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Tag: Danjuma Goje

  • NASS caucus defends Buhari’s appointments

    A group of lawmakers in the National Assembly has defended the various appointments so far made by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Coming under the aegis of the Northeast caucus, the lawmakers, made up of senators and members of the House of Representatives, enjoined critics of the appointments to exercise restraint.

    At a press conference held at the National Assembly on Wednesday, the leader of the caucus, Senator Danjuma Goje, said the President still has thousands of appointments to make.

    The lawmakers assured that subsequent appointments would be spread across the six geopolitical zones, to reflect the federal character principle. Of the 31 appointments made by the President so far, 24 were picked from the North, with the south getting seven.

    A text from the press conference jointly signed by Senators Goje and Isa Hamma Misau and read by Goje urged Nigerians to dwell less on sentiments, statism and zoning.

    Such tendencies, he said, tend to divide the people along ethnic, religious and other primordial lines.

    “Fellow Nigerians, it is high time we got it right. It is not about where a man comes from but about what he can deliver, especially in the interest of his people.

    “President Barack Obama started with over 20 of his Harvard classmates and David Cameron of Britain started with most of his schoolmates. This has in no way made the news in those countries because they had their eyes set on the bigger national picture.

    “If Nigeria must move forward, we need to make a choice, either we decide on an ethnic free future and move on to greater heights, or we continue to hold on to ethnic sentiments, statism and zoning and remain backward. We must shun all recessive agents and embrace change in the interest of democracy.”

     

     

     

  • Senate Presidency: Northeast Senators disown Lawan

    A major crack may have emerged in the bid of the Northeast geopolitical zone to secure the Senate President seat in soon to be inaugurated 8th National Assembly.

    At least 12 Senators from the zone on Friday disowned Senator Ahmad Lawan (Yobe North), believed to be one of the front runners in the race for the Senate’s top job.

    Leader of the Northeast All Progressives Congress (APC) Senators’ Caucus, Senator Danjuma Goje (Gombe Central) who briefed reporters in Abuja, insisted that the group  has not pick any candidate for the position yet since it has not been formally zoned to area by the national leadership of the party.

    Members of the Caucus present at the press conference are – Goje, Isa Ahmed Gusau (Bauchi Central), Ali Ndume (Borno South), Bukar Abba Ibrahim (Yobe Central) and Abdulaziz Murtala Nyako (Adamawa Central).

    Others are – Senators-elect Binta Garba Marshi (Adamawa North), Ahmed Abubakar (Adamawa South), Usman Bayero Nafada (Gombe North), Abubakar Jare (Borno North) and Suleiman Nazif (Bauchi North).

    Senator Ahmad Zannah (Borno Central) was said to be indisposed.

    Goje, who spoke on behalf of the Caucus, said no zone will be allowed to impose any candidate on them.

    According to him, the Caucus is still pleading with the leadership of the APC to officially zone the position to the zone in view of their “peculiar circumstances.”

    The former Governor of Gombe State explained that whoever emerges as consensus candidate after the position has been zoned to the area will be decided by lawmakers from the zone.

    It could be recalled that the Northwest Senate caucus of the APC had on Thursday reportedly endorsed the candidature of Senator Lawan for the position of Senate President.

    The Northwest boasts of 21 Senators out of the 109-member Senate.

    Of the 21 Senators from the zone, 17 were said to have expressly adopted Lawan for the number one seat in the Senate.

     

  • Goje quizzed over alleged campaign activities

    Goje quizzed over alleged campaign activities

    …Senator tasks authorities on fair play

    The immediate past governor of Gombe State, Senator Mohammed Danjuma Goje, has called on the authorities and security operatives to be fair to all political parties as canvassed by the Nigerian Constitution.

    The All Progressive Congress (APC) stalwart made the call at the Gombe State Police Headquarters Monday night after he was quizzed by the state Commissioner of Police over alleged campaign activities at Kumo, headquarters of Akko local government area.

    Goje said he was only consulting with his constituents regarding their welfare but was invited by the police for questioning because a large crowd that gathered around him.

    The former governor said he was held back for hours while trying to explain to them (the police) the reason for his visit, his activities and that he was not campaigning.

