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Tag: Lamido

  • PDP screens Atiku, Turaki, Tambuwal, Saraki, Lamido, Bafarawa, others

    •Aspirants uncomfortable with Port Harcourt
    •Two aspirants present no educational certificates

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday screened most of its presidential aspirants. There was drama over the fate of two.

    The two could not present evidence of their educational certificates before the panel.

    The development led to a little disagreement between the screening committee chairman, former Vice President Namadi Sambo and other members.

    Some members wanted instant disqualification of the two (who are from the Northwest), Sambo exercised caution with a caveat that the party will know how best to handle those without educational certificates.

    Also yesterday, most of the aspirants were uncomfortable with the choice of Port Harcourt for the National Convention, following alleged undue interest of Governor Nyesom Wike in one of them.

    Those who appeared before the committee are: ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar; a former National Chairman of PDP, Sen. Ahmed Makarfi; former Minister Kabiru Tanimu Turaki; Sokoto State Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal; Senate President Bukola Saraki; former Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido and former Sokoto State Governor Attahiru Bafarawa.

    Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and Gombe State Governor Ibrahim Dakwambo were yet to be screened as at press time.

    A top source, who spoke in confidence, said: “The screening committee headed by Sambo, with the Governor of Akwa Ibom, Udom Emmanuel as Secretary, interacted with most of the aspirants.

    “They were basically asked questions on their educational qualifications, background, their professional callings, party membership, records of conviction by a court of law, and why they are in the presidential race.

    “All these questions border on the requirements for the Office of the President as enshrined in 1999 Constitution.

    “It was indeed revealing sessions with some of the aspirants who are more than qualified for the Office of the President.”

    But the source admitted that two of the aspirants did not measure up to expectations.

    The source added: “These two aspirants could not present their educational certificates to the Sambo panel.

    “Their deficiencies caused a little disagreement at the committee level. Some members of the screening committee wanted the affected aspirants from the Northwest disqualified, but Sambo called for caution and wanted their fate left to the PDP to decide.

    “At the end of the day, the committee will submit a comprehensive report to the National Secretariat of PDP to consider.”

    A spokesman of one of the aspirants, who spoke in confidence, confirmed the screening of some of the aspirants.

    The spokesman said: “Yes, our candidate appeared before the screening committee. It is part of the due process being followed by the party. It is only those who are no longer interested in the race that might not show up for the screening.”

    Some of the aspirants protested over the choice of Port Harcourt as the venue of the National Convention of PDP.

    One of the aspirants had barely arrived for the screening when he told his colleagues as follows: “I have been warning all of you, the choice of Port Harcourt is not ideal. Governor Nyesom Wike will take total control and he will crown whoever he likes. It is becoming obvious now.”

    Another presidential aspirant said: “The truth is that many of us are uncomfortable with Port Harcourt at all. The ticket would have been decided and conceded to Wike’s favourite before we get to the venue.

    “Some of us have protested to PDP leaders against the venue which will not guarantee a level-playing field.”

     

  • Nigeria is sick, says Lamido

    *Says governance deteriorating

    *Lamido: Why crime increasing in Nigeria

     

    A Presidential aspirant under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Sule Lamido, on Monday declared that Nigeria is sick.

    According to him, the culture of governance in the country is deteriorating because of absence of justice.

    Lamido, who was former Jigawa State Governor, spoke in Abuja during his visit to the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum.

    He said “I saw the caliber of people in this assembly, they are our elders in this country, our second 11 generation.

    “For the time great Nigerians that have no interest yet they felt so concerned…It means this country is sick. Like you all know, the culture of governance is deteriorating because of absence of justice which should be the anchor of governance but it is not in Nigeria anymore.

    “That is why you are seeing all these kidnappings, Boko Haram, killings in Taraba, Adamawa, Zamfara, Sokoto and all over Nigeria.

    “This country is not being run under law and order, there is nothing like justice in Nigeria, therefore, Nigerians feel that this country is not good anymore. One single person has held this country hostage.

