The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Goje

  • Drama in Senate as Goje protests Akpabio’s ‘halt’ of proceedings

    Drama in Senate as Goje protests Akpabio’s ‘halt’ of proceedings

    There was a mild drama in the Senate on Tuesday after Senate President Godswill Akpabio temporarily halted proceedings to confer privately with a group of lawmakers, drawing sharp objection from Senator Danjuma Goje (APC-Gombe Central).

    Akpabio arrived in the chamber around 12:10 p.m. while plenary, presided over by Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, was already in progress.

    He smoothly took over as senators considered scheduled bills.

    Barely ten minutes later, the Senate President summoned the Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, to his seat for a private consultation. Soon, other senators—including Asuquo Ekpenyong (Cross River South), Adamu Aliero (Kebbi Central), Jimoh Ibrahim (Ondo South), Titus Zam (Benue North-West), and Barau Jibrin gathered around his chair.

    The discussions, which lasted over 40 minutes, brought the plenary to a halt.

    Many senators left their seats to chat among themselves, while others engaged in side conversations, leaving the chamber noisy and disorganised.

    Dissatisfied with the disruption, Goje raised a point of order, warning that prolonged private consultations during an active session violated Senate procedure.

    He cited Order 55 of the Senate Standing Rules, which prohibits interruptions to ongoing proceedings, insisting that such discussions should be held outside the chamber.

    “Interaction is not allowed. What is happening now is unparliamentary,” Goje said. “You should have taken this meeting outside. Everything is at a standstill; this is not our actual business.

    “We should go on recess; when we are ready, we can return and meet you.”

    Responding, Akpabio explained that he had invited the senators for a brief consultation on an urgent assignment scheduled for 1 p.m. at the Presidential Villa.

    “Everybody you see here was invited by the chair for a brief discussion in continuation of today’s sitting and in line with the order you’ve just read, whether or not we should proceed in view of a very urgent assignment at the Villa,” he said.

    Akpabio then asked Goje to approach the chair and join the discussion, an invitation the former governor declined.

    “I don’t want to be part of it,” Goje replied.

  • Goje, Inuwa feud resurfaces as group sues gov emir for stopping mosque reconstruction

    Goje, Inuwa feud resurfaces as group sues gov emir for stopping mosque reconstruction

    The lingering feud between former Governor Danjuma Goje of Gombe State and the incumbent, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya has resurfaced again as some residents of Tumu in Akko Local Government of the state filed a suit against the Emir of Pindiga Ahmed Seyoji Mohammed and Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya.

    Recall that both the All Progressives Congress (APC) gladiators had to sheath their swords to form a common front for the 2023 general election.

    Consequently, in exchange for peace, Governor Inuwa allowed Senator Goje to return to the Senate for the fourth term in exchange for the latter’s support for him.

    In the suit, the group is challenging both Governor Yahaya and the Emir of Pindiga, for stopping the reconstruction of the central mosque in the area.

    Others joined as defendants in the suit are; the state’s Attorney General and the Commissioner for local government and chieftaincy affairs.

    Read Also: NLC to Fed Govt: let salaries, wages be commensurate with cost of living

    The group of residents under the aegis of ‘Tumu Concerned Residents’ filed the suit on behalf of the community to express their grievances over the stop work order on the reconstruction of the Central Mosque.

    Led by Mohammed Yero, Bello Ali Tumu, and Danjuma A. Mukhtari, the group is requesting the court to restrain the defendants from depriving the community of the development.

    Recall that an aide to Senator Goje,  Adamu Mohammed Manga had accused Governor Inuwa Yahaya of threatening to remove the Emir of Pindiga if the reconstruction of the central mosque continued.

    He made the allegation while addressing the residents of the community.

     According to him, the Emir allegedly stopped the reconstruction of the Central Mosque located near his palace and that of Tumu over the fear of the state governor, Inuwa Yahaya.

    Manga was seen in a viral video clip obtained by our correspondent, saying that the Emir had told him unequivocally that if he allowed the project to be done by him, Governor Inuwa would dethrone him.

  • Senate presidency: Youths march for Goje

    •Kabiru Gaya joins race for deputy

    THE race for president of the Ninth Senate has taken a twist,  as groups, under the aegis of Amalgamated Youths, yesterday, stormed the National Assembly to drum up support for Senator Danjuma Goje.

