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Tag: defectors

  • ‘APC’s expecting more defectors from PDP’

    ‘APC’s expecting more defectors from PDP’

    Prominent Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftains have defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), ahead of the local government elections. Group Political Editor EMMANUEL OLADESU writes on the politics of defection and implications for the future of the opposition party.

    It was not a rented crowd. As from 7 am, the secretariat of the Lagos State All Progressives Congress (APC) on Acme Road, Ikeja, was aglow with festivities. The singing train of party women and youths were dancing to the talking drums. They also entertained party elders and leaders as they arrived the rally orgainsed for defectors from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
    At noon, the defectors-Chief Bode Oyedele, Hon. Yahaya Dosunmu and Anthony Alaka Bakare-stormed the venue, accompanied by their supporters. “They are big fish from the PDP. It is a big catch for the APC,” intoned Senator Gbenga Ashafa, who represents Lagos East in the Senate. “Definitely, our party is enlarging its coast,” he added.
    Echoing the senator, the APC secretary, Hakeem Bamgbola, said the defectors will add value to the organisation, adding: “When elections come, we know we will win.”
    It was a memorable weekend in the life of the ruling party. Oyedele, the strongman of Ibeju-Lekki politics and Dosunmu, the leader of the PDP in Eti-Osa local government, repudiated their former party after receiving the APC flags and brooms from the APC Chairman, Otunba Oladele Ajomale. Brimming with joy, Ajomale observed that the long standing enmity between the PDP and the APC during elections in the two local governments have ended, following the historic defections.
    Oyedele and Dosunmu are not new to the progressive bloc. Oyedele, a former Permanent Secretary in Lagos State, was a founding member of the Alliance for Democracy (AD) before he defected to the PDP. Between 1999 and 2003, he was former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s Senior Special Assistant on Ecology Matters. Indeed, he was a terror to the AD, the defunct Action Congress (AC), Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and APC chieftains during elections. He was a fanatical PDP loyalist.
    Oyedele was the towering PDP figure responsible for the victories recorded in Ibeju-Lekki axis in the last 17 years. He was the PDP financier, held in high esteem by the party leadership, followers and the community. Thus, his departure from the party has been described as a major blow.
    As the PDP arrowhead, he was usually at loggerheads with progressive leaders in the area, including former Rural Development Commissioner Dr. Odutola Kasali and Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs Hon. Muslim Folami.
    His defection underscores the fact that, in politics, there is neither permanent friend nor foe, but permanent interest. Oyedele was the PDP godfather in Ibeju-Lekki on the day his supporters allegedly beat Hon. Lateef Raji, the erstwhile Chairman of the AD, to coma. It was during the historic House of Representatives by-election, which was won by the PDP, the AC having been knocked out of the process because its candidate, who was asked to vacate the legislative seat by the court, lacked an authentic secondary school certificate.
    Dosunmu is older than Oyedele in politics. The former AD chairman, Prince Abiodun Ogunleye, was taken aback when he defected to the PDP. Before then, he had served as the party treasurer. He was also the Chairman of local government and member of the House of Assembly.
    Thus, the rally was a reunion of sorts. The defectors hugged and exchanged banters with their old colleagues, in contrasts with past hostility and acrimony. On hand to receive them were the APC deputy chairman, Cardinal James Odunmbaku, Prince Ogunleye, the vice chairman, Chief Funso Ologunde, former Deputy Governor Olufemi Pedro, Asiwaju Olorunfunmi Basorun, Prof. Tunde Samuel, and one-time Commissioner for Finance Hon. Wale Edun.
    Also at the event were former House of Assembly Speaker Yemi Ikuforiji, APC Publicity Secretary Comrade Joe Igbokwe, his deputy, Abiodun Salam, Adebayo Balogun, Pa Abiodun Sunmola, Alhaji Mutiu Are, Tunde Isiak, Denge Anifowose, and the Administrative Secretary, Sola Abayomi.
