The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Faparusi

  • 2019: Faparusi calls for thorough screening of NASS aspirants

    Following the gale of defections rocking the two legislative chambers of the Nigerian national assembly, the former All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirant in the just concluded Ekiti State governorship election, Hon. Bamidele Faparusi, has called on the party to ensure thorough screening of aspirants seeking people’s mandates for national assembly in 2019.

    Speaking with The Nation in a telephone chat yesterday, the APC chieftain said the current gale of defections among members of the two chambers of national assembly is an evidence of ideological bankruptcy in the Nigerian political system.

    The former federal lawmaker, who started his political career under Alliance for Democracy (AD) as youth leader, advised the party to learn from the past experience and guide against future occurrence by ensuring the next set of parliamentarians are properly screened. He said the party should ensure that those who will fly the party flag in the national assembly should be the people who are progressive minded and have track records of political stability.

     

  • Faparusi hails Buhari, Tinubu for neutrality

    Former House of Representatives member, Hon. Bamidele Faparusi, has praised the national leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for not having a preferred  candidate among the 33 aspirants vying for its ticket in the July governorship election in Ekiti State .

    Faparusi specifically lauded the position canvassed by the party’s National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, that President Muhammadu Buhari and the Southwest zonal  leaders would not back any of the aspirants ahead of the May 5 primary.

    The aspirants had attended a meeting in Lagos last Friday  at the behest of the zonal leaders.

    The meeting was convened by Tinubu, in conjunction with former governors Bisi Akande (Osun), Segun Osoba (Ogun) and the National Vice Chairman (Southwest), Chief Pius Akinyelure, on the need for a transparent primary to reduce  crisis in the party ahead of the July 14 governorship poll.

    Faparusi while briefing some delegates on the outcome of the Lagos parley on Monday said he understands the interest of the zonal leaders in the primary and their intention to witness the shadow election as observers.

    The governorship aspirant said this would make the primary to be transparent and credible in view of the fear that the election could be skewed in favour of any aspirant.

    Faparusi insisted that the party has no reason to fail in the coming election, owing to lacklustre performance of Governor Ayodele Fayose and his inability to pay salaries of workers.

    He said the party has good chances of winning the election, only if a popular and acceptable  candidate is chosen to fly the party’s flag.

    He said: “We must de-emphasise this phantom ‘federal might’ thing. You can only be privileged to deploy ‘federal might’ when the right candidate emerges.

    “I have been in politics for some time and I know there is no power that can override the collective will of the people.

    “President Muhammadu Buhari was able to conquer the power of the presidency in 2015 presidential race because of his electrifying popularity across Nigeria.

     

     

     

     

  • Adopt Southwest template for primary, says Faparusi

    A member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Bamidele Faparusi, has advised the national leadership of the All Progressives Congress(APC) to comply with the recommendations of the Southwest leaders of the party in conducting the May 5 primary of the party.

    Faparusi, said the recommendations, if strictly followed will stabilize the party and limit post-primary crisis for APC to be able to prosecute the July 14 election with a united house.

    The Southwest National Vice Chairman of the party, Chief Pius Akinyelure and other chairmen in the six states of the zone, had  held a meeting with the 30 aspirants on Thursday, where they agreed that the authentic delegates’ list must be made available to aspirants before the shadow election.

    Part of the recommendations  were that, the aspirants should meet and come up with a guideline that will  conform with their expectations, that party should be fair to all aspirants and to also display neutrality for the primary to be acceptable to all.

    In a statement in Ado Ekiti at the weekend, Faparusi said the zonal leaders had made the job easier for Chief John Odigie-Oyegun-led executive by drawing a template that would ease tension in the party.

    Faparusi appealed to all aspirants to cooperate with the party leaderships and  be vigilant to ensure that all their promises are fulfilled.

    He said the only way the party can prevent crisis in the party is by ensuring that all the aspirants are given a level –playing field.

    Faparusi warned  that the party may lose control of members if shady deals were noticed in the conduct of the primary.

    “When the primary is free, fair and credible, the party can easily exercise control over the aspirants by persuading them to support the winner.

    “But , this may not be an easy task when the party decided to rig in favour of an aspirant. I quite understood that party supremacy is in operation but  this can’t be deployed to the detriment of party supporters.

    “No party can exist in isolation, it can only exist with the people.

