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Tag: Reconciliation

  • Group seeks reconciliation in Ondo APC

    Ahead of next year’s governorship election in Ondo State, a group, Continuity For Good Governance (CGG), has called for peace and unity among All Progressives Congress (APC) stalwarts.

    The group is championing the second term bid of Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN). At its stakeholders meeting in Ijapo, Akure , the state capital, the group appealed to party members  to embrace unity.

    It urged party loyalists to chart a new course for the development of the party and the state.

    A communique by its Director of Publicity, Prince Kayode  Ehinlanwo, said the party cannot afford the continuation of rancour and disharmony  amongst APC gladiators.

    The group said: “As a matter of fact, nobody can deny the narrative of unprecedented infrastructural developments across Ondo State, and the regular payment of salary and pension to the retirees, in spite of harsh economic realities.

    “The ongoing industrial revolution in Ore and other parts of the state will create more jobs for our youths and increase the state IGR.

    “We are not saying that those who show interest to be governor are not qualified. They are all qualified. Some are even qualified to be President, but all cannot be governor at the same time. More so, when we have a preforming governor in place.

    “We, therefore, appeal to our leaders across the state to prioritise the interest of our people  and join hands with Mr Governor to move the party and the state forward.”

    The group also implored Akeredolu  to take charge of the party and bring every member, irrespective of their backgrounds or groups, together in the interest of the state.

    It added: “We implore Akeredolu as the leader of the party to bring his arbitrating expertise and ample humility into play, to pacify the aggrieved and assure loyalists.”

    The group urged the people to keep faith with Akeredolu.

    It said: “Akeredolu means well for the overall development of the state. He has integrity and he is a Governor whose words are his bound with total commitment to his oath of allegiance to govern the state with excellence.”

  • APC’s burden of reconciliation in Oyo

    Former Governor Abiola Ajimobi has called for reconciliation of warring factions in the troubled Oyo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC). But a clique within the chapter has vowed not to recognise Ajimobi’s peace initiative. Assistant Editor LEKE SALAUDEEN examines the implication of the protracted crisis and how peace can be restored in the party.

    The crisis rocking the All Progressives Congress (APC), Oyo State chapter, is yet to abate. While the former Governor Abiola Ajimobi is pushing for reconciliation, his arch rival and former Minister of Communication, Adebayo Shittu, has vowed not to have anything to do with the former governor’s peace initiative. Rather, he is planning to take over the leadership of the party and send the former governor and his loyalists packing.

    The supremacy contest between the two gladiators polarised the party in the build up to the last general elections.

    Shittu had rallied aggrieved party members under the aegis of Oyo APC Unity Forum to challenge the leadership of the former governor. The group accused Ajimobi of exhibiting dictatorial tendencies. The crisis culminated in parallel congresses that produced two parallel executives in the state.

    However, the APC National Working Committee (NWC) recognised the congresses and primaries conducted by the Ajimobi faction. As a result, members of the Unity Forum defected to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), a new party floated by the former President Olusegun Obasanjo. accusing the NWC of bias. Though Shittu, as a minster then, did not profess ADC publicly, but all his supporters joined the party.

    The APC went into election as a weak party. Most of the frontline members like former Speaker, Senator Monsurat Sunmonu, former senator that represented Ibadan South, Senator Soji Akanbi, the party leader in Okeogun zone, Pa Michael Koleoso, former Secretary to the State Government, Dr Busari Adebisi, Secretary of the Unity Forum, Dr Wasiu Olatunboson, Alhaji Isiaka Alimi, Chief Adegoke Oyetunji, Yunus Akintunde, son of former Governor Lam Adesina and a former member, House of Representatives, Dapo Adesina, along with five of his colleagues joined the ADC. It was one of the parties that formed alliance with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and others solely to dislodge APC from power. The game plan worked; the APC lost both the presidential and the governorship election in Oyo. Ajimobi also failed in his ambition to return to the Senate; he lost to a dark horse.

    After reflecting on the internal crisis rocking the APC and its poor performance in the last elections Ajimobi has called for reconciliation among the warring factions in the party.  He said this became imperative in order to reposition the party and put it in good stead for the challenges ahead. To achieve genuine reconciliation, Ajimobi called for a committee to drive the process.

    The former governor appealed to all party faithful to understand that life is about conflicts and resolutions. He said: “We have all had our shares of mistakes. No one should be blamed or absolved of such human imperfections. Life itself is about conflict, what matters is the ability to resolve such conflicts, which is part of politics. We should not apportion blame at this time because, in the final analysis, no one is faultless in the circumstances. We all contributed in one way or the other. We, therefore, should rise above the tendency of looking for scapegoats to blame. Let us all reconcile and forge ahead to reposition our party for the challenges ahead.”

    But Shittu has stepped up a war of attrition. He has vowed that he and his supporters would retrieve the party from the people he described as predators. He said: “My group, the Unity Forum, would retrieve the party from them, while the process of rebuilding the party in the state would soon start.

    “Let me recall during the congresses in Oyo State, we had two congresses, two factions of our party held parallel congresses. The former governor’s faction and the Unity Forum group which has members four times that of the governor’s camp. Our party leaders at the national level by force accepted those who are not qualified as party executives.

    “Eventually, what happened started from there.  We are in court challenging to know the legality of the recognised executives of the party. The Unity Forum will certainly ensure that justice is done in the area of party congresses. That is why we are challenging the emergence of the executives. They have to be true to themselves; but for Ajimobi, they will not be there. Ajimobi did what he did, so that he could use them. He foisted on the party the people who will continue to do his biddings.

    “Clearly, Ajimobi is a dictator, a betrayer; clearly everything you could think of. Now that he has gone, we have to rescue all of those people away from him. We are waiting to collaborate in ensuring that we retrieve our party from predators. We will bring everybody on board; we will retrieve our party. We will start soonest by the grace of God.”

    A professor of Peace and Conflict Resolution at the University of Ibadan (UI), Professor Albert Olawale, hailed Ajimobi for initiating the peace process, but asked Ajimobi to disqualify himself from setting up the committee. He said the former governor is a party to the crisis. “As a result, he cannot handpick the arbitrators; a neutral body should constitute the peace committee for genuine reconciliation to take place,” he said.

