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Tag: Oby Ezekwesili

  • Ezekwesili’s planned coalition won’t fly, says DG VON

    The Director-General (DG), Voice of Nigeria (VON), Osita Okechukwu on Thursday described the withdrawal Oby Ezekwesili of the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN) from the presidential race as expected.

    He said Ezekwesili’s planned collation to dislodge the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the People’s Democracy Party (PDP) will fail.

    Okechukwu said the former Minister of Education belongs to a: “missionary political party that is not aiming to win power now. That is the truth of the matter.”

    The VON boss, in a telephone conversation with our correspondent in Abuja, said her withdrawal from the race is a clear indication that she does not understand the dynamics of Nigerian politics.

    His words: “What Oby Ezekwesili doesn’t know is that in democracy like this. The successful ones are multiparty system with two dominant political parties.

    “And that is two party system. Her political party is regarded as missionary party. This is what the missionary parties do.

    Read also: One dead, seven injured in Kano auto crash

    “She did not do anything different from a missionary party. I do not know the coalition that she is going to build that will dislodge the All Progressives Congress (APC) or the Peoples Democracy Party (PDP).

    “It is not possible. If you go to Britain, it is a multiparty system with two dominant political parties.

    “In the United States of American (USA), it is a multiparty system with two dominant political party. Go to Pakistan, it is the same thing. Brazil, India, they are all the same.

    “If she had said that, she is going to build a coalition with the PDP, I would have said that she is trying to win political power.

    “But since she singled out the two dominate political parties, then she is still taking missionary. She is missionary more than political.”

    He went on: “She did not do anything that is strange. But I congratulate her for her stand on making the society better. And that is what President Muhammadu Buhari is saying.

    “He is investing on food production, adequate electricity supply, modern transportation, construction of federal roads.

    “What all the missionary parties are saying is what President Muhammadu Buhari is doing.”

  • Update: INEC rejects Ezekwesili’s withdrawal

    The Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ) has rejected the purported withdrawal of presidential candidate of the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN) Dr Oby Ezekwesili.

    The commission noted Ezekwesili’s withdrawal was outside the window of opportunity granted to political parties contesting in the 16th February 2019 presidential poll.

    72 candidates were listed for the election, which is just 21 days away.

    The commission stated her withdrawal contravenes the Electoral Act 2010 as amended, which stipulated that a candidate can only withdraw from election 45 days to the poll.

    Ezekwesili declared her presidential ambition last October.

    Read Also: APCN endorses Buhari, accuses Ezekwesili of lobbying to be minister

    Responding to the development, the Chief Press Secretary to the Chairman of INEC, Mr. Rotimi Oyekanmi said her decision was also outside the commission’s timetable and schedule of activities for the forthcoming polls.

    He stated: “It is impossible for any presidential candidate to withdraw from the race now.

    “According to the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2019 General Elections, the last day for withdrawal by candidates or replacement of withdrawn candidates by political parties was 17th November, 2018 for Presidential and National Assembly Elections.

    “Therefore, the deadline for Ezekwesili or any candidate in that category to withdraw or be replaced has passed.“

  • ACPN endorses Buhari, accuses Ezekwesili of lobbying to be minister

    The Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN) has disowned its erstwhile presidential candidate and former Minister of Education Dr Oby Ezekwesili, saying she merely wanted to use the party platform and ticket to lobby her way into a ministerial appointment in the next political dispensation.

    The party also announced it was endorsing President Muhammadu Buhari as its candidate for the February 16 presidential election following the withdrawal of Ezekwesili from the race without consultation with leadership of the party.

    Reacting to the decision of the former Minister to drop out of the presidential race, National Chairman of the party who also doubled as its vice presidential candidate, Alhaji Ganiyu Galadima asked Ezekwesili to render account of all monies she received while flying the party flag.

    The party threatened to sue her if she refuses to return all the party material and donations she received within the little time she was in the party.

