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Tag: Prince Abubakar Audu

  • Kogi youths protest imposition of candidates by Yahaya Bello

    Youths of Kogi state extraction under the umbrella of Kogi APC Youth Rebirth took to the streets of Abuja and later the headquarters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Thursday to protest the imposition of candidates by Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi state.
    Addressing journalists at the peak of the protest, Comrade Ezekiel Edogboanya appealed to the leadership of the party to advise the governor before “he sink the ship of APC in Kogi state”.
    In his words, “We the members of the Concerned Kogi APC Rebirth, wishes to use this medium to appeal to the good conscience of the leadership of our great party, the All Progressive Congress (APC) to as a matter of urgency and of national interest save the APC in Kogi state from imminent disintegration due to the activities of His Excellency, Governor Yahaya Bello and his cronies”.
    The group further implored the APC to consolidate and reward the contributions of the deceased winner of the 2015 gubernatorial elections whose votes was inherited by Gov Bello:
    “It is crucial for us to state here that in the annals of Kogi state, the contributions of the Late Prince Abubakar Audu is of immense proportion. As a fact, the late Prince Abubakar Audu even in death represents a united and robust Kogi state because of his politics of inclusiveness that saw him defeat an incumbent governor before he passed on to the great beyond. May his soul continue to rest in peace.
    “Our dear leaders, the principal reason why we are protesting here at the National Headquarters of our great party is to intimate the party that Governor Yahaya Bello who was the direct beneficiary of the goodwill and votes of our late leader, Prince Abubakar Audu has initiated a devilish and highly unpopular campaign to push the brother of the late Prince Abubakar Audu out of the race for Kogi East Senatorial District.

    Read also: Bello: Kogi second most peaceful

    “We wish to state that, this act is not only misplaced, it is also capable of causing great disaffection amongst the various stakeholders in Kogi East Senatorial and which would ultimately lead to either mass defection to the opposition party or anti-party activities,” he warned.
    The group further implored the state governor to reduce his draconian policies and immediately commence the payment of salaries with the aim of restoring the lost glories of the APC before the 2019 election in the state.
    “Our greatest worry is the fact that we are surprised at the speed with which Governor Yahaya Bello through his Chief of Staff, Edward Onoja can go to bed knowing full well that electoral defeat would be our lot should they continue to disrupt the hands of justice by criminalizing and pushing out political assets of the party to the opposition party just because of a difference in opinion on ways to move the state and the party forward.
    “This is also aside from the fact that the electoral chances of the party in the forthcoming elections are already threatened with the non-payment of salaries by Governor Yahaya Bello. As a matter of verifiable fact, Kogi State under Governor Yahaya Bello is the worst regarding payment of wages to civil servants in the history of the state,” it said.
    The group further appealed to the National Chairman of the APC, Comrade Adams Oshiomohle and President Muhammdu Buhari to “intervene before it is too late and ensure that the will of the party men and women prevail at the primaries”.

  • Kogi Youths Endorse Prince Audu For Senate

    A non partisan interest group, Kogi Youth Advocates of Good Governance, KYGG, has endorsed the younger brother of the late former Governor of Kogi state, Prince Yahaya Audu to contest as Senator representing Kogi East Senatorial District in the next election.

    Delegates of KYGG made the request when they paid a solidarity visit to the palace of the paramount ruler of Igala Kingdom, Attah of Igala, HRH Ameh Oboni the II and HRH, Alhaji Tijani Audu the Orego Attah / District Head Ogbonicha who is also a member of the family.

    Briefing journalists after the visit in Lokoja on Sunday, the convener of the forum, Comrade Jerry Ochada said there is an urgent need to compensate the Audu’s family to ensure political harmony in the state.

    According to him the forum is poised to agitate for justice for the dissatisfied and marginalised people across the state.

    He urged the incumbent leadership of Kogi state to remember the legacies of the former governor, Prince Abubakar Audu by immortalising his dreams.

    The statement reads in part:

    “KYGG is a credible mouthpiece preaching the absolute engagements of good governance and political compensation when and where necessary.

    “In line with KYGG ideology of promoting justice and fairness for all, we have deliberated on the lingering poltical abnormalities trending sour in Kogi state.

    “In our thorough research and assessments, we keenly observed that every region in Kogi state is fighting to curb the ugly menace of marginalisation, oppression, political intimidation and the negative inclinations of political supremacy.