    Olawale said in reconciliation, it is assumed the conflict is between two parties that are to be reconciled. He added: “In the case of Oyo APC, we have Ajimobi’s group and those that are opposed to the former governor. It is not logical for him to set up the peace committee for the sake of fairness, equity and justice. It’s good starting peace process, but Ajimobi can’t set up the committee ditto for the other group.

    “I will suggest that the national leadership of the APC should come in and carry out the reconciliation of the warring groups. The national leaders should intervene in the crisis and reconcile the groups. Nothing will come out of Ajimobi’s reconciliation effort. Those who lost party tickets and the election are licking their wounds. The APC National Working Committee should come to Oyo State to investigate what went wrong. There are too many wounded people in Oyo APC.  The NWC should punish the perpetrators of the crisis and compensate the victims. From there, restructuring of the party will start; then the party will be repositioned for future elections.

    “Ajimobi acted well when he apologised to the aggrieved party members and sued for peace. But it is only the APC NWC that can carry out reconciliation. They should come to Oyo State and invite the two sides to the crisis to state their grievances. Many people that Ajimobi offended would not accept the peace process initiated by him. Apart from party members, the former governor offended Ibadan people; he needs to apologise to them.  He needs to extend the apology to the people of Oyo State. Those who lost their seats in the last elections are blaming it on Ajimobi.

    “APC is a weak party in Oyo State today. Ajimobi can’t on his own bring back those who left the party. If he thinks he can do that, he’s engaging in a wild goose chase. They have left the party; will he offer them the position they lost? How will he compensate them? The reconciliation exercise is beyond Ajimobi. The NWC should come in to rescue the party in Oyo State.”

    To Professor Bayo Okunade, also of UI, Ajimobi is qualified to initiate peace process. He said the peace initiative by the former governor is a welcome development. Okunade, a lecturer at the Department of Political Science, insists: “There is nothing to disqualify Ajimobi from embarking on reconciliation process. He’s a party member and party leader. He must have considered his credentials and pedigree to embark on peace process. The party members have been talking to themselves.

    “Politicians have a way of resolving their differences. Two weeks to the last general elections, Chief Adebayo Alao-Akala who left the APC returned to the party. Let Ajimobi start the reconciliation, if he succeeds fine; if he fails let other people take-off from there. The leaders have the responsibility to restore peace in the party, and that is what Ajimobi is trying to do.”

    On the eve of the 2019 general elections, Shittu vowed to work against the APC in Oyo State. He was disqualified from participating in governorship primary by the NWC on the ground that he did not participate in the one-year mandatory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC). He rejected the call on him by the national reconciliation committee to bury the hatchet in the interest of the party.

    Shittu said: “Before you talk of reconciliation, you must first talk of restitution. If you violate somebody’s property and you are found out, instead of you to surrender what you had stolen you are now talking of reconciliation. As for me, I don’t recognise the governorship candidate of the APC. I am in court and I am sure that I would triumph over those who were less than intelligent to foist a stranger on our party in Oyo State.

    “With all sense of humility, I have passed the stage where any party would threaten me. I am in court and if the party is sure that it has a better basis for what they have done, let us go and meet in court. You don’t start threatening who feel unfairly treated thinking you can get me out of the justice system.”

    The former minister alleged that some leaders in the APC were worse than those of the PDP that they were accusing of impunity and corruption.

    A public affairs analyst, Dr Lasun Oyedeji, advised Shittu to embrace peace and forget about the acrimony associated with 2019 general elections. He said as a party faithful, the former minister should give peace a chance, saying it is only when there is peace within the party that you can achieve your political ambition.

    Oyedeji blamed both Ajimobi and Shittu for allowing their personal ambitions to affect the fortunes of the APC during the elections and reduced it to opposition party in Oyo State. He said they were busy fighting over the control of the soul of the party, while the opposition leaders were plotting and strategising on how to dislodge the APC from power. The two gladiators, he said, should sheathe their swords and embrace peace so that the party would be repositioned ahead of 2023.

    Oyedeji added: “Ajimobi has made a good move by calling for reconciliation in the party. This shows that he has realised his mistakes and excesses which prolonged the internal crisis in the party. He should apologise publicly to the aggrieved party members who were forced to leave the party, because of his dictatorial tendencies. If the APC had gone to poll as a united family during the last general elections, it would have retained power in the state.

    “Though I commend Ajimobi for initiating peace process, but he should disqualify himself from appointing members of the peace committee. Ajimobi is a principal actor in the crisis that led to the fall of APC in Oyo State. It is unfair to allow him to set up or preside over the committee. The other group would have no confidence in the peace process. There should be a level-playing field. The APC national leadership should set up a neutral panel that would investigate the crisis in the party. The members of the committee should be from outside Southwest zone.”

  • 2019 poll: Buhari, APC NWC may meet over campaign, reconciliation

    President Muhammadu Buhari may meet All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman Adams Oshiomhole and members of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) this week over the campaign for next year’s poll.

    The meeting may also review reconciliation efforts to pacify aggrieved members.

    The President has banned public officers and agencies from contributing to his campaign.

    There are indications, however, that most leaders prefer the beginning of marathon rallies from January.

    Other support groups can, however, engage in various campaigns nationwide.

    The NWC wrote President Buhari before his trip to Poland for an audience to firm up campaign modalities.

    A presidency source said: “Mr. President will soon kick off his campaign after consultations with the party. The NWC actually wrote to seek an audience with him on some issues.

    “These issues are campaign modalities, determining the kick-off date, outcome of the reconciliation efforts and how to ensure victory at the poll. Do not forget that the party gave the six reconciliation panels a two-week deadline to complete their assignment.

    “The President promised to meet with the NWC after his trip to Poland. So, the session may hold this week.”

    Responding to a question, the source added: “ Buhari does not want public funds diverted to his campaign. He has warned public officers, ministries, departments and agencies against contributing to his campaign.

    “ The President is determined to end the practice of diverting funds meant for projects to campaign. Certainly,  the 2019 poll will be based on character and the achievements of this administration.

    “Government officers and heads of agencies who plan to fiddle with public funds for campaign will have themselves to blame.”

    Most APC leaders prefer January for campaign shuttles in order not to disrupt the Christmas session.

    Some leaders also advised the President to lay the 2019 Budget before embarking on campaign.

    The huge cost implications of campaign have made the APC to target January.

    A party source said: “We cannot disclose the kick-off date for our campaign until the NWC has met with the President.