    The former Minister announced her decision to withdraw from the presidential race early hours of Thursday to devote her time in building a coalition that would the defeat the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Galadima said the former Minister did not officially inform the party of her decision before making it public.

    He added information available to the party indicate the former minister did not officially inform officials of her decision.

    While announcing the decision of the party to support President Muhammadu Buhari’s re-election bid, Galadima accused Ezekwesili of not showing any seriousness in her campaign.

    He said: “The reason for calling this press conference is to let the world know about the presidential aspiration of Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, which in actual fact is not the truth.

    “I have been put into confidence by one of her aides named Iyinoluwa Aboyeji that she only wanted to use the platform of the ACPN to negotiate to be Nigeria’s finance minister.

    Read Also: Ezekwesili withdraws from presidential race

    “This is why she does not deem fit to inform the party whose mandate she is holding. If you observe, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, is the only presidential candidate who was so militant in her campaign without any tangible thing on ground to indicate any seriousness in the prosecution of her campaign.

    “No campaign secretariat, billboard or great commitment on ground to indicate any seriousness.

    “It is on this ground that the ACPN is withdrawing support for her presidential aspiration and endorsing the second term bid of President Muhammadu Buhari to take Nigeria to the next level. We may take her to court during her brief sojourn.

    “She must return whatever money she collected from people on behalf of the party because whatever is given to her belongs to the party.

    “Don’t forget that at the end of the day, as a party, we must render account to INEC, this is mandatory and it is in the electoral Act.

    “We want to use this medium to tell her that we are not that was given to her not unaware of the various accounts that herself and her personal aide has opened to generate funds.

    “We are aware that monies were coming to get in droves but we didn’t know the successes of this funds, she should please come and render account to us.

    “She should please come and render account to us and to come and give back to the party all that belongs to it because, without the party, nobody will give her any fund or donate anything to her,”

     

  • Breaking: Ezekwesili withdraws from presidential race

    The candidate of the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN) and a former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili has withdrawn from the Presidential race.

    Ezekwesili said she would now be focusing on helping to build a Coalition for a viable alternative to the All Progressive Congress (APC) and People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2019 general elections.

    She announced her withdrawal in a series of tweets on her official and verified twitter handles on Thursday morning.

    She said, “Following the reactions of Nigerian citizens at home and abroad to the 2019 Presidential Debate held on Saturday 19 January 2019, and after extensive consultations with leaders from various walks of life across the country over the past few days, I have decided to step down from the presidential race and focus on helping to build a Coalition for a viable alternative to the #APCPDP in the 2019 general elections. This coalition for a viable alternative has now more than ever before become an urgent mission for and on behalf of the citizenry”.

    Read also: APC enraged over PDP’s N388m U.S. lobbying deal

    “Over the past three months, I have been in private extended talks with other candidates to make a coalition possible that would allow Nigerians to exercise choice without feeling helplessly saddled with the #APCPDP. In doing so, I have not hesitated to offer my willingness to step down my candidacy in order to facilitate the emergence of a strong and viable alternative behind which Nigerians can line up in our collective search for a new beginning. My commitment in this regard has been consistent and in consonance with my agreement, at the request of candidates under Presidential Aspirants Coming Together (PACT) in 2018, to supervise their internal selection process as an outside observer passionate about building this alternative force”.

    “Despite disagreements within the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria on these and other issues, I have decided that it is now necessary to show by action and example my determination on this issue by stepping down my candidacy and focusing on building the coalition once and for all”.

    “We have no right to allow citizens give in to despair. We will #Fight4Naija together, and prove to all that the mess that has now become the political class will not be allowed to destroy our spirits and the nation. We are also determined to ensure that the message keeps resonating that our beloved country deserves better and that we will get the best that we deserve”.

    “From last year, I have made it clear to the nation that Nigeria has always had a 20-year cycle of change – 1959, 1979, and 1999. 2019 begins another 20-year cycle, and together with all Nigerians of good will, I stand ready to play my part to ensure that we do not miss this opportunity to sing a new song. We have no more time to waste. Let’s get to work!”.

