The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Congress for Progressive Change

  • Defunct CPC members approach Buhari for SGF position

    Defunct CPC members approach Buhari for SGF position

    Members of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) from the southern part of the country on the platform of Southern Mandate of Nigeria on Monday told President Muhammadu Buhari that they were hungry and angry at the President for marginalizing them.

    The group is also demanding the appointment of one of its key leaders as the Secretary to the Government of the Federation to replace Babachir David Lawal who was suspended for alleged corrupt practices.

    The CPC is one of the legacy parties that teamed up to give birth to the All Progressives Congress (APC), but the National Coordinator of the group, Comrade Ikonomwan Francis said none of the key members of the defunct CPC is occupying any position in the present government.

    Comrade Francis said in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja that the challenge facing the government would not have been there if the President had appointed key persons who planned with, and work for his success at the poll into his government.

    Comrade Francis said key Leaders of the defunct CPC who were the driving force of Presidential bid and consistently mobilize 12.5 million votes for him in 2003, 2007, 2011 and repeated same in 2015 general Elections are conspicuously absent in his government, pointing out that these are the persons the President needs at this critical moment of our National History to help strengthen his government for the benefit of Nigerian people.

    He said the only visible member of the defunct CPC in the present government is the President himself, saying other members of the party who have been abandoned are “hungry and angry”.

    The statement reads: “We, core members of the defunct Congress of Progressive Change (CPC) from the seventeen Southern States of Nigeria wish to remind President Mohammadu Buhari of the Marginalization of Core members of the Defunct Congress of Progressive Change in his Government, even as we welcome him back Home from his Medical trip Abroad. We give God the Glory for bringing him back Home Hale and Healthy.

    “As you have returned, we want you to urgently address the burning issue of marginalization of Core members of the defunct CPC which led to our advocacy for the appointment of the core member of the defunct CPC as a replacement for the suspended SGF.

    “It is pertinent to remind Mr President that there are persons that started the struggle, stayed with him all through the hard times, some of them who were his co-visioner and who encouraged him to come into politics since 2003. When Mr.

    President came into politics, these persons planned with him, strategies for him and at last won for him.

    “They are Men and Women of implacable and steering character, just like the President himself. We believe that the challenge this government is facing now would not have been there if the President had appointed these key persons into his government.

    “These key Leaders who were the driving force of Mr. President and consistently mobilize 12.5 million votes for him in 2003, 2007, 2011 and repeated same in 2015 general Elections that gave him President of Nigeria Today.

    “These persons are conspiqiously absent in his Government. And these are the persons he needs at this critical moment of our National History to help strengthen his government for the benefit of Nigerian people.

    “Some members of his cabinet and his personal Aides have no business been part of this government. They have created a vacuum between his government and the people.

    “Southern Mandate of Nigeria (SMN) is strongly of the view that only his co-visioners of President Mohammadu Buhari can assist bridge this gap. We are afraid that if urgent steps are not taken to tackle the Present increasing Security, Political, ethnic, and Social challenge , it might take an uncontrollable negative dimension in this Country.

    “We are hungry and angry. The core members of the defunct CPC who are your immediate constituency, staked our lives and properties to make you President today, has been abandoned and left to feed on scrumbs. We share in your vision and mission to make Nigeria great again. We are ready to give you the needed support to rescue this great country.

    “Time has come for Mr President to listen to patriotic voices of which we represent, for the overall interest of our great country. It is mind blowing that the government we laboured to build, most of our key Leaders are not in government and hirachy of the party at all Levels.

    “Today, the only visible core CPC member is Mr President himself. It is worthy of mention that Nigerians had a high expectation from this administration to right the wrongs of the PDP for sixteen years of misrule in this country. But we are sadden that the government that enjoyed massive goodwill just two years down the line has become a government of ridicule by same people, both at home and abroad.

    “This call for retrospect on the part of Mr. President to salvage our dear country Nigeria from the present socio-political quagmire. We make bold to advice Mr. President to appoint one of these key persons to replace the suspended SGF so that this government can bounce back as truly government of the people.”

  • By-election in Adamawa: CPC expels candidate

    The Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) Nasarawo/Binyeri constituency, Adamawa, on Saturday announced the expulsion of its candidate for the May 11 House of Assembly by-election, Malam Ibrahim Umar.

    Alhaji Musa Kamale,, the state Chairman of the CPC Publicity Sub-committee on Merger with other Political Parties, also announced the indefinite suspension of the party Chairman in the state, Alhaji Ibrahim Waziri.

    Kamale said in Yola that Umar was expelled for unwholesome party activity, while Waziri was suspended for his alleged role in the emergence of an opposition party member as the party candidate for the election.

    The chairman also tendered the letters of expulsion and suspension of the affected persons signed by the National Secretary of the party, Mr Buba Galadima.

    He said the decision which was taken at the National Executive Committee meeting of the party on April 30, also informed the state Deputy Chairman, Mr Njidda Danboyi, as acting Chairman.

    Waziri confirmed receipt of his suspension letter, saying that as a loyal party member, he accepted the suspension in good faith.

    He, however, said he would wait for the outcome of the ongoing investigation on the allegation against him.

