan, Ronoh Timothy, at 30.39.

    In the female category, Ethiopian Yami Dera, won the star price with a time of 33.01. Kenyan Tuei Sandra came second running 33.33 while another Kenyan, Kipyokei Diara, ran a time of 34.24 to clinch the third position.

    In the local male category, Emmanuel Gyang took the first position, while Gideon Goyet took the second position and Ismail Sodie came third. In the female category, Debora Pam won the star price, Rose Aknstro came second and Hudung Giang came third.