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Tag: second term

  • Ikpeazu gets nod for second term

    A political pressure group, Ultimate Grassroots Mobilisers (UGM), has endorsed Enugu State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu for a second term.

    The group promised to ensure a stress-free re-election for Ikpeazu.

    The Deputy Coordinator, Stanley Ijoma, spoke when he visited the Chairman of Aba North Local Government Area, Prince Stanley Ogbonna.

    According to him, the group endorsed Ikpeazu because of the projects he has executed.

    He said: “No one else will have the confidence to demolish houses to pave way for roads like Governor Ikpeazu is doing in Aba. Look at Faulks and Osusu Roads, everywhere is clean and neat. That’s how a city should be and Ikpeazu is trying to restore the city’s original master plan.

    “Anyone who believes in the truth will support Ikpeazu to finish his term in 2023. The foundation he is laying now is what incoming governors will use. Let us all unite to support Ikpeazu for 2019.”

    Ogbonna, who was happy with Ikpeazu’s endorsement, said he believes in playing politics in good faith.

    He hailed the group for identifying with the PDP in Aba North, and promised to carry their message to the governor.

  • Kinsmen endorse Ikpeazu for second term

    Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has been endorsed for a second term by nine of the 17 local government chapters of the Peopl3s Democratic Party (PDP). EMMANUEL OLADESU examines the hurdles he must cross to win next year’s poll. 

    Three  years ago, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, former university don and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain,  was endorsed for governor of Abia State by the people of Ukwa/Ngwa.

    Last week, the zone endorsed the governor for a second term. Was the endorsement based on ethnic affiliation? Prominent leaders ot the zone said the state deserved a government of continuity, adding that Ikpeazu has lived up to expectation.

    However, some leaders of the opposition parties have disagreed with the endorsement. In their view, the governor could have done better.

    Ukwa/Ngwa spread across nine of 17 local governments in Abia. The councils are Aba North, Aba South, Isialangwa North, Isialangwa South, Osisioma, Obingwa, Ugwunagbo, Ukwa West and Ukwa East.

    The endorsement ceremony in Okpuala Ngwa, the ancestral headquarters of Ngwa, was reminiscent of the 2014 endorsement when former  Senate President Adolph Wabara and  Elder Emma Adaelu  led what they described as a “one million”man match to the Government House, Umuahia, and presented Ikpeazu to former Governor Theodore Orji as the sole candidate, despite the fact that the All Progressive Congress (APC), Chief Anyim Nyerere, hails from Ngwa.

    Wabara, who moved the motion for Ikpeazu’s endorsement, said: “Our son and our brother, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, is a silent achiever and performer. He has performed creditably and that confers on him the right to lead once more. Our people today speak with one voice to make a proclamation in support of the governor, asking him to contest again in 2019.”

    The motion was seconded by  Chief  Chukwu Wachukwu, former Director-General of the National Directorate of Employment (NDE). He said: “Abia North was governor for eight years with Orji Uzo Kalu; Abia Central governed for eight years with Senator Theodore Orji. Abia South is completing four years with Governor Ikpeazu. Therefore, as a people, we unanimously, through a voice vote, declare our support for the re-election of Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu  in 2019, because he has done well and also because he must complete the eight year tenure of Abia South people.”

    Adaelu explained that the governor has the constitutional right to seek re-election. He added: “We have seen governors in Abia State and I will boldly state that there has not been any like Ikpeazu.”

    Former governorship candidate of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Reagan Ufomba, said Ikpeazu has spread the dividends of democracy to the three senatorial districts.

    “In the spirit of equity, inclusiveness, fairness and justice, re-electing Ikpeazu in 2019 is task for all Abians, from Ukwa through Umuahia to Arochukwu, because he has done well, and there is no alternative than to allow him to continue with his good work till 2023.”

    However,  Ufomba urged the governor to sustain the tempo of  achievements.”We also call on our Old Bende brothers to demonstrate love and oneness, as we have always done to them in the past, by ensuring that the Ukwa-Ngwa people enjoy two terms as exercised by other zones in the state.” he added.