    The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) endorsed Senator Ahmad Lawan as its candidate for the Senate president for the ninth session.

    Senators Lawan (Yobe North) and Mohammed Ali Ndume (Borno South) have declared publicly their interest for the position.

    Goje is yet to make any public declaration to contest the position of Senate president.

    But a group, , from Northeast, staged a rally at the National Assembly gate, asking Goje to declare his intention.

    Led by Bello Ambo, from Bauchi State, the group said neither the endorsement of Lawan by APC’s national leadership nor expression of interest by Ndume should prevent Goje from throwing his hat in the ring for the position of Senate president.

    Ambo noted that “Goje stands far above the others having controlled a state for eight years between 2003 and 2011 and been in the Senate with the required parliamentary experience.

    He said: “…Senate president requires administrative and parliamentary knowledge enormously possessed by Goje as against the two…”

    Reminded that the APC had taken a decision on who should occupy the position, Ambo insisted “Senators-elect were matured people who can decide who their leader should be and should be allowed to do so.”

    He said: “…APC … should allow …senators -elect  to decide whoever they want as their leader in whatever capacity.’’

    Senator Kabiru Gaya has joined the race for deputy Senate president.

    Gaya, who represents Kano South, is an APC member .

    A former Kano State governor in the truncated Third Republic, Gaya is spending a third term in the Senate, having been first elected in 2007.

    Gaya’s declaration followed APC’s leadership decision to zone the position to the Southsouth. The senator is from Northwest.

    Addressing reporters in his office yersterday, Gaya said he was not aware the leadership of his party had zoned the position to Southsouth.

    Justifying his aspiration for the position, Gaya noted that the Speaker had been zoned to Southwest where Vice President Yemi Osinbajo hailed from.

    According to him, there was nothing wrong in having the deputy Senate president from Northwest where President Muhammadu Buhari hailed from.

    Gaya said: “The general analysis of the Nigerian political power equation indicates there is need for Northeast to produce the Senate president; Southwest, Speaker of the House of Representatives; Northwest, deputy Senate president; Northcentral, deputy Speaker; while Senate Majority leader and House Majority leader shall go to Southeast and the Southsouth.”

    He noted that leadership positions in the National Assembly should be based on ranking and experience.

    Senator Gaya said the position of deputy Senate president and that of deputy Speaker ought to be open to qualified aspirants, regardless of geopolitical zones.

    The Kano lawmaker, who chairs the Senate Committee on Works, however, clarified he was still consulting with critical stakeholders, including APC and fellow senators.

    Describing himself as a loyal party member, Gaya said he would not go against the party’s decision to give the position to another zone.

    “I don’t disobey my party leadership. What I am saying is that I am the most ranking and most qualified for the job”, he said.

     

  • Lawan, Goje, Ndume, Adamu battle for Senate Presidency

    •PDP in fresh plot to pitch Dogara against Gbajabiamila as Speaker

    The race for the leadership of the 9th session of the National Assembly is on, just a week after the election into the legislative arm.

    Already in contention are the Senate Presidency and the Speakership of the House of Representatives.

    The Nation can now reveal that no fewer than five candidates are seeking to head the 9th Senate when it is inaugurated in June.

    They are the outgoing Senate Leader  Ahmad Lawan; a former Senate Leader,  Ali Ndume; a former Governor of Gombe State and the outgoing Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriation,   Danjuma Goje; and the Chairman of the Parliamentary Support Group (PSG), ex-Governor Adamu Abdullahi.

    Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State who is also being touted as a possible candidate does not seem to stand a chance on account of zoning as he is from the same zone -Southwest- and same state -Ogun- as Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

    He was suspended by the National Working Committee of APC on Friday for alleged anti party activities and recommended for expulsion by the party’s National Executive Council (NEC).

    For now, only the current Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, is the front runner in the race for the Speakership of the Green Chambers, although the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is allegedly hatching a plot to push outgoing Speaker Yakubu Dogara for a return to the seat.