    That is why it is important for APC to treat  its members with respect and dignity. It should refrain from toeing the PDP ruinous path.

    “The moment party members and filled with suspicion and can no longer trust the leadership, then the party is heading for doom”, he said.

    Faparusi stated that those who were expecting implosion in the party will be disappointed , predicting that the party will remain united after the primary, provided the right things are done.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • I’m still in race, says Faparusi

    Former House of Representatives member Bamidele Faparusi has denied withdrawing from the governorship race in Ekiti State.

    Faparusi, who is seeking the nomination of the All Progressives Congress (APC), said he would not step down for another contender.

    The aspirant, who has obtained his nomination and expression of interest forms said his determination to serve Ekiti people was the motivating factor behind his ambition.

    It was widely rumoured two weeks ago that Faparusi had withdrawn from the race and negotiating for either the deputy governor or Ekiti South senatorial seat.

    Addressing reporters in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, Faparusi described his purported withdrawal as “a mere wishful thinking of mischief makers.”

    He said: “I am not just in the race, I am winning the race and I am winning the main election. I fit into the criteria to be governor.

    “My followers should continue to mobilize because it is not about me but our people yearning for good governance.

    “I started moving round since January 2016, that I over two years ago, I have built a political structure and this structure will deliver me victory.”

  • Ekiti people tired of recycled leadership, says Faparusi

    A governorship aspirant in Ekiti State,  Bamidele Faparusi, said yesterday that the people are tired of recycled leadership.

    They are craving for a fresh blood and ideas, he added in a statement.

    Faparusi, a member of the Seventh House of Representatives, who is vying for the ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC), advised former Governors Segun Oni and Kayode Fayem, who are also seeking the APC ticket to allow new people to fly the flag in the July 14 election.

    According to him, “the shabby way the people are being treated by Governor Ayodele Fayose in his second coming, has made matter worse for those seeking to return to office.

    He said: “The Ekiti electorate know what they want. The mood in town is that the masses no longer want Governor  Fayose’s domination of the politics in the state. His regime has not been profitable to the people.

    “They want a fresh person who has never tasted that seat to come on board. They believe that all ex-governors are as cunning as Fayose, who has been dribbling and exploiting the people.

    Faparusi accused Governor Fayose of impoverishing the people with his policies and by not paying salaries.

    “Governor Fayose tricked Ekiti electorate to scheme a return to the Government House. “Today, he is busy demolishing houses in Ado Ekiti where he got the bulk of the votes that brought him back.”

    On the election, he said: “This is the more reason why our leaders must be cautious. Winning this election goes beyond what APC can unilaterally dictate, it rests largely on the populace and we have to respect their views on the coming Ekiti election”, Faparusi advised.

  • Faparusi hails Tinubu at 66

    Former chairman of Ekiti State Hospitals Management Board and a governorship aspirant under the platform of All Progressive Congress (APC), Bamidele Faparusi, has joined other well meaning Nigerians to felicitate with former Lagos State governor and APC national leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed  Tinubu, on his 66th birthday anniversary.

    The governorship hopeful, while congratulating the APC national leader in Ado-Ekiti yesterday, hailed him for his patriotic and unrelenting service to the party and the nation at large. He said President Mohammadu Buhari made no mistake in appointing Tinubu at this critical time in APC to reconcile the aggrieved members of the ruling party.

    Faparusi described Tinubu as a father and great leader with a large heart and capacity to accommodate different opinion and criticism. He tasked the APC national leader and his reconciliation team to beam their searchlights on APC governorship aspirants in Ekiti to ensure that the interests of all aspirants in the forthcoming governorship election in the State are protected.

  • Faparusi pledges to transform Ekiti

    Faparusi pledges to transform Ekiti

    A governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State, Hon. Bamidele Faparusi, has promised to turn around the state’s economy and empower its people, if voted into office.

    Faparusi, a former House of Representatives member, said the major policy thrust of his administration will be commercial agriculture, technological innovation and tourism.

    He maintained that it is the turn of Ekiti South Senatorial District to produce the next governor in the election scheduled for July 14.

    The former federal lawmaker said he possessed the education, pedigree and experience to occupy the number one seat. He described the APC as a better platform to realise the dream.

    Faparusi spoke in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital while appearing on a public accountability programme, ‘My Agenda,’ organised by the state council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).