    “These people (that’s the forum) all believe in Nigeria, they have worked for Nigeria.” he said

    According to him, the present administration is trying to bury the contributions of founding fathers of Nigeria.

    He said “Now, this government is trying to bury the contributions of our founding fathers, integrity and honesty are not new in our vocabulary.

    “Before Buhari there was integrity, there was Tafawa Balewa, Obafemi Awolowo, Aminu Kano, Azikiwe, these are people of honour and integrity. He has never for once paid tributes to our founding fathers.

    “So, more than anything you see we are going through a period of injustice. In other climes he will be impeached because he said he will work anywhere I got 95 percent and do less where I got five percent.

    “What is happening now is because this country is sick, we are looking for justice. We want a Nigeria where everybody will feel a sense of belonging, not nepotism anymore.” he stated

    Speaking at the occasion, the Pan-Niger Delta Forum leader, Chief Edwin Clark and President-General of Ohanaeze, Chief John Nwodo, disclosed that invitation were extended to all presidential aspirants in other to assess them and know what plans they are bringing on board.

    Nwodo said “We decided to do this because we represent wide siciol-political groups in the country.

    According to him, the group is reluctant on endorsing just any candidate.

    Pointing out that the present structure in the country has been hampering progress in the country, he insisted that the group is committed to the restructuring of the nation.

  • I won’t step down for Atiku, says Lamido

    •’I’m his senior in politics’

    Former Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido has responded to a statement in which former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar said Lamido will step down for him.

    Both men are contesting the presidential ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) alongside about 10 others.

    At a meeting with PDP leaders in Dutse, Jigawa State on Monday, Atiku said he believed Lamido would step down for him as his elder brother.

    He said he believed Lamido would concede the ticket to him because the former governor was his younger brother and shared the same political ideology with him.

    Atiku based his prediction on the scenario in the aborted Third Republic when the Yar’Adua brothers initially sought the tickets of the defunct Social Democratic Party.

    The late Shehu, who was the elder, was running for president, while the late Umaru sought the ticket of the same party for the governor of Katsina State.

    Atiku recalled that the late Musa was persuaded to sacrifice his ambition so as not to jeopardise the chances of his younger brother.

    “But with the intervention of elders in the state, the younger brother, Umaru Musa, stepped down for another aspirant so that the politics would not be a family affair, leaving Shehu Musa to contest the president, while someone from another family vied for governor,” Atiku said.

    He told the gathering that his mother was from Jigawar Sarki, a village in Dutse Local Government of Jigawa State before her family migrated to Adamawa State where he (Atiku) was born.

    Responding to Atiku’s comment through a statement yesterday by his media aide, Adamu Usman, Lamido said he would not step down for him.

    “While it is true that he (Atiku) is older than me age-wise, I’m senior to him politically because I was in the House of Representatives in 1979 when he was an employee of the Nigeria Customs Services.

    “And if age is the criterion for standing election, then he should drop out for Buhari.”

    According to Usman, Lamido has been “patient, loyal, committed and consistent” in politics despite all the odds and his travails.

    “Even if Lamido did not show interest to contest, PDP should have called him to be the standard-bearer and if there is anyone the other aspirants should step down for, it should be Sule Lamido because he has the goodwill, political experience and capacity to confront the ruling party, APC.

    “Also, if Lamido is to step down, why would he aspire in the first place? Sule Lamido is out to run for the president in 2019 God willing,” Usman said.

     

     

  • I will not leave PDP even if I lose primaries – Lamido

    Alhaji Sule Lamido, a former Governor of Jigawa and Presidential aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has said he will not leave the party even if he loses primaries for the presidential race.

    Lamido said this in an interview with newsmen at the residence of Gen. Jeremiah Useni, during a solidarity visit in Jos on Wednesday.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Lamido had earlier paid a visit to the Plateau PDP secretariat where he declared his intention to run for presidency in 2019.

    “All of us vying for Presidency in PDP are equal and are capable of ruling Nigeria as President.

    “2019 Presidency is not just about me, we are all working for a just and a common goal to salvage the country. So if I’m not made candidate of our great party, I will support whoever emerges as flag bearer for PDP.”

