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Tag: Saraki

  • ‘We’ve endorsed Saraki as Kwara political leader’

    ‘We’ve endorsed Saraki as Kwara political leader’

    The Etsu Tsaragi in Edu Local Government Area of Kwara State, Alhaji Aliyu Kpotwo, has said traditional rulers have unanimously endorsed Senator Bukola Saraki as the political leader of the state.

    The monarch spoke at Tsaragi when he hosted Saraki’s campaign train for his re-election, led by Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed.

    Kpotwo said first class monarchs chose Saraki following the demise of his father, Dr Olusola Saraki, “to lead us politically”.

    According to him, politics in Kwara remains “a heritage.

    He added: “If I will not want any destruction to my father’s heritage, then I should do nothing to destroy the political structure that has been of immense benefits to us.”

    Kpotwo said the people of the town resolved to make public their political interest, adding that the town had suffered in the past because of “wrong information peddled against us”.

    He said: “We don’t want it again. We need to let the world know where we belong and what we stand for.”

    The Etsu, who hailed Saraki for initiating the reconstruction of his palace, also praised Ahmed for completing the project.

    Kpotwo said: “Anyone here before now, who decided to come to Tsaragi will see monumental development achieved under the Ahmed administration.

    “Therefore, nobody should tell us that we need to vote for Ahmed for his second term. Instead, we are begging him to come out and re-contest. His first term was a great blessing to us. We will mobilise our people to return him to power.”

    At the palace of the Lafiagi monarch, also in the same local government, Emir Kawu Haliru said traditional rulers were the harbingers of peace in Nigeria.

    He said: “They are our people. We know them very well and we can prevail on them to tow the line of peace, irrespective of the prevailing circumstances. That is why we still believe that we should be given a constitutional role to play in Nigeria.”

    The emir noted that “in our own Lafiagi, we would not renege on the political agreement between our forefathers and Ilorin people”.

    He added: “They were always doing things in common. We will not allow this age-long harmonious relationship to end during our own time.”

    Saraki spoke on the imperative of good governance as the pivot for viable democracy to thrive.

    The senator said his movement from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to All Progressives Congress (APC) remained the greatest step ever taken in his political career.

    The former governor said his active involvement the campaign for APC presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, was a project “aimed at rescuing Nigeria” from the claws of bad governance.

    Saraki said: “When we decided to leave the PDP for APC the other time, some people felt that we took the wrong step then. But today, everybody has fallen in line with what APC stands for.”

  • Thugs shoot at Ahmed’s, Saraki’s campaign convoy

    Thugs shoot at Ahmed’s, Saraki’s campaign convoy

    Suspected Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) thugs yesterday attacked the convoy of Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed and the senator representing Kwara Central in the National Assembly, Bukola Saraki.

    The thugs were said to have shot two members of the All Progressives Congress (APC); scores of others were injured.

    The attack took place at Isapa, Ekiti Local Government Area.

    Isapa is the home town of PDP’s governorship candidate, Senator Simeon Ajibola.

    The APC campaign train was on tour of the local government area, with Ahmed and Saraki, among other APC leaders, conducting peaceful rallies for votes.

    It was learnt that one of the victims of the attack was shot on his left leg and the other had his ear lobe chopped off with a machete.

    The hoodlums, it was gathered, ambushed the advance team of APC members going to Isapa.

    They attacked the supporters and destroyed the party’s campaign vehicles.

    The situation caused panic. People ran for safety.

    Despite the attack, Saraki and Ahmed addressed a large crowd of supporters in the community.

    The governor described the incident as unfortunate, adding that he was committed to peace.

    He said: “We have remained committed to a peaceful campaign everywhere we have gone to and we have been to virtually all the communities in this state without any problem.

    “However, it’s quite unfortunate that as we were coming here, our advance team was met with resistance by some misguided youths. Some of our people were shot at; they have been rushed to the hospital. One of them was very critical. We don’t know what will happen to him. But we are praying that he survives it.

    “It is very unfortunate. It was not expected, because we have been carrying out our campaigns peacefully and we intend to continue to do so. We would not allow any misguided group to truncate our record of peace in the state.”

  • Thugs shoot at Ahmed’s, Saraki’s campaign convoy

    Thugs shoot at Ahmed’s, Saraki’s campaign convoy

    Suspected Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) thugs yesterday attacked the convoy of Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed and the senator representing Kwara Central in the National Assembly, Bukola Saraki.

    The thugs were said to have shot two members of the All Progressives Congress (APC); scores of others were injured.

