TheNewsGuru

Tag: 2019

  • It is too early for 2019 politicking to override legislative agenda- Saraki

    President of the Senate has urged the National Assembly, the Executive and politicians in Nigeria to focus on governance in 2018 and not electioneering towards the 2019 general elections.
    According to Saraki, it is too early for politicking. He noted that 2018 is the last “productive year” before the elections.
    The Senate President said this in his opening speech as the National Assembly resumed plenary on Monday.
    He said, “Going into the New Year, I can only wish every one of us the best as we prepare for the task ahead. It is a crucial year. As you all know, this, in all probability, will be the last productive year before we go into the 2019 electioneering period. Not only is there the need to up the ante in terms of productivity, it is important we keep our eyes on the big picture.
    “Let us not be caught in the political fray before due season. To each and every thing under the sun, it’s own time. This is Nigeria’s time. Let us devote ourselves to its service.
    “It is therefore imperative that we speed up consideration on the various bills on which legislative work remains outstanding – particularly economic bills. Calling for similar attention are the other parts of the Petroleum Industry Bill related bills still to be passed, namely, the Petroleum Industry Fiscal Bill and the Petroleum Host Community Bill.
    “It is my appeal to every one of us that our legislative duty to Nigeria and its people, must be uppermost in our minds. We must not allow the upcoming 2019 elections to overshadow our work for the people that elected us – or distract us from that which we are mandated to do by the constitution and the trust reposed in us by the people.
    “This is my appeal: it is too early for 2019 politicking to override the legislative agenda and the larger work of governance. We have begun a good thing with the economic core of our agenda; let us see it to its proper conclusion.”
    “It would be most insensitive to the needs of the people of this country if we were to do otherwise. I am directing this appeal not only to us in the chamber but to the National Assembly as a whole, as well as to the Executive and indeed all political actors.”

  • President Buhari best candidate for 2019 – Dogara

    Alhaji Ahmed Dogara, former Chairman, Chanchaga Local Government Area of Niger, has said that President Muhammadu Buhari remains the best candidate for 2019 election in all the registered political parties.

    Dogara made this assertion in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria ( NAN) in Minna on Tuesday.

    He said that there was no any presidential candidates among the registered political parties that could match the credibility of President Buhari at this material time.

    “President Buhari has proved beyond reasonable doubt to be honest, sincere and committed in meeting the desire needs of Nigerians irrespective of tribe, religious, ethnic and political differences.”

    The former council chairman said that the present administration has done creditably well in the fight against corruption, insurgency, militancy and cattle rustling.

    He explained that the Buhari administration within the past two years, had recorded some achievements in the area of economy, improved electricity supply and diversification of the economy through agriculture and solid minerals.

    “Nigerians are happy with the measures the government is taking in the diversification of the economy, which are already paying off, especially in the agricultural and mining sectors.

    He called on Nigerians to be patient and support the effort of the present administration in its delivery of dividends of democracy and political change mantra.

    “We will continue to mobilise grassroots politicians to support the laudable policies and programmes of President Buhari for peace, progress and political stability in the country.

    He said that majority of Nigerians have confidence in the President’s honesty or ability to lead the nation and to fight corruption and defeat insurgency.

  • Buhari has done well, can seek reelection in 2019 – Momoh

    A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prince Tony Momoh on Wednesday said President Muhammadu Buhari has done well in the delivery of his electoral promises.

    Momoh, a former Minister of Information, gave the assessment in a telephone interview on Wednesday.

    He said though there were still some challenges in the country, Buhari had acquitted himself remarkably well as president of the country.

    Momoh pointed out those who said Buhari had not done well were either playing politics or refused to check the facts.

    He said the president had achieved a lot in the areas on which he anchored his campaign promises despite the herculean problems he met on ground.

    “President Buhari has done well based on the facts available and not sentiments. He has done well in the delivery of his campaign promises despite the big problems he met on ground.

    “For example, let us look at the area of security, before Buhari came in, the Boko Haram insurgents was operating almost uninhibited, to the extent of seizing territories.

    “But for Buhari’s intervention, Only God knows what would have happened to the country because of Boko Haram.

    “Also, while some other countries are still wriggling under recession caused by crash in commodity prices, the country is out and is even doing well in the area of diversification.

