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Tag: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)

Group to PDP: Stop insulting sensibility of Nigerians

The Buhari Media Support Group (BMSG) Wednesday told leaders of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to stop insulting the sensibility of Nigerians with their claims of fighting corruption and laying the foundation for Nigeria’s development when they actually laid the foundation for the current economic hardship the nation is passing through.

The group in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja said the PDP should stop laying claims to what it could not achieve in its 16 years in power, adding that it is a confirmation that the party is still in the business of insulting the sensibilities of Nigerians.

The group was reacting to the claims by officials of the PDP at its non-elective convention last weekend in Abuja, the group dismissed the party’s claim that it fought corruption within the 16 years that it was in power.

The statement which was signed by its Chairman, Hon Austin Braimoh and Secretary, Chief Cassidy Madueke, said after claiming to spend huge sums of money on power, it is now evident that what the PDP actually did was spent the nation’s hard earned money to procure darkness for Nigerians

The group said recent recoveries by the EFCC which showed that one person acquired enough money that could be used to build six airports, two long rail lines and implement huge agricultural projects that would have provided much-needed jobs for teeming Nigerian youth is a clear indication of how the PDP fought corruption in the country.

According to them, “This is money stolen by just one person during the President Jonathan’s administration. Only God knows what other PDP government officials did during the 16 years that that party held Nigerians to ransom’’.

They reminded the PDP of how former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria and now Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi was sacked for telling the entire nation during the Jonathan administration that about $20 Billion was missing from the nation’s treasury.

“There was massive looting going by the recoveries made by EFCC and these monies have been traced to the accounts of past PDP government officials. Nigerians now know the truth about what happened to their commonwealth’’, the statement said.

While asking the PDP to desist from insulting the intelligence of Nigerians, the group said that the maladministration that happened under the PDP watch resulted in the hardship and economic recession that the country and Nigerians are currently experiencing for which President Muhammadu Buhari is working hard to redress.

They wondered how a corrupt regimes of the PDP could claimed to have fought corruption by just setting up the ICPC and EFCC when it knew that both agencies served as a source of deceit in the sense that they were toothless bulldogs that could only bark and not bite.

They alleged that both the EFCC and ICPC were used by the PDP government to hunt down, harass and embarrass political opponents in its bid to retain power by all means, adding that it is now that both agencies have become alive to their responsibilities and the difference is clear.

The group argued further that the PDP deliberately failed to implement the use of the Treasury Single Account and the Bank Verification Number meant to track the movement of funds because it would have hooked the numerous crooks in the party who were into dubious transaction

The Buhari Media Support Group recalled that Nigeria lost so much revenue to illegalities at the nation’s ports where billions of dollars was lost to mid-stream discharge of cargo while corruption that held sway in the Nigeria Customs Service denied the nation of huge sums of revenue.

They stressed that after claiming that it spent trillions of Naira to improve power supply across the country, it has become obvious that the PDP paid for Nigeria and Nigerians to remain in darkness, adding that it is shocking that the PDP whose import list included tooth picks and other luxury goods could pride its regimes as the best that ever happened to the country.

“It is important to remind the party that evidence of infrastructural decay which include poor road networks, drop in the standard of education are still available. Meanwhile, the highest deceit was the convening of a national conference that gulped billions of Naira when it was obvious that the regime of Goodluck Jonathan had made up its mind not to implement the recommendations of the conference”, the group said

They claimed that under President Buhari, Nigeria has made significant economic gains among which include the implementation of TSA, increased revenue generation by the Nigeria Customs Service and Federal Inland Revenue Service and in-flow of Foreign Direct Investment.

August 16, 2017
PDP: We want reconciliation, not dissidents– Fayose

Gov. Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State on Wednesday said though the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was pursuing reconciliation among members, dissidents were not welcome.

Fayose said this in Ado-Ekiti at the reconciliation meeting for members from the Oyo and Osun chapters of the party.