    Dogara emerged in controversial circumstances in 2015 to clinch the post and sources said the PDP to which he now belongs may look for an alternative to Dogara in a desperate bid to stop Gbajabiamila, on the strength of his closeness to the APC National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

    PDP is banking on a likely split in the All Progressives Congress (APC) House Caucus to return Dogara as Speaker.

    But pressure is mounting on President Muhammadu Buhari to take charge to avert a repeat of the political scheming which led to the emergence of the outgoing President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki and Speaker Dogara in 2015 against the directive of the APC.

    The Nation also gathered that some forces in APC want party leaders to prevail on the President to give members of the National Assembly a free hand to elect their leaders.

    Results of the last  National Assembly elections released by the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC), shows that the  APC won 65 of the 109  (about 59%) senatorial seats in the country, leaving the  PDP with  41 Senatorial seats (37%) and Young Progressives Party’s (YPP) one seat (1%).

    The APC has also won 200 of the 360 House of Representatives seats – leaving PDP with well over 100 seats. The final figure for the two major parties is still not clear as there are still unresolved election contests for several House of Representatives seats.

    Investigation by our correspondent revealed that although the APC has the majority of the seats in the Senate and House of Representatives, the emergence of the President of the Senate and the Speaker will still require the input of the PDP.

    It was learnt that the APC will need two-thirds majority in the Senate (about 73 votes) to be able to pass any bill.

    The APC   secured 61 seats in the Red Chambers in 2015 before the PDP infiltrated its ranks to secure the office of the Deputy President of the Senate for Senator Ike Ekweremadu.

    Following the development, all the candidates aspiring to lead the Senate and the House have started reaching out to elected PDP members.

    A top source, who spoke in confidence, said: “The horse-trading to lead the Senate and the House of Representatives has begun.

    “It is going to be a tough contest because all the candidates are ranking. For example, Ndume has been in the National Assembly for 16 years with eight years spent in the House and another eight years in the Senate. Lawan has been a Senator since 2007 with Adamu and Goje joining in 2011.

    “Some governors and APC stalwarts are gambling with the choice of Governor Ibikunle Amosun to lead the Senate as a bosom friend of the President. They have linked the suspension of the governor to the plot to install him as Senate President.

    “This jostling for power is despite of the fact that the APC is yet to define its zoning or power sharing formula. Those aspiring to lead the National Assembly are banking on the 2015 formula of the APC, which ceded the Senate Presidency to the Northeast and the Speaker to the Southwest, before the President of the Senate, Speaker Dogara and some APC lawmakers revolted.

    “The lack of zoning formula made ex-Governor Abdullahi Adamu from Nasarawa State in the Northcentral to join the race. As the chairman of the Parliamentary Support Group which resisted the outgoing Senate President to save President Buhari, he believes he should lead the Senate.

    Responding to a question, the source said: “All the candidates are already lobbying not only to have the Senate presidency and House Speaker zoned to their areas but to be anointed.

    “Unless it is carefully managed, the Senate may witness a repeat of the 2015 crisis which PDP took advantage of.”

    Sources said that although Gbajabiamila has a brighter chance to be the next Speaker, the PDP might still resist him.

    It was reliably gathered that the PDP might back Dogara’s return as Speaker by depending on a possible split in the APC caucus. It was also learnt that the PDP might throw mud at Gbajabiamila like it did in 2015 in order to stop the APC candidate.

    Another source said: “The PDP is working on another joker to checkmate Gbajabiamila’s ambition again. Some PDP leaders are uncomfortable with Gbajabiamila, who is a political son of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu who worked harder to ensure the defeat of PDP at the presidential poll.

    “PDP actually wants Dogara back in line with its pre-election plans. The opposition can only succeed if the APC Caucus in the House is disunited.

    “The only challenge APC is facing is about likely imposition of the Senate President and the Speaker. Most of the candidates want the race left open equitably.

    “This is why some APC leaders are pleading with President Muhammadu Buhari and party leaders to meet and work out an equitable power sharing module.”

    The source added: “I think in the next two months, the game will be more interesting. If Dogara’s candidacy does not fly, PDP might sponsor another ranking member from the Southwest to be the Speaker.”

    A source in government said: “President Buhari has really not shown interest now on those who will lead the National Assembly. Maybe he has a mindset but he is yet to discuss with party leaders.”

