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Tag: APC

  • APC govs back Buhari, kick against tenure elongation for Oyegun, others

    Some state governors elected on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress again met with President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday morning.

    This time, they have resolved to support the President’s position that election of new party officials should hold at the expiration of the tenure of the current ones instead of extending their tenure.

    Those who met the President on Wednesday included governors of Zamfara, Abdulazeez Yari; Plateau, Simon Lalong; Imo, Rochas Okorocha;Kano, Abdullahi Ganduje and Ogun, Ibikunle Amosun.

    “We will abide by party constitution and hold world congress,” Yari told reporters at the end of the meeting.

    Okorocha on his part said, “There is no crisis in the APC. We met with Mr. President to fine-tune issues. The convention committee will be set out.

    “Let me correct the impression that those whose tenure has passed are free to contest. We are all one.”

    “I’m submitting my report today. There is no crisis in our party,” Lalong who heads the party’s technical committee that was inaugurated on Tuesday said.

  • Saraki mourns as Senator Bukar is buried, former Reps member passes on

    Saraki mourns as Senator Bukar is buried, former Reps member passes on

    Senate President Bukola Saraki has expressed sadness at the death of Senator Mustapha Bukar (APC, Katsina), who was Chairman of the Senate Committee on Capital market.

    TheNewsGuru reports Senator Bukar who was Madawakin Daura died around 10.am today following an illness.

    Born on December 31, 1954 in Daura, Bukar was a first timer at the Senate. A source close to the Senate President confirmed the death of the lawmaker via phone. The source said the deceased would be buried in Daura today in line with Islamic injunction.

    Bukar died less than a month after Senator Malam Ali Wakili passed on at 58. Wakili died on March 17 at his Abuja residence.

    Independence Ogunewe passes on

    Meanwhile Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, has confirmed the passing away of a former member of the House of Representatives, Independence Ogunewe.

    Speaker Dogara made this known in a statement today.

    “Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Yakubu Dogara, has received with sadness, the news of the death of a former member of the House of Representatives, Hon Independence Ogunewe,” the statement read.

    The Speaker, describing the late Ogunewe, who was a member of the 5th and 6th assemblies, as a man of courage who stood for the truth always, said he was deeply saddened by the loss.

    He prayed that the Lord grant his immediate family, friends and associates the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.

     

  • 2019: APC Governors keep sealed lips after meeting with Buhari

    Governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who met behind closed doors with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Tuesday, declined comments on the outcome of the meeting.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the governors kept sealed lips as they came out of the Council Chamber where they met with the President for over an hour.

    However, one of the governors was caught saying that they were directed not to speak with journalists over issues discussed at the meeting.

    The meeting could not reach consensus on some of the issues discussed including the challenges facing the APC national executives over tenure elongation.

    The governors, who appeared divided over the issue of tenure elongation for the APC national executives, had met briefly among themselves before the arrival of President Buhari for the meeting.

    Recall that President Buhari had at the APC National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting on March 27, said the tenure elongation of the party’s executives was illegal and unconstitutional.

    The APC National Chairman, Mr John Odigie-Oyegun had earlier on Tuesday (Tuesday) inaugurated a committee to advise the party on the way forward following President Buhari´s recent opposition to the tenure extension.

    The NEC had extended by a year, the tenure of Odigie-Oyegun-led executives and others across all levels of the party starting from June.

    The president said the decision was unconstitutional and already causing acrimony within the party.

    He said: “In particular, I think it is important for me to speak quickly on the contentious issue of the tenure of our National and State Executive Officers.

    “As we all know, a motion was moved at the last National Executive Committee meeting of February 27, 2018, to the effect that when the tenure of the current executives expire in June this year, they should be allowed to continue for one year.

    “This motion was duly carried by a majority of members present at the last NEC meeting, even though some of our party members have since spoken up very vehemently against it. Others have even taken the matter to court.

    “On my own part, I have taken some time to review and seek advice on the resolution. And what I found is that it contravenes both our party Constitution and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.’’

    TheNewsGuru.com gathers that the meeting between the APC governors and the President would be reconvened next week at the same venue.

    Governors at the meeting include Yahaya Bello (Kogi), Jubrilla Bindow (Adamawa), Badaru Abubakar (Jigawa), Rauf Aregbesola (Osun), Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi), Rotimi Akeredolu (Ondo), Abdufatah Ahmed (Kwara).

    Also in attendance are Godwin Obaseki (Edo), Abdullahi Ganduje (Kano), Tanko Al- Makura (Nasarawa), Kashim Shettima (Borno), Rochas Okorocha (Imo), Akinwunmi Ambode (Lagos), Abiola Ajimobi (Oyo), Abubakar Bello (Niger).

    The rest include Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto), Abdulaziz Yari (Zamfara), Simon Lalong (Plateau), Samuel Ortom (Benue), Nasir El-Rufai (Kaduna) and Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun).

    Katsina State Governor Aminu Masari and Ibrahim Geidam of Yobe were absent at the meeting while Gov. Abdullahi Abubakar of Bauchi State was represented by his deputy.

