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Tag: Oyegun

  • Respect party decision, Oyegun appeals to APC lawmakers

    Respect party decision, Oyegun appeals to APC lawmakers

    All Progressives Congress (APC) Chairman Chief John Odigie-Oyegun has urged members of the party in the National Assembly to respect the views of the party on the leadership of the Eight Assembly.Addressing reporters at the party’s national secretariat, Odigie-Oyegun said even though the party was aware of the fact that it cannot provide leaders for the lawmakers, what it did was to guide them.

    He said that the party was aware  that the lawmakers, comprising APC and non-APC members, would elect their leaders, pointing out that it only felt that it should provide them with a platform to express their preferences. This, he said, they did willingly.

    Odigie-Oyegun said: “I want to appeal to APC members of the National Assembly, both Senate and the House of Representatives, to please respect the party, the views of the party and the decision that they themselves took in selecting the persons that will be presented to the National Assembly as presiding officers.

    “At the House of Representatives level, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila and at the Senate level, Distinguished Senator Ahmed Lawan. I want to make it quite clear that all the party did was to provide the platform for all elected members of the party only. No other person joined them in stating their preferences.

    “It is still left for the House itself to elect their own leaders and the House is made up of both APC and non-APC members. But we the APC thought rightly in my view that we should provide a platform for our members of the National Assembly to state their preferences for the key offices in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. This they have freely done by themselves in the presence of the party leadership and almost the entire NWC.

    “But it seems that some of the aspirants are not satisfied with the preferences of the majority of the members either of the House or the Senate. So, for me and the NWC, this is an appeal that no individual interest should be allowed to over ride the interest of the party as a whole.

    “Members contested on the platform of the party; the party did not contest on the platform of members. So the party’s views and method of doing things should be respected. All we did was to provide the platform. We recognise and accept that we cannot impose leaders on them.

    “Of course we can provide guidance as to how things ought to be done and the kind persons we think they should look for and that is all we have done. My appeal is that they respect the arrangement that has been made by the party, that they respect the views expressed in a secret vote that the majority of the members of the House of Representatives and their senior colleagues, the Senate and let peace be. We have preached change and you cannot undertake change with a flip.

    “The change must start with the conduct of members of the party themselves. The Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, will also address members of both houses and I hope that, thereafter, peace will prevail.

    “This is the first stage of the distribution of the spoil of office. The APC has survived a lot of predictions in good shape and this too shall come to pass.”

    Also yesterday, Odigie-Oyegun assured Nigerians of the APC’s resolve to restore their hope and confidence in governance. He regretted that for 16 years the government was spending money and instead of making progress, it was moving backward.

    The party chair who spoke while receiving Mrs. Eunice Orji Kalu,  the mother of former Abia State Governor Orji Kalu, said that while the Jonathan administration inherited about 4,000 megawatts of electricity, it left behind less than 2,000 megawatts after spending several billions of dollars in the power sector.

  • There’ll be no crisis over Senate President, Speaker, says Oyegun

    There’ll be no crisis over Senate President, Speaker, says Oyegun

    •’Only Buhari can talk about his assets’

    The Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, has said there will be no crisis over the leadership of the National Assembly.

    Odigie-Oyegun, who spoke in Abuja yesterday,  said President Muhammadu Buhari would surprise the terrorist group, Boko Haram.

    According to him, the increase in Boko Haram’s attacks after Buhari’s inauguration was to test the President’s resolve against the group.

    The APC chairman, who spoke after he led members of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party to a meeting with the President at the Defence House, Abuja, said: “There will be no crisis. I want to give you that assurance. We are very conscious of the fact that a National Assembly is the separate arm of government and the constitution provides that they are the ones responsible for electing their own officers. All we have to do is provide for them a conducive environment of doing just that.”

    On how long it will take for the ministerial list to be released, Odigie-Oyegun said: “All I can say is that Mr. President is committed to carrying the party along in everything that he does and we are very grateful for that. He has always been like that; he has put the party on the front burner in all the things he does at all times and he has continued to do that.”

    On the plan to relocate the military command to the Northeast, he said: “There is nothing like lives. He was elected to protect Nigerian lives and that is even his first priority.”

    Stressing that all the problems in the country cannot be solved in one day, he said that the party would stand with Buhari all through.

    Odigie-Oyegun said: “We noted the fact that expectations are extremely high and that the public expects a totally new dawn. On that score, ‘we told him we are with you, Mr. President you will succeed because the entire party will be galvanised as one man behind you, to ensure that days into this presidency that Nigerians will indeed see that things are changing.

    “All the problems cannot be solved in one day…But what Nigerians want is to be sure that we are getting it right and that we are on the proper path towards answering their long frustration towards ameliorating their condition and that is what they will get.”

