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Tag: Ganduje

  • ‘Olubadan is a good manager of diverse ethnic groups in Ibadan’ – Ganduje

    ‘Olubadan is a good manager of diverse ethnic groups in Ibadan’ – Ganduje

    The National Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, on Tuesday described the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Olalekan Balogun, as a good manager of diverse ethnic groups.

    Ganduje, while speaking during a visit to the Olubadan palace, said the traditional ruler has done well in managing the diverse ethnic groups in the city.

    He said the Olubadan had been known for his exceptional quality in ensuring peace and harmony in Ibadanland and the country at large.

    “I found it absolutely necessary to pay homage to the king as one of the respected traditional institutions in Yoruba land before embarking on my party engagements in this city.

    “The Olubadan has always been known to be a good manager of diversity and lover of peace, which we need at this current time of our journey to take our nation to greater heights,” the APC chairman said.

    “We are also grateful to you for maintaining peaceful co-existence in Ibadanland,” he added.

    Ganduje then used the opportunity to thank the Olubadan for the title of good character, the Are Afiwajoye of Ibadanland, which was bestowed on him earlier.

    Read Also: Ganduje commissions APC Campaign Council Secretariat in Imo

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that those who received Ganduje before he headed for the Olubadan palace included a former deputy governor of Oyo State, Mr Moses Alake.

    There were also the Chairman of the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII), Mr Sulaiman Ajewole, and several Oyo State APC members.

    Speaking on Ganduje’s visit, the Oyo State APC Publicity Secretary, Olawale Sadare, described the national chairman as a leader who respects the traditional institutions and believes in building good relationship.

    “And this is why we in the party in Oyo State believe in the ability of the National Chairman to work with President Bola Tinubu in actualising his good policies for the country,” Sadare said.

    (NAN) 

  • Ganduje commissions APC Campaign Council Secretariat in Imo

    Ganduje commissions APC Campaign Council Secretariat in Imo

    The National Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC) Dr.Abdullahi Umar Ganduje with  other stakeholders of the party have officially commissioned the 2023 Imo Guber Candidate Council Secretariat in Imo State.

    Inaugurating the secretariat besides Dan Anyiam Stadium, Wethedral road, Ganduje applauded Governor Hope Uzodimma, who is Imo APC standard bearer for the November 11 2023 gubernatorial polls for constructing the edifice. 

    He promised witg other leaders of the party and supporters to ensure the re-election of Governor Uzodimma.

    Read Also: Ganduje, APC govs, deputy speaker storm Owerri for Uzodimma

    Uzodimma thanked the national chairman for coming to commission the campaign Council secretariat for his re-election bid. 

    He said:  “My great people of Imo State, just as I have always said, the movement is beyond sectional and party sentiments rather, it is a consolidation on the gains of my administration in the past years, having restored the State from its deplorable condition. 

    “I cannot walk through this alone, your mandate I hold for the first four years and your mandate I seek for the next four years. Together, we have recovered our dear State, rehabilitated our institutions and reconstructed our infrastructures;

    “It is now time for us to usher in the next level of Shared Prosperity where the reforms and policies we have instituted shall play a vital role in our economic growth and stability for the benefit of all”.

    The Governor, who later treated the visiting leaders and members of the party to a state dinner at the Bouquet Hall,  Government House,  Owerri,  added: “For those who want to take back Imo, tell them that already, Hope Uzodimma “has brought our Imo State back. Now it’s  our time to secure the gains and move ahead.”

  • Ganduje, APC govs, deputy speaker storm Owerri for Uzodimma

    Ganduje, APC govs, deputy speaker storm Owerri for Uzodimma

    Ahead of the November 11 Imo state governorship election, the national chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Ganduje on Saturday, September 16, storms Owerri, the Imo State capital to inaugurate the party’s national gubernatorial campaign council.

    The party’s flag bearer, Governor Hope Uzordimma is seeking his second term mandate in the state governorship election.

    Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed the governorship elections in Bayelsa, Imo, and Kogi states for Saturday, November 11, 2023.

    The 609-man council is to be led by the Cross River State governor, Senator Bassey Otu.

    Ebonyi State governor, Francis Nwifuru; Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, and Minister of State, Labour, Uche Nnaji and Minister of Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, are to serve as Co-Chairmen of the council.

