TheNewsGuru

Tag: APC

  • Gov. Wike wishes Rivers APC members peaceful congress

    Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has wished the All Progressive Congress (APC ) in Rivers State a peaceful congress outing and appealed members of the political party be law-abiding through the process.

    The Governor made this known is a statement made available to TheNewsGuru by his Special Assistant on Electronic Media, Simeon Nwakaudu.

    TheNewsGuru reports the Rivers State APC is set to hold her congress this weekend.

    “Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike is wishing all APC members, a successful and peaceful congress. Governor Wike appealed to all APC members in the state to be law-abiding and maintain the peace in the state,” the statement read.

    Meanwhile, Governor Wike advised all hoteliers in the state not to allow their hotels to be used to foment trouble as was the case during the party’s last congress when Novotel was negatively used by some persons, leading to the misconception across the country that Rivers State was in crisis.

    Governor Wike advised all APC members in the State to work towards a peaceful and successful congress, devoid of rancour.

  • Scandinavia chapter of APC lauds Buhari’s visit to United States

    The Scandinavia chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC) says it is happy with the diplomatic exploits of President Muhammadu Buhari during his visit to the United States.

    Buhari visited America on April 30 on the invitation of President Donald Trump.

    Mr Ayoola Lawal, the Chairman of the chapter, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on telephone from Gothenburg, Sweden, that members were happy with the decision of the United States to repatriate stolen money to Nigeria.

    According to him, friends and followers of African politics in the Scandinavia were also impressed with the way the president answered questions at the White House during a press conference.

    “Apart from Nigerians, friends and followers of African politics were inspired by President Buhari during his official visit to USA.

    “I am very happy for Nigerians and I hope the benefits of the visit will have direct impact on Nigeria`s development,” he said.

    Lawal, an aspirant for the Ifako-Ijaiye Constituency 1 seat in the Lagos State House of Assembly, also commended Trump for his candid diplomatic approach to issues during the visit.

    NAN

     

  • Mind your business, Ekiti APC tells Fayose

    The Ekiti state chapter of the All Progressives Congress, (APC) on Wednesday night reacted to claims by Governor Ayo Fayose that some of its aspirants planned to monetise Saturday’s governorship primary, describing it as figment of his imagination.

    The party, through its State Publicity Secretary, Chief Taiwo Olatunbosun said what the governor had just displayed by raising “false alarm” was a sign that he was afraid of an impending loss by his party of the July gubernatorial election.

    ” Fayose is frustrated and jittery, let him mind his business. He is not a member of our party so I don’t know where he is picking his information from.

    ” APC is not like his own party, the Peoples Democratic Party that has stolen our commonwealth and plunged the nation into a state of coma

    “Yes, we will mobilise our members for the primary but the allegation that we are sharing that kind of money by the governor is laughable

    ” We will do everything that is right and within the constitution to send him out of the Government House, so let him start packing.

    “No amount of blackmail will stop or derail us. The Ekiti people are set for the APC and we will make sure we produce a candidate that is acceptable to the people.”he said.

    At a press conference earlier on Wednesday, Fayose raised the alarm over alleged movement of heavy cash into the state by some unidentified aspirants of the APC.

    He said such monies were meant to compromise the delegates.

    He claimed that the governorship election slated for July 14 in the state might also be compromised by the use of cash, going by the alleged desperation of the aspirants who are jostling for the ticket of the APC.

    According to him, the way the exercise was being compromised in the build up to ordinary primary, showed that the APC was merely paying lip service to the war against corruption.

    The Governor wondered where the money being spent by the alleged and unidentified aspirants was coming from.

    Fayose claimed that one particular aspirant gave each delegate N250,000, and another gave N500,000, with a promise to offer them N1million each onSaturday, the day of the party primary.

    He urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and other relevant agencies to beam their searchlight into the alleged monetisation of the electoral processes in the state and avoid a repeat of same scenario when it comes to the gubernatorial election proper.