    The defection marked a major retracing of steps by progressives in the PDP to their original political family. Now that chieftains, including Chief Olufemi Pedro, Dr. Abayomi Finnih, Hon. Dotun Animasahun, Chief Demola Seriki, Chief Tunde Daramola, and Hon. Wale Ahmed, have returned to the APC, the only three core progressives who are yet to call it quits with the PDP are Chief Willy Akinlude, former Chairman of Mushin Council and his Alimoso counterpart, Chief Ayo Akinyemi, and Mr. Jimi Agbaje, former treasurer of Afenifere, the pan-Yoruba socio-political group.
    Dosunmu said he defected, following the advice by a party elder, Prince Oluyole Olusi, who, in particular, recalled his contributions to the political family when he served as a treasurer.
    “I am happy to be back in the progressive fold, my home. We have no basis to go to another platform. Circumstances forced us into it. But, I am back now. Eti-Osa and Ibeju-Lekki are central to Lagos. The corridor was opened in 1982. Government has been doing one thing or the other there,” he said
    Also, Dosunmu thanked Olusi, Prince Murphy Adetoro and Ogunleye for reminding him about his past. He applauded Ashafa for doing a great job in the Senate. He also praised Senator Oluremi Tinubu, saying that she is a workaholic politician who has lived up to expectation.
    Presenting the flags and brooms to the defectors, Ajomale charged them to work for the victory of the party in future elections. He said their return will ease the tension that usually characterised elections in Ibeju-Lekki and Eti-Osa axis and tilt the pendulum of victory towards the direction of the ruling party.
    Ajomale said: “They were in the opposition in Lagos for 16 years. They were formidable opposition figures in the PDP. They started as former strong members of the AD. Yayaha Dosunmu was even a member of the AD State Executive Committee. We moved from the AD to the AC, the ACN and now the APC. It is the same party.
    “Coming back to the APC is a blessing to our party in Eti-Osa, Lagos and Nigeria. In politics, you cannot discountenance anybody. They have come home and we have now received them. Alhaji Bakare is a force to reckon with. During the last election, he contested for the House of Representatives in the PDP. We defeated him, but it was not an easy task. Now that he is one of us, we will not have problem in the area again.”
    Hailing Oyedele for coming back to the progressive fold, Ajomale added: “Whatever that had happened before, let’s forget it. We are creating a new dawn in Ibeju-Lekki. Ibeju-Lekki is a very serious local government, Bode Oyedele is a factor in Ibeju-Lekki. As the party chairman, I had gone there to campaign before and someone told me that he was a great party man. There is no fight again. Henceforth, there will be peace in Ibeju-Lekki in the next local government election. You will not regret your defection. More people will defect from the PDP to the APC. WE eagerly expect them.”
    Bakare pledged his loyalty to the APC, saying that he will work for its success in future elections.
    Oyedele said: “I am here with the whole structure of the PDP. I am here with the state vice chairman, Rasak Balogun. I have with me many state and ward chairmen. We want to hand over the structure to the APC. With the combination of myself, Kasali, Isiak and Ashafa, you will be hearing good news from Ibeju-Lekki.”
    The defections show that it is not the best of times for the Lagos PDP. A PDP chieftain, who spoke on a condition of anonymity, said the party will soon meet and discuss the gale of defections. “We take note of the departure of the chieftains to the other party. We will meet and make our opinion known later,” he said.
    A party source said PDP members of the House of Assembly have also concluded arrangements to leave the party. “Their defection will halt the influence of the PDP in their constituencies since 2015,” said a party chieftain, who added: “APC is bent on regaining the lost grounds before the council elections.”
    The leadership crisis between Senator Ahmed Makarfi and Senator Modu Sheriff has taken its toll on the troubled chapter. Two chieftains-Hon. Adegoke Salvador and Segun Adewale-are still fighting over the chairmanship. Thus, the party is polarised into two factions.

