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Tag: Yekini Nabena

  • 2027: No plot can stop Tinubu’s eight years, Akpabio’s Senate Presidency – Nabena

    2027: No plot can stop Tinubu’s eight years, Akpabio’s Senate Presidency – Nabena

    A former member of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) Yekini Nabena has dismissed the plan to unseat President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027 as a mirage that can never be actualised.

    He declared that “if former President Muhammadu Buhari could complete his 8-year term in office, no mega or merger plot will unseat President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027.”

    The APC former Deputy National Publicity Secretary also declared that no political coup in the National Assembly will remove Senate President Godswill Akpabio and chairman of the 10th National Assembly.

    Opposition elements, spearheaded by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Prof Pat Utomi, are recently pushing for a merger of opposition to form a mega party to unseat the ruling party in 2027 in line with the victory of the opposition in Senegal’s concluded Presidential election.

    Reacting to the development through a statement on Tuesday in Abuja, Nabena expressed optimism that “The 2027 presidential election will come and go but the Presidency will remain in the South and President Bola Tinubu, by God’s grace, will continue his good job.”

    Faulting the move, the APC counselled that all the six regions must support the President to succeed in his Renewed Hope Agenda, insisting that the country belongs to all of us, adding that “Nigeria is one, not only on paper or mouth but in reality. Nigeria’s unity must not be compromised.”

    Read Also: CBN, FAAN’s dept relocation: Bayelsa APC lambasts Nabena over comments

    The statement reads: “If former President Muhammadu Buhari could complete his eight years in office, by the grace of God Almighty the incumbent President Bola Tinubu will do the same, not even the talk of mega party or merger can stop him. The South must also complete 8 years of political arrangement and President Bola Tinubu will do that for the South.

    “The South will not fight each other for another region to benefit, the era of division in Southern Nigeria is gone for good. The Almighty God will perfect President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s health and grant him wisdom to take the country to the promised land. 

    “The same goes for the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, by God’s grace, he will also complete his term as the Chairman of the National Assembly in-ground style. No threat, no blackmail or political machination will do otherwise. 

    “It must be placed on record that we Nigerians from the South are satisfied with the level of representation we are getting from our distinguished representatives in the National Assembly and we have passed a vote of confidence on them for standing tall.”

    Also reacting to the recent move by some prominent APC leaders hobnobbing with some opposition figures to float a mega party or form a merger, Nabena said: “Again, we must also tell the plotters of the mega party and those thinking of merger that we are not afraid of any. 

    He said: “The 2027 presidential election will come and go but the President will remain in the South and President Bola Tinubu, by God’s grace, will continue his good job. I am so hopeful that even before the next election, the results of the ongoing reforms will be evidenced even to the blind, and those plotting mega party or merger order will not have an option but to accept defeat before the election. 

    “For now, former governor Nasir El-rufai can go ahead with his idea of mega party but we are also waiting for them. A state Malam El-rufai left as a governor less than a year ago can no longer pay salaries. So some of these remarkable marks shall speak against them at the appropriate time but I think the time has come for the evil ones to be exposed and I believe the Almighty God will expose them more and He will fight for our victory be ours.”

  • Allow North Central, South East lead House of Reps, Nabena tells APC

    Ahead of the official announcement of the zoning formula for National Assembly leadership, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Yekini Nabena, has asked the leadership of the party to ensure even spread in all offices in the interest of the nation.

    Nabena advised the party to zone the Speaker of the House of Representatives and deputy Speaker to the North Central and South East respectively while the South South should be allowed to produce the Deputy Senate President.

    In a statement made available to The Nation, Nabena who is also the Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the party, said with the President and Vice President from the North-west and South-west respectively, other parts of the country should be allowed to produce principal officers of the leadership of the National Assembly.

    He said warned that if the party does not get it right now, 2023 elections might turn out to be a free- fall all in the ruling party.

    He said: “The APC has elected National Assembly members from all geopolitical zones of the country.

