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Tag: Odigie Oyegun

  • PDP faults Odigie-Oyegun on alleged missing N33tn under Jonathan

    PDP faults Odigie-Oyegun on alleged missing N33tn under Jonathan

    The leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has faulted claims by the national chairman of the All Progressives  Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, that N33 trillion oil revenue was squandered under the Goodluck Jonathan’s administration.

    The party said the allegation has again portrayed the ruling APC as being dangerously obsessed with the frivolity of bamboozling Nigerians with high-sounding figures just for entertainment.

    A statement yesterday by PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, said such avoidable mischief, especially on issues bordering on the nation’s economy, has continued to hunt the nation’s image at a time of desperate need of investment from the international community.

    He said: “Since no sources were cited for this ‘important’ piece of information, we are left to guess that he may have been inspired by a recent claim by other opportunist individuals that over N30 trillion may have been lost within the period in question.

    “But should this or any other source that is yet to be verified by relevant authorities be relied upon as national information, especially as the purveyors of the half-truth always buckled when challenged for proof?”

    Adeyeye also ridiculed a recent claim by Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had recovered more than $2 trillion (about N600 trillion at current exchange rate) in 12 years.

    The PDP wondered why the APC administration was still seeking to borrow $3 billion to finance the 2016 Budget it had truly recovered $2 trillion Malami claimed was allegedly looted from the national treasury.

    It said: “The APC government has remained clueless and even confused as our economy plummeted to a level where the nation’s infrastructure has completely collapsed and Nigerians are no longer able to feed their children nor send them to school.

    “The reality of dwindling oil revenues and an economy forced into a recession by an inept administration is a challenge that requires sincerity, competence and a large dose of honesty to get us out of the woods; not the constant lies and deception that have unfortunately become the house-style in the 15-month old APC’s government.

    “We wish to therefore advise the APC Chairman, John Odigie-Oyegun, to concentrate in helping the President and his party with ideas and policies that will revamp our ailing economy, restore our dignity abroad rather than the usual tantrums just to castigate previous PDP’s administration with a view to scoring cheap political points.

    “Time for honeymoon is over. It’s now time to deliver on your campaign promises”.

  • Nigeria heading for greatness, says Odigie-Oyegun

    Nigeria heading for greatness, says Odigie-Oyegun

    National Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC) Chief John Odigie-Oyegun has said his dream for a great Nigera is being fulfilled, with the nation finally on its way to greatness.

    Odigie-Oyegun, in an interview to mark his 77th birthday, said with the turn of events today, he had no regret joining politics and striving to ensure the APC formed the national government.

    The former Edo State governor, who celebrated his 77th birthday last Friday, said his life had been that of service to the nation, adding that as long as he is alive, he will ensure Nigeria achieve greatness.

    He said: “I will do everything I can while the good Lord gives me health, gives me strength and gives me the possibilities to influence events. I will do everything in my power so that when my time comes, I would be on my dead bed with a smile on my face that yes, finally Nigeria is on the road to greatness.

    “I have that fulfilment today. I worked hard at every opportunity, I worked hard to ensure that this great coalition called the APC that removed an incumbent, destructive, unacceptable government came into being.

    “What that result did of course was that together with other imaginative and wonderful party leaders, today we are in government, today I have finally seen that yes, we are taking the turn, we are now on the road.

    “It is early days no doubt, but there is no question at all about the fact that we are now addressing these issues that held this nation down and so I consider myself fulfilled because we are now addressing them and we will get there. Nigeria would be great again”.

    Odigie-Oyegun said further that he has no regret going into politics, saying: “I have not had any regret actually. For me it has been an era of service to the nation and as I said, I think I only said that publicly once, the moment I embarked on politics and decided to be a full time politician and to seek elective office, my objective was clear.

    “I was growing up when we had these wonderful leaders like  Nnamdi Azikiwe, Ahmadu Bello, Obafemi Awolowo, Tafawa Belewa. I don’t think any of them have that fulfilment of knowing that yes all our labour had turn out right, because the country is headed in a right direction and it is headed for greatness, it is headed for its manifest destiny as the most greatest. The largest and most highly populated black nation on the face of the earth, things continued to degenerate”.

