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Tag: Makarfi

  • Makarfi to APC: you don’t have immunity against calamity

    A leading presidential aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi, has warned the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to avoid bursting the bubble that can truncate Nigeria’s democracy.

    The former Kaduna state governor condemned what he called intimidation of the opposition.

    He said: “I am cautioning APC; they should not be smiling and grinning. We must never burst this bubble. They should not be carried away by the comfort of power and think they are immune from calamity.”

    Makarfi noted that Nigeria’s survival will depend on how the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies conduct next year’s general elections.

    According to him, the conduct of the polls may mar or make the nation’s peace.

    Makarfi, who addressed reporters yesterday in Kaduna, said the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should conduct free and fair general elections in 2019.

    The former governor urged security agencies to be professional in their conduct.

    He scored INEC and security agencies low in their performances so far, saying their conducts could make or mar the country before, during and after the elections.

    The former Caretaker Committee Chairman of the PDP noted that this could spell doom for the nation as the action or inaction of the two agencies could threaten the nation’s peace and survival.

  • 2019: Atiku visits Makarfi, says leadership must change hands

    •Claims Nigeria under APC is headquarters of world poverty

    Presidential aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, said yesterday that Nigeria’s leadership must change hands next year for the country to make a head way.

    Atiku, during a visit to his fellow PDP presidential aspirant, Alhaji Ahmed Makarfi in Kaduna, claimed that poverty has grown in the country under the APC government.

    The Waziri Adamawa hailed  Makarfi for steering the party through turbulence when he held sway as national caretaker committee chairman.

    The former VP said with Makarfi’s feat in leading the party out of the woods showed that the former governor has great potentials as a leader, saying that is why it is necessary for them to come together to sustain the nation’s democracy.

    He said:”The misadministration of the APC government is very evident; we have the highest record of unemployment since 1999, we have the highest inflation, we have multiple exchange rate that discourages foreign investment. We have the highest level of insecurity since 1999.

    “We are disunited this time more than ever before, people are more angry, people are poorer more than anytime. I mean Nigeria is the headquarters of poverty in the world.

    “This is unthinkable, for a country that is endowed with human and natural resources like ours, just because of lack of clear headed leadership and direction; this is where we find ourselves.

    “So, it is obvious that we just have to change the leadership of this country.”

    When asked whether the PDP had the magic wand to change the country’s status quo, Atiku said, “of course, have you forgotten that PDP governed this country since 1999 and we witnessed progressive development in all sectors of the economy.”

    Speaking on his visit to Makarfi, he said, “we are all members of the same family and we are working together to ensure that PDP produces the best candidate for the next election, so that, PDP can be returned to power.

    “I am a democrat and I have always worked with anyone that emerged, so I am ready to work with anyone that emerges through credible elections.”

    Responding, Makarfi reminded the former VP of their various struggles working for the party in the past, noting that Atiku is capable and qualified to lead the party.

    Senator Makarfi said he has nothing to lose if Atiku picks the party’s presidential ticket.

    “I am ready to work with any of the fellow aspirants that emerges, that is why I even said that, because I am willing to work with some of them, I won’t even step into their states.

    “I am not averse to Alhaji Atiku Abubakar becoming the party’s candidate, just like he is not also averse to me becoming the party’s candidate. It is a family issue, we are talking and we will keep on talking”. Makarfi said.

     

  • 2019: Atiku visits Makarfi

    …says Nigeria under APC is headquarter of world poverty

     

    As part of efforts to produce a consensus presidential candidate for their party, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), former Vice President Atiku Abubakar on Saturday visited another leading aspirant, Senator Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi in Kaduna, saying that Nigeria’s leadership must be changed in 2019 general elections for the country.

    The former Vice President said Nigeria under APC government has been turned to headquarters of poverty in the world.

    The Waziri Adamawa told Makarfi that he felt that it was necessary to visit him with his campaign train ahead of the September national convention of the party.

    He commended Makarfi who is also a presidential aspirant of the PDP for steering the party through turbulence period when he held sway as the party national caretaker committee chairman.

    The former VP said with Makarfi’s feat in leading the party off the woods, showed that the former governor has great potentials as a leader, saying that is why it is necessary for them to come together to sustain the nation’s democracy.

    He noted that Nigeria is currently at a cross-road, and that there was need for the aspirants and well meaning Nigerians to rescue the country from insecurity and poverty.

    According to Atiku, “Nigeria is at a cross-road, this is the worst time since 1999 democratic system.