    “Hence, the party’s leadership and indeed the presidency must take deliberate efforts to provide a fair and justifiable zoning arrangement for the 9th National Assembly leadership.

    “The zoning arrangement must also respect the fact that the North-west and South-west has already produced the President and Vice President respectively.

    “So, for equity and adherence to the principle of federal character which is a constitutional requirement, the positions of Senate President, Deputy Senate President, Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives in the incoming 9th National Assembly must be occupied by APC members from the remaining four geopolitical regions of the country.”

    READ ALSO: Saraki, PDP plotting to hijack 9th NASS leadership, Nabena alleges

    He said that it was evident that the Party’s National Working Committee (NWC) under the leadership of the APC National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole has already zoned the Senate Presidency to the North-east.

    Recommending a zoning arrangement for the remaining positions, he said “The Deputy Senate President should be zoned to the South-south while the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives should be zoned to the North-central and South-east in any order agreed by the party’s leadership.”

    While not unawares his recommendation was in conflict with the aspiration of presumably the South-west led by a member/aspirant from Lagos state for the Speaker, House of Representatives, Nabena said: “the South-west already has a slot filled by the Vice President.

    “In any case, the South-west does not necessarily translate to Lagos or Ogun state. This is a sentiment widely shared by our members from the zone.

    “As I earlier stated, the party’s leadership must take deliberate steps to provide a fair and justifiable zoning arrangement for the incoming 9th National Assembly leadership.

    “Our actions and inactions will have serious implications on party unity and positively or negatively affect our standing ahead of 2023.”

  • Saraki, PDP ploting to hijack Ninth National Assembly, Nabena alleges

    A Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Yekini Nabena has revealed plots by Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki and the leadership of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to hijack the leadership of the 9th session of the National Assembly by influencing who emerges leaders of both chambers.

    Nabena said in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja that the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) must move fast to nip such moves in the bud by coming out with a zoning formular for the emergence of leaders of the legislature.

    Nebena who is also the Deputy National Publicity Secretary said the Senate President is working in tandem with what he called “Otta farm”, warning that the APC must move quickly and urgently rollout the zoning arrangements to avoid a repeat of what happened in 2015.

    Both incumbent Senate President Bukola Saraki and Speaker Yakubu Dogara emerged Senate President and Speaker against the party’s wish in the outgoing 8th National Assembly.

    Speaking with newsmen in Abuja, Nabena said the outgoing Senate President and his party (PDP) have devised plans to ensure that there loyalists take control of the legislative arm of government.

    He said: “The outgoing Senate President and the PDP caucus have begun surreptitious move to lure some new APC lawmakers with juicy committee position in return for their support for the PDP choice for the leadership of the Senate and House of Representatives.

    “Already, Saraki’s henchman, Dino Melaye and some other returning PDP federal lawmakers have scheduled meetings with some APC lawmakers from Wednesday to Sunday in a yet-to-be announced venue.”

    He stressed that “It is important that the APC leadership meet and urgently rollout a fair zoning arrangement to ensure that we produce our preferred candidates for all leadership positions in the incoming National Assembly.

    “Since Saraki lost his bid to return to the Senate and control of his home state, Kwara, he has devised a plan to ensure that he influences the choice of the incoming National Assembly Leadership. This is Saraki’s last-ditch effort to remain politically relevant.

     

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) described the allegation as diversionary and baseless, saying however, that the governing party has every right to enjoy its delusion of persecution.

    In a chat with our correspondent in Abuja yesterday, the spokesman for the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan said the PDP has more pressing issues to engage it’s time.

    Ologbondiyan said, “Let Yekini Nabena and the All Progressives Progressives Congress (APC) be told in clear terms that the National Assembly is a political environment.

    “So if crying and whining over National Assembly leadership positions will help their cause, let them continue to indulge themselves.

    “Do they expect the PDP with about 42 members in the Senate, which may increase before June, to sit on the fence and be watching events?