    “Left to most of our leaders, they have opted for a marathon campaign strategy from January 2019. But some support groups have been organising rallies and shuttles ahead of the main campaign.

    “We are in government but APC does not have resources like the slush funds available to those in the opposition.

    “So, we are trying to accommodate our campaign within our constrained budget.”

  • Reconciliation moves won’t stop APC defectors — PDP

    The leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said that the ongoing reconciliation moves initiated by the Presidency and the leadership of the All Progress Congress (APC) will not stop the disgruntled members of the APC from defecting to the PDP.

    President Muhammadu Buhari and the national chairman of the APC, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole are spearheading fresh reconciliation moves to dissuade members of the Reformed All Progressives Congress (RAPC) from going ahead with their defection plan.

    The President had, on Thursday, met the President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki at the presidential villa in what many perceived as a new lease in the frosty relationship between members of the RAPC and the mainstream APC.

    Similarly, Oshiomhole had met with Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom on Thursday at the APC national secretariat, following announcement by the governor that he was on his way out of the APC.

    Ortom had declared that he was being pushed out of the APC by some forces he declined to name.

    The PDP however, has dismissed the reconciliation efforts by President Buhari and Mr. Oshiomhole as belated, saying it’s a complete waste of time.

    According to the PDP, the discussions with the intending defectors from APC have already crossed the rubicon, stressing that there is nothing Buhari, Oshiomhole or anybody in the APC can do to stop a “moving train”.

    The National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan, in response to a text message from our correspondent on Friday, said arrangements with the intending defectors had reached a final stage.

    Ologbondiyan said, “PDP is confident that our discussion with compatriots who are determined to rescue our nation from the shackles of deception, lies, bloodletting, starvation and hunger of the APC-led federal government is boldly ongoing.”

  • Challenge of reconciliation in Ondo APC

    Ondo State Governor Rotimi Akeredolu and Senator Ajayi Boroffice are battling for the soul of the Sunshine state. The two All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftains are at loggerheads over the 2016 governorship primary and the management of the party. Who will reconcile them? Asks Group Political Editor EMMANUEL OLADESU.

    There is no end in sight to the acrimony between Ondo State Governor Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN) and Senator Ajayi Boroffice, who is representing Ondo North District in the Senate. The question is: when will the two All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftains sheathe their swords?

    The rivalry played itself out at the recent 10th Bola Tinubu Colloquium in Lagos. As Akeredolu entered the Eko Hotel Convention Centre, the venue of the historic event, dignitaries on the front row, including Prof. Boroffice, rose up as a mark of honour. Beaming with smiles, the governor responded to the gestures by greeting, embracing and shaking hands with them. The guests included Senator Abu Ibrahim from Katsina, former Secretary to Government of the Federation Babachir Lawal, former Chairman of the defunct All Peoples Party (APP) Yusuf Ali, Hon. Tunde Braimoh, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, Senator Barnabas Gemade, Hon. Raphael Igbokwe, Senator Babajide Omoworare and Senator Solomon Adeola. Boroffice sat between Gemade and Igbokwe, the leader of Southeast Caucus in the House of Representatives.

    Akeredolu, who greeted Gemade warmly, shunned Boroffice, who had already stretched his hand for a handshake. Later, the governor shook hands with Igbokwe. Gemade and Igbokwe were shocked. An embarrassed Boroffice told Gemade: “That is how he behaves to me.”

    Since 2012, the legal luminary and former university don have been rivals. Both wanted to rule Ondo State. But, the personality clashes got to a peak during the 2016 governorship primary. The shadow election, which polarised the party, led by Hon. Isaacs Kekemeke, was perceived as a war of sorts by supporters of various aspirants. Only the moles stepped down, ahead of the exercise.

    Although Akeredolu emerged as the flag bearer, the animosity continued in the post-primary period. One of the contenders, Chief Olusola Oke, left the APC for the Alliance for Democracy (AD), where he lost his deposit. He recently retraced his steps to the party. Kekemeke was suspended as chairman. His deputy, Ade Adetimehin, has been acting as chairman. Another aspirant, Dr. Segun Abraham, is still in court protesting the outcome of the primary.

    However, while the two lawyers-Akeredolu and Oke-have reconciled, the gulf between the governor and the senator has widened. The frosty relationship is a concern to many APC stalwarts.

    Few months ago, Akeredolu said he had embarked on reconciliation with some aggrieved members in the chapter. Thus, when President Muhammadu Buhari mandated Asiwaju Bola Tinubu to reconcile aggrieved chieftains nationwide, the governor said there was no need for any national reconciliation train to roll into Ondo State, adding that the chapter was peaceful. At the party’s unification rally in Akure, the state capital, where Oke returned to the fold, the former AD candidate praised the magnanimity of the governor.

    But, the governor inadvertently disputed the claim of harmony when he said he only recognised two APC senators from the state-Tayo Alasoadura from the Central District and Yele Omoguwa from the South, and not Boroffice, who the governor’s camp accused of anti-party-activities.

    Boroffice objected to Akeredolu’s claim, saying that Ondo APC is disunited.

    According to a source, there is a bone of contention between the governor and the senator. “The Asiwaju of Akokoland and the state party leader, Arakunrin Akeredolu, are not in good terms. The governor has reconciled with Oke, who left for the AD, but has now returned. But, he is not happy that the senator stayed in the APC during the election, but working for the AD. There was the speculation that Oke’s running mate, Ganiyu Dauda, a former member of the House of Representatives, had the backing of Boroffice. The governor believed that was anti-party activity,’ he said.

    Collaborating the source, the APC Director of Media and Publicity, Steve Otaloro, said: “It is incontrovertible that Boroffice, who came a distant fourth in the party primary, immediately ordered his supporters to move en mass to the opposition party. But, being a sitting senator on the platform of our party, APC, he couldn’t openly canvass for the opposition. He however, engaged in anti-party activities behind closed doors.”

    Besides, Otaloro said Boroffice has been docile in his legislative duties, adding that he has trifled away six good years playing mere politics and pursuing personal ambitions. He predicted that the senator will not get the ticket for re-election at the senatorial primary, owing to what he described as his “depleting popularity” among the people of his district.

