The Nation Newspaper

Tag: ticket

  • Ticket: APC leaders adamant as Ganduje, Masari, Wammako intervene for Sani

    As the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kaduna State holds Senate primaries today, there are indications that leaders of the party in the state were not keen to give return ticket to Senator Shehu Sani.

    It was learnt that Senator Aliyu Wammako, Governors Abdullahi Ganduje (Kano) and Aminu Masari (Katsina) intervened and pleaded for automatic ticket for Sani.

    Also, the three APC aspirants scrambling for the Kaduna Central Senatorial District with Sani declined to step down for him

    The aspirants are Ibrahim Usman(Sardauna Badarawa); Shamsu Shehu Giwa; Gen. Mohammed Sani Saleh; and Uba Sani, a Special Adviser to Governor Nasir El-Rufai.

    The development has caused tension in Sani’s camp. He is one of the aggrieved sebators who declined defect from the APC to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    A top source in APC, who spoke in confidence, said: “We have a big challenge in Kaduna State. Some of our governors and leaders have made a strong case for automatic re-election ticket for Comrade Shehu Sani but we have not succeeded.

    “With this development, Sani might have to slug it out with the remaining three aspirants.

    “Going by the tense situation in the state and with the control of party structure by governors, Senator Sani might not get the ticket.

    “We are still making last minute moves to work out a deal which will be acceptable to APC leaders in Kaduna State.”

    But a stalwart of APC in Kaduna State, who spoke with reporters anomymously in Abuja, said the party was not disposed to giving Sani a return ticket.

    The source said: “It will be suicidal for APC to give Senator Sani a second term ticket. If he sails through, it means that disloyalty to a party pays.

    “The problem all the interventions encountered is that Sani had gone too far in burning his bridges in Kaduna. A compendium of his comments since 2015 ridiculing President Muhammadu Buhari himself, the APC and Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has been circulated to key leaders.

    “This document showed that Sani does not hold even the President in high esteem. So his recent good-boy posture is being dismissed as just the desperate actions of a man who wants to remain in the Senate.

    ”This is a man who printed posters without the APC logo and boasted that he would defect. He has not even tried to mend fences with the people he offended in Kaduna.

    “The party in Kaduna is said to be in no mood to reward disloyalty, after Sani had treated them with contempt for more than three years.

    “We expect him to grumble and moralize after he loses the primary. We will not be surprised if he even creates some drama.”

  • ‘Why Makarfi deserves PDP presidential ticket’

    ‘Why Makarfi deserves PDP presidential ticket’

    In this piece, Mohammed Ismail highlights the qualities expected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential flagbearer for the 2019 election.

    The recently conducted Peoples Democratic Party’s elective convention, has for the umpteenth time shown the democratic credentials of former governor of Kaduna State, Senator Ahmed Muhammad Makarfi who despite the projections of the naysayers, has superintended a successful convention that produced the Uche Secondus led National Working Committee of the party.

    After its defeat in the 2015 general elections, the party witnessed its major litmus test after it was engulfed by a lingering and protracted internal crisis between the Ahmed Makarfi’s faction and the Ali Modu Sherrif’s faction after the latter was surreptitiously imposed on the party by those who wanted it to die a natural death.

    As the protracted battle for the control of the party’s soul between democratic forces led by Ahmed Makarfi and those who wanted to foist an era of impunity on the party led by Ali Modu Sherrif lasted, many thought the ugly development will mark the end of the party and by extension serve as the precursor for the total asphyxiation and strangulation of the opposition politics in Nigeria.

    Those who harbour this erroneous line of thought did not reckon that men of calibre, substance, timbre, character, valour and true champions of democracy in the mould of Makarfi were still in the party, and could even pay the supreme price to ensure that our nascent democracy is truly rooted in our body polity.

    True to expectation, Makarfi did not disappoint anybody as he commandeered a team of “democratic musketeers” to fight the Frankenstein monster imposed on the party by its traducers.

    After the successful Supreme Court verdict which asserts Makarfi as the chairman caretaker committee, the party was left with another huge challenge of conducting  a national convention that will produce the substantive National Working Committee of the party.

    Adversaries of the party who do not give it the slightest chance of survival simply dismissed the possibility of the conduct of a successful national convention as a mirage, on the premise that the party could neither handle nor tame the vaulting ambitions of many of its members who are ready to tear it to shreds if their ambitions were nixed.

    But as if to spring another surprise, PDP under the eagle eyes of Makarfi, defied the naysayers and conducted a convention that produced the NWC of the party and finally put to rest the portentous speculative hoax being peddled around by the enemies of democracy.

    In an unprecedented feat, Makarfi held the most organized, and peaceful convention in the annals of the party which is in sharp contrast even to the last convention of the party which took place at Port Harcourt that was nearly stymied by legal tussles at a time the party was in power.

    The fact that majority of the candidates who contested the plum office alongside Uche Secondus have accepted defeat and even congratulated the new chairman glaringly shows to all conscientious Nigerians that the party and its tumultuous followers across the length and breadth of the country and by extension our fledgling democracy emerge the winners as sooner than later, the import of such feat will profoundly manifest in our body polity.

    It is normal in a political party as large as PDP to hear some shrill voices of dissent after the conduct of a major event such as its national convention, as complaints and outcries, true or false are natural instincts of human beings.

    This is where I situate the lone complaint of Professor Tunde Adeniran who as at now, is the only chairmanship candidate who has raised a voice of dissension against the conduct of the convention at a time his co-contestants deemed it fit to endorse the Secondus led NWC through their unconditional approval of his election.

    In line with the vision bequeathed by Makarfi, the new Exco of the party has swiftly moved into action in order to tame any untoward move by those who may be remotely aggrieved by the outcome of the convention by instituting a reconciliatory move in order to calm any frayed nerve for the good of the party and Nigerians who were at the receiving end of dearth of vibrant opposition.

    The lesson that could be derived from the PDP convention is that despite being in the political coolers for a longtime and despite not being in power for about three years, PDP was able to conduct a national convention, a far cry from what is obtained in the ruling APC.