    Other members of the council include all members of the party’s administrative organ – the National Working Committee (NWC), Ekiti State governor, Abiodun Oyebanji, former Imo and Abia state governors, Senator Rochas Okorocha and Senator Orji Uzor Kalu

    Read Also: Lukman meets Ganduje over book on ‘APC and Transition Politics’

    Also on the council are Minister of Women Affairs, Barr. Uju Kennedy, Senator Andy Uba, Senator Tayo Alasoadura and deputy national treasurer, Hon. Omorede Osifo-Marshal, Hon. Julie Okangbe, former Inspector General of Police Mike Okiro, Senator Joy Mordi, Senator Uche Ekwunife, General Azubuike Ihejirika, Senator Florence Ita-Giwa, Hon. Paul Ikonne among others.

    A release by the APC National Organising Secretary, Alhajj Sulaiman Muhammad Arugungu showed that the National Chairman will inaugurate the council by 11 a.m. at Landmark Event Centre, Owerri and a post-inauguration dinner for the National Chairman, members of the NWC and campaign council members will be treated to a dinner.

    The inauguration will be rounded up on Sunday with a Church service at the Government House Chapel Owerri.

  • Lukman meets Ganduje over book on ‘APC and Transition Politics’

    Lukman meets Ganduje over book on ‘APC and Transition Politics’

    Forty-nine days after resigning from the National Working Committee (NWC) of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), the immediate past national vice-chairman (North-West) of the party, Salihu Lukman, has met with the national chairman of the party, Addullahi Ganduje.

    In a statement released Thursday, September 14, in Abuja, the meeting was to inform the national chairman of his incoming book titled “APC and Transition Politics.”

    According to the statement signed by Lukman, the issues in the publication cover the period January 2022 to August 2023, which encompasses the tenure when leaders of the party had to overcome the attempt by the Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) led by Mai Mala Buni, the governor of Yobe state, to block the national convention of the party from holding.

    The book also espoused the internal contestations to produce the APC presidential candidate for the 2023 general elections, leading to the emergence of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the APC presidential candidate.

    Read Also: BREAKING: Tinubu meets Ganduje, security chiefs at the Villa

    It also contained all the internal negotiations and dynamics within the APC around the 2023 presidential elections, and the negotiations to produce leaders of the 10th National Assembly.

    The statement read: “Had the privilege of meeting His Excellency, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, APC National Chairman on Wednesday and discussed challenges facing our great party. This is our first meeting since his election on August 4, 2023. A major highlight of our discussion is the forthcoming publication, ‘APC and Transition Politics’ which is a compilation of contributions made to the debate to reform the APC to achieve its founding vision of becoming a progressive party in Nigeria.

    “Given recent developments in the APC leading to  Ganduje’s emergence as the National Chairman of our great party, it became necessary to publish these contributions, which testify to the consistent support made towards the emergence of President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, first as the Presidential candidate of APC and the victory of the APC during the 2023 Presidential elections. The publication, APC and Transition Politics is being edited, which should be concluded before the end of September.”

    Lukman further said: “His Excellency Ganduje welcomes the initiative to produce APC and Transition Politics and endorse it. Being a party envisioned to be progressive, product knowledge is an important requirement. To achieve that Dr. Ganduje reminded me about the commitment of APC to establish a progressive institute. He affirmed the commitment of the party under his leadership to establish one.”

  • Kogi guber: APC remains only option, Ganduje tells Kogites

    Kogi guber: APC remains only option, Ganduje tells Kogites

    The national chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Umar Ganduje on Saturday, September 2, told the people of Kogi state that the party remains the only option for the state in the November 11, governorship election.

    He made the declaration at the inauguration of the Prince Dapo Abiodun-led Kogi state national gubernatorial campaign council in Lokoja, Kogi state capital.

    Ganduje also gave the campaign council the marching orders to project, promote, and deliver the party’s candidate in the Governorship election.

    He said: “The APC remains the only option for development, the only alternative for good governance, and the only political vehicle to convey the people of Kogi State, and indeed, Nigeria, to the place of our collective aspiration of prosperity and development.”

    Read Also Kogi guber: We’ll ensure overwhelming victory for APC Dapo Abiodun, others assure

    The chairman also called on all party members and stakeholders in the state to rally around the party’s governorship candidate to succeed in the forthcoming election in Kogi state.