    Ahead of next year’s poll, senatorial aspirants are already warming up in the North District, based on the calculation that the governor will not back a senator he has not recognised for re-election. The aspirants include Hon. Olemoga, who is representing Akoko Noertheast/Northwest in the House of Representatives, human rights lawyer Dr. Tunji Abayomi, former House of Assembly Speaker Hon. Victor Olabimtan, and Prince Solagbade Amudeni.

    Boroffice denied allegations of anti-party activities against him, saying that he is a loyal stalwart. He said the attack on him by the governor was unwarranted, urging him to separate facts from frictions.

    Boroffice said in a statement by his media aide, Kayode Fakuyi, that he has always supported Akeredolu in the best interest of Ondo State, “despite the underlying differences,” recalling that he rallied his colleagues in the Senate to support the governor when he sent two private communications to the Upper Chamber.

    He complained that he had been sidelined in Ondo APC, stressing that Akeredolu has never carried him along on any party matter since he assumed the reins last year.

    Boroffice said: “The governor has not extended any invitation to me, let alone turning down any of such invitation to attend any meeting or an APC’ s events since Arakunrin Akeredolu became Governor of Ondo State.”

    The senator also said he has added value to his district through his legislative activities and the infrastructural facilities he has attracted to the zone.

    Boroffice said it was not true that he worked against the party during the last governorship election. He said despite the “controversial” emergence of Akeredolu as the party’s candidate in 2016, he worked tirelessly for the victory of the APC in the November poll.

    The senator chided the governor for intolerance, saying that his attitude to other party leaders in the state who did not see things from his perspective has polarised the chapter and alienated critical mass of the party leadership and supporters.

    Boroffice added: “All is not well with the APC chapter in the Sunshine state and rather than for Governor Akeredolu to embrace the challenges of leadership and reach out to every leader of this party in Ondo State, he prefers to run the party and government of Ondo State with his trifling followership and continue to assert that he alone owns this party and others can go to hell. He continues to threaten others with expulsion from the party.”

    He urged the APC national leadership to intervene in the Ondo APC crisis, stressing that issues that polarise the chapter should not be swept under the carpet.

    Boroffice stressed: “It is for this reason that His Excellency President Muhammadu Buhari has called for reconciliation of leaders and resolutions of disputed issues. This is the wise road to travel and we cannot dissent and we fully support our National Leader, Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu on this course.”

    In Otaloro’s view, it is appalling that Boroffice has accused the governor of polarising the party and concocted a non-existing feud. He said the senator was only engaging in a blame game.

    He said: “We want to make it clear that the governor does not in any way intervene in the affairs of the party. The party affair is solely run by the leadership of the party in the state, led by Ade Adetimehin.” According to observers. the submission is disputable because the governor is the party leader.

    Otaloro said it is the senator that is fighting the governor. “It beats our imagination if Senator Boroffice could be referring to the governor as a controversial candidate after one year in office and still claim to have worked tirelessly and voted for him. It also remains irreconcilable why Boroffice, who sent a congratulatory message to the governor through his media after his victory at the poll, did not attend the inauguration ceremony of the governor,” he added.

    Akeredolu is consolidating his hold on the Ondo APC as the party leader. He still faces a challenge from Abraham, who is in court.  The governor and other party chieftains, including Boroffice, may still flex muscles as the political family warms up for next year’s federal and state parliamentary elections.

    The question is: who will reconcile Akeredolu and Boroffice in Ondo?

     

  • PDP’s burden of reconciliation

    The Governor Seriake Dickson-led National Reconciliatory Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which was set up to resolve the party’s post-convention crisis, has submitted its report to National Chairman Uche Secondus. Assistant Editor LEKE SALAUDEEN examines the report of the committee and the party’s chances in 2019.

    THE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) reconciliatory committee headed by Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State has submitted its report to the party’s National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus. The committee was set up to resolve the dispute over Secondus’ emergence as the National Chairman.

    According to Dickson, the committee recommended that the PDP should return the party to the people, constitute all its standing committees, deliberately carve responsibilities for women and youths, give a sense of belonging to South-west leaders in the party, woo those who left the PDP to return to its fold and above all, lead a coalition of all other parties to win more states and form the government at the centre. The committee also advised the PDP National Working Committee and its leaders to forgive erring members and promote peace in the fold, not to take issues with ourselves and even those who have left the party.

    Against all expectations that the committee will restore peace and unity among members some PDP chieftains have dumped the party. For instance a leading aspirant for the position of National Chairman of the party, Professor Tunde Adeniran and a founding member of the PDP, Professor Jerry Gana had defected to the Social Democratic Party (SDP) before the committee submitted its report.

    It appears the reconciliation was an exercise in futility. Initially, the Dickson-led committee had raised hope of restoring peace in the PDP giving the warm reception accorded it by the aggrieved members and the promise that they would not to leave the party. Adeniran who lost to Secondus gave some words of inspiration to the committee when they visited him. He advised Dickson to reach out to all candidates and as many members of the party in the bid to reconcile. He said it was important to also reach out to as many members of the PDP who did not contest for any position but fought gallantly to ensure the preservation of the party.

    “We should try to interact with various players; I will suggest that we should not leave any stone unturned to reach out as much as possible. There are those of us who carried the flag, but there are some others who are key players in this party, who may not even contest for positions but they are no less concerned about the party.”

    On his part, Gana said he would never leave the PDP for whatever reason and promised to play a role in salvaging the party. Analysts believe there must have been some negative developments that provoked these chieftains to change their minds and turn their back against the PDP.

    Another reason to suggest that the reconciliatory efforts did not succeed was the statement credited to a chieftain of the PDP and the former Minister of Niger Delta, Godsday Orubebe that the party had nothing more to offer Nigerians. Orubebe who attempted to disrupt the collation of 2015 presidential election results at the national collation centre and confronted the former Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said “the PDP is still lost in depression and suffering from a post-traumatic stress disorder”. He also referred to the PDP as a party of shame, receding into the abyss of political reality.

    Former Deputy Senate President, Senator Ibrahim Mantu took many unaware when he revealed how he hadrigged elections for the PDP by providing financial inducements to officials involved in the conduct of polls. Though Mantu has not defected from the party but he is already eyeing another political platform. Analysts had expected that the PDP would come out stronger and united after the reconciliation.

    A political scientist, Professor Ayo Olukotun, said: “We cannot determine the success or failure of the PDP reconciliatory committee on those that have dumped the party. He explained that if the PDP still have critical mass with them, the committee can claim relative success; if not we can say they have failed. The relative importance of those who remain and those who left the party will determine the success or failure of the reconciliation committee.”

