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Tag: Lamido

  • Rivers PDP chair seeks expulsion of Amaechi, Lamido, Wamakko

    Rivers PDP chair seeks expulsion of Amaechi, Lamido, Wamakko

    The Chairman of the Rivers State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Felix Obuah, has called for the expulsion of Governors Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers); Sule Lamido (Jigawa); Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto) and others for joining the Abubakar Baraje-led faction of the PDP.

    Obuah spoke with reporters in Abuja yesterday after a meeting with the national leadership of the party.

    He said: “If I were to be the national chairman of the PDP, I would expel Amaechi and his co travellers. Amaechi should forgo his ambition. Supporting the Baraje faction is supporting dissidents. Amaechi is not a member of the PDP.

    “The crisis we have in the PDP today is man-made. Before now, those six governors had been going from one place to another in their personal interest.

    “Their personal interest cannot override the interest of the nation. What happened at the Eagle Square was a manifestation of what I have said prior to this period; that they are already out. They are working with APC, PDM, VOP. These parties are being financed by these governors championed by Amaechi.

    “How can you support illegality. I have said it time without number, that this man (Amaechi) is always in opposition states. Every time, opposition party members are visiting him.

    “And for him to come and say he is supporting a dissident group, that is to show that he is supporting opposition party. And some of them have said they are ready to leave our party.

    “Before now, I have told our people that his (Amaechi) soul and spirit are not with us; only his face is in PDP. Amaechi and co are not in PDP. They are part of those sponsoring opposition and I stand to be corrected.

    “They are playing anti-party activities. if I were to be the national chairman, I would have expelled them from the party. Because the Bible said if one hand would make you sin, cut it off.

    “ In my state, all those people who want to play anti-party activities, we made sure they were given the chance to leave. I would ask them to leave and give them the proper place to be so that people who are around would make sure PDP wins any day any time.

    “The crisis in Rivers State is the handiwork of Amaechi because he has been acting contrary to the rule of law. He acted contrary to the rule of law by suspending the executive of the Obiokpor local government council.”

     

  • Wamakko, Lamido, Kwankwaso, others to lose seats – Tukur

    Wamakko, Lamido, Kwankwaso, others to lose seats – Tukur

    . . . Atiku, Oyinlola, Baraje risk expulsion

     The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, has vowed to ensure that governors and National Assembly members that joined the Abubakar Baraje led breakaway faction of the party lose their seats.

    Similarly, Tukur said other PDP chieftains that joined the faction would be expelled from the ruling party.

    At a press conference he addressed at the party’s secretariat on Wednesday, the PDP chairman described leaders of the breakaway faction as impostors, saying that security agencies have been detailed to treat them as such.

    He said: “Consequently, we shall ensure that any person who is not duly elected into any leadership position in our great party and has not been duly assigned any role but goes ahead to arrogate such to himself will be made to face the full wrath of the law.

    “Similarly, all persons elected on the platform of our great party at all levels who identify with these enemies of the oneness and greatness of our party shall have their seats declared vacant as required by law.

    “We shall leave no stone unturned to ensure that such persons and indeed any other individual who attempts to subvert the leadership of the PDP shall reap in full, the consequences of such actions.”

    Stating that the PDP has no faction, Tukur said there was neither room nor reason whatsoever for such a claim under any guise.

    “The PDP has only one duly elected National Executive Committee (NEC) under my chairmanship. I wish therefore to state with all emphasis that any group of persons parading themselves as leaders of NEC or any other organ of our party are impostors and I urge all Nigerians, especially the security agencies and other institutions of democracy to regard them as such.

    “Let me state categorically that the PDP as the sole custodian of the sacred mandate of over 160 million Nigerians and who in the last fourteen years has lifted high the banner of democracy will not fold its arms while some undemocratic and unpatriotic elements destroy our common destiny by causing divisions and confusion among the people.

    “There is only one lawfully recognised PDP and I am firmly in charge, “Tukur declared.

