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Tag: Oshiomhole

  • No cause for alarm, says Oshiomhole 

    …Says 90% APC members happy

     

    The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole, on Monday said that there was no cause for alarm on the speculated moves to remove him from office.

    He was reacting to reports in the social media of plans by some APC governors to storm Abuja towards gathering signatures to remove him from office.

    Read Also:Vote of no confidence claim: Oshiomhole denies aide’s statement

    Speaking with State House correspondents after a delegation of APC politicians from Kwara State met President Muhammadu Buhari, Oshiomhole said that only one or two out of the 23 APC state governors are not happy with him.

    The former Edo State Governor, who said that he is presently having his finest moment, said that nothing less than 90 percent of all APC members are happy with him at the helm of affairs.

    He said that those not happy with him in the party were aggrieved because he insisted on following due process.

    Also speaking, the Kwara State APC Governorship candidate, Abdulrahman Abdulrasaq, said that the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, and his camp are no threat to his ambition in 2019.

    According to him, Saraki is history in Kwara politics.

    Details Later…

  • Vote of no confidence claim: Oshiomhole denies aide’s statement

    The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Comrade Adams Oshiomhole has said he did not approve  the statement issued on his behalf by his media aide on Sunday accusing some unnamed stakeholders of plotting a vote of no confidence on him.

    In a statement signed by the same media aide, Simon Egbebulem, the APC chairman said he enjoys a cordial relationship with all stakeholders of the party and will speak on the state of the party when there is the need to do so.

    Egbebulem had issued a press statement on Sunday stating that some of those not happy with the reforms being carried out within the party by members of the current National Working Committee were plotting Oshiomhole’s removal as Chairman.

    However in another statement in the early hours of Monday, Egbebulem who is Oshiomhole’s Chief Press Secretary apologies for issuing the statement without  the permission of his principal.

    The statement reads: “On Sunday, October 21, 2018, I issued a statement on alleged  plans by some stakeholders to move against the leadership of the Comrade Adams Oshiomhole led All Progressives Congress (APC).

    “I want to state categorically that the statement was not authorised  by my principal, Comrade Oshiomhole,  and I hereby withdraw the statement. And I deeply regret the error.

    “As APC Chairman, Comrade Oshiomhole is enjoying the maximum support of stakeholders of the great party as shown by the reality on the ground.

    Comrade Oshiomhole will  speak on the issues affecting the party when there is the need to do so.
    Meanwhile, he is busy giving leadership as the party girds its loins for the 2019 elections.”

  • Why they want me out, by Oshiomhole

    All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman Adams  Oshiomhole spoke yesterday on how some powerful stakeholders who are against his returning the party to the people were mobilising to pass a vote of no confidence on his leadership. He did not name such stakeholders.

    Oshiomhole said his sin was his refusal to allow impunity and circumvention of due process in some states, pointing out that from the outset, he never had the illusion that reforming the party would be easy.

    In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Simon Ebegbulem, the former Edo State governor said before offering himself for the position, he was aware that while the progressives embraced change, the conservatives would always find it difficult to accept it. “That is the current reality in the deliberate effort to rebrand the APC,” he said.

    In his view, many of those who lost out in the recent primaries have formed the opinion that he is the party’s main problem.

    The former Labour Leader said all the party’s decisions since his assumption of office had been subjected to rigorous debate by members of the National Working Committee before a position is taken, stressing that the records are there for anyone to see.

    He said it was unfortunate that while he was working round the clock to ensure that party supremacy and discipline become the fundamental ideals on which the party is built, some stakeholders have thrown selfish political agenda into the mix to threaten the building of institutional capacity for the APC.

    The statement reads: “The All Progressives Congress (APC), under the national chairmanship of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, is in safe hands as the party marches, sure-footedly, to victory in the 2019 general election. This is the overarching mission of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party under his leadership.

    “To be clear, Comrade Oshiomhole did not become national chairman of the governing party to bring it down a notch from the pedestal of its 2015 electoral victory, let alone to preside over its liquidation.

    “Rather, his single-minded goal, from the outset of his declaration of interest in the position, was to deploy his capacity in helping to strengthen and reposition the party as a truly supreme and disciplined political entity.