    “This is not a good development especially for our nascent democracy and it is gradually denting the political history of Kogi state.

    “To this end, this is an ample time for Kogites to unite by burying their differences in preparation for the next General Election, which we anticipate to be free and fair. However, the burden lies on the peaceful political atmosphere that MUST be established before the poll.

    “For justice and fairness to prevail in the affairs of Kogi Politics, the winner of the November 22 2015 election, Prince Abubakar Audu’s family MUST be compensated in no distant time to ensure a level playing ground.

    “The forum also resolved to task and support the emergence of the leader of Audu Oyidi’s family, Prince Yahaya Audu to contest for the position of Senator, representing the good people of Kogi East in the hallowed chamber.

    “The group further seek to advice that the best way to immortalise the political legacies of the fallen hero, Prince Abubakar Audu is to unite efforts to ensure that a credible candidate like Prince Yahaya Audu who has displayed rare leadership qualities of unity and peace-co-existence amongst all political affiliations in the state is supported to make the late Prince Abubakar Audu proud of his legacies and service to the people of Kogi East Senatorial District,” he said.

    It will be recalled that Prince Abubakar Audu died at the verge of winning the 2015 election in Kogi state.

  • Bello renames Kogi varsity after Abubakar Audu

    Bello renames Kogi varsity after Abubakar Audu

    Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi on Friday renamed the Kogi State University, Ayangba , after the late first civilian governor of the state, Prince Abubakar Audu.

    Bello announced the change in the name of the 15- year-old university during a statewide broadcast to mark his victory at the state governorship election petition tribunal.

    He said that naming the university was the ultimate honour that could be done to the memory of the late colourful politician who ruled the state twice as the civilian governor from 1991 to 1993 and 1999 to 2003.

    Audu himself established the university in 2001 and named it Prince Abubakar Audu University but his successor, Alhaji Ibrahim Idris changed the name to Kogi State University in 2004.

    Justifying his decision to restore the university to its original name, Bello said that Audu laid a solid foundation for the growth and development of the state

    “Today, and as always, I celebrate the life and times of Prince Abubakar Audu, the first Executive Governor of Kogi State.

    ‘” It is our hope that those who want to lay claim to his legacy will at least develop the same heart for the growth and development of Kogi State that he demonstrated through his lifetime,” he said.

    According to the governor, an executive bill will soon be forwarded to the house of assembly to formalise the change in the name of the university.

    Audu, who was the candidate of the All Progressives Congress ( APC) in the Nov. 21, 2015 governorship election in the state, died suddenly on Nov. 22 when before the result of the election was announced.

    The leadership of the APC consequently substituted the name of Audu with that of Yahaya Bello as the candidate in the supplementary governorship election held on Dec. 5, 2015.

    The governor also used the broadcast to thank the people of the state for their support and understanding since his assumption of office in January.

    He said that since the five petitions filed against him had been thrown out for lack of merit, the state was now set to witness a new direction and accelerated development.

    According to Bello, a blueprint of the administration which will kick start creation of one million jobs for the unemployed youths will be unveiled by next week.

    He called on all those who lost at the tribunal, irrespective of their political affiliation, to join hands with him to develop the state, saying “there was no victor, no vanquish.”

  • INEC asks Kogi APC to pick new candidate

    INEC asks Kogi APC to pick new candidate

    • Announces date for supplementary election

    The Independent National Electoral (INEC) Tuesday asked the All Progressives Congress (APC) to pick a new candidate as replacement for late Prince Abubakar Audu in order to continue with supplementary election.

    It would be recalled that Audu died just as INEC was collating the results of the November 21 election, in which he was leading.

    In a statement signed by the secretary to the commission, Augusta Ogakwu, on Tuesday, INEC announced it would allow the conclusion of the election process by conducting supplementary elections in the remaining 91 polling units where elections were cancelled.

    The supplementary election will hold December 5, INEC announced.

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  • Audu gave his all to Kogi – Tinubu

    Audu gave his all to Kogi – Tinubu

    The sudden death of Prince Abubakar Audu is sorrowful and shocking.

    He died before his time. This is a wrenching loss that saddens me greatly.

    Prince Audu’s death reminds us of our mortality. None of us are on this earth forever. While here, we must make positive impact. We must strive towards good.

    I first knew Prince Audu Abubakar roughly 30 years. He was a good friend – a good man.