    Lawan is spending his 2oth year in the National Assembly having being elected into the House of Representatives between 1999 and 2003 before becoming a Senator.

    Set up zoning mechanism for NASS leadership to avoid 2015 scenario, Nabena tells APC

    The Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Yekini Nabena, yesterday asked the leadership of the party to set in motion machinery for the zoning and selection of preferred principal officers of the incoming 9th National Assembly.

    In a statement in Abuja, he said this was necessary to avoid a repeat of the crisis that engulfed the party in 2015 over the struggle for the leadership of the legislative arm.

    Describing the National Assembly as strategic to APC’s change agenda for the country, he said President Muhammadu Buhari’s direct involvement and views on the matter “will be very important as the party works around the zoning and selection arrangements for principal NASS officers.”

    He added:  “The Peoples Democratic Party has lost the presidential election and they have now adopted a plan B from their infamous Dubai strategy meeting.

    “The plan is to hijack the incoming National Assembly leadership by repeating their heinous coup in the previous Assembly.

    “The APC must prevent a repeat of a situation where despite our overwhelming majority in the outgoing 8th Senate and House of Representatives, its leadership was hijacked by saboteurs and their opposition PDP collaborators.”

  • Wammako, Bindow, Aliero, Goje, 184 Reps shun R-APC

    52 Senators, Reps, others to stand firm

    APC: no faction

    LEADERS WHO MAY GO

    • Bukola Saraki
    • Yakubu Dogara
    • Rabiu Kwankwaso
    • Monsurat Sunmonu
    • Isa Misau
    • Dino Melaye
    • Soji Akanbi
    • Muhammed Shittu
    • Shehu Sani
    • Suleiman Hunkuyi
    • Sha’aba Lafiagi
    • Rafiu Ibrahim
    • Kabiru Marafa
    • Aliyu Abdullahi

    REPS WHO WILL STAY

    • Kebbi 8
    • Sokoto 6
    • Zamfara 6
    • Katsina 13
    • Kano 14
    • Jigawa 10
    • Kaduna 8
    • Niger 10
    • Kwara —
    • Kogi 3
    • Nasarawa 4
    • Plateau 5
    • Bauchi 10
    • Yobe 6
    • Borno 10
    • Adamawa 4
    • Gombe 6
    • Taraba 4
    • Benue 4
    • Lagos 18
    • Osun 8
    • Oyo 13
    • Ondo 5
    • Ogun 7

    The plot to cause a split in the All Progressives Congress(APC) has suffered a major setback, with some  leaders of the party  refusing to join the Reformed All Progressives Congress(R-APC).

    Some bigwigs, who have opted to remain in APC, include former Governor Abdullahi Adamu; former Governor Aliyu Wammako; former Governor Danjuma Goje; former Governor Adamu Aliero; former Governor Kabiru Gaya; Governor Abdullahi Ganduje; Governor Yahaya Bello and Governor Jibrilla Bindow. There are  several others.

    Joining some of the APC chieftains, including those who were in new Peoples Democratic Party (nPDP), are over 184 Representatives and no fewer than 52 senators in the Parliamentary Support Group (PSG).

    The APC leaders prefer to remain in the party to chart their own political path instead of teaming up with Senate President  Bukola Saraki, House Speaker Yakubu Dogara, Governor Aminu Tambuwal, Sen. Rabiu Kwankwaso, some senators and members of the House to nurture the R-APC.

    It was also learnt that the PSG leaders in the National Assembly met Wednesday evening to rally against the R-APC’s anti-President Muhammadu Buhari plot.

    “Many APC members do not buy the idea of forming R-APC to “settle scores and promote self-aggrandisement,” a source said yesterday.

    The source, who spoke in confidence, said the political outlook and permutations do not favour R-APC

    The source said: “Unlike the case in 2014, there is a crack in the nPDP (now transformed into R-APC) and it does not have the number to cause any upset in the ruling APC. The factionalisation plot is dead on arrival because of sheer ambition.

    “There was wholesale merger/ defection in 2014 by nPDP to APC but some of these leaders prefer to remain in APC. Ex-Governors Wammako, Goje, Aliero and Abdullahi Adamu, among others have distanced themselves from R-APC which is being promoted only by three leaders.

