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Tag: President Muhammadu Buhari

  • Osinbajo won’t be distracted, says Presidency

    The Presidency on Wednesday said that recent attempts to smear the person of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo will not distract him from empowering and protecting Nigerians in line with the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.
    This was contained in a statement issued by the Presidential Aide on Political Matters, Senator Babafemi Ojudu.
    The statement reads “Recent desperate attempts to smear the person and reputation of the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo will not deter or distract him or the Buhari administration from the work of protecting and empowering every Nigerian.”
    He said the recent NEMA probe report which social media account say may have been outlined at that meeting in a foreign country, was one of such efforts plotted to attack the Buhari administration by tarnishing the image of the Vice President.
    He said “We have read reports in the media that the meeting in a foreign country of the major opposition party was centered on trying to attack the Buhari administration by targeting the Vice President using different tactics.
    “It is now evident through the NEMA report, that the opposition is indeed making frantic efforts to tarnish the image of the Vice President,” he said.
    He explained that even after Hon. Ali Isa, the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Emergency and Disaster Preparedness had publicly admitted that the Vice President was not mentioned in the report, the opposition still found it expedient to continue, baselessly, to attack the reputation of Prof. Osinbajo by claiming without proof or evidence that fraud was committed in the N5.8b Emergency Food Intervention Fund for North-East.
    Giving more insights on the issue, Sen. Ojudu said, contrary to insinuations in some quarters, there were no violations in approval of N5.8b Emergency Food Intervention Fund for North-East and the then Acting President did no wrong in approving fund for the emergency intervention.
    He said that the presidential approvals were well within the clear constitutional authority of the then Acting President.
    “First of all, the action was in response to the threat of hunger and starvation based on strong warning received from the United Nation World Food Programme in April, 2017. The organization had issued a warning that it would be reducing its vital support to about 1.8 million IDPs by as much as 85%, due to the corresponding reduction in funding by the donor countries. Around the same time, the United Nations Commission for Refugees in Geneva also warned of the growing risk of mass deaths from starvation among people living in the conflict areas.
    “Secondly, it is also important to note that the procurement process was not ignored in the release of funds, as alleged. Section 43 of the Public Procurement Act makes provision for emergency procurement, in which case the procuring entity is allowed to engage in direct contracting for goods and file a report thereafter with the Bureau of Public Procurement.
    “Also, the BPP issued a ‘certificate of no objection’ to NEMA on the emergency procurement, and this addresses all issues relating to the alleged breach of due process,” Sen. Ojudu said.
    The presidential aide said the action of the opposition in the ensuing political drama indicates that the NEMA probe report is being politicized and only a lame attempt at ruining the good works of the Buhari administration.
    He said the Vice President will however not be distracted by the naysayers’ actions to discourage the Buhari administration from providing for the common man or to abandon the Social Investment Programme which it has budgeted half a trillion for in the past two years.
    He said that the administration will continue to cater for Nigerians especially those at the bottom of the ladder, regardless of the antics of the opposition party.
    “We know what is happening, but the administration will not be distracted. Our goals and objectives to put Nigeria on the solid path of greatness is now unstoppable and Prof. Osinbajo will not relent in that effort,” he said

  • Budget delay: All federal projects in Southeast will be funded – Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari has assured that all ongoing federal projects in the South East will be funded, saying that the seven-month delay in passing this year’s budget will not serve as an excuse.

    The president gave the assurance during a meeting with South-East Governors and Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, on Wednesday at State House, Abuja.

    He pledged that the Federal Government would sustain the support to the South-East in terms of infrastructure.

    ‘‘I assure you that we are doing our best and will not default on the agreements signed on ongoing projects,’’ the president told the delegation, led by Deputy Senate President Ekweremadu.

    He explained that part of the noticeable problems in the delay in the execution of the capital projects was caused by the budget hold-up.

    He said: ‘‘When you sign, and you don’t pay, they (contractors) can legally jerk up their costs. This is part of the problem.

