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Tag: John Odigie-Oyegun

  • Osinbajo, Tinubu, governors attend Buhari’s book presentation 

    Osinbajo, Tinubu, governors attend Buhari’s book presentation 

    Eminent personalities on Thursday attended President Muhammadu Buhari’s book’s public presentation in Abuja.

    The book  ‘Making Steady, Sustainable Progress for Nigeria’s Peace and Prosperity’, was presented to the public at the old Banquet Hall of the State House.

    It was a mid-term scorecard on the President Muhammadu Buhari administration.

    Among those that graced the public presentation of the book, that started few minutes past 12 noon, were the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, who is the keynote speaker at the occasion.

    Also at the occasion was the Chairman of the occasion and the APC National Chairman, John Odigie-Oyegun and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha.

    State governors at the event were Abiola Ajimobi (Oyo), Rauf Aragbesola (Osun), Jigawa, Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun), Darius Ishaku (Taraba), Abdulaziz Yari (Zamfara).

    Other members of the Federal Executive Council (FEC), other top government officials, members of the diplomatic corps and traditional rulers also attended.

    The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara was represented at the occasion.

    The programme was still in progress at the time of filing this report.

  • Buhari meets Tinubu, Saraki, Dogara, Yari, Oyegun in Aso Rock 

    Buhari meets Tinubu, Saraki, Dogara, Yari, Oyegun in Aso Rock 

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday met with some top leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the State House, Abuja.

    Those he met briefly with included the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara.

    Also at the meeting are the Chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) and Zamfara State Governor, Abdulaziz Yari and the National Chairman of the APC, John Odigie-Oyegun.

    At the end of the meeting, they declined to speak on the purpose of the meeting.

    As soon as the meeting ended, the President and the National Leader of the APC, Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu also started another meeting around 3:28p.m

    The second meeting was still in progress at the time of filing this report.

  • 17 governors plot APC chair Oyegun’s removal

    17 governors plot APC chair Oyegun’s removal

    Crisis has broken out in the All Progressives Congress (APC), with 17 governors plotting to dump National Chairman John Odigie-Oyegun.

    The governors are said to be angry that Oyegun has been running the party with only seven of their colleagues.

    They may table their grievances at the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting on October 31 and pass a vote of no confidence in Oyegun.

    The governors are said to have reached out to President Muhammadu Buhari on their decision to reject Oyegun’s leadership.

    But Oyegun’s supporters have fingered former Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole’s backers as part of the plot.

    They said Oshiomhole’s loyalists had been lobbying party leaders ahead of the NEC meeting to concede the slot to the ex-governor should Oyegun be forced to step aside.

    READ ALSO: Jonathan accuses APC of lies, propaganda

     APC seems set for a “make or break” meeting because of the sharp division among the governors on Oyegun.

    Some of the governors are alleged to have refused to assist the party because of the national chairman.

    A source, who pleaded not to be named, said: “Ahead of the NEC meeting of APC next week, there is tension in the party. About 17 of the 24 governors are unhappy with the national chairman. They are plotting to withdraw their support for him, unless he carries all of them along.”

    In Oyegun’s corner are Governors Nasir El-Rufai (Kaduna); Abdullahi Ganduje (Kano); Mohammed Abubakar (Bauchi); Rochas Okorocha (Imo); Solomon Lalong (Plateau); Yahaya Bello (Kogi)  and Samuel Ortom (Benue).

    “The 17 governors believe that Oyegun is romancing their seven colleagues because the APC National Chairman believes they are close to the President.

    “They expressed fears that the party might split the way the National Chairman was leaving decisions on issues to the ‘anointed’ governors,” the source added.

    Another source said: “Initially, the 17 governors decided to write a letter to the APC leadership but they shelved the idea because it will appear as if they are reporting their colleagues.

    “They are, however, reaching out to President Buhari but through the back channels to avoid embarrassing the President during the October 31 NEC meeting.

    “They want the President to call the National Chairman to order. They said if care is not taken, they might be forced to come out openly on their concern.”

    But a member of NEC said: “What you are hearing is a game plan to pass a vote of no confidence on Oyegun at the NEC meeting.

    “The issues the 17 governors are raising are part of the conspiracy against the National Chairman. And what you are likely to see is the direction where things will go at the NEC session.

