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Tag: 2019

  • Thugs’ attack: ‘APC already emulating PDP, party may fail in 2019 if…’ – Sanni warns

    Sequel to the crisis bedeviling the Kaduna Chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and the recent attacks by some thugs on journalists covering a press congress organised by Senators Shehu Sanni (Kaduna Central) and Suleiman Hunkuyi (Kaduna North), one of the affected Senators (Sanni) has warned the national leadership of the party to fix the rot in the party or get kicked out like Nigerians did to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in 2015.

    Sani, who represents Kaduna Central in the Senate in company of some APC members in Kaduna, including Suleiman Hunkuyi (Kaduna North), discussed with the national chairman, John Odigie-Oyegun on Monday in an aftermath of the crisis on Saturday.

    He condemned Saturday’s local government elections in the state, saying that it did not hold.

    Sani alleged that the delegates list for the election was doctored and did not follow due process.

    “They sat down in the palace of their gods to write names and send it down here for us to accept; that can never happen,” he said.

    He said that such practice contributed to the problems of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and warned that the APC could go the same way if its leadership failed to address the problem.

    “This was the seed of the destruction of the PDP, where individuals considered themselves as gods and any other person a slave; that will never happen in Kaduna state.

    “We are here to present our case and to appeal to the instrument of leadership of this party to intervene in the Kaduna issue before it becomes too late.

    “We are here to also state it to the party´s national leadership that we are under siege in Kaduna.

    “The use of thugs and violence by agents and close associates of the state government is one thing we cannot tolerate,” Sani said.

    He decried the recent raiding of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) secretariat in Kaduna by thugs during a press briefing after the councils’ election, during which journalists were injured.

    He said that such was the trait of the APC, and urged its leadership to set up an investigation panel to bring the perpetrators of the disturbances.

    The lawmaker alleged that the thugs were acting in concert with the police in the state.

    “If we continue on this part, where one person feels he is a god, I think we are simply repeating the very problem that destroyed the party we ejected out of power,” he said.

    He maintained that there was a need for APC to provide the vehicle for real change for the country to change and tasked members to change the manner they played politics.

    Sani stressed that those who resolved to the use of violence or thugs to liquidate perceived political opponent were on the wrong side of history.

    He said that members of his faction of the party in the state were not agents of violence but were loyal and peaceful.

    He insisted that if the APC must win the 2019 election, it must, apart from fulfilling its campaign promises, set an example for discipline, comradeship and a sense of belonging to all members.

    Sani said that what was happening in the party´s leadership in the state was unbecoming and should be addressed before it became late.

    He appealed to those in authority to ´´know that the God that brought the APC to power was still alive and will always listen to the cries of the oppressed and marginalised.

    “We are here in the spirit of that, and we hope that we will get the cooperation of the national party´s leadership to come to the rescue of the party in Kaduna before it is too late,” he said.

     

    (NAN)

  • Borno politicians planning to revive Boko Haram ahead of 2019 elections – Group

    Borno politicians planning to revive Boko Haram ahead of 2019 elections – Group

    Ahead of the 2019 general elections, some politicians have allegedly perfected plans to revive the Boko Haram insurgents, a group, Concerned Leaders of Conscience has claimed.
    According to the group, some statements recently attributed to Senator Ali Ndume, Senator Abubakar Kyari and other northern leaders were capable of escalating terrorism in the north eastern part of Nigeria.
    CLC said that such statements could only have been inspired by the numerous benefits that their purveyors derive from any instability in the region
    The group in a communiqué issued after an emergency meeting held in Kaduna, Kaduna State on Saturday observed that those in the position of influence in Borno State benefit from the regional instability precipitated by Boko Haram as evidenced in the diversion of relief materials meant for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).
    The communiqué jointly signed by Dr. Eugene Tarkema, National Chairman, Dr. Abel Awulu, and Dr. Fagbemi Kolawole, Secretary, called on the Nigerian government and the international community to clampdown on Boko Haram sponsors and financiers.
    The communiqué obtained our reporter reads, “The tragedy of Boko Haram terror activities is being exploited by the political class in Borno state, and it is worrisome that highly placed persons in the state government and elders in the state are in on this unacceptable development.
    “Recent statements credited to Senator Ali Ndume, Senator Abubakar Kyari and proxies as capable of escalating terrorism in the north east of Nigeria. It is clear that such statements could only have been inspired by the numerous benefits that their purveyors derive from any instability in the region.
    “It has been proven that those in the position of influence in Borno State benefit from the regional instability precipitated by Boko Haram as evidenced in the diversion of relief materials meant for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs). There are suggestions that part of the proceeds from diverted materials is channelled into funding Boko Haram.
    “Despite the victory against the insurgency by the Nigerian Military, Local Government Authorities in Borno State have refused to convey administrative procedures proceedings thereby diverting funds and sharing with State Government Officials in Maiduguri who had earlier hand picked and stationed them for the purpose.
    “There is a need for the Borno State Government to come out clearly to render full account to the people and in what has happened to their resources in the most recent past. The anti-graft agencies own Nigerians answers to these questions for the world to know the nexus between Local Government funds and the operation of Boko Haram in Borno State.
    “The initial inaction and eventual active support for Boko Haram members by elders and political leaders in the northeast is playing out in other regions – Biafra secessionists are getting such support in the southeast while the silence that equal acquiescent is bolstering militants in the south-south.
    “We call on the country to note that these recent attacks in Borno state are not isolated events but part of concerted efforts by Borno politicians to revive Boko Haram ahead of the 2019 General Elections. These politicians apparently have a control over the terrorists to an extent that they decide when to unleash them on the country or keep them subdued when it is desirable.
    “Also, international relief and donor agencies must immediately stop routing funds through the Borno State Government but instead relate directly with IDPs since there is ample proof that relief resources are an incentive for state officials, who divert and covert them for themselves and for financing terrorists.”

