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Tag: Sule Lamido

  • Ekiti Poll: Atiku, Mark, Ekweremadu PDP Govs to storm Ekiti for Olusola

    Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Senate President David Mark, Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu and the 11 governors elected on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) will be storming Ekiti State for the governorship election campaign any time soon.

    The 40-man Campaign Council inaugurated by the leadership of the party in Abuja on Monday, is chaired by the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Udom Emmanuel.

    Other members of the council include the party’s presidential aspirants like Ahmed Makarfi, Ibrahim Shekarau, Sule Lamido the party’s immediate past former governors and serving federal lawmakers.

    While inaugurating the council, the national chairman of the PDP, Prince Uche Secondus, said the All Progressives Congress has turned Ekiti State into a “war zone”.

    He alleged that the APC was training a special killer squad to kill opponents and disperse rallies organised by the PDP in Ekiti, with the view to foisting a one-party-state.

    Secondus said, “The motive of these deliberate police state being established by the ruling party is obvious; to distract and disorganise the opponent to enable them hold on to power and establish one party state.

    The party chair further accused the APC administration of unnecessarily heating up the polity by resorting to what he described as devious means to undermine the democratic process.

    The chairman continued, “The signs are there for all to see that the attitude of the ruling party is that of a drowning man desperate to survive and whose posture is ‘if I cannot make it, let me go down with others’

    “Information available to us shows that in Ekiti, they are trying to use all skillful underhand means to achieve goals but the people are well charged to not only come out to cast their votes on July 14 but that they are ready to defend it.

    Read Also: NPO, Buhari, Tinubu, Atiku mourn Aboderin

    “At this juncture, let me warn that if there is any attempt to thwart the will of the people in Ekiti state, there may be no general election and the entire democratic process will be endangered”.

    He cautioned the APC against obstructing the will of the people, saying such moves could throw up negative consequences.

    “I tried to let them know that Ekiti State shares in that history when the then second republic ruling National Party of Nigeria (NPN) attempted  to use their federal controlled might to hijack power from the then Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) that was on ground in the old Ondo state for which Ekiti was part.

    “Men of wisdom had long told us that the easy way to repeat history is to refuse to learn from it. I charge APC leadership to take time and read our political history and know that the route they are headed are akin to that of the NPN days if not worse”, Secondus said.

    The party chairman called on the international community and all lovers of democracy to show more than passing interest in what is happening in different parts of the country.

    Chairman of the campaign council, Governor Emmanuel, said the PDP would win Ekiti State because of the achievements of Governor Ayodele Fayose.

    Emmanuel challenged his fellow governors in the APC to present their performance profile and to compare their achievements with their counterparts in the PDP.

    “If the APC is hoping to use federal might to win Ekiti poll, the PDP has the people behind it”, Emmanuel said.

  • FG bereft of ideas, says Lamido 

    FG bereft of ideas, says Lamido 

    Former Governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido, has said the President Muhammadu Buhari led Federal Government is bereft of ideas on how to move the country forward.

    Lamido who was in Calabar, the Cross River State capital, to solicit for support as the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) presidential flag bearer in next year’s election said it was for this reason he was offering himself for service to salvage the country from collapse.

    Lamido who visited Governor Ben Ayade described the PDP as the party owned by Nigerians with genuine concern for the welfare of all Nigerians irrespective of their tribe or religion as in the case by the ruling party.

    “Today we witness the collapsed of governance because they were not prepared in the first place. They only came together to grab power at the centre without proper planning, that is why today we have hunger-haram in the country,” he said.

    Read Also: I am not desperate for Nigerian Presidency, says Lamido

  • Wike, Lamido, Murray-Bruce warned against ‘reckless speech’

    Wike, Lamido, Murray-Bruce warned against ‘reckless speech’

    The Buhari Media Support Group (BMSG) has cautioned Rivers State Governor Nyesome Wike, former Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido and Senator Ben Murray-Bruce against statements that can negatively inflame passions in the country.

    It said “reckless statements and hate speeches” by Nigerians in leadership positions could plunge the nation into internal strife or tarnish its image internationally.