    On the meeting, Odigie-Oyegun said: “We did have frank discussions and I think all that happened is that he was quite appreciative of our declaration of support. He briefed us on one or two issues and we are quite pleased at the way things are going.”

     

  • Tough days ahead, says Oyegun

    Tough days ahead, says Oyegun

    National Chairman of the All a Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie Oyegun said on Saturday that the Buhari administration would require about N4.1 Trillion for sundry expenses, including oil subsidy payment, arrears of salaries at federal and state levels and debt servicing.

    Oyegun who spoke at a retreat for APC senators elect in Abuja also said that the lawmakers may, in the course of their duty be required to pass important bills at short notice in the interest of the nation.

    While lamenting that the nation was in for hard times, the APC Chairman said an

    Unparalleled commitment, uncommon patriotism, unprecedented hard work and indeed a reservoir of the innermost strength will be required to overcome the challenges ahead.

    “Make no mistake about it, the days ahead will be tough, and this is not crying wolf. From the first day of this government, a total of 4.1 trillion Naira will be required for sundry expenses, including oil subsidy payment, arrears of salaries at federal and state levels and debt servicing, just to mention a few.

    “Put this against the background of the falling oil prices, the unprecedented 60-billion-dollar debt which the outgoing government has left for the incoming one, the largely depleted Excess Crude Account (ECA), the 60 billion dollars that have been lost in the last four years to crude oil theft (and which are perhaps still being lost as we speak), the need to rapidly create jobs for our teeming army of unemployed youths, enhance the security of the citizenry and improve the economy, and you will begin to understand the enormity of the challenges ahead.

    “This is not a lamentation forum, but still, we must tell ourselves the truth about the state of the nation, and the expectations of our people. In fact, to a number of our compatriots, by May 30th, a day after the swearing in of our President-elect, all the streets in Nigeria will be air conditioned while electricity will become stable and fuel scarcity will be a thing of the past.

    “Yes, we will get there, but it won’t happen overnight. You, our Senators-elect, will be called upon to take extraordinary actions to address the extraordinary challenges that confront our nation.,” Oyegun stated.

  • Oyegun wins polling unit

    Oyegun wins polling unit

    National Chairman of the All Progressive Congress, Chief John Oyegun on Saturday escaped defeat at his polling unit for the first time since 1999.

    Oyegun secured victory for the APC at his Unit one Ward two polling unit in Oredo Local Government Area.

    The APC polled 54 votes to defeat the PDP who secured 48 votes at Unit one for the Oredo East Constituency seat in the Edo State House of Assembly.

    In unit two, the APC candidate, Osaigbovo Iyoha polled 49 votes to defeat the PDP candidates who scored 43 votes.

  • Defection not good for political devt – Oyegun

    Defection not good for political devt – Oyegun

    Chief John Oyegun, National Chairman of All Progressive Congress (APC), said on Saturday that the gale of defections by politicians was not good for Nigeria’s political development.

    Oyegun, who spoke to newsmen in Benin shortly after casting his vote, advised those defecting to the winning party to rather form a formidable opposition to enrich the nation’s democracy.

    “Many opposition party members have defected to APC just because they lost out, that is not good for political development.

    “One would have advised that opposition members should stay where they are, and form a formidable opposition party,” Oyegun said.

    He described the governorship and house of assembly elections as “the most decent, ordely and peaceful” ever conducted in Edo.

    Meanwhile the APC national chairman has won the election in his polling unit.

  • Why Obasanjo didn’t get APC card – Oyegun

    Why Obasanjo didn’t get APC card – Oyegun

    The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. John Odigie – Oyegun, on Thursday disclosed that the party was on the verge of issuing former president Olusegun Obasanjo with the party membership card when he torn his Peoples Democratic Party card, but had a second thought on the matter.

    Oyegun said by tearing his PDP membership card, Obasanjo has qualified fully “as the “true father of the nation that anybody can now run to for guidance.”

    The APC chairman said issuing the former president with the party’s membership card, would be “demeaning to a man who should now be seen as true nationalist, statesman and non partisan icon.”

    Oyegun spoke while making a short remark during the ex-president’s 78th birthday celebration at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

    He noted that Obasanjo has done great service to Nigerian politics by tearing his PDP cards, making him the “only symbol of this country everybody can run to whenever the need arises.”
    Oyegun said, “When we watch someone tearing a card of the umbrella party on his behalf, the APC leaders authorized me to issue him a fresh membership card of our party, but we decided to look at the matter closely.

    “We reasoned that this nationalist and statesman has crossed the threshold. He has become truly the father of the nation and it would be demeaning by going to present APC card to him.

    “Nigeria and Nigerians have an icon now, a non partisan man has arrived, somebody we can all go to and if you do well he tells you and if you have not done well, he can look at you in the eyes and say you can go to hell.

    “Baba Obasanjo, you are the only symbol of this country everybody can now run to meet. We know where you are and we know your views too.