    When asked to reveal the secret of his sound health despite his age, Odigie-Oyegun said: “I don’t know if I am doing anything special except that I don’t do anything that would worry me or that would lead to threat, or that would make or cause enemies.

    “Whatever I do I think even the worse critic knows that I am doing it with honest intention and not deliberately to undermine or deliberately to harm, and things like that, except politically, I have no natural enemies. I live my life quietly, go about whatever I want to go, drive myself, of course with the Office of the National Chairman, security is forced on you, but outside that, I am just like any other Nigerian.”

  • Odigie-Oyegun congratulates Obaseki

    Odigie-Oyegun congratulates Obaseki

    The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, has congratulated Mr. Godwin Obaseki on his emergence as the APC flag bearer for the September 10, 2016 governorship election in Edo State.

    Odigie-Oyegun also congratulated the Katsina State Governor Aminu Bello Masari-led seven-member Election Committee for successfully conducting a transparent, free, fair and credible governorship primary in Edo State. He also thanked the Hon. Opeyemi Bamidele-led three-member Edo State governorship Election Appeal Committee for successfully carrying out its assignment and submitting a report.

    The APC National Chairman called on stakeholders to close ranks and support Obaseki during the elections.

    Odigie-Oyegun said: “As the Party prepares for the September 10, 2016 governorship election in Edo State, I call on all aspirants, party leaders, stakeholders and teeming members of our great Party to close ranks and unite as a strong political fighting force behind the candidature of Mr. Godwin Obaseki for a landslide victory at the forthcoming Edo State governorship election.

    “The request by the aspirants was that the Edo State APC governorship election primaries should be transparent, free, fair and credible. This, the Party achieved creditably during the primaries. Going forward, we should avoid triumphalist actions and avoid creating new stresses within the Party. We should all seek to reunify the Party to face the September 10, 2016 governorship election.”

     

  • Expect gains of Buhari’s trips in few months – Oyegun

    Expect gains of Buhari’s trips in few months – Oyegun

    The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie Oyegun, has assured Nigerians that the frequent foreign trips of President Muhammadu Buhari will begin to yield positive results within the next couple of months

    Oyegun, who spoke with journalists in Abuja on Friday, dismissed claims by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that the recent arrest of the former acting National Chairman of the party, Prince Uche Secondus, was aimed at gagging the opposition.

    He said those who helped themselves with public fund should be made to account for it irrespective of party affiliation.

    The APC chairman added that those criticizing the President’s frequent trips are not being fair to him, saying he remains the “best salesman” for the country in the international community.

    He said:”I don’t think anybody can give you a date. But let me assure you that it will be very very soon. I have no doubt at all. The President knows what our national issues are, he knows that a lot of it has international connotations. Some nations in the world are fighting to become the most highly industrialized. China wants cheap oil because it’s a manufacturing hub, India wants cheap oil and a lot of other countries want cheap oil which of course is contrary to our own interest.

    “We want good prices for oil so that we can carry on with our own national development plans. So that is only the tip of the iceberg of what Mr. President is doing, trying to talk to those who have an impact in rearranging the international economic realities to change some of the current dynamics making oil prices to collapse in such a precipitate manner.

    “I want to plead with the press. We cannot totally on our own solve our problems because the world is a global village. Everybody now knows that, everybody trumpets it and since we are in a bit of a bind now, thanks to forces that are not totally within our control. We must talk to others, who would have a role to play in helping you out of your present issues and problems.”

     

  • There’s sabotage in govt agencies, says Odigie-Oyegun

    There’s sabotage in govt agencies, says Odigie-Oyegun

    All Progressives Congress (APC) Chairman  John Odigie-Oyegun yesterday spoke of internal sabotage in the government agencies mainly filled by members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), whose Chief Executive Officers were sacked on Monday.

    He spoke with State House correspondents after leading the party leadership to meet President Muhammadu Buhari at the State House, Abuja.

    Reacting to the disengagement of 26 heads of government agencies, he said that APC was not desperate to take over the vacant positions created by the government’s action.

    He said: “APC members are not concerned about the positions; we are concerned about the internal sabotage that is going on in a lot of the PDP filled positions which are critical to our national growth and development. It is happening in INEC, it is happening in a lot of other institutions and that is what the concern of the party is, not necessarily taking over. We should take over and they should be people who believe in the change agenda, we have no apologies for that at all.”