    “Even the World Bank has just predicted that the country’s GDP will further grow in 2018, there are also monumental gains in the fight against corruption.

    “I reviewed a book recently on the scorecard of the president and I was pleasantly surprised by some of the revelations about Buhari’s performance.

    “Those who do not know, should go and check the facts, Buhari has done well as president,” he said.

    He said the opposition was behind the cacophony of voices asking Buhari not to seek re-election based on the way they rated him.

    Momoh said they were only seeing Buhari’s performance based on their perspectives which did not reflect the facts.

    He said Buhari had the moral and legal right to seek re-election so long he made the decision and the party endorses him.

    “The opposition cannot stop Buhari from contesting if he decides to do so and the party endorses him. The facts are different from the prism through which they are looking at his performance,’’ he said.

    Momoh called for caution in treating the killings in parts of the country as being caused by Fulani herdsmen.

    He said criminal, including Boko Haram, might be hiding under Fulani herdsmen to unleash terror in some communities in the country.

    “We should be careful in the way we see the killings in some parts of the country, so that we can have a better understanding of dealing with the problem.

    “Some criminals, such as cattle rustlers and even Boko Haram insurgents can also hide as Fulani herdsmen to unleash terror on Nigerians.

    “The herdsmen we used to know were not carrying AK47, how we have come to this problem of killings calls for proper understanding.

    “It is not a political matter but a matter that needs understanding and attention because it involves lives,’’ he said.

     

     

  • Former Abia governor, Orji Kalu declares 2019 Senate ambition

    A former governor of Abia State, Orji Uzor Kalu, on Monday declared his intention to run for Abia North Senatorial seat in 2019.

    Kalu, who disclosed this in a chat with journalists at his Igbere country home, regretted that the people who represented the area in the past were concerned about “self- aggrandizement” at the expense of people’s welfare.

    The ex-governor recalled how he transformed the state during his tenure as governor, adding that the decision to vie for seat in the upper legislative chamber was to ensure that people of Abia North gets democratic dividends.

    He also commended President Muhammadu Buhari for approving the ongoing rehabilitation of Umuahia-Uzoakoli-Ohafia Expressway, Ozuitem-Igbere and Nkpa and other roads in the state.

  • 2019: I won’t seek re-election if I fail to achieve my goals for Abia state – Gov Ikpeazu

    Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia, says he would only seek re-election in 2019, after successful completion of projects initiated by his administration across the state.

    Ikpeazu disclosed this while speaking in a political programme “Osinachi”, at the Broadcasting Corporation of Abia monitored in Aba on Friday.

    “There are a few things which I am saying if we are able to finish by the grace of God, in the future I would think that we can answer the call to seek for re-election in 2019,’’ he said.

    He named some of the ongoing projects as the construction of Ifeobara basin, the reconstruction of Arochukwu road, the Osisioma interchange as well as the revival of the School of Nursing in Aba.

    Ikpeazu said that since leadership is linked to achievements in office, he can be sure of matching any other candidate after completing the projects.

    He said that government had so far invested about N325 million towards upgrading facilities at the Enyimba Stadium with a view to making it “world class’’.

    Ikpeazu said two billion naira had been released to Setraco Construction Company for the reconstruction of the Aba-Port Harcourt road, adding that his administration had also done well in promoting made-in-Abia goods by patronising the products.

    He said that his administration had also recorded successes in its agricultural projects especially in Aba which was aimed at improving the life of the people.

  • I’ll stop APC, PDP from winning elections in 2019 – Ezekwesili

    As the 2019 election year draws closer, a former minister for education, Oby Ezekwesili, has said she will work assiduously to ensure that candidates seeking public office on the platform of the two major political parties in Nigeria – the All Progressives Congress, APC, and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP do not win.

    Ezekwesili, who also doubles as a co-leader of the #BringBackOurGirls movement, tweeted on Thursday that the essence of her new agenda was to “disrupt and end the political and governance stagnation and retrogression that our cyclical low equilibrium political Russian roulette has cost our country and people.

    “Enough is enough,” she said, through her Twitter handle @obyezeks.

    “My political agenda is simple. I shall actively campaign against APC and PDP in the 2019 elections except in rare cases where they field new minds with a strong record of public interest.

    “I shall actively campaign for the best candidates of all other parties in the elections.

