The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Tom Ikimi

  • 2019: Those who hijacked APC failed to manage it well – Ikimi

     PDP led CUPP sets up four committees to solidify agreement

    Chieftain of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Tom Ikimi has blamed some forces within the All Progressive Party (APC) for the crisis being witnessed in the ruling party.

    Ikimi noted that those who hijacked the party had failed to manage the fairs of the party very well, hence the crisis.

    This is as the PDP led Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) sets up four committees to solidify the agreement signed by the 39 member-coalition. The committees are : Contact and Mobilization; Blue print and manifestos; Strategy and Planning; and Medial and Publicity.

    The coalition was set up on the 9th of July as an alternative vehicle by the political parties to wrestle power from the ruling APC.

    Ikimi is the chairman of the 23 member committee of Blueprint and manifesto, which includes Babaginda Aliyu, Olisa Agbakoba, Olu Agunloye.

    Mallam Bolaji Abdulllahi, who recent resigned from his position as the spokesperson of the ruling party was announced as the head of the Media and Publicity committee, which includes Kazeem Afegbua, Kola Ologbondiyan etc.

    The Strategy and Planning committee is headed by Kawu Baraje of the RAPC and it also includes Prof. Rufai Akali, while the Contact and Mobilization committee have as members Ibrahim Kazaure, Senator Dino Melaye and others.

    Speaking to reporters after the inauguration of the committees, Ikimi said “I was involved in the merger arrangement that produced the All Progress Congress (APC) unfortunately, some people who hijack the arrangement could not manage it and that is why we are seeing the demise of APC now.”

    Speaking on the setting up of the committees, Ikimi said “I am pleased since they came together, they have been waxing stronger and stronger, not even one of the members has left the coalition and every time we meet, we are building our strength. Today, we have witnessed the inauguration of four very important committee of this coalition and its membership is drawn among all the 39 political parties. I am pleased to serve as the Chairman of the Blue print and Manifesto committee, which indeed will be that document that we will present to Nigerians that will contain all the things we will want to do for Nigerians in the next administration. Am happy that we are making progress that the steering committee is working well, and we are at the point of actual take off now.

    Read Also: APC nullifies Shehu Sani’s suspension

    “It seems to me that the coalition of United Political Parties is the next best thing for Nigeria as we stand.

    “I hope we will work in accordance of our agreement and CUPP will remain stronger and stronger.”

    In his opening remark, the Chairman of the coalition steering committee, Olagunsoye Oyinlola posited that the inauguration represent another phase of the struggle to wrestle power from the APC.

    He said, “The country cries for revival. We must not and ill not abandon Nigeria in the hands of the current officials who have convinced everyone that they are incompetent and incapable of driving Nigeria to prosperity. We have seen the people impoverished to the extent that the Brooklyn institute recently crowned Nigeria as the Poverty Capital of the world. We have seen how insecure and unhappy our people have become. We are also appalled at how the government is lost and how it shamelessly blames its failures on the past. Our people are helpless. They look up to us for deliverance. We must not fail them.”

    Charging members of the committees, Oyinlola noted that the inauguration of the various committees is a further consolidation of whatever has been achieved by the Coalition since the signing of the MOU.

    “The coming together of these parties was an unprecedented political action in this country. Even our opponents knew that what we did was a watershed in the quest to redirect the affairs of Nigeria. Since that event, a lot more has happened. We have seen patriotic elected and appointed officials leaving the sinking ship of the ruling party for this coalition. In days and weeks to come, we will see more positive actions that will convince every Nigerian that this coalition is the government in waiting,” he added.

    He also stressed that “each of these sub- committees has duties which are closely linked with the duties of every other ones. This is to tell us that the sub- committees must work in harmonious ways that will ensure the realization of the ultimate objective of the coalition.

    “This cardinal objective is known to all of us. It is to wrest power from the APC in the 2019 elections and take Nigeria to prosperity. And by the grace of God, we won’t fail. However, we have to work hard knowing that the destiny of our country and those of millions of our countrymen and omen depend on the success of this movement. As I stated at the MOU signing ceremony, these are not the best of times for our country. We have all seen how our country has been, in the last three years, slipping progressively into socio-economic and political coma.