    “As regards Oyegun’s preference for some governors, I do not think it is true. If the chairman has personal relationship with some governors, I think it is by virtue of their position or performance.

    “For instance, the National Chairman does not hide his likeness for El-Rufai who he describes openly as ‘very energetic and full of ideas’. He is always proud of the governor of Kebbi and he relates well with Okorocha as the Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF). He is also used to the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), Abdul-Aziz Yari, to get update on issues of governance.”

    Another NEC source said Oyegun’s camp was already aware of “the plot”.

    “In the last few days, strategists of Oshiomhole have been pushing his candidacy as successor to Oyegun ahead of the NEC meeting.

    “But the pro-Oshiomhole governors will fail because by the APC constitution, only the Deputy National Chairman from the South, Chief Segun Oni, can succeed Oyegun.”

    “The thinking is that Oni could resign at the NEC meeting to contest the Ekiti State governorship primaries. The APC constitution is silent on who takes over.

    “So, we will be running into a deeper crisis, the source added”

    National Publicity Secretary Bolaji Abdullahi told our correspondent last night on telephone: “I don’t know the basis for the discontent because the party’s leaders always meet with the governors every month. And on some occasions, we had more than 70 to 80 per cent attendance.

    “In fact, we met with the governors on Wednesday in Abuja as part of our monthly session with them. If there is any discontent, such a forum would have provided an opportunity for them to raise it.”

  • APC not against reordering Nigerian federation, says Oyegun

    APC not against reordering Nigerian federation, says Oyegun

    ALL Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman Chief John Odigie-Oyegun has said the party was not in any way against any effort to reorder the Nigerian federation.

    He said efforts by the party will make the country stronger and more United.

    Oyegun, who spoke yesterday evening when he received a delegation of Nigerian Christian Elders Forum, said the presnt debate on restructuring and power devolution was not new to the party as devolution of powers and resources in the federation was one of the critical issues canvassed by the various political parties that formed the APC in 2013.

    He said: “It is strange that people ever think or dream that the APC is in anyway against some degree of reordering of our federation. Take our constitution, it is replete with references to devolution of powers, resources and the rest of it.

    “As a matter of fact, it was a basic issue at the coming together of the APC, that we must take a fresh look at the distribution of powers and the workings of our federal system.

    “Today, we have brought some direction to the debate rather than everybody trumpeting restructuring without exactly getting down defining what restructuring really means. We are now engaged in that exercise and I think things are beginning to be clearer as to what different groups want.

    “At the end of the day, what will happen is what will make our federation stronger and what most of the people of this country are ready to accept and work with.”

    Chairman of the Nigerian Christian Elders Forum (NCEF) Solomon Asemota (SAN) said the organisation was visiting political parties to advocate for the establishment of a truth and reconciliation committee similar to South Africa’s after the abolishment of Apartheid

    Asemota said the Christian Elders believed there is an urgent need to redirect the ongoing socio-political discourse from ethnicity and religion to nationalism and commended the APC’s effort to give direction to the restructuring debate in the country.

    “We are made up of elders from the five Christian blocs. Most of us have had some experience in our lives. Some of say we had the best of Nigeria. And we think as a country, we could do better. We decided that the political parties are most suited for it because their members are in the National Assembly and will be in good position to push things through

    “So we have come with two documents. First is the question of the need for politics of nationalism. If you look at the history of our country, it started that way. Then when it was decided that we were asking for independence, it became politics of ethnicity and religion. What we are calling for is that we want politics of nationalism. Fortunately, things are gathering momentum and we hear that the question of restructuring is being taken seriously by the APC.

    “We have another which is the question of a reconciliation commission. We have written down our position so that there is no misunderstanding. We believe that the situation in our country is just a little shade different from what obtained in South Africa.”

    Other members of the Nigerian Christian Elders Forum present at the meeting were Pastor Bosun Emmanuel (Secretary); Gen. Joshua Dogonyaro (retd); Rev. Dr. Musa Asake; Elder Mathew Owojaiye; Elder Shyngle Wigwe; Dr. Ayo Abifarin; Eder Michael Orobafor; Dr. Saleh Hussaini and Elder Moses Ihonde.

     

  • Buhari, Osibanjo, Oyegun, others to participate in Abia mega rally

    Buhari, Osibanjo, Oyegun, others to participate in Abia mega rally

    President Muhammadu Buhari, Vice President Yemi Osibanjo, All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman, John Odigie Oyegun and other ranking members of the party are expected to participate in the party’s mega rally in Abia State.