    APC national chairman also used the event to unveil his plan for the party, saying that under his watch, the party would deploy its progressivism ideology to improve the lives of millions of Nigerians and improve society through appropriate political actions and social reform based on advancement in science, technology, economic development, and social organisation.

    He also said that efforts will be made to make the party grassroots based with all organs of the party functioning to capacity.

    The former Kano state governor then called on all Nigerians “to remain patient and continue to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in his effort and determination to address the economic challenges facing our dear country. In no distance time, by the special grace of God, such policies and programmes would eventually yield positive results.”

    Inaugurating the campaign council Ganduje expressed confidence in the capacity of the chairman, the co-chairmen as well as the committee members to deliver and ensure the victory of the party.

    “It is also my belief that the innovations the Campaign Council will initiate during the campaign period will convince the electorate that the APC remains the only option for development, the only alternative for good governance and the only political vehicle to convey the people of Kogi State, and indeed, Nigeria, to the place of our collective aspiration of prosperity and development.

    APC National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Basiru, said the Council team comprises individuals who have demonstrated an impeccable and unwavering dedication to the cause, and the ability to lead APC to victory.

    In his address, Governor Yahaya Bello thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and expressed confidence and assurance that the party will ride to a landslide victory in the November 11 election.

    Bello said: “If you see these cream-de-la-cream that have come to support us in this coming election. I you that victory is ours. Nobody is contesting against us.

    “We have Hon Usman Ododo who is coming to consolidate our achievements.

    “This election is a landslide victory. Nobody tries GYB with violence and goes scot-free. Go out and cast your vote. This election shall be a landslide victory for our party.”

    Responding after the inauguration, the chairman of the campaign council and Ogun state governor, Dapo Abiodun, thanked the leadership of the party and assured that his team would not fail to deliver as expected.

    The inauguration ceremony was attended by governors of Ogun State, Lagos State, Niger State and Kwara State respectively.

    Also in attendance were former governors, Senators and many other party stalwarts across the country.

  • APC will take over Rivers, Ganduje warns PDP

    APC will take over Rivers, Ganduje warns PDP

    The National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje has warned the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) it is set to take over oil-rich Rivers State. 

    Ganduje gave the warning when he hosted the leadership of Senator Magnus Abe’s group in his office at the National Secretariat of the party in Abuja.

    Forewarning the ruling party in the State of the impending doom, the former Kano Governor said that with the agreement of the three major blocks of the APC in the State coming together, the ruling party in the State would soon be on the way out.

    According to the APC chairman: “We have now come to the end of the problem in APC Rivers State, as the three major blocks have now come to work together to build APC that we know in Rivers state.

    “The there blocks are the APC members that have been there despite all that happened. The second is the group of those who broke away from APC for one reason or the other and have decided to come back to the fold. That block is very strong and that shows hope and the third block is the block coming from the PDP. This is from the wind that we have seen so far.”

    The leader of the delegation, Senator Wilson Ake,  expressed confidence in the ability of the party’s National Chairman to rejig the party, particularly in Rivers state which he said had faced many challenges leading to disaffections and seeming disintegration.

    Read Also: Tinubu ‘ll deliver on promises, says APC chieftain

    Ake assured the party leadership of the group’s readiness to support every effort to rebuild the party.

    He noted that the Magnus Abe group worked for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s success and was desirous of a stronger and better APC under the leadership of the National leader and the chairman.

    The delegation had former members of the National Assembly, former commissioners, former state assembly members, council chairmen and some aspirants who worked with Senator Magnus Abe.

    Those on the Ake-led delegation include Barrister Worgu Boms,  Hon. Ben Chioma, Hon. Augustine Wokocha, and Hon. Morris Pronen. Dr Ipalibo Harry, Hon. Kadilo Kabari,  Hon. Dagogo Green, Hon Fred Ateng, Hon Kingsley Igbanichuka and Hon  Willie Fubara Pepple.

  • Cooperate with Wike to transform FCT, Ganduje appeals to traders

    Cooperate with Wike to transform FCT, Ganduje appeals to traders

    Ahead of the restoration programme of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the national chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Ganduje, has appealed to traders in the territory to give maximum cooperation to the FCT minister, Nyesom Wike.

    Ganduje spoke on Tuesday, August 29, while hosting leaders and members of the Arewa Traders Association in the 19 northern states and the FCT at the party national secretariat in Abuja.