  • APC receives defectors in Jos

    APC receives defectors in Jos

    The National Chairman of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Chief John Odige-Oyegun has  received defectors from the People Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC in Jos, the Plateau State capital.

    Odigie-Oyegun was accompanied to the Rwang Pam Township Stadium, venue of the event by the Speaker House of Representative,  Hon. Yakubu Dogara, the National Secretay of APC, national women leader  and other national executive members of the party.

    Prominent among the defectors are Senator Joshua Dariye (PDP), from Plateau Central senatorial zone, former Deputy governor in the immediate past PDP led   Ignatius Longjan, former governorship candidate of ACN Pam Dung Gyang, Deputy Speaker of Plateau State House of Assembly Yusuf  Gagdi, Hon. Jimmy Cheto, a former minister Chief Jethro Akun.

    Others are former member the of House of Representatives Aminu Jonathan.

    While receiving the defectors  Oyegun said: “The timing of this mass movement into the ruling party by highly placed politicians on the plateau is unique and historic to APC and to President Muhammadu Buhari.

    “Unique in the sense that the decampees are coming when the APC government and Mr. President needed people to give him support that will enable him succeed changing the fortunes of this country.

    “Plateau people are coming into the party en mass at a time when President Buhari is facing a big battle with corruption and needed massive support, the president need people like you around him to defeat corruption which already fighting back.

    “Mr. President will ever remain grateful to these great politicians from plateau state and their teaming followers for their decision to come in and rally round his administration, president Buhari considered this move as energy boost to his administration.

    “He added: I use this opportunity to appeal to all Nigerians to remain calm in spite of the prevailing economic recession. “It is obvious that Nigerians are in tears, it is obvious that there is anguish in the land, it is obvious that Nigerians are hungry, Nigerians are angry etc, all these are due to the tough times the country is passing through, and I know that such tough times does not last, it is temporal.

    “I can assured all Nigerians that by this time next year, Nigerians will be smiling, because by this time next year, there will be no more hunger in the country. The economy of the country were bastardized by the 16 years administration of PDP, President Buhari has been working extra-hard to fix the battered economy, Mr, president is so passionate about this.

    “And that is why I’m telling you with confidence that by this same time next year, Nigerian citizens will have reasons to thank Mr. President for wiping away our tears.

    “I am sure Nigerians are not hearing much from Chief Audu Ogbe, the minister for agriculture, he is working with vigor to make sure Nigerians does not lack food next year, he is working sleeplessly to bring an end to the hungers on the land. The same thing apply to Rotimi Amaechi, Fashiola and other ministers, they are working silently to end our problems, and they have a president that will not take any excuse for failure.

  • I was never a PDP member  – General Ukagu

    I was never a PDP member  – General Ukagu

    Former Commander of the Amphibious Training School of the Nigerian Army in Calabar, General Enang Ukagu, who joined the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Cross River State, has refuted reports that he belonged to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Ukagu who joined the party last weekend in Nko in Yakurr Local Government Area of the state, where over 500 PDP members defected to the APC, stressed that he was not one of the defectors as was erroneously reported in some national dailies.

    “I have never been involved in politics. Since my retirement from the Army, I have not been involved. The APC is the first political party I am joining,” he said.

    Ukagu who retired in March 2015 as the Commander of Amphibious Training School of the Nigerian Army in Calabar, said he choose to join the APC in order to enable him contribute his quota to the change programme of the present administration.

    He said the APC has proven to Nigerians that this is the era of good governance and prudent management of the country’s resources, hence the need to support the present administration in its drive to change the fortune of the country for the better.

  • Labour Party chairman slams defectors in Cross River

    Labour Party chairman slams defectors in Cross River

    The chairman of the Labour Party in Cross River State, Mr Austin Ibok has slammed defectors from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to All Progressives Congress (APC) describing them as despicable.

    Ibok said in Calabar, “I wonder if most of the defectors would have considered joining APC if the 2015 presidential elections was won by the PDP. I also wonder if they will remain in APC if their future political ambitions is not realised or the appointment they hope to get from the center is not given to them.”

    He posited that if they are any set of people the APC must attend to first in terms of appointments and empowerment, it is the original APC members who kept faith with the party in the midst of nothing.

    Ibok, who also doubles as the Special Adviser to the governor on Inter Party Affairs described the defectors as fair weather politicians who seek to gain from a party than contribute to make the party more formidable.

    He urged leadership of the APC to be very careful with the defectors even as he hopes that those of them moving to APC today will not dump the party if the party loses power in future.

    “The defectors especially those from Cross River State are the same people who have milked the state dry in the past 16 years in the various positions of responsibility they attained. They are merely looking for another opportunity and platform to continue to unleash their wicked tendencies as the defectors seem to have forgotten in a hurry how their new found party rose to power. It was was sheer hard work, perseverance, patience and commitment that gave APC its victory – a feature that is completely lacking in the new entrants,” he said.

    He also noted that those picking holes in his appointment as Special Adviser on Inter Party Affairs that his appointment is as a result of the desire of the governor to run an all inclusive government where members of the opposition can also play a prominent role.

    He said his appointment has not in any way stripped the party of its position as the most credible alternative platform.

    He said the role of the opposition was to offer constructive criticism on government programmes and projects when it is anti people, offer solutions, as well as commend them when they do right.

    “The role of the opposition is basically to checkmate government in order to help them deliver on their campaign promises, a role the Labour Party will continue to play,” he said.

  • Defectors will not destabilise APC, says Tinubu

    Defectors will not destabilise APC, says Tinubu

    •Olubadan incorruptible, fearless’

    All Progressives Congress (APC) National Leader Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu said yesterday that the influx of defectors into APC won’t pose any danger to the party.