  • 2019: Ezekwesili pledges 50 % appointment for women, youths

    The Presidential Candidate of the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN), Mrs Oby Ezekwesili has promised a better deal for women and youths if elected in 2019.

    Ezekwesili made the promise in an interview with newsmen shortly after canvassing for votes from market women at Afor-Ukpor market, Ukpor in Nnewi South Local Government Area of Anambra on Sunday.

    Ezekwesili said that if elected, the ACPN would ensure that 50 per cent of appointments into the cabinet were made up of women and young people.

    The presidential candidate said the party’s major campaign targets women, who are operating at low productivity in the economy.

    “We have a programme that targets all the barriers that impede economic productivity of women, some of which include the lack of large scale farm land for decent output.

    “One of the research for development showed that women in Osun state, who were given the same amount of inputs as their male counterparts, performed more than their male counterparts by 40 per cent.

    “We will do everything in terms of our policies, rules and procedures to empower our women in the agricultural sector,” she assured.

    Ezekwesili said if elected, her administration would also focus on education for women, adding that education enhances the quality of policies women make in governance.

    According to her, of the 80 million Nigerians living in poverty, more than 50 per cent of them are women.

    “So, if we must tackle poverty in Nigeria, we must focus very much on women and young people,” she said.

    “It will be an inclusive government where merit and competence will guide our selection and where every part of the country is well represented in governance,” she added.

    The former Minister of Education expressed confidence that INEC would conduct free and credible elections, but said “the society must compell the commission to do so.

    “INEC is able to do it but may not do it because of political pressures that may come upon it; that is why we as citizens must insist that electoral integrity is a sine qua non for the 2019 elections.

    “It is therefore imperative that President Mohammed Buhari is prevailed upon to sign the Electoral Amendment Bill 2018,” she said.

    Ezekwesili urged President Buhari to also invite all the candidates for the elections and political parties to discuss the rule of the game in terms of how the military and the police will work during the elections. (NAN)

  • 2019: Ezekwesili promises to correct nation’s political anomaly

    Mrs Oby Ezekwesili, Presidential Candidate of the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN), says she is contesting the 2019 elections to correct the nation’s political anomaly and usher in good governance.

    Ezekwesili made this known in an interview with newsmen while canvassing for votes in Onitsha on Thursday.

    The former Minister of Education, who was flanked by some female supporters during the campaign tagged ‘walk of women’, described herself as a candidate with the requisite attributes to develop Nigeria.

    Ezekwesili said previous administrations were purposeless and appeared not to be a government in place for the people but for selfish purposes.

    “Our country has been badly managed year after year, political parties after political parties.

    “I came to the conclusion that our politics is the problem, because politicians only see presidency as a kind of personal trophy for them.

    Read Also: Atiku, Duke, Ezekwesili absent as parties sign pact

    “For me, this election is not an election to basically become president.

    “The low level of performance of Nigeria must end and for us to end it, we must bring in a new momentum into governance.

    “I represent that new momentum and I am the credible alternative,’’ she said.

    Ezekwesili, whose presence on the streets of Onitsha delighted residents and commuters, said “I come with character, competence and capacity to serve’’.

    According to her, the ACPN will lead a government that will make education the new oil and make human capital the new economy for the country.

    She said the goal of her administration, if elected, “is to make Nigeria a prosperous country where over 80 million Nigerians would be lifted out of poverty.

    “A vote for Oby Ezekwesili is a vote for good governance. I am the candidate to beat in the 2019 elections.

    “We shall build a prosperous society on the back of the private sector and make the private sector the engine of growth in reality,’’ she added.

    The presidential candidate said that everything about policies and institution building as well as critical investment in infrastructure and human capital to make Nigeria the centre of development, would also be her goal, if elected.

    NAN

  • Ezekwesili knocks Atiku’s economic policies

    Unveils manifesto, running mate

     

    Presidential candidate of the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN) Oby Ezekwesili on Wednesrday rubbished economic policies being bandied about by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar.