    The attack took place at Isapa, Ekiti Local Government Area.

    Isapa is the home town of PDP’s governorship candidate, Senator Simeon Ajibola.

    The APC campaign train was on tour of the local government area, with Ahmed and Saraki, among other APC leaders, conducting peaceful rallies for votes.

    It was learnt that one of the victims of the attack was shot on his left leg and the other had his ear lobe chopped off with a machete.

    The hoodlums, it was gathered, ambushed the advance team of APC members going to Isapa.

    They attacked the supporters and destroyed the party’s campaign vehicles.

    The situation caused panic. People ran for safety.

    Despite the attack, Saraki and Ahmed addressed a large crowd of supporters in the community.

    The governor described the incident as unfortunate, adding that he was committed to peace.

    He said: “We have remained committed to a peaceful campaign everywhere we have gone to and we have been to virtually all the communities in this state without any problem.

    “However, it’s quite unfortunate that as we were coming here, our advance team was met with resistance by some misguided youths. Some of our people were shot at; they have been rushed to the hospital. One of them was very critical. We don’t know what will happen to him. But we are praying that he survives it.

    “It is very unfortunate. It was not expected, because we have been carrying out our campaigns peacefully and we intend to continue to do so. We would not allow any misguided group to truncate our record of peace in the state.”

  • Offa unites for Saraki, Apc

    Offa unites for Saraki, Apc

    The people of Offa Local Government Area of Kwara State have are backing the All Progressive Congress (APC) led by Senator Bukola Saraki. They described it as their party of choice in the general elections.

    The people declared their support for APC, during the party leader’s visit to the Olofa’s palace. They were led by the former governor and Chairman of Senate Committee on Ecology.

    Addressing the Olofa of Offa, Oba Mufutau Gbadamosi, high chiefs of Offa and environs and community leaders at the palace, Saraki urged his audience to reflect on the state of the nation by assessing issues ranging from the economy, insecurity and youth unemployment.

    Saraki called on Nigerians to refrain from politics of personal interests, ethnic or religious affiliations urging the people not to make the mistake of voting for any PDP candidate in the general elections because the party has not done anything for the people of Kwara in the last six years of President Jonathan’s leadership. He alleged that the nation’s funds are being mismanaged by the ruling party without accountability.

    Saraki asked the audience to indicate, if indeed they were happy with the PDP government led by Dr.  Goodluck Jonathan.

    He said that the present administration has dwindled Federal allocation which has made it impossible for states to embark on major projects.

    Also speaking at the event, the Kwara State governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed commended the people of Offa for being very supportive. Ahmed said in spite of daunting national challenges and falling federal allocation which has destabilized many states, Kwara has been lucky in managing its resources by paying workers’ salaries adequately and embarking on major projects, including the General Hospitals in Ilorin, Offa, Omu Aran, Share and Kaiama, which were constructed by his administration.

    Ahmed emphasized the need for all and sundry to vote for all APC candidates at national and state levels in order to rescue Nigeria from the falling state and reset the nation on the right path.

    Oba Gbadamosi decried the present state of the nation. He said: “Offa people are well informed, they are not naïve of the ongoing state of the nation. I want to assure you to put your mind at rest because Offa people are set for change and united for the APC. When you leave the palace and see the crowd awaiting you at the campaign ground, you will be certain that Offa people are for the APC” he said.

    After departing from Offa, Saraki also led the Kwara APC campaign team to Erin Ile and Ijagbo where the party was received by a large crowd. He assured Kwarans that more developments will be witnessed in Kwara if the APC wins at the presidential level.

    The event was witnessed by the Kwara deputy governor Elder Peter Kisira, Speaker Hon. Razak Atunwa, Hon. Rafiu Ibrahim among other government officials.

     

  • Saraki, Ahmed, oppose change in election dates

    Saraki, Ahmed, oppose change in election dates

    Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed, Senator Bukola Saraki and House of Representatives Committee chair on Justice, Dr Ali Ahmad, have rejected call for the postponement of next month’s general election.

    National Security Adviser (NSA), Col Sambo Dasuki, had suggested that the elections be shifted to enable the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to distribute the remaining permanent voter cards (PVCs).

    Saraki, who is the leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara State, asked Nigerians to reject any attempt to shift the elections.

    The Chairman, Senate Committee on Environment and Ecology said the proposal to shift the poll was a subtle way by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to avoid defeat.

    He spoke at a campaign rally in Fufu, headqaurters of Ilorin South Local Government Area.