  • 2019: Meet Monica Ambrose, lady who wants to be Nigeria’s next president [Video]

    Apparently disturbed by the spate of challenges troubling Nigeria as country, a concerned Nigerian in the diaspora, identified as Monica Ambrose has declared to contest for presidency come 2019.

    Monica who made her declaration available to the public in a video she shared on the social media is presently trending and driving conversation [eligibility grounds] among Nigerians.

    She said she has been based in the Netherlands for 17 years and stressed that she wants to be ‘President’ because she desires a Nigeria and can make the dream come true by running for President.

    In the video, Monica, however, appealed to Nigerians not to judge her spoken English, which she herself admitted was terrible but begged that they concentrate on her good intents for them.

    Her words, “No be English I wan take carry Nigeria, I don’t need good English to take Nigeria to its destination…I will give you good roads, electricity, I will not disappoint you, I don’t have eyes on your money, my children are born here in the Netherlands and they have a benefit of their own”

    Withing six months that we sign the contract, all the promises will be realised” She added.

    “NDP! Vote for Monica; NDP! Vote for Monica” she chants to end her speech and said she will be releasing more videos on her political ambition.

  • BREAKING: Fayose launches 2019 presidential campaign

    Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State has inaugurated his presidential campaign.

    The Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Governors Forum had launched his presidential campaign on his Facebook page.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that Fayose had on several occasions declared that he would kick the All Progressives Party, APC, led federal government out of office in 2019.

    The governor had initially said he would approach the Supreme Court to determine his eligibility to contest for the state governorship election due to his inability to complete his first term in office. This follows court’s ruling dismissing his impeachment.

     

    See photo of the campaign inauguration…

  • 2019 beckons on PDP – Amori

    By Ighoyota Amori

    For more than a year, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP was embroiled in a leadership tussle at the national level, which shock the very foundation and existence of the party, even at a time when members of the party were still grappling with the loss of the presidential election after sixteen years of holding sway.

    The leadership tussle pitched greater number of progressive leaders, elders and members of the party on the side of the National Caretaker Committee led by Senator Ahmed Makarfi and a handful of retrogressive members joining the Senator Modu Sheriff faction to act the script of enemies of the party from outside.

    At some point, it seemed like the PDP would not be able to come out of the leadership crisis largely believed to be masterminded by the ruling All Progressive Congress, APC, to destroy party which is the only alternative opposition needed by Nigerians at a time the country is being taking several years behind the progresses made by the PDP in sixteen years.

    Despite this ground plot to see that the PDP goes into extinction, the party on Wednesday, July 12, 2017, was rejuvenated by the Supreme Court judgment which confirmed the authentic national leadership of the party on the Makarfi Caretaker Committee. The nationwide excitement and jubilation by party members indeed attested to the acceptance of the Makarfi leadership that is committed to revamping the party to reclaim the presidency come 2019.

    The verdict of the nation’s apex court no doubt rekindled not just the hope of members of the PDP alone, but that of entire Nigerians on the once prejudice judicial system. The courage of the panel of justices that delivered the epoch making judgment is a big signal to the ruling APC that the nation’s judicial system would no longer be under their beck and call.

    A big congratulations for the resounding court victory to the PDP National Caretaker Committee Chairman, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, Senator Ben Obi, all members of the Caretaker Committee, the Chairman and members of the Board of Trustees, PDP Governors Forum, PDP National Assembly caucuses, ex-minister forum, State Chairmen, our indefatigable leaders of Professor Jerry Gana, Chief Olabode George, former PDP governors forum particularly Sule Lamido, Babangida Aliyu, the faithful staff of the PDP National secretariat and all the leaders and members of the PDP family.

