The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Kwankwaso

  • Buhari declared winner of APC primaries

    Buhari declared winner of APC primaries

    Former head of state, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), on Thursday secured the All Progressives Congress presidential ticket after edging out four other aspirants at the party’s primary election held at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.

    According to the result announced by the Chairman of the Convention Planning Committee, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, Buhari polled 3, 430 votes to brush aside competition from Kano State Governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, who recorded 974 votes.

    Former vice president Atiku Abubakar came third with 954 votes.

    While Imo State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, got 624 votes, the Publisher of Leadership Newspaper, Dr. Sam Nda –Isaiah, garnered 10 votes.

    16 votes were declared invalid by election officials.

    The election result was signed by agents of the five presidential aspirants.

    Following Buhari’s success at the APC primaries, the stage is now set for a titanic battle between the Daura-born former army general and President Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Party in next February presidential poll.

    The former head of state had contested three previous presidential elections in 2003, 2007 and 2011, losing on those occasions to PDP candidates.

    Over 7,000 delegates took part in the exercise  monitored by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials, including the National Commissioner, Col. M.A. Amanga and the Lagos State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr. Adekunle Ogunmola.

    Meanwhile, Atiku has congratulated Buhari over his victory at the primaries, saying his triumph at the poll was well deserved.

    “Gen. Muhammadu Buhari ran a spirited campaign, and that since the delegates have spoken, he fully deserves the victory.

    “I am very confident that you will provide the needed leadership to turn this country around. I have no doubt that you will work with dedicated and qualified Nigerians to protect our citizens, improve our economy, create jobs, improve education, reform governance and fight corruption.

    “You will indeed bring the change Nigerians have been yearning for. Once more, congratulations,” the former vice president said in a statement issued by his media office in Lagos.

     

  • President lacks moral right to contest elections, says Kwankwaso

    Presidential aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Kano State Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso at the weekend took a swipe at President Goodluck Jonathan, accusing him of lacking the moral right to contest the 2015 general election for failing to address corruption and insecurity pervading the country.

    Kwankwaso, who spoke at a fund raising dinner for his presidential aspiration in Abuja on Saturday night, said the country was suffering from the gross incompetence of the Jonathan administration, adding that many Nigerians have lost their lives to the activities of insurgents in the last six years.

    The governor raised over N1.5b through donations from his friends, family members, political associates and well-wishers from across the country ahead of the presidential primary election of the APC in Lagos on Wednesday.

    The governor is contesting the APC presidential primaries with former Head of State, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, Imo State Governor, Chief Rochas Okorocha and the publisher of Leadership newspaper, Mr. Sam Nda-Isaiah.

    Kwankwaso, a former Minister of Defence, said it was a shame that a country that was once reputed to have one of the best armed forces in the world, cuold no longer protect its citizens

    He said: “I always feel terribly bad as a member of the extended family of the Military in this country that today we cannot protect ourselves. I always remember those days when our military was in Liberia, Sierra Leone, Darfur and other parts of Africa. These were soldiers that did extremely well by even the world standard.

    “Those days, we were not even talking of protecting ourselves. We were protecting others on this continent. Many years before then, this country had the capacity to support other African countries to even remove them out of apartheid and other serious international issues.

    “But today, we have seen a situation where countries that were coming to beg for one thing or the other are the ones we are now running to for help to protect our lives and properties. I believe that this mess will certainly stop by the Grace of God in 2015 when we have the right Commander-in-Chief of the Armed forces.

    “All of us here are very much aware of what is happening in this country. Today, as we are sitting, we have thousands of Nigerians in Chad Republic, in Cameroon and in Niger as refugees.”

  • Nigeria needs prayers —Kwankwaso

    Nigeria needs prayers —Kwankwaso

    NIGERIA is in dire need of special prayers to overcome the persistent insurgency and political tension ahead of 2015 general election, Governor Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso has said.

    Gov. Kwankwaso said this during special prayers offered for the state and the nation by prominent northern Islamic scholars at Kano Government House yesterday, maintaining that the country has never found itself in such critical situation.

    The governor pointed out that what happened at the Kano Central Mosque last Friday where hundreds of worshippers were killed was never expected to happen, lamenting that the Northeast crisis has resulted in the deaths of so many people while millions were dispersed and are living as refugees in neighbouring countries.

