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Tag: Ogun APC

  • Don’t vote against Amosun, Osoba begs

    Former Ogun State Governor Olusegun Osoba has asked members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to put behind attacks on the party’s campaign rally in the state and ensure victory for all candidates of the party, including Governor Ibikunle Amosun.

    Suspected political thugs believed to have been hired by a party attacked the APC campaign rally in Abeokuta, pelting some dignitaries including President Muhammadu Buhari with stones.

    Amosun, who is APC candidate for Ogun Central, backs the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) governorship candidate, Adekunle Akinlade to succeed him against APC’s Dapo Abiodun.

    Osoba, who lamented no arrest has been made over the incident till date, said he has told supporters in the state to leave vengeance to God and vote for all APC candidates.

    He said: “Yesterday, I told stakeholders in Ogun state that on no account should anybody vote against Amosun as a person.

    Read Also: Osoba lashes out at TraderMoni critics

    “A governor is a governor and he will be in office till May 29. So, why are we worrying ourselves?

    ‘Amosun is just an individual. I still respect him as my governor up to May 29 this year and will not do anything to undermine him as governor.

    “I was governor twice. I told our people that vengeance is not ours and that nobody should go for vengeance.

    “Amosun is just a person but the office of the governor deserves respect and I give respect to that office.”

    He added: “Ogun state is first in several areas. The leaders of the progressives in this country are from that state and it is the home state of the Vice President.

    “I told the President that I apologised to him and that uptill today, nobody has been arrested. I see that as a failure on the part of some elements of the security agencies.

    “Actually, the bulk of APC in Ogun state, we are one family and instruction has gone out that despite what has happened, we should vote for APC candidates at all levels and when the result is out, it should reflect that.

    “At least we should respect the Vice President, who is busy preaching welfarism for the downtrodden and I am sure that appropriate action will be taken on that issue later.

  • Tinubu: I’m not leaving APC

    National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has said he has no plans to leave the party for any other.

    He said he would remain solidly behind the APC contrary to insinuations by some that he was leaving the party.

    A video where Tinubu, at the APC Presidential Campaign rally in Abeokuta, Ogun State, was seen throwing the party’s flag to National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, to give to the party’s governorship candidate in the state, Prince Dapo Abiodun, had been framed by opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)to mean he was throwing away the party’s flag.

    But in a statement on Tuesday by his Special Adviser, Media, Tunde Rahman, the APC leader denied throwing away the party’s flag as being insinuated by PDP.

    “If you want to fault Asiwaju for anything in this matter, your critique can only be limited to the accuracy of his toss. Any attempt to enlarge the episode beyond this is fiction and mischief writ large,” he clarified in the statement.

    Agreeing that an incident did occur at the Ogun State APC rally, he said it was not the one PDP concocted.

    “The true incident that should be reported and condemned is that people who furtively oppose the party and the president, tried to infiltrate and disrupt this rally.

    “The attack by these operatives was disrespectful of the office of the President and could have potentially harmed the person of the President.

    “With but a few precious days until the election and with its chance of victory running out even faster than the time, the PDP now grasps at the most nonsensical and desperate tactics to salvage its falling enterprise.

    “However, a drowning man cannot toss himself a lifeline. Nor can the PDP succeed in turning the innocuous attempted exchange of a flag between the National Leader and National Chairman into a rift in the APC’s successful campaign.

    “Such antics have no place in our political discourse. The author of these misdeeds should desist before real harm is done.”

    The statement added: “Now to the crux of the opposition’s latest antics. If the issue of the flag has become the hotspot of the PDP campaign, then they are in serious trouble.

    “During that portion of the Ogun rally, the National Chairman and others were looking for a party flag. Asiwaju Tinubu spotted one within his reach.

    “He picked it up and attempted to toss it to chairman Oshiomhole so that the chairman could present it to the party’s gubernatorial candidate Prince Dapo Abiodun.

    “If you want to fault Asiwaju for anything in this matter, your critique can only be limited to the accuracy of his toss. Any attempt to enlarge the episode beyond this is fiction and mischief writ large.

    “As the National Leader, Asiwaju Tinubu is thoroughly faithful and committed to the APC. It is unthinkable that he would leave the party.