    “Some APC leaders are also aware of the ultimate goal of R-APC leaders to defect to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) if the terms of their current negotiation are acceptable. They cannot understand why they will be in R-APC (a transit camp) today and hop to PDP the next day.

    “A few R-APC leaders are confused. They seek refuge in PDP and African Democratic Congress (ADC) at the same time. For instance, while Kwankwaso has been having talks with PDP, there are indications that he is more at home with ADC, already adopted by ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo’s group just for the sake of a presidential ticket.”

    In Sokoto State, Wammako has made it clear that he will not join forces with Governor Tambuwal in R-APC to destabilise APC

    “All the three senators and six out of 11 members of the House of Representatives have shunned the bait from Governor Tambuwal to join R-APC. They have pitched tent with their leader, ex-Governor Aliyu Wammako,” the source said.

    In Kano, two out of the three senators and 14 of the 24 House of Representatives members “have left Kwankwaso to his fate”. They are in alliance with Governor Abdullahi Ganduje.”

    A former governor said yesterday: “I do not have an uncertain political future; I remain in APC and not any other group.”

    APC is said not to be threatened by the R-APC. This, said the sources, is because “as some of these leaders are leaving, the APC is also gaining more members, including Sen. Hope Uzodinma and Sen. John Enoh. “Sen. Sunday Ogbuoji from Ebonyi have also defected from PDP to our party,” he said, adding:

    “In fact, there is a prospect of an alliance pact between APC and All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) as part of looking into the future.”

    The source confirmed that some party leaders, senators and Representatives may leave APC due to political aspirations and other interests.

    Some of those who may go include, Dr. Saraki; Speaker Yakubu Dogara; ex-Governor Murtala Nyako; Sen.  Rabiu Kwankwaso; Sen. Monsurat Sunmonu; Sen. Isa Misau; Sen. Dino Melaye; Sen. Soji Akanbi; Sen. Muhammed Shitu; Sen. Shehu Sani: Sen. Suleiman Hunkuyi; Sen. Mohammed Sha’aba Lafiagi; Sen.  Rafiu Ibrahim; Sen. Kabiru Marafa; and Sen. Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi.

    Some of these leaders from Bauchi, Zamfara, Kaduna, Oyo and Jigawa have “irreconcilable differences” with their governors. A few others are no longer wanted by their constituents. Some are ambitious; others have been committed to nPDP instead of the APC right from 2015 and others have local peculiarities, The Nation learnt.

    “Ordinarily, Nyako does not have business with R-APC but because of local politics in Adamawa State, he has chosen to leave APC. For example, Sen. Soji Akanbi from Oyo State wants to be a governor and he may adopt another party to realise his ambition.”

    “Speaker Dogara has the same local challenge and also his political fate is tied to his mentor, Governor Tambuwal. Tambuwal is said to have made up his mind to leave APC because of his presidential ambition.

    “There are issues in Kaduna, Jigawa and Kogi states which have forced R-APC leaders to hibernate elsewhere,” the source said.

    Members of the PSG on Wednesday met in Abuja on how to stop R-APC members’ plot against President Buhari in the National Assembly.

    The breakdown of the senators in the Upper Chamber is as follows: APC 65; PDP 39; APGA two; dead senators (two) and senator in prison (one).

    A ranking senator said: “The PSG can mobilize at least 52 senators and over 184 members of the House of Representatives to curtail the political rampage of the R-APC leaders.

    “We have done our homework to put the President in good stead and be able to concentrate on his job. We will not take things for granted.

    “This was why we met on Wednesday to take stock and put counter-measures in place against R-APC members.”

    In an interview yesterday, a respected member of the APC in the Northeast said R-APC leader Buba Galadima fell out with Buhari when the President decided to expand his political base out of the old CPC conclave in 2015.

    Now Kwankwaso’s acolyte, Galadima was among those whose sectional antics ensured Buhari lost three times before 2015. People like him lost relevance the moment Buhari opted to reach out outside the old Northwest base.

    *In Benin yesterday, the report of the involvement of Kassim Afegbua, erstwhile media aide to Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, was dismissed as “comic relief”.

    An APC leader from Edo North said: “I am not surprised at all that Afegbua would seek relevance by joining them (R-APC).