    “When we signed the MOU days ago, the Nigerian people were elated at the coming together of patriotic political parties. However, they felt the same way when a merger was consummated in the build up to the 2015 elections. Regrettably, the All Progressives Congress which came out of the 2015 exercise has failed the people and we all know that that tells us is that we have a lot of work to do. We must in words, action and conduct show clearly to our people that this coalition is not just another gang- up to capture power for self-aggrandizement. We must plan well and work hard to wrest power from the APC and use the resultant power for the good of our people. ” He therefore appealed to all members of the committee to “be in one committee or the other here to be selfless in discharging our responsibilities. Again, I repeat as I said days ago, the spirit of a new Nigeria has been born and is already at work. The sub-committees we have just inaugurated, here represent another phase in the offensive we launched to reclaim our country.’ God Almighty will crown our efforts with success. We shall not fail. ”

     

  • Ikimi sidelined in PDP

    Ikimi sidelined in PDP

    FORMER External Affairs Minister, Tom Ikimi, is not a happy man at the moment. Sources revealed that Ikimi’s high hopes following his defection from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) some months have been dashed due to alleged unfulfilled promises of the PDP leadership. Within the Edo PDP and at the national level, Ikimi has become irrelevant, as most part

    IT is no longer news that Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, has picked Mrs. Yetunde Onanuga as his running mate for the February 21 governorship elections in the state.

    A surprise pick from the array of prominent politicians and associates who jostled for the slot, Onanuga’s choice according to sources, was informed by the need to strike a delicate balance in the sharing of two most powerful elective positions, in addition to settling for someone with little or no political experience that can rock the boat of the administration.

    Until her nomination by the governor, Onanuga was a Director of Finance and Administration in the Lagos State Ministry of the Environment.

    If the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) wins the election, Onanuga would succeed Prince Segun Adesegun, who has defected to the Social Democratic Party alongside a faction of the APC led by a former governor of the state, Chief Olusegun Osoba.

    Sources disclosed that Onanuga’s choice was a political masterstroke by the governor based on the former civil servant’s lineage by birth and marriage to Ijebu Ode and Ijebu Igbo, two major towns that are very strategic in the political equation of the state.

    From Aparaki, Ijebu Igbo in Ijebu North Local Government Area of the state, Onanuga is married to Chief Giwa Onanuga from Ijebu- Ode Local Government Area.

    She holds a Higher National Diploma (HND) in Business Administration from the Lagos State Institute of Science and Technology and a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from the Ogun State University, Ago Iwoye.

    y members in the state still defer to Chief Anthony Anenih, the Chairman of its Board of Trustees (BOT).

  • Comments

    Comments

    For Date Olatunji

    Sir, The departure of Chief Tom Ikimi from any political party in Nigeria is a  good omen. Aside from being a silent-screen ideological con man, he is one of the few people in Nigerian history whose body has begun to stink before it died. PDP should not jubilate for his joining them. Rather, we should collectively demand that the President have him arrested as an enemy of the people of this country, based on his past. From Adegoke o, o. ikhin, Edo State.

    Shalom! I read your piece on mass failure and was consoled with depth of your truth. Hope The Nation and corporate bodies embrace New Paradigm shift as Postulated. From Kevin

    Dear Dr Dare,  I want to thank you For stimulating our memory faculties once again , as we Nigerians appear to be so forgetful of our past. I honestly thought I was the only one who couldn’t understand why political gangsters, area boys and proven thieves, with publicly known crimes to society, could not only become politically relevant, but rub pepper into open sores, by fighting to be politically recognized and vocal on issues, a lot of which they had contributed to in the past directly or indirectly. These group of vagabonds in power (V.I.P.)s’ should be hiding their heads in shame, which of course they lack.   Sir, with your well written and thought off article, you not only hit the nail on the head, but hopefully, you have once again opened the eyes and forgetful minds of Nigerians to our not to far past. I thank you. From Dr Dotun Ransome-Kuti

     

    For Segun Gbadegesin

    Prof, I have no choice than to join others like me to appreciate the excellence and the brilliance in you. I wonder how this country nay the world could have been like without feature writers of your caliber. Your today’s imaging progress, as usual is insightful and captivating. God bless and keep you safe for us. From Dr Ekpenyong Nsa, Abuja.