    Olukotun who teaches political science at the Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU) Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State however said “the gale of defection suffered by the PDP in recent time is a pointer that the party still has a lot to do to appease the minds of the aggrieved members. According to him, it is a fall out of the convention; the disaffection is coming from that angle. You can see that the convention went against the Southwest, the zone that was initially agreed on to produce the national chairman of the PDP. Many PDP chieftains from the South-West have kept silence and distanced themselves from the party because their candidate, Professor Adeniran was defeated. Unless the PDP leadership appease their minds, the party will lose them”.

    He faulted the PDP’s approach towards regaining power. His words: “PDP lacks a platform. Apology is an attempt to rebrand but it is not enough. They are banking on relatively poor performance of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to bounce back to power. PDP is thinking people are completely disenchanted with the APC performance and that the PDP is the alternative. PDP knows what it is against but it does not know what it stands for. They have not told us what they have in stock for the electorate, their programme. It is not enough to tell us APC is a failure but let us know your programme; how you intend to perform better than the ruling party if given the mandate”.

    On whether PDP can regain power in 2019, Olukotun said “we can’t determine that without conducting opinion poll. But the odds are too many for PDP: the party is bedevilled with internal crisis, there is the narrative that it is the most corrupt party in the world, it has been blacklisted in the minds of the people. They have to move from the binge of negative stereotyping before they can gain the confidence of Nigerians.”

    He said each political party has its advantage and weakness. According to him, “the APC has the advantage of incumbency and weak performance as its disadvantage. But the PDP is perceived as immensely corrupt and seen as the underdog. There are people that are yet to decide which party to vote for in 2019, they are watching the direction of victory before making up their minds. However, the odds for now favour APC.”

    A youth activist and PDP member, Malam Shehu Ibrahim said he had written off the Seriake Dickson-led reconciliation committee even before it started work.  According to him, the Niger Delta people have destroyed the party. Governor Nyesom Wike has taken over the party. He dictates the tune. You can see all the presidential aspirants rushing to Port Harcourt to seek his blessing.

    “If the reconciliation was successful why is the PDP losing members to the APC and other parties? Things are not normal with the PDP anymore. The northern PDP leaders have kept silence since the end of the convention because they felt betrayed with the way and manner Wike deployed a huge sum of money to truncate the party arrangement. Prior to the convention, the PDP leaders in the North had agreed that the position of National Chairman should go to the South-West and they endorsed Professor Tunde Adeniran for the job. But the new power broker from the South-South changed that deciosion. It is not only South-West that was hurt by the outcome of the convention, the north was also offended.

    “You can’t expect PDP Yoruba leaders to forget how they were treated before and during the convention. Wike referred to them as liability, saying that they didn’t contribute anything to the party. The truth of the matter is that PDP is now a regional party. I don’t know how PDP will get out of this self inflicted problem.”

    Lawyer and human right activist, Monday Ubani has ruled out the possibility of PDP winning election in the South-West in 2019. He said with the gale of defection from the PDP to the APC, it will be very difficult for the opposition to turn the table against the ruling party. He said the defection was a fall out of the convention. The outcome of the convention is taking its toll on the popularity of the PDP and its chances in 2019.

    He described the PDP reconciliation as an after-thought that will not yield any positive result. I don’t think PDP big wigs in Yoruba land will easily forget how they were schemed out by the power brokers at the convention; I don’t think they would be persuaded by the reconciliation overtures after denying them the chairmanship of the party.

    Ubani said “no amount of reconciliation will assuage the feelings of the people of South-West. Nigerians will prefer the APC to continue the rescue mission, rather than allow the PDP to come and destroy the new foundation being laid by the ruling party. It will be very difficult for the PDP to win election in 2019 because Nigerians have not forgotten the havoc it wreaked on the economy which had resulted in economic hardship that Nigerians are still battling with”.

    A legal scholar, Dr Israel Adeogun has advised the leadership of the PDP not to take things for granted that all is well with the party. He said the antics of Wike and his clique would continue to destabilise the former ruling party. “As long as there are aggrieved party members whose grievances have not been resolved by the reconciliatory committee, the party would remain vulnerable. Though the committee visited aggrieved party leaders in the Southwest but there was no commitment from them.

    “The convention had created so much distrust in the PDP that party members view one another with suspicion. I don’t think the PDP is ready to regain power in 2019. How can an opposition party dislodge the ruling party when it has not put its house in order.

    The task before Uche Secondus now is to rebuild the party by bringing every group on board. This is not the time for PDP to engage in chest beating or discriminating against any group for it to regain its lost glory.”

  • 2019: Abe’s men set up reconciliation panel

    Ahead of the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primaries in Rivers State, stakeholders loyal to  Senator Magnus Abe has set up a five-man reconciliation committee, led by Senator Wilson Ake (Rivers West, 2007-2015).

    This was part of a six-point communique read by ex-Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Chief Chibudom Nwuche, yesterday at APC’s stakeholders’ meeting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital.

    Present at the meeting are Executive Director, Finance and Administration, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Chief Derek Mene; Senator Ake; Nwuche; the lawmaker representing Ikwerre/Emohua in the House of Representatives, Chidi Wihioka; and his counterpart in Khana/Gokana, Maurice Pronen, among other top politicians.

    Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi, an ex-governor, declared that the governorship would rotate to the riverine part, since the upland had been producing governor since 1999.

    Rivers APC candidate in 2015 Dr. Dakuku Peterside, director-general of Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), from coastal Opobo, is in the race, just as Abe, an Ogoni.

    Abe’s allies, after an appraisal of happenings in the APC, noted that an expanded stakeholders’ meeting resolved many topical issues.

    The communique reads: “We call on members of the APC in Rivers State to ignore those who have been deceived into leaving the party, as there will be no implosion in Rivers APC. All the leaders of the party are committed to ensuring the victory of the APC in Rivers State and in the whole country in the 2019 elections.

    “We applaud the doggedness of members of the APC in Rivers State, who have remained committed to the ideals of the party, in spite of internal bickering and external pressure and who have continued to make sacrifices for the sustenance of the party in Rivers State.

    “We enjoin members of the APC in Rivers State to return all party executives at all levels in the state during the congresses, irrespective of their factional leanings, as a reward for their sacrifices and commitment to the APC, in the face of threats, intimidation and even physical danger.