    “The mis-administration of the APC government is very evident; we have the highest record of unemployment since 1999, we have the highest inflation, we have multiple exchange rate that discourages foreign investment. We have the highest level of insecurity since 1999.

    “We are disunited this time more than ever before, people are more angry, people are poorer more than anytime. I mean, if Nigeria is the headquarters of poverty in the world.

    “This is unthinkable, for a country that is endowed with human and natural resources like ours, just because of lack of clear headed leadership and direction, this is where we find ourselves.

    “So, it is obvious that we just have to change the leadership of this country.”

    When asked whether the PDP has the magic wand to change the country’s status quo, Atiku said, “of course, have you forgotten that, PDP governed this country since 1999 and we witnessed progressive development in all sectors of the economy?”.

    Speaking on his visit to Makarfi, he said, “we are all members of the same family and we are working together to ensure that PDP produces the best candidate for the next election, so that, PDP can be returned to power.

    “I am a democrat and I have always worked with anyone that emerged, so I am ready to work with anyone that emerges through credible elections.

    “Speaking about consensus, he said, consensus is their political family issue. When we close the doors and come out with a consensus, it will not be surprising”.

    Responding, Makarfi reminded the former VP of their various struggles working for the party in the past, noting that Atiku is capable and qualified to lead the party.

    Senator Makarfi said he has nothing to lose if Atiku picks the party’s presidential ticket.

    “I am ready to work with any of the fellow aspirants that emerges, that, is why I even said that, because I am willing to work with some of them, I won’t even step into their states.

    “I am not aversed to Alhaji Atiku Abubakar becoming the party’s candidate, just like he is not also aversed to me becoming the party’s candidate, it is a family issue, we are talking and we will keep on talking,” Makarfi said.

  • Makarfi: PDP presidential ticket shouldn’t be for money bag

    The presidential ticket of the Peoples Demoratic Party (PDP) should not be for the highest bidder but for the person with integrity, an aspitant Senator Ahmed Makarfi, said yesterday in Lagos.

    Makarfi said contrary to certain opinions, money would not determine who picks the PDP ticket, and that money had never been a determinant factor in who became the President of Nigeria.

    He said: “When did Nigeria start to produce Presidents because of resources? Former Presidents Shehu Shagari, Olusegun Obasanjo, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, Goodluck Jonathan and now Muhammadu Buhari did not become President based on money.

    “In one of the southwest states I visited, a member said other aspirants have been giving them money and gifts, but I don’t have to give them money or gifts to vote for me in the primaries because they know I am the best man for the job.”

    Makarfi said he was confident of picking the party’s ticket, according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) report.

    Makarfi, a former governor of Kaduna State, was Chairman of the PDP National Caretaker Committee. He is one of the 12 presidential aspirants.

    The PDP aspirant, who has concluded meetings with PDP members in the Southwest, said his exceptional performance as chairman of the caretaker committee would give him an upper hand at the primaries.

    “PDP has become a beautiful bride because of what I did. The party was considered dead until I came in as chairman of the caretaker committee and turned it round.

    “No other presidential aspirant in the party has my pedigree. I have been assured of becoming the groom by members who are aware of those efforts and have sworn they will not sell their votes at the primaries.

    “Since I joined the PDP, I have never left the party.

    “My experience as a member of the Senate committee on finance for eight years is also an advantage. I will bring the experience to bear when I pick the ticket and emerge as president,” he said.

    On a female vice president, Makarfi said he had wanted a female running mate if he won the primaries, but the person he had in mind declined and opted for a lower responsibility.

    He lamented that Nigerian women were yet to take up the challenge of becoming presidents or vice, noting that those positions were not exclusive to men.

    “I look forward to seeing a female president not even vice in Nigeria someday. It is time the women stop taking back seats,” he said.

    The PDP aspirant, reacting to INEC’s registration of more political parties that brought the number registered to 91, said while it allowed freedom of association, there was need for sanity.

    “I know that the major parties will reduce the number via coalitions and MOU’s. However, it is not the duty of political parties to do so,” he added.

  • Makarfi: PDP needs strong candidate to defeat Buhari

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) must field a string candidate to stand any chance of defeating President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019, one of its presidential aspirants Senator Ahmed Makafi has stated.

    Makarfi said Buhari, who is expected to be the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, still commands a strong followership in the North, which has the highest number of voters.

    The presidential hopeful declared the PDP must work on the psychology of voters in the northern part of the country many of whom he said “still retain blind followership for Buhari.”