    Read Also: Why Lagosians should not vote for Atiku, by Tinubu

    “Moreover, there is no reason for him to do so. He has been hard at work for the victory of the APC and all of its candidates in the upcoming election.

    “Asiwaju understands the bigger picture. He knows what is at stake in this election. Either the nation moves forward along the progressive path of the APC or it will be forced to retreat into the ills of the past created by the PDP.

    “With the nation’s future hanging in the balance, Asiwaju will not allow himself to be deterred by petty mischief”.

    The statement advised those spinning the matter to make better use of their imaginations.

    It emphasised: “Asiwaju is not going anywhere. He remains gidigba (solid) in APC.

    “And after the election, he will be there celebrating the APC’s and this nation’s victory over those who would prevent us our rightful future”.

  • Ogun: Abiodun is next governor – Osinbajo

    Vice – President Yemi Osinbajo on Tuesday expressed confidence that with God and support of the good people of Ogun State, Prince Adedapo Abiodun, would emerge the next governor of the state.

    Osinbajo advised the electorate to cast their votes for the All Progressives Congress(APC) candidates for the Presidential and National Assembly elections scheduled for next Saturday, February 16 as well as the March 2 governorship and state House of Assembly polls in the state.

    The Vice – President who expressed optimism about Abiodun’s victory at the Palace of the Ebumawe of Ago Iwoye, Oba AbdulRasaq Adenugba, in company of the APC governorship candidate, called on party members and supporters to be wary of those promoting division and candidates other than APC candidates.

    Osinbajo was in the Palace to seek the support of the monarch and chiefs in Ago – Iwoye ahead of the general elections.

    Read Also: Buhari endorses Abiodun as APC candidate

    He reiterated that APC controlled government in the state with Abiodun in the saddle, and reelected President Muhammadu at the centre, the Gateway state would be better for it.

    Responding, Ebumawe said Osinbajo and Abiodun are their true sons and urged his people to support and pray for their success.

    Earlier, the Vice – President also visited the traditional ruler of Idowa – Ijebu, Oba Yinusa Adekoya and his chiefs where he had private meeting with them.

  • APC accuses Amosun of sponsoring attack against Buhari, party leaders

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has accused Ogun state governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun of sponsoring political thugs to cause violence and embarrass President Muhammadu Buhari and other party leaders during the party’s Presidential campaign rally in Ogun state on Monday.

    Political thugs disrupted the campaign rally at the MKO Abiola Stadium in Abeokuta, throwing stones and sachet water at the National Chairman of the party, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole and other party leaders for refusing to bow to the dictate of the governor and have his preferred candidate fly the party flag as governorship candidate.

    The APC governorship candidate in the state, Dapo Abiodun has also been attacked by the same political thugs on two previous occasions while on campaign in the state.

    National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Lanre Issa Onilu said in a statement that the party will not condone such act of indiscipline and will take appropriate disciplinary measure against the sponsors of the attack after the elections.

    The statement reads: “The All Progressives Congress (APC) regrets Monday’s premeditated attacks sponsored by Governor Ibikunle Amosun on President Muhammadu Buhari and other senior party leaders at the venue of the presidential campaign rally in Ogun State.

    Read Also: Amosun gloats over Ogun APC rally

    “This is one act of indiscipline too many. The APC will not condone acts of indiscipline, indiscretion and anti-party activities from any party member no matter how highly placed.

    “The party will review this gross misconduct of deliberately positioning thugs to attack and embarrass the President and the party’s leadership. The party will take a decision on this matter immediately after the elections. It must be stated that party supremacy and discipline according to our constitution are not matters of choice but binding principles which must be adhered to by all party members.

    “The APC is a party known for discipline, justice, fairness and equality; hence any plan to destroy what this party stands for would be rejected. No single person will be allowed to put his personal and selfish interests ahead of the wishes of the people of Ogun state and elsewhere.

    “Post primaries, the decision of the National Working Committee to uphold the wishes of party members is unbendable. Therefore, whatever means being presently deployed by persons intending to undermine the wishes of the people for personal gains will not be tolerated.