    “We commend President Muhammadu Buhari for his clear, bold and courageous stand on the constitutional issue of elected party officials. The President’s position has not only shown that the APC is a political party that respects the true tenets of internal democracy and the dictates of the law, it has also steered the party clear of prospective legal danger.

    “We urge members of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the APC to place the interest of the party above every other consideration and respect the informed position of Mr. President to conduct congresses across all strata of the party, to bring the party in conformity with extant constitutional provisions of the Nigerian Constitution and its own constitution.”

    Abe, former secretary to the Rivers State Government (SSG) in Amaechi’s administration, in his address, maintained that APC members  were on the right path and that victory in 2019 was certain.

    The Chairman, Senate Committee on FERMA noted that some members defected to the PDP because of what they will eat, stressing that the solution to hunger in the state is to fight to claim the governorship in 2019 and not to beg for crumbs from Wike and his allies.

    Also speaking, Wihioka said President Buhari meant well for Nigeria and Nigerians, stating that the President should be supported to succeed.

    Speaking on behalf of the people of Rivers East, an APC chieftain, Chief Allwell Onyesoh, declared that holding congresses in the APC was the proper thing to do.

    Nwuche, speaking on behalf of Rivers West, said upland/riverine dichotomy should be jettisoned, noting that Abe will be a better governor in 2019.

    An indigene of Opobo, Mrs. Grace Sam-Jaja cautioned that APC’s foundation must not be destroyed.

  • Clerics preach peace, reconciliation, economic revival

    CLERICS have urged Nigerians to imbibe the importance and the lessons derivable from Easter for individual spiritual growth and national development.

     

    ‘Imbibe virtue of peace and reconciliation’

    In Enugu, A cleric, Rev. Maxwell Onyia of Ascension Anglican Church, Enugu has advised Christians to imbibe the virtue of peace and reconciliation exemplified by Jesus Christ.

    Onyia said this in his homily with the themed: “I am the Resurrection and the Life” at a Special Easter Service yesterday in Enugu.

    According to the cleric, the death and resurrection of Christ brought mankind peace coming from true reconciliation with God.

    “Basically, Christ died to reconcile us, the world, back to God once more and for man to live above the powers of death and hell.

    “The reconciliation, which the death and resurrection of Christ availed us, had made it possible for man to have peace with God and himself,” he said.

     

    Iorapuu to Nigerians: pray for political revival, economic rejuvenation

    The Parish Priest of Holy Ghost Catholic Church in Makurdi Rev. Fr. Moses Iorapuu has called on Nigerians to use the opportunity of Easter to pray for the country’s economic and political rejuvenation.

    Iorapuu gave the advice in his homily to mark the Easter celebration on Sunday.

    According to him, the answer to Nigeria’s myriads of problems rests with God.

    Iorapuu urged all Christians to develop the attitude of waiting on him for divine intervention in addressing political, economic, security and spiritual problems confronting the country.

     

    Why unity, love, peace imperative to growth, by Badejo

    Bishop Emmanuel Badejo of Catholic Diocese of Oyo advised Nigerians to embrace unity, love and peace in order to enhance national growth and growth.

    Badejo gave this advice when he delivered a sermon at an Easter church service in Ibadan.

    He urged parents to raise God-fearing children to secure the nation’s future.

    The cleric made reference to the abducted Dapchi student, Leah Sharibu, who refused to renounce her faith.

     

    ‘Resurrection offers believers hope’

    Resident Pastor of Living Faith Church, Lokongoma, Abuja Pastor Isaac Oyedepo said Easter laid solid foundation for Christianity and offered believers hope of eternal life.

    The cleric spoke during a Special Easter celebration service sermon, entitled: “Unveiling the power of his resurrection” in Abuja.

    Oyedepo said without the single act of resurrection, Christian faith would have been vain, adding that the act wiped away the transgressions of those who died after Christ and those who died before him.

    “The Easter celebration is not just to wear clothes. It is the foundation of our Christianity. If Jesus did not rise, we will not have Christianity.

    “So, Christianity is majorly about Easter because without it, our faith is in vain,” he said.

     

  • ‘Reconciliation will succeed in APC’

    The Special Adviser on Legislative and Political Matters to the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Mufutau Egberongbe, spoke with reporters on the relationship between the executive and the legislature, and Asiwaju Bola Tinubu’s efforts to reconcile aggrieved members of the All Progressives Congress (APC). OZIEGBE OKOEKI reports.

    How would you assess the performance of the Eight Lagos State House of Assembly in the last two three years?

    It has been a successful House. Unlike previous ones, the 8th Assembly has witnessed a high turnout of private member bills. In the past assemblies, most bills emanated from the executive arm. The Neighbourhood Watch bill, the cancer institute and the Yoruba Language bills are just a few of such. Most of such private members’ bill has direct impact on the people they represent and this suggests that the lawmakers are very close to the grassroots. Don’t forget also the town hall meetings, which affords the lawmakers the opportunity to feel the pulse of the people and which has equally assisted Governor Ambode in planning the budget.

    Why was the 2018 budget rushed by the House?

    Remember, I said the document was generated by the executive and legislative arms. There is also the pre-budget meeting between the two arms where issues are raised and trashed. That is where the real job is done. Besides, the speaker and the governor had been working on the finances of the state before their latest positions. The speaker was the chairman of the Committee on Budget, while the governor was a former accountant-general.

    What type of relationship exists between the two arms?

    Without mincing words, the executive is moving at a geometric pace. But that is because it enjoys the backing of the House; there is no way the executive will run in that pace without the cooperation of the legislature. The governor recently granted assent to seven bills in a day. It has never happened in this state.

    Would you recommend the speaker for another term?

    Honestly, I have known the speaker for over 10 years I know him as a god-fearing person. He is also a very technical and thorough person. He remains versatile and strives to have knowledge of issues. I think it is good for our system. I would strongly recommend a second term for the governor and the speaker. What they have started together, they should complete together.

    Why has the APC government at the centre not been able to meet the expectations of Nigerians?