    Makarfi spoke at the weekend when he visited Ekiti PDP delegates led by Deputy Governor Prof Kolapo Olusola at Jibowu Hall, Government House, Ado-Ekiti in continuation of consultations on his presidential ambition ahead of the party’s national convention.

    He argued he is eminently qualified for the presidency having served as Kaduna governor for eight years and being in the senate for two terms during which he chaired the Committee on Finance and became PDP National Caretaker Chairman.

    The former Kaduna governor promised to tackle insurgency, herdsmen killings, insecurity, unemployment, epileptic power supply, infrastructural challenges and other problems confronting the nation.

    Makarfi said the sectarian problems and security challenges facing the country confronted Kaduna State during his tenure but he was able to overcome them with tact, consensus building and deployment of resources.

    He said the PDP must win very well in the North to make any headway in the presidential election, adding the party must present the candidate the people of the region repose trust in.

    Makarfi said: “If we want to the election, we must not lose the North and we should give them the candidate they trust in the North.

    “The problem for us winning is the North; the current President comes from there and there is blind followership there. If we want to win, we should field a strong candidate from there.

    “We must work on the psychology of the Buhari’s sentimental followers in the North and change their mind towards us.” On his manifesto, Markafi said: “First of all is the restructure of the country to make it good for everybody, restructuring of the security and creation of jobs and infrastructure development in all respects and promoting the private sector so that it can become effective employer of labour.

    “I am straight forward person and do not say one thing in the morning and turn it another thing in the evening.

    “We brought back PDP and made it now a threat to APC. I restructured Kaduna and Nigeria needs restructuring. I am not talking politics.

    “I was the architect of the first political sovereign conference in the country as head of the committee under former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

    “Institutional restructuring that would include the police, INEC and other security apparatus to ensure they do not serve the dictates of the paymasters will be done by me.”

    He added: “We must make our institutions to be accountable. We will ensure comprehensive restructuring of this country. I chose to travel by road for all my campaigns traveling by road is taking eighty percent of my tour.

    “This is to enable me see the deficiencies of our infrastructure, such as roads, condition of our people and our environment among others.

    “We will also restructure power generation, what is on ground now is unitary. We must liberalize it. Each state will be allowed to generate its own electricity.”

     

  • Restructuring a must, says Makarfi

    Former Kaduna State Governor Senator Ahmed Maikarfi has declared restructuring of the nation as a must.

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential aspirant said restructuring is in the manifesto of the opposition party.

    He spoke in Enugu during a consultation with members of the party after attending the reunion of the Federal Government College, Enugu, his alma mater.

    Makarfi stated anybody against restructuring has no business with PDP.

    “When we come back to power in 2019 we will come together to discuss and implement it,” he assured.

    He said former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan should be given credit for convening constitutional conferences to that effect.

    He debunked insinuations the PDP condones corruption, saying the graft in the current administration would be fully unearthed when it is kicked out in 2019.

    “They keep saying that PDP is corrupt, yet we established EFCC, ICPC etc, which showed our readiness to fight corruption from the beginning.

    “By the time APC is kicked out in 2019, you will know that the corruption in the system now is even worse than in PDP’s 16 years. It’s usually difficult to investigate a government in power,” he stated.

     

  • We must restructure Nigeria – Makarfi

    Former Kaduna State Governor, Ahmed Maikarfi, declared on Saturday that restructuring of Nigeria is a must.

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential aspirant said the issue of restructuring is the policy of the PDP and in its manifesto.

    Maikarfi was in Enugu to consult with the members of the party in the state and attend the reunion of his alma mater, Federal Government College, Enugu.

    He said anybody who is against restructuring has no business with PDP.

    “When we come back to power in 2019 we will come together to discuss and implement the issue of restructuring,” he stated.

    He said former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan should be given credit for convening constitutional conferences on the matter.

    The presidential aspirant, however, stressed that emphasis should be given to institutional restructuring such as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    He dismissed the insinuation that the PDP condones corruption, saying the level of corruption in the present administration would be unearthed by the time they “are kicked out” in 2019.

    “They keep saying that PDP is corrupt, yet we established EFCC, ICPC and others. This showed our readiness to fight corruption from the beginning,” he added.

     

     

  • DSS invasion treasonable, say Makarfi, ADC, ADP

    FORMER People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Caretaker Chairman Senator Ahmed Makarfi and African Democratic Congress (ADC) said yesterday that the invasion of the National Assembly by operatives of the Directorate of State Services (DSS) was treasonable.