    The APC chairman said their cooperation would help restore the FCT master plan, transform the territory and ensure security that would guarantee a conducive environment for traders and their businesses to drive.

    Eulogizing Wike as a competent minister, APC chairman expressed confidence that the minister would replicate in FCT, the transformation agenda that characterised his administration as a two-time governor of Rivers state.

    He assured his guests of President Bola Tinubu’s resolve to place security as a top priority and a panacea for the growth of business and commerce.

    The APC chairman said: “I assure you Mr. President is providing an enabling environment for you to do your legitimate activities. He is working very hard on the security of this nation, we all know how important security is to traders because if there’s no security, there’s no trade, no marketing and most importantly no feeding.

    “So you know and likely enough, you have a competent, Honourable Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, the former governor of River state, Nyisom Wike who came from a big city himself, but has now gotten another mandate of administering another big city the Federal Capital Territory.

    “So I urge you to cooperate with him so that he can create a decent environment for commercial activities in the megacity of Abuja.

    “Security is his number one program that he mentioned, and am sure he will improve the transportation system of Abuja.

    Read Also: Ganduje resolves Kogi NWC nomination crisis

    “As traders you know how important transportation is in the city, he will improve the lighting of the city so that trading can take place at night if there is light everywhere in Abuja.”

    Earlier, the chairman of the association, Alhaji Adam Ibrahim, while congratulating Ganduje on his emergence as the 6th national chairman of the party, appealed to the APC-led administration to quickly intervene by addressing the economic challenges facing the country.

    He stated: “Our members are facing economic challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic, removal of fuel subsidy, high rate of exchange rate and insecurity in many parts of the country. We are therefore appealing to you for your kind assistance and intervention.

    “I hope to call on all our governors to as a matter of urgency look into traders’ activities which will stimulate economic activities and reduce hardship as well as general insecurity in the state.”

  • Ganduje resolves Kogi NWC nomination crisis

    Ganduje resolves Kogi NWC nomination crisis

    The national chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC),  Abdullahi Ganduje, on Thursday night, resolved the impasse surrounding the nomination of candidates from Kogi state to fill the vacant position micro-zoned to it in the party’s National Working Committee (NWC).

    Disagreement erupted shortly after the national secretary of the party, Ajibola Basiru, announced the approved names of candidates to fill the six vacant positions in the NWC.

    The state governor, Yayaha Bello and the state leadership of the party opposed the nomination of Hon. Duro Meseko as Deputy National Publicity Secretary and Hon. Ikani Shuaibu Okolo as Zonal Organising Secretary (North Central).

    The Nation reported that opposition by the governor and other stakeholders from Cross River State on Thursday stalled the scheduled inauguration of the six newly elected NWC members who were to replace former officers,

    The six vacancies emerged following the resignation of three members, the ministerial appointment of two and the death of the former National Welfare Secretary in March this year.

    After seven hours of waiting on Thursday for the party’s National Chairman at the party secretariat, Gov. Bello eventually struck a deal with the party leadership.

    An impeccable source close to the meeting told our correspondent that the governor was asked to nominate a replacement for the Zonal Organising Secretary (North Central) while the nomination of Hon. Meseko as Deputy National Publicity Secretary stands.

    “After a series of negotiations and consultations with other stakeholders, based on the proposal of the National Chairman and in the interest of peace and exclusivity, the governor is to nominate the replacement for Hon. Ikani Shuaibu Okolo earlier nominated as Zonal Organising Secretary (North Central).

    “It was also agreed that the nomination of Hon. Duro Meseko as the Deputy National Publicity Secretary stands.

    ” This decision will be conveyed to the National Leader of the party, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu by the National Chairman today (Friday) after the Jumat prayers and a new date for the inauguration of the six officers will be announced after the Villa meeting.”

    Read Also: Ganduje takes Uzodimma, Okorocha to Aso Villa

    Though the crisis seems resolved, a source accused the governor of playing the politics of exclusion within the party.

    The source said: “The governor single-handedly picked Usman Ododo as the party’s candidate in the forthcoming governorship election. He also nominated Shuaibu A. Audu) as minister of steel Development.”

    Meanwhile, the dust raised by the choice of Mary Alile Idele from Edo state as the National Women Leader is yet to be rested as a group of women from Cross River State are still protesting against the replacement of Stella Odey-Ekpo, who was earlier nominated.