    It is not hard to imagine why you would rather not discuss individuals in defining progressives. It is evident that notable figures amongst those claiming to be progressives are simply not. Not when they remain wedded to the same old ways of short-changing the masses. In failing to show particular commitment to the cause of transparency, the so-called progressive governors of the South West have failed to change public perception of politicians as rogues and birds of the same feather. This explains why the stock of the so-called progressives is dwindling fast in the region as we approach 2015. From Kuteyi r.r, Ondo.        

    As far as objective Nigerians are concerned and know it, President Jonathan has tried a lot in the various sectors of our economy, though his best hasn’t been good enough to take us to the level of our dream. Yet the problem of the country remains that of corrupt leadership. And here one always finds it very difficult to substantiate between the performing and non-performing ones among our various leaders, even from Independence, as the case of Mbadiwe ilustrates. And I don’t seem to see Jonathan as exception to this too, no matter the claims to the contrary. The expected performance our leaders lack in public office, their private fortunes would always gain irretrievably. Unfortunately, those who could have been of a help in this direction have rather allowed ethnicity and religious bigotry becloud their sense of true patriotism; thereby contributing in no less measure in keeping the nation perpetually stagnated. God have mercy. From Emmanuel Egwu

     

    For Gbenga Omotoso

    I have ceased to get bothered by any saying or any deed or any action or inactions by President Jonathan’s men. Hello sir, do you expect a cursed tree to produce a fruitful fruit? When the is infested with maggots what do you expect of the remaining part of the body? Leave Madam Ochekpe and Hajia Zainab alone sooner than later they’ll all be judged poetically. From Hezykay Babs. State Of Osun.

    Re-Chibok girls and the Villa.  Some other time where Mr. President won’t be chanced to attend to the pains, he should delegate Mr Vice President or/and the Secretary to the FG to attend with Human milk, to the Protesters and the pained Parents. By now, I would advise that, in the interest of Lives, depression tendency and parenthood, negotiation on trade-offs should have taken place. It is not out of place if Mrs. Water Resources Minister, apologized to the Protesters & not necessarily to Oby for her unministerial comment. From Lanre Oseni.

    Re-Chibok girls and the villa.  Mrs Ochepe has no moral ground to accurse the former minister of education of being responsible for the fallen standard of education in the country. It’s more of the pot calling the cattle black! Has Mrs. Ochepe forgotten that education suffered a serious setback in Plateau state during her time as chairperson of SUBEC in Plateau State? When teachers were owed several months’ salary arrears because Mrs Ochepe and her education secretaries would prefer to lodge the salary in bank accounts for many months in order to earn interest?  Was she not responsible for the non implementation of teachers enhanced salary scale (18 percent minimum wage) in   Plateau state? Non promotion of teachers in Plateau, etc?-. From Jerry Ahmed.

     

  • Ikimi can’t win Edo for you, Oshiomhole tells Jonathan

    Ikimi can’t win Edo for you, Oshiomhole tells Jonathan

    Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole has said it was a tall dream for President Goodluck Jonathan to think that the defection of Chief Tom Ikimi to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would sway its victory in the state.

    Oshiomhole, who was reacting to the boast by President Jonathan that the PDP would recapture Edo next year and 2016, said it was unfortunate that the President was being deceived by PDP leaders in the state.

    The governor, who spoke through his Political Adviser, Hon Charles Idahosa, said the President should have checked how many persons defected with Ikimi to the PDP.

    Idahosa said the Bini, who constitutes over 50 per cent of the population of Edo State, have been marginalised by the PDP-led Federal Government.

    He said it was a dream for the President to think that Esan godfathers would win Edo for him.

    The political adviser said: “Ikimi said he left APC because after cooking the food people came and stole both the pot and the food. But in this case, he forgot that it was Ize-Iyamu who cooked those who left the APC for PDP.

