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Tag: victory

  • Umeh: My election is victory for APGA, Anambra

    Umeh: My election is victory for APGA, Anambra

    Chief Victor Umeh was recently elected as senator by the people of Anambra Central District. Correspondent NWANOSIKE ONU writes on his thorny journey to the Upper chamber of the National Assembly. 

    The journey to the Senate for the former National Chairman of the All progressives Grand Alliance (APGA),  Chief Victor Umeh,  was not easy.

    But, the anxiety came to an end on January 13, when the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC),  conducted the election in the Anambra Central senatorial re-run and declared Umeh the winner.

    Before now,  many litigations had trailed the re-run, with different parties and candidates fighting against Umeh and his party.

    After the re-run, the APGA candidate was issued with the certificate of return by the INEC in Abuja and proceeded to the senate for his swearing in.

    Umeh and APGA had gone to the tribunal in Awka after the 2015 elections to challenge the declaration of Senator Uche Ekwunife’s as the winner by INEC.

    Umeh won at the Court of Appeal in Enugu, which declared that Ekwunife’s nomination by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) was faulty.

    The court also directed in it’s judgement that re-run election be conducted within 90 days in central senatorial zone.

    The court did not stop there, it equally barred PDP from contesting the re-run election, but the court refused the All progressives Congress APC to substitute it’s candidate Sen Chris Ngige, who had already been appointed a minister.

    However, the party sent an official letter to INEC to conduct another primary to replace Ngige, who withdrew from the election.

    The APC and INEC are still in court over the matter. The hearing had been fixed for January 23 by the Court of Appeal,  before the electoral body hurriedly conducted the re-run.

    According to Ngige what INEC was doing was illegal, describing the election as kangaroo and a charade.

    He said listing his name on the ballot paper was an aberration,  when he had already informed the commission he was not in the race.

    Ngige said: “INEC’s action which is biased jaundiced will be viewed as an act intentionally undertaken to humiliate and ridicule my person “

    “My party APC and INEC are in court of Appeal Abuja over this obnoxious and illegal action of INEC with hearing on the matter fixed for 23 January, 2018 which is still within the ambit  of 90 days ordered by the court,  only for them to fix the election 13th, in order to give an unfair advantage to the APGA candidate to go unopposed.“

    Despite the hiccups, Umeh that fought relentlessly in making sure APGA had a representative at the Senate,  having lost Senator Chris Anyanwu from Imo State to another party.

    The struggle for the Senate,  had pitched Umeh against some powers that be in Anambra because of what some of them tagged as ‘arrogance.’

    But, Umeh’s dogged nature and maturity had kept him moving. He has been victorious in many battles.

    There was a power game between him and former Governor Peter Obi, who wanted to become the candidate of PDP, but failed.

    The APGA chieftain could be described as a cat with nine lives in the politics of Anambra State, having engaged in many legal battles and came unscathed.

    When he came face to face with some iconic figures in Anambra politics like Obi,  Ekwunife and Ngige people never gave him any.

    The election has been won and lost. But, will Umeh be a good senator?

    For Chief Anayo Nweke, who was one of the candidates during the election, in the African Democratic Congress ADC, said the Umeh’s purported victory would not stand.

    He claimed that what INEC did in the central senatorial zone was not an election in any way,  accusing the electoral body of compromise.

    Nweke further called on the Senate president,  Bukola Saraki and his co-senators not to swear any body from Anambra, until the court cases are finally settled.

    He said Chief Obiora Okonkwo was equally declared senator-elect by the federal High, while himself is also in the race for the same seat and APC too, adding that it would be unfair to swear the APGA candidate in by the Senate.

    The Anambra state Coordinator, Transform Nigeria Movement TNM, Comrade Obi Ochije, told the Nation yesterday that Umeh’s victory was victory for Democracy.

    He said Umeh’s presence in the Senate would awaken the sleeping ones from the Southeast region.

    Ochije said the people of Anambra are happy for the victory of the man he described as a political bulldozer, adding that the central senatorial zone had really suffered untold hardship since 2015.

    Now that the coast is clear for Umeh, what will be his reaction at the Senate and his body language to his traducers.

  • Umeh: My election is victory for APGA, Anambra

    Umeh: My election is victory for APGA, Anambra

    Chief Victor Umeh was recently elected as senator by the people of Anambra Central District. Correspondent NWANOSIKE ONU writes on his thorny journey to the Upper chamber of the National Assembly. 

    The journey to the Senate for the former National Chairman of the All progressives Grand Alliance (APGA),  Chief Victor Umeh,  was not easy.

    But, the anxiety came to an end on January 13, when the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC),  conducted the election in the Anambra Central senatorial re-run and declared Umeh the winner.

    Before now,  many litigations had trailed the re-run, with different parties and candidates fighting against Umeh and his party.

    After the re-run, the APGA candidate was issued with the certificate of return by the INEC in Abuja and proceeded to the senate for his swearing in.

    Umeh and APGA had gone to the tribunal in Awka after the 2015 elections to challenge the declaration of Senator Uche Ekwunife’s as the winner by INEC.