    Mrs. Ezekwesili said this in Ilorin, the Kwara state capital at the unveiling of her running mate Abdulganiyu Galadima.

    She also laid bare her manifesto if elected as the Nigeria’s next next president of Nigeria.

    The former education minister said that the “PDP is making promises that are not economically sensible. I looked at what PDP candidate is promising, I realise that most of what he is promising don’t make any economic sense. So please do not be deceived.”

    She lamented the current 52-year life expectancy in the country, saying that her administration will improve the status with calculated measures contained in the party’s manifesto.

    The ACPN presidential candidate, who said that the party was determined to rescue Nigeria from myriads of its present challenges, added that the present security situation had made life so cheap in the country.

    Dr. Ezekwesili said that present life expectancy in the country was unacceptable, adding that the nation had what it takes to equal Singapore’s 85 year life expectancy.

    “To achieve this, we have to improve people’s health condition and human security. In a way, everything that we will do to improve business opportunities for everyone, where we were targeting higher productivity and competitiveness of Nigerian economy will lead to improved income level for Nigerians. When you have better income level, you’ll be able to afford basic things of life. We’ll focus on improving our health system. Our health system today discriminates between wealthy and poor. The poor do not have access to quality healthcare. Our ACPN manifesto focuses on universalizing access to national health insurance scheme for Nigerians, and we’re emphasizing on improving maternal and child related issues to ensure that we’re not above Africa average in infant, child and maternal mortality. That will go towards improving life expectancy”, she said.

    Read Also: 2019: I’ll be a better president, says Ezekwesili

    The ACPN presidential candidate, who condemned present security situation in the country, said that primacy of Nigerian life is the epicenter of the ACPN programme.

    “We want to make sure that human capital is the new economy and that education is the new oil. If we’re going to achieve that, we must keep our people alive. This means that everything that has to do with their security will matter to us. We will not be the government that slacks in her responsibility and watches on helplessly while invaders take over our territory and kill our people with no consequences. It will not happen under my time as commander in chief of Armed Forces”, she said.

    The presidential candidate also promised to deploy same intelligence used in the administration of former president Olusegun Obasanjo in tackling challenges in the telecommunication sector then, to now tackle the nation’s power problems.

    She told party members that the party’s manifesto was put together through data review and several analysis and promised to ensure that it is properly followed if Nigerians elect her party into office in 2019.

    Ezekwesili promised to overhaul the nation’s security apparatus and fight corruption in a clean manner.

    “Nigeria was ranked 14th most fragile nation in 2017. That means that any little thing can bring the national down. But we will not allow that; we will work hard to make  Nigeria a strong nation again,” she added.

    She said Nigerian security architecture and systems will be made to work well during our time so that Nigerians will no longer die cheaply,” she said.

    She promised that if voted into office, the ACPN will use workable policies to take at least 80 million Nigerians out of poverty citing the example of China which she said had to take some 700 million of her population out of poverty at a point in time.

    While lamenting the current 52 percent literacy rate in Nigeria, she said her party plans to embark on revolutionising the knowledge industry as the next source of prosperity for Nigeria instead of oil and gas.

  • Ezekwesili upset at BON General Assembly

    The Presidential candidate of Allied Congress Party of Nigeria(ACPN) Oby Ezekwesili, on Tuesday in Port Harcourt complained of harassment by  a participant at the opening of the 71st General Assembly of the Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BON).

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports the incident occurred while, Ezekwesili, a former Minister of Education and  Solid Minerals was presenting, a keynote address on the theme, “Broadcasting and the Changing Media Landscape”.

    Ezekwesili expressed lashed back at the participant, Yusuf Musa, the General Manager of Nasarawa Radio and Television, who  interrupted  her while making her presentation.

    NAN reports that before going into her  address, Ezekwesili, made off-the-cuff  comments on  the presentations earlier made by the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed and the Director-General of the National Broadcasting Commission(NBC), Ishaq Modibbo-Kawu.

