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Tag: National Publicity Secretary

Lack of funds may scuttle APC mid term convention

There are uncertainties whether the mid-term national convention of the All Progressives Congress (APC) scheduled for April 29, 2017, will still go ahead as scheduled as the party is yet to put machinery in place for the hosting of the convention barely 26 days away from the scheduled date.

After its consultative meeting with governors of these party in early March, the party had announced that the mid-term non-elective convention will take place on April 29 to review the activities of the party and the government.

The party had also assured that it will set up a convention planning committee before the end of March, but there are no indication that the Party was planning the convention as the planning committee was yet to be in place.

But the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Malls Bolaji Abdullahi said plans for the convention was still in progress as the party has not taken any decisions. To either cancel or postpone the convention.

The Nation gathered on Monday that the constitution review committee set up by the National Working Committee to recommend amendments to the party constitution has abandoned the work apparently due to lack of resources to finance its activities.

The committee which has representatives of the governor and national Assembly was yet to begin its work on the document that is supposed to be ratified at the convention.

The party, after been criticised for not holding a national convention as stipulated in its constitution, declared in a statement that it will hold a national convention not later than April this year.

Sources close to the party told The Nation that one of the governors of the party had told the leadership of the party during their meeting in March that the NWC cannot fix a convention for the National Executive Committee.

The party, through the National Publicity Secretary, had announced that it will hold the convention to review activities of the part and fill positions in the leadership that were vacated by former national officers, saying “the vacancies to be filled occurred principally from political appointments, deaths and resignations.

The Congress to fill the vacancies would be followed closely by another Congress to nominate delegates into the mid-term non-elective Convention of the Party.

“The Congresses will be followed by the National Caucus meeting, and finalised with the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the Party, which will consider and set the dates for the National Convention, which is expected to hold not later than April of 2017.”

According to Article 25 (A)(i) of the APC constitution which state that the National Convention of the Party shall be held once in Two (2) years at a date, venue and time to be recommended by the National Working Committee and approved by the National Executive Committee subject to the giving of the statutory notices to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and at least fourteen (14) days notice given to members eligible to attend.

It also says that the constitution provides that the National Executive Committee may summon an emergency National Convention at any time provided at least seven (7) days notice of the meeting shall be given to all members eligible to attend.

It was gathered that the some APC governors and the Presidency has decided not to fund the party, asking the leadership to source its own funds, while dues from political appointees have not been forthcoming.

Recently, Kano state governor was quoted as saying that the governors will not take state resources to fund the party, saying what the party was going through in terms of financing was part of the change going on in the country.

The governor was quoted as “It is still part of the change mantra. People were used to getting cheap money, some people struggle to be part of the APC officials in order to make money but the Buhari here is not like that, so if the party has programmes on the ground; the government have no problem to see how the party can be funded but let me tell you the issue of taking government money to fund the party does not arise now.”

When contacted on phone, the National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi told newsmen that the National Working Committee has not taken any decision to cancel or suspend the convention, pointing out that plans were still ongoing to host the convention.

April 3, 2017
Ex-Sports minister elected new APC spokesman

The All Progressives Congress (APC) on Thursday got a new National Publicity Secretary when the North Central Zone of the party unanimously elected former Minister of Sports, Bolaji Abdullahi, as the spokesperson of the party.
But the suspended Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the party, Comrade Timi Frank said he remains the Acting National Publicity Secretary of the party pending the outcome of the case he instituted against the party.
The suit which was filed before an Abuja High Court comes up for mention in December 5.
Abdullahi from Kwara state is expected to replace Alhaji Lai Mohammed who vacated the seat about one year ago when he was appointed Minister of Information by President Muhammadu Buhari.
Others elected along with Abdullahi are Mohammed Zakari who was elected Deputy National Treasurer, while Zakari Mohammed and Abdul Magun Ibrahim were elected to fill the vacant positions of Zonal Secretary and Zonal Organising Secretary respectively.
The event was attended by the governors of Plateau and Niger States, Barr Simon Lalong and Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello respectively, the representatives of the Kogi and Benue States governors, the representatives of the Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki, the National Vice Chairman of the zone, Alhaji Zakari Idde among others were present at the mini congress which elected the former Youth Minister the APC spokesperson and three other national officers.
Abdullahi was nominated for the position by the Deputy Speaker of the Nasarawa State House of Assembly, Godiya Akwashiki and seconded by Senator Abdullahi representing Niger North senatorial zone before his nomination was confirmation through a voice vote.
Three others were also elected to fill vacant positions zoned to the north central as well as the zonal executive of the party.
Speaking on behalf of other elected officers, Mallam Abdullahi assured that he will operate under different template and terrain with his predecessor and do everything humanly possible to endear the party to Nigerians.
He however told newsmen that he was conscious of the fact that the position of the spokesperson of the ruling party is an entirely different assignment from his former position as Minister of Sports.