    “You have done great service to APC, you have done great service to the politics of this nation. We know you desire change, rather than continuity of nothingness.”

     

  • Abdulsalami, Oyegun worried about Okrika shootings

    Abdulsalami, Oyegun worried about Okrika shootings

    The National Peace Committee headed by former Head of state Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar has expressed concern over Tuesday’s Okrika shootings. It appealed to all stakeholders to eschew violence.

    National Chairman of the  All Progressive Congress (APC) Chief John Odigie-Oyegun,  noted that electoral violence will not abate until the perpetrators are made to face the law. The duo spoke yesterday in Abuja when the committee met to review its activities following the postponement of the general elections.

    Gen. Abubakar said: “The committee like every Nigerian, is not happy with the violence and what happened in Rivers state. We are following the issue. Even if I give you a guarantee that there will be peace, I cannot dictate what you will do when you leave here. Nigerians must ensure we maintain peace.”

    He said: “There must be change, there has to be change, if we de-escalate the un-necessary political war that is going on now. The massive attack on INEC, the massive attack on the use of PVCs, the massive court actions that are going on now to have our candidate disqualified and even have the PVCs declared illegal by the court of law. In law, you can get any kind of judgment, anything before the court is 50-50.

    “If all these can de-escalate, people will start believing that this election will be relatively free and fair. In that condition, Okirika issue will be bad dream that will be behind us.

    The INEC chairman was being realistic (on election date), I am not comfortable (with INEC chairman stance on March 28), I was not comfortable with it in the first time and am still not comfortable with it, but he was being realistic.

    “The part of problem in this country is that electoral violence refuses to abate because law is not being enforced. If there is law enforcement added to our own appeal, I think we will see an abatement. But if there is selective law enforcement, because of this power of incumbency, then you can not expect it to be abated.”

  • Oyegun, Tinubu, Amaechi, Saraki under security watch

    Oyegun, Tinubu, Amaechi, Saraki under security watch

    All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders are being intimidated by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-led Federal Government, the party alleged yesterday.

    Its proof – security agents have placed some of its leading lights on surveillance. Besides, their phones are bugged.

    But, said the party, it will never bow to intimidation. APC spokesman Alhaji Lai Mohammed said in a statement:

    “We will not be intimidated by the latest antics of the Jonathan Administration to harass and intimidate the opposition, especially in the run-up to next month’s general elections.”

    A security source last night declined comments on the matter “because the APC did not name the specific security organisation putting its leaders under watch”.

    The APC said: ‘’As the elections approach, we know the harassment and intimidation will be stepped up. We know our leaders, including the National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, National Leader Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, former Bayelsa State Governor Timipre Sylva, Senator Bukola Saraki and National Publicity Secretary Alhaji Lai Mohammed, are under surveillance and their phones being bugged.

    ‘’We are aware that several of them, especially the National Publicity Secretary, have been marked down for arrest in the days to come. We know there are evil plots to frame some of them on trumped-up charges. We know our lives are in danger. But these and more will not deter us from continuing to act in the national interest or from seeking to effect change through the ballot box.

    ‘’Yes, we are alerting Nigerians that if anything happens to us they should know where it is coming from, but for us there is no going back because we are resolute.’’

    Tinubu’s Lagos home has been under siege by soldiers for four days though the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 81 Division, Major-Gen. Tunmi Dibi has said the military deployment is “routine” and part of a joint security measure to secure Lagos.

    The Imo State Government House in Owerri was also violated when a military armoured tank manned by some soldiers was deployed in front of it on Tuesday after security men prevented a group of women, led by Minister of State (Education) Prof. Violet Onwuliri, from marching on the facility.

    Also yesterday, policemen were deployed in the Abuja home of APC’s Presidential Campaign spokesman Garba Shehu – an action which the party said “fits perfectly into this emerging pattern”.

    In a statement issued in Abuja, the party said Shehu’s residence at the NNPC Quarters, Area 11, Abuja, had been surrounded by armed policemen since 3 a.m. on yesterday, making it impossible for him to even go to the mosque for prayers.

    ‘’Going after the spokesman of our party’s Presidential Campaign Organisation is aimed at muffling the organisation’s voice and abridging the constitutionally-guaranteed rights of the spokesman himself. This is antithetic to democracy and totally unacceptable,’’ it said.

    APC called on those who sent the armed security personnel to Shehu’s residence to immediately order their withdrawal and tell Nigerians what he has done to warrant such harassment.

    The party said “coming after the siege by armed troops to Tinubu’s home in Lagos and a similar siege to the Imo State Government House in Owerri, it was clear that the Jonathan Administration has finally launched its much-anticipated clampdown on the opposition ahead of the general elections.

    The elections are slated for March 28 and April 11.