    Umeh won at the Court of Appeal in Enugu, which declared that Ekwunife’s nomination by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) was faulty.

    The court also directed in it’s judgement that re-run election be conducted within 90 days in central senatorial zone.

    The court did not stop there, it equally barred PDP from contesting the re-run election, but the court refused the All progressives Congress APC to substitute it’s candidate Sen Chris Ngige, who had already been appointed a minister.

    However, the party sent an official letter to INEC to conduct another primary to replace Ngige, who withdrew from the election.

    The APC and INEC are still in court over the matter. The hearing had been fixed for January 23 by the Court of Appeal,  before the electoral body hurriedly conducted the re-run.

    According to Ngige what INEC was doing was illegal, describing the election as kangaroo and a charade.

    He said listing his name on the ballot paper was an aberration,  when he had already informed the commission he was not in the race.

    Ngige said: “INEC’s action which is biased jaundiced will be viewed as an act intentionally undertaken to humiliate and ridicule my person “

    “My party APC and INEC are in court of Appeal Abuja over this obnoxious and illegal action of INEC with hearing on the matter fixed for 23 January, 2018 which is still within the ambit  of 90 days ordered by the court,  only for them to fix the election 13th, in order to give an unfair advantage to the APGA candidate to go unopposed.“

    Despite the hiccups, Umeh that fought relentlessly in making sure APGA had a representative at the Senate,  having lost Senator Chris Anyanwu from Imo State to another party.

    The struggle for the Senate,  had pitched Umeh against some powers that be in Anambra because of what some of them tagged as ‘arrogance.’

    But, Umeh’s dogged nature and maturity had kept him moving. He has been victorious in many battles.

    There was a power game between him and former Governor Peter Obi, who wanted to become the candidate of PDP, but failed.

    The APGA chieftain could be described as a cat with nine lives in the politics of Anambra State, having engaged in many legal battles and came unscathed.

    When he came face to face with some iconic figures in Anambra politics like Obi,  Ekwunife and Ngige people never gave him any.

    The election has been won and lost. But, will Umeh be a good senator?

    For Chief Anayo Nweke, who was one of the candidates during the election, in the African Democratic Congress ADC, said the Umeh’s purported victory would not stand.

    He claimed that what INEC did in the central senatorial zone was not an election in any way,  accusing the electoral body of compromise.

    Nweke further called on the Senate president,  Bukola Saraki and his co-senators not to swear any body from Anambra, until the court cases are finally settled.

    He said Chief Obiora Okonkwo was equally declared senator-elect by the federal High, while himself is also in the race for the same seat and APC too, adding that it would be unfair to swear the APGA candidate in by the Senate.

    The Anambra state Coordinator, Transform Nigeria Movement TNM, Comrade Obi Ochije, told the Nation yesterday that Umeh’s victory was victory for Democracy.

    He said Umeh’s presence in the Senate would awaken the sleeping ones from the Southeast region.

    Ochije said the people of Anambra are happy for the victory of the man he described as a political bulldozer, adding that the central senatorial zone had really suffered untold hardship since 2015.

    Now that the coast is clear for Umeh, what will be his reaction at the Senate and his body language to his traducers.

     

  • Ekiti 2018: APC prays for victory

    Ekiti 2018: APC prays for victory

    Leaders and members of Ekiti State All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday held a prayer session for God to grant their party victory in July 14.

    The prayer meeting, which lasted about two hours at the party’s secretariat in Ado-Ekiti, the capital, was also used to pray for the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, peace and stability in Nigeria.

    The Christian prayer was led by Pastor Gbenga Agbeyo; the Muslim prayer was led by Mr. Tajudeen Akingbolu and the traditional prayer by Mrs. Abiodun Adesina.

    The first lesson of the day from Psalm 100 was read by the APC Deputy Chairman, Mrs. Kemisola Olaleye; the second lesson, II Chronicles 7: 9 – 18, was read by Mr. Femi Fakorede.

    Agbeyo, who read from Leviticus 27 Verse 24 and 1st Corinthians 15 Verse 57 urged party members to trust God for victory in the poll.

    Speaking on the topic: Ask For Your Portion, Agbeyo said: “The APC is able to take over the Government House at Oke Ayoba with the efficacy of prayers.”

    Addressing reporters after the prayer, Mrs. Olaleye said it was meant to seek God’s help to heal Ekiti and give power back to APC at the poll.

    The deputy chairman said the prayer was also meant for a peaceful, credible and successful primary in April and May.

    She said it would be replicated in the 16 councils.

    Mrs Olaleye urged party members to be law-abiding in APC’s quest to win the poll.

  • Secondus: I’ll take PDP to victory in 2019

    In this interview with EMMANUEL OLADESU, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) national chairmanship aspirant Chief Uche Secondus says the opposition party will bounce back to power under his leadership, if elected at the national convention in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), on December 9.

    Before the Port Harcourt convention, you were eyeing the Deputy Chairman of the party. Suddenly, you are now eyeing the chairmanship. What has changed between then and now?

