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Tag: Sambo

  • Sambo, Aremu, others congratulate El-Rufai

    Sambo, Aremu, others congratulate El-Rufai

    Vice President Namadi Sambo has on Monday afternoon called Kaduna State Governor – elect, Malam Nasir El-Rufai to congratulate him for emerging victorious in last Saturday’s governorship election.

    El-Rufai’s spokesperson, Samuel Aruwan disclosed this in a statement made available to newsmen in Kaduna Monday, adding that, Governor Yero has also written an official congratulatory message to Malam El-Rufai, even after he had called on telephone Sunday afternoon to concede victory to the APC candidate.

    In the same vein, Secretary-General of the National Union of Textile Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria (NUTGTWN), Comrade Issa Aremu has congratulated El-Rufai over the victory at the Governorship poll.

    Sambo, according to Aruwan, wished El-Rufai a successful tenure in office and urged him to use his wealth of experience for the peace and development of Kaduna state and Nigeria at large.

    Sambo further appealed to the citizens of the state to give maximum support and cooperation to Malam El-Rufai.

    In his own message, Aremu said, “On behalf of the National Executive members of the National Union of Textile Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria (NUTGTWN) we congratulate the new Governor elect of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai on his victory at the Kaduna State Governorship elections held on Saturday April 11, 2015.

    “We commend His Excellency the Executive Governor of Kaduna State, Alhaji Mukhtar Ramalan Yero for conceding defeat and accepting the outcome of the State governorship elections.

    “Given his antecedent in governing a cosmopolitan FCT, we have no doubt that the Governor-elect, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai will deepen the peace process in Kaduna traumatized through avoidable blood-letting in recent times. Peace process must go hand in hand with sustainable development which must start with urgent re-industrialization of kaduna state and mass employment of the army of the youths.

    “We will partner with the incoming administration to take necessary steps to revive the ailing industries in Kaduna State especially the textile industries with a view of creating jobs for the mass of unemployed youths in the state.

    “As a private sector union and affiliate of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and a critical stakeholder in the development of the state and the country in general, we wish to pledge our support, and cooperation in the great task of moving Kaduna State and indeed Nigeria to a greater height.”

    Meanwhile, celebration continued at the campaign office of the governor-elect with crowds of party members and supporters dancing and singing into the second day.

  • Jonathan, Sambo, Buhari, others mourn as Douglas dies at 49

    Jonathan, Sambo, Buhari, others mourn as Douglas dies at 49

    THE Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on Research, Documentation and Strategy, Mr. Oronto Douglas, is dead.

    Douglas, who hailed from Okoroba in Nembe Local Government Area, Bayelsa State, died at the State House Clinic at 5 am yesterday after a battle with cancer.

    The late presidential adviser had, on several occasions, received medical attention in the United States (U.S.) for the ailment.

    Born in 1966, Douglas stood out as one of Dr. Jonathan’s most brilliant and influential aides.

    He was known for documenting the President’s achievements, legacies, coordinating media and campaign strategies for the Presidency.

    Douglas was a leading human rights attorney and served as one of the defence lawyers to the late Ogoni leader, Ken Saro Wiwa, who was executed under Gen. Sani Abacha’s regime, in 1995.

    He was the first activist to present the Niger Delta’s struggle to U.S. President Bill Clinton.

    The late environmentalist was a fellow of the George Bell Institute (England) and the International Forum on Globalisation (USA).

    President Jonathan has expressed deep sadness on the death of aide.

    Besides the official condolence statement, Jonathan and Vice President Namadi Sambo visited the family of the late Douglas in Abuja.

    They met briefly with the family before signing the condolence register.

    Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Christian Pilgrims Board John Kennedy-Opara prayed for the family during the visit.

    Jonathan said he had never seen anybody with a strong will like Douglas.

    He said he was with the late aide last Saturday, and although Douglas knew he was going to die, he was still passionate about his work.

