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  • Kwara marginalised under APC government, says PDP

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said that Kwara State has not been fairly treated by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) at the federal level.

    The party added that the APC government has denied the state of its legitimate entitlements in the scheme of things.

    Kwara State Coordinator of the Atiku/Obi Presidential Campaign Organisation, Dr Ali Ahmad told reporters in Ilorin, the capital, at the official opening of the state office, that the APC candidates do not deserve the votes of Kwarans.

    Ahmad, who is the Speaker of the House of Assembly said: “Why will any Kwaran not vote for the party that has demonstrated it can provide the much needed job to our teeming youth by promising that 40 percent of his appointments will be populated by the youth? Today, about 9,300,000 school children are said to be fed every day across the country under one of their opaque programmes, there is not a single pupil from Kwara state that currently benefits.

    “Will you not vote for Atiku/Obi who will reverse this trend within their first 100 days? Of course, Kwara enjoys no special privilege from this administration, we expected that. What we did not envisage is denial of Kwara and Kwarans our legitimate entitlements. So many examples are out there, but one will suffice. Federal commissionership at the Federal Civil Service Commission is alternated on a five year-term basis.

    “These officers mainly champion the interests of their states at the commission. No wonder Kwarans did not enjoy any appreciable placement at the Federal Civil Service all these years. But, unless we reverse it, the trend will continue.  Instead of a Kwaran to succeed Kogi at the commission for its own turn of five years, Kwara was wrongfully denied and Kogi’s term was extended for another term of five years back to back. Will you not vote for Atiku/Obi to give us our entitlement, by righting this wrong?

    Ahmad added: “Since the last time they came here for campaign in 2015 and we voted them in, they have visited so many states they consider important uncountable number of times, how many times have they come to Kwara since then, if we are important?

    “But Kwara is very much important to PDP and, for example, you can count the unprecedented number of Kwarans in the Atiku/Obi national presidential campaign organisation in Abuja. Indeed, the

    “The Director-General is your son.  How many Kwarans are in the other parties and what is the highest office they occupy? Of all the political parties in Nigeria, which one accords Kwara the highest regard and respect?

    “Even before the first ballot is cast, the number three position in the country, that is the presidency of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, has been ceded to us Kwarans by the other 35 states. That is a monumental privilege and never a right. And we all know what comes with that privilege to the state as a whole. PDP is the only party that has done that.”

     

  • Dogara to Buhari: Solve insecurity challenges now or leave

    Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to vacate the office if he can not fix the insecurity challenges facing the country.

    Dogara also accused northern Nigerian elders over their ‘silence’ on insecurity in the region in contrast to what they did during the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

    Dogara spoke in Lafia, Nasarawa state at the campaign of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Thursday where he also accused the President of being indifferent to the plight of University teachers and their demands for better working environment.

    He said President Buhari is not sincere in the resolution of the crisis.

    In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Turaki Hassan on Thursday, Dogara noted that the silence of the northern elders on insecurity in the region could be taken as enabling the poor management of security in the country, especially in the north, a situation that continues to threaten the nation’s democracy and its very foundations.

    Dogara was quoted as saying, “Just like my last speech to Nigerians that were gathered in a rally like this in Gombe, I said that the 2019 general elections is not about President Muhammadu Buhari, it’s not about Atiku Abubakar, but I said it is about you who are gathered here and it will be a referendum on insecurity and hunger in this land.

    “On the issue of insecurity, all of us know what is happening in Borno and, unfortunately too, between Abuja and Kaduna, as well as in Zamfara, Katsina, Nassarawa, Benue, Plateau and even Sokoto States.

    “Now, I cannot even mention all because it is a general problem in the county, but I was highlighting the states where the problem is more endemic as of now. The issue is this, when this thing was going on under Jonathan, we had Borno elders always speaking.