    The Presidential aspirant assured that the party would reclaim its mandate.

    Lamido debunked rumours making rounds that he was being sponsored for the Presidential race by former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

    He said that he did not have any godfather in politics and was on his own and was vying for the number one seat in the country.

    “I was in PDP before former President Olusegun Obasanjo became president, I do not have a godfather, but I respect everyone in our party; we have the same aspiration as PDP members,” he said.

    The presidential aspirant said if voted into power, his administration would tackle security issues head on and try to find a lasting solution to the herders/farmers clashes being experienced in some parts of the country.

    Earlier, the party’s state Chairman, Mr  Damishi Sango, promised the aspirant of the state party’s support while urging him to strive towards making a difference if he emerged as the party’s candidate. (NAN)

  • Obasanjo not my sponsor – Lamido

    Alhaji Sule Lamido, former Jigawa governor and Presidential aspirant on the platform of the PDP, has dismissed suggestions that he was being sponsored by former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

    Lamido debunked the rumour while speaking with newsmen on Wednesday in Jos.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Lamido was in Jos to solicit votes from the party’s delegates in Plateau, ahead of the PDP National Convention slated to hold in October.

    “I have no political godfather; the presidency is for matured minds and I am one.

    “I hear people say Obasanjo is the one sponsoring my presidential ambition. That is not true.

    “I was in PDP before Obasanjo became president, but I respect him as my leader and elder statesman. I also respect every aspirant contesting on the PDP platform.”

    He said that his goal was to salvage Nigeria from poverty, underdevelopment and economic stagnation, adding that he was not desperate for the party’s ticket.

    “I am not desperate for the ticket. The Presidency is not just about me because all the aspirants in our party are working for a common goal.

    “If I’m not made candidate of our great party, I will support whoever emerges as our flag bearer,” he said.

    The aspirant promised to tackle the incessant herder/farmer clashes and other security challenges in the country if he was elected president in 2019.

    Earlier, Chief Damishi Sango, PDP chairman in the state, had said that the party would conduct transparent primaries that would be acceptable by all aspirants. (NAN)

  • PDP has no plan to change name, says Lamido

    A presidential aspirant in Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Sule Lamido, has said the party has no plan to change its name.

    He said PDP was not a chameleon that would change its name to suit the desire of those who wanted to join it.

    Speaking in Minna while addressing the proposed delegates to next month’s national convention of the party, Lamido said anyone not satisfied with the party’s name could leave.

    There has been agitation for a change of name and logo by the parties in the coalition, which teamed up with the PDP to wrest power from the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Lamido said: “PDP remains the only party with well-defined ideology. Between 1999 and now, other parties have changed their names in the quest to wrest power from the PDP. Of the parties, only the PDP has retained its name.”

    He said the destruction caused by the APC government had set the country back by 10 years, adding that security situation across the country had degenerated.

    The former Jigawa State governor said APC was in panic because the brains in the party had defected to PDP and they no longer had the capacity to convince Nigerians.

    “Defection occurs when there is injustice and impunity. Impunity and injustice made people to leave PDP then. Those who left are now coming back. When they left us, we were able to manage it, we were able to conduct ourselves in a very dignified way because we are leaders.

    “What goes round comes round. It is now time for the APC to experience same and they are panicking because they have no capacity. When we faced same in 2014, we were very cool, calm and collected and were able to cheer the party despite our losses.

    “The APC are panicking because those defecting are the brains behind the party. They are finished that is why they are panicking,” he said.

    Speaking on the PDP loss in the by-elections in Bauchi, Katsina and Kogi states last week, Lamido said the loss was not PDP’s loss, but Nigeria’s loss.

    “It is Nigeria that lost because of the impunity, injustice and corruption that pervaded the election.”

  • PDP won’t change name – Lamido

    A presidential aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Sule Lamido, declared on Tuesday that the party has no intention to change its name to satisfy those seeking its membership.

    He said the PDP is not a chameleon that would change its identity to suit those planning to join the party.

    Speaking in Minna, Niger State, while addressing proposed delegates to next month national convention of the party, Lamido declared that anyone that is not satisfied with the party’s present name could leave the party.