    ‘‘The infrastructure budget is a deficit budget. The borrowing plan was only approved three weeks ago and all ministers and departments of government have been instructed to forge ahead. We must not find excuses for delaying the projects.

    ‘‘Developing infrastructure is the best thing we can do. When the roads are okay, the rails are established and there is power, Nigerians will flourish in their businesses.’’

    On the undulating surface of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, the President assured that it would be addressed in the new budget.

    He also spoke of government’s serious interest in the new Port-Harcourt-Maiduguri standard gauge railway which traverses several states, including those in the South East.

    President Buhari was accompanied to the meeting by the Secretary to the Government, Boss Mustapha and some cabinet ministers, including that of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi and Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola.

    The president responded from point to point on all the issues raised by the governors, to their satisfaction.

    The Minister of Transportation gave assurance that this project, the single most costly rail project at 12 billion dollars, would soon be coming to the Federal Executive Council (FEC).

    The Ministers were directed to follow up with the private sector on key projects in the region, including the South East Dry Port and the Geometric Power Plant in Aba, to untangle the problems causing their delayed take-off.

    On behalf of the Governors, Gov. Dave Umahi of Ebonyi said they came specifically to thank the President for the award of the contract for the major component of the second Niger Bridge at the cost of N206 billion.

    ‘‘The project is the dream of our people and it has become a dream come true. Our people said we must come and thank you. Your Excellency, Mr President we are grateful Sir,’’ he said.

    While enumerating some challenges confronting the Governors to the President, Umahi said:  ‘‘out of mutual respect, we have come to you as a caring leader to listen to us.’’

    Other governors on the delegation were Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State and the Deputy Governor of Anambra State, Dr Nkem Okeke.(NAN)

  • 2019: PDP accuses APC of unholy alliance with police

    ….PDP inciting public against police – APC

     

    The Bayelsa State chapter of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of unholy alliance with the police ahead of the 2019 general elections.

    The state Chairman of PDP, Cleopas Moses, in a statement alleged that the leaders of the APC in the state turned the office of the Police Commissioner, Joseph Mukan, to their operational political base.

    But the APC in a statement signed by its Publicity Secretary, Doifie Buokoribo, said the PDP was irresponsibly inciting the public against the police.

    Cleopas, described the office of the police chief as critical to security maintenance and the preservation of state stability, but lamented it had been tainted with political bias in Bayelsa.

    The PDP Chairman claimed that the conversion of the office of the Commissioner of Police to the security wing of the APC was the first manifestation of the political mission of the Joseph Mukan in Bayelsa.

    He said the opposition APC in its desperation for political control in the state started colluding with the police chief to weaken the security apparatus in the state for selfish political purposes.

    Cleopas asserted that the unholy alliance between the commissioner and the APC culminated in an upsurge of cultism in the state.

    He said that the action of the police boss was not unexpected as he was sent to the state to prosecute a dirty political assignment which he stressed would be resisted by the Bayelsa people.

    While acknowledging that the Inspector-General of Police has the right to deploy his men, Cleopas queried why Mukan was posted to head Bayelsa State Police Command for a record three times, if there was no ulterior motive.

    The PDP Chairman said that a police commissioner, whose posting was allegedly influenced by the APC and who identifies with the publicity apparatus of the party’ could not be trusted with the security of Bayelsa.

    He said: “We made it clear to Nigerians a few days ago that this particular police commissioner was posted to Bayelsa to intimidate PDP supporters to join APC, destabilize the security and stability of the state for political purposes ahead of the 2019 elections.

    “This unholy alliance, he stressed is fueling the upsurge of activities of cultists who are mainly APC members.

    “Since he was posted to Bayelsa State, his office has become an annex of the APC headquarters as members of the party have relocated to the command to plan how to destabilize the state by weakening its security.

    “Nigerians should Note that this particular CP has been transferred to Bayelsa State for the third time, and we as a party wonder why this particular CP out of the many in this country is the preferred commissioner for Bayelsa?

    “The last time he came he was accommodated by APC leaders in Abuja and Yenagoa, Former Governor Timipre Sylva and the Minister of State for Agriculture, Hen. Lokpobiri.”