    “Where are the Borno elders now? Where are the leaders of Northern Nigeria now that this problem has become endemic? What are they saying now? Are we not guilty of what we allow? Are we not responsible for the killings to say that enough is enough and demand as a matter of right that President Buhari puts an end to this or leave if he can’t?

    “The truth is that if we don’t rise up to the endemic challenges now, sooner than later, if things continue this way, we are not going to have a country. So it is our responsibility to rescue Nigeria from the clutches of insecurity.

    “Without security; we would not have a meaningful democracy.

    “The sad reality in Nigeria is that by our silence we have condoned those who have been unable to effectively tackle the insecurity in the nation. We have have wittingly become enablers of evil. You know what enablers do? Enablers don’t build a country only courageous people do.

    “What enablers do is that they instigate the worship of individuals and the office they occupy, they will confuse such an individual with accolades. You know none of us was built to receive worship, anyone who attempts to receive worship will meet destruction in his wake.

    “So that is why we are witnessing destruction in Nigeria, because we have elevated some human beings to the status of God. We now need to rise up and rescue our country from the clutches of insecurity.”

    Read Also: Buhari: I won’t approve public funds for campaigns

    Dogara also said that the 2019 election would be a referendum on many issues, including education.

    According to him, President Buhari has failed to give enough attention it deserves considering the lackluster way he (Buhari) is handling the ongoing strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

    “It’s been said that if you want to destroy a community, state or nation, don’t even fire shots or bring the crisis that is being perpetrated by Boko Haram, don’t even bring nuclear bomb, all you need to do is to lower the standard of education in that Community state, or nation. Once you succeed in doing that, you’ve killed the nation.

    “So many of us may not understand what I’m implying, but right now in Nigeria, the university lecturers are on strike. If it was a decent government that is committed to the future of this country, it wouldn’t take one week to resolve this problem, but unfortunately, through ineptitude, the strike is allowed to fester.

    “If we shut down education, we shut down progress, we shut down the future of our teeming youth who have gathered here, we shut down the advancement of this great country called Nigeria.

    “So the 2019 election will be a referendum on education also,” the Speaker was quoted as saying.

  • Kashamu to supporters: work with Adebutu’s group

    Senator Buruji Kashamu (Ogun East) has directed all his supporters and associates to work with members of the Lado group within the Ogun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the overall interest of the party.

    The Lado group is led by a member of the House of Representatives, Honourable Ladi Adebutu, who has been locked in a supremacy battle with Kashamu over control of the state party structure and the Ogun State PDP governorship ticket.

    In a statement on Thursday in Ijebu Igbo, Ogun State, Kashamu said it was better for the contending groups to work and win together – in the overall interest of the party.

    According to him: “It is true we are in court. But, we are hopeful that the issues will be resolved sooner than later.

    “However, in the overall interest of the party, it is better and wiser for us to work together as members of the same family pending the resolution of the issues in court.

    “We may have had our disagreements and issues and have submitted them to the court for adjudication; yet, we have been talking to one another.

    “We reckon that whichever way it goes, the court cannot bring about genuine reconciliation and peace.

    “So, we have resolved to be agents of peace and reconciliation. Let us put aside our ego, prejudices and personal interests, and work together for the Party – in the hope that whoever carries the day will work for the Party, its members and the generality of the people.

    Read Also: Elections: Adebutu, Kashamu PDP factions hold unification rally

    “It is in the light of the foregoing that I wish to formally and publicly urge all my leaders, elders and supporters to work with the Lado group within the Ogun State chapter of the PDP ahead of February 16 and March 2, 2019 elections.

    “Irrespective of our differences, we are members of the same family. At the end, it is the party that wins; not any individual or group.”

    Kashamu urged the ongoing unity meetings and rallies between the two groups within the Ogun State PDP be intensified in the 236 wards, 20 local governments and three senatorial districts of the state.

    These, he said, will be capped with a “Mega Unity Rally” to be held on a date and venue to be announced soon.

  • No more rift in Lagos PDP-Bode George

    Former Deputy National Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chief Olabode George has said there is no rift in the party.