    The President said: “Myself and Douglas are from the same local government in Bayelsa State. I knew him first when I was doing my PhD research work; he was an environmental activist. I was doing some aspects of the Ecology of the Niger Delta, and my supervisor then, a Canadian, Prof. Powell, knew him. We met in his house.

    “But when I came into politics as a deputy governor, he was the commissioner for Information, and we were close. When I became the vice president, he came with me as my adviser on research, documentation and strategy – a post he held until this morning.”

     “He was a dedicated young man; very committed. I was here last Saturday, even though he knew because the doctors told him in America he was going to die in three weeks, he was still passionate about his work.

    “I have never seen a person with such a strong will. Oronto was a good man. He left us too early, but God knows the best. I only pray that God should provide for the family and pray that his soul should rest in peace.”

    On his part, Sambo said: “This is a sad day for us. We have lost a good friend, a brother and a patriotic Nigerian. He was a person of integrity and we pray to Almighty God that his soul shall rest in perfect peace.

    “We pray that the family he left behind will have the fortitude to bear this great loss. Nigeria has lost a good man and a person that had contributed positively to the country’s development.”

    The President-elect, . Muhammadu Buhari, has condoled with Jonathan on the demise of his aide.

    Buhari, in a condolence letter to the President, said: “I received the news of the death of your long-standing and key aide, Oronto Douglas, with sadness.

    “I appreciate how close he had worked with you and consider him (Oronto) a young and dynamic individual, who still has a lot to offer our country as we build on our democracy. I urge you, Mr. President, to take heart and to convey my condolences to his family as we pray for the repose of his humble soul.”

    The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Power, Godknows Igali, said the late Douglas was a great environmental rights activist and thinker, who was well-appreciated globally.

    “It’s a great loss. But his work is going to endure for generations unborn. Beyond Nigeria, Oronto is respected all over the world,” he said.

    Younger brother to the deceased Mr. Otonye Douglas said the death was a great loss to the family and Bayelsa State.

    He said his brother’s burial arrangement would be announced later.

    Also yesterday, the President, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, extended heartfelt condolences to the Douglas family and the government and people of Bayelsa State.

    He noted that Douglas served his country, state and the Niger Delta region, passionately and diligently, during his years on earth.

  • I’m proud to be Jonathan’s VP- Sambo

    I’m proud to be Jonathan’s VP- Sambo

    Vice President Namadi Sambo has commended President Goodluck Jonathan for his decision to accept the outcome of the election.
    Speaking when the Christian community in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) paid President Jonathan Easter homage at the the State House, Abuja on Sunday, Sambo noted that the decision has saved the country and made it the pride of Africa.
    According to him, Jonathan’s name in the country will ever be in gold.
    He said the President has groomed him in the past five years to PHD level while the same period would have been used by others in a conventional university to get Bsc. or Masters degree.
    “I am proud to be your deputy. You are my brother and teacher forever. For the five years I have been with you, I have got PHD from you. I am for ever loyal to you and we are of the same family.”
    Noting that Easter Sunday is a special day of resurrection of Jesus Christ, Sambo prayed for God’s wisdom for the president in leading the nation.

  • Buhari floors Jonathan, Sambo in Kaduna

    1. Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has floored incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan in Vice President Mohammed Namadi Sambo’s home state, Kaduna, with 1.127,760 votes to 484,085 votes.

    The opposition APC won in 14 of the 23 local governments, leaving the ruling party with nine councils.

    Comrade Shehu Sani of the APC won the Kaduna Central Senatorial District seat, defeating Senator Mohammed Mukhtar Aruwa of the PDP with 468,964 votes to 168, 241 votes.

    APC’s Suleiman Hunkuyi defeated the incumbent senator and former Kaduna State Governor, Ahmed Makarfi, to clinch the Kaduna North Senatorial Zone ticket with 447,917 votes to 136,197 votes.

    However, Danjuma Laah of the PDP defeated APC’s Ishaku Shekarau to emerge the winner of the Kaduna South senatorial seat with 259,239 votes to 119,022 votes.

