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Tag: loyalists

  • Fayose’s core loyalists join APC in Ekiti

    No fewer than hundred known loyalists of former Governor Ayodele Fayose and members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Igbemo Ekiti, Irepodun/Ifelodun constituency of Ekiti State yesterday dumped the party for the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    The defectors were led by Fayose’s ardent supporter, Chief Michael Bolawole Ojo, and other PDP bigwigs in the council.

    The defection took place during a ward meeting held in Igbemo Ekiti.

    An APC House of Assembly candidate in the constituency, Mr. Hakeem Jamiu, and other party stalwarts in the local constituency while receiving the defectors, advised the new members to be committed to the party’s principles and ethos.

    Jamiu assured that nobody will discriminate against them and that they should make sacrifices for the party to ensure a landslide victory in the forthcoming election.

    The former Senior Special Assistant to Governor Kayode Fayemi on Research and Documentation stressed that the party would not treat any defector as a new member, saying that their contributions towards the success of the party would prove their worth.

    Jamiu said: “I promise to facilitate people-oriented projects that   will have direct positive impacts on the socio-economic lives of the people if elected.

    “Let me assure you, you are here today as full-fledged members, who can enjoy all privileges.”

    Jamiu described Fayemi as a politician exemplary in thought and uncompromising in action, adding that within 100 days of his stay in office, the people have witnessed new lease of life with his decisive actions aimed at accelerating the standard of living of the people.

    “I want to assure our farmers that I will facilitate long-term loans and provide incentives for them to expand production of Igbemo rice and other agricultural produce.”

    The Ebira community in the town had also vowed to work and ensure the party wins all elections in the 2019 polls so that they can continue witnessing and enjoying dividends of good governance.

    Speaking on behalf of the defectors, Bolawole Ojo, who explained that PDP has become a “deserted party with little or no political substance,” said he joined APC because of the laudable success story and progressive policies of the party.

    Ojo expressed his readiness to work assiduously for the victory of all the party candidates in the coming elections, saying all hands must be on deck to ensure victory of the party in the coming polls.

    “Only the APC at all levels of governance could actualise our yearnings and demands when it assumes power after this year’s national and state assembly elections in the area. That is why we are working round the clock to mobilise and canvass for the party’s candidate.”

    He noted that the APC’s assembly flag bearer in the constituency for the March election stimulated their decision to dump PDP, because the APC candidate is a grassroots politician with special focus in providing services to humanity.

     

  • EKITI: POLITICAL ASSOCIATES SHUN FAYOSE’S FAREWELL DINNER

    •Food, drinks wasted

    Loyalists, political appointees, aides, party faithful and supporters of outgoing Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose at the weekend shunned a farewell dinner in his honour at the Government House, Ado-Ekiti.

    The failed dinner was one of the week- long activities to mark the end of Fayose’s tenure.

    Governor-Elect Dr Kayode Fayemi will be inaugurated on Tuesday at Ekiti Parapo Pavilion, Ado-Ekiti.

    The dinner was ruined with empty seats, wasted food and drinks. Less than 20 of the expected guests attended the event slated to commence by 7pm as at 12midnight.

    Only journalists, armed security men, protocol officers and a musical team contracted to perform at the ceremony were on seat as at 11pm.

    Conspicuously absent at the valedictory dinner were members of the House of Assembly, commissioners, political appointees and loyal Permanent Secretaries.

    Their absence led to wastage of food and drinks meant for entertainment.

    A Government House source disclosed that many of those invited were agitated over one issue or the other.

    The source, who craved anonymity, disclosed aside from the governor who paid himself and his deputy lump sums as severance package, including parting vehicles, none of the remaining appointees was paid a dime.

    “Besides, all the 16 Local Government chairmen are battling to save their jobs in the court, as information was rife on Friday that the incoming governor had concluded arrangement to dissolve the councils anytime soon after his swearing-in on Tuesday.

    “The comment of the governor earlier in the day also sounded shocking to most political appointees when he told them that whatever that anyone of them may likely encounter in the hands of the new governor should be taken calmly as such was a prize of leadership.

    Commenting on the development, one of the personal domestic steffers of the outgoing governor, who also spoke on condition of anonymity, said he was not in any way disappointed by the attitude of absent guests.