    He said: “The PDP remains the only party with well- defined ideology. Between 1999 and now all the other political parties have changed their names in the quest to wrestle power from the PDP. Out of all political parties, only the PDP had retained its name.”

    Lamido said the destruction caused by the All Progressives Congress (APC) led government had set Nigeria back by 10 years, adding that security situations across the country had degenerated in alarming rate.

    The former Governor of Jigawa State said the APC is in a panic mode because all the brains in the party had defected and longer have the capacity to convince Nigerians.

    “Defection occurred when there is injustice and impunity. The impunity and injustice made people to leave PDP then. Those who left are now coming back. When they left us, we were able to manage it, we were able to conduct ourselves in a very dignified way because we are leaders.

    “What goes round comes around, it is now time for the APC to experience same and they are panicking because they have no capacity. When we faced same in 2014, we were very cool, calm and collected and were able to lead the party despite our losses.”

     

     

  • You’ll perform as president, Obasanjo tells Lamido

    FORMER President Olusegun Obasanjo has hailed the bid by former Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido to contest for the People’s Democratic Party’s (PDP’s)  presidential ticket.

    Obasanjo spoke yesterday when Lamido and members of his national campaign council visited him in Abeokuta, Ogun State over his 2019 presidential ambition.

    A statement by social media aide to Lamido, Mansur Ahmed, quoted the former president as saying: “As a former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sule knows the world and knows how to relate with other countries of the world. I was so happy and elated by what I saw in Jigawa State when you became a governor.

    “Sule, I don’t have any doubt about your attributes, your capacity, your courage, your interest about your state and Nigeria at large. Sule, you can do it and you can do it well.”

    Lamido, why speaking on the reason behind his visit, said: “I have nothing to tell you about me because you know me more than anybody. I have come to greet you, brief you, seek for your blessings and ask for your fatherly advice.”

    The statement added that the meeting was part of the consultation with relevant stakeholders, elders, party officials and key political actors.

    The aspirant made similar visits to former military head of states Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar and Gen. Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida.

    Lamido visited Obasanjo last year as part of his nationwide consultations on his presidential aspiration in 2019.

    Before then, Lamido met with the PDP governors in their respective states, the 36 PDP state chairmen, including the party’s zonal vice chairmen, former Speakers, where he told them of his aspiration and urged them to pick the best for the party at the PDP national convention.

    Lamido is accompanied by his campaign’s Director-General Musa Elayo, Senator Josephine Anenih, Ambassador Joe Keshi, AIG Kayode Theophilus (rtd), Alhaji Umaru Mai Shadai, Rahman Owokoniran and Ogun State PDP Chairman.

  • 2019 poll: FCTA orders Turaki, Lamido, Shekarau, Gana, others to relocate campaign offices

    Ahead of party primaries for the 2019 elections, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has ordered all presidential aspirants and political parties with offices within residential areas and diplomatic zones to vacate such buildings.

    No fewer than 35 of the 68 registered parties are affected by the directive.

    The FCTA claimed that the location of the party and campaign offices undermine public safety and jeopardise comfort and conveniences.

    The affected aspirants and parties have up till August 9 to vacate the offices or have the buildings sealed off.

    But some of the affected parties and aspirants have condemned the move as ill-timed and sheer intolerance of opposition.

    The Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM) and Shekarau Campaign Organisation, however, said they would abide by the directive.

    The politicians affected by the directive include presidential aspirants like ex-Minister Tanimu Kabir Turaki, ex-Governor Ibrahim Shekarau; former Governor of Jigawa State, Mallam Sule Lamido and ex-Minister of Information, Prof. Jerry Gana.

    The Social Democratic Party (SDP); the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and the PDM were also affected.