    On his part, Umar said he had no comment on his expulsion as he had yet to receive the letter.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that on Wednesday, the party announced the withdrawal of its candidate for the by-election.

    It thereafter directed its supporters to vote for the candidate of Action Congress of Nigeria, Mr Mathias Yohanna, in the spirit of ongoing merger talks with other political parties.

    The party claimed that Umar was a PDP member sponsored with the connivance of some CPC officials to emerge as candidate of the party.

    The Nasarawo/Binyeri by-election arose because of the death of the member representing the constituency in Adamawa Assembly, Alhaji Ahmad Gangwaso, in January.

  • No regrets making Fashola Lagos governor, says Tinubu

    A former Governor of Lagos State, Chief Bola Tinubu, said on Thursday that he had no regrets pushing for Mr Babatunde Fashola as his successor in 2007.

    “When I was pushing for him to become governor in 2007, they said that he could not do anything.

    “Today, I am vindicated. Thank you for not disappointing me and Lagosians and for not putting me to shame,’’ he told thousands of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) supporters in Lagos at the party’s convention.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 4, 691 delegates from the 36 states and Abuja converged on Onikan Stadium on Lagos Island for the event.

    Tinubu said:` `You (Fashola) have actualised our vision and dreams. We are proud of your performance.’’

    He also commended some political leaders, including retired Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, the Presidential Candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) in the 2011 elections, for their efforts in deepening the country’s democracy.

    Tinubu also named former governors of Kano State and Ogun, Ibrahim Sekarau and Chief Olusegun Osoba, respectively,  as among those helping to deepen the nation’s democracy.

    On the merger of four parties into All Progressive Congress (APC), Tinubu said the initiative was to bring about the necessary change in the polity.

    “We demand a change in the governance of the country. Nigeria must be a prosperous, safe and secure nation.

    “The challenges facing us as a nation – insecurity, kidnapping, mass poverty, unemployment and poor wages – must be addressed.

    The ACN national leader said Thursday’s convention would be the last to be held by the party.

    “This is not a sad ending for us in ACN, but the beginning of a new beginning into the merger.’’

    Tinubu called on leaders to shun their parochial interests and partisanship for national interests.

    Earlier, the Chairman, Convention Committee, Sen. Lawal Suaibu, said history was being made in Nigeria’s democratic experience with the merger of the parties.

    NAN reports that Buhari, Shekarau, Malam Nuhu Ribadu,  who was ACN’s presidential candidate in 2011 poll;  Chief Audu Ogbe, Chief Tom Ikimi and former Imo governor, Achike Udenwa, were among dignitaries at the convention, which ratified the party’s new name – APC.

    Others include Gov. Rochas Okorocha of Imo, governors of Ogun, Lagos, Oyo, Osun, Ekiti and Edo, National Chairman of Congress for Progressive Change, Prince Tony Momoh, senators and House of Representatives members.

    NAN reports that the ACN, CPC, All Nigeria Peoples’ Party and the All Progressive Grand Alliance, have agreed to come together under APC.

  • Boko Haram: Buhari lauds amnesty committee

    Boko Haram: Buhari lauds amnesty committee

    The National leader of Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), Major General Mohammadu Buhari, on Wednesday said Nigerians should embrace whatever would bring peace to the country, including amnesty if granted to the Islamic militant sect, Boko haram.

    Buhari who  was the CPC’s Presidential candidate in the last general election, said it was  good  that the Federal Government had set up a Committee to look into all requests for Amnesty for members Boko Haram sect, whose insurgency in parts of the north have left thousands of  persons dead and scores of others gravely injured.

    Speaking with reporters at the Presidential Lodge, Abeokuta,  Buhari said he does not yet know the terms of reference of the Amnesty Committee but noted that if amnesty is granted to the group, it will be similar to what Late President Umaru Musa Yar’ Ardua did for  the Niger Delta militants .

    “Yes, it is good they have set up a committee and I haven’t seen the terms of reference but it right thing to do but this is not the first time amnesty will be given to …  what shall I call them, a violent group, remember what happened with Alh. Musa Yar’Adua and the militants, so this not the first time. Whatever that will bring peace to the society, we should do it,”  Buhari stated.

    The former military Head of States was accompanied to Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital by National Chairman of the Party, Chief Tony Momoh, former Speaker, House of Representatives, Alh. Aminu – Bello Masari, National Publicity Secretary, Engr. Rotimi Fashakin, Southwest Chairman of CPC, Mr Razaq Muse, Lagos State Chairman, Emibata Ajibade and Buhari’s running mate, Pastor Tunde Bakare.

    He explained  that he was in Ogun State  to visit the matriarch of the Awolowo family, Chief (Mrs) Hannah Idowu Dideolu(HID) Awolowo and s=commiserate with her over the death of Evangelist, Oluwole Awolowo after which he proceeded to the Ijebu – Ode Palace of the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona, on courtesy visit.

    “I was in Ikene to commiserate with  the Awolowo family and I also drove to see the Awujale of Ijebuland. I came here in Abeokuta to greet the mother of my friend, and colleague, Pastor Tunde Bakare.  I went and greeted his mother. In the morning I will drive to Ekiti State and condole and commiserate with them on the death of their Deputy Governor. This is the purpose of my visit.”