    Tinubu spoke yesterday at the Government House in Ibadan during a condolence visit to the family of the late Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Samuel Odulana Odugbade 1.

    The former Lagos State governor, extolling the virtures of Oba Odulana, who passed on last week, also spoke on the nation’s economy

    Tinubu said:  “A human being must be able to associate and join any political party he or she wants, so you cannot stop them, or discriminate against them. If any member of a party is coming into APC and he is discriminated upon, it will be unfair.

    “A good political party must be tolerant, accommodating to any member of a party coming into APC as long as they do not import corruption and injustice into our party. It is necessary for us to be tolerant and that is why APC is welcoming them into the party and we shall not discriminate against them.”

    On the dwindling oil price, he said there are variables in the oil sector which the government needs to look critically at.

    The APC leader said:”We are not the only country affected; it is universal. We have to manage ourselves, challenge ourselves and be more creative in a way it will not affect the welfare of the people because government is about the people.

    “We should also be innovative and develop our economy in such a way that will show the leadership position that we always espouse in Africa. Now and years back, we have been talking about diversification of the oil sector but it has always been on the drawing note and we never implemented it.

    “There are so many ways to revitalise this economy. It is not as bad as people make it appear. The past is nauseating and there has never been a principle of good governance. We have to support and encourage this administration in its struggle against insurgency, because if you do not clear terrorism, foreign investors will not come in. We also need to support the administration to fight kidnapping of expatriates and many of our citizens. Nigerians also need to be patient with the administration to revatalise the economy. “

    During his visit to the Monatan Ibadan private residence of the late Olubadan, Tinubu was accompanied by Governor Abiola Ajimobi; Oyo Speaker Michael Adeyemo; former interim National Chairman of the APC, Chief Bisi Akande; National Vice Chairman (Southwest) of the party, Chief Pius Akinyelure; state Chairman Chief Akin Oke, among others.

    The team was received by the Olubadan-in council, led by the Otun Olubadan, High Chief Lekan Balogun and Otun Balogun, High Chief Owolabi Olakulehin and the children of the late foremost traditional ruler, led by Prof. Femi Lana.

    Tinubu said Oba Odulana  did not hide his backing for the Ajimobi-led administration’s urban renewal and operation clean-up Ibadan; a city, he said, was dotted with heaps of refuse before Ajimobi mounted the saddle.

    Tinubu said: “Our late Baba lived an exemplary life worthy of emulation by our traditional institution. He was fearless, courageous and incorruptible. We are proud of his spartan lifestyle and discipline.

    “Kabiyesi loved Ajimobi and I can say that he was one of his staunch backers for the governorship ticket. His support for the governor and his programmes, especially the urban renewal and cleanliness we are now witnessing in Ibadan, was without bounds.

    “Ibadan was full of filth and heaps of refuse before Ajimobi became governor, but he cleaned up the city. Kabiyesi was so impressed by this, just as many of us, that he conferred the title of Atunluse on Ajimobi. We are proud of the governor’s achievements.

    Tinubu expressed delight at the agelong seamless Olubadan of Ibadanland succession process, which, he said, would have been a worthy model for political succession, but for what he called the intrigues and do-or-die phenomenon introduced into the country’s politics.

    The Otun Olubadan said the Olubadan-in-council and the people of Ibadan felt highly honoured for the visit, adding that the council was proud of Ajimobi and his support for the palace before and after the death of the Olubadan.

    The Balogun said it was “heartwarming” that Oba Odulana was on the throne and died when “the son of the soil” (an Ibadan indigene) was the governor.

  • PDP in secret talks with ex-govs, defectors to APC

    PDP in secret talks with ex-govs, defectors to APC

    Abandoned by its founding fathers, the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) is in talks with some of its former governors and other chieftains who defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress(APC).

    The secret talks are part of the strategies to rebrand and reposition of the party ahead of the 2019 polls.

    Some of the negotiations took place abroad to avoid the prying eyes of security agencies on the realignment of political forces.

    Among those being targeted by PDP are ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar; Senate President Bukola Saraki; ex-governors Rabiu Kwankwaso, Danjuma Goje, Aliyu Wammako, Governor Aminu Tambuwal, several APC Senators, members of the House of Representatives and others.

    Sources in the know of the talks told The Nation last night that none of the leaders or members of the National Assembly has yet agreed to the overtures.