    It does not require mentioning to note that the ruling party which on daily basis is  showcasing its mediocrity and cluelessness has failed to conduct a national convention because of the fear that it may be eclipsed by the surfeit of internal strife bestriding it.

    On the other hand, the PDP under Makarfi was bold enough to face the challenge which God blessed by giving Makarfi and his team the wisdom to organize a successful convention.

    As the rudderless ruling party continues to wander in disarray and confusion but pretends that all was well, it was glaring even to the most naïveté that APC is currently being weight down by its deluge of baggages and is on a fast drift towards total implosion due to the manifestation of a serious ailment that led to the defection of one of its leading chieftains and Waziri of Adamawa Atiku Abubakar.

    Going by the body language of some chieftains of the ruling APC including the Senate President, Bukola Saraki and his political ally, Senator Dino Melaye who without the fear of being persecuted paid an open solidarity visit on the newly elected PDP national chairman, a development that constitutes ominous portents for the APC, it behoves on the ruling party to set its house in order or face the imminent consequences of its lethargy in the near future.

    It is my candid opinion that in view of the noble role played by Makarfi in rescuing the PDP couple with his unblemished and sterling record of performance both as Kaduna State governor, Senator and caretaker chairman of the major opposition party, the Secondus led-NWC should give him an automatic chance to fly its flag in 2019.

  • Ogun 2019: Ticket not for highest bidder

    A governorship aspirant from Ogun West on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Hon. Adekunle Akinlade, has declared that money would play a crucial role the succession battle in 2019.

    Akinlade, a House of Representatives member representing Yewa South and Ipokia Constituency, however, added that “money alone would not be the determinant factor.”

    The federal lawmaker made this known through his media aide, Olalekan Soyemi, in response to Senator Olamilekan Adeola’s challenge to other aspirants from Ogun West to a public debate.

    Adeola and Hon. Akinlade are both members of the current 8th National Assembly, the former being in the Senate, while the later is in the House of Representatives.

    Adeola had invited other aspirants in the platform of All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to a debate, following their disagreement with his endorsement by the Ogun West Consultative Forum (OWECOF).

    But, Akinlade said he is prepared to participate in the debate, if the senator “chooses his preferred place and venue of the discussion”.

    He also urged Adeola to first provide evidence of similar media debates he participated in as an aspirant in his present constituency in Lagos in 2003, 2007, 2011 and 2015.

    He said other aspirants who have been part of Governor Ibikunle Amosun’s administration, which is believed to have transformed the state, would be able to face the senator in a debate and even defeat him.

     

  • ‘Buhari deserves automatic ticket’

    ‘Buhari deserves automatic ticket’

    Chief Ntufam Eta is the National Vice Chairman (Southsouth) of the All Progressives Congress (apc). In this interview with TONY AKOWE in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), he speaks on why President Muhammadu Buhari deserves a second term and why former Vice President Atiku Abubakar should not go back to the Peoples Democratic Party (pdp).

    You supported former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s bid for the presidency in 2015. We are approaching another election. What has changed?

    In 2015, Atiku was my option during the party’s primary and I put my reputation on the line for his aspiration. That aspiration was extinguished by the victory of the President and the moment that happened, I went into the business of canvassing for votes for our presidential candidate and to God be the glory, he emerged victorious and today, he is the President of this country. Another circle of election is around the corner and Atiku is no longer an option because I think the option for me now is President Muhammadu Buhari who has done remarkably well in keeping the promises he made to Nigerians. I said remarkably well because it is assumed that politicians don’t keep promises.. But the President has done so largely and to my satisfaction. Remember that he campaigned on the tripod of issues of security with special emphasis on the north east and Boko Haram, the anti corruption crusade and the economy. My conviction on these is that the President has done spectacularly well and has therefore earned my vote. So, right now, President Buhari is my candidate for the 2019 elections. However, there is something that I find objectionable in the body polity of Nigeria is that when you support in an election, you are now called after that individual. People forget that in every election or contest has its own peculiarities and that you support anybody during a particular election or contest given the variables available to you. As the National Vice Chairman of the party in the Southsouth, my commitment in 2019 is to deliver to President Muhammadu Buhari during the primary, if we will have one and in the general elections, the totality of the votes available in my zone. during the primary, because of what he has done for the country and what he has done for our zone in particular, I am sure that each and every vote that is available in that zone will be returned to him.

    You said if there will be primary. Does that mean that the party may give the President an automatic ticket?

    It is possible that because of the sterling qualities of the President and the work that he has done, the entire members of the party may want him to go back without contest. What I mean is that those who would have contested against him may join hands with him to build the country and have him only as both the aspirant and eventually, the candidate of the party. It has happened before and thre are lots of instances to draw from around the world.

    Does party rules give room for consensus?

    Consensus  is found in all democracies of the world. It means that oif you have an aspiration and you can resolve among yourselves that one of you may do a far better job, others may subsume their aspiration under the aspiration of that one person and give him the support to run for the party. In democracy and especially in the APC where we pride ourselves of trying to build a culture of internal democracy, if consensus fails, then, there is no alternative than for a contest to ensue. There is no conflict because there is no attempt at imposition because consensus is not an attempt at imposition.

    There are speculations that the former Vice President intends to contest the 2019 elections. What would be your advice to him?

    He is constitutionally entitled to contest as many times as he wants to. But as a person, I would say that he should join hands with President Buhari and build this nation. Some of us who supported him in 2014 know that what he promised he promised t do for the country is what the President is doing right now. The President is taking Nigeria in the direction that some of us who were with him then thought he was going to take Nigeria. What he needs to do is to join his hands with the President and build the nation. I have heard that there is a grand plan for him to move to the opposition. As someone who has worked with him before, I think such a move will be a movement too many. I think he should sit back in the APC, join hands with the President to build this country. He has been Vice President of this country of close to 200 million people. If God had blessed him to becoming the Vice President of the country and a celebrated one, he can do better in helping the President to do better.

    You said the President has done very well for the people of the Southsouth. What are the things he has done that will guarantee him the votes of the region?