    He therefore appealed to the Ulama to seek God intervention on the unfavorable issues so that peace would reign in the country, and enable the conduct of election and handover the leadership of the nation to a duly elected president.

    Governor Kwankwaso maintained that Nigerians must work together as one entity, adding that “if we want our future to be bright, we must shun sentiment and elect leaders that have the capability to meet our yearnings and aspirations”. The leading presidential aspirant expressed happiness over the mutual understanding among different Islamic groups in the state, pointing out that the move would go a long way in enhancing peace and progress.

  • Nigeria needs prayers – Kwankwaso

    Nigeria needs prayers – Kwankwaso

    Nigeria is in dire need of special prayers to overcome the persistent insurgency and political tension ahead of 2015 general election, Kano State Governor, Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, has said.

    Kwankwaso said this during special prayers offered for the state and the nation by prominent Northern Islamic scholars at the Kano Government House, on Friday.

    He maintained that the country has never found itself in such a critical situation.

    The governor pointed out that what happened at the Kano Central Mosque last Friday where hundreds of worshippers were killed was never expected to happen, lamenting that the Northeast crisis has resulted in the deaths of several people, while millions were now living as refugees in neighboring countries.

    Kwankwaso said that whenever a person tunes a radio, television or browse internet, what he would hear is killings and destruction of properties, saying this would not augur well for national development.

    He appealed to the Ulamas to seek God’s intervention on the unfavorable situation so that peace would reign in the country.

     

  • Kwankwaso woos Southwest APC

    Kwankwaso woos Southwest APC

    AN All Progressives Congress (APC)presidentialaspirant , Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has sought the support of party members in the Southwest.

    Kwankwaso, who is Kano State Governor, tried to convince party members across Southwest, who gathered in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, that he was the best aspirant to lead the country.

    Urging party members to support his ambition, the presidential aspirant said his experience as a civil servant, former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, governor and minister makes him the best person to lead the country.

    The senator representing Ondo North Senatorial District, Ajayi Boroffice, who addressed the gathering, said Kwankwaso was a consummate leader who can “stir the ship of Nigeria”

  • APC clears Buhari, Atiku, others for presidential primaries

    APC clears Buhari, Atiku, others for presidential primaries

    The Presidential Screening Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has cleared former Head of State, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari and Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to contest the December 10 the party’s presidential primaries slated for December 10 in Lagos.

    Also cleared are Kano State governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, his Imo State counterpart, Owelle Rochas Okorocha and the Publisher of Leadership Newspaper, Sam Nda-Isaiah.

    Before their clearance, the five aspirants were made to sign an undertaking not to decamp to any other party if they failed to get the party ticket and to support whoever emerges as candidate at the end of the primaries.

    Speaking before presenting clearance certificates to the five aspirants who were screened on Tuesday, the Committee Chairman and former National Chairman of the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), Chief Ogbonnaya Onu, said the time has come when Nigerians must make a decision whether to continue with the present state of affairs in the country or effect a change for the better.

    Onu said the problems of Nigeria has persisted not because they are insurmountable, but because the nation has not found the right leadership, pointing out that the APC was formed to fill the vacuum and provide the leadership required for the nation to grow.

    He said: “This committee would want to appeal to Nigerians that the time has come for our country to take a stand. There is a choice before us. Are we going to continue the way we have been going in the last 16 years when our security forces are used to intimidate and harass the very citizens who pay for their maintenance?

    “Are we going to continue a situation where we are the sixth largest exporters of crude oil and yet we import virtually all the petroleum products that we use and as we do this, we are exporting jobs and rendering our people unemployed? Is this what Nigerians would want to do?

    “Are we going to allow a situation where the rule of law is violated and there is no orderliness whatsoever? This is a choice for Nigerians. The ruling party has had 16 years and so, it is not a question of making promises. We are judging them on their records because they told us that within two years, there will be regular and reliable supply of power for 24 hours a day and seven days a week. This is the 16th year and that promise has not been fulfilled.

    “So, Nigerians have a choice to make because when you have two things, you can never know until you try them. So, Nigerians ought to try the APC and give us a chance to show that the problems in the country can be solved.”