    According to FCTA records, former Governor Lamido has his campaign secretariat in a diplomatic area in Thaba Tseka Street in British Village, Maitama. Turaki’s campaign office is located at 40, Jimmy Carter Street. Asokoro, which is less than three-minute drive from the Presidential Villa. The SDP secretariat is situated at 9, Yedseram Street, Maitama, within the precincts of some embassies. Shekarau’s office is sited behind the ECOWAS Secretariat at 40, Gnassingbe Eyadema Street in Asokoro ahile the PDM National Secretariat is at 72, Mississippi Street, Maitama; a highbrow enclave with some diplomatic presence. Gana, on his part, operates from a residence in Guzape District.

    Most of the parties were alleged to be operating from residential buildings in Utako, Zone 6, Asokoro, Garki Area 3 and 11, Gwarimpa Estate and Apo Resettlement, among others.

    Other affected parties include National Conscience Party (1, Yaounde Street, Wuse Zone 6, Abuja); Unity Party of Nigeria (Block 10, Flat 1, Amasuma Close, Area 2, Section 1, Garki – Abuja); Accord (Plot 488, 7 Yauri Street, Area 3, Garki Abuja); Action Alliance (Plot 1977 Orlu Street, Area 3, Garki, Abuja); All Blending Party (Plot 614, Zone B, Apo Resettlement, Abuja); Alliance for Democracy (4 Aba Close, Area 8, Garki, Abuja); Action Democratic Party (Plot 3379A, Mungo Park Close, Off Jesse Jackson Asokoro New Extension-Abuja); All Grand Alliance Party (Plot 586, David Jemibewon Crescent, Gudu District-Abuja) and All Progressives Grand Alliance(41B Libreville Crescent , Opp. Tulip Press, Aminu Kano Crescent , Wuse 11, Abuja ).

    Also affected are Better Nigeria Progressive Party (Block 5, Lokoja Street Area 8 Garki Abuja); Hope Democratic Party (Plot 43 Gwarinpa Estate, Abuja); Mega Progressive Peoples Party (1st Avenue, House 53, FHA, Lugbe, Abuja); Nigeria Democratic Congress Party (28 Tunis Street Wuse Zone 6); New Generation Party of Nigeria (No 9B, 61/63 Road, Aliko Dangote Crescent, Gwarinpa-Abuja); Young Progressive Party (Block 10, Flat No. 1 Benue Crescent, Area 1, Garki Abuja); People’s Alliance for National Development & Liberty (9 Abdou Diouf Off Kwame Nkruma St, Asokoro, Abuja, Nigeria) and Progressive Peoples Alliance (Warri Street, off Emeka Anyoku Street, Area 11, Garki, Abuja).

    The FCTA has also wielded the big stick by putting an end to the conversion of residential buildings to party or campaign offices.

    The July 9 quit notice was signed by the Coordinator, Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC), Tpl Umaru Shuaib with a month deadline.

    The notice said: “The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has observed with dismay the proliferation of illegal conversion of buildings located within residential plots and diplomatic zones into political offices.

    “This inappropriate conversion of residential building into political campaign offices undermines public safety, jeopardise comfort and conveniences.

    “It also generates nuisance and traffic that threatens the peace of residents of the FCT.

    “This illegal conversion is repugnant and inconsistent with the extant status, approved Land Use Plan of the Federal Capital City (FCC), which further violates the city’s Master Plan.

    “The Federal Capital Territory Administration has therefore directed that political campaign offices currently occupying buildings located within residential plots and diplomatic zones should quit such premises and relocate to plots designated by the Abuja Master Plan for such purpose/use.

    “All concerned entities/ groups are expected to quit the residential buildings they are currently occupying, revert to residential use and ensure compliance within 30 days of this publication.

    “Similarly, all persons or organizations that deface public facilities with posters and bill boards of all kinds at unauthorized places are warned that they are liable for prosecution.

    “The concerned entities are hereby urged to be guided and ensure full compliance in order to avoid the relevant sanctions.

    But while some of the affected parties and aspirants have condemned the move as ill-timed and sheer intolerance of the opposition, Shekarau Campaign Organisation said it would abide by the directive.

    The Director of Media and Publicity of Tanimu Kabiru Turaki Campaign Organisation, Mr. Sola Atere, described the directive as unfortunate.

