TheNewsGuru

Tag: 2019

  • Buhari, APC afraid of imminent defeat in 2019 – Fayose

    Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State has said the imminent defeat of President Muhammadu Buhari in a free and fair election in 2019 is the major reason the All Progressives Congress-led Federal Government is harassing and intimidating his aides and associates.

    He also said the blunt truth he told Nigerians during his declaration of interest that Buhari and the APC had nothing good to offer Nigeria has pierced the conscience of APC leaders and given them wounded heart.

    He, however, said he won’t be intimidated into abandoning a divine project of rescuing the country from maladministration.

    Fayose, who spoke through his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Idowu Adelusi, on Friday, said notwithstanding needless harassment, whoever thought he could stop a moving train with bare hands would have himself to blame in the end.

    The governor described the arrest of two officials of the state by agents of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as the height of impunity, as a competent court of jurisdiction had ordered against such action.

    The governor said the action of the EFCC was in flagrant disobedience to the orders of Justice Taiwo. O. Taiwo of the Federal High Court, Ado-Ekiti in the case of the Attorney General of Ekiti State versus EFCC, IGP and 16 others granted on November 7, 2016.

    The order reads in part: ” an order of interim injunction restraining the 1st and 2nd defendants (which is the EFCC and the Inspector General of Police, their agents, privies or any other investigative agencies, howsoever described) from arresting, detaining or investigating any person or persons, whether past or present officials in the Ekiti State Government, without any report of indictment from the Ekiti State House of Assembly pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice filed in this suit “.

    While contending that the order of the court had not been vacated or appealed by the agency, the governor added that the agency’s action showed desperation and political partisanship, as it had earlier petitioned against Justice Taiwo asking that the case be transferred to Akure, Ondo State.

    ” The new judge declined jurisdiction because he held that the EFCC’s case lacked merit and the case file was returned to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, who is yet to assign the case.

    “The latest action by the EFCC is therefore premeditated, malicious, politically motivated, contemptuous and unconstitutional in all ramifications. It is another clear and undisguised evidence of gangsterism by an agency that derives its power from the constitution but uses it for political vendetta against the opposition.

    ” While we call on all men and women of conscience to call the EFCC and whoever is goading them along perilous path to order, we must warn that no harm must come the way of the illegally detained Ekiti State Government officials, who have health issues which they will be hampered to manage effectively in EFCC’s crushing detention environment.

    “Not obeying court orders is not the hallmark of democracy, but a virtue of anti-democratic agents. Colonel Dasuki Sambo, former National Security Adviser is still being held despite numerous court orders to the contrary. Ibrahim el-Zakyzaky has been locked up unduly for months, this is not the democracy we fought to enthrone in Nigeria,” he said.

    The governor stressed that it was not a coincidence that those officials were arrested while he was declaring his intention to contest the presidential election, but noted that such gimmicks would not deter him from pursuing his ambition.

    “My ambition to contest the presidential election in 2019 is God’s project and no human effort can thwart it. Democracy allows for people to aspire to occupy public offices and I have not breached any law doing that. Those who think they can get to me by harassing my aides and supporters would soon hit a dead end,” he noted.

  • INEC announces date for 2019 Presidential, National Assembly elections

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has confirmed the dates for the Presidential and National Assembly elections, which will hold in 2019.

    INEC chairman, Professor Yakubu Mahmood, made this announcement while meeting with members of the Commission and all Resident Electoral Commissioners (REC), at the INEC Headquarters’ Conference Hall, Abuja on Thursday.

    According to him, the Presidential and National Assembly elections have been fixed for Saturday, 16th February, 2019.

    The event was live-tweeted on INEC’s official Twitter handle.

    “Above all the 2019 #NigeriaDecidesGeneral Elections is exactly 505 days away from today.

    “The Gov. State Assembly and Federal Capital Territory(FCT) Area Council elections are fixed for Saturday 2nd March 2019.