    It was gathered that the PDP leadership is desperate to have the ex-governors and defectors back in the fold and has resorted to tracking the movement of the targeted APC leaders abroad for further talks.

    The party is said to be focusing on the North-East, North-West and North-Central even as it does not want to lose its grip on the South-South and South-East.

    It is also said to be weighing the option of conceding the party’s presidential ticket to the North-East in 2019.

    “We are determined to bring back our top leaders who defected to APC. We want to heal wounds, we are already reaching out to some of these ex-governors and leaders,” a member of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) said.

    “So far, none of them has made any commitment. Some of them have become disenchanted with PDP to the extent that they don’t want to hear the name of this party again.

    “Others are demanding reforms in PDP before they can even contemplate thinking about their return to our party.

    “We are leaving all options open and we are reaching out to top leaders, ex-governors and the grassroots. We will return PDP to its original ideals.”

    It was learnt that the absence of ex-President Ibrahim Babangida; ex-Minister of Finance, Mallam Adamu Ciroma; ex-Vice President Namadi Sambo and influential party leaders from the North at the party’s National Conference on Thursday jolted the NWC and left them with the impression that  North is not about to forgive the party yet.

    Another source said: “I think the challenge facing PDP now is that Southern elements have hijacked the structure of the party and no one is happy about it.

    “Certainly, they must restructure the party to create a sense of belonging for all. So far, what we see is the same South-South and South-East elements trying to play on the intelligence of the North again.

    “Let them come up with terms which will guarantee fairness and Justice for all. For instance, why will PDP not respect its zoning formula on party offices?

    “Why can’t an acting National Chairman emerge from the North-East to which it was originally zoned?

    “If PDP is seeking equity, it must do so with clean hands.”

    Already, a fresh crisis is brewing in the party over the choice of its next National Chairman in March.

    Investigation revealed that ex-Governor Ayo Fayose is spearheading the zoning of the office to the South-West.

    Fayose’s argument is that of all the six geo-political zones only the Southwest is yet to produce PDP National Chairman.

    Former national chairmen of PDP were: Chief Solomon Lar(North-Central); Barnabas Gemade( North Central);  Audu Ogbeh( North-Central);  Ahmadu Ali ( North-Central); Vincent Ogbulafor ( South East); Abubakar Kawu Baraje( North-Central); and  Okwesileze Nwodo(North-East); Mohammed Bello Haliru( North-West); Bamanga Tukur(North-East) and Adamu Muazu( North-East).

    A party leader said: “The governor also believes that the South-East and the South-South have had more than their  share of the office of the National chairman.

    “But some party leaders are still pushing for the retention of Prince Uche Secondus as the party’s National Chairman to assuage the South-South which lost the presidency in March.

    “Again, we have some NWC members who have done no other job since 1999 other than holding party offices. Yet, these people have fueled the successive crises in the party.

    “This same NWC accounted for PDP’s defeat at the polls. Why must we retain them in March 2016? These are the issues for consideration by leaders of the party in our repositioning process.”

     

  • Defectors can’t stop my re-election, says Dickson

    Defectors can’t stop my re-election, says Dickson

    Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson has said his re-election is guaranteed.

    The governor spoke with reporters in Lagos on the gale of defections in Bayelsa State, the preparations for the governorship poll and failure of the PDP to retain power at the centre in the last general elections.

    He also gave reasons why former President Goodluck Jonathan lost his second term bid.

    The reason they are positioning themselves for the federal appointments is because APC is at the centre now. I am not in a position to do it

    He attributed Dr. Jonathan’s defeat to many factors, including power fatigue, controversy over the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) rotational principle, zoning, religion, ethnicity, betrayal and  mismanagement of the presidential campaign by party officials.

    Dickson added that he would earn second term because he had lived up to expectation in his first term.

    He chided Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftains, who have defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC), saying that they are after federal appointments.

    Dickson, who acknowledged that there are some hurdles to cross before securing a second term, said he would triumph over political challenges as he did in the past when forces against his first term ambition polarised the party.

    He said former President Goodluck Jonathan has reiterated his determination to back him for a second term, adding that there is no bone of contention between him and his wife, former first lady Dame Patience Jonathan.

    Dickson described the PDP as the party to beat in Bayelsa, adding that the “governorship election is not a big deal,” compared to the recent House of Assembly poll.

    The governor, who said he enjoyed cordial relations with the former president and his wife, enjoined Nigerians to await his memoirs where real details of battle he fought when he was running for governorship in 2012 would be clearly stated.

