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Tag: Oyegun

  • battle for kogi, bayelsa: Change must come to Bayelsa, says Oyegun

    battle for kogi, bayelsa: Change must come to Bayelsa, says Oyegun

    •Oshiomhole leads six APC governors to campaign for Sylva

    All Progressives Congress (APC) National  Chairman Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, yesterday urged Edo State Governor  Adams Oshiomhole and six APC governors to deliver Bayelsa State to the party on December 5.

    Oyegun, who inaugurated a 38-member Bayelsa Governorship Campaign Council at the party’s secretariat in Abuja, said APC wanted to prove a point in Bayelsa, adding: “Change must arrive in the state.”

    Other APC governors asked to deliver the state are Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal, Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima, Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha, Kano State Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje and Zamfara State Governor Abdulaziz Yari.

    Other members of the council include the Deputy National Chairman (South), Segun Oni, National Secretary Mai Mala Buni, National Vice chairmen, Southwest, Southsouth, Southeast and Northwest, Chief Pius Oluwole Akinyelure, Prince Hilliard Etta, Emma Eneukwu and Inuwa Abdulkadir.

    Ex-Rivers, Lagos and Benue  Governors, Rotimi Amaechi, Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa and Senator George Akume; National Organising Secretary Senator Osita Izunaso, National Youth Leader Ibrahim Dasuki Jallo, Mrs. Rachael Akpabio, Alhaji Nuhu Audu and Tunde Eseigbe are also members of the committee.

    The rest are Otunba Segun Runsewe, Alhaji Ubale Hashim, Matthew Omegara, Timi Frank, Preye Aganaba, Mrs. Sally William Chinedu, Prof. M.F.N. Abowri, Usani Uguru Usani, Olorogun Otega Emerhor, Maj.-Gen. Mohammed Ibrahim, Chief Ayeri Emani, Jasper Azutalam and Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, who will serve as the secretary.

    Oyegun said APC expected its 22 governors to be part of the campaign, adding: “What is important is that seven governors have volunteered to use their time and energy to serve as members of the campaign council. This has never happened before.

    “I think it underscores the importance the party attaches to the Bayelsa election. The time is short. This, we understand, but the circumstances and situation are upbeat and promising for eventual victory. Just as I was confident about  the general election, I’m confident of the Bayelsa poll because we have a good product.

    “Secondly, we have a non- performing governor in the state. Thirdly, the ruling party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has crumbled. Lastly, we have a crack campaign council team.”

    Responding on behalf of the committee members, Governor Tambuwal, the deputy chairman of the committee, assured the party that they would deliver Bayelsa State.

    He said: “Our task is clear to us. It has been defined and blessed by God Almighty. We shall do everything possible within the confines of the law to ensure victory for Timipreye Sylva on December 5.”

     

  • Oyegun to Nigerians: tough times ahead

    Oyegun to Nigerians: tough times ahead

    ALL Progressives Congress’ (APC) National Chairman Chief John Odigie-Oyegun has asked Nigerians to brace for the challenges ahead because of “our economic woes”.

    Oyegun, who spoke when he received the management and Alumni Association of the University of Ibadan (UI), said the task of rebuilding the nation would be tough.

    He said the duty before the Federal Government has gone beyond building roads and infrastructure to rebuilding the psyche of Nigerians.

    He said: “These are going to be interesting times. There are going to be difficulties ahead because of the state of the economy.  It is clear that our value system has to change and it is clear that our ethical standard has to change.

    “It is clear that our moral standard has to change; it is clear that as a people, we must begin to once again implant that knowledge of what is right and what is wrong and we must start drawing lines on the ground, which we don’t expect any decent person to cross.

    “All these have disappeared from our national life. It is not really the issue of building bridges, building roads and massive structures. The damage has been to the psychic of the average Nigerian; the young Nigerian, who no longer know the difference between right and wrong.

    “Today, all that is important is that once you have money and you are powerful, you can do anything and get away with it. That has to change and that is the difficult challenge we have to face in the remaining three and half years we still have ahead of us.”

    Oyegun hailed the university’s immediate past vice chancellor, Prof. Isaac Adewole, for transforming the institution. He also congratulated him for his nomination as a minister.

    Assuring Nigerians and the delegation of the APC government’s commitment to effectively implement the change agenda it promised during campaigns, he said: “Fortunately, the vice chancellor is coming into an administration of change and will be part of the change that this government is embarking upon. Immediately they are sworn in, they will hit the ground running.

    “We have for the past five to six months been trying to find out how bad the economy is; and things are really bad. We are now prepared and are in the process of briefing the incoming ministers so that when they come in, they also will not be trying to find out how things have been. They will truly hit the ground running.