    “We urge our teeming party supporters and members not to be disturbed by Monday’s condemnable incident. We urge all to continue trooping out enmasse for our remaining campaigns and vote massively for ALL and ONLY APC candidates in the forthcoming general elections.“

  • Buhari, Osinbajo, others smuggled out as hoodlums attack APC rally

    The Presidential rally of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the Moshood Abiola Stadium, Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, ended abruptly as scores of hoodlums chanting the slogan of a rival political party and its governorship candidate, who had seized the main bowl of the stadium, pelted dignitaries, including President Muhammadu Buhari, with stones but the President’s security aides shielded him from being hurt.

    President who arrived the stadium around 3 pm in company of the Vice – President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, APC National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, the National leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Chief Bisi Akande, Governor Abiola Ajimobi, former Governor Rauf Aregbesola, Chief Segun Osoba, the party’s gubernatorial candidate, Prince Dapo Abiodun, hurriedly raised the hand of Abiodun shortly after he had addressed the rally briefly and was whisked out of the stadium immediately.

    Trouble began when Oshiomhole took the micro phone and announced that they were in the state for the presidential campaign and to also give Dapo Abiodun the emblem of the party as the governorship candidate, a pronouncement which the assembled hoodlums were waiting to commence another round of hurl stones and other objects at the APC leaders and dignitaries.

    There was chaos and apprehension everywhere as people scampered for safety while the daring hoodlums held people in terror, and refused to be calmed when Governor Ibikunle Amosun, pleaded with them not to “disgrace” him.

    Earlier before the arrival of Buhari and others scores of the hoodlums who had continued sing the slogan of a rival opposition governorship candidate and his party sacked supporters of the Prince Dapo Abiodun, the governorship candidate of APC, from the stadium.

    Other APC members and supporters seated and awaiting the arrival of President Muhammadu Buhari were also chased away as the thugs’ hurled stones, shoes and other dangerous weapons at them.

    Many were injured in the sustained attacks, forcing thousands of people to leave the stadium while the President was yet to arrive.

    The attacks began few minutes to 1:0’clock and peaked about an 45 minutes later and within 10 minutes, all the seats and positions occupied by Dapo Abiodun supporters and others APC members were deserted as stones and objects hurled by the hoodlums, fell on them in torrents.

    Some of the hoodlums were overheard brazenly boasting; ”this is Ogun and nobody can intimidate us” even as they kept throwing stones at the fleeing APC members and supporters of Abiodun.

    It was a pathetic sight watching elderly men and women supporters labouring to scale the stadium fence in desperate bids to escape the multi – pronged attacks, many alleged was sponsored by Governor Ibikunle Amosun.

    Outside the stadium gunshots rang out repeatedly, as dozens of armed soldiers and other security agencies battled to prevent the entry of another batch of hoodlums, who were allegedly hurried to the venue to reinforce their colleagues who had seized the main bowl of the main stadium.

    Many were appalled that the Fuji musician called to entertain at the occasion, prodded the hoodlums on with inciting lyrics while security agents within the stadium and who ought to ensure orderliness at the venue, acted as though they were on holiday.

    There was palpable concern over the safety of the APC chieftains such as Senator Gbenga Kaka, Abiodun’s running mate, Noimot Oyedele – Salako, Chief Tolu Odebiyi and others, with many wondering if they were able to leave the stadium unscathed.

    Senator Gbenga Kaka accused the security agencies of not being professional in the discharge of their duties, saying they looked the other way while their people were under heavy attack by political thugs.

  • Violence mars Ogun APC rally

    Political thugs on Monday disrupted the Ogun State All Progressives Congress (APC) rally at the MKO Abiola International Stadium, Abeokuta.

    The thugs believed to have sympathies for a party went around the stadium chasing away supporters of the APC governorship candidate in the state, Dapo Abiodun.

    Many of them were injured in the process with those adorning the yellow attire of Abiodun specifically targeted.

    The thugs were armed with dangerous weapons, forcing Abiodun’s supporters to run for safety.

    Many of them removed materials bearing the name of Abiodun to avoid further attacks.

    Read Also: Tension in Ogun as thugs disrupt Presidential rally

    When the campaign finally started with President Muhammadu Buhari on seat, the thugs prevented National Chairman of the Comrade Adam Oshiomhole from addressing the crowd.