     

     

  • Presidency blasts Kwankwaso, Wamakko, Lamido, other govs

    Presidency blasts Kwankwaso, Wamakko, Lamido, other govs

     • Okupe alleges plot to unseat Jonathan

    • Labels Amaechi tyrant

    Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, yesterday accused Governors Sule Lamido (Jigawa State), Babangida Aliyu (Niger), Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto), Murtala Nyako (Adamawa) and Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano) of plotting to block President Goodluck Jonathan’s re-election bid in 2015.

    He said the governors’ visits to some past leaders ostensibly to defuse the tension created by the crisis in Rivers State were nothing more than a smokescreen to shield their true intention.

    Okupe spoke on the Kaduna-based Liberty Radio.

    Dismissing the governors’ peace initiative as a joke, he wondered why they failed to show the same zeal over the Boko Haram insurgency happening at their door steps.

    He said while President Jonathan has not told anyone of his intention to seek re-election in 2015, the governors are already gripped by fear that he would contest.

    According to him, “Jonathan has not told me and has not told anybody that he wants to run again. But all this heat that is in the country is because of the fear that he would run. But normally nobody should stop anybody from exercising the right that is guaranteed under the constitution.

    “If Jonathan wants to contest and you are not happy about it, go to the poll and defeat him….Nigerians must wake up. What is four years in the life of a country? Is it worth burning a country? Is it worth destroying our democracy?”

    Okupe, who was apparently reacting to the statement made on the same radio a week ago by former FCT Minister, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, on the same programme, said: “you heard about five governors who said they were motivated to go round the whole country because of Rivers crisis. Is that not a national joke? It is like watching Africa Magic.

    “What is the crisis in Rivers? Who is Amaechi and what is the issue that the whole country is being disturbed because of something that happened at the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF).

    “What is Nigeria Governors’ Forum to the destiny of this country? What has it got to do with us? The Rivers crisis is something that people just latch unto to fan the embers of this anti- Jonathan emotion and to continue to promote hatred against Goodluck Jonathan.

    “And of course, Amaechi is a willing tool, very rich and is very useful to the opposition. What you are seeing is an over- dramatisation of the preparations for 2015. Period.

    “These governors that were so motivated, so passionately concerned about the ultimate destiny of Nigeria, were not motivated when the Boko Haram crises were raging in the north to go round the north and plead on how to solve the problem.

    “They were not concerned enough for the thousands of people that were being bombed, killed in their mosques and churches in their domains, under their nose. I feel like crying, people are opening their doors to hypocrites.

    “Let them leave the Rivers State police commissioner alone. I don’t know how people got my number. I have text messages from ordinary people who are not politicians, people whose families have suffered grave injustice in the hands of Amaechi in Rivers. I am telling you this, God Almighty is my witness, I will show you these text messages so that you can confirm it.

    “Amaechi used the police and power to harass, intimidate and punish people unjustly. Mbu has refused to be a tool in the hands of Amaechi and has refused to bend to his unjustified high handedness. However, because he is supported by the opposition, he now presents Mbu as a villain. It is not true. He is a professional; he is a man of dignity who has remained steadfast……

    “People must find the truth. The Holy book says you shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free. Nigerians are becoming too gullible, they swallow anything hook, line and sinker. I am glad that Chief Obasanjo as an elder statesman is trying to mediate; he has mediated in many international conflicts and has recorded successes, but in his own country people cannot listen because the stakes are higher than Obasanjo’s intervention. People are looking for power in 2015.

    “So am not surprised that there is no result. How will these five governors be at a meeting and they will not rally round Obasanjo and solve the problem. The elite in this country are only after their own interest.”

    While admitting that there are lots of challenges facing the country, Okupe said “yes there are a lot of challenges in the country: there is high unemployment; there are insecurity issues. There is no doubt about that. But to say that nothing is being done about them is absolute nonsense. It is not true, it is not correct.

    “It is just fiction. These are the people who, two years ago, told the whole country and the world that Goodluck Jonathan was clueless. If you say Jonathan is clueless, he is fixing the economy. Today our indices are the best in Africa. Today Nigeria is number one for foreign direct investment.

    “The Nigerian railway system that has been abandoned for decades is coming up. Before, we were generating 2800 megawatts of electricity, today, we have more than doubled that. Yet they said the man is clueless.