    Let me start by saying that the President has committed a lot of resources into the infrastructural projects in the south south one of which is the Calabar to Lagos rail line. We also have a lot of our roads captured in the budget and for a man like him, whose greatest asset is his integrity, when he has this project in the budget, there is almost a certainty that the projects will see the light of the day.there is also the dredging of the Calabar port. The second Niger bridge that  going to traverse the south east and the south south and many other road projects that have been captured in the 2018 budget.he has deliberate policies to bring peace and calm to the Niger Delta. A few weeks ago, consultancy contract was signed between the government and an Israeli comp at to keep our waters calm and peaceful in other to bring economic development to the region. I am not going to dwell on appointments because I am one of those who do not believe that appointments is tantamount to development. But even at that, if you see the quality of appointments that he has given to the south south, it is important that we reciprocate and give him the kind of support that we did not give him in 2015. With the advent of electronic processes in our voting system, you can be sure that there is no state in the south south that will not give Mr. President the constitutional required 25 percent of the votes. There are states in the zone that the President would win outrightly. Remember that as I speak with you right now, the south south zone if the party is the fastest growing zone in the party and that can be gauged by the number of senators we now have compared to the number we had in 2015. In 2015, we had only one Senator across the six states, but today, we have six Senators.

    There is the renewed threat of hostilities against oil installation by ÿouths of the region…

    A few months ago, it seemed like the country was going on fire. We had the IPOB situation, the ever recurring Boko Haram as well as the avengers and all that. Today, with the proper handling of the situation, it is evident that the government has engaged in fire fighting and has doused the tension in the country. That is not to say that there is no work to be done because we must consistently engage our youths. You know the u employment situation in the country and the demographic situation in the country with about 65 per  cent said to be youths. In a situation like that, you should expect that there will be flash points. But it is the place of government to be on top of this situation. The way the government has gone in the recent past, I think the government is doing g a good job and I think the Avengers may have been reached. If they have not been reached, they will be reached and all issues will be attended to by government. These things are fallout if the fact that this is a very heterogenous society and there are certain systematic imbalances that throw up these flash points and one of the fundamentals of politics is conflict resolution and this government is well,equipped and has the passion and capacity to deal with these issues.

    What is the way out of the crisis in your home state chapter?

    You know that this is a very young party. You must predicate all the things happening in the party on the basis of its youthfulness and on the basis of the fact that there no human organisation anywhere in the world where you will not have acrimony, disagreement and disaffections.  Even in nuclear families where you have the same father and same mother, you still have altercations and divergent views on matters, not to talk about a political organisation where people come from different background and have different understanding of issues and hold different world views. It is impossible to think that such an organisation will be completely devoid of conflict. You know that the structures of the party are set up to deal with these issues and I can assure you that we have dealt with most of these issues and the orthopedic is on top of the situation. There is simply no issue in any of our states that has come to the knowledge of the national leadership of the party that an attempt has not been made to address. Now, the question you should ask is, have you final,y resolve all these matters? My answer would be that, if is work in progress. The moment you have human beings involve in these kind of situation, you must understand that you are dealing with the emotions and sentiments of people  and you have to be careful. Largely, I think this party has done a lot of work in dousing the flashpoints around the party. In terms of maturity, most times, people want to compare a party that came into existence in 2013 and the one that came into existence in 1998. No matter what you say, age matters. Given our age, we have done marvelously well. That is not to say there are no contradictions, differences and altercations. But we have done well given our age and the circumstances of our birth.

  • Agbaso: No automatic ticket for Obiano

    Agbaso: No automatic ticket for Obiano

    Chief Martin Agbaso is the Acting National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA). In this interview with TONY AKOWE, he speaks on the leadership crisis in the party, which may affect its preparations for the November 18 governorship election in Anambra State.

    Recently, you held a meeting with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and it is believed that the meeting had to do with your party. What is the outcome of that meeting?

    As you are all aware, the High Court in Enugu under Justice Ozoemena on May 22, 2017 gave an Order of  Mandamus, compelling INEC to recognise me as the Acting National Chairman of APGA. When that order was given, a letter was duly written by our lawyers compiling a compendium of what transpired in the court and sent to the INEC.

    Prior to that time, on October 5, 2016, the National Working Committee (NWC) had suspended Dr Victor Ike Oye, then National Chairman of APGA, for various offences he did not have answers to. In accordance with the party constitution, a seven-man committee was set up to investigate the matter. But, all efforts by the committee to meet with him to address most of the issues proved abortive. APGA took the matter to court in Abuja asking INEC and the police to stop Oye from parading himself as the national chairman of the party. Oye petitioned that the court lacked the jurisdiction to hear the matter. The court ruled that it had validly dealt with APGA matters in the past, adding that it is in the same court that Victor Umeh and Chekwas Okorie’s case was decided. Oye challenged the decision of the lower court at the Appeal Court which was adjourned to December 14 this year. Shortly after the case was instituted, the then acting national chairman, Ozo Nwabueze Okafor took ill with colon cancer, and eventually died on January 8 this year. In accordance with the constitution of the  party, I became the acting national chairman. Before then, I was the Acting Deputy National Chairman. Under APGA constitution, with the demise or suspension or expulsion of the national chairman, the next highest officer from the zone he came from replaces him. That was what I did. All these documents were sent to INEC for information and recognition. After waiting for over one month for INEC to react without hearing from it, the APGA vice chairman in Enugu where I was nominated as the acting national chairman went to court in Enugu, praying the Court to compel INEC to recognise me since we had  given INEC the documentations of the series of meetings and the party processes we followed to arrive at nominating me the acting national chairman. The court went through all the paper works and the processes before issuing the Order of Mandamus asking INEC to recognise me immediately. It also ordered the police and the IGP to do same. We expected to get reactions from INEC within 48 hours, but unfortunately it never reacted. In the mean time, the parties had gone to the Court of Appeal in Enugu to vacate that Order of Mandamus, the court sat on July 10 and upheld the order of the lower court which compelled INEC to further recognise me. It is those documents from the  rulings that we finally took to the INEC headquarters to do the needful. The good thing is that we had very  fruitful meeting with INEC. But I don’t want to pre-empt the action the Commission will take. I want to emphasise that I am very satisfied with the meeting. We will wait to see what action INEC will take in the next couple of days. However, INEC does not have to give us a letter since an order of the court has been given. Our action is just to put INEC on notice.