December 1, 2016
Bayelsa: PDP hails cancellation of Southern Ijaw votes

The national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has hailed the cancellation of Southern Ijaw Local Government votes by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The party praised what it described as the courage of the people of Bayelsa state for fearlessly “curtailing the rigging machinery” of the All Progressives Congress (APC). It described the election in the area as fabricated.

In a statement on Monday by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, the party said but for the bravery of Bayelsans in standing up for their votes against the hordes of harassment by the military and other security forces working for the APC, their will as a people would have been completely subverted in the election.

The PDP commended the actions and concerted efforts of its members in resisting rigging and impunity.

The statement said, “We condemn in the strongest possible term, the wanton confiscation and transfer of voting materials by security operatives directly to APC agents for outright allocation of votes.

“For the purposes of the rescheduled Southern Ijaw election, we wish to make it abundantly clear that we are ready, willing and able to defend the choice of the people.

“Never again will this leadership of the PDP allow our party candidates to be manipulated out of any election at any level. In that regard, we have activated our structures across the country to defend our mandate always, with all force and means available in a democracy.

“Nevertheless, we are indeed concerned about the apparent inability of the present INEC to conduct a credible election in a single state, especially in the light of the fact that very soon they will need to conduct a general election in all the states.

“Finally, for the security forces busy brutalizing innocent Nigerians exercising their democratic rights, we declare that they should hide their faces in shame over the flexing of muscles in terror free zones”.

December 7, 2015
Three jostle for APC National Publicity Secretary

Three chieftains of the All Progressives Congress (APC) are jostling for the position of the National Publicity Secretary, it was learnt yesterday.

The aspirants are Mr. Sola Lawal, the Publicity Secretary of the Ogun State chapter, his Lagos State counterpart, Comrade Joe Igbokwe, and Mr. Fasakin.

The Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, is expected to resign from the position, following his appointment as a minister.

Lawal has served as Publicity Secretary in Ogun State for six years. Also, Igbokwe has served as Publicity Secretary since 2007. However, the rights activist, who has not declared his bid, is being persuaded by his colleagues across the federation.

A party source said: “The position will be vacant by the end of the month. There is nothing on ground to show that the deputy publicity secretary, Timi Frank, will step into Lai Mohammed’s shoes. The party will look for a professional and an astute politician to do the job. Also, zoning may not favour the deputy publicity secretary.”

October 27, 2015
Anambra PDP sacks Metuh

The Anambra State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has suspended the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisah Metuh.

His suspension followed one allegedly handed to him by his Otolo Nnewi Ward I, ratified by his local government – Nnewi North.

A statement signed by the Publicity Secretary Kenneth Arinze and Victor Osy Ezenwa, Basil Ejidike (secretary), Dr. Maduka Nwankwo (chairman, South), Kelue Molokwu (vice chairman, Central) and Chief Osy Chinwuba (chairman, North), alleged that Metuh embezzled party funds.

The statement reads: “Following the suspension of Chief Olisa Metuh by the Otolo Ward 1 Nnewi of the PDP (where Olisa hails from) and the ratification of same by the Nnewi North Local Government chapter, the sState executive committee, after assessing the weighty allegations against Olisa Metuh and finding them heinous, in compliance with the PDP Constitution, hereby, ratifies the suspension and forward same to the National Working Committee (NWC)”.

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August 14, 2015
APC backs Buhari’s probe of Jonathan’s tenure

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has expressed strong support for President Muhammadu Buhari’s decision to probe the immediate past federal government, saying the revelations of mind-boggling corruption that are just beginning to emerge have made such a probe imperative.

The party said in a statement issued in Abuja on Tuesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed said; ”Some people have insinuated that the Buhari Administration should ignore the massive looting of our patrimony and move on. We say no responsible government can afford to do that, because it will amount to endorsing corruption and impunity.”

It said in the oil sector alone, billions of dollars have been skimmed off by pathologically-corrupt public officials, wondering how the government of the day can meet its obligations to the citizens if it refuses to recover the huge funds taken away by thieving officials

”It is an irony that those who are suggesting that the Buhari Administration should turn a blind eye to the incomprehensible looting are the same ones accusing the government of not doing anything. It is
even a cruel irony that the same party that presided over what is fast emerging as the worst governance in the history of our country is the same one that is daily bad-mouthing an Administration that is cleaning up its mess,” APC said.

The party said even if all the acts of corruption that were perpetrated during the tenure of the last Administration are limited to what is now in the public domain, it is still absolutely exigent for the Buhari Administration to do all it can to bring the perpetrators to book and recover the looted funds.

