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Tag: PDP

  • Fear in Cross River for senatorial candidate

    Fear in Cross River for senatorial candidate

    The Northern Senatorial District of Cross River State is in confusion over the whereabouts of the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the district, Mrs Rose Oko.

    Mrs Oko, who represents the Ogoja/Yala Federal Constituency, has not been seen in public for months.

    She picked the PDP ticket during the primary election in what many from the area described as controversial.

    Mrs Oko has not been in the state even before the party elections and rumors were strong she was ill and receiving treatment abroad.

    There has been anger in the district in the past few days, with people feeling she was foisted on them by the state leadership despite rumors that she was not available.

    The state chairman of the PDP, Mr John Okon, said: “I can tell you that Hon. Rose Oko is in London and I have spoken with her. So, she is not dead though she had a successful treatment and she is now in London recuperating. Besides, I can assure you that she will win her election.”

    An indigene of Yala Local Government Area, Emmanuel Ogar, said: “It is a simple matter. She should just make a public appearance to dispel all doubts.”

     

  • APC’s criticism of Jonathan’s agric policy wicked, says PDP

    APC’s criticism of Jonathan’s agric policy wicked, says PDP

    THE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has described as highly despicable and deceitful, the attempt by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to distort the facts on verifiable achievements of President Goodluck Jonathan in agriculture.

    A statement yesterday by the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, said it was unfortunate that the APC had deliberately refused to accept the successes recorded in agriculture under President Jonathan as demonstrated in the increase in domestic food production for which the nation has received international applause.

    The statement reads: “That President Goodluck Jonathan has repositioned the agricultural sector from the traditional subsistence occupation to an investment-driven, wealth and job-creating sector that guarantees food security remains incontrovertible and no amount of lies from APC propaganda machine can distort this fact.

    “Why should the APC seek to distort the fact that under the President, Nigeria has expanded domestic production by additional 21 metric tonnes to exceed its 20 million metric ton target set for 2015, a feat which earned the nation a special award by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations?

    “What has APC to say to the fact that under Jonathan, over 2.7 million farm jobs have been created, boosting production in various agricultural sub-sectors to rank our great country as one of the biggest food producers in Africa?

    “Should the APC be unhappy that under President Jonathan, genuine Nigerians farmers now have direct access to fertilisers, seedlings and other farm inputs through special intervention initiatives such as the e-wallet system, which allows as much as 14 million farmers to access fertilisers directly using their mobile phones?

    “Should the APC be unhappy that millions of our farmers have been empowered to enjoy bumper harvest and that private sector investments are thriving as a result of the investment-friendly environment created by the Jonathan administration?

    “What has the APC to say to the massive investments in staple food production, including the 105,000 metric tonnes capacity integrated rice mill commissioned by President Jonathan at Olams rice farm in Rukubi, Doma, Nasarawa State, as well as the investment of $1 billion in commercial rice production and processing by the Dangote Group with the encouragement of the Federal Government?”

    The ruling party urged the APC to stop what it described the opposition’s negative approach to Jonathan’s glaring achievements to enhance its campaign, saying wisdom demanded that the opposition should learn to be silent if it has nothing tangible to say

  • Panic in PDP as Amaechi woos Lamido for Buhari

    Panic in PDP as Amaechi woos Lamido for Buhari

    Rivers, Jigawa governors hold talks in Dutse

    There was panic yesterday in the Presidency and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) following a secret meeting between Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido and All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council Director-General Rotimi Amaechi.

    The meeting was held in Dutse, the Jigawa State capital,  between Saturday night and yesterday.

    Lamido, who is PDP candidate President Goodluck Jonathan’s Northwest campaign coordinator, and the Rivers State governor were on the same side during the disputed Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) election.

    It was learnt that Amaechi was in Dutse, the Jigawa State capital, on the invitation of his colleague. He arrived at the Jigawa Government House at about 9pm on Saturday.

    A source said the two governors held talks late into the night at the Presidential Lodge in the Government House, where Ameachi passed the night. They met again at about 10:05am yesterday for more talks, which ended at about 11:30am.

    After the meeting, Lamido, who wore a blue dress and a blue cap to match, drove himself in a Peugeot 206 car. He declined reporters’ question as he returned to his official residence.

    Ameachi, who drove himself in a black Toyota Landcruiser with few escorts to the Government House, also declined comment on his mission.

    When reporters approached him for his comments, he said: “You can see me driving. I’m busy, I can’t talk now. Good bye.”

    Lamido is believed to be lukewarm towards the PDP presidential campaign.

    He even gave conditions to join the team, saying the President must rein in the ex-militants and Chief Edwin Clark who have been beating drums of war in the name of support for Dr. Jonathan.