    “Although it might appear fortuitous to some persons that he became national chairman at the threshold of the 2019 general election; the truth is that there is no accident in predestination. We must appreciate the fact that it has pleased the Almighty God to place him in the saddle of APC leadership at this time for a purpose.

    “The purpose has begun to manifest in its vast flourish and ramifications: instilling discipline, ensuring party supremacy, promoting due process, dealing with impunity and executive arrogance wherever they manifest to undermine intra-party electoral processes in the states.

    “From the outset, we never expected that those who cherished and supported the status quo, which Comrade Oshiomhole supplanted, would cave in easily under the magnitude of the current political revival that he spearheads. Indeed, while the progressives are enamored of change, the conservatives find it difficult to embrace it. That is the current reality in the deliberate effort to rebrand the APC.

    “Again, we were not, in the least, deluded that the process of rebranding or rewriting the narrative of the four-year old party would be easy. What we are witnessing in the APC today is Comrade Oshiomhole’s adroit management of the strains and pains that accompany the birth of a resuscitated governing party.

    “The leadership provided in the recently-held primary elections and the large-scale integrity of the processes are developments that should hence serve as exemplars in the administration of governing parties.

    “Indeed, the message therein is very clear that the party, and not pseudo political empires in the states, has the power to superintend the primary elections for the nomination of the party’s candidates in the general election.

    While the party will not surrender its functions, which are constitutionally circumscribed, to any other entities, it will always be ready to moderate the divergent tendencies and mediate the disparate political camps in the interest of party cohesion.

    “This is one of the hardnosed truths that the Comrade Oshiomhole-led NWC preaches and practises with an apostolic zeal to the chagrin of some influential stakeholders in the states.

    “Comrade Oshiomhole envisions an APC that is capacitated to pragmatically build a corpus of leadership and membership that do not only submit to the high ideal of party supremacy, but also the credo of party discipline.

    “These-party supremacy and discipline- are two fundamentals that had been eroded even before the emergence of the Oshiomhole leadership. It is sad that while the national chairman is working round the clock, some stakeholders have thrown selfish political agendas into the mix to threaten the building of institutional capacity for the APC.”

    He went on: “The suggestion in some quarters, especially by one of the presidential aspirants on the platform of the party, Alhaji Mumakai Unagha, that the APC cannot win with Oshiomhole is therefore unfair, denigrating and baleful of Comrade Oshiomhole’s personal commitment to a rejuvenated winning machine that the APC typifies.

    “The totality of Unagha’s claims, without necessarily addressing them one after the other, tallies with cooked-up narratives being sponsored by some influential stakeholders in their respective states that Comrade Oshiomhole is responsible for all the problems in the APC at the moment.

    “These influential stakeholders, according to grapevine, have begun to mobilise to pass a no-confidence vote in the leadership of Oshiomhole, having failed to impose their preferred candidates on the party in the nomination process.”

  • Opponents of reforms in APC ganging up against me, says Oshiomhole

    The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole on Sunday alleged that some powerful stakeholders within the party, who are opposed to his efforts at reforming and returning the party to the people were frustrating his efforts.

     

    Oshiomhole said those allegedly opposed to him have begun to mobilize to pass a vote of no confidence on his leadership.

     

    He said his sin was refusal to allow continued impunity and circumvention of due process being perpetuated in some states, pointing out that from the onset, he was never of the illusion that the process of reforming the party was going to be an easy on one.

     

    In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Simon Ebegbulem, the former Edo State Governor said that before offering himself for the position, he was aware that while the progressives are enamored of change, the conservatives will always find it difficult to embrace it.

     

    While saying that many of those who lost out in the recent primaries of the party have formed the opinion that he was the main problem currently facing the party, Comrade Oshiomhole said all decisions of the party since his assumption of office have often been subject to rigorous debate by members of the National Working Committee before a position is taken.

     

    He said it was unfortunate that while he was working round the clock to ensure that party supremacy and discipline becomes the fundamental ideals on which the party is built, some stakeholders have thrown selfish political agendas into the mix to threaten the building of institutional capacity for the APC.