    But the APC, however, condemned the PDP for a serial show of irrationality and fear since the recent posting of a new commissioner of Police to the state.

    Buokoribo said that PDP took its phobia to an alarming extent of now creating frightening scenarios and plotting “low level fiction” all in an attempt to incite the populace against the police.

    He described as indecent and reprehensible that a party in control of government and power in the state could be so frightened by a lawful routine security posting, with no evidence of infraction that it would begin to provoke unlawful behaviour among the population.

    He recalled that not long ago, under the Governor Seriake Dickson government, his personal friend and member of his party, PDP, was posted to the state as Commissioner of Police.

    The APC spokesman said despite apparent injustices, APC never resorted to PDP’s current attempt to provoke public anger against the police and cause anarchy.

    He accused the PDP of having something untoward up its sleeves and fearing that the new police commissioner would not condone such.

    He said: “As usual, the PDP has not provided any evidence to support this low level fiction. We consider it indecent, reprehensible and ungodly for a political party that is in control of government and power at the state to serially incite the populace against the police.

    “We are in a democracy, and the PDP must know that it has to respect all the institutions of law and order. The PDP cannot decide for the Inspector General of Police whom he should appoint as Police Commissioner in the state.

    “Except there is something they are not telling us, the PDP is not in a position to say it is only someone they can do business with that must be Police Commissioner in the state.

    “The PDP is taking its objection to the posting of the new Bayelsa State Police Commissioner, Joseph Mukan, beyond the red lines. It has become a joke taken too far.

    “The Bayelsa APC is a party of peace-loving people committed to democracy and the progress of Bayelsa State. Like President Muhammadu Buhari, we would like to take the state to the next level. We have nothing to gain in the event of a breakdown of law and order in the state.

    “We cannot help but wonder with alarm what unlawful acts the PDP plans to engage in this time, which they fear the new Police Commissioner, unlike their friend and party man, would not condone. To us, the new police commissioner is doing very well in the state.

    “Indeed, we commend him for reaching out to all the critical segments of society, especially the youth, in his attempt to rid the state of crime and criminality.

    “Similarly, we salute Police Commissioner Mukan for apprehending the suspected killers of Miss Seifa Fred. Fred, a first year student of Niger Delta University, was killed recently in Yenagoa. We call on the people of Bayelsa State to support and cooperate with Police Commissioner Mukan”.

  • Internal, external factors responsible for security challenges – Buhari

    …Receives security report from NIPSS

     

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday declared that the security challenges facing the country were caused by internal and external factors.

    He made the remark while receiving security report from the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) at the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    According to him, the security challenges his administration met in 2015 was threatening the lives and property of the country.

    Towards finding a sustainable solution to the problem, he said that it necessitated the commissioning of NIPSS to have a holistic view of the country’s security problems.

    He said, “In November 2017 I tasked the management of National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies with the responsibility of strengthening the nation’s internal security framework through community policing by proposing borders, policy, offence and strategy. And I think this is what the report is all about.

    “The decision of government was borne out of sincere desire to find sustainable solutions to the many security challenges inherited by this administration. These challenges not only threaten the security of lives and property of our people but also the sovereignty, territorial integrity of our country.

    “We are confronted by Boko Haram insurgency in the North East, worrisome conflict with respect to farmers and herdsmen which has resulted in wanton destruction of lives and property across the country. Furthermore there is the crisis of separatist agitation in the South East, and militancy in the South-South.

    “Government is convinced that these security challenges are rooted in both internal and external factors. Most importantly, government is also convinced that finding sustainable solutions to these challenges will require the support and collaboration of security agencies and communities,” he said.

    The report of NIPSS, he said, was timely as it came at the time his government was changing security strategies of the country.

    The President said that he would study the report and its recommendations.

    He assured NIPSS that the Ministry of Budget and National planning will work towards providing necessary funding for the institute.

  • Jonathan pillar of democracy, says PDP

    The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has described former President Goodluck Jonathan as a pillar of contemporary Nigeria democracy.