    “For now, we are in court to retrieve our stolen presidential mandate and preparing for supplementary election in states where the INEC declared the March 9 governorship and state assembly elections inconclusive. That is our focus for now.

    “Let them wait till June for the election of leadership of the National Assembly and see how things play out. We believe that when we get to the bridge we will cross it”.

    The PDP however said in a statement yesterday that Nigerians will not vote in vain, assuring that the votes they freely gave to its candidates in the 2019 general elections will never be in vain.

    The statement, signed by Ologbondiyan, expressed optimism that the party will surely recover the presidential mandate given to its candidate, Atiku Abubakar, and ensure that none of the states where it is in the lead ahead of the March 23 supplementary election will be hijacked by the APC.

    Ologbondiyan quoted the National Chairman of the PDP, Prince Uche Secondus, as stating the party’s position during a solidarity visit by the leadership of the party on Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, on Tuesday, ahead of Saturday’s supplementary election.

    He further quoted Secondus as stating that Nigerians are extremely hurting over the “rigging” of the presidential and other elections by the APC, as well as alleged schemes to forcefully take over states already won by the PDP, leading to the supplementary elections.

    “Elections are about the will of the people. When you force yourself on the people; that is not democracy. Today, Nigerians are unhappy with the way elections were rigged without allowing the will of the people to prevail”, Secondus said.

    Tambuwal was reported to have assured that the PDP and the people of Sokoto state were upbeat and fully mobilized to ensure that their will is not subverted.

    “We are upbeat as Sokoto state has never been this mobilised. People are praying and fasting by themselves and they are ready once again to ensure that their will is not subverted.

    “What happened in the last elections was unimaginable as security agents took over the state. Ballot papers were found with APC members on the streets. The staff of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission stormed the residences of our members, harassing and intimidating them.

    “Even on the day of election, they were going round the polling units and picking up our members. There were open rigging in about six of the local government areas.

    “They brought their federal might to bear but the will of the people prevailed against them and we won, yet they declared the election inconclusive.

    “So, in Sokoto, they have the will of the people to contend with and given the prayers that our people are offering everyday and their decision to checkmate the rigging of APC, victory is sure to be for us and the PDP”, Tambuwal was quoted to have said.

    The main opposition party urged all its members and supporters to remain steadfast and march out on March 23 to consolidate on the victory already won by the party in the states where supplementary elections have been scheduled.

     

  • Saraki, PDP plotting to hijack 9th NASS leadership, Nabena alleges

    A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Yekini Nabena has revealed plots by Senate President Bukola Saraki and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leaders to hijack leadership of the 9th session of the National Assembly.

    Nabena, in a statement in Abuja, said the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) must move fast to nip such moves in the bud by coming out with a zoning formula for the emergence of leaders of the legislature.

    Nabena, who is also the Deputy National Publicity Secretary, said the Senate President is working in tandem with what he called “Otta farm”.

    He warned the APC must move quickly and urgently roll out the zoning arrangements to avoid a repeat of what happened in 2015.

    Saraki and Speaker Yakubu Dogara emerged Senate President and Speaker against the party’s wish in the outgoing 8th National Assembly.

    Speaking with newsmen in Abuja, Nabena said the outgoing Senate President and his party (PDP) have devised plans to ensure that there loyalists take control of the legislative arm of government.

    READ ALSO: End of Saraki hegemony

    He said: “The outgoing Senate President and the PDP caucus have begun surreptitious move to lure some new APC lawmakers with juicy committee position in return for their support for the PDP choice for the leadership of the Senate and House of Representatives.

    “Already, Saraki’s henchman, Dino Melaye and some other returning PDP federal lawmakers have scheduled meetings with some APC lawmakers from Wednesday to Sunday in a yet-to-be announced venue.”

    He stressed: “It is important that the APC leadership meet and urgently rollout a fair zoning arrangement to ensure that we produce our preferred candidates for all leadership positions in the incoming National Assembly.