    The truth is that by last year, I was gunning for the deputy. The arrangement was such that somebody from the South west will emerge as the chairman. That time, we had two and a half years to the general election. But now, we believe that we don’t have time. Therefore, we need an experienced person who knows that from the first day he will just start working.

    The second reason is that, relatively, you need a zone where there may not be crisis and I believe that in my state and in my zone, we don’t have crisis within the party, unlike in other zones where they have some issues. I don’t want to go into details. These are some of the reasons I am volunteering myself for the position.

    I have been in this party from day one. In fact, I can lay claim that I am also a foundation member of the party: I am well known. You will recall that, in 2015, for the first time in the history of this country, a civilian to civilian transition took place and it was peaceful. So, we are going into another phase that is very crucial within one year. So, we need an experienced person and I believe I can pride myself among all the aspirants as the most experienced.

    Among those running from the Southwest, we have those who have been at the top level of the party before too. Are you saying they are not experienced?

    Yes, we may have somebody who has been deputy chairman there. The advantage I have is that, I have acted as the National Chairman before.

    The PDP is very strong in the Southsouth and the Southeast and there is need to woo the Southwest. With this development, won’t it create another crisis?

    That is purely sentimental. In reality, if you want to win an election, you don’t start from the unknown. You begin with the known. Apart from the chairmanship, there are three or four major positions, if you are talking about zoning of the positions. Southwest is a very important zone in the country, if not the number one zone, if you like, in terms of intellectualism, media and so on. We know they have produced President. So, if you look at the president, vice president and the Senate President, these are key government positions. So, if you are talking also of what will benefit the people directly, you will see that with these three key positions, there is no way Southwest can be ignored; but we are down so we want to start from a safer place to move.

    I will deliver my state during the elections. As the chairman, you must deliver your place first, since they say that charity begins at home. I will deliver my place and proceed to win other states and regions.

    My agenda for the party will be based on 3Rs: Rebuild, Reposition and Regain.  I will want to remain focused on it, in terms of building the party. As we are doing that, we do it together with the other two; repositioning in terms of membership, going digital and mostly emphasising on the youths, who are leaders of tomorrow. As we are doing that, we are enlarging our scope of convincing Nigerians that PDP remains the best option. We stand for national unity in diversity.

    Our founding fathers believe that the PDP is a party that was founded on the ground of national unity. And it was good enough that the zoning is contained in our constitution so that regardless of where you are coming from, one day you can aspire to be the President of the country. I believe that taking the party back to the people is very important.

    The general impression is that, if you become the national chairman, the Southwest would be considered for  the vice presidency slot to really give APC the big fight…..

    If I become the chairman, I will not look at the permutation of the APC on how to win election. I have a different strategy on how to win elections. So, it has to be about collective leadership position. Our first assignment is to determine who becomes our presidential candidate and the choice of the running mate will be the exclusive right of the candidate. So, we are not positioning that. We are not going to say it should come from here or from there.

    Other aspirants are visible on the campaign field, but you are operating underground…

    Well, I am strategic; but because others have not been in the party to know the inner workings of the party, they are doing otherwise. Don’t forget that it is not an open election. It is a delegate election, delegates and super delegates. Obviously, I’m strategic about this and I’m confident that if it is a delegate election, yes, it is good to carry the press and people along but the most important thing in this election is consultation. Why others are making presence in the media and all that, I will continue consultation with leaders of the party across the country trying to get their support. In places like America it is called endorsement but in Nigeria, if governors or the BOT endorse you, that is imposition. There are two things here. You need the super delegates to be on the same page with you. Let me not call it endorsement to avoid misinterpretation. So, that is how we’ve started. We are also time conscious. You can’t start what you cannot finish. You do a bit of ground work and practically, you need to step up and I can assure you that as we move on, you will see posters and all that. We have done a bit of ground work believing that we will have support of those we have contacted.

    One of your co-aspirants, Professor Adeniran, has mentioned that Senator Ahmed Makarfi, the NCC Chairman, is aligning with you. There is also the feeling that some people within the party are not comfortable with the way you managed the resources of the party when you acted as its chairman. What do you have to say?

    The rumour is more than the fact. This is Nigerian politics for you. Speculations and imaginations engulf most of our thinking. But, I believe that the media, especially the political editors, will do more findings than just headline news. There is no truth in it that Wike was drafted to do Makarfi’s bidding. I’m close to virtually all the governors, and I consulted all of them, including the BoT chairman.

    Of a truth, I have never sat down with Makarfi on how to become chairman, all those are speculations and you know when someone is doing better than the others, those who are not doing what they suppose to do will always speculate and try to drag him down. This is a pull down syndrome. There is no iota of truth in it. I have no arrangement with Makarfi; no one is trying to impose me on people. I have been there before. I have contested as National Organising Secretary, I have contested for Deputy National Chairman, I acted as National Chairman of our party. These are records that you can cross check.