    The party, in tributes to the ex-President on the occasion of his 61st birthday, said his patriotism and personal sacrifices ensured the unity, stability and corporate existence of the nation, particularly given the circumstances of the 2015 general elections.

    Jonathan and his PDP had lost to President Muhammadu Buhari who contested under on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2015 elections.

    A statement Tuesday by the spokesman for the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, said Dr. Jonathan remained a true Nigerian leader, whose administration was known, not only for good governance and landmark development projects across the nation, but also for the entrenchment of democratic values, rule of law, equity and justice, respect for separation of powers and constitutionally guaranteed rights of citizens as well as engendering harmonious coexistence of all interests in the country.

    “In all, President Jonathan amply demonstrated that the true essence of leadership and statesmanship is the application of the virtues, opportunities and authority therein for the good of others rather than self, and for that our party and indeed Nigerians celebrate him.

    “The PDP therefore joins family members, associates and well-wishers at large in celebrating Dr. Jonathan as he attains this milestone and prays that God will continue to keep him in good health and sound mind as he gives himself to the service of our dear fatherland,” the statement added.

  • Jonathan, a true democrat – Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday in Abuja hailed his predecessor, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, for voluntarily conceding defeat at the 2015 general elections, describing him as a true democrat.

    Buhari poured the encomium at the launching of a book titled “My Transition Hours” by Jonathan amidst hundreds of guests from outside and across the country.

    Read Also:‘Former President Jonathan is an icon of democracy’

    Represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, the president said Jonathan’s act of courage had made him a patriotic leader and earned popularity among Africans and other leaders.

    “You are a leader of the past, of now and of the future; you will rise again; I wish you the best you wish yourself,” Buhari said.

    He called on Nigerians to see elections as contests and should be done in free, fair and peaceful environment.

    He said Nigerians should eschew bitterness, bigotry, hate speech and “promote Nigeria for us and generation yet unborn.

    Jonathan, however, condemned any act of inducement of voters and vote buying during elections in the country, adding that the act was contrary to democratic norms and therefore, wrong.

    The event was graced by hundreds of prominent Nigerians, including former Heads of state Abdulsalam Abubakar, Yakubu Gowon, ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo and the PDP Presidential Candidate Atiku Abubakar.

    The APC National Chairman Adams Oshiomhole, former Vice President Namadi Sambo, Senate President Bukola Saraki, ex-PDP governors and many members of the political class, traditional rulers and members of the diplomatic corps also graced the event.

  • Atiku, Gowon, Abdulsalam attend Jonathan’s book launch

    Former heads of States, Yakubu Gowon, Abdulsalam Abubakar and former Vice President and Presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party,  Atiku Abubakar, are currently attending the book launch of former President, Goodluck Jonathan in Abuja.

    The book launch is taking place at the Congress Hall of the Transcorp Hilton hotel in Abuja.

    Read Also:Buhari to Jonathan at 61: You are an inspiration to youths

    Also present at the book launch are former President of Ghana, John Mahama, President of AfDB, Akinwumi Adesina and some governors elected under PDP.

    President Muhammadu Buhari is represented at the event by Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha.

    Also present at the book launch are Federal and state legislatures elected under PDP.

    The book: “My transition Hours” gives an account of what happened in the build up to 2014 elections.

    Details shortly…

  • Atiku’s policy document embodies yearnings of Nigerians – PDP

    The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has said that the policy document articulated by its presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has received resounding public endorsements.

    This, according to the opposition party, was is a confirmation that the document embodied the collective mindset, yearnings and aspirations of Nigerians in their quest for a new leadership and a better life in our country.

    Read Also:Buhari’s ‘Next Level’ big on promises, vague on policy, says Atiku

    The party noted that President Muhammadu Buhari failed to articulate any solutions or operable policy direction in his own campaign document, “Next Level”.

    A statement Monday by the spokesman for the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, added that the Atiku’s policy document offered solutions and practical direction for delivery in all sectors of national life.