    “As part of our preparations for the elections, we shall discuss the on-going Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise.

    “As you are aware, the foundation of a free and fair election rest on credible Voter Register.

    “So far, 2,786,405 citizens have registered in the ongoing exercise out of which 1,619,513 (58%) are Male while 1,166,892 (42%) are female.

    “The Presidential and National Assembly elections have been fixed for Saturday 16th February 2019.

    “In addition 108,752 unclaimed PVCs were collected. 132,431 requested for transfer while 261,429 requested for replacement of their PVCs.

    “We wish to assure Nigerians that INEC will continue to explore ways by which we can improve on all d processes associated with the ongoing CVR.

    “On this note, let me once again welcome all RECs to this meeting. Thank you and God bless,” some of the updates read.

  • You can’t run for president in 2019, Ex-PDP chair, Nwodo tells Fayose

    A member of the Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Okwesilieze Nwodo, says Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, cannot contest in the party’s primary poll for 2019 presidential election.

    He stated this on Thursday in Abuja shortly after Fayose’s formal declaration of his intention to contest for the position of president of Nigeria in 2019 on PDP’s platform.

    Nwodo, a former National Chairman of the PDP, told newsmen that party’s ideology forbade Mr. Fayose and other members from the South from contesting in the presidential race in 2019.

    He said that the ideology would be followed to the letter in spite the governor’s declaration.

    “Fayose cannot run and I will tell you my reason,” he said.

    “When we formed PDP, the first battle we fought and won as a party was to zone the presidency to the South.

    “Those of us from the south made a case because in the first republic, prime minister was from the North; in the second republic, the president was from the North, and in the third republic, a southerner won and the election was annulled.

    “There was no way we could go back to the south and say let’s elect a northerner again without giving the south a slot.

    “A decision was taken that the presidency should come from the south and the chairman of the party to come from the north.

    “That was how Solomon Lar became the chairman of PDP and secretary was zoned to the south; that was how I became the first secretary of the party.”

    Nwodo, a former governor of Enugu State, said that the party would take a decision to ensure that its constitution and ordinances were respected.

    He explained that those who tried it in the past failed to achieve their aim.

    He said, “For example, late Abubakar Rimi, former Governor of Kano State paid for a form and wanted to run.

    “Then I was the national secretary, I returned his cheque and informed him that the party had taken a decision that the presidential candidate could only come from southern Nigeria.

    “When we went to the Convention in Jos, he went to the venue and started to campaign without having a form because we didn’t give him.

    “We had to get some party leaders around to go and counsel him; we didn’t want security agencies to manhandle or embarrass him and good counsel prevailed and he stepped down.

    “That was what PDP did and now we did not only zone the presidency to the north, we have re-emphasised at every opportunity we had that the zoning will take place.

    “So, the party will not collect expression of interest money from anybody else who is not from the North and will not issue him a nomination form to contest; no, we will not do that.’’

    However, TheNewsGuru.com reports that Fayose had in a letter to PDP leaders insisted that his ambition to be president was without prejudice to the party’s position, adding that it was in the interest of the party and Nigeria.

     

  • Like I did in Ekiti, I’ll wrestle, win presidency from Buhari in 2019 – Fayose

    …writes party for ticket

    …to declare Presidential ambition on Thursday

    Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State has again reiterated his determination to wrestle and win power from President Muhammadu Buhari and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2019.

    The governor noted that it was typical of him to wrestle power from an incumbent. He said he had demonstrated this by beating two sitting governors in Ekiti State.

     

    He noted further that with the support of his party, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, he will sure become Nigeria’s next president in 2019.

    “I’m going straight to that Villa. I’m the next president,” he said in a statement issued on Tuesday by his special assistant on public communications and new media, Mr Lere Olayinka.

    “I have a penchant for taking powers; that one in President Muhammadu Buhari’s hand, I will take it.”

    Fayose further revealed plans to formally declare his intention to run for the presidency in the general elections on Thursday in Abuja.