    They said the former DSS Director-General, Lawal Daura, should be arrested and tried for treason.

    Similarly, the Action Democratic Party (ADP) also condemned the action of the security agents and asked the international community to denounce the siege, which it said was an apparent move to instigate the impeachment of the Senate leadership.

    Makarfi, in a statement issued by his media aide, Murktar Sirajo, said such an act should not be allowed to go unpunished, describing it as a treasonable offence against the present democratic government.

    The statement reads: “The siege on the National Assembly by armed personnel of the DSS is yet another unfortunate scene in the theatre of the absurd that Nigeria’s democracy is being turned into by elements that seem to have lost it.

    “Senator Makarfi is pained at the news of this yet another assault on the legislature, which is an independent arm of government with constitutionally guaranteed powers and also one which has rules to guide its conducts and activities.

    “That constitutionally guaranteed independence must, therefore, be respected by allowing it run on its own rules, including the ones that guide how leadership emerge and are sustained.

    “To send armed men to deny access to the legislators into the legislative house, for whatever reason, is the height of impunity and desecration; it, in fact, is treasonable for which all connected with must be made to answer to the law.

    “Senator Makarfi, therefore, once again condemns this wanton assault on the legislature and identifies with the leadership as well as the entire members of the National Assembly at this very trying time that requires steadfastness, courage and total commitment to democratic ideals.”

    He called on all Nigerians to condemn this desperate and criminal move by rising up, through all legitimate means, to protect the country’s hard-earned democracy.

    In a statement signed by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Chief Anayo Arinze, the ADC noted several constitutional breaches carried out by security agencies, which were supposed to be protecting the nation’s democracy..

    The ADC said “the unwarranted invasion of Nigeria’s National Assembly on Tuesday, 7th August, 2018 by the former Director of the Directorate of Security Service (DSS), Mr. Lawal Musa Daura, is treasonable and, he should be arrested immediately and tried for treason to serve as a deterrent to other security operatives who may be used in future to dislocate the constitutional duties, freedom and rights of other arms of government or the democratic experiment in the country.”

    ADP National Chairman Yabagi Sani, in a statement, said that it had earlier warned about the peril of any contrivance to subvert the law and due process to effect any change in the leadership of the National Assembly.

    Sani said: “Nigerians have witnessed and have endured these successive acts of vulgar brigandage  by security agents. This  exorbitant assault on Nigerian democracy  signalled its intensity on Tuesday, July 24, when a detachment of police officers barricaded the residences of Saraki and his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu, in a failed attempt to stop them from presiding over the defections that saw about 50 federal lawmakers dumping the APC.

    “The ADP is however, relieved that the Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, promptly sacked the DSS Director, Lawal Daura, on Tuesday in clear demonstration of firmness and good sense, which has at least momentarily doused the tension in the country and saved us from this humongous embarrassment before the civilised world.”

  • Makarfi: Stop victimisation in Benue

    Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential aspirant and former governor of Kaduna State Senator Ahmed Makarfi has objected to what he described as the victimisation of defectors to the party in Benue State.

    He said those victimising Governor Samuel Ortom and his supporters are trying to truncate democracy, adding that the governor’s defection was in accordance with freedom of association  guaranteed by the constitution.

    Makarfi said in a statement by his media aide, Mukhtar Sirajo, that two-third of the 30-member House of Assembly was denied access into the chamber while seven lawmakers were given police protection to plot the impeachment of the governor.

    He said: “It is an unlawful, disgraceful and undemocratic act, which portends a danger of monumental proportions to the country and its institutions. The freedom of association is the inalienable right of every Nigerian as enshrined in the nation’s constitution and all international conventions. The  impeachment of a state governor is a legal and constitutional function, the process of which is clearly spelt out in our constitution, with no ambiguity.

    “It therefore, smacks of hypocrisy and a brazen disrespect for fundamental human rights for the same party to now deny people the right defect from it for whatever reason(s). It is imperative that  people’s rights and freedoms of movement and association and all other rights should be respected fully by the state and its agencies; and that both the APC and its government brace up for more people exercising these fundamental rights and respect same”

    Makarfi urged the people of Benue State to, even as they resist this callous assault on their freedom, remain peaceful and law abiding and be assured that Nigerians are with them in this trying moment.