    On how soon the replacements will be made, he said: “That is Mr. President’s discretion.”

    Odigie-Oyegun disagreed with the suggestion that there is confusion with the 2016 Budget.

    “There is absolutely no confusion. This is a serious issue. I want you to please understand the complications that come from adjusting a structure from over 40 ministries to just over 20 ministries and the necessary adjustments of figures and movements of institutions that that entails. It was very complicated, so it is natural that adjustments have to be made to the process and that is just is happening,” he said.

    On the purpose of his visit, he said: “We just came to pay our respect to our President, and praised him on things that are going on. We raised our concerns on one or two issues and altogether we had a very pleasant and rewarding meeting.

    Asked to speak on the issues, he said: “No, they were just internal party matters. I’m sure you are familiar with the political terrain and nothing different.”

  • Oyegun task Niger Delta minister on East West road

    Oyegun task Niger Delta minister on East West road

    The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun Tuesday challenged the ministry of Niger Delta to ensure the completion of the East West road saying the project has remain a major challenge to successive government in the country.

    Oyegun who spoke when he received the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Pastor Usani Uguru in his office ask the Minister to give priority to the completion of the road which cut across several states in the Niger Delta.

    He said despite huge funds sunk into the project by successive administrations since 2006, the 338km dual carriage road has remains uncompleted.

    He said: “You have one of the most challenging and strategic assignment as Minister of Niger Delta Affairs. The Niger Delta is an area that had been steeped in unrest. You must ensure that the unrest does not arise again.

    “You have the East-West Road which is a major challenge. It will be a significant achievement for this administration if the project is completed. The project will go a long way in assuring the region that this government is working in their interest.”

    The contract for the construction of the East-West Road was first awarded in 2006. The road was initially divided into four sections, but late 2014, a fifth section was added to it, covering Oron to Calabar in Cross River State.

    Oyegun however inform the Minister that the party was planning a three-day policy dialogue tentatively scheduled for March 2016 which will bring together party leaders, government and relevant stakeholders to exchange ideas and proffer solutions to guide the country out of the challenges facing the country, particular the economy.

    The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Pastor Usani Uguru said the ministry under his watch was poised to contribute to the achievement of the party’s Change Agenda for the country and also bringing sustainable development to the Niger Delta area.

    He promised to give priority to the completion of the East-West road.

  • Oil cartel blackmailing Buhari’s government – Oyegun

    Oil cartel blackmailing Buhari’s government – Oyegun

    The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, has said that oil cartel and their cronies who are resistant to change are out to blackmail and sabotage government efforts at addressing the perennial fuel scarcity.

    In his New Year message to Nigerians, Oyegun said it was heartwarming that the government is winning the war on insurgency and corruption, assuring Nigerians that the party will fulfill its pre-election promises.

    He said the present administration inherited a corruption-tainted subsidy regime run by corrupt cartel and their cronies who are resisting change and have decided to continue with the blackmail and sabotage of government’s effort on of subsidy and availability of petroleum products.

    Oyegun said: “I want to, on behalf of our great party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), wish everyone a happy and healthy New Year. While 2015 was difficult for many Nigerians, we must also look back, with relief and a collective sense of jubilation, to the momentous opportunity it offered to the electorate to make the long-desired change of political leadership at the federal level and in many states.

    “And we must sustain the hope that brighter days are ahead of us. Although our challenges are legion, we have the courage and determination to rise up and meet them.

    “I want to give a firm assurance that all the promises made by the party in respect of the 2015 election to Nigerians will be kept. The New Year holds great dividends for Nigerians when the policies of the President Muhhamadu Buhari-led administration are enforced full blast in the 2016 financial year.

    “The unprecedented N6.08 trillion ‘Budget of Change’ presented by the President to a joint session of the 8th National Assembly on December 22, 2015 provides ample framework to deliver on these promises.”

     

  • Kogi: Why we chose Bello – Oyegun

    Kogi: Why we chose Bello – Oyegun

    The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, said on Thursday the party is still making moves to reconcile those aggrieved with the choice of Alhaji Yahaya Bello as the party governorship candidate in Kogi State.

    The party picked Bello  to replace its governorship candidate in Kogi, Abubakar Audu, who died last month.