    The governor, via his twitter handle @GovAyoFayose displayed a copy of his letter to the PDP, seeking the party’s support in 2019.

    He, however, said his ambition to be president was without prejudice to the party’s position, but in the overall interest of the party and the country.

    The letter read; “It is with a deep sense of responsibility that I write to inform you of my intention to seek the ticket/mandate of our party to contest the 2019 presidential election.

    “Considering your support and commitment towards our great party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), it becomes imperative to keep you informed and seek your support.

    “This ambition, however, is without prejudice to our party’s position but in the overall interest of the party and our country.

    “I urge that all hands should be on deck to ensure victory at the 2019 presidential election.

    “Accept the assurances of my highest regards as a determined presidential hopeful.”

     

  • Mama Taraba + Baba Adamawa – Buhari = 2019 election [2] – Etakibuebu

    By Godwin Etakibuebu

    This page ended last week with introduction to the anticipated Principalities and Powers; with absolute dominion over the Nigerian political terrain, which Baba Adamawa [Atiku Abubakar] must overcome if his long trek to the presidency in 2019 would not be another big mirage. Our major responsibility today is to identify these Principalities and Powers, and try in evaluating the possibility of Atiku Abubakar overcoming them in his “voyage of discovery” to the villa.

    Normally these principalities and powers ought to be having their siesta for now as 2019 seems to be too far to be debated, in the thought of our favoured Nobel Laureate; Wole Soyinka. He was quoted, a few days ago, as saying that it might be too early to delve into the politics of 2019 when much is yet to be accomplished in terms of achievable profits of governance for now. He was equally quoted as doubting the sanity of those who may want to nominate Muhammadu Buhari for the presidency contest in 2019, given the terrible health challenge the man is currently undergoing.

    Wole Soyinka spoke very well but to the extent of displaying naivety about the modus operandi about Nigerian politicians. The man is too much concerned with his literary work to understand that in Nigeria, preparation for the next election [which is four years constitutionally] starts on the very day politicians are sworn into office.

    Another thing he did not care to know is that every Nigerian politician is an accomplished magician. Being magician is the only reason why “talented” Nigerian politicians could nominate an incarcerated prisoner, serving in Agodi prison, to run for the office of the Senate of the federal Republic, won the election, sworn-in as a Senator, appointed as Chairman of a lucrative Committee of the floor of that hallow chamber and he would be signing resolutions of the Chamber while still in prison.
    It was a feat that had played itself out before in the 6th Senate. Nobody should ask me for names. For verification, just check on those “first class” Senators from the South/West. If that was achieved without ado in the past, there is no reason why a higher version of such cannot be enacted between now and 2019. It is a feat that El Rufai; the Kaduna State Governor will perform with ease. For him [El Rufai], it does not matter anything if President Buhari is sick or not, it does not even matter if the President’s doctors sanction his participation in the rigour of political electioneering or not, it is a fate accompli for Buhari to run for the presidency in 2019, as long as the powerful deities from the north approve it.

    His winning the race, that is if he runs, is also a foregone conclusion. Opinion of Mama Taraba [Aisha Alhassan] on this matter is not needed, not in the classroom of the BUHARISTS adequately being coordinated by those Hynes, Jackals, Tigers and what-have-you in the Lion’s animal kingdom. Lest l forget, the news is already out that the Kaduna State All Progressive Congress has nominated Muhammadu Buhari and El Rufai to run for the presidency and governorship [of Kaduna State] respectively. With this announcement, Wole Soyinka must have another opinion on the possibility of Buhari running for the presidency in 2019 or not. Let us move ahead with the discussion by categorizing the principalities and powers Atiku Abubakar and Mama Taraba are likely to confront on the road to Abuja.