    The State Publicity Secretary of the party, Comrade Benedict Godson while speaking with newsmen on Monday in Umuahia, the state capital after the inauguration of the party’s Contact, Mobilization/Rally Committee said that the event would hold in the state capital in October.

    Godson said that the essence of the planned mega rally was to present new members of the party including former Governor of the state, Dr. Orji Kalu, Chidi Onyeukwu Ajaegbu, immediate past President Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Dr. Sampson Uche Ogah, CEO Masters Energy and former Abia PDP governorship aspirant in 2015 election, Chief David Ogba Onuoha, MD of defunct Bourdex telecommunication and Abia North Senatorial candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, MD of defunct Hallmark Bank and brother to former senate president (Adolphus Wabara), Mark Wabara among other Abia political big weights who will be presented to the public at the event scheduled to hold at the state capital.

    According to Godson, the rally was preparatory to the party’s efforts to woo more supporters ahead of the 2019 general election.

    Earlier in his speech, state chairman of the party, Hon. Donatus Nwankpa who stressed that the party’s doors were wide enough to accommodate others who may join the party even after the rally charged the committee to work hard in order to make sure that the event was a success.

    Nwankpa who recalled how the immediate past government in the state barred the incumbent President Buhari from making use of public facilities during the campaigns and the use of state’s machinery to frustrate efforts of the founding fathers of the party in the state to reach out to intending in 2015.

    The state chairman of APC maintained that he was sure that the people in the party and the popularity of the party in the state, that they were going to produce the next Abia governor.

    He restated that the party would not zone the governorship position in the state to any zone, stressing that the party through an open and credible primaries would present candidates who are willing to serve Abians and deliver dividend of democracy to all parts of the state.

    “A governor is like a father with many children. He loves the children equally and shares his wealth to them without favouring anyone. APC will produce a governor and leaders that have the interest of their subjects at heart. We are not going to promote godfatherism, but to present candidates based on their acceptability by the people who will elect them through a credible primary.”

    Chairman of the committee and deputy chairman of the party, Chief Ogumka Adiele promised that they were going to do the work entrusted in their care with their best.

    Adiele assured that the committee would make sure that more people would join the party before the event holds, stating that they would make sure it became a success.

    Other members of the committee including Hon Acho Obioma, former House of Rep member and chairman Akoka Federal College of Education Governing Board Council, Chief Oxford Wabara and others pledged their commitment in ensuring that they work cooperatively with the committee’s chairman to produce a positive result.

  • APC inaugurates seven-member reconciliation committee for Kogi

    APC inaugurates seven-member reconciliation committee for Kogi

    Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), on Monday in Abuja, inaugurated a seven-member reconciliation committee for the party’s Kogi chapter.

    According to a statement issued by Malam Bolaji Abudullahi, the APC National Publicity Secretary, the committee is chaired by Gen. Idris Garba, while the party’s Deputy National Secretary, Mr Victor Giadom would be its Secretary.

    Other members of the committee are: Chief Don Etiebet; Rt. Hon. Patricia Etteh; Group. Capt. Rufai Garba; Alhaji Umar Lawan Kareto and Group. Capt. Joe Orji.

    Odigie-Oyegun thanked members of the committee for agreeing to serve the party in the committee, adding that the party’s leadership wanted peace and settlement in its Kogi chapter.

    He added that the situation in Kogi was unique, saying that what triggered the event in the state was tragic in their nature.

    He further added that the party leadership was bending backwards because it understood the feelings of the people and what they had been through.

    “We understand the work that you have put in to get the APC elected; we understand also that God who disposes of power, brought somebody at the last minute to be the beneficiary of all the work and labour that everybody obviously had put in.

    “Fortunately, we had a fact-finding committee that has done a lot of the basic work and submitted a report which will be made available to the reconciliation committee.

    “We know the principal parties in the various groups in Kogi; we know what their grievances are.

    “So the issue now is really to call just the principal groups and say look, this has to stop, how do we go about it.

    “The governor of course will be there to say his piece and give you all the assistance necessary to make your task successful.

    “We want peace in Kogi state. Events there have been very very unusual. But like I said, given the emotive nature of the event that led to it, we have decided to stretch the opportunities for reaching peace,” he said.