    The PDP leader, who spoke at a stakeholders meeting in Lagos, said the party would win the coming election.

    Present at the meeting are Lagos PDP governorship candidate Jimi Agaje; PDP deputy governorship candidate Haleemat Busari; former Minister of Transport Ebenezer Babatope; former Lagos State Deputy Governor Kofoworola Akerele- Bucknor; former Minister of Work Adeseye Ogunlewe; Dr. Eddy Olafeso and other party chieftains.

    According to him, issues preventing the party from winning previous elections in the state have been addressed, noting PDP was prepared to make Lagos better.

    He said: “We are here to discountenance the deliberate misinformation running riot out there.

    “Contrary to the misleading opinion in some sections of the media, our party is not disrupted by any infighting.

    “We are woven in a united vision, summed up in a thoughtful unanimity of purpose.

    “We are emboldened by well-articulated truth and summative defining purpose and shared beliefs. Yes, we might have had our differences in the past during the strongly contested gubernatorial primary.

    “We are now one, indivisible family. There is no rancor in our midst. There is no bitterness or hatred.

    “We are no longer contesting anything with ourselves. Jimmy Agbaje is our unifying gubernatorial candidate. We support him wholeheartedly and with total commitment.”

    Read Also: FG releases N100bn Sukuk fund for 28 road projects

    George explained that when PDP starts its campaign in Lagos, notable leaders of the party would grace Agbaje’s campaign.

    He added that the contest against the All Progressives Congress (APC) was to rescue the state from bad governance, stressing that Lagosians were behind the PDP.

    “Our party has now come out on a mission of rescue and salvage. Lagos must be redeemed and unchained from the manacles of APC.

    “Surely we can’t continue with this madness. We need a real, progressive fundamental change.

    “This is where we stand today. Lagosians deserve better than this arbitrary, undisciplined, aberrational cabal holding down our people. They must be voted out.”

    Agbaje said Lagosians would define their voting on the character of candidates seeking offices, noting that the era where voters were taken for granted was over.

    “The first thing we need to bring to governance in Lagos state is character of leadership. You can have the best blueprint in the world but if you don’t have good character it will go nowhere.

    “There are two types of politicians those that seek power for service and for themselves. What we have in Lagos today are those that have power for themselves and it can best be described as Oligarchy system of government.

    “If you compare Jakande era with these set of people that have been in power in the last 20 years you will see that Jakande was there for service because you have education, health, water, house among others.

  • I didn’t defraud farmers, Obaseki replies PDP

    Edo Sate Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki has denied allegations by the opposition Peoples Democratic Party that he did not defraud farmers in the State.

    Governor Obaseki warned the PDP to leave him out of their ‘predictable and cheap smear campaign,’ and urged them to focus on the weighty issues that impact on the lives of the people.

    Obaseki who spoke in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Communication Strategy, Mr. Crusoe Osagie, cautioned the PDP to tell the people what they intend to do for them and not drag him into their smear campaigns.

    He said his programme is anchored on the development of the state and its people while his mandate is to run an issues-based campaign.

    Governor Obaseki said the PDP was making spurious allegations about a non-existent fraud which he noted showed its lack of understanding of governance.

    Read Also: Obaseki meets contractors on revamp of 230 schools

    According to the governor’s aide, “It is not hard to see that the PDP has been undone by the fact that they are faced with a purposeful, well-run and transparent government. Hence, they have gone to town with a fictitious story about a non-existent fraud allegation in government that exists only in their imagination. For the records, we make bold to say that the alleged fraud does not exist.

    “The records are there to show what the Governor Obaseki-led government has done and continues to do for the people of Edo state, from job creation to infrastructural development, investment promotion and industrialisation, which all residents in the state can readily testify to, in the governor’s efforts at repositioning the state for prosperity. That is what we are campaigning with this season.”