    The BMSG, in a statement, said: “While recognising the rights of citizens to freedom of speech under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, we believe it is imperative to condemn recent unjustifiable and careless statements by those who ought to be aware of the implications of making unguarded public statements.

    According to the group, in “one of these reckless statements” Wike allegedly claimed that voting for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2019 elections “would amount to digging the grave for the burial of Nigeria.”

    It said the governor also claimed that there had been a nationwide breakdown of security, especially in APC states, which he cited as an example of the Buhari administration’s inability to productively manage natural resources.

    “The BMSG considers those comments as untenable and totally against the available evidence in the public arena. The Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) of the President Muhammadu Buhari Administration was embarked on to save Nigeria from continued wastage of its foreign reserves in mindless consumption of foreign goods and services through importation.

    “The results of that policy thrust by the administration are already yielding fruits to the national economy, particularly in the areas of agriculture and manufacturing.”

  • Only PDP can salvage Nigeria – Wike

    Only PDP can salvage Nigeria – Wike

    Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, said on Thursday Nigeria was in a coma and only the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) could salvage the country.

    The governor stated this in Port Harcourt when a former Governor of Jigawa State, Alhaji Sule Lamido, informed him of his (Lamido) intention to vie for the presidency in 2019.

    The governor noted that the All Progressives Congress (APC) was a party of strangers with no knowledge of the intricacies of development.

    “If you decamp to the APC, you are no longer corrupt, APC is a party of daylight deceit.

    “I am happy that one of those who left to bring a messiah, has realised that the so-called messiah they brought is no longer the messiah Nigerians expect, PDP is the only hope for Nigeria,” he said.

    He said although the PDP made mistakes in the past, the party was the only platform with the commitment and patriotism to take the country out of the current situation.

    Wike said the present political and economic situation in the country needed politicians with courage to deliver the country.

    The governor noted that those who benefited from the PDP since inception till 2013 before defecting, were the same people sponsoring negative propaganda against the party.

    He described Lamido as a committed and consistent PDP member, adding that he also had the capacity to confront the APC.

    However, the governor urged all presidential aspirants to accept the party verdict at the end of the primary.

    Earlier in his remarks, Lamido said he was vying for the presidency in 2019 because the nation deserves to move forward.

    The former governor said if given the opportunity to lead Nigeria, he has the capacity to unite Nigeria and set it on the path of growth.

    “I want to run because I feel I can do it. I have the pedigree, we stand to fight for democracy and the restoration of Nigeria,” he said.

    NAN

     

  • Nigeria is in a coma, says Wike 

    Nigeria is in a coma, says Wike 

    Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has declared that Nigeria is in a coma, saying only the PDP can salvage the  country. 
    This is as Former Jigawa State Governor, Alhaji Sule Lamido declared that he has the capacity  to revive the fortunes of the country.
    They spoke at the Government House Port Harcourt on Wednesday when the Former Jigawa State Governor visited to inform Governor Wike of his intention  to vie for the position of the President. 
    Governor Wike said that the APC is a party of strangers with no knowledge  of the intricacies of development. 
    He said that the APC thrives in politics of mischief wherein it engages in high level intimidation, corruption and dirty political  schemes to compel defection of PDP members to her fold.
    “If you decamp to the APC, you are no longer corrupt.  APC  is a party of daylight deceit.
    “I am happy that one of those who left to bring a messiah, have realised that the so-called messiah they brought  is no longer the messiah Nigerians expect. PDP  is the only hope for Nigeria”, Governor Wike said. 
    The governor  noted that though the PDP  made mistakes in the past, the Party is the only platform with the commitment and patriotism  to take the country out of the current situation. 
    He said the present political and economic situation in the country require politicians with courage to rescue  the country. 
    He said those who benefited from the PDP since inception till 2013 before defecting are the same people sponsoring  negative propaganda against the Party.
    The governor described Lamido as a committed and consistent  PDP member who is courageous and has the capacity  to confront the APC.
    He, however, urged all Presidential Aspirants to accept the verdict of the Party at the end of the primary. 
    Also speaking, Former Jigawa State Governor, Alhaji Sule Lamido said  he is presenting himself to take over in 2019 because  the nation deserves to move forward. 
    He said that if given the opportunity to lead Nigeria, he has the capacity  to unite Nigeria and set it on the path of growth. 
    He said: “I want to run because I feel I can do it. I have the pedigree.  We stand  to fight for democracy  and the restoration of Nigeria”.
    He said that his will work with other PDP leaders to transform Nigeria for the good of the people. 
    The Former Jigawa State Governor said that the APC is a party of hate and deceit, hence it should be sacked in 2019.
  • Why North picked Obasanjo in 1999 – Lamido