    The ex-militants remain unrepentant, vowing to go to war should the President lose the February 14 poll.

    The fears of the Presidency and PDP border on likely protest votes in Jigawa State against Dr. Jonathan.

    But the National Publicity Secretary of PDP, Chief  Olisa Metuh, said the party had a feeling that Amaechi went to Dutse as part of consultations to return to the party.

    He said all the governors and others who defected from PDP to APC were not feeling at home in the opposition party.

    The Presidency and the PDP were “caught unawares” by Amaechi’s visit to Dutse.

    It was learnt that the shock was more profound because Lamido did not hint Jonathan and Vice-President Namadi Sambo about what a Presidency source described as a “nocturnal visit” – about 12 days to the election.

    A highly-placed source said: “ The Presidency and the PDP were jolted because the meeting between Lamido and Amaechi came barely few hours after the flawed rally in Kaduna State.

    “In fact, at the Kaduna rally, Lamido, who is the zonal coordinator of the PDP Presidential Campaign Council, was unusually silent and moody. We were all curious but we attributed his mood to campaign fatigue.

    “Everyone is running helter-skelter to get in touch with Lamido on what actually transpired between him and Amaechi.

    “But going by the fact that the nation is in election mood, we are suspecting that it might be about the presidential poll.”

    A source in the party said: “We are suspecting that this are last-minute wooing of Lamido by the APC is for swinging of votes for the opposition during the presidential poll.

    “Some of our leaders, who met on the issue, ruled out Lamido joining APC. But there can be protest votes in the state against the President on February 14.

    “You know Lamido is an ardent loyalist of ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo and you know the apparent disposition of the former President to Jonathan. Some are suspecting that Obasanjo might have a hand in the meeting.”

    Vice President Namadi Sambo was last night said to be looking into the “circumstances behind the meeting.”

    Attempts to get the reaction of Sambo’s camp were unsuccessful last night. One of his trusted aides sent a text message: “Sorry, I cannot talk right now”.

    Metuh underplayed the meeting, saying: “It is possible Amaechi went to discuss with Lamido on how to return to PDP.

    “We have feedback that all our governors and members who defected to APC are uncomfortable in the opposition party. They want to come back to PDP. So, the meeting might be one of such moves. Maybe Amaechi wants to come back to PDP.”

  • ‘Count PDP, Jonathan out of ex-militants’ threats’

    ‘Count PDP, Jonathan out of ex-militants’ threats’

    The Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Board of Trustees (BoT), Senator Walid Jibril, at the weekend, said the party and President Goodluck Jonathan have no hands in the threat being issued by ex-militants that there will be mayhem should the president failed to win the February 14 presidential election.

    Jibril noted that as a supporter of Jonathan, he would not like anybody to spoil his chance, saying the trio of Alhaji Mujahideen Asari-Dokubo, Victor Ben Ebikabowei (Boy Loaf), Government Ekpudomenowei (Tompolo) were speaking for themselves.

    He added that what they said did not represent the views of the Southsouth people as well.

    Jibril, who spoke with The Nation at the weekend, maintained that the PDP would not support any statement that would lead to the nation’s breakup, no matter who ever made the statement.”

    “I don’t think such statements are good enough to assist the President. Therefore, I regard their statements as personal and has nothing to do with PDP, because PDP will never make such statement or encourage that kind of statement.

    “I call on the supporters of PDP and those working for the re-election of President Jonathan to mind what they say. They should be very careful with their utterances. We are not at war and nobody should plan to separate Nigeria. We should strive to support Goodluck Jonathan because he is a very careful and simple person.

    “He will not encourage break-away and he will not encourage anarchy. He will never encourage abuse of people; he is a gentle man,” the PDP BOT secretary said.

  • Odigie-Oyegun: PDP is scared

    Odigie-Oyegun: PDP is scared

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, said yesterday that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was scared of the likely result of the February 14, 2015 elections, stressing that President Goodluck Jonathan and his party’s leaders were, therefore, resorting to blackmail.

    Odigie-Oyegun, who spoke at a luncheon he organised for APC leaders in Edo South, said the handwriting was clear that President  Jonathan and PDP would lose the presidential election.

    He said in 16 years of PDP government, Jonathan’s six-year rule brought untold hardship and divisions to Nigerians.

    The APC National Chairman urged Nigerians to take their destiny in their hands by using their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) to chase PDP government out of power on February 14.

    Odigie-Oyegun said his emergence as the country’s biggest opposition party’s chairman was divine to bring the much-needed change.

    His words: “President Goodluck Jonathan and PDP are scared of the February 14 presidential election. It is obvious to them that they will definitely lose this election.