    The monarchs, led by Eze Bernard Enweremadu of Ngwa Ukwu, said Ikpezu had their support. He said: “If it is not just, if it is not fair. It is equitable for an Ngwa man to govern Abia eight years, as others did. As it was in 2015, so shall it be in 2019, ” Eze Enweremadu added.

    An excited Ikpeazu described the endorsement as a show of love and demonstration of the  unflinching support of Ukwa/Ngwa people for him.

    He urged the people get their Permanent Voters Cards, as a sign of seriousness, if they want him to re-contest in 2019.

    The governor said the endorsement underscored the resolve and unity of the nine local governments.

    Ikpeazu said: “ You shouldn’t  be here asking me to contest again in 2019, if you don’t have your voters card.”

    The governor assured the people that he will continue to fulfil his campaign promises, based on his five-point agenda.

    Ikpeazu’s media aide, Enyinnaya Appolos, said the opposition is frustrated and disappointed by the governor’s achievements.  Reacting to the allegation that most of the projects executed by Ikpeazu are either undertaken by the Niger Delta Development Commission, or the Federal Government, Appolos chided the critics for falsehood. He  listed the 38  road projects completed  by the governor, which he said, are verifiable.  and called on Media Practitioners in the country to visit and verify all of them.

    Appolos told reporters in Umuahia, the state capital, that Ikpeazu will not derail, adding that the quality of performance was in appreciation of the mandate of 2015.

    The Chief Press Secretary  said:  “Governor Ikpeazu promised a new Abia with world class infrastructure, improved environment for business and Small and Medium Enterprises.

    “Two years down the line, there comes a need to do an assessment of what has been done.That was the reason for the tour embarked upon by the governor, media practitioners, members of the PDP National Working Committee and stakeholders in the state recently.”

    Apollus recalled that while disgrunted opposition leaders planned to distract the governor through litigations, he has decided to remain focussed.

    He said the road project in Eketa community in Isiala, Ngwa South Local Government Area, was neither   embarked upon by the NDDC nor   attracted by Dr. Alex Otti of the All Progressives Grand Alliance. He said it is part of the 10 kilometre road per local government promised by the governor.

    On whether or not the governor should re-contest for the 2019 elections, Apollos said: “Constitutionally, the governor has the right to seek re-election in 2019. Abians too want him to contest. Various groups and even individuals are saying you have done well; we want you to contest in 2019. But, he has not said so”.

    “As Enyinnaya Appolos from Isiko and Abia, having seen what Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has done, I will want him to contest in 2019. Knowing where Abia used to be before 2015 and what Abia is at the moment, I can only imagine what Abia will look like by 2023.”

     

  • Group backs Ambode for second term

    A head of next year’s election, the Badagry division of Women Development Forum, on Saturday backed the re-election bid of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode.

    Its Coordinator Princess Sewede Pot-Balogun, said Ambode was adopted because of his achievements in the last three years.

    she said the governor’s total dedication to duty coupled with the enormous developmental projects and his desire to make the state a better place to live, had earned him a second term in office.

    “In this division, we profited in the programmes and plans of Governor Ambode led-administration. This is why we are announcing out support for his re-election so that he can continue to make our division and Lagos an enviable state,” she said.

    Coordinator General of Itesiwaju Ipinle Eko Vanguard Seyi Bamigbade, said the new tax policy is for the development of the state.

    He urged Lagosians to continue their cooperation with the Lagos State Government.

    Dr Innocent Nwankwo, who led members of the Igbo community to the event, said his people supported the move to endorse the governor for a second term because of love for all Lagosians irrespective of their tribes or religions, noting that the governor has proved himself to be a detribalised Nigerian and highly focused person.

    “I am calling on all non- indigenes to support Governor Ambode. It is our collective civic responsibility,” he said.

    He urged residents to be part of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise, adding that their voter’s card remains the weapon to support continuity of good government.

    Special Adviser to the Governor on the Environment, Babatunde Hunpe, said Ambode’s performance in office had made the state a reference point in the country.

    Receiving the endorsement letter on behalf of Ambode, the Commissioner 1 in the Lagos State Civil Service Commission, Pastor Alagbe said Badagry was an important and most populated division in the state.