    “He was rehabilitated by Oshiomhole with an appointment in Edo State between 2012 and 2016.

    “In the APC primary in 2016, whereas his boss was backing Godwin Obaseki, he betrayed him by working for another aspirant who lost woefully.

    “Rather than sack him, Oshiomhole was magnanimous enough to retain him as Information Commissioner. Well, you could explain his working for a different candidate as his democratic right. But guess what, when Obaseki became a candidate in 2016, he decided to work for opposition PDP.

    “Just imagine the lack of honour and principle. How do you place such a person? So, for us in Edo, we are just laughing. Edo APC is 100 per cent for and behind Oshiomhole. “

     

  • Wammako, Bindow, Aliero, Goje, others fate uncertain

    There were strong indications yesterday that some leaders of the New Peoples Democratic Party (nPDP) might not leave the All Progressives Congress (APC), contrary to expectations.

    It was also learnt that the formation of the Reformed All Progressives Congress(R-APC) was the first stage of plans by the nPDP leaders to leave APC.

    It was gathered that the R-APC might be the new template for an alliance with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Sources said the Presidency might persuade the APC leadership to foreclose talks with nPDP leaders.

    According to some sources, who spoke yesterday with our correspondent, not all nPDP leaders are committed to leaving the APC.

    A source said: “Following certain indices in their states, some nPDP leaders like Governor Jibrilla Bindow, Senators Aliyu Wammako, senator Adamu Aliero, Danjuma Goje, Yahaya Abdullahi, Jibrin Barau, Senate Deputy Majority Leader Bala Ibn Na’Allah and many members of the House of Representatives may not join the fray. Their fate is uncertain.

    “Do not forget that there are members of the Parliamentary Support Group, who defected mostly from PDP to APC, but still with the ruling party.

    “While some of our leaders are free to leave the APC, the scenario is different from the situation in 2014, especially for nPDP leaders and members from the North.”

    The source, who pleaded not to be named, said the plot to destabilise APC by some nPDP leaders was already picked up  through intelligence network by the Presidency and APC leaders.

    The peak of the plot was allegedly hatched at meetings in the Middle East.

    The  intelligence gathering was said to have informed the election of an all-inclusive National Working Committee (NWC) at the APC convention

    The source added: “In the last three months, we were aware of subtle manoeuvres by some nPDP leaders to leave our party. Some of them even met recently in some countries in the Middle East. We have all the intelligence reports.

    “In fact, one of the nPDP leaders, who bankrolled the R-APC briefing, was with a PDP governor in the Southsouth 24 hours before the conference in Abuja.

    To the source, it has been “an open secret” that Senate President Bukola Saraki, House  Speaker Yakubu Dogara; Governor Aminu Tambuwal; Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, some senators and members of the House of Representatives might quit APC.

    “They have just hatched the first phase of their plans to present to the whole world that there is crisis in APC”, he said.

    “The objective of forming R-APC, which is unknown to law, is to set the stage for the destabilisation of APC.

    “This was why, we were careful in managing the National Convention of the party. We decided not to create gaps which can cause a split in the party.”

    Another source in government thinks the nPDP leaders have crossed the red line, adding that the Presidency may prevail on the party’s leadership to foreclose talks with them.

    According to him, pro-Buhari elements and some leaders of APC prefer state-by-state negotiation with some aggrieved leaders of the party instead of group talks because of political peculiarities in some states.

    “Some nPDP leaders are actually paper weight in their states and APC can do without them. Of what use is holding talks with a senator or a member of the House of Representatives whose constituents had been stoning him in the past two years?” the source said, adding:

    “I think we are left with no alternative than to allow those who want to defect like Sen. Rabiu Kwankwaso and others to go.”

    There were indications yesterday that some nPDP leaders in Kebbi State have opted to stay in APC, following a promise to address their grievances.

    “We are excited that nPDP leaders in Kebbi State have offered to remain in the party based on agreeable terms.

    “This negotiation model is what has encouraged strategists of Buhari to insist on state-by-state talks with aggrieved leaders,” the source said.