    “My individual effort to campaign against APC and PDP in the 2019 elections may not amount to much, but it is at least a definite expression of my personal conviction.

    “My conviction is that it is time to end the tyranny of rulership of a wicked minority political elite class,” she wrote.

    Mrs. Ezekwesili’s position is a reflection of the general discontentment among Nigerians against the country’s political leadership.

    Nigeria, with its main earnings coming from oil, is Africa’s biggest economy. Yet most of its population still live in abject poverty.

    The historic defeat of the ruling PDP in the 2015 elections ended the party’s 16 years of political dominance and gave the people hope of a new beginning.

    But President Muhammadu Buhari and his party – the APC – have been severely criticised as being incapable of tackling the nation’s many challenges, including the killings perpetrated around the country by different groups other than Boko Haram.

    Mrs. Ezekwesili, in her one of tweets, described the APC and the PDP as “twin brothers”.

    “This for me is the #YearOfTheOfficeOfTheCitizen when all citizens lift their red card.

    “Whether many other citizens feel the way one feels about our political status quo does not matter. Standing up for what I believe is what one was raised to epitomize.

    “It is sickening to watch the repetition of a similar pattern of bad behavior by our political class,” she said.

  • 2019: Buhari not yet decided to seek reelection – Presidency

    The Presidency on Sunday said President Muhammadu Buhari has not taken any concrete decision on seeking second term in office.

    This was revealed by presidential spokesman, Femi Adesina.

    In his words: “Nobody knows whether or not the President will seek reelection. About four groups have come to the President, asking if he will go for second term. The last of such groups was Good Governance Support Group, but the President has not said anything.”

    However, TheNewsGuru.com recalls that the President had earlier told the Nigerian community in Cote d’Ivoire during his visit to that country in November last year that he might need their votes in future.

    A source said at the weekend: ”Many governors, ministers and groups have been coming to the Presidential Villa to feel Buhari’s pulse on the 2019 poll and to urge him to seek a second term ticket or ask for direction on the next poll.

    “Buhari has however kept everyone in suspense. He is yet to make a commitment.”

    But it was learnt that some former presidents and top Northern leaders will soon advise President Muhammadu Buhari on his political future.

    “The advice might come in form of a private meeting or through a letter to the President.

    These leaders (names withheld) have had up to three consultative sessions in the past few months to fine tune “their position on the way forward for Nigeria from 2019”.

    They, however, maintained that their position on the second term option will be “strongly advisory and not binding on Buhari in the light of the relevant provisions of the 1999 Constitution on two terms of eight years.

    A source privy to consultations among the ex-leaders and others said: “From the look of things, some former President and Northern leaders will soon make their advisory on 2019 poll available to Buhari. This will be a major package which will help define the next general elections.

    “Some of these leaders provided advisory and support which guided the emergence of Buhari in 2015. They have been consulting on the next poll and what in their view is best for Nigeria.

    “The advisory is not binding on Buhari, but they may be weighty enough to serve as guidance. They believe Buhari has the constitutional right to vie for second term in office,” the source added.

     

  • 2019: Atiku’s bid for presidency is APC’s greatest fear -Fani-Kayode

    Former minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode says former Vice president Atiku Abubakar is the All Progressive Congress, APC’s greatest fear come 2019.

    Fani Kayode revealed that hate comments from APC governors: Nasir El Rufai and Bello Masari showed that they were deeply hurt by Atiku’s exit.

    He also added that the attack from APC governors was as a result of fear of Atiku in 2019.

    In his tweets on Tuesday he wrote: “Judging by the way in which APC governors like Nasir El Rufai and Bello Masari are firing shots at@atiku two things are clear.

    Firstly that his exit from their dying party has hurt them deeply and secondly that their greatest fear is an @atiku bid for the Presidency in 2019.”

  • 2019: Atiku too desperate to be president – Buhari’s adviser

    …says former Vice President will leave PDP if he doesn’t realise presidential ambition in 2019

    The Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters, Senator Babefemi Ojudu hassaid former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar is too desperate to be president in 2019, hence his recent defection to the opposition, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    He chided the Waziri Adamawa for twisting facts and wiping up sentiments against the Buhari administration and the All Progressives Congress (APC) for partisan reasons.

    Ojudu said Atiku’s departure was not surprising to the APC, stressing that it was typical of the former vice president to call it quits with a platform that cannot guarantee his bid for the highest office.