     

     

     

  • ‘Why Ambode deserves second term’

    The Lagos State Commissioner for Employment and Wealth Creation, Pharm (Mrs) Uzamat Akinbile-Yussuf, yesterday said Governor Akinwunmi Ambode deserved re-election for his giant strides in the socio-economic and infrastructural development of the State.

    Akinbile-Yussuf said Ambode’s all-inclusive policy has engendered massive turnaround of the state through provision of goods roads, proactive health institutions, security, schools in all parts of the state in the last 36 months of his government.

    She said: “Governor Akinwunmi Ambode deserves another term in office because his achievements are visible to Lagosians. He has been able to touch all facets of development through his all-inclusive policy. He has been able to reduce insecurity in the state through the provision of multi-billion naira equipment, including vehicles, motorcycles, bicycles, helicopters, boats for security the state’s police command and security outfits such as the Rapid Response Squad (RRS), Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Corps, among others.

    “In Alimosho Local Government Area where I come from, the governor has built almost 40 good roads, including a flyover bridge in Abule Egba, Command Road, Aboru Road and a link bridge with Mosan, a state-of-the-art health centre in Aboru within 36 months. Apart from that, many schools had been built and rehabilitated in the council area. One of them is Oke Ishagun Secondary School which was recently commissioned by the Deputy Governor.”

  • Nine councils endorse Ikpeazu for second term

    Nine councils endorse Ikpeazu for second term

    Nine of the 17 local government areas in Abia State have endorsed Governor Okezie Ikpeazu for a second term.

    Aba North; Aba South; Isialangwa North; Isialangwa South; Osisioma; Obingwa; Ugwunagbo; Ukwa West and Ukwa East said on the basis of his performance, Ikpeazu deserves to be reelected for a second term. They called on all sons and daughters of the area to work for the governor’s victory in 2019.

    The endorsement came at Okpuala Ngwa, the ancestral headquarters of the Ngwa people, during the Great Ukwa Ngwa Declaration at the weekend.

    Former Senate President Adolfus Wabara, who moved the motion for the endorsement, said: “Our son and brother, Okezie Ikpeazu, is a silent achiever and performer. He has performed creditably well and that confers on him the right to lead once more. Our people today speak with one voice to make a proclamation in support of the governor, asking him to contest for governor again in 2019.”

    Chief Chukwu Wachukwu, who seconded the motion, said: “Abia North was governor for eight years with Orji Uzo Kalu, Abia Central governed for eight years with Senator Theodore Orji and Abia South is completing four years with Governor Ikpeazu. Therefore, we, as a people, unanimously declare our support for the re-election of Okezie Ikpeazu as governor of Abia State in 2019, because he has done well and also because he must complete the eight year tenure of Abia South.”

    Statesman Emmanuel Adaelu explained that the governor has the constitutional right to seek re-election in 2019, and as such deserves the support of his people.

    “We have seen governors in Abia State and I will boldly state that there has not been any like Governor Okezie Ikpeazu. He has done so well and the evidence of his great works are everywhere for the world to see.

    “So we are boldly and eloquently declaring our support for him to re-contest in 2019.”

  • Lagos East APC endorses Ambode for second term

    Lagos East APC endorses Ambode for second term

    Members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), members under the auspices of Lagos East Senatorial Districts General Assembly, have endorsed Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode for a second term.

    Party faithful converged in Epe, a Lagos suburb, and passed a vote-of-confidence in Ambode, after which they unanimously endorsed the governor to continue in office beyond May 29 next year.

    A party chieftain, Olorunfunmi Bashorun, moved the motion to endorse the governor. He was seconded by the senator representing zone, ‘Gbenga Ashafa.

    The assembly urged the governor to look beyond his present attainments and continue with the task of launching the Centre of Excellence as one of the best cities in the world.

    Former Speaker of the House of Assembly, Adeyemi Ikuforiji, said the governor has recorded unprecedented feat in his first term, noting that Lagosians expect him to keep the pace in his second term.

    He said: “With the benefit of hindsight, Epe is the first to endorse Ambode for the second term. This is in recognition of the marvelous work the governor has been doing. The people expect more from him when he gets the second term. They want him to continue the good work in road construction, health delivery, education and security. These are some of the priorities of Lagosians and they expect it to continue.