    Number one of such obstacles is former President Olusegun Obasanjo. Obasanjo is from Owu, Egba of Yoruba tribe in Nigeria. Within the Yoruba tribe itself, it is an accepted fact that the Owus never forgive [Owu ti n’ki dariji]. If this is a fact, Obasanjo will do everything possible for his former second-in-command never to get any closer to becoming the president of Nigeria. He said the other day that “I am still laughing” when somebody asked him about the chances of Atiku Abubakar gunning for the presidency. He may even want to laugh louder this time around about a likely failure of Baba Adamawa, though he is not God. I am of the opinion that Atiku knows this.

    Number two may be Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the national leader of the APC. Though thoroughly “down-graded” by President Buhari and his “inner-room cabinet” in the management of the ruling Party [APC], Asiwaju Tinubu may still want to cast his lot for a “lively dog than a dead lion” for one or two reasons. If Buhari runs again, he is most likely to tag along with Professor Yemi Osibanjo [for now the Kaduna Mafia understands the calamity of rejecting the candidature of the erudite professor, who is not only representing Bola Tinubu, but most importantly, representing the Obafemi Awolowo’s dynasty of the Yoruba race].
    The political acumen of Bola Tinubu [he is complete in political wizardry] would tell him to run with the “lively dog [Osibanjo] than a likely dead lion [Atiku]” and once such decision is taken, the whole of the South/West would vote Buhari back to power. If the truth must be told, there is not one politician that controls the politics of the South/West with such absolutism as Bola Tinubu does. The man understands the politics of stooping to conquer and he is ready to deploy it at any time.
    Another reason why Bola Tinubu may not be too much at home with Atiku Abubakar for the contest of 2019 would be the fact that both came together through political exigency in 2011 when the latter [Atiku] defected from the People Democratic Party to pick the presidential candidature flag of the Action Congress [a political party Tinubu put together single-handedly]. That relationship, if we may recall, bred more suspicion and apathy than unity of understanding between the two politicians. Bola Tinubu may not have forgotten that era and it might not therefore foster any unifying relationship for a continuation of cordiality to be contemplated.

    Number three on the line of obstacles for Mama Taraba and Baba Adamawa would be the People Democratic Party as an entity. It will be recall that as of the time Atiku Abubakar walked out of the Party [PDP] in 2014 [with what they called new-PDP] to form the APC, that would be his second time of decamping from the Party he helped to formed around 1998/1999. Yes, in politics; which is a game of manipulation and permutation, oddities sometimes can become the key to open the door of success but how much of confidence-building Atiku Abubakar’s “going and coming” would enjoy in the inner-circle of the PDP this time around remains much to be seen. It might not be too much of a palatable news for the “political predators” inside the PDP to accept Atiku back wholeheartedly [and offering him the opportunity to fly the presidential flag] without some cosmetic window dressing with the garments of deceit.

    There are other obstacles awaiting Mama Taraba and Baba Adamawa on the route to Aso Rock in 2019. Let us meet here to conclude the evaluation next week, by the grace of God.
    Godwin Etakibuebu, a veteran journalist, writes from Lagos.

  • We’ll end gas flaring in 2019 – Oil firm declares

    Belema Oil Producing Limited, a major indigenous player in the nation’s oil and gas industry, says it will end gas flaring in its host communities in 2019.

    The Managing Director of the company, Mr Boma Brown, said this on Monday at a forum to introduce its operation model to its host communities in Port Harcourt.

    He said that gas flaring had deprived the country of huge revenue, polluted oil producing areas and depleted the ozone layer.

    According to him, the company is now ready to harness its flared gas to generate more revenue.

    “We have already set up a team to monetise our gas which is basically to turn the gas presently flared into revenue as part of our business model.

    “The company is currently speaking and engaging stakeholders with a focus to ending gas flaring in five oil fields in Idama, Robertkiri, Jokka, Inda and Belema-Belema North, all in Kula (Rivers).

    “We have already started the framework by carrying out the projects that we have earmarked to stop gas flaring before the end of 2019,” he said.

    Brown said that government through the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) had shown willingness to end gas flaring in the country in 2020.