    He recalled that Atiku has always destroyed the parties that hosted him by turning around to pull it down, following his inability to clinch the nomination ticket.

    Ojudu spoke on Channels Television’s Sunrise on the implications Atiku’s defection for himself, the PDP and the APC.

    Describing Atiku as a serial defector, the political adviser said the gale of defections peculiar to the eminent politician underscored his desperation for power.

    He said the Turaki Adamawa lied about his marginalisation in the APC, recalling that he often declined to make any constructive and useful contribution during the meetings of party’s founding fathers.

    Ojudu said: “Atiku’s defection is not surprising . During the meeting of the G-19, the Legacy Group that formed the APC, Atiku was there. We laid our programmes as a government before the party leaders and asked for their contributions. He was the only person who refused to talk. The second time the meeting was called, Atiku did not attend. We knew that he will leave. Each time he wants to leave a house, he demolishes the house.

    However, the presidential adviser said it will be myopic to dismiss Atiku as a politician without weight, judging by his status and antecedents in politics.

    Ojudu also said that Atiku has the right to defect under the constitution to seek refuge in any party, despite his constrains and limitations.

    He stressed: “It will be stupid to dismiss his weight. He is an asset to an extent that he stays there. His goal is to be the president. If he cannot get the ticket, he will leave.”

    Ojudu acknowledged the complaint by kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai on the alleged marginalisation of party elders, which Atiku also cited as reason for leaving the APC, saying that the situation has been corrected.

    He said: “There is no perfect organisation and there is no perfect government. The Kaduna governor expressed hos mkind and he has joined others to put things right. You don’t jump out.”

    Ojudu said Atiku was fed up with the APC the moment he failed to get the presidential ticket atv the primary, adding that he is now playing his last card.

    He added: “Atiku is playing his last card. He is desperate to be president. If President Buhari get a second term, he knows that the presidency will go to another region. The presidency will not go to another region. Before it goes back to the North, it may take years and he would have become old.”

    Ojudu also dismissed Atiku’s allegation that the government has not done much for the youths, clarifying that efforts were being made to create jobs in many ways, including massive investment in agriculture.

    He challenged the former vice president to list his contribution to job creation in his native Adamawa State.

    Ojudu queried: “What were the contributions of Atiku to APC’s efforts to rebuild Nigeria? What has he done as a godfather in Adamawa to solve the problem of unemployment. What agenda for youths did he take to the president that was rejected?”

    The political adviser gave the Buhari administration a pas mark, saying that it is a government of planning and anti-corruption.

    He said: “There is planning and there is no siphoning of public funds.”

  • I’ve not made up my mind to run for presidency come 2019 – Atiku

    Former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, has claimed that he is yet to make up his mind about contesting in the 2019 presidential elections.

    Atiku stated this while speaking on VOA Hausa on Tuesday.

    “For now I have not made up my mind,” Mr. Abubakar said. “When I decide, I will let the world know.”

    Mr. Abubakar’s statement is capable of demoralising his supporters, some of whom have already commenced groundwork for his 2019 bid, said Azibola Omekwe, the national coordinator of The Atiku Rennaisance, a political group.

    Mr. Azibola said the 2019 ambition of Mr. Atiku has gained considerable momentum in recent weeks, a ‘moving train’ he said would be difficult to reverse.

    “Just recently, some people came out to say that they will sue the former vice-president if he fails to join the race,” Mr. Azibola said. “That’s how serious some of his supporters have now taken his ambition.”

    Mr. Abubakar’s spokesperson, Paul Ibe, said the politician’s fans should not be demoralised by the comments.

    “He spoke in the context of his ongoing consultations, but he’ll eventually make up his mind to run,” Mr. Ibe said. “Those who have started politicking on his behalf should continue.”

    Mr. Azibola acknowledged that the final decision on Mr. Atiku’s political choice in 2019 would be the former vice-president’s to make.

    “But I’m sure he will ultimately decide to run because he’s the best option to beat President Buhari,” said Mr. Azibola, a former state legislator in Bayelsa. “We expect him to do this within the first quarter of 2018.”

    The last one month had seen Mr. Abubakar resign from the ruling All Progressives Congress to return to the Peoples Democratic Party, under which he served eight years as VP between 1999-2007.