    First, Nigerians are very impatient people. See them at bus-stops and food canteens; you will definitely see someone attempting to jump the queue. Nigerians want the rot of over 16 years repaired in less than three years. Secondly, there is this insincerity on the part of the opposition, because they just want to tarnish the image of the government, in spite of the successes recorded in the fight against corruption. Most times, I hear people saying that the same people that destroyed the PDP are the ones in the APC. Yes, while I agree with you on that, but the party has the capacity of whipping anyone into line. Some international bodies have even described our president as incorruptible. But what are we saying back home? Buhari is just one of us, massive population. I think we should just be patient with the political class. Now that we have seen a good man, let’s give him a chance to work.

    Given the crises plaguing the APC, what are your expectations from Asiwaju Bola Tinubu’s reconciliation committee?

    There is nothing wrong with warring parties coming to jaw-jaw. What reason would anybody have to be against the reconciliatory move? And who has the personality of Asiwaju? This is not just because he is my mentor, but, let’s put that person on the table and evaluate. Who is that individual that has made friends in every part of the country and still maintains those contacts since he was a senator? None! He is not a saint, but he loves Nigeria passionately.

    So, does this imply that there is no vacancy in Aso Rock in 2019?

    Yes, there is no vacancy both at the federal and state levels. Just go round Lagos and see the progress recorded under Ambode’s watch. Have you been to Lekki? Have you been to Ojodu-Berger recently to see the transformations? Recently in Oshodi area of Lagos, a couple was caught via the CCTV stealing. I agree that there are areas of challenge, but putting them side-by-side relatively with the progress, I think the latter supersedes.

    What would you say to those dreaming of unseating Buhari in 2019?

    They should not waste their resources and time trying to defeat him. From within the party, nobody is raising his hand. Several times, leaders of other parties have confirmed that Buhari has tried. Bode George is one of them. Come down to Lagos and see how Ambode has revolutionised Epe, a former sleepy town. What that means is that the value of land there has appreciated. The economy and night life too have received boosts. We have a governor who is constantly thinking.

     

  • ‘Why reconciliation in Kaduna APC may fail’

    ‘Why reconciliation in Kaduna APC may fail’

    Former Kaduna State Commissioner for Education and factional Chairman of  the All Progressives Congress (APC) Mr. Mataimaki Tom Maiyashi, in this interview with ABDULGAFAR ALABELEWE in Kaduna, the state capital, says there cannot  be genuine reconciliation in the crisis-ridden chapter because Governor Nasir El-Rufai will frustrate it.

    Is there any difference between the ‘APC Akida,’ the Restoration Group and the faction, led by Senator Hunkuyi?

    I think this question is important for the sake of clearing the confusion around these issues. APC Akida started right from the onset when we noticed that the principles and philosophy on which he party was founded was being renaged by the party in government The people elected the APC into government. They did so based on certain principles of the party, which they believed were going to implement, if elected into power. And the slogan of ‘change’ was not just a mere slogan; we are saying that something was wrong and there was the need to shift to move away from that and bring about the fundamental change that is going to affect the lives of ordinary people like workers, artisans, craftsmen, students and so on. Right from the onset, when we noticed that the state government under the leadership of Nasir El-Rufai had started betraying those principles, we sensed that there was going to be danger and the danger was that if we do not make amends and come back strictly on those principles (Akida), the party was going to run into trouble. Because there will come a time when the party will have to account for his actions. So, it is not just the Governor, and whether you like the governor or not, he is an APC governor, he is not an independent candidate, so the party will have to come back to the people, seeking for remandating from the people. And it is then that the party will be faced with the reality of what it has done and whether it has deviated.

    If it has deviated from the principles of which it was elected to government, that will be the day of reckoning and it will not be pleasant and that is why from the onset, we named our selves APC Akida. Restoration Group came much later. It is a very recent development. They were with El-rufai. Even, when we were fighting Nasiru, they were there and we kept telling him that this thing has the capacity of spiralling into something that could throw the party and even the government into very serious crises. Well, they taught that they could manage it from the inside, until lately they now realise that they couldn’t manage it and so they formed what they called Restoration Group. In that case, we are on the same page, they are Restoration and we are Akida, and we came right from the unset.

    Before you took up the fight against the governor, did Akida fight from within?

    No, there was no fight from within. We are members of APC and nobody can deny that. So, if we see somthing that is wrong and we say for example that to us ita absurd that the governor took the line of action he took, to us it was a complete betrayal of the trust of the people, and we were going to be part of the explanation of what he has done in government, been members of the APC. we cannot now say its when its time to seek for remandating that we now say we are not APC, of course we are. And people will ask us questions anyway, because they know us to be APC.

    What we try to do was try to draw the attention of the governor and series of meeting were held, we sort audience with the governor severally, memos were sent to him, seeking to get round the table and discuss the issues. If you want to verify this, you go to the national headquarter of the party, you will see our communication with the party on what was happening. First quarter of 2016 , around March/April, the national vice chairman northwest for APC, barrister Inuwa Abdulkadir was mandated to come and sit with us here, where he finished his work and submitted his report to the national headquarters.

    In October, November, December 2016, another committee was formed under the leadership of the governor, his excellencency the Governor of Katsina State, Aminu Masari and there are two sittings Senators present, Kabir Gaya from Kano and Dr. Abdulahi Argungun from kebbi, they were members of that committee, they came and we instructed all our people to give them maximum corporation to that committee and provide the committee with every information that they required with a view that this thingswill be understood from holistic point of views so that it will be sorted out and party get back on its course. That committee finished his work and just like the governor humiliate the northwest chairman, he also humiliate the Masari committee. You will recall that the governor directed that the family house of the national Vice chairman on Yakubu Avenue to be destroyed, just because he was committed to getting everybody round the table to sort out this problem. So a lot of effort had been made.

    There are even friends and colleagues who had even intervened, but the governor remained adamant. You will remember he said anybody who was not happy with what he was doing should go and climb Kufena hill and go and commit suicide. But, we will not go and commit suicide. You also remember May last year at a town hall meeting in Giwa where he named us by name, that we were ants that he has spike shoes, that he will crush and mutilate us and gather the rubbles in wheelbarrow. Well the ants are still here. He doesn’t know that ants are great warriors. I think he needs to go back to history, during the Jihadist days, where ants brought down Chariots on horses, so that is why we are still here and we are on ground.

    In the face of all these, what do you think is the future of APC in Kaduna State, especially as we approach the 2019 general election?

    It is a very important question. Some of your colleagues have asked me this question and my response has been that- when you have a mandate, you have a contract with the people of Kaduna state that you are going to run a government that is going to respect, promote human dignity, happiness and development, while bringing about change to those people who have been so marginalised over a period of time and have been living in a state of penury, agony and poverty, this is the change APC promised the people of Kaduna state.