    “There was insurgency that engulfed about 11 states of the federation, today it has been reduced to three states and yet the man is clueless. There was a time when bombing was a daily occurrence, people were dying in numbers. It was impossible to do anything in the northern part of the country. All that is gone. For the first time in four years, a durbar was organised to celebrate Eidel Fitri in Borno State”.

    Okupe denied that President Jonathan awarded ex-militant Tompolo a contract to police the pipelines, saying “I don’t know of any deal or contract between Tompolo as a person. I am not aware. Whether Tompolo is involved in a company that is operating security issues on the Nigerian waters is a different matter and I will not comment on something that is fallacious.

    “I have heard so many things that Asari Dokubo, Tompolo and people who have contracts on oil pipelines, it is a fallacy. It was the late President Yar’Adua, as part of his good will for the Amnesty programme, who felt that it was better to use people who are local, people who know the terrain rather than outsiders to police those terrains. So he gave those guys those contracts.

    “The contracts expired during the time of President Jonathan and up till today, those contracts were never renewed.”

     

     

  • Buhari, Tambuwal, governors attend Fashola father’s Fidau prayers

    Buhari, Tambuwal, governors attend Fashola father’s Fidau prayers

    Former Head of State, General Muhammadul Buhari (rtd) and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal and ten governors led the list of prominent personalities who gathered on Tuesday to pay their last respect to late Alhaji Ibrahim Demola Fashola, father of Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN).

    The event which was the 8th Fidau Prayers for Pa Fashola held at the Tafawa Balewa Square drew an array of personalities and large turnout of guests dressed in red and yellow head gears and caps and was held amidst tight security.

    The arrival of Governor Fashola, his siblings and other dignitaries signalled the start of the event at about 2pm.

    The large tents were beautifully decorated with yellow and red colours and a big banner bearing the photograph of the deceased with the inscription, “Farewell Papa.”

    Governors present at the event are – Comrade Adams Oshiomole of Edo State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti ), Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (Osun), Senator Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun) , Senator Abiola Ajumobi (Oyo), Aliyu Babangida (Niger), Muritala Nyako (Adamawa), Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano), Captain Idris Wada (Kogi), Sule Lamido (Jigawa) and the Deputy Governor of Imo State.

    Other dignitaries present include, former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, former Secretary to the Federal Government, Alhaji Yayale Ahmed, Chairman of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, members of the Diplomatic Corps, members of the National and State Assemblies and members of the Lagos State Executive Council, amongst other top government functionaries.

    Leading the Fidau, an Islamic Cleric, Alhaji Muheedeen Bello, offered prayers for the repose of the soul of the deceased as well as members of the Fashola family.

     

  • Consultation: Tukur urges Wamakko, Lamido, others to brief PDP

    Consultation: Tukur urges Wamakko, Lamido, others to brief PDP

    THE National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, has urged the five northern governors currently consulting with former Nigerian leaders on the state of the nation to brief the leadership of the party at the end of their consultations.

    Addressing reporters at the party’s national secretariat yesterday in Abuja, Tukur said the PDP was waiting for the governors to conclude their consultations, adding that they would be expected to brief the party.

    Apparently worried by the divisions in the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) and the political crisis in Rivers State, Governors Babangida Aliyu (Niger), Murtala Nyako (Adamawa), Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto), Sule Lamido (Jigawa) and Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano) have been consulting former leaders for solutions.

    Some of the former leaders consulted by the governors include Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida and Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar. They have also held talks with former Vice President Alex Ekwueme and former Defence Minister, Gen. Theophilus Danjuma.

    Restating efforts by the PDP leadership to reconcile aggrieved members across the country, Tukur advised aggrieved members to comply with the party’s guidelines in their approach to conflict resolution.

    He said: “In the recent past, the media have been awash with accusations and counter-accusations from some of our party members. As much as we as a party respect the constitutional right of individuals to public opinions, movement and association, such exercise should be done with some element of civility and in keeping with the norms of the society, the party’s constitution and guidelines.

    “It is advisable that party faithful, who are aggrieved, should use the party’s internal resolution platform. That is, the party’s reconciliation committee or the leadership of the party.”