    The chairman of the committee thanked the party for the opportunity to serve and assured the party that the committee wold bring peace and settlement to the party in Kogi

    “There is no doubt that it is an onerous task, but we are committed people and believe in bringing our experiences to bear on the issue, we will be able to resolve the issue as directed by our great party,” he said.

  • Kudos for Buhari’s speech

    Kudos for Buhari’s speech

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday led the commendation of President Muhammadu Buhari’s broadcast after his arrival from medical vacation in London.

    The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Senator Shehu Sani and others also have given kudos for the short speech.

    APC National Chairman John Odigie-Oyegun told reporters that the President left no one in doubt that Nigeria’s unity was not negotiable and the fact that the government will not allow any threat to the lives of Nigerians through hate speeches.

    Oyegun said: “The speech was solidly outstanding. You see, he is the President of this nation. He has been away all this while and agents of destabilisation have been very much at work because they thought that his absence created a gap and a weakness within the polity, which they tried to exploit.

    “Mr President, in his wisdom, discerned that. The stability of this nation, the unity of this nation, the peace of this nation, the security of the ordinary Nigerian are the key issues at this material time. And he addressed them.

    “He addressed them briefly; went straight to the core of the issues and left nobody in doubt that any Nigerian is entitled, as a matter of right, to live, work and operate in any part of this country.

    “He made it very clear and left no one in doubt that yes, while people can discuss their issues, the National Assembly is there to handle such issues. But he drew one red line; that the only thing that is not on the table is the unity of the Nigerian nation, which is not up for negotiations.

    “I pity those who thought he will come and start addressing each and every issue. He picked on the core issues in the nation and made his views crystal clear.

    “The President did not insinuate in his speech that those clamouring for restructuring and the rest cannot discuss. You can discuss. The only issue that is out of bound is the unity of this nation.

    “But that as the situation is today, legitimate institutions of state that can deal with any changes in the relativity within the nation is the National Assembly and the National Council of State. So the situation is so clear and very very unambiguous.”

    Senator Sani (Chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign and Local Debts), said the President spoke the mind of Nigerians who cherish the country’s unity, peace and collective progress, adding that “he spoke as a nationalist and he spoke my mind 100 per cent.

    “He sent a clear message to terrorists, ethnic irredentists, secessionists and champions of sectionalism that this union is an indissoluble matrimony in all circumstances.

    “The President’s speech was a lion’s roar meant to reaffirm and reinforce the unity of a nation showing signs of disintegration during his absence. The President’s speech was a lion’s roar reestablishing full control of a staggering clime heading to an engineered implosion during his absence,” Sani said.

    “The President’s speech was a lion’s roar meant to wake up a slumbering nation dangerously forgetting the lessons of its history and the calling of its future. The President’s speech was a lion’s roar meant to extinguish the Soviet/Yugoslavia inferno stoking in our country.

    “During the President absence, our hard-earned trophy of peace and plaque of unity were gathering dust and gradually being eaten by ants and bugs; the lion roared to clear them.

    “Our dreams and vision for a better country can be achieved without the need to subscribe to disorder or surrender to it. The roaring lion may have disappointed ‘Biafranistas’ and ‘Restructunistas’ and ‘Evictionistas’ but it’s pleasing to ‘Nationalistas’.

    The General Secretary of the National Union of Textile and Garment Workers of Nigeria, (NUTGWN), Comrade Issa Aremu, described the speech as truly presidential, timely and reassuring on the unity and indissolubility of Nigeria as a Federal Republic.

    Aremu called on Nigerians to rise and defend the Constitution in the face of what he described as “forces of disunity, revisionism and sheer disintegration”, adding that President Buhari exhibited remarkable statesmanship by devoting his first appreciation speech to the vexed issue of Nigeria’s unity in   reminding all Nigerians of the “obvious truism” that the motto of Nigeria as enshrined in the constitution is “Unity and Faith, Peace and Progress”.

    The labour leader said other statesmen and women should emulate the President by “talking the right talk and working the talk” on Nigeria’s renaissance, rather than organising what he called “wasteful thanksgiving/solidarity visits of dubious value”.

    “All Nigerians should not only decry hate speeches and hate conducts of forces of disunity but should also talk the language of unity and love as President Buhari has done,”  he said.