    What is the arrangement for the party’s primary and congresses or will you give automatic ticket to Governor  Obiano?

    We have issued 21-day notice to INEC for the conduct of our party primary and congresses scheduled for August 17 and I can assure you that we are ready to kick-start the processes leading up to the Anambra governorship election. The speculation of a plot to stop Governor Obiano is absolute rubbish. How can we plot against a governor who has done very well, a governor we are all proud of? There is no truth to such rumour and propaganda. Asking whether we will give automatic ticket to the incumbent governor is a question I cannot deal with now. However, all I can tell you is that our party will showcase internal democracy. That question was an unfair one. Confirming that the party will give the governor automatic ticket means that we will be very unfair to other five to seven aspirants contesting for the position. All we can do is to ensure internal democracy. However, when you have a sitting governor who has done very well, there is nothing to worry about on whether he will be nominated again. Let me add that the dreams and visions of the founding fathers of APGA is to build a party that will give impetus to those that don’t have the opportunity to partake in the governance of this country and to also take advantage of the widespread Igbo residence in other ethnic groups. We want the downtrodden and the very poor in the society to look up to APGA as a party full of opportunities, a party to fulfil the yearnings of the people and provide good governance. These exactly are the vision of the party for the country. What has happened so far in Anambra with the governors under APGA really met the vision of the party. The eight years of Peter Obi set Anambra miles away from other governments in the region with physical responsibility which saved much money. The governor embarked on the provision of infrastructure, rebuilt the education sector, overhauled hospitals, created due process in every aspect of governance and made governance open.  He ensured level playing grounds for those who have the capacity to perform. In reality, it was eight years of successful administration. We have now had three and half years of Obiano who has continued with the template set up by the Peter Obi administration. He has equally done reasonably well. Anambra under APGA is a model case for other states in the southern regions. APGA has no fear in the forthcoming Anambra governorship election because it will be a testimonial for the good work the party has done. Given the fact that APGA has done well in Anambra State, we have so much to take to the electorate and expect that the party will sweep the votes by November.

    How would you describe your relationship with Obiano and other major stakeholders in the party?

    APGA has become a major institution, yet Nigerians have continued to talk about individuals. We are still struggling to build an institution which should last beyond and above individuals. We cannot be talking about Victor Umeh for instance whose tenure expired after serving as the party’s national chairman for almost 10 years.

    APGA as an institution remains strong and my responsibility is to make it stronger when I leave in the next four  years or so. What should be our concern should be what the institution stands for, the template we have offered to the people, opportunities we created, how we put Nigeria back to work and how we can restore the confidence Nigerians had in the country.

    Do you regret making Rochas the governor of Imo State?

    By my nature as a Christian and as a catholic, I always put most of my actions before God. I won’t tell you whether  I regretted any action I took in making Rochas the governor because at the time I took the decision, it was the best. Some people have expressed disappointed that I supported an Orlu man instead of an Owerri man. But the reality was that no Owerri man informed me of his interest to contest. I stand to be challenged. Rochas was the only person who asked for my support in a most humble manner.

    How do you intend to restore the confidence of your supporters, especially your state chairman, who has declared loyalty to the Oye faction of the party?

    I want to remind you that each time a man’s position is threatened, he fights fiercely. It is the situation facing my state chairman because he must have seen the tsunami coming to blow his position away. I am not going to join issues with him because I was very instrumental to that seat he is occupying now including paying for the office complex and the furnishing. However, I am not coming to sack anybody but to heal and unite the people. I don’t hold any animosity or anger against him because I know he will change soon. Anybody still in doubt whether my people are solidly with me should refer to the reception accorded me in Owerri recently.

    What is your assessment of the threat from other political parties over the November 18 governorship election?

    I don’t see the challenge from other political parties as threat because there is no state in Nigeria where the incumbent is allowed to contest election alone. Candidates must jostle for political positions during elections. Again, you know that Anambra is a very dynamic state, full of many people with the capacity and eminently qualified to contest. However, what is going to stand out is each person’s antecedents. I want to add that APGA has done incredibly well with Peter Obi laying a solid foundation.

    The country is still in recession and the government has made several promises to take the country out of recession very soon. How do you think this can best be achieved.

    We are a country of over 170 million people. We need over 17 million skilled persons to drive an economy of this size. Unfortunately, we don’t have up to one million skilled persons in medical science, ICT, commence and industry in this country. Our education is in comatose. These are the concerns of APGA as a party. We must do something to improve the curriculum we teach our children and the level of encouragement and remunerations we give to our teachers. It is true that people still die of malaria in this country, a disease that can be cured with just N1000. This means that there are people who stand between them and death because their lives are not worth N800. We have 65 per cent of Nigerians operating under zero economy, meaning a situation where a man does not have N1000 income in a month. To come out of recession, we must begin to look at our receivables and payables. How much is our income, what do we have to spend to run government, provide infrastructure and how to block the huge gap created by our reliance on oil and oil related transactions. Government must quickly look for ways and means of generating additional income to cushion the effect of the income and expenditure gap. Yes, the first approach would be to tighten the loose ends and leakages in the system. But we must find a way of earning additional income. We have to also add value to those other avenues of earning income so that we can create jobs that will lead to disposable income. When many have disposable incomes, consumer confidence will rise. There will be capacity to buy and be able to pay. We must understand that it is a cycle that keeps recreating and regenerating money. We must have skilled young, dynamic, proactive workforce to create the wealth. We have many gifted young Nigerians. Look at what is happening at the computer village and job centres like Aba, Ibadan among others where young Nigerians are creating all manners of technological-driven businesses. There is no magic or shortcut to our coming out of recession other than doing the right things and taking the right decisions. Government must cut the fats in the expenditures like blotted salaries, allowances among others which we can no longer afford. We must also look into contract pricing for roads, bridges to save cost.

  • Why I rejected APC senatorial ticket, by Ilaka

    Why I rejected APC senatorial ticket, by Ilaka

    Oyebisi Ilaka, Ladilu of Oyo, is a chieftain of the Accord Party (AP) in Oyo State. He spoke with EMMANUEL OLADESU on partisan issues.