     

  • APC screening tough — Atiku

    APC screening tough — Atiku

    Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has on Tuesday in Abuja described the screening carried out by the All Progressive Congress (APC) for presidential aspirants as tough.

    The former vice-president, who made the assessment while speaking to newsmen after his screening, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the screening was conducted by the APC Presidential Screening Committee.

    “It was a hot seat. There were several questions on the economy, insecurity, jobs among others. “The screening was tough but we pulled through,’’ Atiku said, adding that he was ‘grilled’ for 58 minutes.

    Fielding questions from journalists, the APC presidential aspirant said: “I have been on campaign for two months, and I am ready.

    “On the allegation that I am trying to buy the party over by donating everywhere I go, I think it is false; we can donate to whomever we want,’’ he said.

    He said that APC would take the final decision as regards where its presidential primary election would take place.

    Also speaking to journalists after their screening, Gov. Rabiu Kwankwaso of Kano state and Dr. Sam Nda-Isaiah also said that APC would take the final decision as to the primary election venue.

    “The choice of Abuja as venue is central for someone from Adamawa or Yobe; traffic in Lagos is also a factor but whether Abuja, Lagos or Benin the party has the final say,’’ Kwankwaso said.

    Governor Kwankwaso, while expressing satisfaction with the committee members further said: “they asked lots of relevant questions.

    “We are successful and will return tomorrow for our certificates”.

    Nda-Isaiah likened the screening to a job interview.

    “It is the biggest job interview in Nigeria. “I want to be president to effect change not to feel good. My reign we will be harsh on corruption.”

    There must be justice, equity and fairness; all crimes must be punishable irrespective of the status of the perpetrator,” he summed.

  • Kwankwaso ‘anoints’ deputy as successor

    Kwankwaso ‘anoints’ deputy as successor

    Kano State governor, Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, on Friday anointed his deputy, Engr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, as the All Progressives Congress candidate for the 2015 governorship election in the state.

    The Nation gathered that before the development, there were concerns within the Kwankwasiyya political movement and the APC over who will fly the party’s flag in the  election.

    Bowing to intense pressure from various pressure groups within and outside the party, Governor Kwankwaso approved Ganduje’s candidature and urged other aspirants to support the deputy governor in the interest of the party and the state as a whole.

    Ganduje, who also picked the expression of interest form at the party’s secretariat on Friday, could not hide his excitement as he acknowledged cheers from thousands of supporters who converged at the party’s secretariat to register their support.

    The elated deputy governor described his anointment by Kwankwaso as a triumph of hope, promising to continue with the governor’s legacies if he is elected in February next year.

     

  • Kwankwaso’s aide resigns

    kano State Chairman/Director of the Youth Directorate for Economic Empowerment Col. Yakubu Bako (rtd) yesterday resigned his appointment.

    He said his resignation would help him focus on campaigning for President Goodluck Jonathan’s re-election.

  • Forces against national unity will fail – Kwankwaso

    Forces against national unity will fail – Kwankwaso

    Kano State Governor, Rabi’u Kwankwaso, has said those trying to break the unity of the country would fail.

    The governor said this when he briefed journalists in Kano on Saturday.

    He said some people who were trying to divide the country on religious line and ethnicity would never succeed.

    Kwankwaso said he would tackle the security challenges bedeviling the country if given the mandate to rule the country in 2015.

    “My major concern if elected as president of this country is to tackle the current insecurity and ensure economic development in the country,” the News Agency of Nigeria quoted the governor as saying at the forum.

    He said the state government recently donated foodstuffs to displaced persons affected by insurgency in Borno and Yobe States as part of efforts to cushion their sufferings.

    Kwankwaso added that the state government would soon send relief materials to displaced persons in Adamawa and other affected states.

    The governor said he aware of the recent visit of the Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido, to President Goodluck Jonathan for reconciliation.

    “The Emir of Kano told me he was going to Abuja for meeting with President Jonathan and I gave him approval to go.

    “The Emir, after their meeting with the President, also briefed me on what happened there.

    “I will be very happy if Villa will be inviting Kano people for reconciliation,’’ he told journalists.