    Why North picked Obasanjo in 1999 – Lamido

    Former Jigawa State governor, Sule Lamido, said on Thursday that the search of a true national leader who could placate the South West for the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential elections believed to have been won by the late Chief MKO Abiola led to the emergence of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo as President in 1999.

     Lamido, who spoke at the 15th Daily Trust Dialogue in Abuja, also told President Muhammadu Buhari to be honourable to accept defeat in the 2019 presidential election just like former President Goodluck Jonathan did in 2015 as a way of proving his integrity as a leader.

    But the National Chairman of the National Rescue Movement, Senator Saidu Dansadau, said the former Jigawa governor was being economical with the truth, adding that Obasanjo was never a candidate of northern politicians, but picked by a section of the military who wanted one of them to continue in office.

    Going down memory lane, Lamido who was one of the three key speakers at the Dialogue said: “Under June 12, my party, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) won an election that was very transparent and we were all part of that process. We all worked for a very wonderful transition and had elections which were credible, open, and transparent but were annulled.

    “Somehow, the west which produced the President was terribly aggrieved that their son, late Moshood Abiola, even though they never liked him, they only saw the fulfillment of their becoming President, which is something none of them has done and so.

    “The annulment was seen as a ploy to deny a Yoruba man the opportunity of becoming President. Then Abacha came and we all know what happened. Those people who are now laying claim to a new found democracy were active participants in Abacha’s government.

     

  • Appeal Court returns Lamido’s trial to Justice Ademola

    Appeal Court returns Lamido’s trial to Justice Ademola

    The Court of Appeal in Abuja has set aside the directive by former Chief Judge of the Federal High Court Abuja, Justice Ibrahim Auta, re-assigning the trial of former Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido and others from Justice Adeniyi Ademola to Justice Babatunde Quadri.

    Justice Auta had exercised his administrative power to transfer to case to Justice Quadri at a time Justice Ademola and Lamido’s lawyer; Joe Agi (SAN) were being tried for corruption related offences before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

    At the conclusion of their trial, Agi, led by Kanu Agabi (SAN) challenged Justice Auta;s decision to transfer Lamido and others’ trial to Justice Qaudri for trial to start afresh, when witnesses had been called before Justice Ademola.

    Justice Qaudri rejected the request that the trial be returned to Justice Ademola and proceeded to preside over the trial, a decision Agabi and Agi appealed.

    Justice O. Elechi of the Court of Appeal, who read the unanimous decision of a three-man panel Wednesday, said Section 98 (2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) must be complied with in this instance, as witnesses had been called before Justice Ademola.

    He said: “The power of the Chief Judge shall not be exercised where the prosecution has called witnesses, and in the instance, the prosecution has called 18 witnesses, and so in light of the above, this issue is resolved in favour of the appellant.

    “The application is highly meritorious and is hereby allowed, and in the circumstance, order of the Chief Judge transferring case cannot stand and is hereby set aside and ordered to be re-assigned to Justice Ademola for continuation of trial before him,” Justice Elechi said.

    Other members of the panel were Justices O. Belgore and O. Akinbami.

    Lamido is standing trial along with his sons, Aminu and Mustapha; Wada Abubakar, Bamaina Holdings Ltd, Bamaina Company Nigeria Ltd, Bamaina Aluminium Limted and Speeds Intl Ltd, on an amended 43-count charge of money laundering.

    He is alleged to have abused his office as governor between 2007 and 2015, in awarding contracts to companies in which he and his sons had interests.