    He enjoined  Nigerians to, within lawful means, stand up to attempt to stifle the democratic space by a party that was the biggest beneficiary of defections, which is now jittery and clearly uncomfortable at the prospect of getting a dose of its own medicine.

  • R-APC: PDP summons Atiku, Makarfi, others

    Governors, senators to discuss Imoke Panel’s report

    Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Chairman  Uche Secondus has invited  presidential aspirants, governors, senators and other leaders to a meeting today in Abuja. The meeting is coming amid plans by leaders of the Reformed-All Progressives Congress(R-APC) to defect to the PDP.

    The presidential aspirants  invited are:  ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar, ex-Governor Ahmed Makarfi; ex-Minister of Special Duties Tanimu Kabiru Turaki(SAN); ex-Governors Sule Lamido and Ibrahim Shekarau, as well as others.

    The session will discuss terms for accepting R-APC leaders, such as Senate President Bukola Saraki, House of Representatives Speaker Yakubu Dogara and others into the party.

    Top on the agenda is the report of the ex-Governor Liyel Imoke Contact and Mobilisation Committee, which has been negotiating with R-APC and about 30 “minor” parties.

    Ahead of today’s meeting, tension is building up in the PDP over alleged plot by Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike and Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose to “influence” defection terms in favour of Saraki, Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal and Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, who are interested in the presidential ticket.

    Wike is accused of hatching a script for Tambuwal as the anointed candidate.

    Some governors and leaders of the party, including those on the Board of Trustees (BOT) are opposed to a “work-to-the-answer” method for any aspirant.

    PDP leaders from the North have also queried why the two Southern governors will dictate to the North the choice of a presidential candidate.

    The Northern leaders may meet next week depending on the decision of today’s talks.

    The notice of the meeting was conveyed to the critical stakeholders by National Secretary Umaru Tsauri.

    The notice reads: “The National Chairman of our great party, the PDP, Prince Uche Secondus, hereby invites all PDP presidential aspirants, all PDP governors and former governors, PDP members of the National Assembly and former members, all members of the BOT, members of PDP former ministers forum and all state chairmen to a crucial meeting on Monday, 9th July, 2018 at Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja.”

    Although the notice was silent on the agenda, a source in the National Working Committee (NWC) said the “meeting will discuss the proposed defection of R-APC leaders and other bigwigs to PDP; alliance talks from other parties and the way forward for PDP in 2019.

    “We will specifically look into the report and recommendations of ex-Governor Liyel Imoke Contact and Mobilisation Committee which had been holding talks with likely defectors and our leaders in some affected states.

    “Certainly, we will also consider the offers from Saraki, Tambuwal, Kwankwaso and others who are interested in returning to PDP with a desire to contest for the presidential ticket.

    “Do not forget that there are some knotty issues in the report which have not been clearly defined. This is what is delaying the expected mass defection to PDP.”

    The source added: “The outcome of our meeting on Monday (today) will determine how our party structure will now look like; the limits we can accommodate for the defectors and whatever R-APC and others have in stock.”

    The Nation on Saturday reported that the R-APC leaders have made tough demands PDP. There are four knotty issues yet to be settled.

    The four pegs of negotiation are:

    • conceding state party structure to R-APC on 60 to 40 per cent basis or 40-60 per cent ratio;
    • automatic ticket to re-contest for elective posts by Senators, Representatives, House of Assembly members;
    • a change of name by PDP;
    • and governorship tickets for some R-APC aspirants in states like Kaduna, Kwara, Kogi, Bauchi, Sokoto, Kano, Jigawa, Yobe, and Borno states.

    A BOT member said: “We are aware that Wike favours Tambuwal and Fayose is insisting he must play a major role on who gets the presidential mandate of the party. We won’t allow anyone to dictate to us.

    “Some of us from the North cannot understand why the two Southern governors are interested in the choice of a presidential candidate from our region than Northerners themselves.

    “If they allow democracy to prevail at today’s meeting, we will abide by the will of the majority. Otherwise, we will convene a meeting of Northern PDP leaders next week.”

    “This meeting is an acid test for Secondus. He should place the interest of the party above any other consideration.”

    A PDP governor, who spoke in confidence, said: “Some of our colleagues are behaving as if they have the presidential ticket of PDP in their pockets; we have had enough of this nonsense.

    “We will be frank with ourselves at the meeting. The Liyel Imoke Committee only recommended a level-playing field for all. No anointing, no adoption and no emperor style of bullying stakeholders into submission on any candidate. Those defectors must play by our rules and nothing else.”