    “Since Saraki lost his bid to return to the Senate and control of his home state, Kwara, he has devised a plan to ensure that he influences the choice of the incoming National Assembly Leadership. This is Saraki’s last-ditch effort to remain politically relevant.”

  • INEC decision on Bauchi rerun evil, unacceptable – APC chieftain

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has continued to come under attack over the sudden change in its earlier decision to reject the result of the governorship election in Tafawa Balewa local government area of Bauchi state.

    A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Yekini Nabena, said the decision was a form of conspiracy against the APC, describing it as a evil plot which will not be allowed.

    Nabena who is also the Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the party said the governing party will not accept such a decision as it contravene the provisions of the electoral act.

    The electoral body had earlier declare the governorship election inconclusive and set a date for rerun but suddenly changed the decision based on the reports submitted by a committee headed by Festus Okoye to investigate the issue.

    Nabena said on Sunday that  his party has rejected the decision taken by the INEC on the governorship election results from Tafawa Balewa local government area, saying “Considering the letters and spirit of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999 as amended), and the INEC Guidelines for 2019 General Elections, INEC is not empowered to reverse any decision taken at the Collation Center by the Returning Officer appointed for that purpose.

    Read Also: INEC wrong on inconclusive elections

    “Such decisions can only be reversed by a Court of law, especially when INEC cannot approbate and reprobate”.

    The party also accused the Festus Okoye-led committee of denying it fair hearing as its agent were not invited during the hearing to ascertain the circumstances leading to the cancellation of the Tafawa Balewa local government election result.

    “The composition of the committee is also questionable as the Committee chairman, Festus Okoye Esq, is a close ally of and ex-personal Solicitor of Hon. Yakubu Dogara of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    “No justice can be done by the committee chairman who is interested in the whole issues and the instant circumstances,” he said.

  • NASS leadership: APC must avoid mistakes of 2015, says Nabena

    A Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Yekini Nabena has asked the leadership of the party to avoid the mistakes of 2015 National Assembly by putting in place an effective zoning and selection arrangement that will produce the leadership of the Senate and House of Representatives.

    Nabena said in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja that the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party were already strategizing on how to hijack the leadership of the National Assembly, warning that the APC leadership must not allow this to happen.

    Nabena who is the Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the APC asked President Muhammadu Buhari to play a lead role in the APC’s internal selection arrangement for the leadership of the incoming 9th National Assembly.

    He said “The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has lost the presidential election and they have now adopted a plan B from their infamous Dubai strategy meeting to hijack the incoming National Assembly leadership by repeating their heinous coup in the previous Assembly.

    “The All Progressives Congress (APC) must prevent a repeat of a situation where despite our overwhelming majority in the outgoing 8th Senate and House of Representatives, the National Assembly leadership was hijacked by saboteurs and their opposition PDP collaborators.

    Read Also: APC claims all NASS seats in Niger

    “Nigerians will recall how the outgoing 8th National Assembly under Bukola Saraki sabotaged the present administration in pursuit of selfish political interest of the PDP. But for the principled, focussed and dogged governance of President Muhammadu Buhari, many of the unprecedented developmental achievements recorded would have been completely sabotaged.

    “The National Assembly is a strategic arm of government to achieve the Change Agenda for the country. I call on the Party’s leadership to urgently set out mechanisms for the zoning/selection of our preferred principal officers who will join the President Buhari administration in implementing our Change Agenda.

    “Aside being President, Muhammadu Buhari is a respected father figure among party members and supporters. His direct involvement and views will be very important as the Party works around the zoning/selection arrangement.”

     

  • Obasanjo lobbying US for entry visa for Atiku, says APC

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has said that former President Olusegun Obasanjo has commenced moves to make the United States government with it’s alleged travel ban on PDP Presidential candidate and former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar.

    In a statement signed by the Acting National Publicity Secretary, Yekini Nabena, the party said it has credible information that Obasanjo has started lobbying the US government to issue Atiku with an entry visa.

    The statement reads “we have come across credible reports that former President Olusegun Obasanjo has made moves to secure United States entry visa for the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alh. Atiku Abubakar, whose candidacy he endorsed on Thursday.