”Where does one start from? Is it the fact that the NNPC failed to remit 3.8 trillion Naira to the Federation Account or the mind-blowing stealing of 250,000 barrels of crude oil per day? Is it the fact that the NNPC itself does not know how many bank accounts it had or into which ones the payments for Nigerian crude are made? Could anyone have imagined that a government minister would steal the unprecedentedly-huge amount of 6 billion US dollars of public funds as being alleged?

”How does any sane person rationalize the fact that 1 billion dollars was unilaterally and illegally withdrawn from the Excess Crude Account just because, as the immediate past Minister of Finance has disclosed, the President ordered the withdrawal? What about the billions of Naira waivers recklessly approved to dubious importers by the Jonathan administration?

”Is it not clear now that the stealing and the profligacy – more than anything else, including the fall in oil price – helped to drastically reduce the monthly allocation from the Federation Account from about
800 billion Naira to about 400 billion Naira, thus pauperizing the states and the local governments, and by extension the citizenry?

”Against the background of the stunning revelations, what message will any government be sending to its citizens and indeed the global community by looking the other way, when it could still recover some
of the looted funds for the benefit of the people? This is why we are supporting the Buhari Administration’s probe decision, and calling on all Nigerians to support ongoing efforts to get to the root of the matter,” it said.

APC said it is now clear that the Jonathan Administration cleverly delayed giving the then incoming Buhari government the handover note so as to avoid being asked critical questions pertaining to the
unprecedented looting under its watch.

July 28, 2015
APC hails Buhari for ending workers’ misery

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has hailed President Muhammadu Buhari for coming to the aid of the long-suffering Nigerian workers with a multi-billion-naira package.

The party aid the aid will not only ensure that all arrears of salaries owed by many states across the country are immediately paid, but will also make it easier for the states to meet their monthly salary obligations henceforth.

In a statement issued in Abuja on Tuesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the APC said it was particularly delighted that the President has shown that he is truly the father of the nation by eschewing partisanship in approving the intervention fund for all the states, irrespective of which parties they belong to.

”We say this because when states were financially handicapped during the tenure of the last federal government, opposition states were hung out to dry why states belonging to the then ruling PDP got generous bailouts,” it said.

APC said by his action, President Buhari has practicalized his deep understanding of the essence of governance which, more than anything else, is the about the well being of the citizenry.

The party said worthy of note and commendation is the fact that the special intervention fund approved by President Buhari was packaged without any external borrowing, despite the paucity of funds occasioned by the fall in the price of crude oil and the unprecedented profligacy of the immediate past administration that dried out the pot of national resources.

It said so early in the life of his administration, President Buhari is walking his talk by showing that with prudence, financial discipline, plugging financial leakages and a deep sense of patriotism, even the nation’s dwindling resources can still be more effectively utilized for the benefit of Nigerians, rather than be looted by thieving public officials who abuse their office.

APC described as uncharitable and a clear indication that shame has taken flight the situation in which those who created the rot that is now being cleared by President Buhari are the same ones daring to point accusing fingers at the government that inherited their rot.

”The PDP that spent the past 16 years plundering and pillaging Nigeria has boasted that the Nigerian people will soon come, cap in hand, to beg them to return to power. What delusion! What arrogance! Who presided over the looting and the mismanagement of public funds that made it impossible for the nation to absorb the shock of the falling oil prices? Who depleted the Excess Crude Account (ECA) without authorization? Who has degraded the standard of living of Nigerians?” the party queried.

APC said the multi-pronged package approved by President Buhari includes the sharing of about $2.1 billion sourced from the LNG’s payment to the Federation Account; and a CBN-packaged special intervention fund that will offer financing to the states, ranging between N250 billion to N300 billion, as a soft loan available to states to access for the purposes of paying backlog of salaries.

Also, the President has approved a debt relief programme that will help states restructure their commercial loans currently put at over N660 billion. The implication is that the life span of such loans will be extended, while reducing the states’ debt-servicing expenditures, thus leaving the states with enough resources – which otherwise would have been removed at source by the banks – to meet their monthly salary obligations, among others.

”History is repeating itself before our very eyes. Some 31 years ago, Buhari, then as a military head of state, also inherited a huge national rot similar to what has been bequeathed to it by the PDP, and had to approve 480 million Naira for the payment of arrears of workers’ salaries. Truly, the President is a man of destiny,” the party said.

It said that with thousands of workers made destitute by the frittering away of the commonwealth under a rapacious and wasteful PDP government now being given a new lease of life, their purchasing power being boosted and the nation’s economy being reflated, the change which the President and his party promised the nation has just begun.

”We thank Nigerians for voting the APC into power at the centre and for believing in us even when the horizon became hazy, not out of our making but because of the misdeeds of the past. By their relentless support for President Buhari and the APC, Nigerians have indeed demonstrated that what is worth fighting for is worth defending,” APC said

July 7, 2015