  • 2019: APC has nothing to fear over Atiku’s exit, says Faparusi

    2019: APC has nothing to fear over Atiku’s exit, says Faparusi

    Former member of the House of Representatives, Hon Bamidele Faparusi, has said the exit of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar from the All Progressives Congress (APC) will not affect the party in 2019.

    He added that President Muhammadu Buhari’s mass appeal in the northern  and southern parts of the country would continue to soar.

    He said: “The President needs no support from Alhaji Atiku to return to power in 2019. In the 2007 presidential election,  Buhari came second with over  7 million votes as an individual while Atiku, a sitting Vice President came third with over two million votes.”

    Faparuti noted that the call by  Governor Rochas Okorocha and other APC governors to accord the President the right of first refusal  ahead of  of 2019 was to underestimate  Buhari’s electrifying acceptability.

    He explained that the President enjoys immense popularity within and outside APC. He added that the prudent lifestyle, anti-corruption posture  and masses-oriented policies of the nation’s leader was unquantifiable.

    Faparusi said  Buhari and APC remain solid and acceptable to Nigerians with or without Atiku, describing the noise over  his defection as mere fantasy hinged on old glory.

    He said: “President Buhari will win free and fair in APC primary in 2019, that was the principal  reason why some over- ambitious APC stalwarts  may want to leave the party to pursue their ambitions. Any other reason given for defection was  a fallacy and cheap blackmail .

    “Nigeria can’t criminalise defection ,  it is however, a  right which I believe should be exercised responsibly. We can only have one President at a time and there  is no reason aside selfish motive, to want to change a focused, sincere and performing President like  Buhari.

    “I urge other still nursing the ambition of displacing the President to do that responsibly by facing the President in a free and fair primary in 2019, instead of leaving the party or sowing divisive seeds”.

    Faparusi said those calling for automatic ticket for President Muhammadu Buhari are only playing to the gallery.

    “People calling for automatic ticket for the president are only playing to the gallery, as such idea will neither serve the overall interest of the party nor the President.

    “To the best of my knowledge and understanding of politics, asking for automatic ticket for the President is tantamount to playing down his  popularity.

    “Going by records, Buhari remains an enigma being the first Nigerian to defeat a powerful sitting President.  That is why I support the call for a free, fair and transparent primary in the presidential poll, the way I want it in Ekiti governorship”, he said.

    Faparusi said a free and fair primary is the only tonic the APC needs to win next year’s  governorship poll in Ekiti, adding that imposition will wreck the party and render its candidate useless at the poll.

  • Ekiti 2018: Faparusi unfolds development agenda to apc elders

    Ekiti 2018: Faparusi unfolds development agenda to apc elders

    The Ekiti State All Progressives Congress (APC) Elders’ Forum has appealed to the governorship aspirants to conduct themselves within the ambit of the party’s constitution by shunning desperation and uncouth statements.
    The elders said they will not support any aspirant who will win election and abandon them as witnessed in the past.
    The Chairman of the Forum, Chief George Akosile, spoke in Igbara Odo Ekiti, Ekiti South West Local Government Area, while playing host to a former member of the House of Representatives and governorship aspirant, Hon. Bamidele Faparusi.
    Faparusi, who visited the elders, zoning to the south senatorial district, which the elders described as a legitimate right.
    The Chairman counseled that the agitators for zoning should reach out to the party machinery to be able achieve their goal.
    Akosile said: “Though we are elders, but we can play prominent role in government. We can be appointed based on our experiences. We don’t want any aspirant to ride on our back only to abandon us when they get there”.
    “This is the first public declaration that I would do since I started this consultation and this underscores the fact that I will never abandon you if I get there.
    “I can’t disparage your experiences and your contributions to our party and whoever does so is risking his political future.
    “I have passion to develop Ekiti. Though, we might not have oil, but we have brains which we can deploy like Finland and Israel, who rely on agriculture and technology to develop their economies.
    Faparusi added: “As I speak with you, I have never worked for anybody in my life. I took up my own job after graduation despite that I came from a poor home. Today, I have close to 100 staff working for me. So, whoever that will lead Ekiti must first display dexterity at his own level”.
    Faparusi urged the leaders to help in amplifying the advocacy for zoning to make it sink deeper into the minds of the party leaders at the state and national levels.