    What is your assessment of the Ajimobi administration in the last six years?

    There are two things; we have a very intellectually ineffective and a very lazy government. You are not opening new roads, Oyo state is such a massive place, if you travel wide in the state. All what we have is theft; we have an unseen situation whereby the civil servants are not paid. One point in time the governor talks about restructuring the education sector, it wasn’t particularly such a bad idea, but as usual, it was not done properly. Because he should have met with the original stakeholders before going public with the plan. You need to see the decay that is in education in the state.

    They should have said, first and foremost you have to sit down and ask yourself, what kind of education system do I want? cost it. what other stakeholders can I bring into play to assist in achieving this; it is now a collective dream or agenda.

    It is actually disgusting that Oyo State come around 29th position in school certificate and NECO. Outside Lagos State and the proprietors of private’s schools in Oyo state; if you take them out, we would be like the 36th. Oyo State is supposed to be the education Mecca of this country. When they talk about agriculture, it is a lip service. Even if they say they are the disciples of Awolowo and they believe in rural development, integrated development of rural areas, what have they done?

    Why you do not see too much revolts in Oyo State is because food is cheaper  because you have rural roads that was put in place by Awolowo and successive governments.

    People begging for money in Oyo state, half of the time, they want to use it for another thing, not to eat because a lot of them know where they can go and ask for garri and they would give it to them. We need a government where everybody can work together; I think that that would end the administrations that has failed the people.

    What do you thing about political alliances that are coming up?

    Everybody has the right to say he want to become even the president of Nigeria, but you know when the time comes, people would begin to make more realistic decisions.

    Let’s remove the individuals and look at the general structure. If you want to see where a party is, then you have to go to the House of Assembly. then, you know whether the party is there or not there. In the Oyo State House of Assembly, APC has the majority, followed by Accord, then Labour; there is no body from PDP and SDP, that is the composition and this are the people representing the 33 local governments of the state.

    But, we also know that our politics is aggressive. The APC is in government now and other parties would want to unseat them. you can’t divorce what is happening on the local scene from what is impacting in the national scene.

    Someone says all the major parties would break up and reform. The APC has the tension that cannot be resolved. In the candidates that come out from Oyo state, for example, if you look at them, and you screen them; when you look at them in different terms, there are people who believe in the power of Abuja to resolve certain things for them and they are those who believe in going to Agodi thinking that things would be resolved for them; and there some people who are hoping that if it just scattered they would be able to grab something.

    On the other side of the equation, the largest people of the PDP belongs to the Makarfi group, those who belongs to the Sheriff group would not openly agree that they belong to the Sheriff group; they would tell you that ‘I belong to one PDP’ and we know what that language means. It is only the Makarfi group that would tell you they belong to Makarfi even in the Oyo state and what we know is that that group is speaking for all other party to form their own grand alliance.

    So, what is on ground now is that there are parties that would be used as a platform; Accord is one of them, SDP, APGA; but the smart would either use the Accord or the SDP; they would be used as new platforms for the opposition.

    But, the opposition would surely get together and there no state that would be the best to do that than Oyo state.

    Ajimobi runs a minority government because he was voted in by 32 per cent of the people. That is why he doesn’t think about the other 68 per cent. The 68 per cent didn’t vote for him. so you have the dictatorship of the minority. the majority would surely rise.

    I am part of a movement whereby we were talking to ourselves across political parties on the basis that lets forget our party differences; most of us all came from PDP at one time or the other because of different purposes and whatever. So we have to appreciate the fact that unless we operate collectively; there are meetings on different levels to make sure that group come together. I am a realist when it comes to politics, I know that we would not score 100% in bringing everybody together but as long as we score 60 to 70 percent then we have tried.

    Why did you reject the APC senatorial ticket?

    I left the PDP for a particular reason. the reason I left was because there were issues with the governor then (Akala) and I was part of the fall out; at that point in time, if I want to contest, would Akala allow me to have a plain ground to contest? the answer is no. That was the twilight of his administration and I went into the ACN. I found out that they don’t really believe in primaries and democracy like that; I was misled by the leadership, particularly even in Oyo state whereby when the chips were down, they were removed and I left them from where they were. And I say it without any fear of contradiction that Senator Rashidi Adewolu is the only political person in Oyo state, I can line up behind because his politics has been consistent. And because he also has intellectual capacity I have seen his vision, I have shared his vision.

    But, the issue of if he would contest for governorship or not in 2019,  I think that decision is left for him, it is his own personal decision. He has a role of leadership to play, not just in Oyo state, but also in the national politics and the politics of southwest.

    What is you aspiration in the next dispensation?

    My view is that I have a settled intension to contest. what for? I do not know. What is important is that let’s do the work, what vehicle would take us to where we want to go. We have to stay strategically, you have to have plan and implement the strategy. That is what is more important now, not who is going for governor, senate or what have you. My problem now is how do I get together with my brothers and sisters of the other side of the divide and we are sure because we are speaking to them as well. People who are within the APC are yarning for us to get it right at the other side of the equation.

    Before the last election, there was agitation to reform the party; we chose a new chairman and party officers from ward level to the state level. Some people had an agenda to hijack the party, but it did not work. Then, we had a ruling in the court in Ibadan, which says that the authentic chairman of the party is who conducted the congresses of the party and who the party at the national level recognises.

    Do you intend contesting for governorship?

    There are people who would want to context for governorship. For me, I personally think we have to be better organised, otherwise we would lose and I don’t like losing. When the time comes, the decision to contest or not to contest, as far as I am part of the team that would deliver the governor, I am more than happy.

    If you are able to meet the governor, what would you tell him?

    I would tell him that you have the glorious opportunity to write your name in the annals of the glorious destiny of this great state but you have been a spectacular failure. When they put your picture in the State House or House of Assembly you will be one of the ones that I will point to because what is most important in this world is a legacy. What is your legacy? Is it the one of unpaid teachers, civil savants, dilapidated schools, a failing state economy, a rundown health service?   If you look at the Lagos Ibadan Expressway, you can develop a proper industrial hub there to address the challenges of those coming out from the universities without employment. You miss the opportunity and it is only because you don’t have the intellectual capacity to discern what is right.