    “But Ikimi went to the stadium to hijack the show by introducing Ize-Iyamu instead of Ize-Iyamu introducing him to the President.

    “Ize-Iyamu who did all the cooking was now a spectator. Dr. Ogbemudia was never mentioned there, former Governor Lucky Igbinedion was seated there, his father was also seated and none of them were asked to speak, yet President Jonathan is boasting that PDP will win Edo, that is laughable.

    “We will deal with them in February. As we speak today there is no Bini man or woman who is a minister, permanent secretary, so what is the PDP going to tell Bini people that will make them vote for PDP?

    “The days of rigging are over. We are going to deal with them. Every appointment is in Esan, Uromi in particular. It is a wild dream to say they will win Edo.

    “The All Progressives Congress (APC) administration shared all the positions equally without any discrimination, so PDP will never win here, the Bini will decide where the votes go.”

  • PDP will take over Edo – Ikimi

    PDP will take over Edo – Ikimi

    A former minister of Foreign Affairs, Chief Tom Ikimi, on Thursday boasted that the Peoples Democratic Party would take over Edo State.

    Ikimi, a former chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, said he has a common agenda with the Chairman of PDP Board of Trustees, Chief Tony Anenih, for Edo State and Nigeria in general.

    The former minister, who spoke at a reception to welcome him to the PDP in Benin City, said he was not joining the party to vie for any elective political office.

    He said, “I left the APC for the PDP where I shall be given my respects and my personal dignity restored. The PDP will take over the state once again and once beaten, twice shy.

    “I am not interested in being in a party of enemies where a party man will plot against the party. I am at peace with all the leaders of the PDP whether big or small. I have implicit confidence in Chief Tony Anenih and we have had several meetings and I believe we have bridged the gaps.

    “I came here today not as a new member. I come here to be fully identified with my groups of 1999 and 2003. In politics, the party is supreme. We came here as cooks to cook the food and share it to others. But those who came in took the food, the plates, the pots and everything away and left the cooks with nothing.”

    He described the APC as his baby, adding that what was achieved in Igueben was done by the federal government.

  • COMMENT

    COMMENT

    For Olatunji Dare

    Ninety-five per cent of Nigeria’s politicians are animals in human skin. Its time we flush them out of the assemblies, replace them with patriots who will take sitting allowances for true service  to The Nation. From Babtunde Akanbi, IIorin South, Kwara State.

    Sir, the departure of Chief Tom Ikimi from any political party in Nigeria is a  good omen. Aside from being a silent-screen ideological conman, he is one of the few people in Nigerian history whose body has begun to stink before it died. PDP should not jubilate for his joining them. Rather, we should collectively demand that the President have him arrested as an enemy of the people of this country, based on his past. From Adegoke o, o. Ikhin, Edo State.

    I want to thank you for stimulating our memory faculties once again, as we Nigerians appear to be so forgetful of our past. I honestly thought I was the only one who couldn’t understand why political gangsters, area boys and proven thieves,  with  publicly known crimes to society, could not only become politically relevant, but  rub pepper into open sores, by fighting to be  politically recognised and vocal on issues, a lot of which they had contributed to in the past directly or indirectly. These group of vagabonds in power (V.I.P.)s should be hiding their heads in shame, which of course they lack. Sir, with your well written and thought off article, you not only hit the nail on the head, but hopefully, you have once again opened the eyes and forgetful minds of Nigerians to our not to far past. I thank you. From Dr dotun ransome-kuti

    This is a good account of the Edo High Chief. He is truly an AGIP (any govt in power). His co travellers are many. People like Anenih, Gana, Mantu, Ojo Madueke, Arthur Eze, Bode George, Babatope and many more. They have a price not pride. They are undignified and have no reputation. They are the Generals of Stomach Infrastructure. Anonymous

    Chief Tom Ikimi’s utterances against Asiwaju Tinubu over the APC chairmanship position is very unfortunate, and an indication that he has hidden agenda over 2015 general election against APC. APC can move on without him period. To be leader is not compulsory neither birthright to some people. God made leaders not by force.l believe Asiwaju Tinubu works on antecedent of the man, not by his capacity as leader of APC. He want APC to be strong as opposition. From Gordon Chika Nnorom

     

    For Segun Gbadegesin

    Re-The character of education.I enjoyed your recap of W.E.B. Du Bois I learnt in 1979-80 under Personalities in West African History. I particularly enjoyed what Galileo meant and his uncompleted works. At the point of death, he caved in, gave up to the lies of the World: he was  not manly again! It is a lesson because what would have become a monumental symbol of life achievement was lost. I hope, all, would learn to tell the truth, be bold for the sake of eternity. May God help and make our leaders be courageous to own up to truth. From Lanre Oseni.