    He recalled when Fayose was still very much in power, thousands would always answer his call at the slightest notice, such that the venue of any event organized by him was always overcrowded.

    A political appointee who spoke in confidence said: “How do you expect me at such a dinner?

    “Fayose only took care of himself and family, he did not take care of us because majority of us who served under him are suffering.

    “As I am talking you, he had not paid our severance allowance and his owing us many allowances. He denied us opportunities to assist people in our constituencies. That is why I and a good number of my colleagues shunned the so-called dinner.” Before the failed dinner, the governor handed over the instruments of office to the Head of Service, Dr. Gbenga Faseluka.

    He surrendered the handover note to Faseluka at a special valedictory State Executive Council meeting at the new Governor’s Office in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.

    Fayose said history would be kind to him the way he managed the resources in trust for the people of the state.

    He said he would be available to answer questions on how he ruled the state anytime he was called upon to do so.

     

  • PDP governorship aspirant meets loyalists

    One of the leading governorship aspirants in Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo State, Chief Sharafadeen Abiodun Alli, has met his loyalists comprising members of the academia, captains of industries, the media and select group of politicians across five geopolitical zones of the state.

    Alli, during the meeting, expressed his intention to start the process of official declaration of his gubernatorial ambition as soon as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) lifts ban on campaign, ahead of the 2019 elections.

    Alli, a former Secretary to the State Government (SSG), said even though he had traversed the state and was aware of the needs of all communities, towns and cities, “it still behoves on me to seek your support to fine tune what we have on ground with a view to ensuring periodic review of what we want to achieve for the citizens to be in tandem with the day-to-day aspirations of our people.

    “For me, having served one of the best governors in this state, Senator Rashidi Ladoja, as SSG and later as chief of staff, my prior knowledge of grassroots administration in Ibadan North and recently, chairman, Odu’a Investment Company Limited, I understand how best to confront issues that are germane to industrialisation of our dear state in making life more prosperous for our people. Yet I feel obliged that your contributions are needed to make this state work better for the good of all.”

  • We won’t leave PDP to Fayose, say Sheriff’s loyalists

    We won’t leave PDP to Fayose, say Sheriff’s loyalists

    •Faction denies defection to Mega Party

    Ekiti State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leaders and members loyal to the deposed National Chairman, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, have said they will not leave the party after the July 12 Supreme Court judgment, which handed the party’s control to Senator Ahmed Makarfi.

    Speaking under the aegis of PDP Elders’ Forum, the politicians denied speculations that they were moving to Mega Party of Nigeria (MPN).

    They maintained that they would not quit the house they laboured hard to build.

    The politicians distanced themselves from the newly-formed MPN which was unveiled in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, few days ago.

    They said the alleged defection was “the decision of a few members to pitch their tent with the new party without adequate consultation with the leaders of the PDP”.

    The forum said PDP members in the state should remain in the party, adding that the verdict of the Supreme Court had not affected the state chapter in a way that would necessitate defection to another party.

    Rising from a meeting on Saturday hosted by the first state’s party chairman and former Senate Deputy Chief Whip, Chief Clement Awoyelu, the forum members resolved to work hard for the party’s victory ahead of next year’s governorship election.

  • ‘We remain Ajimobi’s loyalists’

    ‘We remain Ajimobi’s loyalists’

    Stakeholders in All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State have pledged their support for Governor Abiola Ajimobi, distancing themselves from purported cracks in the party.

    The state leader of the group, formerly called Ladoja Idera De, Alhaji Rasaq  Lawal Akilapa, who led thousands of supporters of ex-Governor Rashidi Ladoja to the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), told reporters that “there was no basis for any member of our group to ditch APC”.

    He said Ajimobi’s handling of party affairs deserves commendation.

    Akilapa eulogised Ajimobi as a governor with “unmatched political prowess and unequalled achievements”, whose reign has restored peace and development to the state.

    The APC chieftain from Oluyole urged the party leadership to disregard the matter because it was a rumour, which could never pass a litmus test in the face of reality.

  • Trial: Saraki, loyalists lobby emirs

    Trial: Saraki, loyalists lobby emirs

    Senate President Dr. Bukola Saraki and some members of the Like Minds in the Senate have reached out to some emirs.