     

  • Fayose campaigns against Olujimi on social media

    Former Governor Ayo Fayose has gone digital in his attacks against Senate Minority Leader Biodun Olujimi.

    The battle between the two leaders has polarised the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of the January 14 visit of the presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar for a rally in Ado-Ekiti.

    Fayose and Olujimi had on Tuesday set up parallel PDP Presidential Campaign Councils with offices at different locations in Ado-Ekiti with their loyalists queuing up behind them.

    Olujimi, who represents Ekiti South in the Red Chamber of the National Assembly, accused Fayose of drawing a list of members contrary to the one agreed by party stakeholders.

    But Fayose, in a video circulated on various social media platforms seen by our reporter on Thursday, called on the people of the state to vote against Olujimi in the February 16 National Assembly polls.

    Olujimi has former Minister of State for Works, Prince Dayo Adeyeye of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as main opponent in the battle for Ekiti South senatorial chair.

    Fayose, who wore a white long sleeve kaftan over a white pairs of

    trousers with a black cap to match, advised Ekiti electorate to vote

    Atiku and other PDP candidates expect Olujimi.

    The video, which lasts 13 seconds, has gone viral on Facebook, YouTube and other social media platforms.

    In the video, Fayose said: “Ekiti Kete o, my name is Ayo Peter Fayose, Osokomole. My beloved teachers, my beloved workers, okada riders and entire people of Ekiti State.

    “I commend to you, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, our President-in-waiting. I commend to you all candidates of PDP in Ekiti except Senator Abiodun Olujimi.

    “That is, we must not return Abiodun Olujimi to the Senate. I know you will do exactly what I ask you to do.

    “I love you and may God bless you, this is Act 1, Scene 1.”

    But Olujimi said: “The right-thinking party leaders and members” are not surprised about Fayose’s latest campaign against a candidate of his party.

    In a telephone chat with our reporter, Olujimi who spoke through the Director General of her Campaign, Chief Bunmi Olugbade, said Fayose has a history of anti-party activities which reached a climax with defeat of the PDP in the 2018 governorship poll in Ekiti State.

    The senator, who described Fayose as a “wounded lion roaring ready to devour anybody he meets on his way,” said her campaign is on course and would not be distracted by the tirades of the ex-governor.

    Olujimi said: “Fayose has a chronicle of anti-party activism since his election in 2014 and you will recall that during the first anniversary of his return to power, he invited (former Osun governor), Rauf Aregbesola, an APC man to deliver the keynote address.

    “Fayose disbanded the state party structure which led to the defection of prominent party stalwarts after he disallowed them from having a say in the affairs of the party.

    “Eighty per cent of the candidates in other parties who contested the last governorship election left PDP due to high-handedness and dictatorial tendencies of Fayose.

    “At the height of the crisis in the party, Fayose vowed to drive the vehicle of the PDP aground and we were not surprised that he lost an election even as an incumbent governor.

    Read Also: APC ready to win February poll, says Akpabio

    “What he (Fayose) is doing is not a surprise to anybody but party

    members are prepared for him. We are not bamboozled by his ranting.

    “Party leaders at the national level and in the Southwest have

    excellent confidence in the ability of Senator Olujimi. She is not a

    person that can be rattled by the ranting of a failure.

    “The glory that was lost under the hegemony of Fayose will be restored under the leadership of Olujimi.”

  • Group hails Buratai, Army over election security, sues for continuous loyalty amongst troops