    “Jonathan is using all means through unknown people to scuffle the elections. But I can assure you that elections will hold and we will defeat them.

    “I’m shocked by the kind of crowd I see in our various campaign grounds. For now, we have secured over 20 million votes. In Bayelsa and Kaduna states, we will defeat Jonathan and Sambo.”

    Also speaking, a party national leader and former National Chairman of CPC, Chief Tony Momoh, said all that is left of PDP was carcass, saying: “All the good hands in this country are in APC.”

    He pleaded with the people of Edo State and Nigerians not to waste their votes for President Jonathan and PDP, adding that the President admitted few days ago in Rivers State that he had failed the Niger Delta people for not impacting on the region in the last six years.

  • Aregbesola: APC won’t leave any seat for PDP in Osun

    Aregbesola: APC won’t leave any seat for PDP in Osun

    •Governor leads APC candidates to communities

    Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola has said the All Progressives Congress (APC) will not concede any seat to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in this month’s State and National Assembly elections, as it did in 2011.

    The governor spoke at the weekend in Iwo Federal Constituency at the beginning of his campaigns for APC candidates.

    The campaign tour took Aregbesola to Iwo, Ola Oluwa and Ayedire local governments areas.

    He told the huge crowds at Iwo Ogbagba, Telemu Ile Ogbo and Oluponna that the Yoruba never had anything in common with anti-progressive parties.

    Aregbesola said the Yoruba had always pitched their tents with the progressives since the First Republic.

    The governor noted that 16 years under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Nigeria had not led to national progress but retrogression.

    He urged the electorate in the local government areas and other parts of the state to vote for APC candidates.

    Aregbesola also urged the residents of Osun West l Senatorial District to vote for Isiaka Adeleke (Senate) and Abdulgahafar Amere (House of Representatives).

    The governor canvassed votes for House of Assembly candidates – Akinloye Ajibola, for Ola Oluwa; Leke Ogunshola, for Aiyedire and Abdulahi Gbadebo, for Iwo  – for effective representation and good governance.

    He stressed that APC’s victory in last August 9 governorship election in the state would be boosted when the party wins all the seats in the National Assembly’s poll.

    Aregbesola urged the people to vote massively for APC presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari, on February 14.

    The governor noted that the change Nigerians were clamouring for could only be achieved when a progressives’ party is in power.

    He said: “I want to use this opportunity to thank you for standing behind us during the last August 9 governorship election.

    “We have again come back to solicit your support in ensuring that we maintain a clean slate in the presidential and legislative elections.

    “We are confident that with all we have done in the last four years, which to us is just a tip of the iceberg, contrary to insinuations that work has stopped, the state will begin to witness the completion of ongoing projects and the introduction of new ones, where necessary.

    “The state and the party will achieve more, if we have quality representations in our House of Assembly and the Houses of Representatives and the Senate.

    “…We implore you, who have not collected your Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) to do so.”

    On the campaign tour with Aregbesola were: Adeleke, Amere; the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alhaji Moshood Adeoti; former Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs. Mofolake Adegboyega and the Director, Bureau of Communication and Strategy, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon.

  • I did well in Senate, says PDP candidate Folarin

    I did well in Senate, says PDP candidate Folarin

    Oyo State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate Senator Teslim Folarin has described his scorecard at the Senate as commendable.

    The PDP candidate said he did not believe in making a show of his projects because they were built with the government’s money.

    He said the projects were the right of his constituents.

    Folarin addressed reporters yesterday in his Ibadan home.

    The PDP candidate urged Oyo State residents to vote for the party in this month’s general elections to enable them enjoy dividends of democracy.

    The former Senate Leader said he facilitated the construction of a comprehensive hospital at Olode and Pade, in Egbeda Local Government Area.

    He said the hospitals were well equipped, adding that the state government had not maintained it well.

    Folarin said besides the hospitals, 7.5 kilometres of road was tarred in Sanusi Ishola to link Oyo and Ogbomoso road through his influence.

    The senator said he facilitated the construction of many other roads in that community, including the Awe-Ilora road and the Olubadan-Gbagi-Monatan expressway, which links Iwo Road and Olode in Ibadan area.

    Folarin said he built many classrooms in his constituency, adding that the projects were on ground for the people to verify.

    The PDP candidate said over 100 communities enjoyed his boreholes and over 52 communities also benefited from his electrification project.

    He said he donated 500KVA transformers to 15 communities and tarred many roads and fitted them with streetlights in Egbeda Local Government Area.

    Folarin said he built classrooms in the 11 local government area under his constituency and gave bursary to some students.