The governor, who is the chairman of the reconciliation committee in the zone, said that the meeting was the outcome of the recently conducted non-elective national convention.

“The leaders have mandated us to bring on those who are ready to support our great party in the drive to chart a new way forward.

“In doing this, we won’t give room for dissidents to frustrate us and our efforts.

“ Some people are claiming to be members of our party and at the same time going to court to frustrate the party

“They tried unsuccessfully to stop the last convention using the court but they failed woefully.

“ There is no room for anybody who is one leg in and one leg out. It is either you are here or there

“I am sure no judge would allow himself to be used as a spoiler by some filthy politicians

“Sanctions will be imposed on errant members and those who are loyal party members and are working for the progress of the party have nothing to fear,’’ he said.

Fayose said that the success of the party’s non-elective convention was an indication that there was hope for a new Nigeria.

The opposition, the governor said, must be organised for the sake of democracy in the country.

“For us to be organised, we need to shift ground where necessary. Whoever loses out today, may win tomorrow

“In my situation, after leaving office, God still brought me here as the governor of my state.

“If President Goodluck Jonathan had won the second term, I may not be relevant like I am today.

“My appeal to you is that don’t allow anybody to use you for evil in our party,” he said.

NAN reports that those who spoke from the Oyo State delegation included Sen. Ayoade Adeseun and Mrs Bosede Adedibu.

The delegates from Oyo State pledged to go back home and reconcile, saying leaders in the state were already working on this.

The Zonal Publicity Secretary, Rev. Bunmi Jenyo, said he had no doubt that the committee would do a good job.

He appealed to leaders of the party in Osun to work together like they did during the last senatorial election.

August 16, 2017
PDP chairmanship: Babatope, others back Bode George

A chieftain of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Ebenezer Babatope, on Wednesday beat the drum for the party’s erstwhile National Vice-Chairman (South), Chief Olabode George as the national chairman.

Babatope told a news conference in Lagos that George was the “best man” that could pilot the affairs of the party “to a new and glorious beginning.”

The former Minister of Transport said George was a loyal, tested and a responsible party man and that he had the credentials to return the party to winning ways in 2019.

He said although the position had not been zoned to a particular area of the country, “it is only right and fair that the South-West to produce the chairman since it has not produced any since 1999.

“I stand here today in historic significance to testify to the truth and to affirm the righteous path.

“Our party, the PDP was in power for 16 years of unbroken democratic governance. In this particularization, every zone had enjoyed the helsmanship of our party leadership except the South-West.

“This is troubling, this is not fair, this is unacceptable,” Babatope said.

Babatope said he was leading a mobilisation support team for George based on his conviction and other southwest leaders in the ability of the party chieftain to lead the PDP.

Babatope, who described George as morally upright, noted that his conviction for corruption had been nullified by the Supreme Court which described his conviction as a “frame up”.

He called on party members in the zone to bury their hatchet and support the aspiration of George.

Former chairmen of the party in Ogun and Lagos State, Chief Joju Folarin and retired, also spoke in support of George for the chairmanship race, saying he has the track record.

August 16, 2017
Campaign Funds: EFCC hunts Gombe state govt

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is currently on the tracks of politicians indicted in cases of economic and financial crimes, the Commission’s Zonal Head of Operations, Northeast, Aminu Ado Aliyu has said.

The Commission started investigation sometime last year with the detention of one Mohammed Balbaya, Accountant, Gombe State Government House over the allegation of N388 million 2015 election campaign.

The funds was allegedly intended to compromise elections results in favour of the then ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

EFCC’s Zonal Head of Operations, Northeast, Aminu Ado Aliyu spoke in Gombe while fielding questions from newsmen shortly after a briefing on the zonal office’s achievements from January to the end of July this year.

He said the cases were under investigation and some of the investigations would soon be completed after which the press will be briefed.

“The investigation is still on, and very soon, it will get to the politicians. If you observed, we have been inviting some of the various security heads that were on ground during the elections.

“But for now, the Commission does not want to rush to the media and at the end, the indicted persons are not guilty,” he said.