    They were first arraigned before Justice Ademola on a 27-count charge, on September 22, 2015. The case progressed before Justice Ademola until Justice Auta, re-assigned the case to Justice Quadri, before whom it started afresh.

    Lamido’s lawyer, Agabi later approached the Court of Appeal after Justice Quadri dismissed two applications brought before the court, one asking that the case be returned to Justice Ademola before whom Lamido’s trial began in 2015, and another accusing the trial judge of bias.

    While arguing against Lamido’s applications during the hearing before Justice Quadri, prosecution lawyer, Chile Okoroma said transferring the case to Justice Ademola could “raise issues on the likelihood of bias.”

    He noted  that Joe Agi, a counsel for Lamido, stood trial along with Justice Ademola, before they were later acquitted of the charges.

    Justice Quadri had, while dismissing the applications, noted that: “In respect to the circumstances of this case, nowhere is it said in the ACJA that where the trial judge is unable to be present for proceeding in a matter, the Chief Judge is constrained from re-assigning the case.

    “At the time the case was transferred, Justice Ademola was not sitting. As it is, amendments have already been made to the charges, upon which the present application was made and argued in this court.”

  • Presidency replies Lamido, uncovers plan to destroy national institutions

    Presidency replies Lamido, uncovers plan to destroy national institutions

    The Presidency says it has uncovered plan by politicians seeking the destruction of national institutions such as the courts, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC ) and “everything good that the nation stands for”.

    Malam Garba Shehu, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, made this known in a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday.

    The presidential aide cited the recent series of interviews by a former governor of Jigawa and presidential aspirant under the Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP ), Alhaji Sule Lamido, attacking President Buhari’s efforts on ongoing war against corruption, as part of the grand plan.

    He, however, described the attacks by Lamido “as” a reflection of the intellectual and moral bankruptcy of the opposition in the country.

    “It is only in Nigeria that a leader will divert money belonging to the public into his children’s account then turns round to start pontificating on public morals, in the process subjecting the nation’s honest leadership to daily attacks based on falsehood.

    “It is even worse that such a person, facing criminal prosecution will start going round saying he wants to be president. Is this not one of the reasons why other countries are laughing at Nigeria?

    “This is hooliganism. It is not opposition politics,’’ Shehu noted.

    The presidential spokesman challenged Lamido to convince Nigerians that his trenchant attacks against the government and the judiciary were not a smokescreen to becloud the atmosphere of his criminal prosecution.

    “In his diatribe published in the Vanguard newspaper last week, it is clear that the former governor not only set out to mock the President but the judiciary and important national institutions.’’

    According to him, this is part of an orchestrated plot to divert public attention from his scam related cases.

    He added that, “If President Buhari’s war against corruption as he said, was a mockery what does one say of Lamido’s sworn efforts to sabotage the country’s efforts to rid itself of the cancer of corruption?

    “If accountability of public officials is the very essence of a mature democracy, it is indeed ironic that a politician, seeking the leadership of the country, making a mockery of institutions and leaders seeking to entrench that.

    “As a country, Nigeria settled for President Buhari not just as President but the watchman of people’s wealth.”

    Shehu observed that the citizens are happy with Buhari’s efforts in fighting corruption and the whole world was applauding him, while the African Union, the AU named him as the Champion of the war against corruption.

    He stated that opposition politicians like Lamido needed to come to terms with the fact that their act needed updating.

    Shehu further quoted Buhari Media Support Group (BMSG) that said, “the nation’s war against corruption spearheaded by EFCC was incidentally formulated by the a past PDP administration.

    “It is a tragic irony that the leaders of the same party are doing their utmost to weaken or destroy it. Watch it, is that why he is seeking to lead the country?

    “Time and again, President Buhari had lamented that strongmen had destroyed the country’s strong institutions and that it will take strong men to rebuild them.

    “He deserves the support of everyone to rebuild such institutions because they serve a common good.”

    The presidential aide, therefore, appealed to  opposition politicians to give President Buhari the support he needed to rebuild national institutions such as the EFCC.