     

  • PDP crisis: Tukur blasts Aliyu, Lamido, Wamakko, others

    PDP crisis: Tukur blasts Aliyu, Lamido, Wamakko, others

    The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, has taken a swipe at five northern governors for allegedly calling for his removal from office.

    Tukur described Governors Sule Lamido (Jigawa); Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano); Babangida Aliyu (Niger); Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto); and Murtala Nyako (Adamawa) as lacking in wisdom, caution, prudence and good counsel.

    The PDP chairman’s reaction was based on reports in some national dailies that the governors had demanded his removal from office at a private meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan last weekend.

    In a statement issued by his Special Assistant on Media, Prince Olver Okpala, on Tuesday, Tukur said the actions and unguarded utterances of the governors were capable of heightening political tension in the land.

    The statement said: “The recent visit by some governors from the north to the President has raised furore, although the discussion between the President and the governors was held behind closed-doors, the media has been awash with the news of the meeting and the issues discussed.

    “Media reports have it that the four governors who had earlier visited former President Olusegun Obasanjo and two former military heads of state demanded the removal of Alhaji Bamanga Tukur as the national chairman of the PDP.

    “We do not know the veracity of this claim, suffice it to say however that, the governors have the fundamental right to meet and discuss among themselves and whomsoever they like and may also have the fundamental right to freedom of speech and to air their views on any issue of national importance.

    “However, in so doing one would expect them to make comments with decorum, humility and caution. As leaders whom the general public look upon as role models, they are expected to show respect for constituted authority and the elders, which include Alhaji Bamanga Tukur who have contributed immensely to the peace, progress, development and advancement of this country.

     

    “Much as the constitution guarantees certain fundamental freedoms, such as freedom of speech and assembly, there are constitutional limitations to these freedoms.

    “The leaders should show wisdom, caution, prudence and good counsel in their comments on national issues as their unguarded utterances and calls can cause unnecessary political tension.”

     

  • Tukur to Lamido:you must work for PDP presidential candidate

    Tukur to Lamido:you must work for PDP presidential candidate

    The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Bamanga Tukur yesterday declared that Governor Sule Lamido of Jigawa State would have no choice than to work for the party’s presidential candidate in the 2015 election.

    Tukur was reacting to a report credited to Lamido in which the

    Governor was quoted to have said that getting the party’s presidential ticket would not guarantee the re-election of President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015.

    Tukur spoke in Abuja.

    He warned the governor against utterances that could heat up the system, adding that nobody should distract the President from his job.

    Tukur reminded Lamido that accredited delegates would decide who gets the party’s ticket, stressing that the people will decide who becomes president through their votes.

    He cautioned Lamido against overheating the system. The governor at the weekend said Jonathan would have to win the 2015 presidential election to make his second term ambition a reality, irrespective of the posturing by his supporters who were threatening other aspirants over his re-election.

    Tukur, who spoke through his Special Assistant, Media, Oliver Okpala, said: “It is wrong for anyone to start insinuating whether President Jonathan will emerge victorious as the presidential candidate of the PDP, “When the time for the presidential primaries is yet to come.

    As at today, the PDP is yet to conduct its presidential primary, let alone someone emerging as the presidential candidate.

    “Governor Lamido, if he is a true party man should know that he has no alternative than to support whosoever emerge as the party’s presidential candidate.

    “The emergence of the PDP presidential candidate will be decided by the delegates to the presidential primaries, thereafter, the party’s presidential candidate will face the electorate to decide who becomes the president. Not until that is done, PDP as a political party will be working to ensure that the- would be presidential candidate wins the presidential election.”

     

     

     

     

     

  • Lamido keeps mum over presidential ambition

    Lamido keeps mum over presidential ambition

    Jigawa State governor, Sule Lamido, has declined comment on his alleged Presidential ambition in 2015 on a joint ticket with embattled governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi.

    Posters of the two governors and campaign vehicles have been spotted in some state capitals in recent months, but Lamido is yet to make any comment on it, even though the Jigawa State House of Assembly has endorsed him for the contest.