The Commission’s Head of Public Affairs in the zonal office had in a press statement said that Mr. Mohammed Balbaya was interrogated over his role in the N338million campaign fund sent to the state.

The statement said Balbaya admitted to collecting the said money in cash from a Fidelity bank official in the state, as directed by Senator Saidu Umar Kumo, the Director-General of Governor Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo’s re-election campaign organization during the 2015 election.

It added that Balbaya said he contacted the Permanent Secretary and Principal Private Secretary to the governor of the state, Dr.Sani Jauro who directed him to share the money to the beneficiaries.

The Gombe State Government House Accountant however denied deriving personal benefit from the process.

The statement had said that the Gombe State Government House Accountant did not disclose who the beneficiaries were and the amount of money given to each individual or group, but that he gave useful information.

August 10, 2017
INEC registers 61,075 new voters in Kogi, says 282,747 PVCs uncollected

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it has registered 61,075 new voters in Kogi.

The State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Prof. James Apam, disclosed this on Wednesday in Lokoja at a meeting between the commission and leaders of political parties in the state.

He said that the new registrants were captured during the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise which started nationwide on April 7.

According to Apam, the voters comprised of 31,438 males and 29, 637 females.

The commissioner further stated that 2,189 cases of transfer of voter cards were treated while 3,060 damaged or defaced permanent voter cards were replaced for the owners.

He also explained that 8, 476 permanent voter cards were distributed within the same period.

Apam, however, said that 282,747 cards were still lying uncollected, pleading with the party leaders to help sensitise voters on the need to collect their cards.

In response to the increasing number of eligible voters turning out for the CVR, the REC said seven additional registration centres had been created across the three senatorial districts of the state.

According to him, the new registration centres are located at Zango Daji in Adavi Local Government, Ganaja in Ajaokuta Local Government, Obajana in Lokoja Local Government and Ojogu in Ankpa Local Government.

Others include Ayangba in Dekina Local Government and Akutupa-Kiri in Kabba/Bunu Local Government.

He also said INEC had set machinery in motion to improve on the electoral process and urged parties and their leaders to cooperate with the commission.

Apam also appealed to them to help INEC sustain the current impressive turn out of eligible voters for the ongoing registration.

The State Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr Bode Ogunmola, called on INEC to continue to be transparent and be fair in its handling of issues relating to the 2019 elections.

Also speaking, the state Chairman of the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN), Mr Ibrahim Itodo, urged party leaders to promote internal democracy in their respective parties.

He said that doing so would lead to a reduction in political violence and litigation.

The stakeholder meeting was attended by PDP, Labour Party, APGA, PPA, UPN and Young Democratic Party.

August 9, 2017
Anambra election: Incumbency won’t stop PDP – Oduah

Sen. Stella Oduah, who represents Anambra North in the Senate, on Wednesday said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would reclaim Anambra governorship seat in the election slated for November.

Oduah said in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that the power of incumbency would not stop the PDP from winning the election.

“PDP is a very dynamic party, so far they have not shown us who their candidate will be, but I am very sure that they are going to give to Anambra people a visionary candidate,“ she said.

According to her, the PDP will provide a visionary candidate who has clear and well thought out programme for the state.

“Yes the governor has done extremely well but it has to be a candidate that will do far better than what the governor has done so far.

“For Anambra people, education is very important, most importantly because Anambra is a commercial city, you must have a very dynamic leader to come and do that and it is only PDP that can produce such.

“Anambra is a PDP state any day any time; it is a state that believes in freedom, it believes in equality, it believes in zeal and tenacity of people. That is what PDP represents.

“PDP is a party that is fully republican; it is a party where aspirations and inspirations could be accomplished.

“If you have an election today, tomorrow or even in two weeks time, PDP will win,” she asserted.

Oduah said she remained in the PDP during the party’s internal crisis because “PDP remain the best party in the country.’’

The senator said she believe in the cardinal principles of the PDP where people do not require godfathers to win elective positions.