    “It is learnt that that the former President who during and after leaving office insisted on Atiku’s unsuitability to govern Nigeria based on his knowledge of the latter’s extensive corrupt practices while he served as Vice President, is lobbying US authorities to withdraw the ban reportedly placed on Atiku from entering the United States following a 2005 $500,000 bribery scandal that involved Atiku, his fourth wife, Jennifer and former United States Congressman, William Jefferson.

    Read Also: I’m under pressure to leave APC – Yari

    “Recall that the former president while in office had deployed enormous resources of the country on a global dragnet coordinated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in getting Atiku prosecuted for corrupt enrichment and money laundering.

    “A report by the United States Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, chaired by Senator Carl Levin reported that Atiku used offshore companies to siphon millions of dollars to his fourth wife in the United States, Jennifer while still the vice president of Nigeria between 2000 and 2008.

    “The report further stated that then President Bush had on the strength of his report, barred Atiku and other corrupt politically exposed persons from being issued visa to the United States, a reason for which he has been unable to travel to the United States till date.

    “Former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s intervention in Alh.Abubakar Atiku’s ban from the United States of America is evidence of Obasanjo’s legendary hypocrisy and self-serving interest in national affairs.“

  • What Atiku stands for, by campaign organisation

    The Atiku Abubakar campaign organisation has responded to a question raised by the spokesman for the All Progressives Congress (APC), Yekini Nabena on Atiku’s scorecard in public office.

    In a statement on Tuesday, the campaign organisation listed a number of what it described as bold strides taken by the former Vice President while in public office.

    The campaign group said as Vice President (1999 to 2007) and chairman of the National Council on Privatisation (NCP), Atiku superintended over the GSM revolution that saw Nigeria go from 50,000 to 100 million GSM lines.

    The organisation said the GSM revolution added 500,000 direct jobs to the Nigerian economy and attracted $27 billion to the GDP.

    The campaign group also credited Atiku with what it described as the successful privatization of many public enterprises that hitherto consumed government resources without yielding profits.

    “A further achievement of the former Vice President is initiating, starting and completing several road projects all over Nigeria, including roads in President Muhammadu Buhari’s home state of Katsina.

    “In return, we challenge President Buhari and the APC to mention three projects that they have initiated, started and completed in the last three years.

    “We ask President Buhari how many loopholes in public expenditure has he plugged? The spectacular failure of the 419 Nigeria Air is still fresh in the memory of Nigerians.

    “We wish to remind APC’s National Publicity Secretary, Yekini Nabena, that Atiku Abubakar is not like President Buhari who has never run a successful private business throughout his life.

    “Unlike Muhammadu Buhari, Atiku Abubakar is an expert job creator who has founded many successful and thriving businesses, including the American University of Nigeria, Yola; a Microfinance Bank that has moved 45,000 families out of poverty; and Rica Gado, a livestock feed company that has significantly reduced instances of herdsmen/farmers clashes by providing a business-friendly solution instead of asking Nigerians to give up their lands for cattle ranching or face death, as the Buhari government did.

    Read Also: Buhari campaign team confused, says Atiku camp

    “Unlike President Buhari, Atiku Abubakar does not believe Nigerian youths are lazy. How could, when 25,000 out of his 50,000 employees are youths?

    “Now we urge the Buhari Presidency and the APC to mention even one successful private endeavour that the President has successfully run. And by private enterprises, we are not referring to 150 cows that never increased in number, year in year out”, the Atiku group added.

    The campaign organisation stated that it listed only a few of the “booming” commercial enterprises founded by Atiku, adding that no other candidate is as poised Atiku Abubakar to get Nigeria working again.

    “Nigerians want jobs and Atiku means jobs. It is no surprise that that is one thing the APC do not want to talk about, seeing that they have lost 11 million jobs in the last three years”.

    The Atiku group dismissed accusation of by the APC that the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was desperate, saying it’s obvious who is desperate between Atiku and President Buhari.