    To Aremu, it is reassuring that President Buhari categorically declared that “Nigeria’s unity is settled and not negotiable” as well as repeating the obvious that  “every Nigerian has the right to live and pursue his business anywhere in Nigeria without let or hindrance”.

    The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) described the speech as “truly presidential, timely and reassuring” on the unity and indissolubility of Nigeria as a federation.

    In a statement, ACF National Publicity Secretary Alhaji Muhammad Ibrahim Biu said “his presidential broadcast is commendable and all-encompassing, especially on the unity and indivisibility of the country. ACF supports the position of the government on the issues of restructuring and the channels of addressing genuine grievances through the appropriate democratic institutions, such as the Legislature and Judiciary.

    “On hate speeches and inflammatory remarks, now that government has taken a decisive action to arrest the situation, ACF appeals to all Nigerians to henceforth heed to the call for restrain and resort to peaceful means of ventilating their grievances.

    “ACF further calls on governments at all levels to step up peace and confidence building in order to douse the current sociopolitical tensions,” the statement read.

     

  • APC not opposed to true federalism – Odigie-Oyegun

    APC not opposed to true federalism – Odigie-Oyegun

    National Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, said the party was not opposed to true federalism as perceived in some quarters across the country.

    He stated this on Thursday in Abuja while inaugurating a 24-member committee on True Federalism to articulate the party´s position on restructuring of the country as agitations in that regard increased.

    According to Odigie-Oyegun, it is only the APC that can claim ownership to the principle and the need for true federalism in the country.

    “When we sat down to discuss the union of the APC, it was one of the principal issues that were almost like a no-go-item that we negotiated and agreed.

    “And as such, the Constitution and the manifestos of the party are very elaborate in their references to true federalism and devolution of power.

    “It is therefore totally inconceivable for uninformed members of the public to jump on this bandwagon of reconstituting the federation,” he said.

    He added that such members of the public gave the impression that the APC was “in any way against the principle of taking a fresh look at the basis of our federalism”.

    Odigie-Oyegun insisted that true federalism was already a mantra to the APC, and must be looked into without jeopardising the fundamental unity of the country.

    He tasked members of the committee to have a critical look at issues of devolution of power, fiscal federalism, resource control and others thrown up following recent clamour for restructuring of the country.

    He, however, stressed that APC’s Constitution and manifesto vigorously canvassed the issues, adding that they were elaborately provided for.

    The chairman said that the party´s position on the issues had been eloquently stated in the terms of references of the committee.

    “It is your duty, especially having regard to the emotive nature of the national discourse on restructuring, to distill from our party constitution and manifesto the various ideas canvassed in different constitutional conferences.

    “I expect you to look at whatever document available on this subject and to look at whatever views and recommendations available on it.

    “I also expect, at all times, that your anchor will be the constitution and manifesto of the party, because it is on that manifesto that we went to the public of this nation.

    “I ask you to generate a report which will truly reflect the desire of our people and a true reflection of what our party stands for,” he said.

    He added that it was critical to ensure that the party met the desires of Nigerians on their idea of true federalism.

    In his response, Kaduna State Governor and Chairman of the committee, Malam Nasir el-Rufai, said that APC believed in balanced federation and fiscal federalism and was doing well in that regard.

    “We can give example as state governors of the level of participation of states in certain economic policy directions for the country.

    “This government has also taken steps to devolve power and responsibility to states, without any constitutional amendment to states.

    “We have seen more cases of federal assets and roads being taken over by states willingly,” el-Rufai said.

    He disclosed that the committee had met three times and had identified 12 key issues to be discussed by Nigerians to ensure a clearer direction on issues of restructuring.

    He said that the committee would visit 12 states in the country to meet with the people at the grassroots to collate their views on the issues with a view to proffering solution.

    El-Rufai said some of the issues to be looked into were state creation, regionalism, land tenure system and revenue allocation.

    He added that the committee would also utilise social media platforms to interact with the people across the country.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the 24-member committee, which has nine states’ governors, women, youths and some leaders of the APC, was constituted on July 9.

    Member of the committee are Gov. Rauf Aregbesola of Osun, Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State, Gov. Simon Lalong of Plateau and Gov. Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun.

    Others are former governor of Edo, Prof. Oserheimen Osunbor; APC National Organising Secretary, Sen. Osita Izunaso; APC National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi and Hajiya Fatima Balla.