     

  • EXCLUSIVE: PDP petitions UN, EU others, calls Buhari-led govt oppressive, anti-democratic

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has appealed to the United Nations, the European Union and other foreign countries, to urgently intervene in curbing the excesses of President Muhammadu Buhari-led government.

    Other foreign bodies copied in the petition include the American Ambassador to Nigeria, H. E. W. Stuart Symington; Ambassador of France, France Embassy, H. E. Denys Gayer; Ambassador of China, Embassy of China, H. E. Dr Zhou Pingjiang; Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Nigeria, Nikolay Udovichenko.

    The 12-paged petition obtained by TheNewsGuru.com, was signed by the PDP National Chairman of the party, Uche Secondus, who alleged that President Buhari and his administration are desperate to retain power against the wishes of the Nigerian people who are groaning under the yoke of the misrule of the government in the last three years.

    2019: I will return PDP to Aso Rock if elected chairman – Secondus
    PDP chair, Secondus

    Secondus who took office as PDP chair on the 9th of December 2017, lamented that Buhari led APC government is doing all it can to frustrate the legitimate opposition and to intimidate and persecute our leaders
    and ultimately destroy the fragile fabrics of our burgeoning democracy.

    The petition titled ‘Threats to Democracy, rule of law, basic freedoms and gross human rights violations by the federal government of Nigeria’ reads in part:

    “On the 9th of December 2017, I was elected as the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), by virtue of which I became the official leader of the opposition in Nigeria. Prior to this, in 2015, our party’s government led by President Goodluck Jonathan conducted a globally acclaimed free and fair presidential election and for the first time in our nation’s history superintended a peaceful, democratic transition of power from a party in government to an opposition party, the All Progressive Congress (APC) – led by General Muhammadu Buhari (Rtd).

    “Our expectations had been that this government would work to strengthen or at least, sustain the gains of this democratic milestone.

    “Regrettably, the President Buhari led APC government is doing all it can to frustrate the legitimate opposition and to intimidate and persecute our leaders and ultimately destroy the fragile fabrics of our burgeoning democracy.

    “Our nation has become heavily polarized along dangerous fault lines where citizens now live in fear and mutual suspicion; where citizens are slaughtered by the day by marauders; where hunger and strange diseases ravage the people due to the insensitive and incoherent policies of this government. I am constrained to bring to the attention of the United Nations what appears to be a predetermined and orchestrated plan by President Muhammadu Buhari and the Federal Government of Nigeria through various agencies including the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Nigerian Armed Forces, the Nigerian Police and other security organisations to truncate Nigeria’s democracy.

    “The President and his administration are desperate to retain power against the wishes of the Nigerian people who are groaning under the yoke of the misrule of the government in the last three years.

    “It is imperative to bring to the attention of the world, the various constitutional violations and the unrelenting persecution, arrest, detention and harried trial of opposition members as well as perceived opponents of government, including innocent business concerns, apparently in pursuit of the grand plot to discredit and stifle the opposition in Nigeria.

    “There is also, the increasing unwarranted attacks by government-controlled security forces on journalists, media houses and other well-meaning Nigerians carrying out their legitimate duties simply because they hold different opinions from those of APC led government.

    READ THE FULL PETITION HERE: TheNewsGuru (2)

     

     

  • May Day: APC, PDP, others felicitate with Nigerian workers

    May Day: APC, PDP, others felicitate with Nigerian workers

    The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and oppositon, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have extended its good wishes and greetings to all Nigerian workers on this year’s May Day celebration.

    The APC, in a statement by its spokesperson, Bolaji Abdullahi, described Nigerian workers as key drivers of development despite the challenges they face.

    “Unarguably, the Nigerian workers remain one of the most dedicated, resilient and hardworking in the world. They remain a key driver of the country’s multi-facet development.

    “Despite challenges particularly on the economy, we celebrate Nigerian workers for staying positive and being a partner in nation-building as well as contributing towards efforts to take the country to its deserved heights.”

    The party called on labour and trade unions in the country to continue ongoing dialogue with the government aimed at improving workers’ salaries and general welfare.