    “We are on recess and I thought before we resume on Tuesday, let me go and see my people, what is happening to them, know what they are going through and see how I can assist. It wasn’t a campaign.

    “This is what I’ve been trying to explain to them for hours. They were trying to say I went with a large number of people.

    “But I told them I cannot stop the crowd, that even if I come out of this police station on foot, before I get to my house, you will see a very large crowd of people, a large convoy of people following me.

    “I was a member of the House of Assembly, I was a minister, I was a governor and now I am a Senator. It is not my fault. That is how God made it,” he said.

    Asked if he was actually arrested, the former governor said: “I don’t want to call it arrest. But I have been kept in the police office discussing for about three hours.”

    When contacted, the Spokesman for the Command, DSP Fwaje Atajiri, said Goje was not arrested, adding that he was invited for a chat which was peaceful.

  • ‘Dankwambo’s work speaks for itself’

    ‘Dankwambo’s work speaks for itself’

    Alhaji Buba Shanu is the State Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)  in Gombe State. In this interview with VINCENT OHONBAMU, he speaks on the party’s chances in 2015, and recent defections in the state.

    How prepared is the PDP for the 2015 general election in Gombe?

    As you can see, the Peoples Democratic Party, both at the national level and in Gombe State, is taking this as a serious business. I say so because we have the political infrastructure in place to take care of the business. If you look at our structure and activities, it is obvious that we are a serious party doing a serious business. At the national level, when the management of the PDP sneezes, Nigeria catches cold. This tells you that we are the party to beat. In Gombe State, we produced the last two governments from 2003 to date. And, if I may quote, His Excellency, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, during the economic summit here in December, said: “If every politician would act the way the Gombe State governor is acting, if every state is like Gombe State, there would be no problem in Nigeria”. This is because Gombe State exemplifies what democracy should be – the government of the people, for the people by the people. So, to sum it up, the PDP has never been readier because we take this as a serious business.

    Considering that Senator Danjuma Goje has defected to the major opposition party, the APC, what are the chances of Governor Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo remaining in office beyond May 29, 2015?

    I know for certain he would be in office. The PDP is going to continue to rule Gombe State for quite a long time to come. As Jesus Christ once said: “By their fruits, ye shall know them.” What that means is that the product of a system characterises what the system is. Yes, I agree, personalities make government. The last government in Gombe State was principally characterised by Alhaji Mohammed Danjuma Goje; he gave it direction and form. This one is given direction by Dr. Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo and he characterises the system. If you’ve been following trends in Gombe, you’ll discover that they are governments of the same party, but have taken two different steams. The incumbent is a government of professionals, by professionals, for the people. Every one of us is a professional in his own right. I have two Masters Degrees. You would be surprised, if I give you the rundown of other party officials. At the executive council, virtually 70 per cent of those individuals came from different professional constituencies. But, in Goje’s government, there were executive council members who didn’t see the four walls of secondary school.

    What, in your view, are the strengths of this government that would guarantee Dankwambo’s re-election?

    It’s a government that is prudent. We are accused of everything, but not stealing, killing, maiming, or coercion. We may be slow, but we are steady. We are not in a rush because we are sure footed. The government is moving step-by-step. This government is a government of people who are knowledgeable; it is a participatory government and everybody gets involved at his or her level. That way, it’s a government of Gombe people for themselves. If the people decide they no longer want this, they want the money to be shared; the money comes in and everybody gets his portion, no problem. But, I know for sure that we have done our best. These four years are going to speak for us, not just today, but for a long time to come

    There were speculations recently that some PDP councillors defected to the APC. What is the true position of the matter?

    I can tell you categorically that it is not true. It is not possible because, if you go back to our selection process, the PDP has a culture of obedience, particularly in Gombe State. Obedience is a child of faith. If you have faith and confidence in the system and then, you follow. In the process of selecting those who will ultimately contest as community leaders, the PDP management takes into cognisance loyalty, how long you have stayed with the party, your contributions to the party, your personal standing with the community where you want to contest and other factors. So, there is no way a serving councillor would leave the party. It’s like a crime has been committed – if they say Mr. Shanu killed somebody. The councillorship, I think, is one of the most serious responsibilities of elected representative of this country today. You want to leave the job and go to another party to contest for what, councillor again? It doesn’t make sense. If you say a former Councillor, I can understand that. Yes, he wants to be councillor again, but there is a better person in the community who is a councillor. So, he is going to another party to get a ticket.