    You have the opportunity. You even collected bail out money and yet you haven’t paid your teachers.

  • Anambra poll: three chieftains declare interest in IDP ticket

    Anambra poll: three chieftains declare interest in IDP ticket

    The Independent Democrat Party (IDP)  is set for its congress in Anambra State, ahead of the governorship election.

    Its Chairman, Mazi Omife  Omife, told reporters in Awka, the state capital,  that three chieftains have indicated interest in the governorship race in the party.

    He said the party will conduct a credible primary for the aspirants.

    Omife assured that the contestants would be given a level playing ground to avoid a post-primary crisis.

    He said the primary would be witnessed by the national officers  and officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    Omife said the congress, which would hold at the ward, local government and state levels would take place between this month and next month.

    He said the IDP membership was drawn mostly from former and serving town nion Presidents Generals, adding that there will be an effective mobilisation for the poll.

    He said efforts will be made to enlighten the people about the manifestos of the party, ahead of the exercise.

    Omife said: “The IDP has come to liberate the people of Anambra State from years of socio-economic bondage and exploitation by the so-called big parties and unconscionable politicians.”

  • Anambra 2017: Six in race for APC’s ticket

    Anambra 2017: Six in race for APC’s ticket

    The first term of Anambra State Governor Willy Obiano will expire in Nobember, next year. The goernor is recontesting on the platform of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA).  The All Preogressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are warming up for the contest. Correspondent NWANOSIKE ONU examines the preparation for the election.

    Ahead of next year’s governorship election in Anambra State, the All Preogressive Grand Allicance (APGA), the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have returned to the drawing board.

    According to APGA sources, Governor Willy Obiano, whose first term will expire in November, next year, is re-contesting. In the PDP, eyes are on Senator Andy Uba, aveteran governorship contender. In the APC, no fewer than six aspirants are struggling for the ticket.

    The aspirants are the House of Representatives member from Anambra East and West Constituency, Hon. Tony Nwoye, former governorship candidate of APGA Dr. Chike Obidigbo and the APC  National Auditor, Chief George Muoghalu.

    Others are former National Democratic Party (NDP) governorship candidate Dr. Obinna Uzor and Sir Barth Nwibe, who is perceived as one of the APC leading lights in the Southeast.

    The APC leader, Senator Chris Ngige, the Minister of Employment and Labour, is not contesting. He told reporters in Awka, the state capital, that he preferred to   face his ministerial job and lend support to President Muhammadu Buhari in the arduous task of repositioning the country. Ngige sees the governorship election as a distraction. But, he has the pedigree and charisma to lead the APC candidate to victory.

    The former Central Bank Governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, is  still playing a hide and seek game, unlike Senator Uba, who is working assiduously to get the PDP ticket.

    The ambition of these gladiators has sent jitters down the spines of the ruling party. The APGA is facing many challenges. It is swimming in serious crisis at the state and national levels. Its leaders are at war and there is no end in sight.

    The APC chieftains are studying the situation in the APGA. They are aggressive. None of the contestants is resting on his oars in a bid to get the ticket for the November 2017 election.

    Although Ngige is still the towering figure in the APC, the contenders are not push overs. Unlike before, when Ngige could swing the votes, there is an emerging class of APC stalwarts who can add value to the chapter. Since last year, the chapter had enlarged its coast, following the gale of defections from the PDP.

    However, many factors will shape the poll. Apart from the strength of the parties, religion is a factor in Anambra politics. The Anglican, Catholic and Pentecostal dichotomy will play an important role in the emergence of the candidate and the election.

    The APGA and PDP had always relied on the Catholic majority to triumph in major elections from the days of former Governor Peter Obi. This has aroused the consciousness of other denominations.

    What calibre of men are the six aspirants gunning for the APC ticket?

     

    Nwoye

    He was a former President of the National Association of Nigeria students (NANS). He has also served as the  Chairman of the PDP in Anambra.

    Nwoye contested for the position  in 2014 in the PDP after a protracted court case. He was elected into the National Assembly. But, he later defected to the APC. Initially, he was denied the ticket by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The ticket was restored to him by the court. He left the PDP, following the protracted crisis in the party.

    Nwoye, a catholic, is seen as a great mobiliser and a grassroots politician by the people, not only in Anambra East Council, but throughout the state.

    Besides, he is loved by the youths. His kind gestures has endeared him to top politicians, women and other stakeholders. The lawmaker has a large heart. It is alleged that he is being backed for the governorship by some political juggernauts, including the oil magnate, Prince Arthur Eze.

    If he gets the APC ticket, Obiano will have a big challenger, because they are from the same Anambra East council area.

     

    Muoghalu

     Muoghalu is popularly called Ohamadike; meaning a well-known warrior.

    He is the APC National Auditor.   He was also a governorship candidate of the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP). He has goodwill among the people. He is versed in public relations. These were his assets in 2003 when he vied for the governor. Muoghalu produced the best jingle that the state spell bound.

    According to observers, the APC seems to recognise the long term services of its members, when it comes to allotting positions. Thus,  the track record of service stands Muoghalu out of the long list of aspirants for the ticket. He is popular and he has a formidable structure.

    He may not have the financial muscle to battle the other heavy weights, but loyalty, dedication to service and his humility are likely to be his selling points in the race. Besides, he is a Catholic.

     

    Uzor

    He s the Chief Executive of GOCUZ Group of Companies. He has degrees in law, public relations and business administration.

    Uzor contested for the governorship in 2003 on the platform of the National Democratic Party (NDP). He came fourth in the poll.

    Since then, he has very visible on the political stage. Many believed that he added value to the PDP during elections.

    Last year, the lawyer defected to the APC from the PDP. His defection was applauded by his admirers, who believed that he had suffered in politics like Senator Annie Okonkwo.

    Uzor is an ardent Catholic like Ngige and he may curry the minister’s favour for the plum position during the primary. It is believed that his goodwill and benevolence would assist him during the contest. But, the party may deny him  the opportunity because of its tradition of recognising long term service. Uzor is a new comer to the party.