    Also the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) while celebrating Nigerian workers in a statement called on workers to stand up for democracy and against what it described as incessant constitutional violations and interferences.

    “Nigerian workers must also not spare any energy in raising a strong voice against the violation of human rights and manifest insensitivity of the Buhari administration to the unabated mass killing of compatriots in Benue, Kaduna, Kogi, Nasarawa, Yobe, Borno, Plateau, Zamfara and other parts of our country by marauders and insurgents.

    “Our labour force must also speak out against harsh anti-people policies and the corruption ravaging the Buhari administration, leading to the collapse of our once robust economy with loss of over 24 million jobs and attendant acute hardship, poverty and destitution in our country today.

    “Furthermore, we urge our workers to defend our democracy by standing against incessant constitutional violations, interferences and invasion of the legislature and the judiciary, persecution and harassment of opposition and lack of transparency in the system,” it said.

  • Why we turned our back on PDP – Abe

    A governorship aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, Senator Magnus Ngei Abe, said a lot of politicians left the People’s Democratic Party (PDP)-led government after sixteen years in power because of their strong belief that Nigeria and Nigerians needed a better alternative.

    This is as he said the APC is not just a political party but the symbol of the faith of Nigerians and a political expression of the conviction of the Nigerian people that Nigeria can be made to work for the majority of Nigerians.

    Abe, who spoke in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, during the inauguration of his liaison office, christened, “Freedom House”, urged APC members to make whatever sacrifices that are necessary to reflect this idea and the desire of the Nigerian people, not just to do things differently, but to do things better.

    He said, “I want to remind us all that we turned our back on the PDP government because after sixteen years we all agreed that Nigeria and Nigerians could do better. That is why Nigerians demanded for an alternative”.

    “The All Progressives Congress is not just a political party; it is the symbol of the faith of Nigerians. It is the political expression of the conviction of the Nigerian people that Nigeria can be made to work for the majority of Nigerians”.

    “Therefore, as members of the All Progressives Congress, we must do whatever we can, and we must make whatever sacrifices that are necessary to reflect this idea and the desire of the Nigerian people, not just to do things differently, but to do things better”.

    “The idea of the APC was to ensure that the old ways do not continue. Our slogan of change captivated this country, and President Muhammadu Buhari was the symbol of that hunger for change. Change is always difficult and those who genuinely desire change must be prepared to fight for it.

    “The only political vehicle in our country that is committed to the ideal of a better future for all Nigerians is the All Progressives Congress and the only leader in this country today that has staked his reputation and his commitment to change is President Muhammadu Buhari”.

    “No matter the challenges, I call on Nigerians to rally behind the President and join the APC to fight for the change that we desire. We are the ones who can make it happen”.

    “Those who are running helter-skelter either to go back to the vehicles of the past that all Nigerians saw clearly as incapable of leading us to progress and prosperity are missing the point. Those that are scrambling around for a new vehicle are equally missing the point”.

    “By their actions they have shown Nigerians that they have neither the faith nor the resilience to lead this country to success. Whatever new vehicle they produce now will still be a human vehicle. It will still have human challenges and may face the same storms that the APC is facing today. If that happens tomorrow what will they do? Will they jump off again and begin to search for another vehicle?”

    “Those who genuinely want this country to succeed must stay in the APC, they must join the APC, they must come together and let us work together, fight together to change Nigeria and make it work. Every other effort in any other direction is wasted effort”.

    “We gave the PDP sixteen uninterrupted years before we agreed that no redemption was possible. In three years the APC government has shown great promise. Yes, there are challenges, but there are also verifiable achievements which Nigerians can be proud of.”

    The governorship hopeful said, “Nigeria is going through a time of great challenges and also a time of great opportunities. The challenges are there but the opportunities will open up to those who can find the courage and conviction to take advantage of the present climate of change in our country”.

    “We need to consolidate on the foundations that this APC Government has laid for the development of dear our nation. The opposition has already embarked on orchestrated smear campaign against the federal government”.