     

    The statement reads: “The All Progressives Congress, APC, under the national chairmanship of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, is in safe hands as the party marches, sure-footedly, to victory in the 2019 general election. This is the overarching mission of the national working committee, NWC, of the party under his leadership.

    “To be clear, Comrade Oshiomhole did not become national chairman of the governing party to bring it down a notch from the pedestal of its 2015 electoral victory let alone to preside over its liquidation.

    “Rather, his single-minded goal, from the outset of his declaration of interest in the position, was to deploy his capacity in helping to strengthen and reposition the party as a truly supreme and disciplined political entity.

    “Although, it might appear fortuitous to some persons that he became national chairman at the threshold of the 2019 general election; the truth is that there is no accident in predestination. We must appreciate the fact that it has pleased the Almighty God to place him in the saddle of APC leadership at this time for a purpose.

    “The purpose has begun to manifest in its vast flourish and ramifications: instilling discipline, ensuring party supremacy, promoting due process, dealing with impunity and executive arrogance wherever they manifest to undermine intra-party electoral processes in the states.

    “From the outset, we never expected that those who cherished and supported the status quo, which Comrade Oshiomhole supplanted, would cave in easily under the magnitude of the current political revival that he spearheads. Indeed, while the progressives are enamored of change, the conservatives find it difficult to embrace it. That is the current reality in the deliberate effort to rebrand the APC.

    “Again, we were not, in the least, deluded that the process of rebranding or rewriting the narrative of the four-year old party would be easy. What we are witnessing in the APC today is Comrade Oshiomhole’s adroit management of the strains and pains that accompany the birth of a resuscitated governing party.

    “The leadership provided in the recently-held primary elections and the large-scale integrity of the processes are developments that should hence serve as exemplars in the administration of governing parties.

    “Indeed, the message therein is very clear that the party, and not pseudo political empires in the states, has the power to superintend the primary elections for the nomination of the party’s candidates in the general election.

    While the party will not surrender its functions, which are constitutionally circumscribed, to any other entities, it will always be ready to moderate the divergent tendencies and mediate the disparate political camps in the interest of party cohesion.

    “This is one of the hardnosed truths that the Comrade Oshiomhole-led NWC preaches and practises with an apostolic zeal to the chagrin of some influential stakeholders in the states.

    “Comrade Oshiomhole envisions an APC that is capacitated to pragmatically build a corpus of leadership and membership that do not only submit to the high ideal of party supremacy, but also the credo of party discipline.

    “These-party supremacy and discipline- are two fundamentals that had been eroded even before the emergence of the Oshiomhole leadership. It is sad that while the national chairman is working round the clock, some stakeholders have thrown selfish political agendas into the mix to threaten the building of institutional capacity for the APC.”

    He said further that “the suggestion in some quarters, especially by one of the presidential aspirants on the platform of the party, Alhaji Mumakai Unagha, that the APC cannot win with Oshiomhole is therefore unfair, denigrating and baleful of Comrade Oshiomhole’s personal commitment to a rejuvenated winning machine that the APC typifies.

    “The totality of Unagha’s claims, without necessarily addressing them one after the other, tallies with cooked-up narratives being sponsored by some influential stakeholders in their respective states that Comrade Oshiomhole is responsible for all the problems in the APC at the moment.

    “These influential stakeholders, according to grapevine, have begun to mobilise to pass a no-confidence vote in the leadership of Oshiomhole, having failed to impose their preferred candidates on the party in the nomination process.

    “Rather than resort to needless perfidy at the threshold of a general election, we call on them to imbibe the spirit of sportsmanship, bolstered by the fact that the Oshiomhole leadership is propelled more by its interest in propriety in which victory for the party could be grounded.

    “The crime committed by Comrade Oshhiomhole’s leadership is its disdain for impunity and circumvention of due process perpetrated in some of the states at the pleasure of some influential stakeholders.

    “Overall, Comrade Oshiomhole has not, since stepping in the saddle, taken any unilateral decision in the running of the party affairs.  All decisions, so far taken, passed through the mills of NWC deliberative sessions and enjoyed unanimous resolutions. The records are there. History will justify Comrade Oshiomhole and posterity will vindicate him.