    “We, therefore, call on all to shelve whatever misgivings they hold, and in the spirit of national reconciliation in the APC, unite and ensure that the party re-enacts its winning streaks in the coming election.”

    Senator Ashafa said the General Assembly in Lagos East was happy with the governor’s records, adding that the district was proud Ambode had not disappointed Lagosians.

    He said: “We have given him the go-ahead; we’ll mobilise the people to support him. I am very confident that the governor will surpass his present record when he gets the second term. I am therefore calling on Lagosians to rise up to the occasion during the election.”

    Chief Lanre Razak urged Lagosians to re-elect Ambode because four years cannot be enough to get the best from any government.

    He said: “Epe is now comparable to New York and this has also been replicated in other parts of Lagos. What I can only say is that Ambode could be compared to an onion which gets better as you peel off each layer. He deserves another term.”

  • 2019: Will Akpabio support Emmanuel’s second term bid?

    2019: Will Akpabio support Emmanuel’s second term bid?

    Despite several public denials, many political watchers are not sure Senate Minority Leader, Godswill Akpabio, will support the reelection bid of Akwa Ibom State Governor, Udom Emmanuel, reports Sunday Oguntola 

    UNTIL the New Year Eve, it was more or less a fait accompli. The reelection bid of Akwa Ibom State Governor, Udom Emmanuel, appeared done and dusted as far as his predecessor, Godswill Akpabio, was concerned.

    Akpabio, who fought tooth and nail to install Emmanuel despite massive protests of heavyweight stakeholders in the state, was convinced the governor deserved a second term in office. He declared severally there was no vacancy in the Government House, clearly stating his successor was doing a fantastic job.

    But all that changed in December. It was at a get-together by Deputy Governor Moses Ekpo. In attendance were people of the Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District as well as other stakeholders. Akpabio ruffled feathers when he declared his support for the second term of Emmanuel would be conditional.

    The governor, he stated, had neglected his senatorial district and legacy projects. He specifically pointed out projects he initiated, such as the multi-million naira Four Points by Sheraton Hotel at Ikot Ekpene and the dualised Uyo-Ikot Ekpene road, have become abandoned.

    According to him: “2018 is less than one year to election and all is not well. Don’t allow anybody to deceive you that all is well. If the hotel in Ikot Ekpene rots after so much money had been expended on the project, would that be a good thing? That road from Uyo to Ikot Ekpene is still the way it was.

    “In the 2018 budget, what is the percentage for Ikot Ekpene senatorial district? My job is to say the truth because if at this level I cannot say the truth, then I am not doing well.

    “So, please I want us to start the hotel. Please let us check the budget to know what has been earmarked for that place. I am not interested in what I did and what I did not do. I am only interested in what I am going to do.

    “The truth is that Godswill Akpabio expects us to set our path straight so that we can take one route. Even when you are going for communion, you must be in a state of grace.

    “So let us have something from the senatorial district to use in talking about election; to use in convincing the people to stand by us. We are in opposition, we don’t have government, we don’t have police; we don’t have INEC.”

    The governor’s camp didn’t take kindly to the vituperations from his political godfather. The attacks on Emmanuel, sources close to him said, were carefully planned and executed. They were intended to cause disaffection and portray the governor as ethnically biased, his camp told our correspondent.

    Besides, it was believed the former governor was cooking a plot to replace Emmanuel with someone from the Oron nation of Eket Senatorial District. The plot, it was gathered, was why Emmanuel quickly moved to sack the former Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Sir Etekamba Umoren.

    Umoren is a die-hard Akpabio loyalist who served as Chief of Staff to the former governor. Aides close to Emmanuel hinted Umoren was more loyal to Akpabio than their principal, accusing him of leaking official secrets and details to the Senate Minority Leader.

    To counter the Oron nation option, as it is known among political hawks in Akwa Ibom, the governor settled for Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem as the new SSG to quickly rally the senatorial district to his sides.

    The Senator however moved very quickly to quell talks of rift with his successor. In a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Anietie Ekong, Akpabio expressed pleasure with the performance of Governor Emmanuel.