    He said: “What I know about the former president is that the former president remains my elder brother and my leader, and we are working closely. If there is anyone who believes and who is supportive and understood the imperatives, the reasons why I should be re- elected is former President Jonathan.

    “He believes I have done well and I am doing well for our state and for our people.”

    Dickson said the former president was aware that he was his no 1 supporter from beginning to the end when he was in power, pointing out that all that was being said about the sour relation between him and former president was speculations and rumours he would not like to react to.

    “Former president knows that I was his no 1 supporter from beginning to the end, I don’t want to comment on speculations and rumours,” he said.

    On the defection from the PDP, Dickson, while describing it as blackmail, propaganda, political betrayal and show of ingratitude, said the concern was that those involved were ones who had benefited immensely form his government and the party.

    According to him, a lot of them are currently handling huge contracts, which he said they didn’t beg to get but were sought for to be given those contracts.

    “They didn’t come begging for those jobs, we sought for them. Alaibe has his nominees in government even as we speak, all of them,” he said, adding that such act would, however, not dissuade him from doing good as it only showed the capacity of people for doing evil.

    Dickson, who said the reason why the defectors were rushing to the opposition, contrary to other excuse that they were not paid for contracts they executed for government, was to position themselves for Federal appointments as Bayelsa had never been in opposition camp until now, insisted that he had been good to all that defected through quality leadership as he did not see them as enemies.

    “The reason they are positioning themselves for the federal appointments is because APC is at the centre now. I am not in a position to do it.

    He, however, said that in spite of what had taken place, Bayelsans from various constituencies in the state had been endorsing his second term bid, even in places where he had not visited, including Alaibe’s homestead.

  • ‘Defectors from Bayelsa PDP ‘ll be disappointed’

    ‘Defectors from Bayelsa PDP ‘ll be disappointed’

    The Secretary of the  Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Reconciliation Committee and founder of Bayelsa Development Forum (BDF), Chief Thompson Okorotie, speaks with MIKE ODIEGWU in Yenegoa, the state capital, on the gale of defections from the party and other issues.

    What is responsible for the crisis in the Bayelsa PDP?

    I will call it misunderstanding. In every family, big or small, particularly the big ones, there are bound to be misgivings, complaints, grievances at one time or the other, particularly now that it has become well established in Bayelsa state. Especially when it is election time, there are so many interests. I believe that PDP remains strong, united and that is why we have reconciliation committees at various levels and we are making sure that grievances, where they are established to be genuine, are looked into because there are some complaints that have no basis in truth. Some are fabrications, some are excuses for them to do what they want to do. There are those who are not very patient. There are those who must see themselves enjoying all the time. Some people are not used to self-sacrifice at some point. This makes the unstable politician jump ship very frequently but at the end of the day they end up damaging their political image. It s something that is happening in Bayelsa state. Even in any other place, when it is election time, there is usually a lot of tension.

    You are a member of the reconciliation committee set upby former President Goodluck Jonathan to unite the party. How far has that committee gone?

    I’m not just a member, I’m also the secretary of the committee and we are doing that work. It will not be proper to talk about the committee prior to the submission of a report, but we are working and there is a lot of progress.

    Are you not worried that some founding members of the PDP are leaving the party for the APC?

    Not all founding members are leaving. Maybe they are one or two. Founding members of the party are those who signed the document that brought about PDP in Sheraton Hotel in 1998. Call them for me. I signed the document.

    Why are the elders not supporting the governor again?

    There are some people who don’t want to have self-sacrifice at some point. But, things cannot be good for them all the time. I have been in this game for close to 40 years. I have seen many administrations having hiccups at this kind of time. At the end of the day, because of their grounded nature in terms of accomplishment, in terns of their support base, they always at the end of the day prevail. Those who miscalculate go and before you know it like the immediate past President said, they come back with empty stomachs. APC has not finished looking after their members to remember you who was a creation of PDP, developed by PDP, empowered by PDP and now you are moving. They know you and your antecedents. There are one or two people that have left us. We have to watch and see because we are still in the majority. There is no way there will be 100% at any particular time.

    The defectors have accused the state government of polarising the PDP. Do you share that view?

    I don’t share that view. The only area I see them talk about is the fact there were disciplinary actions. I think for a party, there should be disciplined. There should be party supremacy. You can’t belong to a party, even work closely with those that are in government and at election time you go out of that party to sponsor or develop candidate in parties that don’t even exist in reality in the state. That is why Article 23 of our party Constitution provides for an elders’ committee with a responsibility to go into dispute and carry out conflict resolution because at some point there will be misunderstanding because most people look at politics from their own personal viewpoint.