    As we speak, non of those promises have been fulfilled. Instead the governor has persistently tow the line of antagonizing the same people who gave the APC this mandate that enabled him to become a governor.

    Our local government workers have been sacked, traditional rulers have been sacked and many of them humiliated. Teachers have been sacked; as we speak, there are still some people in the civil service who are still receiving their termination and sack letters. As at the last count, we have 36 thousand workers who have lost their jobs in a state, not a Federal Government. The implication of that is huge, and if you take particularly the teachers issue, completely the education system has been dislocated and destroyed, and once you go into destruction, building and developing is not an easy thing.

    From the time that the 21,780 teachers were sacked, in some of the schools, its only one teacher remaining. Now, with the promise that some 25 thousand were going to be employed immediately to fill the vacancies of those that were sacked, the whole thing is crazy, that a teacher who did not score 75per cent in an examination is useless and he should go; what is magical about 75 percent? And that exams is the most unprofessional thing that I have ever seen. It is reckless. Some 46,000 were said to have applied, and out of which some 25 thousand are supposed to be selected, and about 10-15 thousand are said to have been found eligible for employment, so assuming that those ones are in place, you will still have a balance of 10 thousand, but as we speak, those ones are not in place yet . You can imagine the loss of contact hours and several weeks, this children have no contact with teachers, imagine the gap of this dislocation? Not to talk of the very poor infrastructure of some schools. If you put all these dislocations together, I don’t know how we are to reconstruct the education in the state to be effective even just at the basic level.

    There is no person on earth that will boast that they have all the capacities required in other to perform their duty, be it an Army, Medicine or whatever, there is always a capacity deficiency, and what normally is supposed to be done is to do an evaluation, capacity assessment and see where the capacity gaps are, and you organise capicity building  programmes to fill in those gaps. Those that completely may not be able to get to the basic standard required, you turn them in and let them do something else, but not to wakeup just one morning and sack 21,780 teachers, that is the most craziest thing I have ever come across in my professional life, it is complete madness and we will have to explain these to the electorate, because as we speak, the schools are still empty, teachers are not there, so the day of reckoning is near and I don’t know what the governor has as plan to convince the people that that is the route to take to bring about change in education.

    Do you think reconciliation is possible and do you think the governor can tow the line of APC Akida?

    First of all, the governor, by his orientation, completely is a misfit in the change project. You can see this clearly, when you want to bring about fundamental change in society, it does not rely on your sole knowledge, that, it is you alone who knows what to do and even the people that you are working for should have no say. In education, there is something we call learner voice, which means you as a teacher should prepare to hear from your students, because the reason why the institutions were established was because of them. If there is no learner, then there will be no Permanent Secretary, Director in the ministry of education, or Commissioner of Education. So, the learner voice is very important, not to talk of democracy where you are supposed to be managing the affairs of men and you say that nobody’s view is relevant, that you will run your policy and evaluate yourself that you have done well, that is madness. That is the orientation of El-rufai, for he will not change.

    Look at what happened few days ago. The secretariat, which is Hunkuyi’s house was demolished. That is even Hunkuyi who has been his companion, and a very close ally, who even paved the way for him to win the election. No leader in his responsible sense will do that type of thing. Once anything touches him, (El-rufai) you just flare up. No responsible leader in democracy will do that, this is tyranny. So, he will not change, and so there will be no resolution of this crises. I can tell you that Nasiru El-Rufai will not change and then there will be no resolution of this crises.

    We are very happy that the President took this initiative, by instituting the Asiwaju committee. Asiwaju has been governor before. He is highly a respected leader of the party and we know he is committed to the wellbeing of the party. But, I can assure you, I am not a prophet of doom, but Nasiru El-Rufai will not change and so their will be no resolution.

    We are prepared. On our side we are prepared, because all along our commitment has been come back on cause and safe this party from ridicule and ruin and humiliation and we have, the state local government election around the corner, you just wait and see, the expression, the reaction of the people , that is going to be a testing ground before 2019. I can tell you as it is now that we have no product to sell to the people. They gave us the mandate and we betrayed the mandate. We have antagonised them, we are fighting them and we are not even prepared to listen. The President in his new year speech apologized for suffering that people are going through, and that is a true sign of good leadership, but here we have a governor who benefited immensely from the credibility of the Mr. President, but he is too big-headed to listen to anybody or let alone even apologise.

    You remember his speech at Umar Musa Yardua Centre at Murtala Square, he said he is not afraid of fighting, and he has enough stamina and energy to fight, that he had faught two Presidents; one is in his grave and the other one is in his village in Otuoke. Tell me, can a human being in a respected position make such statement? It is insanity. If he goes to this extent, then, I don’t think miracles are not possible, miracles are possible, but as a human being, the way I see how this government is going, there’s need to blow a trumpet into his ears before he listens and I have not seen that type of trumpet.

    In case there is no such micracle, what are your plans in Akida and the Hunkuyi faction?

    I can tell you that politics is a matter of opinion,it is what we think we should be doing and political parties are organizations that you join voluntarily, Nobody is in the position to say people must remain in APC. Already there are people who are already leaving, that’s why you hold your views and determine where you are going to realize it. And that’s why the constitution of the federal republic guarantees freedom of opinion and freedom of association, so political parties are associations that you voluntarily join which you can walk in and walk out .There is nobody that can make a law and say you must remain in a political formation as to whether you like it or not. I know many people who are members of APC and their minds are already walking away from the party.

    If you study the number of people who voted from 1999 to 2015, you will see that the number of voters is declining, this is because majority of Nigerians are loosing confidence in our elites. Even in this 2015 election which General Buhari won by 2.5 million votes or there about, peoples Jonathan has 10 million votes, Buhari has 12.5 , so if you put the numbers together, it amounts to 22.5 million or thereabout, out of over 60 million eligible Nigerians, which means we are even running a minority government. Many Nigerians have lost faith in the political class.

    I am the chairman of Akida, but I am not GOC or Brigade Commander that will command everybody into line. We all have our perception before joining politics, I am in politics becuae of what I wan t Nigeria to be, so if I see that what in what ever formation I’m in is not going to materialise, then the most natural thing for me to do is to look elsewhere, where I can achieve this.