     

  • Buhari floors Jonathan, Sambo in Kaduna

    Buhari floors Jonathan, Sambo in Kaduna

    ….as APC, PDP share senate seats 2-1
    ….Senator Makarfi defeated

    From Abdulgafar Alabelewe, Kaduna

    General Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressive Congress (APC) has defeated the incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan in the Vice President Mohammed Namadi Sambo’s home state, Kaduna with 1.127,760 to 484,085 votes.

    The opposition APC won in 14 of the 23 local government areas of the state, leaving the ruling party with nine local governments.

    Comrade Shehu Sani of APC won the Kaduna Central Senatorial seat after defeating Senator Mohammed Mukhtar Aruwa of the PDP with 468,964 to 168, 241.

    Similarly, APC’s Suleiman Hunkuyi defeated the incumbent Senator and former Kaduna State Governor, Ahmed Makarfi to clinch the Northern senatorial seat with 447,917 to 136,197m

    However, Danjuma Laah of the PDP defeated APC’s Ishaku Shekarau to emerge winner of the southern Kaduna senatorial seat with 259,239 to 119,022.

    For the Presidential poll, APC scored 12,817 in Sanga local government, while PDP polled 22,838 votes.

    In Soba LGA, APC polled 61,656 while PDP polled 1,998. In Jaba LGA APC polled 5342 votes while PDP polled 18,314 votes.

    In Kaura LGA APC polled 7,101 votes while PDP polled27,502 votes.

    In Sabon Garin LGA APC polled 71,022 votes PDP polled 10,845.

    In Kajuru LGA, APC polled 11,592 while PDP polled 29,292.

    In Kudan LGA, APC polled ‎38,177 while PDP polled 2,167.

    In Kubau LGA. ACP polled 63,875 while PDP polled 6,377.

    In Makarfi LGA APC polled 44,241 votes, PDP polled 3500‎ votes.

    In Kaduna North LGA APC polled 119,622 votes while PDP polled 16,551 votes.

    In Kaduna South LGA APC polled 132,514 while PDP polled 31,820.

    In Zangon Kataf LGA APC polled 11,034 while PDP polled 56,799.

    In Igabi LGA‎ APC polled 97,841, PDP 7,410.

    In Ikara LGA APC polled. 49,146, PDP polled 7,170.

    In Kagarko LGA APC polled 16,399 while PDP polled 17,491 votes.

    In Birnin Gwari LGA, APC polled 43,926, PDP polled 2,539 votes.

    In Giwa LGA, APC polled 50,323 while PDP polled 4,556 votes.

    In Lere LGA, APC 63,503 votes, PDP polled 32,735 votes.

    In Chikun‎ LGA, APC polled 30,531 votes while PDP polled 64,452 votes.

    In Zaria LGA, APC polled 125,054 votes while PDP polled 4,735 votes.

    In Kachia LGA, APC polled 24,228 votes while PDP polled 37, 389.

    In Kauru, APC polled 28, 667, while PDP scored 26,418.

    In Jema’a, APC scored 19,149 against PDP’s 51,187 votes

    However, in Jaba local government, APC polled 5,342 while PDP, scored the overwhelming 18,314 votes.

    Presidential Election Collation Officer, Professor Ja’afar Makau Kaura read out the collated results after receiving them from the 23 local government areas Returning Officers throughout Sunday night to Monday evening.

    While commending the political parties for their cooperation throughout the collation exercise, Prof. Kaura said, the results would be taken to Abuja for announcement.

  • Jonathan loses at Aso Villa units

    Jonathan loses at Aso Villa units

    •Sambo, Agbaje, Ribadu, Bode George, Obanikoro, Fani-Kayode, others lose at units

    Some heavyweight politicians lost their polling units in yesterday’s elections.

    A major loss by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is the one at the two polling units in front of Aso Villa – the Presidential abode.

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate Gen. Muhammadu Buhari won in the two units.

    Buhari got a total of 613 votes, while Jonathan polled a total of 595 votes.