    “Even though I am an insider, I must also confess that the quality of the ministers that are coming on board has far exceeded my expectations, especially watching each of them perform at to the Senate screening and that has been a thing of joy.

    “These are people of experience, people of intellect, people of passion and people of commitment to the new nation that the Buhari administration has committed itself to establishing.

    “It is going to be a huge task and it is going to be a most challenging responsibility. But it is a task that must, in the interest of our nation, be performed. There are going to be huge mountains to climb and overcome.

    “But thank God, we have the kind of President to who, facing challenges does not pose any serious problem at all, but only a realisation that we as a nation must overcome.”

  • Oyegun to APC: Victory at polls brings greater responsibility

    Oyegun to APC: Victory at polls brings greater responsibility

    The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie Oyegun, has said the victory of the party in the last general election has placed greater burden on officials of the party to have a greater sense of commitment and responsibility in the discharge of their responsibilities.

    Oyegun, who spoke while addressing participants at a workshop for state auditors of the party, said APC victory at the polls has posed a bigger challenge to officials in their everyday dealings.

    He said, “I want to remind you that the great victory even comes with a greater sense of commitment and responsibility, now that we are in government and in line with the party manifesto and change mantra.

    “We have only started a journey of probity, transparency and sincerity of purpose. Our conduct at all times must be worthy of our aspiration and even our personal lives and most particularly the way we run the affairs of the party.

    “I call it a journey because all of us must be involved and no one can be left behind in this new order of managing the affairs of our great but long suffering country. We must bear in mind that we are the change agents worthy of emulation.

    “You will agree with me that our victory at the polls comes with more responsibility and exemplary leadership. We cannot emphasise that too much. The activities of our political party in fact is of keen interest to the general public and the international community, as you already know the theme of the work shop “financial management in a political party.

    “Much as we are professionals that will want to do justice, I wish to inform you that this workshop is well packaged and keep you in line what is required of you as state auditors.”

     

  • Osinbajo, Oyegun hit Bayelsa for APC mega rally

    Osinbajo, Oyegun hit Bayelsa for APC mega rally

    • Dickson pledges adequate security
    • Approves venue

    The Bayelsa State chapter of the All Progressive Congress (APC) is waiting with excitement to receive the Vice-President, Prof. Yemi Osibanjo and the party’s National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, in a first mega rally of the party, scheduled to hold today in Yenagoa.

    Osibanjo and Odigie-Oyegun, along with other APC governors are expected to receive over 600 PDP defectors at the rally, which will begin the party’s preparations for the December 5 governorship election in the state.

    The state Chairman of the party, Chief Timi Oruminighe, said all was set for the event, which he described as the beginning of APC’s march to the Creek Haven Government House.

    He said everybody in the state is waiting for the rally, adding that the turnout will determine the wide reception of APC in the state.

    He said the party would not depend on federal might to win the forthcoming elections, but would continue to mobilise and convince people to accept the principles of APC.

    Also speaking, a party leader, Prince Preye Aganaba, said residents in the state, groaning and suffering under the PDP government, were ready to receive Osibanjo.

    While welcoming Osibanjo, the national chairman and other national officers of the party, Aganaba urged them to proactively design Programmes and activities to lead the party to victory on December 5.

    He further appealed to the defectors to use their wealth of experience to create a lasting bond between them and founding members.

    He assured the new members of maximum cooperation, and reminded them of the need to strengthen all the platforms of the APC.

    Following the development, Dickson assured the APC in the state of adequate security before, during and after its planned rally.

    The governor, in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Iworiso-Markson, also directed the relevant organs of the government to approve the request of the APC and other political parties to use the state-owned Samson Siasia Sports complex and other public facilities for political rallies.

    Dickson said the gesture was in tandem with his commitment to ensuring a level playing ground and peaceful conduct of political activities in the period leading up to the December 5th governorship election in the state.

    Dickson also pledged adequate security for all political rallies and campaigns across the state to ensure that such activities were conducted under peaceful and lawful atmosphere.

    He noted that as the Chief Security Officer of the state, he had a duty to protect the lives and property of the citizenry and ensure that, people go about their legitimate duties, without any form of molestation.

    He said the decision to provide adequate security for all political activities was also to check hoodlums who might want to take advantage of such events to breach the existing peace and security in the state.

    He further explained that his disposition was also to forestall activities of some disgruntled politicians who might capitalize on the situation to create a state of insecurity and paint the government in bad light before Nigerians.

    He warned that acts of indiscipline and unlawful conducts will be dealt with in line

  • APC will not interfere in cabinet selection – Oyegun

    APC will not interfere in cabinet selection – Oyegun

    The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, has said the party will not interfere in the cabinet selection process, saying President Muhammadu Buhari is working independently to assemble “best hands” as ministers.