“It is only a party like the PDP that could have gone through the challenges it went through and still survive.

“It is because of the dynamics and strength of PDP that the party was able to go through what they went through and still survive.

“We have grown much stronger, after the congress, after the convention, you will see very strong PDP,’’ she said.

August 9, 2017
Anambra 2017: PDP’s Obaze unveils manifesto, promises economic viability

Mr Oseloka Obaze, a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) gubernatorial aspirant in the Nov.18 governorship election in Anambra has said that if elected, his administration would be premised on principles for good governance and economic viability.

In the manifesto, entitled “Anambra Deserves Better’’, which was made available to newsmen on Friday in Awka, Obaze disclosed that his administration would be hinged on “authentic continuity, good governance, public ownership, inclusive governance and free press’’.

He added that that he was on a mission of one term of four years service to the state as governor.

Obaze, an advocate for Good Governance and a Policy Consultant, said that he had identified 15 core areas that encompass activities and the benefits to be delivered to the people and would tackle that proactively.

He noted that the core areas were in line with the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations.

Obaze said: “I hereby set out my core compact with Ndi Anambra’’, consisting of five basics principles predicated on globally accepted best practices of good governance.

“Since the essence of governance is to serve the people, I have also identified 15 core areas encompassing activities and deliverables which my government must tackle proactively in the public interest in these four years I intend to serve.

“These are in tandem with the U.N. SDGs,’’ he said.

The former diplomat promised to re-enact the Anambra Integrated Strategy (ANIDS) of former Gov. Peter Obi to implement the SDGs policy in the state.

According to him, he will provide authentic continuity and consolidation in development, finance, economy, infrastructure, education and health gains made by successive governments in Anambra, especially the Peter Obi administration.

“I promise to ensure stability, civility, frugality, transparency, political tolerance, diverse views at all levels and public expenditure will be result-based and project-driven.

“I will uphold the bond of performance between the government and its people, provide and deliver proactively through adaptive leadership, adequate, efficient and effective delivery of infrastructure.

“My government will insist on inclusivity, rule of law, transparency, responsiveness, equity, accountability, and strategic vision with a view to bridging the trust gap between the people and the government.

“It is my belief that Anambra Government must belong to Ndi Anambra; I offer to translate the viewpoint, values and needs of Ndi Anambra to core policies that serve collective interest and guarantee equity at all levels,’’ he said.

Obaze said that representation in government would reflect gender balance, equity, non-partisanship and based on clear merit.

“My government will promote the respect for the various branches and tiers of government and support the oversight responsibilities of the legislature, independence of the judiciary and the autonomy of the local government.

“Local Government Elections in the state would be promptly conducted to introduce and support the Charter of Townships and conversion of the present Town Union President-General System to a more operational, self-supporting and self-accounting to enhance grassroots governance and development.

“Finally, freedom of expression, access to information will be guaranteed with a view to making government business less opaque; we will make government and its business more transparent and accountable,’’ he said.

He said that if elected governor, he would send an Executive Bill to the Anambra State House of Assembly that would underline the rights of public access to information.

“In this context, every person shall have a right of access to information without prejudice to state security.’’

August 4, 2017
I am APC member ‘body and spirit’ – Saraki

President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, said contrary to insinuations, he was a full member of All Progressives Congress (APC) and remained there “body and spirit’’.

Saraki said at the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Forum in Abuja that the speculations were part of the mischievous activities against him and urged the public the discountenance them.

He said that those spreading such information were doing so as propaganda for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Saraki, however, blamed the development on inactivity in the APC, saying that the party’s leadership had failed to focus it properly.

He, therefore, charged the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party to wake up to its responsibility as it had remained without activities for too long.

The president of the senate said that the docility in the party was giving room for unfounded allegations against some of its members.

According to him, if the party had organised regular NEC meetings and other caucus meetings, there would have been enough activities to determine who the true members are.