    Vice President Namadi Sambo got the same treatment in the former polling unit (Kabala 005) in Kaduna where the APC received overwhelming majority of votes.

    The APC scored 386 votes to beat the PDP that scored 53 votes in the presidential election. APC got 385 and 369 votes in the senate and house of assembly elections respectively while the PDP got 59 and 62 respectively.

    The results were announced by the presiding officer Abdulfatah Ali.

    In Lagos State Governorship candidate Jimi Agbaje’s Apapa polling unit the APC won 126 votes while PDP won 60.

    In the senate contest, APC polled 129 while PDP won 61.

    In the House of Representatives race, APC won 126 while the PDP won 62.

    PDP governorship candidate in Adamawa State Nuhu Ribadu failed to deliver his Yola polling unit to Jonathan.

    In the presidential contest APC won 320 votes to PDP’s 124   while in the senatorial race, Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM) candidate won 271 votes to PDP’s 73.

    PDP Southwest leader Chief Olabode George’s Evans Street polling unit on Lagos Island also fell to the APC candidate who took it narrowly with 109 votes to PDP’s 108.

    Minister of State Foreign Affairs 2 Mr. Musiliu Obanikoro lost in his bid to deliver his unit to Jonathan.

    Minister of National Planning, Dr. Sulaiman Abubakar, failed in his polling unit 006, Ode-Opobiyi Agbaji area (Ilorin West Local Government Area) in the presidential election with 146 votes to 39.

    PDP Presidential campaign council spokesman Mr. Femi Fani-Kayode also could not deliver his unit. He voted in Ile Ife, Osun State.

    At PG Hall Ife Centre 013/11, the APC candidate scored 127 to PDP’s 45 votes.

    But Vice President Namadi Sambo won his polling unit at Police College unit with 105 votes to the APC’s 20.

    But Kaduna State APC Governorship candidate Nasir El Rufai got 430 votes in his Urgwan Sarki’s unit for the APC candidate to PDP’s 11.

    Ex-Borno Governor Ali Modu Sheriff and Senator Ahmed Makarfi (Kaduna) also failed to deliver.

    Ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar won his Ajiya polling unit in Adamawa State for Gen. Buhari with 280 votes to Jonathan’s 60 votes.

    At APC Presidential running mate Prof. Yemi Osinbajo’s VGC unit in Lekki, Lagos, the APC won 718 votes to PDP’s 138.

    Some other unit results are:

    APC wins in Obasanjo’s unit

    At Obasanjo’s polling unit ward, APC polled 98 against PDP’s 8 and SDP 12 for the House of Representatives seat. For Senate, APC got 93, PDP 8 and SDP 15.

    Results at ex-Governor Bola Tinubu’s voting unit 047 in Alausa Ikeja.

    Presidential APC 180, PDP 55, Senate APC 181 and PDP 53, Reps: APC 61

    Senator Tinubu’s unit 034 Ikoyi, Lagos

    Presidential: APC 106, PDP 25

    Senate: APC 103, PDP 16

    Reps: APC 103, PDP 16

    Governor Fashola’s State Grammar School, Surulere 002

    President 318, PDP 135

    Senate APC318, PDP 129

    Rep APC 326, PDP 114

    House minority leader Femi Gbajabiamila Elizabeth Fowler PU 014

    President APC 123, PDP 81, Senate APC 118, PDP 64

    Rep: APC 124, PDP 46

    Ex-Governor Kayode Fayemi’s polling unit 09 Ward 11 Isan Ekiti

    President APC 140, PDP 24

    Senate APC 135, PDP 21

    Rep APC 142, PDP 22

    Senator Gbenga Ashafa’s Bogije polling unit in Ibeju Lekki

    President APC 385, PDP 250, Senate APC 406, PDP 236 and Rep APC 386.

    The APC candidate has also won the election in the two polling units 021 and 022 inside the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    The total votes scored in the two units showed that APC got 597 votes while PDP garnered 567 votes.

    Sorting and counting for the presidential election in the two units are still ongoing.