    “It is obvious that the concerns raised by the senator during the end-of-year stakeholders’ meeting organised by the Deputy Governor, that all was not well, was misunderstood and political jobbers sought to feast on it.

    “What the Senator said was that their House should be put in order so that the votes from Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District would be put intact for Governor Emmanuel in the next election.

    “Akpabio is satisfied that the areas of concern raised by the stakeholders, which were further explained by the governor during the follow-up meeting with him, to the satisfaction of the stakeholders present at the meeting, were receiving the attention of the government. Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District would stand by Emmanuel and pledged the support of the people towards the re-election of the governor with it’s over 500,000 votes.”

    But the denial will not suffice for the governor’s camp. Checks revealed that strategists close to him have advised Emmanuel to go for the broke once- and- for- all. A source in the know confided: “The governor is not taking anything for granted. He knows his predecessor still have a deep pocket and many political structures.

    “Besides, there are intelligence reports that he is working on another option for the governor. So, it is either the governor moves now or loses out. He has to become his own man. He has to break loose from the grip of godfatherism.

    “He won’t go far as long as there is still someone somewhere dictating to him. Akpabio had the peace of mind to do much because he had no political godfather in the state. He used federal might to get the ticket contrary to Obong Victor Attah’s wishes.

    “The governor needs that kind of political latitude too to survive and succeed. He is seeing reasons with us and will do much more in the coming days to consolidate his grip ahead of the reelection campaign.”

    It was further learnt that Akpabio reached out to the governor during the foundation-laying ceremony of the 8,500- seater capacity Akwa Ibom State International Worship Centre in Uyo, where they sat side-by-side.

    A source hinted the Senator reassured Emmanuel of his total support, declaring political columnists were not happy with the hitherto smooth relationship between them. He is also said to have stopped at nothing to pledge support for his successor’s reelection’s bid. Another source stated he had been sending mutual friends to the governor to drum home his unalloyed loyalty.

    But the governor’s camp is reportedly not buying the I-am-for-you moves of his predecessor. It is believed they are all ploys to send the incumbent into a false sense of security shortly before a deadly blow.

    A source in the governor’s camp said: “It is hard to trust Akpabio. Truth is he wants to remain relevant in the state. Yet he does not want to allow the governor build his own structure. We believe the constant assurances of support are just lip services. The governor has to take his own destiny in his hands.”

    Akpabio, on his part, is said to be seriously weighing his options. He knows to take on Emmanuel might amount to a political suicide. This, according to political watchers, is because of the fact that the governor is privy to some financial transactions by the former administration that may spell doom for the Senate Minority Leader.

    Should he move against his successor, it is believed he may lose out ultimately with his tracks blown up. Yet, Akpabio is uncomfortable with the fact that the governor is considering a second term without factoring him into reckoning.

    This possibility, it was learnt, is a big worry to the former governor who is determined to be the de facto godfather in the state. It is in fact a bigger worry to his loyalists in the cabinet of Emmanuel. Many of them, it was gathered, are afraid that the governor might do away with them. The fear of a clean-out for an electioneering cabinet is making many of them to avoid Akpabio and downplay their loyalty to him.

    The development, according to investigations, is working against the sustainability of the political structure of Akpabio, who more or less practically handpicked all the close aides of Emmanuel in return for the bankrolling of his election.

    Most Commissioners and political appointees with ties to him are said to be watching their backs and working hard to convince the governor of their loyalty as against Akpabio. This is because they are privy to the political advice to the governor to discard the political structure of his predecessor for a fresh one manned by die-hard loyalists.

    The Senator, on the other hand, is considering settling for Emmanuel’s reelection. This, according to a close aide, is because it appears like a “lesser devil for now”.

    The aide told our correspondent last week: “When you are boxed and cornered in a political game, sometimes you reevaluate and choose the lesser evil. Supporting the governor appears more or less like that now because to do otherwise might be seriously counterproductive.

    “Besides, you don’t fight to the point of irrelevance. So, it is better to give the governor a reality check like the Senator did on the New Year Eve, shake him a little to get attention and establish you are still a force to reckon with.”

    But the fighter he is, Akpabio might still choose to go against the runs of play for the unthinkable. Whether or not he supports the governor’s reelection bid will remain a constant debate until the contest is over.