    Other aspirants, including Nwoye and Obidigbo, are likely to suffer the same fate. But, party leaders are still assuring that they will give a level-playing ground to the contenders.

    Nwibe

    Many politicians hold Nwibe in high esteem. He is a close asociate of Ngige. He is also a veteran of many political battles.

    But, despite his closeness to the senator, he is perceived as a politician who has not contested any election, although he has assisted some politicians during campaigns.  He has been relevant to the extent that he has teamed up with others during elections.

    Nwibe has  financial muscle and he is respected for his philanthropy in his Igboukwu, Aguata Local Government Area. He is a humble party man, but he lacks the temperament and charisma of a governor. He is a Catholic.

     

     Obidigbo

    He is the only Anglican member, who defected to the APC from the APGA with his foot soldiers after it was announced that he had reconciled with Obiano.

    The people still see him as a political neophyte like Nwibe, despite contesting the APGA ticket, which he finally lost in court.

    Obidigbo is the Chairman of Hardis and Bromedis Company. He is largely perceived as a businessman rather than a politician.

    He is highly respected in the Manufacturing Association of Nigeria (MAN). If he joins hands with whoever that will emerge as the APC candidate, it will be a good leap for the party.

     

    Soludo

    He was the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and  2010 PDP governorship candidate.

    The election was won by Ngige of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). But, Ngige was allegedly denied the opportunity to bounce back because some entrenched interests  did not want the opposition party to steer the affairs of ther state. The victory was given to the APGA.

    Soludo is as solid as a rock; academically sound, full of native intelligence and he is financially buoyant.

    Soludo is regarded as the best governor Anambra never had. Although he has not declared for the APC, it was an open secret that he had sympathy for the party, even before the presidential election.

    However, critics have pointed out that Soludo does not have any structure on ground to win the election. He is a first class theorist.

    For now, he has been playing a hide and seek game over the 2017 election. But, one of his allies told  The Nation that he is interested in the race. But, he is yet to decide on the platform. With the speculation of a mega party in the horizon, who knows where his interest will go?

    So far, the aspirants are men of solid reputation. They are household names in Anambra.

    There are puzzles: Will the APC impose a candidate? Will aspirants be given a level-playing ground? Will the party conduct a credible primary? Will it learn from the mistakes of the past?

  • Kenya Airways issues free ticket to competition winner

    THE Kenya Airways (KQ) has fulfilled the pledge of a free ticket to Nairobi to the winner of the 7th Travelscope Youth Tourism & Hospitality Leaders Forum Essay Competition held on May 5, 2016 at Jogor Centre, Ibadan.

    The organiser of the event and Managing Editor, Travelscope Magazine, Omololu Olumuyiwa, while presenting the KQ ticket to the winner, Ebenezer Oyawale, lauded the airline for their unflinching support and great passion for youth tourism advancement.

    “With the KQ flight ticket, Kenya Airways has further demonstrated that Africans should embrace one another to explore the tourism potential within the continent that cannot be experienced in any other continents”, Olumuyiwa said.

    Oyawale, a tourism management student of Federal Polytechnic, Ede, in his response shortly on receiving the ticket, said: “For me, this trip to Kenya is a dream come true knowing that the country is one of the leading safari destinations in Africa.

    “Kenya Airways and Travelscope have reawakened my passion for tourism.  I have earlier gained at the educative tourism forum and with this flight ticket, I have another opportunity for sight-seeing and practical exploration of the tourism potentials in Kenya”,Oyawale said.

    Olumuyiwa further said: “The annual forum is organised as a platform to provide an opportunity to engage youths and stakeholders with interest in tourism. They will actively participate in the educative forum as a way to orientate and as well uplift their lives to contribute positively towards sustainable development of the sector in Nigeria”.

  • Who gets APC ticket?

    Who gets APC ticket?

    Few days to the governorship primary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State, aspirants are in last-minute scrambling for the support of delegates. No fewer than 23 have been screened. Who gets the ticket? A commentator, Dipo Awojobi, examines the struggle for the ticket.

    On November 26, the indigenes of Ondo State will decide who will succeed the incumbent governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko. But the process through which the governorship candidates of political parties emerge is as critical as the election itself. Already, the two leading political parties – Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and All Progressives Congress (APC) – have kicked off the process.

    In the PDP, the contest is not really open to all interested aspirants. Mimiko is said to have annointed the former Commissioner for Justice and Attorney-General, Mr. Eyitayo Jegede, as the party’s candidate. His candidature has already stoked a disagreement among the PDP chieftains in the state and members of the State Executive Council who considered Mimiko’s endorsement of Jegede as an imposition.

    This development prompted  Commissioners for Environment, Mr. Sole Ebiseni and his Local Government counterpart, Mr. Bamiduro Dada to resign from the Executive Council to enable them pursue their governorship aspiration on the PDP platform. Ebiseni and Dada have obtained nomination forms from the Sen. Ali Modu Sherriff faction. Jegede got his from the Sen. Ahmed Makarfi group.

    A public affairs analyst, Mr. Felix Ogunleye, ascribed it all to the tradition of rotating governorship position among the three senatorial districts in Ondo state on the basis of senatorial district. Ogunleye argued that both Mimiko and Jegede “are from Ondo Central Senatorial District. So, it is illogical and  absurd for Ondo Central district to produce Mimiko’s successor.

    From records the governorship position has been rotational. For instance, Ondo North produced Chief Adebayo Adefarati, who governed between 1999 and 2003.  He was succeededin office by Dr Olusegun Agagu from Ondo South , who governed the state between  2003 and 2009.  Agagu’s reelection was nullified by the election petition tribunal. Thus, Mimiko from Ondo Central was declared winner thereby bringing Mimiko to power in February 2009. Mimiko’s second term will end in February 2017.

    Given the above of scenario, the people of Ondo State believed Ondo North should produce the next governor, which Ogunleye said, was founded on the principle of social justice and the tradition of rotation the state had been observing not just since the return to civil rule in 1999, but since the Second Republic.

    Another public affairs commentator, Olusola Akinkunmi, said the APC is the party to beat, given the increasing number of defectors from the PDP. Akinkunmi said as a result of the growing popularity, no fewer than 50 aspirants have indicated interests to pursue their governorship aspiration on the APC platform.