    That piece on “The character of education” says it all. It is the naked truth that we, the so called educated elite have turned our education, the veritable weapon for fighting poverty, ignorance and underdevelopment to enslave our country in disunity and abject want. Shame on us! From Ladan Babakodong

    I appreciate your write up as it concern ‘the character of education’, but next time communicate the meaning clearly, so that even the lay man can get what you mean. From Martins Sunday, Cross river.

    Sir, I will like to air my view on your article entitled”The character of education” Government should focuss more attention on the provision of of basic infrastructure like power ( energy/electricity) water, roads, etc to create an enabling( conducive) environment to grow the economy.From Tayo Aluko, Governor’s Office, Ado Ekiti.

    This is my first time of, ever making a comment. Every word written in between the lines of this paragraph is perfectly the truth. Am a 16year-old girl living in an Island  Abonnema  of Akuku-Toru  Local Government Area, all in Rivers State I’ve taken a look at the community that surrounds me and has come to the conclusion that it is not something to write home about. Abonnema is a community that has the background of so many rich and famous men written on pages, and if you waalk round the town you will have a satisfying view of beautiful houses and mansions, a vivid evidence of their wealth. Abonnema has two secondary schools, but no library instead of sponsoring the building of beneficial  properties like libraries and recreational centers they go about squandering their money building mighty houses in different compounds and sub that they call ‘Ipku wari’ which they locked up with large padlocks. Are we aiming for a good country. Anonymous.

     

    For  Tunji Adegboyega

    Re: Presidential counterfeit. What, to me is paramount is the directive Mr President gave for the removal of the nauseating billboards. Many times, the so-called aides to Mr President and Messrs Governors rule the country and some weak states, respectively, through lies, deceit, and self-interest opinions not to grow our society but for their own pecuniary gains only. The president deserves commendation whenever he ‘listens’ and also deserves your ‘criticism whenever he falters. Commendation or criticism must however be objective rather than being politically motivated. From Lanre Oseni.

    It is very unfortunate that we have a president who does not believe the people he is leading but wants them to believe him. He ignored his fellow Nigerian men and women to visit the Chibok girls’ parents but chose to listen to a 17-year-old from Pakistan. Again, the president reduced the image of his country by saying that he was not aware of the #BringBackGoodluck2015 posters until Washington Post editorial kicked against it. Our honour has been taken away by a president who cannot differentiate politics from governance. From Hamza Ozi Momoh, Apapa, Lagos.

    There must be a rationale for the #BringBackGoodluck2015 posters because those billboards and posters were someone’s doing, to know Nigerians’ reaction over them before they spread #BringBackJonathan2015 nationwide. It is good that the president has ordered the removal of the billboards. President Jonathan’s second term is certain, if there is performance; after all, we want continuity. If a leader is doing well, eyes will see before hands will cast votes. All groups should take it easy. We all know that everybody is looking for ‘stomach infrastructure’ from the top; let them allow the president to concentrate. From Gordon Chika Nnorom, Umukabia, Abia State.

    My brother, yes, we are indeed being made to travel the same road again which you said bores your like. It may seem so, but please, don’t be, for that is what they want. Be like the preacher who kept preaching the same message each Sunday and when asked why, he said his congregation was yet to change and until they did, he would not change his message. Like you said, if not for the discerning like you and a host of others in this country who speak out, most of us would have been turned into morons, substituting truth for falsehood for truth and bad for good. Keep up this good work. God bless. From Naman Ishaya, Kafanchan. 