    “Therefore, with eyes firmly fixed on the general election, especially the re-election of President Muhammadu Buhari in the scheduled February 16 poll, Comrade Oshiomhole assures all stakeholders in the APC of his respect for them. He assures them of his readiness to work with them for the good of the party.

    “The comrade chairman also proposes a common front in the general election and believes that the APC, as a governing party, will do a commemorative post mortem next year to appraise and reappraise the political developments and decisions that presaged the election, which it would win emphatically.”

     

  • Don’t sell APC guber ticket to highest bidder – Marafa warns

    The crisis rocking the Zamfara State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) may be far from over.

    A front line governorship aspirant in the state, Senator Kabiru Garba Marafa , on Friday dissociated himself from a meeting convened by the National Chairman of the party, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole with Zamfara governorship aspirants on Thursday.

    Marafa who was reacting a publication on ” Oshiomhole meets Zamfara Guber aspirants, as party considers Lawal”, claimed that Oshiomhole met with the nine governorship aspirants in Abuja on Thursday.

    The Zamfara Central senator in a statement said that he was not aware of the meeting.

    He said,”My attention has been drawn to publication headlined: “Oshiomhole meets Zamfara Guber aspirants, as party considers Lawal.

    ” I want to state emphatically that nobody invited me to any meeting after the failed attempt to conduct primaries/consensus as at 12am Sunday 7th Oct 2018.

    Read Also: Obasanjo has right to support any candidate, says Falana

    ” I want to restate further for emphasis that there was neither election nor consensus reached among APC aspirants in Zamfara state.”

    Marafa insisted that he would not be party to any move to trade with the APC Governorship ticket of Zamfara, saying that due process and rule of law must be religiously adhered to.

    He said, “I will not be a party to any attempt by anybody to sell the tickets of APC to any desperate politician(s) by anybody.

    “I will resist any attempt by anybody to do so. May Allah (SWT) guide us to the straight path and give us the ability to act justly and fairly,” he said.

  • Cross River APC chieftains call for Oshiomhole’s resignation

    ….say national chairman is destroying the party

     

    Some All Progressives Party (APC) chieftains in Cross River State have called for the resignation of the National Chairman of the party, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole.

    The chieftains, who took to the streets of Calabar with placard-carrying supporters to register their protest, were piqued that Oshiomhole had refused to recognize the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Pastor Usani Usani, as the governorship candidate of the party in the state, despite a court order to that effect.

    Federal Commissioner of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Cross River State, Mr Sylvester Nsa, accused the national chairman of impunity, saying if he continues, he would destroy the party.

    “The people of APC in Cross River have gone out to protest against impunity, injustice and total and blatant refusal to respect court ruling by the national chairman of APC, Comrade Adams Oshiomole. His attitude in recent times has made us to understand that Oyegun, the former chairman, was a saint and angel. Therefore the people of Cross River State are angry that Oshiomhole has brought impunity in Cross River State and not only in the state, the action of Adams Oshiomhole will destroy APC in Nigeria.

    “The people of APC across the country, rise up and tell Oshiomhole that he cannot destroy APC, therefore in Cross River State, Usani is right. Usani is the answer. No Usani no election. We want the whole country to know that Usani built the party. He nurtured the party. He is the leader of the party. He stands to protect the interest of the common men and that is why, the people of APC in Cross River have stood their grounds that without Usani, there is no APC in the state. I stand here as one of the leaders in the party in the state to declare that Adams Oshiomole should be called to order. This is a man that is a beneficiary of court order. He became a governor because of court order and today Oshiomhole does not want to honour court order. Therefore he must be called to order.

    Read Also: Police arrest six suspects for house-breaking near Enugu

    “I call on the judiciary to stand up otherwise, the action of Oshiomhole is a total play down on the integrity of the judiciary. It is an insult to the judiciary, it is an insult to democracy, so we call on Oshiomhole to leave Cross River State alone. He must leave us alone, otherwise, he would come to Cross River and walk alone because the people are angry and they have spoken that they want Usani. If it was court that made Oshiomhole a governor, he must respect court order. He is a man of impunity. He should resign otherwise if he continues, he will destroy this party,” Nsa said.