    On the issue of what Mu’azu left, again, this is a calculated attempt to blackmail me by whosoever is behind it whether from within or outside, I don’t want to mention names. For anybody to say N9billion was missing or N9billion was left, it means that money was not even used for election. The money realised was about N11billion from sales of forms nationwide. And in our guideline and constitution, when you realise this money, it is shared among the local government, the state, the zonal and the national. Even by mere mention of N9billion means no money was given to them as I mentioned above. I want to plead with you to get into the secretariat, there is a Director of Finance, there is an acting Treasurer, go and find out the fact not taking blackmail or headline news from other people. These are sponsored by some people.

    After the 30 percent was shared, you can do the mathematics yourself. Money was kept for completion of our national headquarters. There was no money at all that we met. Now, that money that was kept was about N5billion while Mua’zu was still the chairman. The truth is that, after we lost the presidential election, we could not raise the money for other elections. So the leaders looked and say that the money that was reserved should be used. I was still in Rivers State when the Chairman called all of us from our states and said they could not get money to disburse again. So, the Chairman disbursed the money. We came back and met some money – the N500million that was even in the bank was seized with BoT Chairman that was involved in fund raising. When they could not get their money back, the bank had to seize some money.

    No money at all that was left that was to be accounted for. Let me tell you, I’ve been Chairman of PDP in Rivers State. I’ve not been found wanting. I’ve been National Organising Secretary, I raised the money in 2011 and I was not found wanting. If you recall, Taraba election was inconclusive. There was repeat election in Taraba, Imo and I think in Abia. All these were expenses of the party. By the time we returned, of course, Mu’azu gave us account of all money, all the money had been used apart from payment of salaries and a few things that we needed while the other balance was still in the bank. I challenge you to go to the Secretariat to get your figures accurately because I may not be accurate with figures.  But no money was missing apart from N500million that the bank seized. The issue of missing N9billion is to misinform the people to change their mind against some of us that want to contest. When I appeared before the Senate caucus, on my own, I threw light on the alleged missing money. Some of them brought money to me but I rejected it and I said they should go and use the money for the election. I have been mentored to know that money destroys in politics.

    What is your plan B as you prepare for the convention?

    My plan B is to support anybody that wins that day. It can be me and I will be very glad and thank God. But, if someone else emerges, I will support him because I am a team player.

  • Obiano’s victory ends battle for Anambra seat

    Obiano’s victory ends battle for Anambra seat

    Governor Willy Obiano’s declaration as winner of the Anambra State election by the Independent National Electoral Commission ((INEC) yesterday ended the battle for the coveted seat in the Southeast state. RAYMOND MORDI and NWANOSIKE ONU write on the factors that shaped the election in which the incumbent trounced 35 challengers. 

    Incumbent Governor Willie Obiano of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) won last Saturday’s governorship election convincingly. He defeated his opponents in all the 21 local government with 234,071 votes, representing 55.42 per cent of the total valid votes cast.

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) flag bearer in the race, Dr. Tony Nwoye trailed him with 98,752 votes. Mr. Oseloka Obaze of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) followed closely with 70,293 votes.

    Obiano had the highest number of votes in his Anambra East Local Government Area. His APC challenger is also from the local government area.

    The governor got 20,510 votes in the local government, while Nwoye trailed behind with 5,248 votes. Obaze garnered 1,132 votes in the council, which has 72, 886 registered voters.

    At the height of polls’ collation, the Chief Returning Officer and the Vice Chancellor of the University of Calabar, Prof. Zana Akpogu, declared that Obiano have satisfied the requirements of the law and “is hereby declared winner.”

    Obiano declared that his triumph at the election is a victory for the people and not for himself or APGA. He said it is the time to build a new world for the people of Anambra, thanking them for having confidence in him, to leading the state to the promise land.

    The United Progressive Party (UPP) candidate, Osita Chidoka, who came fourth in the race, said he lost because he refused to share money like others.

    In his reaction, the political godfather of Anambra, Chief Chris Uba, said his party, the PDP, lost the election because of the impunity and the hijack of the party by former Governor Peter Obi.

    He said the last time the PDP produced a governor in Anambra was in 2003, when he made Dr. Chris Ngige governor. He described Obaze as a foreigner imposed on the party by Obi, noting that was painful for the PDP to come a distant behind APGA and APC in Anambra.

    He, however, warned the PDP to either correct the impunity during the forthcoming national convention of the party on December 9 or remain same. He said Obi should apologise to members of the party on the pages of five newspapers and he (Uba) would know what to do.

    With the landslide victory, the people have shown more confidence in Obiano and APGA as a political platform. The APGA flag bearer defeated his APC counterpart in Senator Chris Ngige’s polling unit in Alor, Idemili South Local Government Area, Anambra Central Senatorial District; in Senator Uche Ekwunife’s unit at Nri, Anaocha Local Government Area, Anambra Central; and Prince Arthur Eze’s polling unit in Ukpo, Dunukofia Local Government Area, also Anambra Central.

    The Chairman of the Willie Obiano Campaign Organisation, Chief Victor Umeh, commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), saying the way and manner the commission went about the process accounted for the difference.

    Umeh said that all the ad hoc staff and collation officers that took part in the election were selected by the commission in such a way that their identities were not known until the last minute.