    He expressed optimism that deregulation of the downstream industry would drive needed investment in the oil and gas sector.

    Brown expressed optimism that his company’s drive to end gas flaring would encourage other multinational oil companies to follow suit and end decades-long pollution in the Niger Delta.

    “Introduction of Belema Model to our host communities is part of our desire to create value in the communities and allow them share in the wealth.

    “We want communities to participate in our activities – not just only in surveillance of oil and gas facilities – but to acquire skills that would enable them participate in the industry.

    “We will do this through regular training and integration with our contractors while employing some of them to work with the company,” he said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the NNPC recently released a template to curb gas flaring, preparatory to the 2020 flare deadline by the Department of Petroleum Resources .

  • 2019: Osinbajo disowns group campaigning for his election as President

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo yesterday disowned a group known as Osinbajo Volunteers, which is campaigning for his election as president in 2019.

    Distancing himself from activities of the group, Osinbajo, through his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande, asked Nigerians to disregard the group, adding that he had nothing to do with them.

    “Please, disregard this website created by faceless people for mischievous purposes. It has absolutely nothing to do with the Vice President,” Akande said via his Twitter handle on Saturday.

    The group was canvassing Osinbajo as a presidential candidate in the 2019 election.

    In a veiled reference to a former vice president turned president who was described as “clueless,” the Osinbajo Volunteers noted that Nigeria now has a “leader who has a clue what to do and (how to) turn Nigeria the beloved to the land of our dreams.”

    The group featured the activities of the vice president on its website, while calling on members of the public to volunteer for Osinbajo.

    It however noted that it did not receive the endorsement of the vice president, noting that it had never met him.

    “Note that Osinbajo did not endorse this volunteer group. We have never met him. We are strong believers in the fact that he is the right ruler for Nigeria and must create a peoples volunteer base for him,” the volunteers stated on their website.

  • ‘Nigerians entered one chance with APC, PDP will regain Aso Villa in 2019’ – Fayose

    ‘Nigerians entered one chance with APC, PDP will regain Aso Villa in 2019’ – Fayose

    …Unveils 2019 presidential ambition

    Governor of Ekiti State and Chairman of PDP Governors Forum, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, has said that those who are currently in Aso Rock are one chance people who don’t know what they are doing there.

    Governor Fayose also said that the Peoples Democratic Party has bounced back fully to life and is going straight back to the Aso villa.

    Fayose who officially unveiled his presidential ambition at the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP’s National Convention currently taking place at the Eagles Square, Abuja also said that Nigerians entered one chance in the All Progressive Congress, APC, party. He, however, said that the APC has done one year and must, therefore, go so that PDP will take over and deliver to Nigerians.

    Governor Fayose who arrived the arena wearing his 2019 presidential campaign shirt and cap equally had his entourage carrying his 2019 presidential campaign posters while the crowd gave him a roaring welcome.

    According to him, “Nigerians have entered one chance in this government. But we can assure you that the APC has entered one term and they have to go,” he said.

    “The PDP is now a religion, a belief that we are going back to our villa. God will be with us. Those people there, at Aso Rock, they don’t know what they are doing.

    “Out of that one chance, we will give you plenty chances. We make mistakes but our ability to correct them is what is important. It is time to arise and shine.

    “Shake the persons next to you and tell him or her congratulations for 2019. I don’t know about you but as for me, I am in Aso Rock already.

    “I want to congratulate our great party and to assure Nigerians that we are going to deliver them from all they are passing through.”

  • PDP will chase Buhari, Osinbajo out of office in 2019 – FFK

    Former aviation minister, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode has vowed the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP will remove President Muhammadu Buhari and his vice, Yemi Osinbajo from office come 2019 general elections.

    Fani-Kayode who made the disclosure while featuring on Channels TV’s Politics Today, said the PDP has put its house together and will manage its success well to ensure it takes over power from the Buhari-led government.