     

  • 2019: APC Governors meet Buhari in Abuja today

    Governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) are billed to meet with President Muhammadu Buhari in their bid to pressure the president to seek re-election in 2019.

    The meeting which has been fixed for 2.p.m, may also deliberate on some national and party issues including the President’s disapproval of tenure elongation for APC national executives.

    Recall that the governors had on Feb. 22 met behind closed doors, after which the President pledged to address the nation on whether he will seek re-election in 2019.

    The Chairman of the APC Governors’ Forum, Gov. Rochas Okorocha of Imo, who spoke to State House correspondents on the outcome of the February meeting, said the president was to address the caucus of the APC on the matter.

    “We discussed so many issues that affect the nation, our party and Mr President’s ambition to run for 2019 elections.

    “Anyhow, Mr President in his usual manner has requested that we give him time and that he will address the nation and the caucus of the party very soon.

    “So we should be full of expectations that Mr President will make officially known to Nigerians his intentions.

    “But we hope that his response will be in line with what the governors are thinking,’’ Okorocha said after the February meeting.

  • Senator Abe commends Buhari, wants more from APC NEC

    The Senator representing Rivers South-East Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Senator Magnus Ngei Abe, has urged members of National Executive Committee (NEC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to place the interest of the party above every other consideration.

    He also urged them to respect the informed position of President Muhammadu Buhari to conduct congresses across all strata of the party to bring it in conformity with extant constitutional provisions of the Nigerian constitution and its own constitution.

    Abe, who spoke during an extraordinary stakeholders meeting of the party in Port Harcourt commended Buhari for his clear, bold and courageous stand on the constitutional issue of the elected party officials.

    He said, “the President’s position has not only shown that the All Progressives Congress (APC) is a party that respects the true tenets of internal democracy and the dictates of the law, but has also steered the party clear of prospective danger”.

    The Senator went further to assure that the party is irrevocably committed to the restoration of Rivers State to the expected dream of the people where justice and opportunities to create wealth would be made available to all.

    Abe said, “Those of us who have faith in what we are doing, don’t be deterred, don’t be worried; continue to work hard. We are irrevocably committed to the emancipation of Rivers State. We are totally dedicated to the restoration of our state. We are completely determined to recalibrate the entire engine, the machinery of our state so that this state will be what our founding fathers had intended”.

    “A place where there would be justice for all, both small and big; a place where there would be opportunity for all both small and big. A place where every tribe, every tongue, every denomination, every stranger will feel completely at home and will be given an opportunity to contribute their own quota to the development and prosperity of our state”.

    He regretted that members of the APC has dumped the party for the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), due to crumbs promised them, saying that that the solution to the hunger we are currently facing in Rivers State is not by going to beg crumbs from the table of anybody.

    Abe, who is the Chairman, Senate Committee on FERMA, said, “Sometimes when you are doing something, all kinds of naysayers will come up, all kinds of doubters will come, all kinds of inflections will come to try to dissuade you, try to defray people, they try to defeat you even before you go into any contest.

    “But those who know the secret of success know that first of all before you do anything, you must first convince yourself that what you are doing is the right thing. Once you are doing the right thing at the right time and in the right place, nobody can come to shake you from what you are doing”.

    “I am saying this because some members of our party across the state who left the party were misinformed, misguided and deceived to move because they feel we are divided so they moved to somewhere, where they can see something to eat immediately”.

    “But, let me say to everybody, that the solution to the hunger we are currently facing in Rivers State is not by going to beg crumbs from the table of anybody, it is by doing the right thing so that you are strong enough to be one of those that will cook the food that will be on the table. I think it is only when we do that and we can expand the table to increase the food, that is when the challenge of hunger that is currently the bane of Rivers society will be totally and completely eliminated”.

    “Today, Rivers State has one of the highest unemployment figures in the entire country and yet, this state has some of the greatest natural advantages, with which wealth can be created but we are not giving it that attention that is needed to generate wealth and create employment opportunities for thousands of our people”.

    The communiqué issued at the end of the stakeholders meeting, which was read by Rt. Hon. Chibudom Nwuche enjoined members of the APC in Rivers State to return all party executives at all levels in the event of congresses irrespective of their factional leanings as a reward for their sacrifice and commitment to the APC, in the face of threats, intimidation and even physical danger.

    Earlier, former senator representing Rivers West District in the National Assembly, Senator Wilson Ake, who chaired the event stated that the attitude and attributes of Senator Magnus Abe has convinced members of the party to mobilize support for him.

    Also speaking, the member representing Ikwerre-Emohua Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Chidi Wihioka, urged Nigerians to be vigilant and alleged that some names on permanent voter’s cards (PVC) issued by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) are missing from the commission’s data base.

     

  • Buhari, APC have ‘worsened’ the sufferings of Nigerians – PDP reps

    House of Representatives members elected on the platform of the opposition, Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) have criticized the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for ‘worsening’ the sufferings of Nigerians since coming to power in 2015.

    The reps noted that more Nigerians were hungry due to lack of food while many others were unemployed or under-employed.