    Congratulations also the apex court for being supreme in their judgement that brought peace and hope to the country’s nascent democracy. It shows clearly that the judiciary is really the last hope of the common man. In any case, no matter how long a road is, it must have an end. Congratulations to all who stood firmly believing that justice will be done at last. The judicial rascality perpetuated by some compromised judges and justices to undo the PDP are now history. For those members who acted the script of the ruling APC to silence the PDP embrace the genuine hand of fellowship extended by Makarfi to return to the fold in the task to send APC parking from Aso rock in 2019.

    The office of the Special Adviser on Reconcilation & Conflict Management is now open at the Wadata Plaza as from Monday, 17th July, 2017, to fully function in line with its mandate to stand by the NCC Chairman to reposition the party for total victory at all levels. …….. Congratulations!

     

    Senator Ighoyota Amori,

    Special Adviser to the PDP National Caretaker Committee Chairman,

    Senator Ahmed Makarfi on Reconciliation and Conflict Management

  • PDP agrees it failed Nigerians, hopes to reclaim power in 2019

    PDP agrees it failed Nigerians, hopes to reclaim power in 2019

    Acknowledging it failed Nigerians in the past, the national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP said the party is ready to seek forgiveness and move forward while laying emphasis that PDP will regain power in the country in 2019.

    “The enemies are shivering already. Today is a turning point of things in Nigeria. We are moving forward. Where we have erred, we must tell Nigerians that we erred and seek their forgiveness. This is a collective victory.’’ Makarfi said.

    Makarfi stated this at a meeting he had with members of the party’s Senate caucus shortly after the Supreme Court verdict which affirmed his leadership of the party.

    The meeting was held at the private residence of the Governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, in Abuja.

    Fayose is the chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum.

    Makarfi said the party would not repeat the mistakes of the past, adding that history must not be allowed to repeat itself.

    He urged the leadership of the party to work together and also ensure that nobody “is allowed to hold the party to ransom again.”

    He said the All Progressives Congress made a blunder in Osun State, adding that this was the reason why the ruling party in the state lost the Osun-West senatorial election to the PDP.

    He said, “Work, we must work together. We must also learn to accommodate. But that should not be to the detriment of the people who fought for the party.

    “Just as we take Osun West, we will take Nigeria in style by 2019.

    “We would be coming with a programme that would be realistic and will not be against any constitution of the party, electoral act or any law whatsoever.

    Makarfi told the senators and others present at the meeting that the party’s leadership would meet on Tuesday with the party’s Board of Trustees.

    He said it was after the meeting that decisions would be taken on when the party would have its National Executive Committee meeting.

    The former governor of Kaduna State added, “All the caucuses are meeting soon, I think on Tuesday or so. We must be tactical, we must be careful and we must know that the enemies are also watching.

    “The enemies are shivering already. Today is a turning point of things in Nigeria. We are moving forward. Where we have erred, we must tell Nigerians that we erred and seek their forgiveness. This is a collective victory.’’

    Fayose, however, said, “The wall of Jericho has fallen. We must come together to get power in 2019.”

    He declared that the Supreme Court judgment had placed the party on good stead to return to power in 2019.

    He assured the Makarfi-led leadership of the full cooperation of the governors, adding that, “where we need to speak we will speak, where we need to spend money, we will spend”.

     

  • I will take power from Buhari come 2019, Fayose insists [Video]

    Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, in celebrating three years of his victory in the June 21, 2014, Governorship Election while stressing that he will take power from Buhari come 2019.

    At the rally, the governor lambasted President Muhammadu Buhari, accusing him of running a government of nepotism.

    Specifically, he stated that the 2017 budget did not capture the interests of all Nigerians, especially Ekiti State with no federal government appropriated for it.

    Fayose said the people of the state would revolt against the All Progressives Congress in the 2018 governorship poll due to its insensitivity to the plights of Ekiti.

     

    “The APC-led federal government is fighting everybody, the judiciary and legislators, as well as the press, were not spared. They are running a lawless government and that was why they refused to release Col. Bello Dasuki and El-Zakky Zakky despite court orders. This is not the kind of Nigeria of our dream.

    “The APC will be upset in 2018, we will crush them and that is why you have to be strong and firm. I am a leader in Nigeria and nobody can gag or cow me because this country belongs to all of us. Today, Nigerians are hungry and angry. There is so much nepotism and poverty in the land, so this government must go.

    “Nigeria must be restructured. You can’t get peace when there is no justice. You must do budget that will represent the interest of everybody; this country belongs to all of us. This is not the kind of Nigeria we craved for. There must be equity.

    “They have no choice than to restructure this country for good. They have abandoned their manifesto. They are no longer talking about it.”