    Talking about defectors, we have Senator Dajuma Goje here and others who defected with him? What is your view?

    I can understand the case of any politician who does not hold any public office, who out of frustration or wanton quest for power or office decides to politically prostitute. The former Vice President wants to be the President at all cost. But, it’s prostitution for a politician who is elected under the auspices of a party by his people to go and represent them, only to cross-carpet out of personal interest without the mandate and consent of his people. My advice to them is to come back because he is using your mandate for personal gains. But, if it’s okay with you, fine. If you are satisfied with what he has done, fine. But if out of ignorance you are not aware that you have an option, you are now aware. You decide the way you want to be represented, not the representative. It’s like religion; you don’t serve God the way you want, no. You serve him the way He should be served. So, we should not take these things for granted. My call for his people is that first, they should audit him. Why has he decided to change political party, is it because maybe he sees there are better people that probably might represent his people in 2015 and he is afraid he might not get the chance to contest, that is why he is running away, or has he committed some offence and he is like trying to take some insurance by moving to another party and maybe give conditions for returning? Or are there reasons why being in PDP cannot allow him to deliver the dividends of democracy to the people of Gombe central?

     

  • EFCC witness’ illness stalls Goje’s trial

    EFCC witness’ illness stalls Goje’s trial

    Proceeding in the N25 billion money laundering case against former Gombe State Governor Danjuma Goje by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was stalled yesterday, following the illness of the EFCC’s Principal Witness One (PW1), Solomon Okotie.

    As a result, Justice Babatunde Quadri adjourned proceedings till today to allow the PW1 stabilise.

    The decision is sequel to a plea by the prosecuting counsel, Wahab Shiutu, during the cross-examination by his counterpart, Chris Uche (SAN) on the ground that Solomon said his health was failing and could not continue.

    Justice Quadri told counsel that the two days (March 4 and 5) earlier fixed for the case could be extend to make up for the setback.

    Goje’s counsel Chris Uche (SAN) said: “Because of the pungency of our questions, it appears the witness needs to be stabilsed, even the prosecution counsel admitted to that.”

    “So on grounds of ill health, we conceded an adjournment because we all noticed that he was not quite stable, so we had to take a little break when we discovered our questions started coming to him like punches,” he added.

     

     

  • APC agent of positive change, says Goje

    APC agent of positive change, says Goje

    Former Gombe State Governor Senator Danjuma Goje yesterday said the All Progressives Congress (APC) is an agent of positive change.

    Goje, who represents Gombe Central, spoke in Abuja about his defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    He said: “I don’t personalise politics. I look at issues. In Gombe State today, we believe that APC can bring about changes. We believe the APC can change Nigeria.”

    On the refusal of the Senate leadership to read the letters of the defecting senators, he said the development did not stop them from registering as APC members in their states.

    Goje said: “We have submitted our letter to the Senate leadership. There are other senators who have not come to the floor to announce their defection but they have gone to the public to declare.

    “We are not playing to the gallery. We have gone beyond that level. In the House of Representatives, people have defected and nothing happened. The laws have not changed.”

    Asked whether there could be room for reconciliation with PDP, the senator said: “It will be against my religion to say that I have no heart of reconciliation.

    “To say that I don’t have the heart of reconciliation will not be right. I am human. If God Himself forgives, who am I not to forgive?”

    On his relationship with his successor, Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo, Goje insisted that he was not a politician, who arrogate to himself the credit of producing governors.

    For him:“Power belongs to God” and God produces those who occupy positions of authority.

    The former governor said as a former member of the House of Assembly, a former governor, a former minister and now a senator it would be wrong for anybody to insinuate the people have deserted him.

    The lawmaker also debunked the allegation that he destroyed APC in the state, insisting that those in doubt should visit Gombe State to see things for themselves.