    The Director-General of the Usani Campaign Organization, Pastor Ekpenyong Cobham, also said, “This march is a clear message to the leader of this party, which is the President, that Oshiomole is toying with the election of the President. He is toying with the soul of APC. We will not accept impunity. Oshiomhle is not above the law. He must act within the confines of the law. If he does not do that, then we would revolt. This impunity must stop. Nigeria is a democratic nation and we expect him to function within the pressings of the law. That is our position. We cannot be subverted on intimidated. We stand resolute behind Pastor Usani Uguru Usani. He is the leader of our party. He is the governorship candidate of our party and the man who has built this party.

    “Some people have been sent on secondment from the other side to come and hijack this party. We would not allow that. They were part of the destruction of Cross River State for 20 years and now they are coming here to tell us they believe in the change. They are not part of the change. They have no change to offer us. They are here on secondment. We don’t want them. They are not our candidate, we didn’t vote for them. Let them return to where they came from. In APC we work for change and Oshiomhole must work within the confines of that change. If peaceful protest is being resisted, we would rise up. Cross River State belongs to us. Let him respect the law. We need change in the state and the only man who can offer that change is Pastor Usani. He personifies light. Darkness cannot dethrone darkness. Oshiomhole must leave Cross River alone. That is what we are saying and what we stand for.”

  • Oshiomhole has ignited civil war in APC, says Senate President

    Senate President Bukola Saraki said yesterday the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman and the party’s spokesperson, Yekinni Nabena, have ignited civil war in the ruling party through their actions and inactions.

    Saraki said Oshiomhole and Nabena have dragged the APC to a very low level that the ruling party was allegedly wallowing in confusion and disorganisation.

    A statement by Saraki’s Special Adviser (Media and Publicity) Yusuph Olaniyonu, entitled: “Response to APC diatribe” said: “We have noted the irresponsible statement issued by the APC spokesman, Nabena. We know that he and the leadership of the APC are always incensed and disturbed at the mere hearing of the name, Saraki. It is also notable that Nabena and the APC are always concerned about the developments in the opposition party, the PDP.

    “However, we believe that with the ‘civil war’ that Oshiomhole and Nabena have ignited in the APC and the very low level that they have dragged the party, in such manner that the ruling party is wallowing in confusion and disorganisation, they have too much to pre-occupy them than to be poking their noses in what happens to Saraki or the PDP.”

  • Buhari, Oshiomhole, others to attend book launch on Bini monarchy

    PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari, former Head of State  Gen. Yakubu Gowon, and National Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC) Adams Oshiomhole will join other Nigerians at the launch of a book on Bini monarchy.

    Speaking at a pre-launch press briefing in Benin City, Chairman of Global Book Presentation Committee (GBPC), Martin Uhomoibhi, said the book was published under the auspices of the Oba Ewuare Foundation in collaboration with the Benin Traditional Council.

    Uhomoibhi said 18 scholars contributed to the book, noting that Oba Ewuare II would launch a new city at Ugoneki village in Uhunmwode Local Government Area.

    He described the book as an ‘incredible historical book that is a unique and distinctive publication from the perspectives of aesthetics and intellectual content.’

    According to him, “the book weighs about 6.8 kilogrammes with 18 scholars, some of who are most highly respected authorities within and outside Nigeria on Benin History”, noting that it has 559 pages of well researched articles and 441 iconic images.

    Uhomoibhi said the book launch would also show the monarch’s committed effort to uphold the heritage and effectuate regeneration of the unique essence of Benin kingdom.

    In his contribution, a member of the 10-man committee, Prof. Gregory Akenzua, said the book presents a new dimension to other books on the kingdom because it was authored by a diplomat, with a broader perspective.

    He added that besides the October 20 public presentation  in Benin City, the British Museum and major world capitals have indicated interest in the book launch.