    The former governor of the state asked Nigerians to reject the proposal made by the National Security Adviser, saying it is now evident that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is jittery, having seen the handwriting of failure on the wall.

    While asking the electorate in the state to reject the PDP and its presidential candidate, Saraki said the people should support the APC whose presidential candidate, Muhammad Bihari, hails from the same state as the late former President Musa Yar’Adua.

    “It was the administration of Yar’adua that did something for Kwara. Since Jonathan came, there is nothing and we are glad that the APC candidate is also from Katsina State like Yar’Adua who had in his lifetime always desired that Kwara and Katsina would work together,” he said.

    Saraki told the crowd that it was imperative to effect a change in the Presidency if the state would make significant impact on the lives of the people because there would be an end to impunity and alleged corruption at the federal level.

    Governor AbdulFattah Ahmed spoke along the same line in his own message while the state chairman of the party, Alhaji Ishola Balogun-Fulani described the PDP deputy-governorship candidate in the state, Alhaji Yinka Aluko, who hails from the council area, as a political appretince who left his master before due time.

  • Offa unites for Saraki, Apc

    Offa unites for Saraki, Apc

    The people of Offa Local Government Area of Kwara State have thrown their weight behind the All Progressive Congress (APC) led by Senator Bukola Saraki. They described it as their party of choice in the general elections.

    The people declared their support for APC during the party leader’s visit to the Olofa’s palace. They were led by the former governor and Chairman of Senate Committee on Ecology, Senator Saraki.

    Addressing the Olofa of Offa, Oba Mufutau Gbadamosi, high chiefs of Offa and environs and community leaders at the palace, Saraki urged the audience to reflect on the current state of the nation by assessing issues ranging from the economy, insecurity, youth unemployment.

    Saraki called on Nigerians to refrain from politics of personal interests, ethnic or religious affiliations urging the people not to make the mistake of voting for any PDP candidate in the general elections because the party has not done anything for the people of Kwara in the last six years of President Jonathan’s leadership. He alleged that the nation’s funds are being mismanaged by the ruling party without accountability.

    Saraki asked the audience to indicate, if indeed they were happy with the PDP government led by Dr.  Goodluck Jonathan.

    He said that the present administration has dwindled Federal allocation which has made it impossible for states to embark on major projects.

    Also speaking at the event, the Kwara State governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed commended the people of Offa for being very supportive. Ahmed said in spite of daunting national challenges and falling federal allocation which has destabilized many states, Kwara has been lucky in managing its resources by paying workers’ salaries adequately and embarking on major projects, including the General Hospitals in Ilorin, Offa, Omu Aran, Share and Kaiama, which were constructed by his administration.

    Ahmed emphasized the need for all and sundry to vote for all APC candidates at national and state levels in order to rescue Nigeria from the falling state and reset the nation on the right path.

    Oba Gbadamosi decried the present state of the nation. He said: “Offa people are well informed, they are not naïve of the ongoing state of the nation. I want to assure you to put your mind at rest because Offa people are set for change and united for the APC. When you leave the palace and see the crowd awaiting you at the campaign ground, you will be certain that Offa people are for the APC” he said.

    After departing from Offa, Saraki also led the Kwara APC campaign team to Erin Ile and Ijagbo where the party was received by a large crowd. He assured Kwarans that more developments will be witnessed in Kwara if the APC wins at the presidential level.

    The event was witnessed by the Kwara deputy governor Elder Peter Kisira, Speaker Hon. Razak Atunwa, Hon. Rafiu Ibrahim among other government officials.

     

  • House okays IDPs to vote

    House okays IDPs to vote

    There were strong indications last night that the House of Representatives has approved the participation by Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) especially in the Northeast in the next month’s elections.

    The House may also recall its members for the passage of the amendments to the 2010 Electoral Act.

    The House said last night that it had concluded work on the 2014 Electoral Bill but it is waiting for the Senate to complete its part.

    A principal officer in the House, who spoke in confidence, said: “We have approved the recommendation that IDPs should vote during the general elections. They will vote in their various camps.

    “We decided to enfranchise the IDPs in order to give them a sense of belonging like every Nigerian. The fact that they have been displaced should not amount to the denial of their fundamental human rights.

    The House of Representatives also yesterday said it had concluded work on the 2014 Electoral Act.

    The Act is the most important legislation needed for the successful conduct of the 2015 general election.