    Former President Olusegun Obasanjo is also believed to have endorsed the Jigawa State governor for the position at various fora.

    At an occassion to mark Democracy Day in Dutse, the state capital, Obasanjo was quoted to have said that Governor Lamido has the quality to be Nigeria’s next President.

    Lamido, who attended the Northern States Governors Forum meeting in Kaduna on Thursday, wade off inqusitive reporters and refused to speak on his alleged presidential ambition.

    When accosted by reporters, a smiling Lamido, who waited until the question was asked, simply said: “If you want me to talk to you, come to my village and I will talk to you.”

    With that statement, Lamido entered his car and drove off, leaving reporters stranded.

  • …Shema, Lamido, IBM Haruna hail planned amnesty for sect

    …Shema, Lamido, IBM Haruna hail planned amnesty for sect

    Governor Ibrahim Shema of Katsina State, his Jigawa State counterpart, Governor Sule Lamido, and Civil War veteran,Major General Ibrahim Haruna, yesterday hailed the planned amnesty for members of the Islamist sect,Boko Haram.

    Governor Shema told State House correspondents in Abuja that President Goodluck Jonathan had responded positively to the request of some leaders in the country for amnesty for the sect.

    He, therefore, advised members of the group to lay down their arms and embrace peace.

    He said: “My advice is that there is no nation that can progress without peace and stability. We need peace and all hands must be on deck. Those who are aggrieved for one reason or the other should come forward and be able to resolve this crisis, such that our nation and our people can progress and develop rapidly.

    “I believe if a security committee is set up in good faith, it is for the good of Nigeria and for the resolution to the crisis that has bedevilled most part of northern Nigeria on the issue of insecurity.”

    “So if a committee on amnesty is set up, it is done because Nigerians and leaders from the northern part of the country are yearning for a quick resolution to the matter. And the President is responding positively to this request so that our nation can go on in peace, progress and development.

    Also speaking,Governor Lamido said that wisdom has prevailed.

    “Wisdom has prevailed. It’s all about what do we do to secure our country. Especially when Nigeria becomes very secure, we will be able to confront the problems of national development.

    “This country needs our energy, it needs our skills and a number of things are begging for our attention. Therefore, whatever it is that will be able to get Nigeria united, to make it very secure, we should do it.

    “Whatever might have been the other misconceptions, we are now doing the right thing,” he said.

    General Haruna, a former Chairman of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), described the planned amnesty as ‘very good and a welcome development’.

    He said: “It is a very good development and a welcome idea. As long as it will address the palous security situation in the country, then it should be embraced.”

    Also speaking, former spokesperson of the Ijaw National Congress and Coordinator, Ijaw Monitoring Group, Comrade Joseph Evah, said the decision was a good omen for the country.

    According to Evah, the Sultan Abubakar Saad’s view should be respected by all Nigerians because of the enviable position that he holds.

    “The Sultan is not just an ordinary man. He is the head of all Muslims in the country, so we should respect his views,” Evah said.

    He went on to advise President Goodluck Jonathan to call together all major stakeholders and find ways of finding a lasting solution to the crisis.

  • Lamido’s son gets bail

    Federal High Court sitting in Kano yesterday granted bail to Aminu, the eldest son of Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido.

    Aminu, who is on trial for money laundering, was arrested by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano, on December 11, last year, when he attempted to transport $50,000 out of the country.

    He allegedly declared $10,000 to the Nigerian Customs.

    After considering the bail application for the accused, Justice Fatu Riman ruled that the opposition to the bail by the prosecuting counsel S. H. Sa’ad would not tamper with investigation because the accused was initially granted administrative bail by EFCC on December 13, 2012.

    Justice Riman averred that the accused, despite enjoying administrative bail, did not jump bail.

    He said Aminu has been reporting to the EFCC whenever he was requested to do so.

    The EFCC did not oppose to the bail application.

    After establishing that the accused would not tamper with investigation, Justice Riman granted his bail application.

    The judge wondered what type of investigation would warrant the accused to gain access to evidence.

    He said Aminu only failed to appear in court on January 19, adding that this was said to have been caused by his ill-health.