  • APC primaries: Aisha Buhari blames Oshiomhole for unfairness

    The Wife of the President, Aisha Muhammadu Buhari, on Sunday blamed the National Chairman of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole, over what she described as impunity and unfairness in the conduct of the primary elections of the party.
    She pointed out that the party appeared to have granted automatic tickets to some political office aspirants while denying others the opportunity to contest after paying huge amounts of money to purchase nomination forms.
    Aisha Buhari regretted that despite coming from Labour background, Oshiomhole left the side of the people and presided over the impunity.
    According to series of post on Twitter handle, @aishabuhari, she also dissociated herself from the exercise.
    She urged Nigerians to resist the impunity.
    She tweeted: “It is disheartening to note that some aspirants used their hard earned money to purchase nomination forms, got screened, cleared and campaigned vigorously yet found their names omitted on Election Day, these forms were bought at exorbitant prices.
    “Many others contested and yet had their result delayed. Fully knowing that AUTOMATIC tickets have been given to other people.
    “All Progressives Congress being a party whose cardinal principle is change and headed by a comrade/ activist whose main concern is for the common man, yet, such impunity could take place under its watch.
    “It is important for the populace to rise against impunity and for voters to demand from aspirants to be committed to the provision of basic amenities such as: Potable drinking water, Basic health care ( Primary Health Care centers).
    “Given this development one will not hesitate than DISSOCIATE from such unfairness, be neutral and speak for the voiceless.
    “Education within conducive & appropriate learning environments.

  • APC primaries: Yari dares Oshiomhole, calls supporters out for protest

    Gov. Abdul’aziz of Zamfara, on Friday called out his supporters for a peaceful protest over the decision of the national leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to cancel the party’s governorship primaries held on Wednesday.

    “I am calling on all our members to come out and storm the state Police Headquarters tomorrow (Saturday) by 10 am for peaceful protest.

    “We will continue with this decision until the national leadership of our party do what is right on this matter,” he said at a press conference in Gusau.

    The governor is having running battle with eight governorship aspirants in the state over the conduct of direct primaries.

    The governorship primaries held on Wednesday was cancelled by the party’s national secretariat and a fresh one is expected to hold on Saturday.

    According to Abu Fari, chairman of the election panel, the cancellation was due to harassment and intimidation of voters and snatching of election materials by thugs sponsored by politicians.

    Yari however dismissed the claim by the committee as false and warned its members not to step into Zamfara again.

    “Our issue is with the National Secretariat of APC where Adams Oshiomhole continue be a dictator to party members, he acts as a mini god.

    “You know, there is ongoing issue regarding the APC governorship primaries in the state, where the national headquarters sent a committee to conduct the election.

    “It was very unfortunate that the committee canceled the election on Wednesday.

    “We heard that the National Working Committee had dissolved the APC executive in the state and also send the same committee to Zamfara to repeat the exercise.

    “I want to call on the national headquarters of the party that we will not accept the decision and we are not satisfied with the committee, we don’t have confidence in that committee.

    “I am warning members of that committee that they should never come to Zamfara, they should never put their legs in this state, and anything that happens to them, Adams Oshiomhole should be held responsible.

    “We will continue with this decision until the national leadership of the party are ready to do justice,” he stressed.

    The governor dismissed insinuations that he had dumped the APC, saying nothing will make him leave the party.

    “I remain in APC and I will never leave the party. No amount of pressure will make me to leave the APC.”

    The governor added: “I was among the founders of this party, I was in Lagos, Nasarawa states for meetings before we gave birth to the APC, therefore no amount of pressure will make me to leave the party.

    “You know, changing political party is not my tradition, therefore I will not change the party and the rumour going round is not true, I am not under any pressure to leave the party.”

    Yari’s travails began when he anointed his commissioner of finance as the sole candidate of APC in the state, a decision challenged by eight aspirants including his deputy, Ibrahim Wakala.

    The aspirants locally known as the G8, are a former governor of the state Aliyu Shinkafi, a serving Senator, Kabiru Marafa, and Minister of Defence, Mansur Dan-Ali.

    Others include, Aminu Sani Jaji, Alhaji Dauda Lawal, Alhaji Abu Mahaji and Sagir Hamidu.(NAN)