    “If you listen to the opposition version of Nigeria, you will get the impression that nothing positive has been achieved in this country under this government and that life under PDP was like Eldorado.”

     

  • [EXCLUSIVE] APC chair: Oyegun still in the race

    There are strong indications that the Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun is still very much in the race to contest the exalted ruling party position.

    While Oyegun’s opposition have speculated that the he has backed out of the party national chairmanship race, a source very close to the incumbent chairman disclosed to TheNewsGuru.com under condition of anonymity that there was no time that he [Odigie-Oyegun] said he is no longer interested in contesting for the coveted position.

    When asked if Oyegun has thrown in the towel, our source said the reports in the media that Oyegun backed out was planted by his critics who where doing everything to force words out of his mouth.

    Oyegun according to our source doesn’t have the money to throw around like those waging political wars against him.

    “The story is planted, they want him to react, they are very anxious to know whether he will still fight…they know they don’t have the popular votes in the party,there is no question about that.
    “Otherwise they won’t have raised suspension recommendation, they just used the poor man [Buhari] to actualise their bid”
    “They’ve tried and tried to remove him from office from the inception but they did not succeed. they did not want him to complete his term and he is completing it, particularly he is still the one that will conduct the congress”

    Recall that the problem started for Oyegun when the national leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu kicked against the extension of officials of the party’s National Working Committee.

    A follow up to Tinbu’s declaration was the secondment by President Muhammadu Buhari .

    The President who was part of the meeting where the final decision to extend the tenure of NEC and NWC was taken, made a volte-face. He said the decision was illegal and a national convention necessary. Tinubu won! Just round one.

    Notwithstanding, the former military dictator-turned democrat seems to have learned the ways of politics – he added a caveat that the present executives, including the National Chairman, Oyegun, must be given a waiver to re-contest. That did not go down well with the National Leader, who preferred an outright sack, or ease out of power treatment for his erstwhile comrade, Oyegun. But to prevent Oyegun and members of NEC and NWC from seeking re-election would amount to a violation of their constitutional right.

    As it stands, the battle to seize the control of the heart of the party is still on, and for as long as Oyegun has not given up on the bid to re-contest the national chairmanship position, the recent triumph of the Jagaban’s camp[Tinubu] is a pyrrhic victory.

  • Thugs attack: Kaduna APC Senator escapes death

    Senator Suleiman Hunkuyi (APC Kaduna North) on Sunday escaped being killed by thugs during a political gathering of stakeholders and leaders of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) he convened in Kaduna.

    Hunkuyi had convened the meeting to sensitize party supporters to resist an alleged plan to impose candidates on them during the APC Congresses scheduled from May 5.

    However, thugs stormed the venue of the meeting at ENDwell Hotel in the city center, brandishing all kind of weapons and throwing stones on the supporters chanting “Kaduna sai Uba Sani, Kaduna Sai El-Rufai in 2019”.

    In the process, five persons sustained injuries and are receiving treatment at Barau Dikko and Garkuwa hospitals in the metropolis, while many vehicles destroyed.

    Jame Obute, Media Aide to the Senator told NAN that “those who sustained various degrees of injuries were taken to Garkuwa Hospital and Barau Dikko specialists Hospital where they are receiving treatment.

    “Some vehicles’ windscreens including those belonging to the Chairman ATAR Communication and leader of APC Restoration group, Tijjani Ramalan, were broken by the thugs”.

    Meanwhile, Hunkuyi, who had visited the injured person in the two hospitals, condemned the attack. He accused the state government of masterminding the attack.

    According to him, the thugs may have been sponsored by those who are feeling jittery of his political acceptance in the state.

    He said the gathering was not a political campaign but meant to sensitize stakeholders and party supporters to resist the imposition of delegates through affirmation or selection during the party congresses in the state.

    Hunkuyi said he had been in politics for the last 30 years but had never had such an encounter. He said he had made a formal report to the Commissioner of Police.