    They are trying to explore ways of resolving the crisis of confidence between the Senate President and the Presidency, The Nation has learnt.

    Some of them were said to be urging the emirs to prevail on the Federal Government to drop charges against Saraki, who is facing trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) for alleged false declaration of assets.

    But President Muhammadu Buhari may not accept under-the-table deal in matters relating to corruption, a source said.

    The Senate President’s supporters have been attributing the arraignment to “political vendetta”.

    Saraki had audience with some traditional rulers from the North on Saturday.

    A highly-placed source said: “Some loyalists of Saraki are really pushing for political option. This is why they have been reaching out to prominent emirs and chiefs in the North.

    “I think Saraki is buying into the rapprochement by meeting with some emirs where he explained his own side and how things could be straightened.

    “For instance on Saturday, Saraki had audience with some emirs and chiefs from the North in connection with his travails and how to resolve the matter amicably.”

    A member of The Like Minds said: “No one is happy the way things are – at a standstill. The Presidency and the Senate leadership are working at cross-purpose.

    “If we continue like this, the hostility between the Presidency and the Senate will deepen and it will affect many things.

    [ad id=”403656″]“We are reaching out to some emirs and Northern leaders to address this problem. We believe we can manage the situation before it gets out of hand.”

    A source in the Presidency said: “As far as I know, President Muhammadu Buhari will not accept under-the-table deal on allegations having to do with corruption.

    “The Presidency has explained that it has nothing to do with Saraki’s trial. There is no basis for any lobbying.”

    As at last night, Saraki’s supporters were still divided on whether or not to confront the Presidency over his arraignment before the tribunal.

    Some Senators are seeking outright condemnation of the trial; others are pushing for a subtle management of the situation.

    “We are weighing options ahead of our resumption on tomorrow on how to manage the situation, “a senator said.

     

  • ‘Post-Confab summit dominated by PDP loyalists’

    ‘Post-Confab summit dominated by PDP loyalists’

    A leader of the Pan-Yoruba group, Afenifere, Chief Ayo Adebanjo yesterday expressed his displeasure over the set of invitees who attended a post- National Conference Summit convened by Ondo State Governor Olusegun Mimiko.

    The theme of the summit: 2015 Elections and Yoruba Nation, was majorly attended by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftains in the Southwest.

    Adebanjo, who chaired the event, said the summit was more or less a PDP affair, saying he was expecting prominent Yoruba sons and daughters across all parties, including traditional and religious leaders.

    The elder statesman said: “When I was asked to chair the summit, I said why, where was the Commissioner from Ondo State, Remi Olatunbora, who led us at the Confab? He is the one who should have convened the summit. I regard that as dereliction of duty on his part.

    “The summit ought to have held some months back to give report to the people who sent us to the conference. This was what made me attend and accept to be the chairman.

    “My observation here is that the summit seems to be dominated by the PDP. This is no PDP show because all the PDP candidates are here in the summit. The summit should be more important than a PDP affair. If you are convening something like this in future give the impression that we are doing it on a nonpartisan basis.

    However, Adebanjo, while reading the communiqué, said the gathering has resolved to fully back and work for the re-election of President Goodluck Jonathan in the presidential elections, as only this could guarantee the implementation of the Confab recommendations.

    The communique was signed by 10 of those who attended the summit include; Mimiko, Dr. Fredrick Fasehun, Coordinator of Odua Peoples Congress (OPC), Otunba Gani Adams, among others.

    It also said the Yoruba nation is going to ensure that the confab recommendations get translated to concrete realities.

    Chiefs Reuben Fasoranti, Olu Falae and Sehinde Arogbofa were absent, but they sent their apologies.

  • Tension in Bayelsa over senator’s ambition

    •Dickson’s loyalists summoned in Abuja

    The alleged ambition of the senator representing Bayelsa Central, Emmanuel Paulker, is creating tension in the state.

    It was gathered yesterday that besides the ambition of the Presidential Assistant on Domestic Matters, Dr. Waripamowei Dudafa; Paulker was gunning for Dickson’s job.

    While Paulker is said to be leveraging on his closeness to President Goodluck Jonathan; Dudafa has been ‘promised’ the seat by the First Lady, Mrs. Patience Jonathan.