     

  • ‘Ikimi’s exit, an insult’

    ‘Ikimi’s exit, an insult’

    THE exit of former Foreign Affairs Minister, Chief Tom Ikimi, who recently dumped the All Progressives Congress (APC), has been described as an insult to the Binis.

    The Political Adviser to Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole, Charles Idahosa, said: “Ikimi ‘s return to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is an insult to the Binis.

    “How can you tell people that you are defecting because you were not made the national chairman?

    “He is angry because for the first time a Bini man was elected national chairman. I saw him on television, saying he has gone to join his ‘brother’, Chief Tony Anenih, but we will see. He is never on ground politically and we will not miss him.”

  • APC better without Ikimi, says Tinubu

    APC better without Ikimi, says Tinubu

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) is better without Chief Tom Ikimi, who defected from the party to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) last week, Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu said yesterday.

    Tinubu, a national leader of the APC, spoke in a statement by his media office, simply titled: “Reply to Chief Tom Ikimi”.

    Ikimi, in a treatise entitled, ‘My Reflections’, gave reasons why he left the APC, which he mainly blamed on Tinubu’s “domineering attitude”.  According to him, Tinubu wanted to foist a weak leader on the party at its first national convention.

    He also faulted what he described as the APC’s inclination towards a Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket, which he said arose from Tinubu’s perception that the Northwest and Southwest could, through their population, win the 2015 presidential election. He said that inclination had helped to move people away from the party.

    Ikimi also accused Tinubu of doctoring the party’s constitution to extend the tenure of the interim national executive, adding: “I was always told that the man was the overwhelming financier of the party.”

    “Those of us who had worked so hard towards the successful merger and creation of the APC were manipulated out of the scheme of things. In the bizarre struggle to seize control of the party, we were even openly accused by the self-proclaimed owners of the party, of wanting to steal ‘their’ party.

    “Many of us in the party as well as keen observers outside, frowned at the skewed leadership image of the party that was being paraded,” he said.

    Tinubu accused Ikimi of perfidy and infidelity to the progressive cause when he was a member of the APC.

    He said: “I ordinarily would not have responded to Tom Ikimi’s lengthy chronicle of falsehoods, cheap blackmail and abuse. My only reason for this response is that I know Tom Ikimi’s style. He subscribes to the view that no matter how unbelievable a lie may sound if you brazenly assert it and repeat it often enough, you may persuade many that it is in fact, true.  I have seen Ikimi perpetrate this deviousness in his years in public life.

    “Regarding Ikimi’s bid for the chairmanship of the party; it was clear to practically everyone who had the interest of the party at heart that we simply could not have a man of Tom Ikimi’s antecedents as the chairman of the party. As the chairman of the defunct National Republican Convention (NRC), one of the two parties in the country under the military transition programme, Tom Ikimi not only connived with the then military regime to annul the elections, terminate the democratic process and sell off his party, he became Abacha’s foreign minister, convincing the world that heinous state murders as the hanging of Ken Saro Wiwa, were just acts!

    “If Ikimi were the chair of APC, the party would have to sleep with both eyes open lest its chairman sells off the party before day breaks.

    “No matter what anyone may say about me, it is unlikely that I can be accused of supporting incompetent or morally light-weight individuals for important political positions. My philosophy is to put the best forward, men and women of competence and integrity, who can stand up to us politicians to challenge us and say no when necessary.

    “Such people are not noisy or able to gain attention by being loud. I believe my role is to do all I can to project them. Who in their right mind would compare the highly-principled Chief Bisi Akande, or Chief John Odigie-Oyegun with a Tom Ikimi? Either of these two men is known for their no-nonsense styles, not once in their careers would you hear that they betrayed a cause or were anybody’s stooge.

    “Ikimi also concocts a story of a meeting he claims I had with Diezani Alison-Madueke on the Oando/ ConocoPhillips transaction on the eve of the APC convention.

    “Only a Tom Ikimi can come up with the absurd falsehood that on the eve of the APC convention when I was in crucial meetings practically round the clock, I was meeting with the Minister of Petroleum! What exactly would have been the point of such a meeting especially on the eve of the convention? Was it to prevent Tom Ikimi from emerging as the chairman of APC? To what end? Of what value would it be to anyone except Ikimi himself? Besides, if this was so, why is he back to the party that purportedly planned his downfall?