  • ‘Buhari deserves second term’

    ‘Buhari deserves second term’

    Prince Tonye Princewill is the former governorship candidate of the defunct Action Congress (AC) and the Labour Party (LP) in Rivers State. The All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain spoke with reporters in Lagos on why President Muhammadu Buhari deserves a second term. Excerpts:

    Why did you defect from the Labour Party (LP) to the  All Progressives Congress (APC)?

    For me, local politics is what matters the most. So, what is the situation in Rivers State? We have a governor who has gone wild and we have an opposition that was not giving him the kind of opposition he deserves.

    My opinion was that, the opposition was still disjointed. We have an APC formidable as it is, we have a Labour Party and we have other parties, and we are all opposed to PDP and Wike, but our inability to work together is working in his favour. With my passion, the organisational skills of many of the APC members and the commitment that we all have to free the state, then all we need as like minds is to have an arrangement to join forces because if we don’t join forces, it will make Wike stronger.

    I have said that we are not God. We cannot say we will definitely remove the PDP. But by God, we are going to, at least, improve them. If in the process we are able to remove them, then may His name be praised.

    To sit back and do nothing, or leave the fight for the APC alone, that is not an option.

    But, you now find yourself being in the same platform with the likes of Magnus Abe, Amaechi who is seen as the leader of the party in the state now, considering the fact that you people had all sort of political battles in the past. How do you reconcile yourself with these people? Are you comfortable being in the same platform with somebody like Rotimi Amaechi?

    Yes, I am. Let’s not make any mistake about it. Even good friends have disagreements. I am a lot more comfortable with the APC platform than I could ever been in the PDP platform. I have an affinity to APC from my days, initial days in Action Congress, of course as the pioneer Action Congress governorship candidate in 2007. So, for me, as AC metamorphosed into the APC, I still have many friends there. The difference between the political parties is not really about anything more than the individuals within it. Especially the leaders. It is there they are different. So, if you are looking for leadership, go to the top of the party, you will see what type of party to talk about.

    So Amaechi for me is one million times better than Wike. Does he  have faults? Of course. We all do. Nobody is perfect, even I have my own issues, but the reality is, if you are looking to play politics, Amaechi is one million times, a better option than Wike.

    The likes of Magnus Abe, Dakuku Peterside, they are all big names, but beside them and beneath them, there are so many other good people who may not be as well known to the national media, but they are just as effective and so I know that the APC team have the capacity to move the state forward.

    Do you think your decision to move to the APC was well thought out?

    The other party was in power in 2015 and rigged the election in favour of themselves. I think in 2019, we will get a clearer picture of who amongst us is truly in power. I never believe that principle that a region or state is owned by a particular party. I have never believed in that concept at all. Many times in our region, we don’t really have elections. So, to assume that the peoples votes is what counted to put them in that place, I think is a misnormer.

    There are some things we just deceive ourselves about as if we don’t know the truth. I am not fooled by that script. I know that for instance, in Rivers state in 2015, there was no election. The Supreme Court can say what it must, but if you go back home and you are in your bedroom and somebody outside proceeds to tell you that the colour of your green bed sheet is red, you will smile, because you know the truth.

    As far as I am concerned, free and fair elections and the decision of the people in the state have been missing. Hopefully in 2019, we will get a lot closer to reality and we will see whether the PDP is truly on the ground.

    But, after the 2015 general elections, we have had senatorial elections in Rivers and the PDP still won overwhelmingly. Does that not reinforce the fact that it is in charge there?

    Maybe, you don’t have the full picture. Let me remind you that thanks to the APC, Senator Magnus Abe won and he is in Senate today. So PDP was defeated. There are many other examples. The reality of it is that in 2015, we had a 419 election in Rivers state that was supervised by the security agencies and INEC on behalf of PDP. That is why they are where they are. Let us see what will happen in 2019. Let us see whether Wike will come out and deliver PDP in Rivers state.

    You  have said there is no crisis but the perception out there is that Amaechi is the one bullying the others to fall in line.