    The returning officer, a former National Chairman of APGA, who said the party feared that the election might be rigged by the APC-controlled Federal Government in favour of its candidate, noted that the electoral umpire  shocked the people with the best election that has ever been held in the state.

    He said: “We already knew that Governor Obiano have won the election yesterday, but there was palpable tension that the result will be changed overnight. But the results declared here today suggest that the process was transparent: nothing was changed.

    “All the results we received from the local government collation centres yesterday were the actual results declared here today. This is what we wish for the country; to have an electoral process where the people will decide who becomes their leader. If we get it right continuously in this regard, this country will always have leaders that will serve them.”

    According to Umeh, last Saturday was not the first time APGA will be securing a landslide victory in a governorship election, recalling that “in 2013, Obiano won in 20 out the 21 local government areas in the state. But he won in all the 21 councils this time around, because of the great work he did in virtually all the communities. So, you can see that the mandate was unanimous: no local government shied away from giving him maximum support.

    “Again, APGA has shown that it is the dominant party here; the people believe in it because it represents their political life. By the time Obiano completes his second term, the party would have governed the state for 16 years.’’

    Umeh said APGA has offered good governance in the last 12 years, thereby making the state secure and stable.

    Confirming his early belief that the people will not gamble, by voting for somebody they do not know, he added: “Good governance is very rare in Nigeria; any place you see it the citizens will grab it. That’s what the people of Anambra haws done.”

     

    Why Obiano won

    One of the biggest factors that aided Governor Will Obiano’s victory is incumbency. Naturally, Obiano exploited it throughout the electioneering campaign period. His billboards and posters were the most visible throughout the major roads in the state. One can hardly find billboards and posters of the other candidates on major roads in the state. Opponents have accused the party of destroying their billboards and posters.

    In terms of performance, Obiano may not have performed to everyone’s expectation, but he exploited the fact that he is in power by embarking on last minute developmental projects to garner votes in areas his opponents are expected to have block votes.

    In his campaign, Obiano tried to whip up the same sentiments that worked for the party in previous elections. One of such is to position APGA as an Igbo party. Owing to this sentiment, APGA has been winning elections since 2003. Though former Governor Peter Obi and the late Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu’s son, Emeka Jnr., have refuted the claims of APGA that the former warlord warned the Igbo not to abandon the party, their words have certainly not made impact in the minds of the people of Anambra, who take APGA as their own.

    Besides, the party is well rooted in the state. So, it has its own die-hard supporters, who believe he has done well under the circumstance he finds himself.

    Another factor responsible for Obiano’s re-election is the zoning arrangement. In the spirit of the zoning arrangement, the two other major parties – the APC and the PDP – picked their candidates from Anambra North, which is favoured to occupy the governorship seat in the next four years. But the odds favoured Obiano, who is entitled to only one more term of four years.

    Although both Nwoye and Obaze who are from Anambra North like the incumbent signed an undertaking pledging to do only one term to complete the eight years allotted to the zone, electorates from Anambra South were more favourably disposed to back Obiano as a matter of expediency.

    Observers say the political titans from the zone were more comfortable with Obiano, because his continuation would provide the shortest route for the zone to grab power.

     

    President Buhari

    Despite being the national leader of the ruling party, the President did not interfere in the conduct of the Anambra elections. His father-for-all role was on display when he ordered the reinstatement of the security details of Obiano, who were withdrawn by Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Ibrahim Idris, few days to the election.

     

    INEC

    Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is one of the major beneficiaries of the Anambra governorship election, having conducted it without the usual hiccups that always characterized the exercise in the country.

    Though there were few complaints of late arrival of materials in some places and malfunction of the card reader machines, but the election has been adjudged the best so far in the land.

     

    Obiano

    He is the incumbent governor of the state, who was pressurised to relinquish his office by the opposition. But his dogged nature, sincerity and straight forwardness paved the way for him during the election on Saturday

    Many people had written him off in the election, but his open mind and politics of anti party by some members of other political parties gave him victory.

     

    Police

    The masses had lost confidence in the Nigeria police especially,  when it comes to issues of conducting elections in the country because of the way they bully,  harass and intimidate innocent souls.

    But the comportment of the police men including rank and file and maturity displayed by them had given  the people a new hope in the police

     

    APGA

    The party has really proved with the Obiano victory that it is no longer a party, but a movement for the voters in Anambra State. The party defeated the PDP, despite the backing of Obi, who dumped APGA for the then ruling PDP after ruling the state for two consecutive terms.

  • APC to PDP: deliberate falsehood ‘ll not give you victory in 2019

    APC to PDP: deliberate falsehood ‘ll not give you victory in 2019

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday told the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that it should rethink its strategies of returning to power in 2019.

    The ruling party said deliberate falsehood will not help the PDP attain its mission.

    According to APC, Nigerians are not gullible and can differentiate between a party that brought the country to where it is today and the party clearing the rot and rebuilding the country.

    Reacting to a statement credited to the PDP about the President Muhammadu Buhari’s request to borrow about $5.5 billion loan, the APC in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, said the PDP must wake up to new realities that the days of borrowing to pay salaries and fund bogus projects are long gone.