    The statement said, “The negative reactions of Nigerians to the Next Level mantra have shown that the document is dead on arrival as Nigeria cannot afford the reinforcement of failure, especially as the electorates have already seen through the deception and cheap attempt to beguile them again ahead of the 2019 elections.

    “The Atiku Abubakar policy document is a product of very wide, painstaking and productive consultations with Nigerians from all walks of life, critical stakeholders and development partners in key sectors, in the overall determination to chart a new course for our nation.

    “The policy document foretells a new dawn as it articulates practical solutions and answers to the myriad of economic, social and political challenges facing our nation and sets out all-inclusive templates for national rejuvenation, cohesion, protection of human rights and democratic tenets, wealth creation, transparency and elimination of corruption in governance.

    “In line with PDP’s people-based manifesto, the Atiku Abubakar policy document places utmost priority on the people by focusing chiefly on their yearnings for job creation, infrastructural development, poverty eradication, human capital development, inclusiveness and national unity”.

    The party spokesman stated further that Nigerians are particularly happy with the Atiku Abubakar policy document as it sought to implement pro-poor policies that grant all citizens, irrespective of financial and social status, unhindered opportunity to participate in economic activities to achieve self-reliance and become active contributors to national development.

    “Unlike President Buhari, who is adjudged by Nigerians to be aloof, detached and unconcerned, Atiku Abubakar has always maintained a strong bond with the people; hence his ability to understand their challenges, collective aspirations and to proffer solutions with underlining political will.

    “The PDP therefore urges Nigerians to continue to take ownership of the Atiku Abubakar Presidential campaign, which embodies their collective aspiration as a people to make our dear nation work again.

    “Finally, the PDP counsels President Buhari to note that he has come to the end of the road. Nigerians will never follow a leader on a journey to Next Level of failure, lies, poverty, hunger, disease, bloodletting, extra-judicial killings, humongous corruption, nepotism, disdain for citizens and institutions of democracy, decayed infrastructure, national divisiveness and embarrassment in the international arena”, the statement added.

  • Buhari to Jonathan at 61: You are an inspiration to youths

    President Muhammadu Buhari has joined Nigerians in sending warm greetings to former President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan as he turns 61 on November 20th, 2018.

    The President believed the life journey of the former President remains an inspiration to every young Nigerian of the possibilities that await anyone willing to learn, work hard and participate in making the country great.

    Read Also:Buhari, governors meet over minimum wage

    The President, in a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and publicity, Femi Adesina, also congratulated Dr. Jonathan on the publishing of his memoir, My Transition Hours, which will be launched as part of ceremonies marking his birthday.

    He encouraged Nigerians to follow same example of sharing their experiences in writing.

    The President prayed that the almighty God will strengthen Dr. Jonathan, grant him longer life and bless his family.

  • 2019: Katsina APC’s simmering crisis

    Rather than abate, the crisis generated within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Katsina State over the mode of primaries adopted in electing its candidates for the 2019 General Election, is simmering. In this report by Assistant Editor, Dare Odufowokan, observers say the party needs to address the grievances of some of its leading chieftains in the state before the next general election.

    Efforts to nip the crisis generated within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Katsina State by the outcome of the primaries held across the state to elect the party’s candidates for the 2019 General Election, may have failed, thereby throwing up fresh troubles in the home state of President Muhammadu Buhari. Expectedly, this is generating serious concern as observers call on the leadership of the ruling party to do more to unite APC in the state.

    Political tension in the northwest state took a new dimension on Friday, as some aggrieved chieftains and members of the party, under the auspices of Katsina Forum, announced that they will not work for candidates of the ruling party at the general election unless their grievances are addressed urgently. The angry APC members said the national leadership of the party is not taking them serious.

    Speaking after the group’s leadership meeting in Dutsinma, Alhaji Samaila Tsiga, its chairman, said members of the forum are leading chieftains of the ruling party who are miffed by what he described as the imposition of candidates on the state by a few people contrary to the directive of President Buhari that members of the party should be allowed to choose the candidates they want.