    It was gathered that as part of his desperate measures, the senator was intimidating core loyalists of Dickson using his connections in Abuja, especially the Office of the Inspector-General of Police.

    A source said four loyalists of the governor from Epie Kingdom have been summoned by the Force Headquarters for questioning.

    The source, who pleaded for anonymity, gave their names as Obadiah John, Oborku Oforji, Raymond Manifest and Austin Eliot Sambo.

    Paulker, who hails from Epie Kingdom, was said to be uncomfortable that despite factionalising pro-Dickson’s group in the kingdom, key individuals with political influence had failed to join his camp.

    The source said: “Paulker is moving against people loyal to the governor using his influence at the federal level to get the police to hound these guys. The IG is allegedly involved.

    “What is interesting to know is that these boys are from his Epie clan and he has succeeded in dividing their ranks to create two factions.

    “He is hounding the leadership of critical groups in the clan.

    “So, all these are parts of his desperation to be governor as he continues to drop the President’s name. He is moving against the loyalists of the governor.”

    The source said the move was also aimed at coercing the summoned loyalists to abandon the governor and join the senator’s camp.

    “This is politics of intimidation and it has started causing crisis in that kingdom.

    “Though he is a senator, he is very far away from his people. His people don’t like him and that is why he is intimidating them.”

  • PDP crisis: First Lady moves against G7 governors’ loyalists

    PDP crisis: First Lady moves against G7 governors’ loyalists

    PDP women leaders loyal to the seven aggrieved governors of the party may be in for a rough time.

    There are indications that the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, may get them removed from plum positions for alleged disloyalty.

    Sources said that already an evaluation of leaders of the various women organisations within the party has commenced nationwide.

    The exercise, The Nation learnt, also involves the positions of women leaders and their deputies in all the states and local government areas of the country.

    The idea is to scrutinise all women in leadership positions within the party and its various arms, groups and agencies with a view to establishing where their loyalty lies in view of the festering power tussle within the party.

    A party source said the instruction from “above” is that the exercise should be taken very seriously as the presidency is interested in the outcome.

    “The instruction is that the office of the party’s Women Leader should evaluate the women in positions of leadership within the party nationwide and determine their allegiance in view of the ongoing crises within our party.

    “The screening exercise is on and we are making progress. The modality is to first get in all the names of who is who in our women organisations.

    “That is what we are still doing now. After that, we will examine their political affiliations and determine their loyalties.

    “It is after that we will know what next. For now, I cannot tell you more than that,” the source said.

    However, loyalists of the new PDP leaders are alleging that the exercise is plot to ensure that all women leaders perceived to be loyal to the new PDP are screened out from their positions on flimsy excuses.

    A woman leader in Ogun State, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said she has already been contacted from Abuja and told of the ongoing exercise.

    According to her, the idea allegedly emanated from the office of the First Lady.

    “We are already aware of what is going on and we are prepared to face them.

    “Instructions were sent down to us during the week to compile names of all women officers within the party and the local governments in our state.

    “We have done that and sent the result to them. But we hear they want to remove some people perceived to be loyal to the new PDP leaders. I don’t know how true this is but it is all over the place,” our source, a former local government boss, said.

    It was learnt that the move became necessary following rumours that some women leaders within the party were planning to publicly declare their support for the new PDP.

    Indications that there may actually be some truth in the rumours emerged last weekend when some prominent PDP women leaders from the north called on the warring factions within the party to sheath their swords and allow peace to reign in the interest of the masses.

    The women appealed to the Bamanga Tukur-led executive of the party to accommodate dissenting opinions and embrace the G7 governors as partners in progress.

    “The position of these women didn’t go down well with the first lady. She feels it is wrong for them to feign neutrality in a matter between the president and some aggrieved governors.

    “This is why the need to sanitise the women wing of the party became important. The fear of the people up there is that if the women are allowed to be making unguarded statements in their capacity as PDP women leaders, it will not augur well for the party.

    “The plan now is to remove all those capable of allowing themselves to be used by the opposition should be removed from leadership positions and replaced by loyalists of the Bamanga Tukur PDP,” the source said.