    Oshiomhole had hardly spoken for a minute before they started throwing stones at the stage, forcing officials to appeal to him to stop.

    Governor Ibikunle Amosun took the microphone appealing to the violent supporters to calm down before Vice President Yemi Osinbajo took over.

    Osinbajo, an indigene of the state, appealed for support, promising the Buhari-led administration will uplift the people.

  • Heavy security after assassination attempt on Abiodun, running mate

    A detachment of armed policemen and Special Anti – robbery Squad (F -SARS) took over Abeokuta and its environs on Thursday following alleged botched attempt on the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prince Dapo Abiodun and his running mate, Engr. Noimot Oyedele – Salako in Mokola – Elega area of the state capital by suspected political thugs.

    The armed policemen and SARS were deployed by the Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Iliyasu, to the seedy Elega area and other flashpoints to restore normalcy and forestall further outbreak of violence, the Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Oyeyemi, told The Nation.

    Abiodun and his running mate were attacked by thugs wielding guns, cutlasses and cudgels after blocking their access way with cars on approaching the Mokola junction near Akomoje in Abeokuta North Local during campaign tour of the area.

    They later opened fire on his campaign train and smashed things on sight.

    There was chaos, tension and pandemonium at the rustic neighbourhood as security Operatives in the convoy of the APC governorship candidate fired repeatedly into the air to scare the attackers away.

    They also cleared the obstructions for quick and safe evacuation of Abiodun and the running mate from spot, but the attackers, it was learnt, audaciously held on to the reign of terror momentarily before they beat a retreat.

    In the pandemonium and ensuing stampede, some of the fear-stricken party members, supporters and innocent passers-by fell on one another as they scampered to safety when gunshots rang out repeatedly.

    It was learnt the assault was allegedly sponsored by a federal lawmaker from Ogun Central, who is a candidate of the Allied People’s Movement (APM), who was allegedly sighted fleeing the scene when the situation took a worrisome dimension.

    It was further gathered the attackers having been dislodged at the Mokola – Elega area later regrouped by noon and stormed the junction of Ori – Omi Sokori area.

    They threatened Abiodun to emerge from a stakeholders’ meeting at Akin Olugbade Social Centre, Abeokuta but his supporters resisted them.

    The prompt intervention of more detachment of armed Policemen hurried to the scene, saved the day as the suspected thugs were chased away.

    Reacting to the latest attack on him, Abiodun said: “When we were approaching Mokola Junction in Abeokuta North Local government, we saw some group of people approaching us, we realised that they were fully armed.

    “Suddenly they started shooting. Thank God for the gallant policemen who were on ground and rose up to the occasion and chased them away.

    “If not for them, only God knows what would have happened today. It is unfortunate that our politics has gotten to this level where it has become do- or- die affair.

    “We should rather canvass for votes and endear ourselves to the people. That is the only way that we would have peaceful election.

    Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Oyeyemi, when contacted said policemen, including area Commanders, have been deployed to the affected areas to restore normalcy.

  • Amosun deserves our sympathy, says Ogun APC

    The Ogun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has said Governor Ibikunle Amosun deserves its pity and prayer for his alleged comment against its governorship candidate, Prince Dapo Abiodun.

    The party said this portrayed the governor as someone suffering from exit fear.

    Amosun had reportedly claimed that the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) governorship candidate, Abdulkabir Akinlade, would defeat Dapo Abiodun in the March poll.

    In a statement by the Publicity Secretary to the APC State Executive Caretaker Committee, Tunde Oladunjoye, the party said the governor deserved sympathy and not condemnation.

    It added that he had lost touch with political reality in the Gateway State.

    The statement reads: “But for the fact that the reported outbursts of the governor was reported by a credible online medium, we would not have taken him serious, and for the fact that friends in the media have been asking for response, we would not have reacted.

    “However, rather than exchange words with the governor, we would call on the public to sympathise with him and pray for him, as he is obviously manifesting outgoing syndrome resulting from political amnesia, loss of touch with reality and fear of life after office.

    “For an individual to attempt to play God, and assault the collective intelligence of the well informed people of Ogun State by telling them who the next governor of Ogun State will be, as if he has already written the results, shows that such a person deserves our pity. We don’t need to exchange words with him, but to actually sympathise with him on his present state of paranoia on Prince Dapo Abiodun.