    Some say ‘I wanted to be this and I was not picked’. Will someone die because of that? At every time, somebody will become lucky. At every point in time, somebody will be picked. It could be destiny. Everything that is happening to somebody is not an accident, it is as proposed by God and that is why you will find some people assuming offices under very mysterious circumstances. It is God’s own wish and therefore, I’ll appeal that we should try and be patient. We should try and understand. When there is an atmosphere of reconciliation,there should also be discipline.

    So, you are supporting the expulsion and suspension of the PDP heavyweights?

    Yes, I back it. But at some point, we are also saying that if there is an opportunity to review it, we can review it in the spirit of reconciliation.

    Is governor Seriake Dickson electable for a second term?

    Very much electable. In fact,he is the best foot that PDP has for the following reasons. First,he has performed creditably, comparatively with any other governor that has ever ruled here. What he did in two and the half years is history. What has slowed project down is purely a function of economic downturn. You can only develop with money that you have especially when you are running a government of prudence especially when you are running a government that is not corrupt.

    He has credibility. Apart from that, he is going into areas other governors did not have the courage to go into. For example, the three senatorial roads, they are federal roads, but he has gone to them. Road has gone to Nembe. Road is approaching Oporoma. The one going to Ogboibiri, has gone beyond Ofoni. Our wealth is in the ocean and if our roads get to that area, we will experience development and the energy that is locked up in our rural areas will be unlocked. We are very energetic people, but inaccessibility by way of lack of road has been a problem.

    But, the governor has been accused of  embarking on many projects at the same time without considering their implications. How will you react to this?

    It is not true. The governor was carrying out projects within the limit of the funds he had. Dickson is one of the consultative governors. Go into the government house, downstairs and upstairs, people are full. He is one of the most accessible governors that we have had. In fact, some people have even told him, ‘you will die very early. Why don’t you programme some if these visitors for the deputy governor, for commissioner and all that’. He will say, ‘What will I do? Most people want to see the governor’ Accusing him of lack of consultation is not right. These people that are talking are beneficiaries of this government. They had contracts. They were paid and they had appointments. I am an elder. I’m looking for reconciliation and even  those who have are welcome back.

  • Prophet to Buhari: Beware of defectors to APC

    Prophet to Buhari: Beware of defectors to APC

    The Shepherd-in-charge of the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), The Greatest God Chapel, Prophet Israel Nasiri, has warned President Muhammadu Buhari that most of the defectors to the All Progressives Congress (APC) will work against his good intentions for the nation.

    Most of them, he stated, must be done away with by the President before he can succeed in his drive to change the nation.

    Nasiri, in a statement last week, said: “”Buhari will have a lot of problems. It was the people that spoilt PDP that are deflecting to APC. Nigerians knew that Tambuwal for instance was a PDP man.

    “You cannot tell me that he didn’t have good relationship with personalities like former presidents Goodluck Jonathan and Olusegun Obasanjo.

    “Buhari should note that as most of these politicians conspired against Jonathan and got rid of him, they could do the same thing for him.

    “If Buhari wants to succeed, he should be a friend to politicians with unstable policies but never to entrust anything in their hands.”

    He added: “Growth means improvement from limited level to unlimited. Nigerians have been clamouring for change in churches, mosques, market places and everywhere.

    “But God told me that Nigeria does not need change; they need growth. Nigeria needs to grow spiritually, economically, religiously and so on.

    “Change means moving or shifting from one place or thing to another. God said Nigerians are deceiving themselves. What kind of change are we talking about?

    “Is it change from good to bad or bad to good? We are crying for change but have we defined the kind of change we desire?”

    He went on: “Nigeria needs growth and not change. I advise the new president and other elected officers including governors to consider this.

    “You can only grow with Christ with good conscience. For instance, Ekiti people were clamouring for change. I think they have seen change but they are crying today.”

    Nasiri said politicians should not hide behind religion to destroy the nation, claiming that the leaders have used religion to destabilise Nigeria.

    “A nation is a group of people leaving in a unit together guided by constitution. Every human being has different beliefs. We may have different God but it is obvious that people profess they have one creator.”

    The cleric called on political leaders to be focused on services, shunning violence and wickedness.