    When asked by the TV host, Seun Okinbaloye, if the PDP has got the moral integrity to appeal to Nigerians, Fani-Kayode said the morality question is more deserving for the APC-led government.

    He added, “The Nigerian people have moved past the lies and propaganda of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and with what is happening in the country in the last two years, I think those in APC has more question of morality to answer.

    “We did a lot in 16 years and we have nothing to be ashamed of, one quarter of APC today is made up of former members of the PDP and they also formed the integral part of the previous sixteen years led by PDP”

    “We are moving towards victory, throw the question of morality, decency to the ruling government, Nigerians are tired of mass murder, carnage under them, PDP will ensure Nigerians are united and can breathe again” He said.

    Speaking on some of the mild crisis rocking PDP, Fani-Kayode said such is not peculiar to PDP, stressing that every political party have one or two issues they are facing.

    “PDP is a big family and of course we can’t do without such.

    “Everyone knows what APC tried to do with our party through its agent who were planted in our midst to hijack our party structure, if we could have survived one and half years of the ruthless onslaught of APC, we will march to victory come 2019.

    “We are fully back on course, we have our party together and it is only left for us to manage our success and ensure we inflict what Donald Trump called, fire and fury on the APC in 2019.

     

  • Stop cutting corners to achieve political ambitions – Makarfi tells PDP members

    Stop cutting corners to achieve political ambitions – Makarfi tells PDP members

    …Says internal wranglings caused party’s monumental loss in 2015 general elections

    The chairman of the Caretaker Committee of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ahmed Makarfi has cautioned party members against cutting corners to achieve their political ambitions.

    Makarfi spoke at the party’s Abuja secretariat on Wednesday while receiving PDP stakeholders from Oyo and Osun state chapters.

    Warning against cutting corners to achieve ambitions, the party chair said such actions could be counterproductive, stressing that the culture of impunity was partly responsible for the party’s past crises.

    He said, “We must stop cutting corners. We live in a high litigious society. When we cut corners thinking that nobody will see you, a lot of people have seen you. At a time you least expect, somebody will drag you to court again. Therefore, what is worth doing is worth doing well”.

    Stating that internal wrangling could only weaken the PDP, Makarfi said nobody stands to gain from disunity.

    “We are not in politics to suffer but (to) form government. PDP was the dominant party but internal crisis caused us to lose election,” he added.

    He stressed the need to consolidate the party’s recent victory at the Supreme Court by doing the right thing all the time.

    Makarfi said, “Political victory means expanding the scope of the party, reconciling with the reconcilable and attracting members into the party that will enable us regain political power at the centre by overwhelming majority,” he stated.

    ‎”Some of us that have been occupied by power acquisition, whether they are in the party or they are contemplating to come into the party, ‎they are more glued to the acquisition of political power, that can derail the party.

    ‎”Let’s build a strong and virile political party. Let there be a level playing field for people to freely choose who they want to present as party’s candidates. That is the surest way to get to power come 2019. That is what internal democracy entails.

    ‎”While opening our doors wide to all and sundry, the party must be conscious that the structure must not be compromised in a way that diminishes the enthusiasm.

    “I will stick to the party guidelines and constitution in doing whatever we do. We must consult on fundamental issues, use consensus as much as ‎possible and move forward”.

    The party chairman assured the gathering of neutrality, objectivity and transparency in the running of the affairs of the party by entrenching the culture of inclusiveness.

    Makarfi enjoined those shopping for platforms to feed their political ambitions rather than building the party to have a rethink.

    He warned that failing to follow due process in resolving political issues could lead to litigation, which might eventually lead to crisis situation.

    Those at the meeting include Senators Iyiola Omisore, Akin Olasunkanmi, Chief Olu Alabi, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, Senator Femi Lanlehin, Senator Hosea Agbooola among others.

    Some of the participants from Oyo state announced that they came to represent former Governors Adebayo Alao Akala and Rashidi Ladoja at the meeting.