    It reminded the PDP that the loan being requested by the President was to fund specific projects that will boast the nation’s infrastructural growth, adding that the loan is meant to be used to fund the budget deficit in the 2017 budget.

    The statement reads: “In reacting to the PDP recent statement on the plan by the President Muhammadu Buhari administration to obtain a $5.5 billion foreign loan, the APC urges the PDP to wake up to new realities that the days of borrowing to pay salaries and fund bogus projects are long gone.

    “In developing economies, governments typically resort to borrowing to finance economic development projects because taxation and other revenue streams may not necessarily provide sufficient funds for economic development.

    “The recent borrowing plans proposed by the President Buhari administration is no different as the President has clearly stated in his request to the National Assembly that the loan will be used to finance the 2017 budget deficit and invest in critical and verifiable infrastructure project, which will ultimately grow the economy.

    “The PDP in its statement unapologetically claimed that it ‘meritoriously’ governed the country for 16 years and ‘handed over a buoyant economy to the APC in 2015’. Really, what could be further from the truth? The APC considers the claim a new height of PDP’s insensitivity to the populace and has further exposed the PDP as a party unrepentant for the rot it left the country after its 16 years rule.

    “Even when crude sold above $100, the immediate-past PDP-led administration struggled to build savings. In addition, the excess crude account was misspent. Poor capital expenditure meant badly-needed infrastructural development was put on hold. This forced construction companies with government contracts to cut back and sack thousands of workers.

    “Nigerians will sadly recall how in the lead up to President Buhari’s assumption of office, former Finance Minister and Coordinating Minister of Economy Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala in May 2015, revealed that Nigeria was borrowing to pay government salaries.”

    The statement added: “The former minister had said that ‘Out of the N882 billion budgetary provision for borrowing, the government has borrowed 473 billion naira to meet up with recurrent expenditure, including salaries and overheads’.

    “On April 2016, Okonjo-Iweala, who served as finance minister under President Olusegun Obasanjo between 2003 and 2006 and again under President Goodluck Jonathan between 2011 and 2015, also blamed the country’s present economic situation on the zero political will of the immediate past government to save for the rainy day.”

    “Today, successive national budgets of the APC administration has prioritised and increased budgetary allocation for capital projects as one of the strategic ways to stimulate economic growth in the country.

    “The economy has started responding to policy initiatives of the government as evidenced in the improvement and stability of the naira exchange rate; increase in the country’s foreign reserves and the recent announcement by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) that the country has officially come out of recession.”

     

  • ‘Super Eagles victory a wonderful Sallah gift for Nigeria’

    ‘Super Eagles victory a wonderful Sallah gift for Nigeria’

    The Deputy National Chairman (South) of the All Progressives Congress and former Governor of Ekiti State, Chief Segun Oni, has described the Super Eagles 4-0 mauling of the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon  as a wonderful Sallah gift to  Nigerians. He charged the team to go all out for victory in Yaounde tomorrow when the  teams meet again in their Group B African qualifying series for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

    A statement issued by his spokesman, Mr. Steve Alabi, in Ado-Ekiti yesterday said  Oni congratulated the Mikel Obi-led Super Eagles for rekindling the hope of Nigerians in their fatherland with the unity of purpose and oneness displayed in the emphatic 4-0 victory over the current African champions.

    The APC chieftain commended President Muhamadu Buhari for his crucial fatherly support for the Super Eagles and other national teams which has seen Nigeria’s flag flying high in international sports in recent times.

    Also congratulating the national female basketball team, DTigress, who were crowned African champions last week, Chief Oni said the APC-led federal government will continue to accord sports development the priority and attention it deserves in the onerous task of nation building.

    Chief Oni acknowledged the strong influence sports exert on the strengthening of unity in the country and enjoined Nigerians to promote the nation’s unity in diversity so exemplified in the victories of the Eagles and DTigress in all spheres of national life.

    “When we are united and work together as the Eagles and other national teams do without dwelling on our differences, there is nothing that we cannot achieve as a nation,” Oni said.

    With the good and focused leadership provided by President Buhari under this APC government, Nigeria will soar higher, not only in sports but also in other aspects of human development, he added.

    Urging the Super Eagles to maintain their clean slate against Cameroon in the return leg, Oni advised other national teams to emulate the determination, industry and dedication exhibited by the Eagles and DTigress so as to achieve successes for Nigeria in their own competitions.

    The 2018 Ekiti State governorship hopeful, who will be 63 twenty-four hours after Monday’s crucial return leg, said the senior national team have already given him and other Nigerians celebrating their birthdays a most befitting birthday gift and looked forward to an icing on the cake with another victory and outright qualification for Russia 2018 on Monday.

  • Victory is sweet

    Victory is sweet

    I’m tired of writing about the National Sports Commission (NSC). Please don’t remind me about the Ministry of Sports formerly known as the Ministry of Youth and Sports, especially those who have headed the bodies either as chairmen or sports ministers. Since 1999, 14 politicians have headed the body with nothing to show for it, except a gale of controversies and our sports ambassadors being walked over at events or denied entry visas to countries where competitions’ dates have been known as far back as four years.