    The Coalition for Democracy and Good Governance has hailed the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen Tukur Buratai and the Nigerian  Army over responsiveness to protecting Nigeria’s democracy and the sovereignty of the country.
    The group, therefore, called for continuous loyalty amongst troops to constituted authority before, during and after the elections.
    Addressing newsmen in Abuja on Thursday, Emmanuel Itodo, the Executive Director of the group, said since the directive for the military to ruthlessly deal with ballot snatchers it observed that the Nigerian Army has risen to the occasion, particularly in the way it has intensified operations to counter incidents that could have undermined the elections.
    According to him, “Such calls condemning President Buhari’s directive came from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, who even went to the absurd extent of asking the Army to disregard the directive was totally unacceptable to close watchers of events around the county.
    This is sad as it betrays the desperation of Atiku who now wants the country to be set ablaze since it has become clear that he is likely to come a distant third in the election.
    “We wonder how he would react to the military disregarding his orders if he were the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.
    Benue state governor, Mr. Samuel Ortom, also asked the Army to disregard the President even though the same Army continues to save his state from the self-inflicted violence that has gripped the state.
    “The people he armed under the guise of being herdsmen had unleashed attacks on the state and it took the intervention of the Army to curtail them. One can only wonder what the outcome would have been if the Army had gone with his request not to shoot at anyone, even those that are carrying weapons just as would be ballot box snatchers will do.
    The confidence that the Coalition for Democracy and Good Governance has in the Army and the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai, has increased with the way he has handled the situation in which members of the opposition are asking him to politicize the military by siding with them and disregarding the directive from the C-in-C.
    “Our confidence is informed by the professionalism and apolitical nature of the current Nigerian Army under Lt. General Buratai.
    “We are pleased that he has made it amply clear that the Nigerian Army is not on sale to the highest bidder. The PDP and Atiku Abubakar should at this stage get the message clearly that the Army is not the same as some of the compromised electoral officers that trampled on patriotism upon being paid in dollars.
    “The Army is also not the same as foreign agents masquerading as foreign observers that shamelessly became the spokespersons for a corrupt opposition. Both classes of compromised persons are not interested in protecting the sovereignty and integrity of Nigeria, which the Army has sworn to protect and is doing a good job of.
    “General Buratai must however be wary as the PDP has continued to put officers under pressure of monetary and career inducement. He should leverage on intelligence reports to conduct hourly risk assessment until the elections are over. This is because the PDP has promised some officers in the Army dollar payment in six and seven digits once they agree to allow ballot snatching under their watch in contravention of President Buhari’s order. The contact persons that made these offers on behalf of Atiku has promised at least six different officers the position of COAS if they allow ballot box snatching and rigging so that Atiku can win.

    Read Also:Breaking: 12 presidential candidates back Buhari

    “This is why general Buratai’s charge to army personnel to be apolitical is timely but we urge him to back this up with proactive measures to identify anyone that contravenes his directives by hobnobbing with the PDP or its agents. The Army must also suspend its officers and personnel from having any interface with foreigners and foreign organizations as these so called foreign observers are being used to convey the PDP’s messages and offers to officers. They use avenues like break times during briefings and innocuous meetings to attempt recruiting members of the Armed Forces to take sides with the opposition.
    “Even as we urge General Buratai to exercise caution, we warm politicians, especially the opposition PDP to desist from dragging themselves into the administration of Nigerian Army and must cease their ongoing attempt to compromise the institution because there is a thin line between what they are attempting and treason. There is no provision in the Constitution that empowers the opposition to  dish out instruction to the Army neither does the opposition form part of the chain of command between the C-in- C, the Service Chiefs and the troops. The fact that the PDP, its presidential candidate and chieftains are attempting to compromise the Army therefore lends credence to earlier intelligence report that foreign agents have perfected a plan for the PDP to reject the outcome of the elections, declare a parallel government and get the backing of its foreign partners.
    “In view of the fact that the Army is a key institution in preventing ballot box snatching and averting a descent into chaos for the country, it will come under sustained attack aimed at intimidating its ranks and leadership to capitulate and become politicized. Nigerians must consequently be prepared to resist the attempt to destroy key institutions of the country by supporting the Army in its determination to protect the sovereignty of the country and to remain subordinated to constituted authority without any iota of disloyalty.
    The commendable arrests of troublemakers commissioned by dubious politicians to cause confusion must be sustained. The Army should not be deterred by the lies being told by those claiming that it is clamping down on the opposition. What is required of it is to maintain its apolitical stance by ensuring that anyone that foments trouble is made accountable for their actions.”