    Some may not have known this but Prince Audu was a renowned financial expert well known in banking circles before his entry into politics.

    From banking to politics, Prince Audu became a dominant feature of our national landscape. He was an industrious man and a determined, hardworking leader with few equals.

    He was consummate in the art of politics. Yet, Audu was also dedicated to the betterment of his people.

    He was an honorary title holder of Lagos, honored by the late Oba of Lagos, Oba Oyekan.

    Very kind, generous and at ease with his friends and with the people, Audu wanted to make his state a better place. That was his driving concern.

    His people loved him because of this and he loved them in return. He was a man of great vision, committed to the Nigerian project and committed to the well-being of his people. He loved Kogi passionately.

    As was his character, Prince Audu gave his all during this election campaign because he wanted to move Kogi to a better place.

    His death is painful and has stunned us his friends, political associates and particularly his family.

    My heart reaches out to his loved ones. My prayers are with them. May God comfort them as only – He can during this sad period. And may they take solace in the fact that Prince Audu was an outstanding figure and great leader of men. They have a right to be proud of who he was.

    We must serve his memory well by continuing to serve the people and by carrying on as he would want us to do.

    We celebrate his life and times. Both his deeds and dreams will outlive him no doubt.

    I sympathize with the people of Kogi State on the passing of their illustrious son, who was such a colorful and progressive politician.

    Whenever the history of Kogi politics, nay Nigerian politics, is written it will be remembered that a Prince of the Niger was once here.

    Asiwaju Bola Tinubu

  • Audu buried amidst resurrection rumours 

    Audu buried amidst resurrection rumours 

    The remains of Prince Abubakar Audu have been buried in accordance with Islamic rites.

    There were rumours that he had risen, but his burial dashes the speculation.

    His remains were buried at about 2pm as Imams offered prayers.

    Before the burial, heavy security was deployed at Audu’s compound as the crowd insisted he was alive.

    Former governors George Akume, Abdulkadir Kure, Lucky Igbinidion and Rabiu Kwankwaso attended the interment.

    There was wild jubilation over rumours that Audu had resurrected, but no one confirmed seeing him.

    Thousands trooped into his home in Ogbonicha as rumours of a revival spread. A mammoth crowd besieged the residence.

    Reports said a prophet sought to pray for Audu’s corpse to bring him back to life.

    Security inside and family members would have none of it but angry youth broke the door open, according to Premium Times.

    ‎The prayer man was successfully taken in as the crowd joined in fervent prayers.

    Shouts of Holy Ghost fire and Allahu Akbar rent the air while others wept loudly by the door.

    ‎As men and women of faith engage in fervent prayers to bring Audu back to life others were digging his grave in one end of the compound.

    ‎As news filtered in that he had risen, grave diggers got discouraged and slowed down work.

    The grave diggers re-doubled work until the rumours were dashed with the burial.

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  • ‘APC’ll enthrone true democracy’

    ‘APC’ll enthrone true democracy’

    ALL Progressives Congress (APC) will set a template for true democracy in Nigeria, former Kogi State Governor Prince Abubakar Audu said yesterday.

    Audu spoke in his Ogbonicha country home in Ofu Local Government Area while receiving some Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members from Kogi East into the APC.

    He criticised the adoption of President Goodluck Jonathan by the PDP leadership as the party’s sole candidate, describing it as a mockery of democracy.

    Audu said recent events in the state showed that the APC was on its way to power and urged members to work harder.

    He condemned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for “turning a blind eye to electioneering campaigns by the PDP”.

    Addressing the defectors, he said: “I welcome you all into the APC. We in the APC will conduct ourselves in a democratic manner and continue to set the template for a better Nigeria. We are almost there and recent events have shown that the APC is the preferred party in Kogi State.

    “Our major preoccupation at the moment is to consolidate on the gains recorded by the APC in the state. The defection of some prominent PDP members and yours too is heartwarming.

    “In the APC, we follow the rules. We will make Nigerians proud by setting democratic standards and ensuring that the political space is open to all. From the ward level to the state and national levels, we will do things the right way. The APC’s presidential candidate will emerge at the Eagle Square through a democratic process. Between November and December, the APC’s presidential candidate will emerge. It will be decided in the public and seen clearly by the people.”

    One of the defectors, a PDP youth leader from Ankpa, Ilyasu Abdulkarim, said they dumped “PDP because it is a poverty development party”.