    What we hear when our athletes face such embarrassment are jives thrown at the foreign country’s embassy chieftains as if we don’t know the process of getting such entry visas. In fact, most of these embassies in Nigeria are right in denying our contingents visas because they are faced with lists that have 20 athletes, for instance and 50 officials with different nomenclatures. Our federations’ officials forget that countries that are hosting events are given rules governing such competitions. Such rules contain the composition of a country’s squad and the ancillary staff. Since most sporting events are media events, accredited journalists are given waivers. Officials who belong to the particular sport’s international and continental bodies get waivers too since they have roles to play there.

    Anyone outside the designated few must subject himself to routine documentation to qualify for entry visas, especially with the prevalent global security problems. Perhaps, the ministry should have an international department like we have at the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) for entry visas instead of this tardy method of issuing note verbal as a saving grace for our administrative ineptitude.

    The ministry’s structure is responsible for the disconnect between the centre and the states of the federation. Growing up at Government College Ughelli in the 70s,one saw how the 37 states, Abuja and the National Sports Commission sent coaches to spot and train talents in the six geopolitical zones.

    The coaches met talents in the hinterland because the school system embraced sports in its curriculum, which eventually threw up all the sporting activities between schools and then the states. Indeed, there was a synergy between the schools and the Ministry of Education, acting on the instructions of the state government. Some governors, such as the late Samuel Osaigbovo Ogbemudia of the old Bendel State, created models that increased the supply line of sportsmen and women, who represented the country. Ogbemudia’s model was copied by other sports-loving governors. This setting created several sports centres with certain states having a monopoly of games. Lagos became renowned for table tennis, swimming and cricket, Bendel mastered athletics, boxing, judo and gymnastics, to mention a few states.

    The dearth of grassroots competition immensely affected the hosting of the National Sports Festival because most of the governors saw the event as a waste of cash and would rather use funds for sports to do things which in their opinion, will give them votes at the next election. The few governors who liked sports opted to host the National Sports Festivals with one aim – to win; not to provide facilities that would be used for future competitions.

    These self-seeking governors chose sports in which their states had comparative advantage over others. This way, the gradual death of such technical events as swimming began. It got so bad that a former sports minister alleged that blackmen don’t win swimming competitions because of their body physiology. The former minister forgot that many Nigerians won swimming events in previous All African Games.

    Swimming was removed from the National Sports Festivals on the ridiculous excuse that the states couldn’t afford pools, chlorine (can you beat this), divers etc. What is the essence of the festival if not to discover talents? It is sickening to be reminded that the last festival was in 2012, an event which was biannual, hosted with pomp and ceremony.

    With the death of the festival, our administrators opted to comb Europe for Nigeria-born athletes to represent us. Is anyone shocked that 80 per cent of the Nigerian women who won the Africa basketball trophy in Mali last week reside in America? Truth is these girls cannot represent America because of the glut of talents there. Basketball is like a religion in the US.

    Our administrators are not just inept; they have no regard for the athletes once they are ageing. It will shock many readers of this column to hear that Blessing Okagbare has quit athletics with the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) chieftains are unperturbed. She won’t encourage her kids to do sports. If they do, she will stop them from representing Nigeria. This has been the trend with our sports ambassadors and their kids and grandchildren.

    It is good to hear that the government gave the basketball girls N1 million each for winning the trophy. But many are wondering when the government will receive the physically challenged athletes who won several gold, silver and bronze medals at the 2016 Paralympics Games held in Brazil.  Again, pundits are miffed that Adekuoroye, who is the second best wrestler in the world in the 55kg weight, hasn’t met the President. Adekuoroye is hurt that her feat, which happened before the basketball feat, has been treated as a no-event. A world championship less important than a feat recorded for the first time in the tournament’s history for an African? In which sphere is Nigeria rated the second in the world?

    I won’t join the motley crowd lampooning the ministers. Whoever appointed them didn’t consider sports as a tool for social reengineering of the country. Yet, sport is the biggest Public Relations (PR) tool that any government can use to reshape the perception of people about Nigeria.  Can someone please drive President Muhammadu Buhari around Abuja, for instance, anytime the Super Eagles have a game anywhere in the world? Mr President, for free, the streets will be deserted. Everyone will be glued to his television set. Take the pains, Mr President, to drive close to any viewing centre. When Nigeria scores sir, you will be awed at the thunderous ovation from the spectators. Shouldn’t the government key into such an industry that unites the people? I digress.

    Nigeria’s topography encourages sports development. Plateau State’s landscape can match what we have in East Africa where long distance runners are found. But our administrators are lazy and unable to task our coaches to exploit the setting in highlands in the North. Will you blame these administrators? I won’t. In the past, coaches and indeed administrators get into national focus based on what they have achieved in their states. So, that national level in the past comprised men and women who had distinguished themselves either as administrators or athletes, who on retirement became coaches.