    He said: “I did a lot of projects when I was in the Senate. The state government does not have the kinds of hospital we influenced here.

    “Olode used to be a remote area without a health centre before we facilitated a comprehensive hospital there. Pade is a village of a former governor. Another hospital was also cited there with full facilities. Go and confirm these.”

  • Osun APC decries PDP’s plot ahead of tribunal’s verdict

    Osun APC decries PDP’s plot ahead of tribunal’s verdict

    The Osun State All Progressives Congress (APC) has decried what it called the plot by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to mislead the people ahead of the judgment of the Justice Elizabeth Ikpejimi-led Election Petition Tribunal in a petition filed by PDP’s candidate, Iyiola Omisore challenging the victory of Governor Rauf Aregbesola in last August 9 governorship election.

    Addressing reporters yesterday in Osogbo, the state capital, APC’s Publicity and Strategy Director Kunle Oyatomi said it was necessary to clarify issues on the tribunal’s last sitting to properly educate the public.

    Oyatomi ssaid: “As we speak, some people still live in the illusion that Senator Omisore has been declared winner of last August 9 governorship election. They claimed that this victory was earned from the so-called judgment of the Election Petition Tribunal.”

    According to him, the Election Petition Tribunal has not given judgment on Omisore’s petition.

    The APC spokesman explained that at the tribunal’s last sitting, it adjourned indefinitely to give the judgment on the petition.

    Oyatomi said: “No time has yet been fixed for the judgment. The PDP and its agents were only luxuriating in falsehood and making themselves a laughing stock when they led ignorant and ill-informed Osun State residents into the street, jubilating over a phantom victory they claimed on the day the tribunal adjourned.

    “The fact of the matter is that the PDP virtually abandoned its case at the tribunal. First, the party boasted that it had over 1,000 witnesses to support its petition. But when proceedings began in court, the witnesses shrank to 500 and by the end of their presentation, it called only 43 witnesses.

  • Lawmaker accuses PDP of defacing APC campaign posters

    Lagos State House of Assembly Deputy Speaker Kolawole Taiwo has accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of removing All Progressives Congress (APC) campaign posters on the highways.

    The APC chieftain said the act was barbaric and unforunate.

    He said: “It is unfortunate that the PDP is turning Nigeria into a jungle where anything happens. It is unfortunate that this is happening in Lagos State.

    “The Federal Government does not have the power to remove posters on the highways. They are behaving as if there is no tomorrow. I know they have failed. There is nothing they can do to win the support of Lagosians because the people know their leaders.”

    The Deputy Speaker said instead of removing and defacing APC posters on the highways, the PDP should have liaised with the Lagos State Signage and Advertisement Agency (LASSA), which would have guided the opposition on how to handle its posters.

    Taiwo said: “I also took permission from the agency before I pasted my posters. The PDP has also been pasting its candidates’ posters on Lagos roads.”

    The lawmaker urged politicians to play the game with maturity.

  • PDP leaders oppose Mimiko’s nominee for Jonathan’s campaign

    PDP leaders oppose Mimiko’s nominee for Jonathan’s campaign

    Another crisis is brewing between leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State and Governor Olusegun Mimiko, following the selection of Mr. Tokunbo Modupe as the director-general of the President Goodluck Jonathan/Namadi Sambo Campaign Committee.

    Mimiko at the weekend inaugurated the committee, which is expected to begin campaign in the local governments today.

    The aggrieved leaders from the old PDP camp, led by the governorship candidate in the 2012 election, Chief Olusola Oke,  vowed to shun the campaigns, if the governor failed to make amends.

    During Jonathan’s last week’s campaign, he said there was crisis in the party, urging Mimiko to work with Oke and Jimoh Ibrahim to ensure peace.

    Oke, addressing reporters, said he and other leaders were neglected in the selection and inauguration of the committee.

    He said: “The governor, despite appeals and entreaties that he should do otherwise, is behaving like a sole administrator and an emperor who sees all of us as conquered people.

    “I have the mandate of a large section of our party and I speak on their behalf to reject the campaign committee as inaugurated, especially the director-general. He is unacceptable. I am not speaking alone but on behalf of members, who are desirous to see us win the election for Mr. President.

    “The governor is deliberately undermining the strength of our party and the chances of President Jonathan. I wonder why anybody, who says he wants victory for the President, would want to cause problems for a party that has been positioned for victory.”

    At the inauguration, the governor urged committee members to deliver the one million votes target for the party, saying he had confidence in Modupe.

    Mimiko noted that members were selected by the state Chairman of the party, Mr. Clement Faboyede, enjoining them to educate their supporters to collect their permanent voter card (PVC). He described it as their electoral power to re-elect Jonathan.