  • ‘APC leadership must beware of defectors’

    ‘APC leadership must beware of defectors’

    Prince Paul Ikonne is a former governorship candidate of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Abia State and a chieftain of APC in the state. In this chat with Tony Akowe in Abuja he advice APC leadership to put defectors to the new ruling party ‘where they belong.’

    There are reports in the media of the planned defection of Senator Nkechi Nwogu from the PDP to the APC in Abia State. What is your reaction to this?

    I see that to be disgusting and an act of desperation for somebody like that to think of dumping her party at this point in time because to the best of my knowledge, she has not joined APC. I hear her talk about change and I don’t understand what she understands by change. The change Nigerians are talking about is not changing from PDP to APC, but changing the pattern of doing things, changing the present situation in Nigeria, changing the way our economy is run, changing the way our people do things, changing from corruption to doing things the right way. So, if what she called change is changing from PDP to APC, that is totally wrong in our understanding of change and that is not the change APC is talking about. One would have expected that she should wait and see what the government of APC will bring on board which will form her opinion of dumping her party and crossing over to APC. Moreover, our national leadership has made it clear that those that are intending to join the party should wait and remain in their party, build their party and provide credible opposition so that by so doing, Nigeria will move forward. So, I advice Senator Nkechi Nwogu to hold her peace, remain in her party and provide credible opposition and when the time comes and the national leadership deems it fit that the doors should be opened for people to begin to jump into the party, she will be properly informed and she will be welcomed. To the best of my knowledge, she is not welcome yet because for now, it will amount to taking old wine and putting it in a new bottle.

    Beyond what you saw on television, have you heard from the leadership of the party in the state that she wants to join the APC?

    I was told that the event took place in the office of a member of the BOT. I heard that they were at a meeting when she gate crashed into the meeting to make her intention known that she is joining the party. I heard the state chairman told her that the time is not yet ripe and the governorship candidate also told her that for now, the doors are not open for her to join the party, but that she should hold her peace. I am towing the same line.

    But the constitution allows her or any other person the right to join any party of her choice. Don’t you think Nigerians would think that those of you who don’t want her to join the party now feel threatened?

     We are not stopping her from joining. We are saying she should show integrity and show us reason for wanting to join the APC. What has she seen in the APC that interests her to want to join? Is it the same desperation and fear of being out of power for people who believe they must be in power? What is she bringing on board? What is it that she contributed to PDP or wanted to contribute to PDP and was not able to contribute? What has she seen that is different from PDP? We are not stopping her from joining, but we are asking what your reason is? She has been a member of the senate under PDP for eight years. Why are you now dumping PDP few days to the end of your tenure?

     So, what would you say to the leadership of the party regarding these people who are joining the party after it recorded victory?

    You cannot take old wine and put in new bottle. These are people that are coming to distract the party, so I advice the leadership of the party to be conscious.

    Are you saying the party does not have the mechanism to checkmate all those joining the party?

    To be honest with you, the leadership of APC has the capacity to manage any crisis. If you noticed, there were a lot of things that were said would not happen. They said the merger would not work; APC will not be able to produce a presidential candidate. You noticed that all these things were properly handled and Nigerians were happy for it. For those that are coming in, I know that the party has the capacity to handle them and place them where they belong.

     The National Leader of the party said recently that the party will not adopt zoning of offices, but would rely on competence. How do you think your zone that did not give much votes to the APC would benefit from this arrangement?

      What the South-East did is as good as voting much. You would recall that in the 2011 elections, from my state, PDP got over one million votes. So, based on that, you will not say that the South-East did not vote for the President. If they were muzzling us and we insisted that the right thing must be done and the card reader must be used and you cannot rig this time around and the result showed that it was difficult. For example, in Abia, what they wrote was over three hundred thousand votes as against over one million votes in 2011. So, you would agree with me that South-East will not be isolated considering the role we played. You can also remember that when Buhari visited Aba, there was a standing ovation. He was not molested by throwing of pure water and he was not afraid of walking in the market. That showed acceptability. So, I believe that whatever is due to the South-East, they will get it.

      You took GMB to Ariaria Market. Why did you choose to take him to Ariaria Market?

    Ariara Market in Aba is one of the biggest markets in West Africa. It is a market that whatever you want, you will get and yet, it has been forgotten. It is supposed to be an international market, but there is nothing to show that it is an international market. So, based on that, we needed him to see ahead of time that a lot of work needs to be done, that this city has been abandoned. The symbolic thing is that the road leading to that international market was built by the new President when he was PTF chairman.