    Bully who? I am a chieftain of the party and I don’t see Amaechi bullying anyone. He is a democrat. He delegates. That is how Wike got his freedom to scheme. Some people say the Hon Minister is stubborn and all that. What they call obstinacy is because at the end of the day he takes a position and he stands by it. But it is often a principled position; for the greater good, if you watch, you will see.

    My argument has always been that we shouldn’t impose candidate. Let a candidate emerge and that’s also what Amaechi has committed himself to. We have all committed ourselves to that. If at the end of the day, Magnus Abe emerges, then, we will all support him. The reality is that there will be a primary that will be transparent and a candidate will emerge. So this talk about bullying is being bandied by people that don’t like Amaechi. It is a little too early to start discussing who will be the candidate of APC in 2019. I understand that in the media, good news is not news, so where there is no crisis, it will be sought, even if it is friction.  There is a process for choosing candidate and that process will be followed. In politics, people will be amazed about how seemingly serious crisis are resolved and you see politicians enter the room, sit down and discuss and people will be saying, look at these people that were fighting.

    Tomorrow, they see them talking and laughing. Political crisis is many times a disagreement played up in the media to mean something else.

    They enter the house, settle and discuss. At the Southsouth meeting the other day, I saw Amaechi and Magnus Abe discussing. It isn’t a crisis, there is a disagreement in timing and approach. Magnus has shown he doesn’t need Amaechi’s support, he is a serving Senator. Power belongs to God.

    If you says there is no crisis, how come the national secretariat of the party recently summoned them?

    Well, it is perfectly legitimate to see two friends in disagreement in mediation to come together. I am not aware that they were summoned, but if the party HQ did, it isn’t out of place.

    The security challenge in the state has earned itself the name, Rivers of Blood. Why does it appear insurmountable?

    I think it is already being tackled. Of course, in the past few weeks a lot of progress has been made when the federal government decided to take charge. Unfortunately for our state we have a governor who entered by violence and has continued to condone violence. Maybe he cannot address the matter effectively, because his hands are tied. We hope and we pray that Rivers people will learn from mistakes of the past and that all politicians will learn that this kind of violence, this kind of association will not do us any good. I want to think that the signal has been sent by the killing of leader of the gang… and the taming of his team. It will be a message to everybody else that there is only one law and that’s the law of Nigeria and we won’t tolerate any other alternative laws in the land. If that message is heeded, I think there will be peace. But don’t let us lose sight of the fact that the administration entered by violence and the boys that they used have been left largely unattended.

    Therefore, they will seek to keep their heads above water. As best as they can. It is natural.

    You aren’t comfortable with the administration in Rivers but a lot of people are quick to applaud his developmental strides in the state.

    Finally, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, in his recent statement, gave a damning verdict on the Buhari administration, the PDP and the APC. He said the two dominant parties lacked the capacity to bring the desired change Nigerians are craving for. What is your reaction?

    You know while some people were battling as to their response to the letter, Lai Mohammed gave an eloquent reply, which I want to stand by.

    I don’t want to believe that our generation should start exchanging words with people of Obasanjo’s generation. He has ventilated his views, the government has responded and I think we should leave it at that. What amazes me though is that as damning as the letter was to PDP, they were quick to clap, forgetting that they too were also indicted. It just tells you the ineptitude in the system that they preside over. That they were actually clapping for Obasanjo while he decimated them. They were so busy, happy that APC was being attacked that they didn’t even realize that they were being attacked as well.

    Reminds me of Solomon and the two women. Only patriots are sober when the future of our children is at stake.

    Many Nigerians are not comfortable with President Buhari’s tardiness  in responding to issues of urgent national importance. Aren’t you disturbed with that attitude, considering the enormity of the challenges facing the nation?

    Look, I think people sometimes forget where we were coming from and more importantly they also forget that where we need to go also require a lot of efforts. Nigeria has been on the wrong track for a long time.

    Like a tanker that is in the water, trapped trying to turn. It will take an amazing efforts to reverse the current trend. Now, did our government make promises that are unrealistic? Yes, we did. Either through enthusiasm or through their lack of understanding of the problems on ground. I think we should ask ourselves, do they really have the intention to move the country forward and I think the answer is yes. The capacity might have been right, but slowly it is being built. For me, I am a business man and I ask myself, how can we continue like this.