    “The constant, unceasing and monotonous attacks on Dapo Abiodun by the governor and his minions show that our candidate is the leading contestant and his imminent victory is only a matter of weeks.

    “We challenge the governor to publish the recent survey he commissioned and which he read to some leaders in his house last week, wherein it was revealed that his preferred governorship candidate will not only lose the election but also lose in the governor’s hitherto strongholds of Ifo, Ewekoro and Ado-Odo/Ota local government areas.

    “Our party and its candidate will remain focused, maintain decorum and continue to sell our policies and programmes to the good and discerning people of Ogun State, even as we are sure of victory.”

     

  •  Abiodun is ‘Buhari’s Ogun gov candidate’, says Osoba

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday received the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun.

    Abiodun was formally presented to the President by a former Governor of the State, Olusegun Osoba at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    Osoba told State House Correspondents at the end of the meeting the president “has raised his (Abiodun’s) hand and told the world that his candidate in Ogun state is Prince Dapo Abiodun and that he has no other candidate; his party in Ogun state is APC, he has no other party in Nigeria other than APC.”

    Buhari, he added, “has assured us that he will personally come to Ogun state to formally present Prince Dapo Abiodun as his candidate and he assured us that he is clearing the air of any ambiguity whatsoever of any name dropping, any blackmail, any misinformation that anybody may be peddling, that all elections throughout Nigeria, not just in Ogun state people must vote for APC and no other party.

    “That is the message that the president gave to us this morning.”

    Osoba said he also presented a copy of his memoirs to Buhari .

    He said: “I reminded him of the letter he wrote to me on June 12, 1984 when he appointed me as the Managing Director of the Daily Times. He laughed and he was happy to see the memoirs.

    “So I presented the book to him and in the book I showed the judgment in 2003 when he won the election in Ogun state even when he was not the president.

    “We assured him that if he could defeat an incumbent president in 2003 in Ogun state, a judgment was given where they said the election in Ogun state was fraudulent and was nullified by the tribunal.

    “So I said if he could win in 2003 and defeat an incumbent president, he will win in 2019 by the grace of God.”

    Abiodun thanked President Buhari for clearing the air and re-affirming that he is the APC candidate for Ogun State.

    He said: “Naturally, APC is his party and there is no any other candidate in Ogun state except me.

    “I think that affirmation could not have come at a better time when there is a lot of ambiguity, when people have attempted falsehood and other kinds of misinformation.

     

    “So I am very elated, very reassured that the president has stood by the party and stood by me and I believe that this matter will finally be put to rest and all those that are trying to gain by using the president’s picture on their posters, on their vehicles,will finally begin to remove it because it is actually illegal for you to be putting the presidential candidate of another party on the face of the poster of another party.

    “It is an attempt to confuse and misinform the public. I believe that after today, that will be put to rest and everybody will know that in Ogun state, the only party to vote for is APC from the presidential election to gubernatorial, to senatorial ,to House of Reps and the House of Assembly.”

     

     

     

     

  • ‘Resign your appointments now’

    A youth group in the Ogun State All Progressives Congress (APC), APC Progressives Youth, has called on commissioners and other appointees serving in the APC administration but whose names appeared as officers of the Akinlade Governorship Campaign Organisation of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), and contestants in APM to resign their appointments.

    Read also: Amosun: I’ll give my all to make Akinlade win in Ogun

    A statement in Abeokuta yesterday by its Chairman, Comrade Damilare Fagbohun, said it was “disgustingly treacherous, fraudulent and horrendous for people appointed into privileged positions on the basis of being members of the APC, to cross to another party and still hope to retain their positions in the APC administration.”

    The statement reads: “It has become pertinent to call on commissioners, Special Advisers, Chairmen of Statutory Commissions and other state government appointees, whose names have appeared either as members of the governorship campaign of the APM, its officers or candidates to resign forthwith.

    “Though we know that these appointees were coerced by the governor in his desperation to achieve his bid to force a successor on the people, we urge the appointees to save whatever is left of their honour and family names by resigning their current appointments which they got on the platter of being APC members and as beneficiaries of APC electoral victory of 2015.”