    A statement issued by the Office of Speaker of the House said the bill for an amendment to the 2010 electoral was sent to the National Assembly by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on December 30, 2014.

    The statement said the House is awaiting the passage of a similar bill by the Senate.

    “Already, a conference committee has been set up by the House in anticipation of the passage of the bill by the Senate.

    “If need be, the members of the House will be recalled from recess for further legislative input,” the statement added.

  • Jonathan has impoverished Nigerians, say Ahmed, Saraki, Abdullahi

    Jonathan has impoverished Nigerians, say Ahmed, Saraki, Abdullahi

    kWARA State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed, Senator Bukola Saraki and ex-sports minister, Bolaji Abdullahi, pronounced a damning verdict on President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration yesterday.

    They accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-led government of impoverishing Nigerians.

    They spoke in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital at the presentation of the state All Progressives Congress (APC) candidates for next month’s elections.

    Abdullahi said Nigerians were more economically impoverished than six or seven years ago, adding that yet the administration claimed that “our economy is improving.”

    The former minister said: “When Senator Bukola Saraki was the governor of the state, many of our supporters and members could afford to build houses and buy cars. But these days, the text messages we receive border on money to keep body and soul together.

    “They now want us to continue in that our hunger status for another four years. To add insult on injury, they say the country’s gross domestic product is increasing and that the Nigeria’s economy is one of the best in Africa.

    “The money that the PDP people are filtering away is what they term GDP. That is none of our business. I urge us all to cast our votes for General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) in the next month presidential elections and Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed in the governorship elections.

    “March 3rd 2014, when President Goodluck Jonathan came to Ilorin – then I was the minister for sports, they said I should mount the podium at this same metropolitan square and haul abuses at Senator Bukola Saraki. But being a true son of Ilorin, I cannot not bite a finger that has fed me. It was the same Saraki that brought me from Lagos and made me a special assistant, and from special assistant to special adviser.

    “As if that was not enough, the then governor of Kwara State appointed me as a commissioner and subsequently nominated me for ministerial job.

    “This our leader has foresight; he told us before our defection from Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC that PDP was like a sinking ship. It was then that some people felt they would sit by the driver of sinking ship. The senator also told us then that PDP is a God forsaken party.”

    Ahmed said that the financial emasculation of the state has hampered infrastructural development.

    He said: “There is dwindling allocation from Abuja, notwithstanding the state government has not defaulted in paying workers’ salaries as at and when due. We have not relented in creating jobs for our teeming youths.

    “Today, we are assuring you that we shall not abandon our ongoing projects. We are not liars as we don’t say what we cannot do. Through President Jonathan’s campaigns, we can decipher that the PDP is peopled by a bunch of liars. They embark on shadow-chasing, rather focus attention on issues.

    “I urge us all to close rank and sweep PDP-led government away at all levels. The other day, I told you that PDP’s umbrella was already leaking. That is apparent to all of us now.”

    Saraki, who is the APC leader in the state, asked: “If the President Jonathan could not control Nigerian economy when one barrel of crude oil was over $100 per barrel, how can he manage the economy when a barrel is about $50?

    “PDP says that we are abusing Mr. President. We are not abusing Mr. President. We have all the respect for the presidency; we are talking of facts and figures.

    “PDP and Mr. President promised Nigerians security; is their security today? You promised power; is there light today? You promised to fight corruption; is there any change today? You promised to provide job for all our youths; any job today? These are not present today.  We are not being personal, we are talking about issues.

    “We are not talking about having leaders based on religion – Christian, or Muslim. We are not talking whether you are from North or South. We are not talking whether you are Hausa, Yoruba or Ijaw. We are talking about who will make Nigeria better.”

    He urged the people to vote for Gen Muhammadu Buhari, Ahmed, the senators from APC, members of the House of Representatives and members of the state Assembly from APC.

  • Saraki, Ahmed, Imoke preach hope

    Saraki, Ahmed, Imoke preach hope

    Chairman of Senate Committee on Environment and Ecology Senator Abubakar Bukola Saraki, Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed and his Cross River State counterpart, Senator Liyel Imoke, have urged Nigerians to look forward with hope in the new year.

    Saraki, in a statement in Abuja, said there was no doubt that last year was challenging for Nigerians socially, economically and politically

    He, however, urged Nigerians to know that the new year has presented an opportunity to alter the course of the nation.

    The former Kwara State governor insisted that it was time Nigerians see the elections holding in February as a turning-point and also see themselves “as history-makers and change agents, as we work to bring about a new Nigeria for all Nigerians.”