    ‘’The PDP and the Jonathan Administration are bent on badgering the opposition through the harassment, intimidation and arrest of its leaders as well as the circulation of unfounded rumours against the party. These actions are all aimed at fomenting a crisis and scuttling the forthcoming elections,” APC said, adding:

    ‘’We are, therefore, calling on all Nigerians as well as the international community to take note of this growing pattern of harassment and intimidation of the opposition, and the effect such action will have on the conduct of the elections,’’ it said.

    APC thanked Nigerians for their immense and unwaring support, especially since the postponement of the elections which was aimed at dampening the enthusiasm of the citizens, and urged them not to relent.

    The presidential and assembly elections will were slated for tomorrow and the governorship elections February 28.

    ‘’We are glad that instead of weakening the resolve and enthusiasm of Nigerians, the Presidency-orchestated postponement has further galvanised them to be more determined not only to vote but also to defend their votes,” APC said, adding:

    ‘’Nigerians must demand and insist that the elections be held as rescheduled, that there will be no interim government or tenure elongation. Nigerians have the power to forge change with their voter’s cards and no one must deny them that right.’’

    The APC urged President Jonathan to remember the verdict of history and put his dogs of war on a leash, realising that history will judge no one but him even for the actions of his supporters, who are all acting in his name.

  • ‘Earthquake’ to hit PDP as five governors set to join APC, says Oyegun

    ‘Earthquake’ to hit PDP as five governors set to join APC, says Oyegun

    All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman Chief John Odigie-Oyegun has predicted “earthquake” in the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) 72 hours to next week’s general elections with the defection of five of its governors.

    Odigie-Oyegun said the governors will join the APC, saying he had finalised plans to receive them into the opposition’s fold

     The APC chairman told supporters in Benin yesterday that his party was poised to win the general elections.

    “Let me reveal to you today that very soon, you will hear of an earthquake that will consume the PDP in this country. As I’m talking to you, I have held meetings with the governors. Let me not release the cat out of the bag. But let me assure you that a few hours to the presidential and national assembly elections, the PDP’s canoe will sink.

    “You can see that our President and his party have engaged in one character assassination and the other; yet we are looking at them, focusing on our campaign of issues and not name-calling.

    “The hand writing is so clear, February 14 is Lovers’ Day , that is a special day for our party. As from that day, Jonathan will start to pack his belongings out of Aso Rock .

    “The elections cannot be postponed at this hour and they cannot rig it either. Just go there that day and vote, protect it, it is evidently clear that the PDP and Jonathan are running scared.

    “Can you imagine a Col. Sambo Dasuki (the National Security Adviser) who cannot advise the President on how to tackle insurgency, calling for elections postponement? ” Oyegun wondered.

  • Appeal Court affirms Oyegun family owners of Olokopupo village

    Appeal Court affirms Oyegun family owners of Olokopupo village

    The Court of Appeal sitting in Ibadan has affirmed the Oyegun family of Kookoo Atan as the rightful owner of Olokopupo village, Kookoo Atan in the Ado Odolota Local Government Area of Ogun state.

    The appellants, Madam Taliatu Odewande and three others on behalf of the Odewande family of Kookoo Atan in a suit Number CA/1/193 2011 had appealed against the judgment of the Ogun State High Court Agbara Judicial Division delivered by justice A.A. Akinyemi on May 23 2011 in favour of the Oyegun family.

    Mr. Mutairu Owoeye and two others who were respondents in the suit on behalf of the Oyegun family.

     The appellants had sought four grounds for which their appeal should be upheld. These grounds are that, the lower court misdirected itself when it held to wit “they have therefore not proved the root of their title, the lower court erred in law when he held as follows:

    “Even in the case of IDUNDUN V. OKUMAGBA (SUPRA) where long possession was stated as one of the five (5) methods of proving title, court added that such acts of long possession in a claim of declaration of title (as distinct from a claim for trespass) are a means of defence rather than offence.”

    The lower court erred in law by its failure to pronounce on the claimants’ claims for trespass and perpetual injunction and that the lower court judgment is against the weight of evidence.

    Delivering judgment in the suit, the three justices of the Appeal Court, in their separate judgments unanimously dismissed the appeal for lack of merit and subsequently affirmed the judgment of the lower court which entered judgment in favour of the Oyegun Family.

    Delivering the lead judgment, Justice Haruna Simon Tsammani, said “the appellants have by their claims for trespass and also for possession, not been able to show conclusively that they are in possession. Either they are in possession or they are not. In the circumstances therefore, the claim for damages for trespass and injunction cannot in law be granted.

    “On the whole therefore, it is my finding that this appeal has no merit and should be consigned to dismissal. It is hereby dismissed. Consequently, the judgment of the Ogun State High Court, Agbara Judicial Division, delivered on May 23, 2011 is hereby affirmed. I assess the cost of this appeal to N50, 000 which 1 award to the respondents against the appellants.”