    “We had rejected the adoption of indirect primaries by some people in the state and we are still rejecting it and its outcome. We stand with our father, President Buhari, in his determination to return the party to the people who are the real owners of the party and government. Those who are afraid of facing the people at the primary should not be allowed to get away with stolen mandates.

    “We remain loyal and committed members of the party in the state but we are pleading that our concerns should be looked into by those concerned. We will never stop our agitation against the outcome of the Kangaroo primary election held by Governor Aminu Masari and his cohorts. While we remain loyal to the party and President Buhari, we want this injustice done to party members to be redressed,” he said.

    Tsiga said the failure of the leadership of the party to address pertinent questions being raised by genuine party members led to the numerous court cases that are daily springing up against the candidacy of Masari and others. “We told them people are angry, they say they have submitted some names to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) against the wishes of the people. Now people are taking our party to court every day,” he lamented.

    Confirming the simmering crisis in the state chapter of the APC, one of the party’s gubernatorial aspirants, Malam Abubakar Isma’ila Isa, said, “It is pertinent to note that at present, there are not less than seven suits pending before the various high courts challenging the illegality of the present set of executives at the wards, LGA’s and state level of the party in Katsina.

    “These suits are challenging the constitutional legitimacy of the present executive council members who constitute the delegates for indirect election at the primaries.  These suits are still pending before High Courts, Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal. “We are, by this, drawing your attention to these breaches of the guidelines and the APC constitution and urging you to take immediate steps to rectify them before it is too late.”

    Speaking on the development, the state coordinator of Voters Right Agenda (VRA), Comrade Abu Maude, said though Buhari’s popularity in the state remains on the rise, it is important for the ruling party to mend its fences before the general election. According to him, “the current crisis in the APC here in Katsina is definitely and unnecessary distraction that the party and the President can do without.”

    The cases, the issues

    Two aggrieved members of the party also approached the Federal High Court in Abuja for an injunction restraining INEC from accepting any candidate nominated by the APC for the forthcoming 2019 General Elections in the state. The plaintiffs, Alhaji Garba Dankani, a governorship aspirant on the platform of the APC and Muhammad Mainasara, an aspirant for the Katsina Senatorial District seat, claimed the party failed to hold ward congresses in the state.

    According to them, the failure of the APC to conduct ward congresses in the 34 local government areas of Katsina State implied that APC could not make valid nomination of candidates to INEC for the 2019 General Elections in the state without first conducting valid congresses in the state. Consequently, they are seeking to stop Governor Masari, who is the governorship candidate of the APC in the state, and other candidates of the party for various elective offices, from being accepted by INEC ahead of the 2019 polls.

    The presiding judge, Justice Folashade Giwa-Ogunbanjo, fixed November 8 for the hearing of the suit which was filed on September 21, 2018.  The APC and INEC are joined in the suit as the first and second defendants, respectively in the suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1035/18. They said aspirants for various positions on the platform of the party subsequently met “and in a resolution reiterated the fact that congresses did not hold in all the wards in all the local government areas of Katsina State.”

    The plaintiffs prayed the court to declare the local government and state congresses of the APC, which held in Katsina State on May 12 and May 19, 2018, as null and void. While the plaintiffs were represented by their lawyer, Olanipekun, INEC was represented by Umar Bukar. Justice Giwa-Ogunbajo, who acknowledged the need to hear and determine the case expeditiously, fixed the hearing of the suit for November 8.

    Similarly, Malam Abubakar Isma’ila Isa, said to be the son-in-law of President Buhari’s and a governorship aspirant in the state, is threatening to seek legal redress if the leadership of the party fails to address his complaints. He has publicly rejected the outcome of the APC party primaries that saw Governor Masari clinching the governorship ticket of the ruling party in the state.

    “As stakeholders in the election, we ought to be consulted in whatever decision that may be arrived at, but we were neither consulted nor informed on the decision to go for indirect primaries. Consequently, no notice to that effect was served on us. Therefore our delegates and agents could not trace the venue for accreditation and election. The electoral committee arrived in Katsina in the night of 29/09/2018 on a chartered flight allegedly provided for by the state governor.