    He said: “Of the 50 aspirants, only 23 have obtained nomination forms as at this weekend. Likewise, some of the aspirants have been screened. Ahead of the August 27 primary, the aspirants are already scrambling for the support of delegates across the local government areas. But the process through which the APC governorship nominee emerges will largely determine if it will eventually displace the PDP.

    “Even though 23 aspirants have collected nomination forms, only five of them can be considered to be in real contest. The five leading aspirants comprise former President of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN), former National Legal Adviser of the PDP, Mr. Olusola Oke (SAN), a serving senator, Prof. Ajayi Boroffice, a business mogul, Chief Segun Abraham and another serving senator, Mr. Tayo Alasoadura.

    “With the exception of Oke from    Ondo South and Alasoadura (Ondo Central), the three other leading aspirants are from Ondo North, where the APC has zoned the governorship to. All eyes have been on Akeredolu, possibly because he was the flagbearer of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in October 2012. He came third in the contest. His performance in the election has been his major albatross.”

    But some party loyalists have argued thatAkeredolu’s performance in the last contest should not be a parametre to measure his public rating or acceptability. Ogunleye provided two major reasons to justify this position. First, according to him, the defunct ACN was repleted  with some retrogressive forces, who worked against its victory. He allegedly cited Alasoadura, who he said, failed to manage Akeredolu’s campaign effectively. Rather, Ogunleye alleged, Alasoadura worked at cross-purpose to his party’s interest.

    Second, Ogunleye linked Akeredolu’s performance to the decision of the then PDP-led federal government to manipulate the process. He alleged that the entire process was manipulated against Akeredolu himself. He also said “the PDP manipulated the process against its own candidate. It manipulated the process in favour of Labour Party, on whose platform, Mimiko then sought reelection”.

    Accordding to Ogunleye, to some extent, Boroffice’s aspiration has proved formidable, at least in his senatorial district. He was first elected senator in 2011 on the platform of Labour Party. He subsequently defected to the defunct ACN. However, the lawmaker contested reelection on the APC platform in 2015 and won convincingly. Obviously, Boroffice’s re-election put him on a good standing for the next governorship contest”.

    But Boroffice’s candidature might not sail through for two clear reasons. First, some political leaders are said to be at loggerhead  with him. They argue that the lawmaker has spent five years at the Senate with little or no impact on Ondo North. They recall that while seeking reelection in 2015, Boroffice was said to have told the people of Owo/Ose that he would not contest the 2016 governorship election.

    Oke was the flagbearer of the PDP in the 2012 governorship election. Despite that, the PDP’s National Secretariat adopted Mimiko  who contested on the platform of the Labour Party. Oke came second in the contest. Till date, his political allies believe he didn’t lose election to Mimiko, but to his political party, which preferred to support the candidate of LP.

    Even though Oke lost, the election actually showcased his leadership potentials.

    Oke defected to the APC just before the 2015 general election.

    Analysts believe Oke’s aspiration may not earn him the APC ticket for two key reasons: First, Oke hails from Ondo South and technically the governorship slot has been zoned to Ondo North. Second, Oke is new in the APC and might find it difficult to get required delegates who would swing the pendulum to his side.

    But of all the aspirants, Abraham is indeed a force to reckon with. His public rating rises by the day for various reasons. First, in 2012, Abraham was the first aspirant to step down for Akeredolu. So, Abraham’s decision to step down for Akeredolu, some party loyalists said, was taken in the interest of peace and unity. Party loyalists believe the decision brought about relative order to the defunct ACN, though other aspirants did not follow his good example.

    Some party stalwarts have argued that it would be more honourable for Akeredolu to reciprocate Abraham’s gesture by “stepping down” for him. But Akeredolu is neck-deep into the 2016 contest, thus indicating that he would not return Abraham’s gesture. Both Abraham and Akeredolu have become formidable candidates, either of whom look good to clinch the ticket.

    Abraham’s social intervention has earned him much support, not just in his senatorial district, but across the state. But he does not like bringing the activities of Abraham Foundation, a non-governmental organisation, into partisan politics. He decries using the NGO to achieve  his political ambition.

    He says he did not attend the events of his NGO most times. According to him, he “did not want to be praised. “In Christianity, when your right hand does something the left hand must not know. A lot of grass-root people are happy that I am in this governorship race. It is not about giving alone but it has made others to see that you can serve your God through the poor people around you.”

    Abraham had prepared for the plum job. He has unveiled a plan to set up Government Demand Industry (GDI) and People Demand Industry (PDI). According to him,the former was “designed to complement the major industry that will support the government’s policies and programmes, which, he said, would generate 500,000 jobs in four years.

    “The latter is structured to build small-scale industries  under the public-private partnership (PPP), which was initiated on a premise that 80 percent of what the people of Ondo State need are brought in from outside. We will provide part of funding, training and good and services depot that will supply the populace at a very reduce rate so that they can have economic value on their income.”

    Abraham plans to restore the state’s lost virtue and values. He said,”we will develop technological and managerial capability in order to harness our various resources, with little dependence on foreigners. We will develop organic food that is now the new paradigm shift in economic returns, apart from information technology so that Ondo State can become the hub for organic food globally.”

    Abraham’s aspiration has gained acceptance across the state. Former Chairman of the State APC Comrade Sola Iji gave approval for Abraham’s aspiration. He said he excelled in all the parameters of consideration. He thus explained his decision to support Abraham came after an assessment of all aspirants, which he said, was objectively conducted in order “to produce a formidable candidate.

    “The unanimous decision to adopt the candidacy of Abraham was finalized on March 30, after we confirmed from assessment that he is the only candidate that excelled in all the parameters of consideration. Among all the aspirants, it took us some time to come to the carefully thought-out decision to support the aspiration of Olusegun Abraham to serve Ondo State,” Iji explained.

    Similarly, a party chieftain in the state, Chief Adesola Adesoji, acknowledged that some enlightened political leaders in the state “have endorsed Abraham’s aspiration.” He added that the decision “to support Abraham was based on the conviction that he has the experience and ability to truly transform the state. We have informed the party and also mandated them to identify with this decision.”