  • Elections: Adebutu, Kashamu PDP factions hold unification rally

    A unification rally was held at Ado-Odo Ota in Ogun state on Wednesday by two factions of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, led by Hon. Oladipupo Adebutu, aka Lado Group and Senator Kashamu Buruji, aka Omo Ilu Group in the state.

    The unification rally is aimed at ensuring unity and cohesion in Ado-Odo Ota Local Government, Ogun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) towards the 2019 General Elections, a

    Speaking to journalists at the rally, Chairman of Lado Faction in the local government, Alhaji Kabiru Salako said that the two factions had been working separately in the local government, but that the PDP is one.

    “The leaders of the PDP in Ado Odo Ota feel that we are one and we can work together. We told our people that we need to come together and we call the rally “Unification Rally.”

    “We want the people to know that the PDP in Ado Odo Ota is now one and we are working towards winning in the 2019 general elections. We have agreed and we have signed an MOU that we will collapse into any group that wins the election,” he said.

    The factional Chairman revealed that the factions would abide by the ruling of the court, which is expected before the end of January, 2019, and that the PDP is already an accepted party in the state.

    This was corroborated by the Chairman of Omo Ilu faction in Ado-Odo Ota, Hon. Monsuru Oloyede, who said that the “Unification Rally” was meant to unite the PDP in the local government.

    Read Also: Buhari, Tinubu, APC Presidential council meet in Aso Rock

    “The people out there want the PDP. We are all members of the PDP. What we want is for the PDP to win the 2019 elections.

    “We want the PDP to rule the state because the level of poverty of our people is much. We want to start from somewhere, others will join us later,” he said.

    Also speaking at the rally, the apex leader of the PDP in Ado-Odo Ota LG, Hon. (Chief) Alani Akinde stated that there had been problems amongst the Ladi Adebutu and Kashamu Groups of the party in the state.

    Akinde added that the rally was a product of an earlier meeting, but that they wanted the people to know what was going on, which he said was why the rally was organised, and that it would soon spread all over Ogun State.

    In his view, the House of Representatives candidate of the party from the local government under Lado Faction, Alhaji Sikiru Mustapha said that a house divided against itself could not stand.

    Mustapha stressed that they wanted to avoid what happened in Osun, Ekiti and Ondo State, where he said that the PDP lost to the All Progressives Congress (PDP) due to disunity and infighting.

    It will be recalled that the Adebutu and Kashamu factions have been on the way path over the candidates for all the elective positions in the state.

    The case is currently before a court of competent jurisdiction, which will determine the authentic faction between the two for the 2019 general elections.

    However, a meeting was held between the two factions in Ado-Odo Ota at the residence of Chief Alani Akinde on Wednesday 26th December, 2018.

    It was gathered that the leaders of the two factions agreed to unite so that the PDP could win the two assembly constituencies in Ado-Odo Ota, the House of Representatives and the Ogun West Senatorial seat, which Omo Ilu Faction zoned to Ado-Odo Ota, and which Ladi Faction zoned to Yewa South.

  • Kashamu rejects Adebutu-led PDP presidential campaign council

    The Ogun State governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Buruji Kashamu, has rejected another PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation (PDP PCO) chaired by a member of the House of Representatives, Oladipupo Adebutu.

    Kashamu described the new body as fake.

    In a statement in Ijebu-Igbo, Kashamu, who is the senator representing Ogun East, said the authentic PDP PCO, which he chairs, was inaugurated by the lawful Adebayo Dayo-led State Executive of the party on November 28.

    The statement reads: “The purported inauguration of another PDP PCO by the dissident group within the Ogun State PDP is most unfortunate. One is surprised that this is coming at a time well-meaning stakeholders are preaching reconciliation, peace and unity.

    “As a lawmaker, he should not portray himself as a lawbreaker. The only PDP chairman known to the law and major stakeholders within the Ogun State PDP is Adebayo Dayo.