  • SIP criticism: Your statement irresponsible, Presidency tells Goje

    The Presidency on Friday night slammed Senator Danjuma Goje over his criticism of the administration’s   Social Investment Programme (SIP).
    A statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and publicity, Laolu Akande, also claimed that the programme is touching the lives of many Nigerians
    He also denied the claim that the SIP has received over a N1trn already.
    The statement reads “Our attention has been drawn to a news report quoting Senator Danjuma Goje as suggesting that a sum of N1.5Trn has so far been released for the National Social Investment Programme of the Buhari Administration.
    “The distinguished senator was reported as saying that by the end of three years the NSIP would have handled an unprecedented sum of $1.5Trillion. He was speaking at a Senate Appropriation Committee hearing on Thursday.
    “The Senator was also quoted directly that “I am yet to see one boy who came to tell me that he has benefited from your N500 billion.”
    “First we would like to hope that the senator was misquoted. And we call on him to make the necessary clarifications.
    “However were it to be true that he made such wild claims, it would not only be unfortunate but certainly an irresponsible statement.
    “To restate the facts, while indeed we have budgeted a total of N500B for the 2016 & 2017 Budgets each, including the N100B for the Family Housing Fund in the 2017 Budget, only a total of N175B has so far been released since the commencement of the historic Buhari Social Investment Programme.
    “It is incredible that the distinguished senator will insinuate otherwise. If actually he was accurately reported, we would say he ought to have requested for the information instead of misleading an entire nation with such an incredible claim.
    “While the Senator was claiming he knew no one from his State who has benefited from the SIP at a Senate Committee hearing, his colleague from Kogi State, distinguished Senator Atai Aidoko requested from the Special Adviser to the President on SIP, Mrs. Maryam Uwais, (who was before the Appropriations Committee) for a random name of a beneficiary from his State, called the number there and then and got positive confirmation from the beneficiary. That Senator then formally announced the outcome of his random call to the entire Senate hearing.” it added
    He also disclosed that there are 200,000 previously unemployed Nigerian graduates who are receiving their N30,000 monthly stipends as they serve their communities in different capacities as teaching assistants, Agric extension aides or community health workers.
    He said “There are today in our nation more than 7.4 million primary school pupils in 22 States who are being fed one hot meal a day under the Buhari SIP. Almost 300,000 Nigerians are also receiving N5000 monthly cash transfer among our most vulnerable & poorest citizens. Our target for the cash transfer is one million. And there are almost 300,000 Nigerians who have benefited from micro-credit loans of between N10, 000 to N100,000.
    “These are the facts and the selection process for the beneficiaries are open, transparent and can be easily cross-checked by any diligent inquirer.
    “Finally, the Buhari Administration will not relent in the vigorous pursuit of the SIP in line with the manifesto of the ruling All Progressives Congress. And in this year, we hope and plan to ramp up all the schemes to widen the scope and bring in even more beneficiaries. The SIP is touching lives and the testimonies are all around us. More lives would be touched this year by the special grace of God.” he said
  • Row breaks out between Goje, Dankwambo over Aisha Buhari’s visit

    Row breaks out between Goje, Dankwambo over Aisha Buhari’s visit

    The condolence visit of President Muhammadu Buhari’s wife Hajiya Aisha to former Gombe State Governor Danjuma Goje on the death of his wife Yelwa’s death sparked a row between him and the Governor Hassan Dankwambo.

    During the Friday visit, Goje publicly rebuked Dankwambo for allegedly betraying his family after he became governor in 2011.

    Goje thanked the President’s wife for bringing Dankwambo to his residence, recalling that since becoming governor, Damkwabo had failed to visit his residence even while the late Yelwa was sick.

    “He used to be part of this household. My wife was his godmother.  For seven months she was sick, he didn’t come. He only called after she passed on. Since we inaugurated him from Pantami he didn’t visit this house. I have had series of misfortunes,  ill-health with even a death recorded but he has not seen it fit to identify with me and my family. He didn’t even call to sympathise with us. I really appreciate you,  Your Excellency, for bringing him back to this house. This used to be his home, he was a godson to my late wife,” Goje said.

    The public rebuke did not go down well with supporters of Dankwambo who alleged that Goje attacked the person of the governor before the first lady merely to score cheap political gains.

    Defending the governor, Gombe State Concerned Citizens, an umbrella body for elders in the state, vehemently condemned what they termed “unwarranted attack on the person of Dankwambo and his wife by Goje.”