     

  • APC agent of positive change – Goje

    Former Gombe State Governor, Senator Danjuma Goje, on Monday said the All Progressives Congress (APC) is an agent of positive change created to improve the living conditions of Nigerians.

    He said that there is no doubt that most Nigerians strongly believe that the APC is in a better position to change the country for the better.

    The APC, he added, “will stabilize and fix the country.”

    Goje, who represents Gombe Central Senatorial District, spoke in Abuja about his defection to APC from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    He said, “You see I don’t personalize politics. I look at issues. In Gombe State today we believe that APC is in a better position to bring about changes that will go a long way to improve the present condition of the people of Gombe State and Nigeria in general. We believe strongly the APC is in a position to change Nigeria for better.”

    On the refusal of the Senate leadership to read the letter of the defecting Senators on the floor of the Senate, he said the development did not stop them from registering as members of APC in their states.

    He said, “We have submitted our letter to the Senate leadership. We have argued the issue on the floor of the Senate. We have registered for APC. There are other Senators who have not come to the floor to announce their defection to the party of their choice but they have gone to the public to declare.

    “We are not playing to the gallery. We have gone beyond the level to play to the gallery. In the House of Representatives people have defected and nothing happened. The laws have not changed. Given the same Senate, the same laws, people have been defecting. The law has not changed.”

    Asked whether there could be room for reconciliation with PDP, he said: “It will be inhuman of me and even against my religion to say that I have no heart of reconciliation.

    “Even God Almighty who created us forgives when we go against Him and do the right thing. To say that I don’t have the heart of reconciliation will not be right. I am a human being. If God Himself forgives who am I not to forgive.”

     

  • Tinubu: Atiku’s return is good for democracy

    Tinubu: Atiku’s return is good for democracy

    •Excitement as Akande, Nyako, Marwa, others unite for APC in Adamawa

    Yola, the Adamawa State capital, was agog with political excitement yesterday when the state’s top political leaders and national leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) launched the party.

    In attendance were former Vice President Atiku Abubakar; Governor Murtala Nyako; former Lagos State Governor Buba Marwa; former presidential candidate Nuhu Ribadu and Senator Mohammed Bindow Jibrila – all Adamawa indigenes.

    They were joined by the leaders of the party, led by its Interim National Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande and National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

    The party chieftains were supported by other APC leaders from parts of the country, including Senator Ali Modi Sheriff, Senator Danjuma Goje, ex-Bayelsa State Goverbor Timpreye Sylva, Senator Sani Yeriman Bakura, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu and Dr Audu Ogbe.

    The host was the Interim State Chairman Kobis Aris Thimnu. He received the party’s flag from Chief Akande.

    The APC reaffirmed its objective of winning the federal elections next year.

    Akande, who formally received Atiku, following the former vice president’s defection on Sunday, said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had been rested.

    He urged Adamawa interim state executive to ensure that the registration of members was not by allocation or proxy but by physical registration.

    Tinubu urged Nigerians to celebrate the ousting of the PDP .

    The foremer Lagos State governor advised Nigerians to sweep away the dirt and social vices of the PDP with APC’s broom.

    The APC leader described the return of Atiku to the progressives fold as a giant stride that would enhance democracy.

    He hailed Nyako’s efforts at resolving the internal crisis in the party in the state.

    Nyako said the PDP had died and Nigerians should await its final interment.

    He said: “The PDP has gone for good for the reign of impunity. The party is dead. Nigerians should rally round to bury it.”

    Sylva apologised to Nigerians, on behalf of the people of Niger Delta region, for mobilising them to vote for President Goodluck Jonathan in 2011.

    He regretted that the President had failed to deliver democracy’s dividends to Nigerians.

    Sylva said: “In 2011, I was in Yola to mobilise the Adamawa people to vote for our son, Dr Goodluck Jonathan. You kept to faith by voting for him as president of Nigeria. In 2014, I am here to apologise to Adamawa people for the failure of our son, Goodluck Jonathan.”

    The former governor said he was in the state to team up with the North so that they could salvage Nigeria from the pangs of deprivation.