    Sen. Olubunmi Adetunmbi is the committee’s Secretary.

    The committee is expected to complete its assignment within three months.

  • Osinbajo to inaugurate N10bn WACOT Rice Mill in Argungu, Kebbi

    Osinbajo to inaugurate N10bn WACOT Rice Mill in Argungu, Kebbi

    The Acting President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, is to inaugurate the N10 billion WACOT Rice Processing Mill in Argungu, Kebbi, on Tuesday.

    A statement by Alhaji Abubakar Muazu, the Chief Press Secretary to Gov Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi, in Birnin Kebbi said that the acting president was expected to arrive in Birnin Kebbi by 2 p.m. and proceed to Argungu for the inauguration.

    Osinbajo would be accompanied by Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, the National Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Chairman of APC Governors Forum, Gov. Rochas Okorocha of Imo, to Argungu for the programme.

    APC governors, who were in Birnin Kebbi for their meeting, would also be part of the acting president’s entourage that would be in Argungu for the inauguration ceremony.

    After the inauguration, Osinbajo would proceed to the Argungu International Fishing and Cultural Festival Village to witness an agricultural show tagged “Dalar Shinkafa’’ (Rice Pyramid), organised to showcase the rice production potential of Kebbi.

    Speaking, Alhaji Bashar Aminu, the Chairman of the WACOT Rice Mill Ltd., said that the mill, which had the capacity to produce 400 tonnes of rice per day, would also provide employment for more than 1,000 persons.

    “We have invested N10 billion to put up the rice mill as a multi-national company that has linkages in almost all the West African countries.

    “We also have links with major marketers and manufacturers of agricultural products,’’ he added.

  • Rescue Kaduna chapter, Sen. Sani urges APC leadership

    Rescue Kaduna chapter, Sen. Sani urges APC leadership

    A member of the National Assembly, Sen. Shehu Sani, has called on the national leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to rescue the party’s Kaduna chapter from imminent destruction.

    He made the call while speaking with newsmen on Monday in Abuja, after a closed-door meeting with National Chairman of APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun.

    Sani, who represents Kaduna Central in the Senate, was in company with some APC members in Kaduna, including Sen. Suleiman Hunkuyi (Kaduna North) to the meeting with the national chairman.

    He condemned Saturday’s local government elections in the state, saying that it did not hold.

    Sani alleged that the delegates list for the election was doctored and did not follow due process.

    “They sat down in the palace of their gods to write names and send it down here for us to accept; that can never happen,” he said.

    He said that such practice contributed to the problems of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and warned that the APC could go the same way if its leadership failed to address the problem.

    “This was the seed of the destruction of the PDP, where individuals considered themselves as gods and any other person a slave; that will never happen in Kaduna state.

    “We are here to present our case and to appeal to the instrument of leadership of this party to intervene in the Kaduna issue before it becomes too late.

    “We are here to also state it to the party´s national leadership that we are under siege in Kaduna

    “The use of thugs and violence by agents and close associates of the state government is one thing we cannot tolerate,” Sani said.

    He decried the recent raiding of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) secretariat in Kaduna by thugs during a press briefing after the councils’ election, during which journalists were injured.

    He said that such was the trait of the APC, and urged its leadership to should set up an investigation panel to bring the perpetrators of the disturbances.

    The lawmaker alleged that the thugs were acting in concert with the police in the state.

    “If we continue on this part, where one person feels he is a god, I think we are simply repeating the very problem that destroyed the party we ejected out of power,” he said.

    He maintained that there was a need for APC to provide the vehicle for real change for the country to change and tasked members to change the manner they played politics.

    Sani stressed that those who resolved to the use of violence or thugs to liquidate perceived political opponent were on the wrong side of history.

    He said that members of his faction of the party in the state were not agents of violence but were loyal and peaceful.

    He insisted that if the APC must win the 2019 election, it must apart from fulfilling its campaign promises, set an example for discipline, comradeship and a sense of belonging to all members.

    Sani said that what was happening in the party´s leadership in the state was unbecoming and should be addressed before it became late.

    He appealed to those in authority to know that the God that brought the APC to power was still alive and will always listen to the cries of the oppressed and marginalised.

    “We are here in the spirit of that, and we hope that we will get the cooperation of the national party´s leadership to come to the rescue of the party in Kaduna before it is too late,” he said.