    “Dayo, as the State Chairman of the PDP, presided over the State Congress where the governorship candidate of our party was elected in line with Section 25(1) of the PDP Constitution 2017 (as amended), which states: ‘There shall be a State Party Congress which shall consist of: The State Chairman who shall be the Chairman.’

    “Section 25(2C) states further: ‘The function of the State Congress shall be to: (c)     Elect Governorship candidates of the Party’, among others.”

    “Having emerged in line with the provisions of the Constitution of our great party, I am the governorship candidate known to the party, the law and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). It was in line with the decisions and guidelines released by the party that the governorship candidates should head the PDP PCO in their respective states that the party’s stakeholders chose me to lead the campaign in Ogun State.

    “So, any other person parading himself as the Chairman of the PDP PCO in Ogun State is an impostor and should be ignored.”

    Kashamu urged the security agencies and the national leadership of the party to call Adebutu to order before his importunate actions plunge the party and Ogun State into an unnecessary chaos and crisis.

    The senator also urged the national leadership of the party to be neutral wherever there are issues between contending interests within a political party.

    “The national leadership should be a father to all wherever there is a dispute between contending groups or forces within the party and not take side with one against the other since we are all members of the same family.”

  • Group set to launch grassroots campaign for Buhari

    As the presidential election gets closer,  a new political group has emerged to add value to the already electioneering campaigns being held by the Buhari presidential campaign.
    Report says there are plans to unveil a massive grassroots Campaign Platform for the reelection of President Muhammadu Buhari ahead of the 2019 Presidential election.
    The Campaign Platform according to our investigations is being coordinated by some Professionals, Human Rights Activists with well funding stature from top politicians drawn from within and outside the All Progressives Congress, APC.
    According to a reliable source, the group, which is set to be launched soon, is planning to mobilise Nigerians across the Civil Society, Professional Bodies, Faith based organizations and other political parties from all the States of the Federation including the Federal Capital territory FCT, for the reelection of President Buhari.
    The group according to our source, says it is currently recruiting independent volunteers across all polling units in the country, to serve as canvassers for President Buhari.
    It also said he is promising its support on the massive achievements recorded in the areas of the fight against corruption, infrastructural transformation, Human Rights, which it said climaxed with the administration’s recognition of the acclaimed winner of the June 12, 1993 Presidential election, Chief MKO Abiola.
    It is not clear if the new group has the backing of the Aso Rock Presidential Vila,  but the glamour and the steam of the campaign dominated mostly by the human rights activists from across the states with some APC and PDP Governors suggests that they meant business and will make it a grassroots base.

    Read Also:Campaign: Buhari departs for Lokoja APC Rally

    The new group among whom its arrowhead is an Ondo State Born, Abuja based Human Rights Lawyer, and who recently bagged a controversial Chieftaincy title in Yorubaland, also among the arrow heads are Former Governor, Deputy governors, Former National Chairman of Alliance for Democracy (AD) and leading political office holder of Buhari Government, but according to our source, the group enjoys the backing of some Private Sector Chieftains, Governors of the ruling APC  and some of their counterparts in the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
    Besides, former and serving Political office holders, Media practitioners and Civil Society actors are not left out as they are presently making contacts Nationwide, ahead of the official launch of the group.
    No date has been fixed for the debut,  it was  gathered in Abuja that the steam of work to be done to check the fast moving opposition PDP might have given birth to this new group.
    The president who has already kicked off his campaign in a few states,  need more hands to cover the remaining states which could require at least two states per day before the official close of electioneering campaign as contain in the electoral guidelines by the Independent National Electoral Commission,  INEC.
    When contacted to explain his role in the emerging Pro Buhari Campaign Organisation, the popular Human Rights Lawyer declined to make comments. He also said he has not made any categorical political decision in recent time, and that whenever such decisions are to be taken, He would naturally make such public.