     

  • Polls: Jonathan, Sambo, Muazu, Mark, others meet today

    Ahead of March 28 and April 11 general elections, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)  National Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Muazu will today chair an emergency meeting of the ruling party.

    The meeting, to be held under the aegis of the National Campaign Council (NCC), which has Muazu as its chair, will take place at the Wadata Plaza National Secretariat of the PDP, Wuse Zone 5, Abuja.

    Expected at the meeting are: President Goodluck Jonathan, Vice President Namadi Sambo, Senate President David Mark and Deputy National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus.

    The party’s Board of Trustees (BoT) Chairman, Chief Tony Anenih; Director- General of the PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation, (PDPPCO) and former National Chairman, Alhaji Ahmadu Ali; former Deputy National Chairman, Chief Olabode George, PDP Governors’ Forum (PDPGF) Chairman and Akwa Ibom State Governor Godswill Akpabio; Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, Secretary to the Government of the Federation; and the Chief of Staff to the President, Brig-Gen James Arogbofa (rtd) will also attend.

  • Sambo, Jonathan’s aide woo Northwest Islamic clerics

    Sambo, Jonathan’s aide woo Northwest Islamic clerics

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday intensified its mobilisation of Islamic clerics in the Northeast geo-political zone ahead of next month’s presidential election.

    The  party called a huge meeting under the banner of “sensitisation and mobilisation of Islamic clerics on non-violence 2015 elections”.  It was the culmination of events including visits to the clerics by  Jonathan’s Campaign officials  in the seven Northwest zone states.

    At the head of the lobbying team is the Senior Special Assistant on Islamic Matters to President Goodluck jonathan, Alhaji Tahir Umar Tahir.

    Tahir and his team started visiting Imams in their homes and mosques since Friday to persuade them to attend the meeting and support President Jonathan, it was learnt.

    At the meeting, the President’s aide donated N500,000 to Initiative for Muslim Women of Nigeria (IMWON) at NUT Endwell Auditorium, Magadisu Layout in Kaduna.

    He also donated four desktop computers to the organisation to mark the graduation of young Muslim women, who were trained by IMWON in different skills.

    Vice President Namadi Sambo attended the meeting at the end of which the 3,500 participants – mainly Imams and Islamic clerics – qued up to collect gift packs.

    A source said they were handed cash.

    The Vice President who addressed them,  said the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate Gen. Muhammadu Buhari is not a religious bigot.

    He said Gen. Buhari a few days ago, met with the Christian leaders from the North and even accepted a gift of Bible from them, which he described as a good  precedent of peaceful co-existence and religious harmony.

    The Vice President who addressed the gathering in Hausa added: “So, people should desist from making such unpleasant comments about politics and religion”.

    He said the meeting was a clear demonstration that Nigerians must live together irrespective of their religion or ethnic background because God would have made all Nigerians Muslims or Christians if he so desired.

    “From our independence in 1960, it has always been Muslims and Christains working together; Sir Tafawa Balewa worked with Dr. Nnamdi Azikwe and Second Republic President Alhaji Shehu Shagari worked with Dr. Alex Ekwueme. Ex-President Olusegun Obsanjo worked with Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and the Late Umaru Yar’ Adua worked with Goodluck Jonathan and Today by Allah’s will, I am Jonathan’s Vice President. All these show that Christians and Muslims in Nigeria are neighbours and nobody can separate them.

    The Vice President said the nation could not afford to have a repeat of what happened in 2011 hence there was the need for restraint from politicians and their followers.

    “You as spiritual leaders of our people who have a great role to play for the nation to have peaceful elections. I challenge you to go out from here and reach out to your followers and preach the message of peace during the election.

  • Jonathan, Sambo to Buhari: you lied on Mambilla dam 

    Jonathan, Sambo to Buhari: you lied on Mambilla dam 

    President Goodluck Jonathan and his deputy, Namadi Sambo, attacked the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate General Muhammadu Buhari yesterday, calling him a liar.

    They spoke during the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential rally in Jalingo, the Taraba state capital.