    “They went straight into the Government House, met with the governor, who is one of the aspirants and members of his government. They did not invite us to the usual stakeholders and did not meet with us until 30/09/2018 by 12.30pm. At the meeting, they informed us that they have finished screening of delegates and we’re to start voting. All these facts cast serious doubts on the partiality of the committee.

    “For us, we wholeheartedly align ourselves with the position of President Muhammadu Buhari in deepening and entrenching internal democracy in our party by openly supporting direct primaries as a mode of electing those who should carry the party’s flag in the forthcoming General Elections. However, we are sad to report that the national secretariat of our party closed its eyes to the inherent dangers in conducting indirect primaries in Katsina State.

    “This trend, if not checked, will throw the party into chaos and may further factionalize the party and affect its fortunes in the forthcoming General Elections in 2019. We are solidly behind the President in supporting direct primaries in choosing candidates who will carry the party’s flag in the 2019 elections more so as direct primaries remain the most transparent and credible process of selecting popular and acceptable candidates for the party,” he argued.

    Meanwhile, the leadership of the ruling party, as well as the government of the state, are insisting that most of the allegations being raised by the angry party chieftains are unfounded. When contacted by The Nation, party leaders and senior government officials say the APC in the state will go on to win the next general election convincingly in spite of the ongoing crisis.

    Senior Special Assistant on Media to Governor Aminu Masari, Abdu Labaran Malumfashi, while reacting to the development and the various claims of the aggrieved party members, said the emergence of the governor as gubernatorial candidate did not contravene party rules and the Nigerian constitution. According to the media aide, “the constitution of the APC provided for three options direct, indirect and consensus primaries method.

    “A state can adopt any of the three. And Katsina adopted indirect, the party did not query or say anything was wrong with that. “By adopting the indirect primaries, the Katsina APC did not contravene any law, either electoral or Nigerian constitution or the party’s constitution.” Contacted, APC Public Relations Officer, Abubakar Gambo Danmusa, said the adoption of indirect primaries was the prerogative of the party, executives and stakeholders in the state.

    Appeals

    Meanwhile, reliable party sources told our correspondent that party leaders, within and outside the state, are worried about the development and are working round the clock to put an end to litigations and media wars currently ripping the APC apart in the state. “Not a few party chieftains are again calling for another round of reconciliatory moves ahead of the next general election,’ a source told The Nation.

    It was also gathered that the President may have, following the growing list of court cases instituted against the party by angry members, instructed Governor Masari to do everything possible to pacify warring factions within the party. “The governor is extending the olive branch more than he has been doing before now. More party leaders are also getting involved in the effort to make peace,” another source added.

    A party leader from the northwest, who does not want his name in print, while speaking with our correspondent from his base in Abuja, said Katsina State is one of the states that INEC recently called the attention of the APC leadership to. According to him, the electoral body warned the ruling party to mitigate against the growing number of court cases within the party in the state.

    “Our party has been urged to do something about growing court cases in some states and Katsina is one of such. We all can see the confusion going on over Zamfara APC list of candidates now. We have to do some something drastic in Katsina to prevent a similar situation. Our house is not in order and it is very important we put it in order as soon as possible if we are to avert some unpleasant development.

    “We all know how technical these legal tangos can suddenly become. This is a crucial time when all parties are working hard to tidy up their candidates for the general election. We cannot afford any uncertainty and or unforeseen development, especially in a state like Katsina. This is why we are now working harder to resolve the differences. We are talking and I can assure you everybody concerned is listening,” he said.

    The Nation also learnt that the party’s Deputy National Chairman (North), Lawal Shuaibu, has also waded into the matter with a view to appeasing the aggrieved party chieftains to withdraw the court cases and allow for peaceful resolution of the matters at hand. “He has the support of both the President and the governor in this crucial assignment and he is working hard to proffer much needed solutions to the crisis,” a party source told The Nation on Friday.