    Oyegun, who spoke when he received a group of Nigerian students in his office on Wednesday, said the President has spent the last two months understanding the situation he inherited from the People Democratic Party (PDP) led government.

    He said, “What some of us in the progressives’ movement that had now transformed into governance in this country cannot accept is that the nation needs to be as bad as it is today.

    “Yes, the circumstances of last 15 years ago are different, the nature of economy is different, people had evolved, but the basic fact remains the same and that is for any nation, for any government to have any legitimacy, its key emphasis and the whole justification for its existence must be the welfare of the people.

    “Fortunately, we have a blueprint which makes your welfare and everybody’s welfare the core of his attention. Yes, things have turned out to be worse in the economy than we expected when we were campaigning. Every known indicator of good conduct has been violated and our institutions have factually been destroyed, even to the extent of tampering with security institution.

    “So we have major reconstruction efforts ahead of us. One can only at this time plead through you to Nigerians to be patient with us because things are much worse than we expected.

    “Let anybody make no mistake about it, we have a committed president in Buhari, in fact that is the core of his life and he has spent the last two months understanding the situation that he has taken over without interference and distractions. He has been able to hear, sit and interact with the core operators without third party intermediaries.”

  • Oyegun urges consolidation of success

    Oyegun urges consolidation of success

    All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, yesterday charged members of his party to work harder to sustain the victory that was recorded in the last general election.

    He narrated a long story of how the sacrifice of the leaders of the party  culminated in the formation of the APC and the eventual success of President Muhammadu Buhari, which he described as an act of providence.

    He was represented by the National Auditor, Dr. Kingsley Moghalu, at the party’s second  anniversary lecture  organized by the Coalition of APC Support Groups at Abuja.

    The chairman said for the party’s victory to endure, the members must not rest on their oars.

    He said : “I call on you today to emulate those qualities above as we mark the formation of our great party two years ago. You must know that as we became victorious in the past election, our adversaries are envious and obviously not happy and could be praying for pitfalls on our path as walk in victory.

    “For us to continuously be victorious, we must not rest on our oars . We must rise above board in order to be able to see these pitfalls. We must learn to queue in the new order of bringing about a country of the dreams of our founding fathers most of whom made supreme sacrifices.

    “We must not sleep just because we were victorious in the last election. As you will agree with me, for you to constantly be successful and victorious in your endearvours, you must continue to work hard and focus on retaining your victorious crown. Keeping our structures intact and fulfilling electoral promises are  greater challenges than winning the election itself.”

    The chairman  challenged the party to embark on a massive membership drive, stressing that the APC should move to the nooks and crannies of Nigeria and plant its seed of “change” .

     Oyegun said: “Let your presence be felt. Mobilize our sons and daughters to join this moving train of the APC”.

  • Oyegun exonerates APC from petition

    Oyegun exonerates APC from petition

    ALL Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman Chief John Odigie-Oyegun said yesterday that the party was not responsible for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s (EFCC) invitation and interrogation of the Senate President’s wife, Mrs. Toyin Saraki.

    Senator Joseph Waku last week accused APC National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the party of masterminding the invitation of Mrs. Saraki for alleged money laundering.

    Addressing reporters at the party’s National Secretariat in Abuja yesterday, Odigie-Oyegun insisted that his party was innocent of all the accusations leveled against it on the matter.

    He said: “I want to assure you without doubting that the APC absolutely has nothing to do with this. She is not on trial by the way. It is an investigation that has to do with the Senate President’s wife.

    “You saw all the speculations in the media. As a matter of fact, this could have been triggered by the opposition party itself; the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has its branch in Kwara state.

    “They have to be nudged to denounce that they were not the originators of the petition or whatever triggered this investigation.

    “We are completely, totally, absolutely innocent of it. What we have not done like in the PDP days, is to rush and interfere with the processes of the EFCC, which our president has made quite clearly: everybody should be ready to carry out their legitimate functions without interference.

    “The EFCC is doing what it thinks it has to do.”

    Odigie-Oyegun explained that the Southeast has not lost out in the sharing formula of the House of Representatives.

    According to him, the sharing process was yet to close with the emergence of Femi Gbajabiamila as Majority Leader. He noted that all the geo-political zones would be taken into consideration.

     His words: “Sharing process is not over, even in the House of Representative. It is not yet over and all these will be taking into consideration when other positions in the House are been distributed. I have no doubt at all about that.”

    On the Southwest producing two principal officers in the House, Odigie-Oyegun said: “In real life, there is no perfection. In real life, there are ups and down. What is important is that the system functions.”

