The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Prof. Alkali

  • Jonathan’s campaign committee inauguration shifted

    The planned inauguration of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s Presidential Campaign Organisation (PCO) could not hold in Abuja on Monday.

    The inauguration, which was cancelled at the last minute will now by 11.00am at the Legacy House, Abuja, on Tuesday.

    The Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters, Prof. Rufa’i Alkali, announced the postponement of the event on Monday afternoon.

    According to him, the postponement was due to the death of the President’s younger sister at the weekend.

    Alkali called for one minute silence in honour of the deceased before the guests gradually departed.

    Many members of the party and other prominent guests were already seated at the Legacy House before the cancellation was announced.

    PDP governors, Senate President David Mark, Vice-President Namadi Sambo, and President Goodluck Jonathan and his entourage were still been awaited before the announcement.

     

  • 2015: PDP to kick-start Jonathan’s declaration Tuesday

    2015: PDP to kick-start Jonathan’s declaration Tuesday

    Barring unforeseen circumstances, the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party will on Tuesday, set the pace for President Goodluck Jonathan’s much awaited declaration for the 2015 presidential race.

    The event which the organisers termed “National Summit for Goodluck Support Groups,” is billed to feature mainly prominent chieftains of the PDP.

    The list of party chieftains programmed to speak at the event includes – a former Information Minister, Prof. Jerry Gana; PDP national chairman, Adamu Mu’azu; Akwa Ibom State Governor, Godswill Akpabio; and former PDP chairman, Ahmadu Ali.

    Others are – former President of the Senate, Ken Nnamani; Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim; Senate Majority Leader, Victor Ndoma-Egba; a former PDP acting national chairman, Bello Haliru Mohammed; and the party’s members in the two chambers of the National Assembly.

    Also billed to attend the event are members of the party’s National Executive Committee, Board of Trustees members, PDP Governors, and members of the Federal Executive Council.

    Political Adviser to the President, Prof. Rufai Ahmed Alkali, who made the disclosure at a briefing in Abuja on Friday, described the planned event as “a unique and rare opportunity to experience an outpour of love, camaraderie and friendship by Nigerians from all walks of life for President Jonathan.”

    “This National Summit, which is a celebration of the core values that bind all Nigerians as one people, united for peace, stability and progress of our dear country shall take place on Tuesday, September 16, at the Eagles Square, Abuja from 10.00am,” Alkali added.

    The President’s Adviser said representatives of over 8,000 pro Jonathan groups are expected to attend the event. Ahmadu Ali is billed to chair the event, while Mu’azu is listed as Special Guest of Honour.

    Akpabio is to deliver a keynote address.

     

  • 2015: Presidency inaugurates committee on Jonathan support groups

    2015: Presidency inaugurates committee on Jonathan support groups

    The Presidency on Tuesday inaugurated an 11-members committee charged with the responsibility of coordinating the various groups drumming support for President Goodluck Jonathan’s 2015 re-election bid.

    The President’s Political Adviser, Prof. Rufai Alkali, who inaugurated the committee, said panel was to streamline the organisation and structures of the groups.

    Alkali said at the inauguration: “As 2015 approaches, we note that the circumstances and fundamentals facing us are somewhat different. The opposition is different; the political landscape is different, the players are different and the issues are different.

    “Therefore to succeed in 2015, there is a great need to re-appraise our strategies and the structure of the umbrella organisation of the Goodluck Support Group (GSG) that helped us to victory in 2011.

    “In order to address these issues, the re-organisation of GSG has become imperative. I have therefore decided to set up a special GSG re-organisation committee to study all issues concerning the organisation and propose a re-organisation structure that will allow us position for 2015.”

    The President’s aide called on the various Jonathan support groups to come forward and register with the GSG in the six zonal offices set up by his office.

    “The exercise will enable us to properly understand these organisations and their objectives, so that we can prepare to partner, coordinate and work with them to achieve victory in 2015.

    “This screening and evaluation exercise will be conducted by my staff, in collaboration with our state chairmen and other stakeholders and supervised by my senior special assistant on campaign groups,” Alkali added.

    The committee is chaired by Gen. Ahmed Ibrahim (rtd). Other members are – Chief Olusola Oke, Nick Eze, William Makinde, Mohammed El-Amin and Senator Nimi Amnage.

    Others are – Alhaji Lamido Chikaire, Prof. Tony Edoh, Hajia Barakat Sani, Godson Nnaka and A.Y.Ahmed.

    The committee was given 10 days within which to submit a report.

  • Don’t politicise attack on Buhari – Presidency

    The Presidency has cautioned the political class against politicising Wednesday’s bomb attacks targeted at former Head of State, Gen. Mohammadu Buhari.

    Speaking in Abuja on Friday, the Political Adviser to the President, Prof. Rufai Ahmed Alkali, said resorting to blame game could be counter productive to the war against terrorism.

    Alkali sympathised with Buhari over the attack, saying it was by providence that the nation was saved the trauma of having the former head of state come to harm.

    Alkali said: “I want to express my sincere concern over what happened to our former head of state, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari. You all recall two or three days ago there was an attempted attack on his life and that of another senior citizen, Sheik Dahiru Bauchi in Kaduna.

    “It is by the grace of God that today the lives of these two senior citizens were spared. We want to thank God for saving them and for saving this country from the trauma of what could have happened if the people behind it had achieved their objective.

    “I want to also state that in a season like this, the usual thing is what has become the popular culture of blame game. I don’t think anybody in this country would be associated with such thing in any way or form.

    “Therefore, those who want to trivialise or personalise these issues by attributing it to this government or the leadership of this government in any form, directly or indirectly, should desist from that.

    “This government is committed to the security of this nation, it is committed to lasting peace in this country and Mr. President is deeply committed to bringing stability in our political environment.

    “We should not over dramatise these issues. All of us must come together, we have a collective responsibility to protect and defend our country. This is not a time for politicising issues.

    “Security matters are not for politicians. There are people who have been trained and who are responsible for security. We cannot do their job for them; they should be allowed to do their job.

    “We should also desist from any attempt that will weaken the institutions of government, especially security agencies who are doing very well in containing the situation.”

     

  • Jonathan appoints new political adviser, SSA

    Jonathan appoints new political adviser, SSA

    President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan on Thursday appointed Prof. Rufa’i Alkali as his new Special Adviser on Political Affairs.

    The President also picked Hajia Baraka Sani as his Senior Special Assistant for Schools’ Agriculture Programme.

    Prof. Alkali, a Political Scientist, according to a statement issued by the President’s media aide, Dr. Reuben Abati,  once served as National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, and was appointed Pro-Chancellor, Federal University of Technology, Minna, last year.

    He hails from Gombe State.

    While Sani was a former commissioner for Agriculture in Kano State.

    Both appointments take immediate effect.