    He said: “There was no prior discussion; neither was there any notification nor letter given to us. Yet, we have been paying statutory bills to Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) and FCT Water Board and they have been collecting and sending bills since we started using the premises in February this year.

    “The building was being used for commercial purposes before we came in. We are even neighbours to a federal government agency, Presidential Committee on Flood Relief and Rehabilitation. Why have they neglected to enforce their regulations in places such as Gwarinpa residential estate where houses on major avenues have been converted to malls in many cases?

    “There is this perception that it is an attempt to intimidate the opposition.”

    The National Publicity Secretary of SDP, Alfa Mohammed, said: “Such a notice is mischievous and sheer intolerance of the opposition. The FCTA never gave such a directive in the past but why now?

    “At a critical time when the 2019 poll is about four to five months away, you don’t begin to introduce a policy to drive parties underground.

    “We know that if a party is the target, many parties can be sacrificed to reach a target.”

    The Director of Media and Publicity of Shekarau Campaign Organization, Dr. Sule Yau said: “We are law-abiding citizens. We will comply with the directive. Whatever the government is coming out with, we will abide by it.”

    Also, the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM), Alh. Bashir Yusuf said: “I think it is a legal directive. The truth is that residential buildings and diplomatic areas are not conducive for political activities.

    “But political leaders and parties are constrained because there are no enough buildings in the designated areas to occupy. I see no problem with the directive.”

    Reactions from Lamido and Gana were being awaited at the time of filing this report.

  • Lamido declares self PDP candidate, taunts other aspirants

    Former Jigawa State Governor, Alhaji Sule Lamido, yesterday, declared himself the sole presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the 2019 election.

    Lamido insisted that among all the presidential aspirants, he remained the only one without a membership ‘lacuna’.

    He told PDP stakeholders in Bayelsa State to address him as “the aspirant” and not as “an aspirant”, boasting that he would emerge the candidate and eventually win the 2019 election.

    Lamido, who was in the state to solicit support of the state chapter of the party for his ambition, also claimed to be the only PDP aspirant qualified to challenge Buhari in 2019.

    The former governor, who inaugurated some projects in the state, taunted other presidential aspirants, saying that they were not committed and consistent members of the PDP and lacked the rights to vie for the party’s ticket.

    He said: “We want a thoroughbred PDP person. I came to see my brothers and sisters. We share the same concerns and commitments. Before you here is the aspirant, not an aspirant. Before you here is the President of Nigeria after our convention.

    “Before you here is your brother and commander-in-chief in 2019. Our party needs the cohesion and the discipline. So, we must rescue Nigeria and it must be somebody with the character of the PDP. In me is a very huge and large heart.

    “We have to save Nigeria. I didn’t come to campaign. I am your candidate. Whether you like it or not, l must be your candidate.

    “When others come, there will be lacuna in their membership. You need a consistent person.”

    In his remarks, Dickson described Lamido as a consistent, dependable, courageous mobiliser for the PDP and supporter of good causes for the country and the party.

    While appealing to Nigerians to rally round PDP to rescue the country from its litany of woes, Dickson said Bayelsa was ready to receive more presidential aspirants.

    He described the current security and economic challenges in the country as unparalleled, saying the APC failed to deliver on its mandate to the citizenry.

    He expressed gratitude to Lamido and other progressive minded stakeholders of the party for giving the Niger Delta, which is a minority region, the opportunity to produce a president in the person of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan.

    Dickson emphasised the need for all PDP contestants to pursue their aspirations with the collective interest of the PDP at heart to enable the party organise a free, fair and credible primary that would produce a widely accepted flag bearer.

    He said: “You are a consistent, dependable and courageous mobilizer for our party. This state remembers the storms you have weathered to defend the best interest of our party. These are very trying times, but you stood by what was right for Nigeria and for the PDP.

    “The state appreciates your steadfastness. Even our party leaders are waiting at the secretariat to receive you. All I want to say is that we appreciate your steadfastness and progressive views.

    “We call on you and other contestants to be ready to collaborate with the national leadership of our party when the delegates come together to vote in a free and fair primaries that would produce an acceptable leader.”