“I think there is no APC member that will tell you he is happy with the state of affairs of the party; there is a lot of work that we need to do.

“The party that hasn’t met for a long time, it’s beyond comprehension and I think that we should all quickly put that in order and start to get NEC, caucus and others going.

“We need to start early to get the drive in the party back.

“Luckily, in spite of the lack of meetings here and there, if you go round the 36 states, it is in just few states, not many states, where you may see internal crisis.

“It’s not that the party, at the grassroots level, had a lot of crisis here and there; it’s just for the administrative aspect and the national executive to provide leadership.’’

Saraki also said that if there had been meetings of the party, his detractors would have seen how actively involved he was in the party “and will not have any room to spread such lies’’.

“They are just using that to do a propaganda for PDP. Where are they seeing that I am not in the party in spirit? Where is the spirit they are judging from, where are they seeing the spirit?

“That is why I am saying that the reason for all that speculation is because the party is docile, because the party is dormant.

“If the party goes back to what we all know that every month, we hold NEC meeting, you have caucus, they will stop all these `spirit’ and no `spirit’ thing.

“It is not that they have had a meeting and you didn’t see me, and then, you can say that yes, my spirit is not there.

“I can’t call a meeting of the party. I have expressed my view and the responsibility of calling a party for a meeting is that of those who we elected as party officials” he explained.

On the allegation that his emergence as president of the senate was an affront to the party, Saraki said that he had kept the wishes of the party, including zoning of senate president’s position.

He stated that at the last meeting of the party held over zoning of national offices, the position of president of the senate was zoned to the North-Central.

“It was after that the party started to do different things, shifting its position.

“The point I’m making is that that’s over two years ago; two years now, is that the reason why the party cannot hold meetings?

“My own point is that the executive of the party just needs to wake up and start managing the party.

“There is no day when I see the party chairman that I don’t tell him, ‘Mr Chairman, we must put the party in focus’.

“The rules of the party also give you room by which you can call a meeting, but I think we have not got to that point yet.

“I think we should do it in a smooth manner, but what I want to assure you is that the foundation is still strong. If there were crisis all over the place, that would have been a different matter,” he said.

Saraki expressed hope that the party would hold its mini-convention as scheduled as delegates had been elected on Saturday.

“You will see that after the mini-convention, all that speculation of body here, spirit there, would go away,” he said.

August 3, 2017
VON DG decries statement by Clark, urges him to support Buhari

Director-General, Voice of Nigeria (VON), has decried the ultimatum given by Ijaw National Leader, Chief Edwin Clark, to the Federal Government to constitute negotiation team on Niger Delta’s demands.

Okechukwu told newsmen on Wednesday in Abuja that rather than engage inn propaganda, Clark should support President Muhammadu Bahari’s administration to develop Nigeria.

Clark had at a news conference recently, asked the Federal Government to, as a matter of urgency, constitute a negotiation team to engage in talks with the Niger Delta stakeholders before Aug.1.

The Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) leader had warned that youths of the region were becoming impatient over delay in the talks and would return to hostility after the date.

But, Okechukwu advised Clark to ask senators from Niger Delta what was delaying the signing of the loan to start projects in the region as promised by the Federal Government.

He added that the Buhari government was working to ensure the delivery of true democratic dividends to Nigerians.

Okechukwu said that Nigerians had the right to vote out the APC government in 2019 if they were not satisfied with its performance.

“We were given a four-year tenure to start with, and if it suits the Nigerian people, they will re-elect the APC and President Muhammadu Buhari again or any other candidate in the APC.

“I was not very impressed with Chief Clark, a man I have respect for, because he is sounding as if everybody is opposed to devolution of power’’.
Okechukwu noted that that Clark during the PDP administration, had the opportunity to better the lots of the people of Niger Delta, but never did.

He said that the elder statesman rather “started building a private university, married a new wife and was enjoying himself without showing seriousness in matters affecting the region and its people.

He maintained that Buhari’s administration, though inherited almost a failed state, determined to first, restructure the countr’s sub-structure.