    “What is the Oando/ConocoPhillips transaction anyway? For those who do not know, this is a private sale of the assets of ConocoPhillips to Oando.  It was not patronage of any kind from the Federal Government. The Federal Government’s involvement was merely to formally consent to the sale. I was not involved and I have never been involved in any of Oando’s transactions.

    “Typically, he plays on the fact that Wale Tinubu of Oando is my nephew.

    “Oando has been thoroughly investigated by South African and British authorities in the past five years as part of the process of listing the company on the stock exchanges of those countries.

    “Those rigorous and comprehensive investigations conducted by the governments and risk control investigators are to discover the actual ownership of shares in the company.

    “Politically-exposed persons like myself are prime targets for those investigations.

    “All these investigations have shown that I have no investments in Oando.

    “My public position on the entire transaction is that if an indigenous Nigerian oil and gas entity run by young serious-minded Nigerians raise money transparently in the international capital markets to purchase private assets of a multi-national, the Federal Government ought to give its consent. That it took so long is shameful. The Conoco/Phillips transaction was a $1.7 billion investment in Nigeria that would create more jobs,witness the establishment of allied industries and make the Nigerian economy  more attractive. I would have been extremely proud to have made such a transaction possible.

    “Regarding the nonsense about selling out on Ribadu, I think common sense should dictate that if ever such a deal were reached, we would have had to inform our members in all the states. How could that have been done secretly? How do you tell hundreds of thousands of people not to vote for your own party without it becoming public knowledge?

    “At the formation of the APC, a crucial debate ensued about what to do about persons like Ikimi, who had done awful things in the past, but who were now minded to align with the progressive tendency in Nigerian politics. Should we forever blacklist them? This would have been the easiest route, but it would have kept rancour alive. It would have made us slaves to the bleakest chapters of our past.

    “Instead, we opted to extend the hand of brotherhood, reconcile and put the past behind us. This would enable a broader political consensus, while also giving the likes of Ikimi an opportunity to atone for their grievous wrongs against the people and be rehabilitated.

    “We recognised that many leading Nigerians had committed acts of shame. Some for private profit, others who were otherwise decent people who had become prisoners to a terrible system.

    “Not surprisingly, Ikimi- acting true to type, abused that magnanimity. He was never sincerely committed to the party. He was always playing out a PDP script. He only wanted the chairmanship of the party as a bargaining chip for negotiations with his benefactors.  His defection purportedly on account of the loss of the chairmanship of the party is a mere subterfuge, once his ploy failed he had no other objective within the party, I knew he would go back to his sponsors. He is back in the company he deserves. And APC is better for it.”

     

  • No to ‘stomach infrastructure’

    SIR: One addition to our national political lexicon that arose from the conduct of the Ekiti governorship election is ‘stomach infrastructure’ by which it is meant that people would rather have national or state resources shared into their private pockets than have them put to use in the provision of infrastructure in road construction, building of school blocks, provision of healthcare infrastructure, water and electricity.

    Nothing exemplifies this new trend in Nigerian politics than the recent movements by notable personages like former Foreign Affairs Minister, Chief Tom Ikimi and the former boss of the anti-corruption agency, EFCC, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, to the ruling Peoples Democratic Party. It is quite regrettable that the pursuit of self-interest has become the prime motivating factor for our political leaders and office holders. It is on record that Ikimi, as a national leader in the defunct ACN, played a leading role in the formation of the All Progressives Congress (APC). He remained a leading light for the new party until he failed to secure the position of national chairman at the party’s National Convention. That fact of his inability to realise his political ambition made him dump the APC for PDP.

    No doubt, Chief Ikimi has, by his decision to decamp from the APC, left room for Nigerians to question his credentials as a leader and democrat. What manner of man is a leader who would leave the party he co-founded because he failed to gain a party office?

    Is it that the pursuit of one’s belle   overrides the pursuit of the general good of the people? Is it not evident that some Nigerian politicians, who have often been characterised as selfish, self-centred and corrupt, are living out this tag?