    These people know the rules of their sports and their contributions are driven by their love and passion for the game, not necessarily the drive to line their pockets with estacode. The coaches understand the dynamics of the sports. They also know how to groom new talents since they know the catchment areas of the sport.

    Sports died in Nigeria with the introduction of free education in the 80s because sports fields and facilities were eventually built up to accommodate more students. Schools now have arms up to letter z, even if such classrooms don’t have windows and doors. For the private schools, no sports facilities beyond the lawns used for assembly on important days.

    The boarding house which served as catalyst for students to compete in sports became classrooms. It didn’t matter if sports could help to improve students’ health. Evenings became class hours. Sports died across the country under this setting. With the sports ground built up, games masters and mistresses turned to either farming or working for politicians. Schools now hire stadia and playgrounds for their annual inter-house sports. What a shame.

    Is anyone shocked the schools’ competitions, such as Hussey Shield, Lady Manuwa Cup, Grier Powel Cup, Morocco Clarke Cup e.t.c are extinct? Is it not a shame that the Principals Cup which produced many student footballers is moribund? Does it matter to anyone that the inter-school relay races, which climaxed schools’ inter house sports, are dead? Yet we expected our 4×400 metres relay girls to win a medal at the World Athletics Championships held recently in London?

    Victory is the reward for hard work and precise preparations for competitions. But I dare say that it is not always the case in our clime. Can we really say that our victories in global competitions are the result of hard work and good preparation- from administration to on field delivery by our sportsmen? Your answer is as good as mine!

    However, it is important that we pause for a moment to assess the women basketballers’ level of preparation for the competition. Was the Basketball Federation there for the team, preparatory to the tournament? What was the nature of support the federation gave the ‘African heroines’ before and during the competition? What sort of training did the team receive before going to conquer Africa? Were their allowances paid as at when due?

    The team would have returned home unannounced and disunited, if they had failed. Victory is indeed sweet! In celebrating this victory, the federation needs to examine what it has and what it intends to do so as not to make this a pyrrhic victory.

    This is why it is pertinent to ask what the federation is doing to ensure that the victory is replicated in subsequent competitions. It should also use the momentum to groom younger players that who rise to the occasion when the need arises. Victory is very sweet, indeed, but we should not be carried away as we often do. That is the bitter truth.

  • Lagos APC: victory at council poll well-deserved

    •Party thanks Lagosians

    The Lagos State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has described its overwhelming victory at the weekend’s local government polls in the Central of Excellence.

    “It was payback time from the electorate to a party that has kept faith with its electoral promises since 1999”, the party said yesterday in statement by its Publicity Secretary, Joe Igbokwe.

    The party lauded Lagosians to believing in the APC to move the state forward to loftier heights, assuring that the elected council officials would not disappoint them.

    According to Igbokwe, the election of APC candidates on Saturday into the 20 local government areas and the 37 local council development areas would enable the party to replicate what Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has been doing at the grassroots.

    The statement read: “The entire leadership of APC Lagos salutes Lagosians for the landslide victory recorded on Saturday in the just concluded local government elections which took place on Saturday, July 22, 2017.

    “It is delighted to see members displaying love, commitment and loyalty to their party which led to resounding and unprecedented victory last Saturday.

    “Our hardworking members defied heavy downpour to move out in large numbers to vote in all 20 LGAs and 37 LCDAs in the Land of Aquatic Splendor and limitless opportunities. We salute them for this love for their own party, APC

    “The leadership of the party is also happy that the resounding victory and the peaceful conduct of the electorates signify a big boost to His Excellency Governor Akinwunmi Ambode who has displayed courage and capacity in running government affairs in Lagos State.

    “The outcome of this election shows a collective decision by Lagosians to continue to encourage and reassure Governor Ambode that they have not forgotten his good works and excellent performance in Lagos.”

    The APC also lauded the State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC), security agencies and agents of the various political parties for ensuring the peaceful conduct of the poll.

    “We thank LASIEC, the security agencies, party agents, our foot soldiers and all those who worked with them to ensure that we had a smooth and seamless exercise. We cannot thank them enough,”the statement said.

     

  • Victory affirmation of confidence in APC, says Ambode

    Victory affirmation of confidence in APC, says Ambode

    Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has described the victory of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in weekend’s local government election as an eloquent affirmation of Lagosians’ confidence in the party.

    The APC recorded a clean sweep, winning all the 57 chairmanship seats.

    In a congratulatory message signed by his Chief Press Secretary Habib Aruna, Ambode said the victory is not just for democracy but for the people at the grassroots, who he said would experience continuity of delivery of dividends of democracy.

    He said: “This victory for us is nothing more than a confirmation of the trust that Lagosians have placed on the party. In that regard, I like to congratulate our great party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the landslide victory at the Saturday’s election in all the 57 Councils.

    “I particularly note with joy the peaceful conduct of the electorate who came out to exercise their franchise in favour of their preferred candidates despite the heavy rain. This is indeed a welcome development and it will go a long way to strengthening our resolve to push ahead with our vision to transform the Local Government system.

    “I am also happy that we are conducting the Local Government election during my time after almost six years that the election was last held in the state,” the governor said.