    “The country is not performing. The ship is sinking due to poor leadership,” he said.

    Ribadu spoke on unity of the party at all levels, saying unity and mutual respect were the sure roads to success.

    The former EFCC chairman said the APC had grown into a formidable force that could uproot the PDP.

    Marwa said the power squabble within the party had been resolved to make the state better.

    Jibrila, who spoke on behalf of defected senators, assured that after the elections, the APC would form the government at the centre.

    Nyako thanked Atiku for joining hands to fight the bad leadership of the PDP.

     

  • Dankwambo investigates Goje over N29b 

    Dankwambo investigates Goje over N29b 

    THE immediate past governor of Gombe State, Senator  Danjuma Goje, is to face inquisition for allegedly misappropriating N29.8b while in office, it emerged yesterday.

    Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo, however, said the probe is dependent on the report of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s (EFCC).

    Receiving the report of the committee that authenticated pension and gratuity liabilities for the state and local government retirees, the governor said a thorough investigation would be carried out on the alleged misappropriated funds.

    He said the situation has left the state in a bad financial position, explaining Gombe finds it difficult to execute meaningful projects.

    The governor stated: “We cannot trace the records of government.These monies have gone into various accounts and have gone into third party accounts and diverted from the account of Government.”

    He cited a reimbursement of N5.7billion from the Federal Government to the state but said the money cannot not be traced.

    “As Accountant-General of the Federation then, I have records myself that I have reimbursed Gombe State Government in  excess of N10billion but N5.7billion has been diverted from the accounts of Government.

    “We will probe them. EFCC started probing some of them and we are still awaiting the report  because the probe has to continue,” Dankwambo stated.

    He went on: “Immediately EFCC reports to  the Government of Gombe State, the reconciliation of the monies that were lodged in respect of refunds that were received from the Federal Government into Gombe State account to the tune of N5.7 billion will continue. While this is going on, we will continue to reconcile because everyday is a brand new story.

    “I just heard today of the liability of about N23billion  that was left for me. Another N4.5 billion was added. So, the liability of N29.8b is outstanding in respect of the Government of Gombe State that was left for the good and innocent people of Gombe State.

    “We can’t continue like this because of the ineptitude of certain past leaders who ruled us. We don’t want a situation where we may end up not being able to service Government or end up under another state after striving for the creation of our own state.”

    He promised to retrieve what rightfully belongs to the people.

    The chairman of the Committee, Mr. Mikah Kamat, said the committee recommended the immediate adoption of a contributory scheme and the establishment of a Gombe State Pension Commission.

     

  • Mark averts crisis in Senate over nPDP

    Mark averts crisis in Senate over nPDP

    Senate President, David Mark, averted a major rumpus on the floor of the Senate on Wednesday over the reference to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as a factionalised political party by Senator Mohammed Danjuma Goje.

    Goje, who represents Gombe Central Senatorial District, while contributing to a motion on the demise of a former Ondo State Governor, Olusegun Agagu, described himself as a member of the New PDP.

    He added that the New PDP led by Alhaji Abubakar Baraje is the authentic one.

    What followed was applaud by some Senators and shout of “no, no, no” by others.

    Senators Smart Adeyemi, (Kogi West) quickly moved a Point of Order to stop Goje from further reference to PDP as a divided party.

    When Mark gave Adeyemi the floor, the Kogi State born lawmaker said that Goje used “offensive, abusive and insulting words against the PDP.

    At this stage, the disorder in the chamber got louder and Mark was forced to intervene to bring the situation under control.

    The Senate President cautioned that “this is the upper chamber, don’t let us reduce it to a market place.”

    He asked Adeyemi to continue with his Point of Order.

    Adeyemi said, “As far as I know it is wrong for anybody to use offensive and abusive words against a political party.

    “It is absolutely uncalled for and uncharitable for a former governor who has not defected to another party to stand up on the chamber of the Senate to insult the PDP and members of the party.”

    He noted that Goje should be made to withdraw the alleged offensive statement, insisting that it was “wrong for Goje who is a PDP member to insinuate that PDP has two factions.”

    Goje did not take the interjection of Adeyemi kindly.