    Nuhu Ribadu on his part decamped to the PDP to seek nomination to contest the Adamawa governorship election scheduled for November this year. All Nigerians know that Ribadu contested the 2011 presidential election on the platform of the ACN. What will Ribadu do if he fails to secure the PDP ticket to the contest the Adamawa state governorship election? If he gets the ticket but fails to win the governorship, will he next seek the chairmanship of his local government council? True and committed democrats are not known to jump from one party to the other at the slighted rumbling in their belle.

    The old order during which public funds were routinely siphoned into private pockets to the detriment of the people is over. Physical infrastructural development in roads, healthcare delivery, education, water and light, transportation, agriculture, employment and human capital development must now take centre stage in governance and the management of public funds. This is as it should be.

    As the elections of 2015 approach, the basis for the choice of office holders cannot be the ability to distribute rice, beans and cash. It must be based on the credibility of those seeking to hold office on our behalf. Those who decamp to other parties simply because they fail to secure tickets to contest should be denied the privilege by their new parties especially if they had held political offices in the past. The fact of their inability to secure tickets casts a slur on their integrity and should be asked to stay home.

     

    • Nasamu Jacobson,

    Benin City, Edo State.

     

  • ‘Kinsmen vow not to follow Ikimi to PDP’

    ‘Kinsmen vow not to follow Ikimi to PDP’

    Kinsmen of former Foreign Affairs Minister, Chief Tom Ikimi, in Igueben Local Government area of Edo State say they are not disposed to joining him in leaving the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Chief Ikimi, until recently a leader of the APC, is in talks with PDP, his former party, on his return.

    His kinsmen, including some of his  political allies, told newsmen in Igueben yesterday  that  they valued  the  development  brought to the area by the APC government in the state more than any individual .

    Their spokesman and Chairman, Igueben local government, Chief Julius Asemota, said the people of the area are now wiser having seen the performance of Governor Adams Oshiomhole.

    Igueben, according to him, remains a stronghold of the APC with no room for the PDP.

    He said:”Ikimi has not told us where he is going to but I cannot leave my people. Igueben is the home of APC and we still remain intact.”

    Leader of the APC in Igueben Ward two, Fidelis Ihienseneken, said it was a good thing that Ikimi left the APC.

    Ihienseneken who claimed to be Ikimi’s cousin said the APC is even stronger now than when Ikimi was in the party.

    Another speaker, Micheal Itua said, “Politicians should be tolerant. Ikimi has been a leader of the ACN and now  the APC for many years. Bringing in Chief   Odigie-Oyegun is like injecting fresh ideas. APC has not failed us. The party has come to stay. We want development here. Wherever Ikimi is moving to, we are here, the APC and we will win.”

    Chief   Ikimi himself met with leaders of the PDP in Abuja on Friday ahead of his formal declaration for the party.

    He was received by the PDP National Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu and other party leaders.

    Mu’azu described Ikimi as a highly organised and patriotic Nigerian.

    He said his party will benefit immensely from Ikimi’s “wealth of experience, strong political structure and massive followership across the country.”

    He commended Ikimi for his decision to return to the PDP and pledged that the party would recognise and reward loyalty, commitment and experience.

    Chairman of PDP Board of Trustees, Chief Tony Anenih also commended Ikimi for his decision, which he said was in the overall interest of the nation.

    Ikimi told the party leaders that he dumped the APC due to its deep-seated “anti-nationalistic and discriminatory tendencies.”

    He said he was ready to join the PDP and use his political structures, especially in the South south zone to ensure that the ruling party emerged victorious in the 2015 general elections.

    Chief Ikimi said: “I look forward to bringing value to the PDP. I believe that my contributions will again be noteworthy. By my joining PDP, we are assured   of victory not only in Edo State but in the entire South south geo-political zone.”

    He also expressed the desire to work with Chief Anenih so as to “move the party and the nation forward” and to bring about the much expected development to Edo State and the South south geo-political zone. I believe that our people are looking forward to this reunion because they will benefit the most from it. When I and Chief Anenih work together, I do not think we can have any obstacle we cannot overcome,” he stated.