    Contacted the Commissioner of Police, Austin Iwar, confirmed that Hunkuyi had lodged a complaint with the police on the attack.

    He, however, declined further comments.

     

  • APC reacts to allegations that its governors are contribute N6bn for party’s convention

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has denied that governors elected on its platform are to contribute N6 billion for its forthcoming congress and national convention.

    Malam Bolaji Abudulahi, the party’s National Publicity Secretary in a statement in Abuja on Saturday said the story was misleading.

    “The APC denies the story and wishes to state that the story is misleading and has misrepresented our party.

    “We, therefore, wish to make the following clarification.

    “At the meeting of the National Working Committee (NWC) and the governors of the party held at the party secretariat on Thursday 26th April, it was pointed out that many of the governors had fallen behind in the payment of their party dues.

    “While some of the governors have been up to date with the payments, a few others have not paid at all.” he said.

    He added that those governor’s that were not up to date in payments were, therefore, requested to pay up, especially in view of upcoming party activities.

    Abudulahi said it was, therefore, possible that a governor that fell in the category of those that had not paid since inception could owe up to N250 million.

    He said it was, therefore, grossly misleading, if not downright malicious, for a report to simply apply this sum to everyone and multiply by the number of governors.

    “For the avoidance of doubts, party dues are paid by all members of the party holding positions, either by election or appointment.

    “Therefore, members of the National Assembly as well as cabinet ministers also remit a percentage of their earnings to the party.

    “It is, therefore, false to say governors are expected to pay up with state money,” the APC spokesman said.

  • Buhari turned deaf hears to my advices in APC – Atiku

    Former Vice President and presidential hopeful, Atiku Abubakar on Saturday accused President Muhammadu Buhari of ignoring his advice while in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Atiku stated this on Saturday in an interview with BBC Hausa Good Morning programme.

    “After 2015 general election, I met the president. I told him the activities of the party have been crippled and there is a need for restructure. Also I advised the president on issues concerning his administration. I said to him, if things continued like this, I will quit but Buhari turned deaf ears and remained mum,” he said.

    When asked how he would battle corruption if elected in 2019, the presidential candidate said: “If Nigerians can recall, we initiated the Economic and Financial (Crimes) Commission (EFCC). I’m the person that sourced for the takeoff funds for the EFCC.

    “In this administration (Buhari’s), there are people that are untouchable, they are doing things that are not in order but they are being shielded by the government. If elected Nigeria’s president, my administration will not spare any personality. When I was in (at) the helm (of affairs), none of my relatives or friends were found wanting.”

    Atiku, however, commended the present administration on security in the North-east but decried that the war is getting too long.

    “Eight years after, Nigerian government is still fighting Boko Haram that are not professionally trained. If elected Nigeria’s president, I will investigate how the government was unable to defeat Boko Haram for years, also I will investigate the procurement of arms bought by this administration,” he said.

    “If elected Nigeria’s president, 40 per cent of my cabinet ministers will be youths,” Atiku added.

    On the feud between the Nigerian government and Intel’s Nigeria Limited, in which he has a stake, Atiku said he was not part of Intel’s management so cannot be bothered.

    “When they (Intels) got the contract, they signed an agreement with the government that the money (profit) should be shared into three. One part of the money will be given to Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), another part is meant to service bank loans while the remaining is for Intels. But when this administration came, they said all the money must be deposited in the Single Treasury Account (Treasury Single Account). That was where the issues began,” Atiku said.

    When asked on his perceived ban from travelling to the United States of America, the former vice president said he “has no any grudges with the American authorities.”

    “I requested for visa, they said it is under administrative process. I’m not desperate to travel to America, I don’t have any investment there. The house I bought for my wife years back, she sold the house, I don’t have anything to do in America. It’s my tradition, I buy houses for my wives but for me, I don’t need house.”

    When asked whether the ‘ban’ will affect his chances of becoming Nigeria’s president, Atiku said: “It’s not by going to America that qualifies one to be a president, it’s not in our Constitution.”