    Things need to be done differently and then when somebody comes and start to make a difference, do you think it is going to be easy at the beginning? No. if you have a bad tooth and somebody wants to pull it out the pain that you are going through is so that you can have less stress tomorrow. So, the pains that we are going through is so that we can place the country on a sound footing.

     

  • Lagos APC reps endorse Ambode for second term

    Lagos APC reps endorse Ambode for second term

    Members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the House of Representatives from Lagos State yesterday endorsed Governor Akinwunmi Ambode for second term.

    The endorsement, according to him, was based on the massive infrastructural development and giant strides in all sectors and sections of the State.

    They presented a letter to Ambode at Lagos House in Alausa, urging him to seek reelection in 2019.

    Led by Majority Leader Femi Gbajabiamila, the APC Caucus said the decision to unanimously endorse the governor for second term was as a result of his brilliance performance in the last two and half years.

    Speaking to Government House correspondents after a closed-door meeting with Ambode, Gbajabiamila said the lawmakers were indeed proud to associate with the achievements of the governor so far and would be supporting him all the way for another term in office.

    The House Leader, who described the endorsement as history repeating itself as the Caucus was the first to endorse the governor for election in 2015, said it was instructive that there was not a single dissenting voice in the decision to support Ambode for re-election.

    “This is a very unique occasion because we have said all we need to say behind closed doors but they are worth repeating.

    “Ordinarily, some of us have been in this business for long time and when you have endorsements, there are always dissenting voices maybe one or two but among every single member, there was not one dissenting voice and I think that is very important.

    “So, we are here today as stakeholders across all the Local Governments and federal constituencies of the State to present a very unique letter to our governor seeking for him to run again in 2019.

    “We will give him unflinching support and have him re-elected overwhelmingly as governor in 2019,” Gbajabiamila said.

    He urged the governor to see the endorsement as a call to do more for the people of the State come 2019.

    Ambode thanked the federal legislators for the honour done to him, saying that the endorsement would spur him to do more for the people.

    “I am greatly humbled to receive the APC Caucus in the House of Representatives from Lagos State. I am more delighted that this word of encouragement by way of this letter is to inspire me further to continue to render service to the good people of Lagos.

    “I want to thank you so much for the honour you have done me. I receive it with all humility and I pray that God gives us the grace to actually honour all the letters and the words in this message,” the governor said.

     

  • Over 200 groups endorse Emmanuel for second term

    The re-election bid of Akwa Ibo State Governor Udom Emmanuel has received a boost, as over 200 quasi-political, women and youth groups have endorsed him for a second term.

    The Special Adviser to the Governor on Political, Legislative and

    Water Resources, Mr. Ekong Sampson, spoke at the weekend at a get-together of Ibom Patriots, a political support group for the governor’s re-election.

    The event, held at Emerald Events Centre, Uyo, was attended by Emmanuel, Mrs. Helen Esuene, Mr. Okpulom Etteh, former governorship aspirants on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2015 general election, Senator Anietie Okon and other stakeholders.

    Speaking on the objectives and mandate of Ibom Patriots, the governor’s aide said the group was one of the mainstream organisations, which had guaranteed Emmanuel a second term.

    “As you know, I head the political bureau in Akwa Ibom State. We work with groups that support Governor Emmanuel. We have mainstream groups. I can tell you authoritatively that over 200 of these groups have endorsed the governor for a second term.

    “Their interest is driven by the vision that the governor has given them good governance. When over 200 mainstream groups have endorsed you, it means you are firm on the ground.

    “It underscores the strong support base Governor Emmanuel enjoys and shows Akwa Ibom people appreciate that he is doing well,” he said.

    Sampson said Ibom Patriots are distinguished Akwa Ibom political stakeholders who believe in the leadership qualities of the governor and have decided to support his re-election.

    “The patriots serve as a strong support base for Governor Emmanuel. You can see from the calibre of membership. These are distinguished sons and daughters of the state, who have come together to reinforce our support for good governance.

    ’’Ibom Patriots will advocate a number of measures that will advance the interest of Akwa Ibom State. As the name implies, this is a group of patriots driven by a larger interest of the state,” he said.