According to him, most states’ governments are salaries and pension arrears for 18 months when the administration came in.

The VON director-general said the Buhari administration had within two years of its tenure, spent about N1trillion in bail-out funds to address issues of salary arrears in states.

He added that the administration through a 500 million dollars foreign loan, rehabilitated roads in the Niger Delta when Clark never remembered to fix.

“Clark was there on May 13, 2010 in President Jonathan’s regime when the Minister of Finance and Economy Co-ordinator, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Eweala, told Nigerians that they had awarded 23 billion dollars for three refineries.

“The refineries were to be in Bayelsa, Lagos and in Kogi states; we didn’t see the 23 billion dollars and we didn’t see the refineries, “Okechukwu stated.

He said the Clark should be asked where the three refineries were and why the East-West road was not completed and the coast line not done as promised by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) government.

Speaking on the current agitation for the restructuring of the country, Okechukwu said; “we are all committed to restructuring the country, but we are saying we are starting with the restructuring of the sub-structures.

“The APC has also set up different committees to look at this restructuring issue, it is not that we are running away from it, so let no one pull the roof down with propaganda,” he said.

According to him, the PDP which was in power for 16 years, never sincerely advocated for restructuring of the country

He, therefore, stressed that Clark and other statesmen and Nigerians should continue to support Buhari for the solid foundation he was laying to return Nigerian.s to prosperity.

August 3, 2017
Rescue Kaduna chapter, Sen. Sani urges APC leadership

A member of the National Assembly, Sen. Shehu Sani, has called on the national leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to rescue the party’s Kaduna chapter from imminent destruction.

He made the call while speaking with newsmen on Monday in Abuja, after a closed-door meeting with National Chairman of APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun.

Sani, who represents Kaduna Central in the Senate, was in company with some APC members in Kaduna, including Sen. Suleiman Hunkuyi (Kaduna North) to the meeting with the national chairman.

He condemned Saturday’s local government elections in the state, saying that it did not hold.

Sani alleged that the delegates list for the election was doctored and did not follow due process.

“They sat down in the palace of their gods to write names and send it down here for us to accept; that can never happen,” he said.

He said that such practice contributed to the problems of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and warned that the APC could go the same way if its leadership failed to address the problem.

“This was the seed of the destruction of the PDP, where individuals considered themselves as gods and any other person a slave; that will never happen in Kaduna state.

“We are here to present our case and to appeal to the instrument of leadership of this party to intervene in the Kaduna issue before it becomes too late.

“We are here to also state it to the party´s national leadership that we are under siege in Kaduna

“The use of thugs and violence by agents and close associates of the state government is one thing we cannot tolerate,” Sani said.

He decried the recent raiding of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) secretariat in Kaduna by thugs during a press briefing after the councils’ election, during which journalists were injured.

He said that such was the trait of the APC, and urged its leadership to should set up an investigation panel to bring the perpetrators of the disturbances.

The lawmaker alleged that the thugs were acting in concert with the police in the state.

“If we continue on this part, where one person feels he is a god, I think we are simply repeating the very problem that destroyed the party we ejected out of power,” he said.

He maintained that there was a need for APC to provide the vehicle for real change for the country to change and tasked members to change the manner they played politics.

Sani stressed that those who resolved to the use of violence or thugs to liquidate perceived political opponent were on the wrong side of history.

He said that members of his faction of the party in the state were not agents of violence but were loyal and peaceful.

He insisted that if the APC must win the 2019 election, it must apart from fulfilling its campaign promises, set an example for discipline, comradeship and a sense of belonging to all members.

Sani said that what was happening in the party´s leadership in the state was unbecoming and should be addressed before it became late.

He appealed to those in authority to know that the God that brought the APC to power was still alive and will always listen to the cries of the oppressed and marginalised.

“We are here in the spirit of that, and we hope that we will get the cooperation of the national party´s leadership to come to the rescue of the party in Kaduna before it is too late,” he said.

August 1, 2017