    At a news conference yesterday, the group condemned the choice of venue and timing on the alleged attack. They commended Dankwambo “for the mature manner he handled the situation. First and foremost, we would like to tender our unreserved apology to the wife of the President and her husband, His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari for this unfortunate embarrassment she encountered during her condolence visit to Gombe state,” the group said.

    Spokesman of the group, Amb Abulmumini Abubakar said it was necessary to refute “the tissues of lies dished out to the public by Goje because there is every tendency for people to believe in such lies.”

    Abubakar accused Goje of choosing the moment of the the president’s wife visit to “castigate and ridicule the governor, in order to enhance their political ego.”

    The group denied Goje’s claim that his late wife facilitated Dankwambo’s emergence as governor in 2011.

    One of Goje’s aides Alhaji Ahmed Isa posed some questions to the group.

    He said: “Did the governor call senator Goje or any member of the family, during the seven months Hajiya Yelwa was sick, let alone visit her on the sick bed? Why did the governor call Senator Goje the very day she died as if he was just waiting for her to die? Did the governor pay any condolence visit to the Goje family house before the wife of the president did?

    “Do you expect the family to be deceived by the opportunistic visit of the governor, many days after the death of Hajiya Goje? Why did the governor not visit the family house in Gombe on his own, long before the visit of Hajiya Aisha?

    “Did Hajiya Yalwa not support or assist Dankwambo to become governor in 2011? Was the governor not a frequent visitor to the Goje family house in Gome, long before he became governor and finally, did the governor ever visit the Goje family house in Gombe since May 29, 2011, after he was sworn in, even though the family lost several loved ones during this period?

    “Let him answer these and we will response adequately…”

  • Akintola, Kalu condole with Goje

    Akintola, Kalu condole with Goje

    A seNIOR Advocate of Nigeria Chief Adeniyi Akintola has expressed shock at the death of wife of former Governor of Gombe State Hajiya Yelwa Danjuma-Goje.

    Akintola, in a statement yesterday, described the deceased as “a humble woman and a pillar of support to Senator Goje”.

    He urged the family to take consolation in the fact that the deceased knew her God before her death.

    The statement reads: “It is a great loss, particularly to me, who has built a relationship with her as a sister and friend.

    “She was a pillar of support to you, particularly during the turbulent periods of the locust years in Gombe, manning the home front for you effectively.

    “Our consolation is that she knew her God and the fact that you took care of her is a testimony of the undying love and bond that existed between you.

    “On behalf of myself, my family and members of the legal team, I am sending this heartfelt condolence to you, Fatimo, and all her siblings. May Allah grant her Aljannah Firdaus.”

    Former Abia State Governor Orji Uzor Kalu has also commiserated with Goje.

    Kalu, in a condolence message, said: “I received with shock the news of the death of your wife. The deceased was humble and easygoing, and these qualities made her popular among her peers.                                                                                                                                                                     “May Allah grant Hajiya Yelwa Danjuma-Goje Al-Jannah Firdaus.”

  • Ex-Governor Goje loses wife

    •Senate mourns

    Chairman, Senate Committee on Appropriation, Mohammed Danjuma Goje, has lost his wife Hajiya Yelwa.

    She was 55.

    A statement by his son, Ahmed Mohammed, said Yelwa died in the United States of America.

    The statement reads: “With gratitude to Allah, I regret to announce the death of Hajiya Yelwa Danjuma Goje, wife of the former governor of Gombe State, Danjuma Goje.

    “She is survived by her husband, children, grand-children, relatives, supporters and admirers.”

    The Senate has commiserated with Goje on the death of his wife.

    A statement by Senate President Bukola Saraki said: “On behalf of the Senate, I commiserate with our brother, friend and colleague, Senator Danjuma Goje, chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriation, on the loss of his wife, Hajia Yelwa Mohammed Goje.

    “Over the years, Mrs. Goje served as an exemplary pillar of support to her husband and played the role of a dedicated mother and mentor to many in her community.

    “As we join the Goje family to mourn her passing today, we pray that Allah grant her soul a place among the righteous ones in Al-Jannah Firdaus. We also pray that Allah grants the family the strength to bear this loss.”