    Fayose appealed to Ekiti electorate to register in the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration so that they can have the opportunity to vote against the APC in 2018.

    “This victory march is meant to thank the people of Ekiti State and to finally break down the wall of Jericho, because I know we shall triumph for I have the people behind me. After winning, I am going to Abuja to be President of Nigeria. I will take power from Buhari in 2019 and that shall come to pass.”

     

  • If we make PDP’s mistake, APC will be fired come 2019 – Oyegun

    National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, John Odigie-Oyegun, has warned that Nigerians may vote against the party in 2019.

    Oyegun spoke on Tuesday at the APC National Secretariat in Abuja, when he was formally presented with the book “APC: The Making of a Change Agent” written by Special Assistant to the President on Prosecution, Okoi Obono-Obla.

    Obono-Obla served as the Secretary of Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) Alliance/Merger Committee.

    Oyegun urged others who “participated intimately” in the formation of the APC to document their record of events for posterity.

    “We created a machine that has started a significant move in entrenching democracy in this country. What is democracy? It is the ability to hire and fire”, he said.

    “It was the first time that Nigerians had the ability of firing and it has become internalised in our political psyche. We know that we should not make the mistakes of the PDP. We too now know that we can be fired and that is democracy”‎, he added.
    “It is important because in a few years, peripheral people like happens today in the case of June 12, sort of claim ownership of an event they know very little about In fact, we encourage all those who participated intimately to document their record of what they think happened”, he said.

    “Historians will then later take these slightly different versions considering the perspectives were you were standing to watch the show. And we will eventually have a comprehensive rendition of what happened.

    “It was the first time a merger of that type had succeeded. It is the first time people had the intense nationalism to make the degree of sacrifice that was called for in agreeing to a merger.”
    Oyegun however hailed the contributions of chairmen of parties that merged, ex-vice president, Atiku Abubakar, ex-governor of Lagos state, Bola Tinubu and ‘new PDP’ entrants in ensuring victory for President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015.

    The ‘new PDP’ members where senators, Reps members, governors under the People’s Democratic Party that defected to the APC after its formation.

    “We had three party chairmen, and a lot of other individuals- former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and a few others who participated actively. And we must not forget the role that was played by the new PDP.”

    Speaking, Obono-Obla said, “The book tells the story of the APC; How the APC was founded; the intense negotiations; support of the governor; and how the APC dethroned an incumbent government, unprecedented in the history of Nigeria.

    “It was necessary for a member of the merger committee to tell the story so that there is no distortion and misrepresentation of facts. This generation and generations to come will read this story and also see how the PDP failed so that the APC will not make the same mistake.

    “Because if we make that mistake, the Nigerian people will punish us as they punished the PDP. We should run a democratic party. I am happy that the APC National Chairman is doing his best and despite all the turbulence, the Party is still one.”

    Present at the book presentation were the APC National Auditor, George Moghalu; National Organising Secretary, Osita Izunaso and National Vice Chairman (South East), Emma Eneukwu.

  • No serious minded politician should talk about 2019 – Saraki

    President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki has said that it is insensitive for elected political office holders to leave service delivery now and be preoccupied with 2019 politicking.

    He stated that 2019 is still a long period for serious minded politicians to be engrossed with it to the detriment of good governance.

    Speaking during an interview with journalists in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital on Sunday, he said elected public office holders had not met some of the expectations of Nigerians, adding that they should rather be committed to rendering services and fulfilling their electoral promises.

    Saraki said, “2019 is a long way. Any serious minded politician that is interested in his people should not be talking about 2019 especially if we want to be honest with ourselves, some of the expectations of our people have not been met. I think it will be insensitive, if we have left that and we are now talking about 2019.

    We need to work hard to make sure that we meet those expectations.

    “The economy is already moving in the right direction, which is why we are addressing the issue of security, which is good. We are fighting corruption; we need to do more in that area. By the time we work tremendously over the next one year, I think we will be in a position where we can beat our chest and say we have done well.”

  • 2019: I might consider running for presidency – Donald Duke

    Former Governor of Cross River State, Donald Duke has said he still has some energy left in him to run for the office of the President of Nigeria if the opportunity comes calling.

    The former governor made the declaration at a symposium titled: ‘Young and Emerging Leaders’ which held in Lagos on Tuesday (today).

    The former governor who was one of the panelist for the programme while answering a question from one of the participants on why he has not contested or seek appointment after leaving office in 2007 said: ‘I am a hands on person. I am not wired to sit and contribute like Senators or House of Reps members do.

    “I believe in execution and the only position I can achieve that is in the office of the president of Nigeria. At my age, I think i still have some energy left in me and I might consider it if the opportunity presents itself.”