    The Minister was represented at the event by Mr Sunday Baba, the Director of Public Relations and Protocol, in the Ministry.

    Ezekwesili said: “My brother, Kawu, I listened to you with rapt attention, you are not speaking like yourself.

    “You are threatening to shut down broadcasting stations. Similarly, the speech presented by the representative of the minister is also full of threat.

    “This cannot happen in a democracy that we fought hard to attain.

    “Patriotism is to support government when it deserves it and to support the people at all times.

    “Anything that can be a hanging threat against the media must be rejected,”

    At this point, Musa hectored at  the guest speaker, asking her to go straight to her paper rather than making comments and “embarrassing” the minister and NBC DG over their speeches.

    Ezekwesili who was not pleased with the interjection by Musa said: “A gentleman is shouting at me there, that is typical of an overzealous person, telling a fellow Nigerian to shut up”

    “Forget about our very animated government official who is defending the government.

    “We know them, when the current administration is over, they will sing a new song”.

    While the altercation continued, Ezekwesili, added, “You were not invited here to the podium, I am. Please let me go into my presentations”.

    Musa said  after the programme that he interrupted Ezekwesili because she left the presentation she was asked to make to attack the DG, NBC and the Minister.

    “She is someone I admire so much because of her contributions to national development but I am not pleased with the way she attacked the NBC over the plan to sanction erring stations”.

    Earlier, Modibbo Kawu cautioned radio and TV stations that the NBC would not hesitate to sanction erring stations,  as the country enters the season of heightened political activities, en route the 2019 general elections.

    “For us at the NBC, we cannot be responsible for the statements that politicians make.

    “It is important to remind the broadcasting outfits in BON, that you would be liable for any violations of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code by the politicians that you broadcast live during political rallies.

    “So it is your responsibility, not just to collect those huge sums politicians are willing to pay; but you must make them remember the liability you carry for decency in what comes out on radio and television.

    Kawu also said that the NBC would not hesitate to shut down any station  who failed to pay its licensing fees  to the NBC.

    He said many broadcasting organisations had refused to pay regularly.

    “Many of you canvass the unacceptable argument about the economic situation in the country.

    “But licence fees are statutory, and those who do not pay should not be on air! It is as simple as that!

    “That is the iron logic of capitalist economics.

    “I will like to remind all those who are owing the NBC these statutory licence fees, that we would visit you very soon, before you collect the huge sums from the political parties.

    “You would either pay us or you would be shut down and so would be unable to collect money for political broadcasts!,” he said.

    The minister on his part urged  the media to be agents of unity, stability and not to allow themselves  to be used as fake news purveyors during the campaign for 2019 general elections. (NAN)

  • Behold, the low-cut queens

    SOME styles are always in sync with fashion, no matter what. The low-cut hairstyle is one with a long staying power. It is now quite popular among celebrities. Hardly would you get to a social or corporate event without finding one brave soul spotting a low-cut hairstyle in a sea of weaves and attachments.

    But for decades before now, some celebrities have rocked the style religiously. It is also remarkable that these women have stayed true to the style even as the fashion scene changed and people embrace and dispose other hairstyles the way politicians switch political parties.

    Some of the most popular Nigerian celebrities sporting this unique style are iconic singer Onyeka Onwenu fondly called the elegant stallion by her teeming fans; development economist, former Minister of Education and human rights activist Oby Ezekwesili; world-acclaimed arts curator, Chief (Mrs) Nike Okundaye and Nollywood actress, film producer and director Shan George.

    Those who are just embracing this style can look up to these super brave women for inspiration. They have been rocking the low hair cut trend for decades and have remained relevant even when they have refused to jump on the bandwagon of latest hairstyles. It takes courage for a woman to cut her healthy and long hair and to stick to the style for decades.

    However, it is also a smart thing to do because short hair has its advantages. It can be used to make a powerful fashion or style statement. Any woman who walks to an event or a place with low cut hair is bound to draw serious attention. The style is also less expensive to maintain and also less time-consuming. It is simply a matter of finding the kind of cut that fits the shape of your head and face and getting it done.