     

  • Political crisis: Amaechi’s loyalists boycott PDP convention

    Political crisis: Amaechi’s loyalists boycott PDP convention

    All the constitutional delegates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State announced yesterday their boycott of the party’s special national convention billed for Abuja tomorrow.

    They announced their decision at a news conference in Port Harcourt.

    Chairman of the Rivers State Caucus in the National Assembly Honourable Asita said the national leadership of the PDP had failed, adding that all the stakeholders of the ruling party in the state met and decided to boycott the mini convention.

    Two of the three senators and 10 House of Representatives members from the state, he said, are in support of the decision. Chairman of the crisis-torn Rivers PDP, Chief Felix Obuah, described Governor Rotimi Amaechi and his loyalists as “frustrated”.

    Obuah, popularly called “Go Round” said the era of impunity and imposition of candidates was gone.

    In a statement, his Special Adviser on Media, Jerry Needam, noted that the boycott was not unexpected, “in view of the way and manner Amaechi and his followers have been carrying on, with no regard for party rules and regulations”.

    The Port Harcourt’s news conference was also attended by Dakuku Peterside (Andoni-Opobo/Nkoro Federal Constituency), Ogbonna Nwuke (Etche/Omuma), Blessing Nsiegbe (Port Harcourt 2), Morris Pronen (Khana/Gokana), Barry Mpigi (Eleme/Tai/Oyigbo) and Bright Gogo (Okrika-Ogu/Bolo).

    Commissioner for Urban Development and Physical Planning Tammy Danagogo spoke on behalf of the members of the Executive Council. The representative of Gokana Constituency in the House of Assembly, Dr. Innocent Barikor, spoke on behalf of the 27 lawmakers loyal to Amaechi.

    The Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Rivers chapter, Chimbiko Iche Akarolo, who is also the Mayor of Port Harcourt City Local Government, spoke on behalf of the 23 council chairmen.

    The Publicity Secretary of the Chief Godspower Ake-led executive of the PDP in Rivers State, George Ukwuoma-Nwogba, spoke on behalf of the leadership of the party, while the chairmen of the PDP in the 23 local government areas was represented by Daere Samuel-Horsfall of Asari-Toru Local Government Area.

    Asita said: “We have watched with pain, with shock and deep agony, the gradual disintegration of our party in the past few months. We are worried and traumatised that this party, the PDP, which most of us have invested all our political lives to build, is gradually degenerating into a rather shameful association of people without character.

    “We are worried that the leadership of the party at the centre refuses to take credible steps that will reposition the party in Rivers State, to enable it to control the support that it has enjoyed from inception.

    “We are indeed worried about the rascality in which the activities of the party are carried out in Rivers State. We are aware that the mini convention of the party is on Saturday. We had hoped that the party at the centre would take steps to put things right over what our party in recent times gliding into disrepute.

    “We have, as the duly elected delegates to the national convention of the party, by virtue of our offices, come to the conclusion that because the party at the centre has failed in its duties to put the party right in Rivers State, especially the illegal and unconstitutional suspension of our leader, the governor of Rivers State, we believe that the best thing to do in the circumstance, in solidarity with our governor, is to boycott the convention for Saturday.

    “We believe that this is the best thing to do. So, we have interacted with the different delegates to the convention. I am speaking as the Chairman of the National Assembly Caucus of Rivers State and I have interacted with members of the National Assembly. Ten members of the House of Representatives and two Senators support this boycott.

    “I am aware that 27 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly also have supported this boycott. The 23 council chairmen of Rivers State, who are delegates to the convention, have also agreed to this boycott, as well as the party chairmen of the 23 local government areas, who are equally delegates to the convention. We also have with us members of the state executive council, who are also entitled as delegates to the convention to vote at the convention.

    “We understand that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said that those who are entitled to participate and vote at this convention are those who were so qualified at the last convention.

    “We, therefore, state that anybody who claims to represent Rivers State at the convention, is not representing us, because we have decided to boycott the convention, in solidarity with our governor, who by virtue of the illegal suspension, is unable to attend the convention.

    The chairman of the Rivers caucus in the National Assembly also stated that Obuah’s associates, who might decide to attend Saturday’s convention should be viewed as impostors, who he said would be impersonating the authentic delegates of the PDP from the state.