    The group said, “Our response to the APC is to ask who is desperate between a Muhammadu Buhari who said, ‘If what happened in 2011 should again happen in 2015, by the grace of God, the dog and the baboon would all be soaked in blood’, and an Atiku Abubakar who said ‘love and peace should not only be preached, but must also be put into practice for the sake of sustaining the peace in our land.

    “It is left for Nigerians to judge, but even a blind person can see that Nigeria has been ‘soaked in blood’ ever since she was unfortunate enough to have fallen under the rulership of a man whose words are destructive and never productive”.

  • 2019: APC urges political parties to ensure issue-based campaign

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has called on political parties in the country, particularly the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its agents, to stick to issue-based actions and campaigns as the nation enters into electioneering campaign.
    Mr Yekini Nabena, the APC acting National Publicity Secretary, made the call in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.
    The statement was in reaction to recent attempt by the PDP leadership to forcibly enter the Nigeria Police Headquarters under the guise of a protest.
    The APC spokesman condemned the act and described it as irresponsible, shameful and reckless actions.
    He recalled that the protest was led by the PDP National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, PDP State Governors, and its ranking federal lawmakers.
    Nabena said the PDP leaders had hired thugs in a failed attempt to forcibly enter the Nigeria Police headquarters.
    “As we enter the period of campaigns and electioneering, we urge political parties, particularly the PDP and its agents to stick to issue-based actions and campaigns,”he said.
    He added that if the PDP’s confrontation with the police was an attempt to copy APC leaders peaceful protests in Abuja, ahead of the 2015 elections, it was “a low-budget imitation and terribly-acted script”.
    Nabena said that the shocking footage of the PDP leaders backed by hired thugs trying to forcibly break the police cordon was a new height of the party’s rascality and penchant for violence.
    He, therefore, urged the PDP to restrain itself from its usual retrogressive actions and antics which he said, unnecessarily created tension in the polity.
    He noted that the PDP’s actions at the Police Headquarters could easily have led to injuries and loss of lives.
    Nabena further noted that the Nigerian electorate were now more interested on how to bring the country out of the rubble in which the PDP administrations left them.
    The APC spokesman added that the interest of the electorate was also to refocus the country on the path of true progress and development.
    He urged the President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki and the Speaker House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, to immediately vacate their positions and allow for the reconvening of the National Assembly.
    This, Nabena said, was critical to attend to urgent and pressing national issues which required legislative attention at plenary.

  • Senator Tinubu urges Nigerians to unite ahead of 2019

    Senator Oluremi Tinubu, representing Lagos Central Senatorial District, on Thursday urged members of All Progressives Congress ( APC) to unite ahead of the 2019 general elections.

    Tinubu made the call at the Eti-Osa Ward E located at Oyinkan Abayomi drive in  Ikoyi area of Lagos where she participated in the Senatorial and House of Representatives primaries in the state.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that  Senator Oluremi Tinubu was declared unopposed in the list of aspirants released by the National Working Committee of the APC and signed by the National Publicity Secretary, Yekini Nabena.

    Tinubu, who represented the district two times at the Senate, was being returned for a third term.

    Read Also: Zamfara APC primary: Marafa backs NWC decision

    The Senator commended the people of her constituency for returning her unopposed.

    She promised she would not disappoint her supporters and urged them to unite ahead of the 2019 elections.

    ”As we embark on the imminent elections, our politics should epitomize patriotic labor and selfless service to the community.

    ”Our vote is our right, hence, we must exercise this right within the ambit of law by refusing to be a party to vote buying or selling, and ensuring a peaceful election devoid of violence, chaos and upheavals.

    ”Together, we must ensure that our democratic process is sustained and that we embrace government efforts to transform our economy and make Nigeria a better place for all, ” she said.

    NAN reports that as at 1:09 p.m., when Senator Tinubu arrived,  there were no electoral officers on ground for accreditation and to conduct the election by affirmation.