    But before you rush to cut your hair, please note that cutting your hair super short is a big change that will require bravery and serious commitment. Do you care for a change of look?  If you are thinking about chopping-off some length, look no further than these famous lady personalities who have sported low haircuts for ages and are still looking great!

    If in doubt, check out these selected photos of Onyeka, Oby and Shan rocking low cut for low/short hair inspiration.

  • 2019: I am candidate of the people – Ezekwesili

    The presidential candidate of the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN), Mrs Oby Ezekwesili, on Monday said the endorsement of all Nigerians, including former President Olusegun Obasanjo was needed for her to lead the country in 2019.

    Ezekwesili, a former Minister of Education, told newsmen in Lagos that it was impossible for her to realise her ambition of becoming Nigeria’s first female president without the collective endorsement of all Nigerians, including Obasanjo.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that she was reacting to a question by one of the journalists on whether she would need the endorsement of Obasanjo, under whom she served as minister, to realise her ambition.

    NAN reports the former president had, on Thursday, openly endorsed the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, after a reconciliation meeting in Abeokuta.

    Ezekwesili said that democracy was all about popular choice, and she would not leave anyone out of the journey to become the president in 2019.

    “I need the endorsement of everyone. I need the endorsement of the youths, the old and the oldest segment of this country who look at the country and ask ‘What happened’?

    “I need the endorsement of everyone. I am not leaving anyone out because I am the candidate of the people, so every Nigerian is my electorate.

    “There is no power greater than the power of the people. It is a collective. I am the person with the right understanding of governance. I am the people’s choice and I am in the race to win,” she said.

    The presidential candidate said the country was faced with serious economic, security and other challenges which required a leader with the right capacity to fix.

    Ezekwesili, a former Vice-President of the World Bank, said she had the vision, experience and passion to reposition the country, promising that Nigeria would witness massive turnaround if she was elected.

    The candidate said the country’s economy was experiencing what she called ‘fiscal crisis’.

    She said there was the need to pursue vigorous sectoral and structural reforms to achieve real economic growth and promote the prosperity of the country.

    The candidate said her economic vision for the country was an economy that thrived on diversification and one in which the cost of government was drastically reduced for development.

    “We need to get our fiscal crisis sorted out. Fiscal crisis in the sense that the 2017 budget performance report that was released by the Federal Government shows we are in a state of fiscal imbalance.

    “The oil revenue is not sufficient to cover the personnel cost of government, and when you think that we are about 186 million people and about two million people in the civil service consume the entire revenue, that tells you we are in post-oil times and we have not yet shown an understanding of the situation. So, there has to be a drastic set of measures.

    “On the expenditure side, we have to look at the cost of government. The cost of government was already put on the agenda in the Oronsanye Report.What happened to the implementation?

    “We need to update the report and be determined to implement the recommendations therein,” she said.

    On the revenue side, Ezekwesili said the country needed to explore an economic strategy to open diverse sources of revenue.

    The presidential candidate said there was the need to develop the human capital to drive productivity and competitiveness in the economy.

    Ezekwesili said she would drive the prosperity of the country through investment in human capital, if elected.

    She decried the precarious security situation in the country, saying creative solutions were needed to address the problem.

    The ACPN candidate said she would deploy the right cutting -edge technology and invest massively in security institutions to address the problem, if elected.

    Read Also: Exam malpractices: FG charges Adeleke, four others

    She said critical areas like education, health and environment would receive the desired attention, to improve livelihoods and life expectancy.

    Ezekwesili said the idea of restructuring was being variously defined by politicians to suit their agenda and gain cheap popularity.

    The candidate said the only form of restructuring that she would pursue, if elected, was one that would guarantee prosperity,equality, opportunities and other things expected of a working nation.

    She said her quest for presidency was gaining momentum by the day with many people volunteering support, and expressed the optimism that she would win.