    The rally took place at the Jolly Nyame Sports Complex, along Jalingo-Yola Road.

    Jonathan and Sambo accused Buhari of lying that the Mambilla hydroelectric dam project in Sardauna Local Government Area of Taraba State had been moribund and would be revived, if APC won the February 14 presidential election.

    Buhari, on Wednesday during his rally in Jalingo, told the people of Taraba that he would revive and complete the Mambilla hydroelectric power dam to engage the youth, who, he said, because of idleness, were engaging in violence.

    But,  Jonathan said he had released $1 billion of the $1.5 billion contract sum, through counterpart funding for the Mambilla dam project.

    “The contractors are already on the site. The Mambilla dam is the best in West Africa. We shall develop it with top grade infrastructure for all African presidents to be going there to holiday. I believe this would generate revenue for the state,” Jonathan said.

    Sambo said Buhari was “ignorant” for saying he would revive the dam project.

    “It is not true; let me correct his ignorance. I am sorry there could be nothing like revamping the Mambilla dam. It is already on course,” Sambo said.

    He asked Tarabans to vote Jonathan because, besides the Mambilla hydroelectric power project, the Kashimbilla dam in Taraba, which is to generate about 40 megawatts and irrigation scheme for more than 10 thousand hectares of land, is also on the verge of completion.

    Sambo said Jonathan had approved N30 billion for the Kashimbilla dam.

    “The dredging of River Benue is also on course and very soon, you will see boats and ships coming to Taraba State,” he said.

    He asked Taraba people to vote for Jonathan because “Jonathan has not failed Nigerians.”

    For Taraba governorship election, Sambo told the people to vote for his architect colleague, Darius Dickson Ishaku.

    “Ishaku will design, construct and develop Taraba with the support of President Jonathan. It is very clear that on February 14, you will return President Jonathan,” he said.

    Jonathan’s Campaign Director General Amadu Ali also attacked Buhari.

    He said: “Don’t listen to people coming here to make fake promises. I mean fake promises. You don’t deserve change. Adamawa, Bauchi and Gombe are PDP and these states are doing well.”

    He said Jonathan and his team was in Taraba not to campaign, because since 1999, the PDP had won the soul of the state.

    Senate President David Mark also claimed that Jonathan was not coming to Taraba to campaign because Taraba” is already PDP and a Goodluck Jonathan state”.

    “Taraba should vote and return all the PDP senatorial candidates, all reps and house of assembly members. You are voting for PDP because of the massive projects done by the PDP government.

    “The youth will vote Jonathan because he has given them a federal university, which is located in Wukari,” he said.

     

  • Jonathan, Sambo, others lay wreaths for heroes

    Jonathan, Sambo, others lay wreaths for heroes

    President Goodluck Jonathan and Vice President Namadi Sambo led other top government officials and service chiefs yesterday to lay wreaths in honour of soldiers, who died in active national service and international assignments.

    January 15th every year is dedicated to remembering and appreciating departed Nigerian military men and their surviving colleagues, who have retired from active service.

    The leaders laid wreaths at the National Arcade in the Three Arms Zone in Abuja, a month after the president launched this year’s Armed Forces Remembrance Day emblem and Appeal.

    The brief ceremony started at 10a.m. after the president arrived at the National Arcade and inspected the guard of honour.

    Muslim and Christian officers prayed for the departed souls and the nation.

    The president laid the wreath after a minute silence in honour of the dead.

    The vice president, Senate President David Mark, House of Representatives’ Deputy Speaker Emeka Ihedioha, Chief Justice Mahmud Mohammed and Minister of Defence Aliyu Gusau were among top government officials, who also laid wreaths.

    Others include Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Bala Mohammed and Chief of Defence Staff Alex Badeh, who led service chiefs, Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Suleiman Abba and national chairman of the Nigerian Legion.

    A 21-gun salute preceded the wreath-laying ceremony.

    Jonathan led the dignitaries to release white pigeons at the arcade.

    Other top government officials, including cabinet members, attended the ceremony.