  • Buhari’s actions are deliberate – Oyegun

    Buhari’s actions are deliberate – Oyegun

    The National Chairman of the All Progressive Congress, Chief John Oyegun, has said the actions of the APC-led government under President Mohammadu Buhari are deliberate and cautious.

    This, he explained, was because the APC came with different manifesto and would need individuals that are passionate and understand what is required to be done.

    Oyegun, who spoke to reporters in Benin City, noted that it was the first time the country is being ruled by progressives since it gained independence.

    The APC chief, who described as rumours reports that some ministerial nominees failed corruption test conducted by security agencies, said the ministers to be appointed by Buhari would be a mixture of politicians and technocrats.

    He dismissed accusations by the Peoples Democratic Party that the APC was clamping down on its members, saying the former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki ,was a public officer.

    He said, “The government is not slow. It is cautious, it is deliberate. It is good we go with deliberate steps, make a few mistakes as possible in the appointments that will need to come. That process is nearing its end. Activities people thought were slow about are taking place. Some aspects of our promises are already under way. Implementations of some of the party’s promises are underway.”

    “There was need, given that this is our first experience in governance to be cautious. There was need because of the totally different nature of our manifestos and social welfare programmer we promised to the people.

    “We don’t have time for the PDP yet. We are busy now to put our government on the ground and start expanding to the yearnings of the Nigerian people. PDP has not put itself together yet. They are no source of concern to anybody. Dasuki was a public officer. He was not a PDP member.”

     

  • Dogara replies Oyegun

    Dogara replies Oyegun

    HOUSE of Representatives Yakubu Dogara has replied a letter addressed to him on June 23 by the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun.

    In the letter, the APC chair urged the lower legislative chamber to share the remaining four principal offices as follows: Chief Whip (Northeast); House Leader (Southwest); Deputy House Leader (Northwest) and Deputy Chief Whip (Southsouth.)

    But in his dated yesterday, Dogara said the House would have negated the federal character principle if it obeyed the party’s directive.

    He restated his earlier claim that a court case instituted by some members on the matter, made it impossible for him to make all necessary consultation on the chairman’s letter.

    Dogara also informed the APC leader of the need to respect Federal Character even as he enumerated the tradition of the House of Representatives regarding how principal officers are elected.

    He then proposed to the Odigie-Oyegun his own a list of zoning of principal offices that would best reflect the spirit of federal character. He suggested that the Northeast and Southwest having produced his as the Speaker and Lasun Yussuf as his deputy, should not be given an principal officer’s slot.

    Dogara proposed that the House Leader should come from the Northwest (with 86 APC members) Deputy House Leader from the Northcentral (with 33 APC members) and the Chief Whip and Deputy Chief Whip should come from the Southsouth and Southeast respectively.

  • Oyegun: Buhari winning war on terror

    Oyegun: Buhari winning war on terror

    All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman Chief John Odigie-Oyegun yesterday declared that President Muhammadu Buhari is winning the war against Boko Haram.

    Oyegun said before the administration of Buhari, the sect had created territories in some northern states.

    He said the insurgents, who have been denied “their territories” by the efforts of the government, have resulted to bombing.

    Oyegun, who spoke on The Osasu Show aired on Independent Television (ITV), said government was working intensively to match the change of tactics by the sects.

    The APC chairman said: “He is defeating the insurgency. Maybe I need to put what I said a little more clearly. Before Buhari, the insurgents were controlling, governing and ruling Nigerian territory that was larger than most European countries.

    ”They did not bother about the bombing aspect because they had territories. They were ruling Nigerians; that is the extremist point. They have been deprived of that. So, what I said, it’s very unfortunate, very tragic, and that we must stop.

    ”It is the most difficult thing to contain in the immediate term, but the government is working very intensively to match these changes of tactics by Boko Haram. Don’t forget they started by bombings, then when they saw that they could hold territory, they shifted to wanting to create their own country within a country.

    ”I don’t know what they do to this young people to make them want to kill themselves and kill others. The reality is that if someone makes up his mind to die, then we do have a problem on our hands. But that problem too is one that is being confronted by the Buhari administration. It requires a totally new tactics.”

    He explained that the decision by the president to move the entire command to the battle front created the inspirational platform because the troops need to believe they had a commander-in-chief that cared.

    This action by Buhari, he said, inspired the troops in the field to drive the sect out of territories were holding.

    He assured Nigerians that the renewed bombing would be confronted and defeated by the current administration.

    On the National Assembly crisis, Oyegun described it as a setback for the ruling party.

    “I cannot hide the fact that it was a bit of a setback unexpected, though expected, because things had gone so well that I thought it would be one whole ball game all the way. But maybe we needed that bit of a hiccup to show us that it was not yet eureka.

    “We should have expected it. But I didn’t think it would be quite as bad as it became.”