    NAN

  • Buhari, Atiku, Lamido, others too old to rule Nigeria – Youth Summit

    Buhari, Atiku, Lamido, others too old to rule Nigeria – Youth Summit

    A youth summit ended in Enugu Friday with the participants urging President Muhammadu Buhari, former Vice President Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, ex-Jigawa Governor, Sule Lamido, among others to drop their presidential ambitions in 2019.

    They said these political actors, Governor Ayo Fayose and several others who had indicated interest to rule Nigeria were too old and could no longer able to navigate the country out of her many problems.

    The youths, instead, agreed to project a youth that would succeed President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019.

    The summit in a communique signed by Maryann Chukwuka, Alhaji Haruna and Lawrence Ozifo said: “we have keenly followed Nigerian politics for decades and we come to the conclusion that our fathers have failed in giving us the much expected hope.

    “As such, we urge President Buhari, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Sule Lamido, Ayo Fayose and several others who are above 50 years, to give the youths a chance. They have done their best, but it is obvious that their best is not good enough for the country.

    “We, hereby, today endorse one of us, Mr. Iheanacho Ezeakor as our candidate for the 2019 presidential election.

    “We have been hearing that the future belongs to the youths, but this has gone on for decades and all we see is recycling of old politicians. Some of them will rule in military uniform, remove the uniform and come back as civilian presidents.

    “After extensive discussions today, in line with the ‘Not too young to run bill’, we declare that enough is enough; we declare that the Nigerian youths will no longer fold our arms.

    “As youths, our collective decision is that we will no longer continue for Biafra agitation, but work to see that one of us becomes the President of Nigeria in 2019.”

    An elated Ezeakor, who had convened the summit for the Nigerian youths to brainstorm for the way forward in the country, said he was humbled by the decision of his fellow youths.

    While lamenting the worrisome state of affairs in the country, stated that “the future will indeed belong to the youths if they believe in themselves and take up their destiny in their own hands.”

    While blaming Nigeria’s problems on inability to think and poor level of consideration, he said “we should not wait forever to get solutions from government; we need to find solutions.

    “We are talking about Biafra; I cannot deny it; I don’t think the agitations are illegal, but go about it in a more decent and legal way.

    “I agree that getting youths from Igbo land, projecting the person as a presidential candidate will be much better than the Biafra agitation. Let’s make an effort; let’s make a move.

    “I don’t believe that the North or the West hates us as we are made to believe; come up with a good idea, you will see the North and the West supporting you. So, for us to succeed, I’m calling on the Nigerian youths to put aside religion and ethnicity.”

    Read Also: Buhari receives NABRO Bill for assent

  • 2019: Sule Lamido declares bid for President

    2019: Sule Lamido declares bid for President

    FORMER Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido has indicated interest to run for president in 2019 on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    In a letter to PDP members, Lamido said the party needed to reposition to take over power in 2019 and bring it back to its path of recovery.

    His words: “Today, 57 years after the independence of our dear country, can we in all sincerity claim to have achieved the dream of our founding fathers? Where did we fail and from where did we begin to fail? Nigeria with its natural endowment and human capacity cannot be forgiven for being otherwise. We cannot even demonstrate our ability and capacity to meet domestic, regional and global challenges, which currently seem to overwhelm us.

    “The PDP will and must lead the nation back into a bright, progressive and innovative future.”

    According to him, the PDP must rekindle in Nigeria a new hope, a nation of united people with a common and assured destiny.

    “To the world, Nigeria must demonstrate our confidence, tenacity in our ability and capability to address our domestic regional and global challenges that confront us.

    It is against this background that I offer myself to vie for the office of the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in 2019, if my party finds me worthy to fly its flag.”

    Lamido added: “I am no means claiming to be the only capable material, any PDP member given the trust and support can fly our flag, and I expect many more aspirants will express the desire to run. My hope and prayer is that at the end of all the process which I hope will be open, fair transparent and credible is to give Nigeria in 2019 candidate who will lead the party and Nigeria. This is because there is no alternative to PDP in 2019; it will be a defining moment in the Nigerian political evolution.”