  • Ganduje: Saving the north from shame

    Sir: Why must the children of the Hausa-Fulani be left to become a burden and to some extent security threats to the society? While other Nigerian children are found in classrooms with better chances of a better future, northern children are only found roaming the streets begging in the name of being almajiris in their numbers. Such negligence was responsible for the snobbish and demeaning perception against the Hausa-Fulani’s by our southern brothers.

    Truth is, here in the north, we have the elite that have received the best of care and free qualitative education from the collective resources of the Talakawas, which propelled them to their present exalted positions. Unfortunately, they rendered such rights and privileges comatose to the detriment of the great majority.

    No state has any justification to allow children of school age to be roaming on the streets, not to talk of becoming almajiris. It is therefore a good omen that Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of Kano State has summoned the political will to enforce free and compulsory basic and secondary education in his state, which has a significant concentration of out of school children.

    Ganduje was conscious of the fact that public schools, especially at primary and secondary level has been neglected and rendered ineffective for too long which was the major factor that gave birth to the proliferation of all sorts of privately owned primary and secondary schools in the country.

    To defeat these challenges and ensure the smooth take-off of the free education scheme, the governor has constituted a committee to take inventory of all existing public primary and secondary schools in the state.

    So far, 1,180 public schools have been indentified and designated for the take off of the scheme, while N 200million is to be set aside for the monthly up-keep of these schools. Governor Ganduje had declared that the sum of N 2.4 billion is expected to be expended annually for the maintenance of these schools.

    Already, N 381 million has been paid for the sewing of 800,000 school uniforms and accordingly distributed to the 779,000 primary and secondary school new intakes. The state government has also, released the sum of N350 million to complement the federal government home grown school feeding policy in the state. To discourage the apathy towards the girl-child school enrollment, the state government has disbursed the sum of N 40,000 each to the indigent parents of 31,000 girl-children towards preparing them to commence school this season.

    With all these interventions, no parent has any reason not to send his child to school. To demonstrate the seriousness of the state towards implementing the free educational scheme, about 100 school age children that were found roaming around in the guise of almajiris were recently arrested. Surely, Governor Ganduje is determined to save the north from shame and perdition.

    • Mohammed Isa Bilal, Jos, Plateau State.

  • Ganduje warns parents against denying

    Kano State Governor  Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has said parents who refuse to send their  children to school would be arrested and prosecuted.Those whose children beg would not be spared.

    Ganduje spoke during an interactive session with UNICEF Youth Advocacy in Government House. He said his administration and the Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi 11, have concluded plans to send a bill to the State House of Assembly to that effect.

    He said the bill would ensure that primary and secondary education becomes free and compulsory for all school-aged children in the state.  Once signed, Ganduje said parents who flout the law would be prosecuted.

    “With the bill signed into law, parents who refused to take their children  to school will be taken to court.

    “Children begging on the street instead of going to school will be arrested and their parents arrested and charged  to court for prosecution because begging is not our religion. Begging is not Islam. Those children who are begging will be arrested and their parents will be taken to court for allowing their children to be begging instead of attending school,” he said.

    Ganduje said most schools in the state had qualified teachers as his administration had ensured that over 30,000 primary and secondary school teachers got qualified.

    “Kano has less than three percent unqualified teachers and we are ensuring that they go back to school for their qualified certificate.

    “We hope you as development partners, when we are being accused by mischievous people, we want you to come forward and defend us. Anything we do for the development of education, if we receive undue criticism, I urge you to demonstrate and we will give you protection. That is the only way we can get a change. Otherwise, all what we are doing will remain theoretical.

    “I wish what is happening now happened 20 years ago. It would have been a different story by now. Kano State is the most populous in the federation. We want our population to be a quality population. There are some countries in the world that don’t have a drop of oil, but yet their economy is strong. The main reason is education, even development and technology.

    “So, we being the most populous state in the world, we want our population to be an asset. As China has conquered the world as a result of population that is how Kano will conquer Nigeria as a result of population.”

    In his address, the leader of the group, Mr. Nimatullah Bala Umar said: “UNICEF recognises the efforts of Kano State government in addressing the situation of out-of-school children with the implementation of various programmes in the state to improve children’s access to quality education. We commend Kano state government under your leadership.”