    The statement also reads: “We have witnessed our nation struggling through tough times due to our security challenges; in our homes, we have struggled through the economic realities that have become so pervasive; in the media, we have seen our great nation skewered internationally for the failed policies of this current administration.

    “Yet, despite all of this, my fellow Nigerians, you must know: with your help, things are about to get better.

    “As we come into 2015, we come into a year of endless possibilities. We must view the faults of the past as foregone days of lessons that we have learned from, and see the future as a chance to attain greatness.

    “In this new year, we must set ourselves to the task of moving forward with the goal of creating a new Nigeria that our sons and daughters can be proud of; a Nigeria that works for the betterment of the many, as opposed to working for the greed and excesses of the few.

    But Ahmed said: “Every new year always brings hope and greater opportunities. However, we have more work to do to.

    “As we enter 2015, let us remain united by a shared desire for a better Kwara State. Let us pray for peace as we enter a defining year in our democracy. Let our youths be agents of change rather than instruments of violence during the elections.

    “While thanking you for standing with us in the last four years, I solicit your continued support in 2015 so that we can sustain the good work of making your lives much better.

    “Collectively, we can make our state a better place to live in, now and in the future.”

    Imoke assured the people of the state that all ongoing projects undertaken by his administration would be completed before the May 29 handover date.

    The governor, who gave the assurance in a New Year message by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Christian Ita, said no projects would be left uncompleted, adding that “all ongoing projects such as the Calabar International Convention Centre (CICC), the 18-Hole international Golf Course, the Ogoja township stadium,  among others will be completed and ready for use before May 29, 2015.”

  • Saraki to Nigerians: cast your votes without sentiment

    Saraki to Nigerians: cast your votes without sentiment

    •Buhari/Osinbajo ticket ‘ll restore Nigeria

    Former Kwara State Governor Bukola Saraki has urged Nigerians to eschew sentiments in the 2015 general elections.

    Saraki, a senator and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), noted that the victory of the Gen. Muhammadu Buhari/Prof Yemi Osinbajo ticket in next year’s presidential election would restore Nigeria.

    The senator representing Kwara Central, who addressed reporters at the weekend in Ilorin, the state capital, said: “We have now removed religion. Let us look at the candidate, access their character, their capacity, their ability to fight issues that are important. This is not about sentiment, it is about Nigeria; it is not personal.

    “General Buhari and Prof Osinbajo are people who want to restore Nigeria. These are not individuals that are going there to make a mess of themselves. They are going there to restore and make Nigeria better.

    “Now, the difference between APC and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is clear in the way we conducted our primaries. The way we picked our candidates and the way they emerged. PDP had wanted the elections to be about religion. Now, there is no religious issue. PDP has a Christian and Muslim on the ticket, APC has a Muslim and a Christian on the ticket.

    “The emergence of the APC presidential and vice presidential candidates shows the kind of party that we have. If you go back to about nine months ago, some of the stories that were being given by the PDP were that APC will break; that the party is about people with self interest, a party that is interested in is ambition.

    “When it came to the issue of vice president you all saw again what transpired. The sensitivity of issues of like religion, give and take and integrity were the factors that played the key role. If it was about self ambition, capacity of resources and political structure, you know who would have been the vice president, but these are people who are ready to make that sacrifice. Truly APC is showing that it is an amalgam of people that can make sacrifices. It is a party that really wants to move Nigeria forward.

    “That the party cannot go to a convention or primaries without collapsing; that there will be no unity etc, you all saw democracy at it best; you all saw in the primary how delegates came out in drove to vote. The primary was very transparent and everybody that participated accepted the outcome of the result and those that lost also gallantly approved and recommended and gave their support to the winner.

    “And the party shows unity, it shows it not a party of selfish individuals but a party with people that have the mission to save Nigeria. The presidential primary witnessed internal democracy at its best. You saw what happened at the state primaries across the country. I don’t think there is any state in the entire 36 states in the APC where there were parallel congresses, unlike in PDP where there were parallel congresses, parallel results and parallel result sheets. In some places we have three or four results sheets.

    “For some of us who used to be in the PDP we were stunned at what happened that in some states they had two to three congresses and up till now some are still in court disputing the results.

    “It was even in APC that you would have expected this kind of breakdown, but instead of that, despite all the issues you can see that in most of the state’s primary election results were declared on the spot. It shows you that APC is a party that is ready to serve because the interest of Nigeria and the processes of democracy come first as opposed to selfish interest.”