    Oyegun, who spoke at a meeting with leaders of the APC from Kogi East Senatorial District, said the party settled for Bello with the PDP in mind, adding that the APC was aware that whatever decision it came up, somebody will be offended.

    He said, “INEC asked us to replace the late Prince Abubakar Audu, The party opted for something can we defend better if they go to court. That was the basis of our decision. But of course it created understandable anguish.

    “We took the decision knowing fully well that someone was bound to get offended. And we were very conscious of the very peculiar circumstance of a group that was on the doorstep of victory. So in the circumstance, we did what we interpreted legally as the best way out of the logjam we were in, always having our eyes on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and what they may likely bring up in court.

    “So what we are trying to do is to say we know you are badly bruised, we hope tempers are cooling down. We hope we can now talk about the next steps that will restore some semblance of normalcy all over Kogi State.

    “In politics, everybody works for his own inheritance. It is not passed on from father to child. Of course the father can help the child and no question about that. The child can benefit from the father’s influence, personality and the rest. But he has to earn it. Politics is not an inheritance.”

  • Liberate yourselves from poverty, APC tells Kogi electorate

    Liberate yourselves from poverty, APC tells Kogi electorate

    The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) , Chief John Oyegun, on Saturday urged the people of Kogi to vote out Gov, Idris Wada, in order to liberate themselves from poverty and underdevelopment.

    Oyegun, who addressed a rally in Lokoja to drum support for the APC governorship candidate, Abubakar Audu, said the election was an opportunity for the people to end years of bad governance in the state.

    The APC national chairman, who was accompanied to the rally by national officers of the party, three governors and two deputy governors, called on the people to embrace change and “dump the bad past.”

    “The state is still stuck in the failed promises of transformation ,” Oyegun said and stressed that it was time for Kogi people to vote wisely in order to protect the future of their children.

    Oyegun said the APC is targeting 80 per cent of the votes during the governorship election, pledging that it would bring about total change in the lives of the people.

    In his remarks, Audu promised to work for the progress and development of the state , saying that he was on a rescue mission to save the state from total collapse.

    The governorship candidate promised to adhere to the principle of rotation by being the first governor to give effect to the arrangement.

    Audu, who was flanked by his deputy, Mr James Faleke promised to settle all outstanding workers salaries and allowances, and ensure justice and equity in the distribution of projects.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Governors Rochas Okorocha, Tanko Al- Makura, Samuel Ortom and Sen. Rabiu Kwankwaso also addressed the rally.

  • Bayelsa: APC holds fresh primary Tuesday

    Bayelsa: APC holds fresh primary Tuesday

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) said on Monday that last week’s governorship primary in Bayelsa State failed to meet its acceptable standard of free and fair election and therefore will not stand.

    The APC National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, however refused to speak on the contribution of the party to the list of ministers, assuring Nigerians that President Muhammadu Buhari will do what he needs to do “at the right time.”

    Addressing journalists at the end of its National Working Committee meeting in Abuja, Odigie -Oyegun said the party has decided to fix fresh primary for Tuesday in Yenagoa, the state capital.

    Oyegun was accompanied to the briefing by the Deputy Chairman, North and South, Senator Lawal Shuaibu, Engr. Segun Oni, National Vice Chairman, South -South, Prince Hillaard Etta, the National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed and National Women Leader, Hajia Ramatu Tijanni Ali

    The APC chairman said: “The main issue that occupied us today at the NWC meeting has to do with the Bayelsa governorship primary. We want to make it very clear that as a party, the APC guides very jealously its record of free and fair primary.

    “The NWC sees it as a duty to provide a level playing ground for all those who aspire to offices in this party. Unfortunately, in Bayelsa State, we had serious security challenges and so, the process could not meet the standard which this party has set for itself.

    “So, we have no alternative than to stop the process by ensuring that the chairman of the panel was effectively moved out of the venue with the help of security agencies. We decided thereafter that there should be a proper fresh primary.

    “So today, the party decided and we have written to INEC appropriately that the party has decided to conduct fresh primary for the Bayelsa governorship election beginning on Tuesday. So, the process for fresh primary will begin on Tuesday.

    “We are getting in touch with the Inspector General of Police and other security agencies to please assist us by ensuring effective security.”