    In a statement in Abuja, the PDP reps stated that the APC government won election in 2015, using propaganda as a weapon of “deception” when in reality the government knew that it lacked the capacity to deliver on its campaign promises.

    The statement, which was signed on behalf of the reps by the Minority Leader, Leo Ogor, observed that after three years of running Nigeria by propaganda, the government had realised that time was against it.

    It added that this was the reason the government was opposed to any criticism of its policies that had failed to meet the expectations of Nigerians.

    The lawmakers cited last week’s incident in Lagos, where the city was shut down because of President Muhammadu Buhari’s visit to inaugurate some projects. They said the same Buhari, years back, stalled the $100m Lagos modern metro line project.

    It noted, “Over and over, it has been proven that the current APC government in Nigeria beats all preceding administrations, including the colonial ones, in the sinister art of deceitful lies and propaganda.

    “With fiendish mercilessness, the APC’s 2015 campaign milked the unfortunate abduction of the Chibok girls for every available ounce of propaganda and disinformation against the preceding administration.

    “Its campaign rhetoric and official hoopla from the lying minister had included rescuing of the Chibok girls and achieving total defeat of the Boko Haram insurgents.

    “Today, the APC government nurses palpable fear over any scrutiny of its errors in Dapchi or its unusual generosity towards Boko Haram, which it promised to defeat but now almost sees as a partner with which to share deep and befuddling confidence.”

    The caucus called on the government to heed the advice of American billionaire, Mr. Bill Gates, who during a recent visit to Nigeria, faulted the government’s economic recovery and growth plan.

    It said rather than applaud Gates for giving a very honest piece of advice, the government reacted by dismissing the billionaire.

    The caucus added, “Although, the APC government is known not to be a listening one, last Thursday, the Co-Chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Mr. Bill Gates, emphatically stated that the Federal Government’s Economic Recovery and Growth Plan was not reflective of the people’s needs.

    “It is an open secret that under the APC, Nigerians have fared worse on the misery index; those who were rich before are no longer investing, the poor are becoming poorer while almost 30 million Nigerians are either unemployed or under-employed.

    “According to Bill Gates, the APC government’s concentration on physical infrastructure to the detriment of human capital development exposes the undesirable inadequacies in the health and education sectors.”

    When contacted, the Majority Leader of the House and Leader of the APC Caucus, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila, said his colleagues were merely trying to rewrite history by forgetting that it was the PDP that got Nigeria into the mess the APC had been cleaning up.

    He argued that the PDP caucus was playing politics in the hope that Nigerians would forget the past and follow the party.

    Gbajabiamila added, “It is election season and I don’t expect my colleagues on the other side of the aisle to say anything different, but facts are sacred.

    “I guess they have their own alternative facts. Unfortunately, Nigerians are wiser and I am glad they have admitted to their misdeeds and sins against the people.

    “In law, it is called voluntary confession, which is admissible in a law court, in this case the electorate as evidence against the PDP. We in the APC in turn admit to underestimating the level and quantum of the rot they left behind whilst trying to clean same up.

    “The question that is up for debate is whether their voluntary confession without more should suffice. Me thinks not. Once beaten twice shy.

    “Nigerians are smarter and will not succumb to crocodile and pretentious tears.”

     

  • 2019: Neither APC nor PDP can take Nigeria to Promised Land – Obasanjo

    2019: Neither APC nor PDP can take Nigeria to Promised Land – Obasanjo

    …Gives advice on how to wrestle power from APC in 2019

    Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Monday reiterated that Neither the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) or the opposition, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) can lead the country to its desired promised land in 2019.

    The former President also advised Nigerians on how best to wrestle power from the President Muhammadu Buhari led Federal Government.

    Obasanjo who is the arrowhead of the over three million member Coalition for Nigeria Movement (CNM), said the way to accomplish it is to understand those currently in power, and by not “frightening” and “intimidating” them while working to also make them yield power “willingly.”

    Obasanjo made this known while meeting the two groups – Nigeria Young Professionals Forum (NYPF) and New Nigeria 2019 in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.

    The groups, led by Moses Siasia and China Anyaso, had visited him at his Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL), Abeokuta

    In a consultation on the state of the nation with the assurance of their preparedness to respond to Obasanjo’s clarion call for a popular movement to rescue Nigeria.

    Describing the APC and PDP as leprous hands, Obasanjo said the two major political parties can’t take Nigeria and Nigerians to an enviable height.

    He added that for the task of wresting power to succeed in 2019, “all hands must be on deck,” warning that failure to take necessary action would also mean a people willingly falling victims of what they don’t like.

    He said when a country has an incompetent government in place, everybody is a victim, explaining that what obtains today in Nigeria with Buhari’s administration is “failure.”

    According to the ex-President, a strong popular grassroots movement is badly needed in Nigeria democracy to bring about the change, sustainability, stability and development.

    He suggested that a coalition all the movements in the country and poaching of the uninfected members of the leprous APC and PDP to join the mass coalitions, would bring about the needed change in leadership in 2019.

    “The point is this: the way to wrest power is to know that those that are there, you have to carry them along so that they will willingly (yield space)… So that they will not be frightened, they will not be intimidated.

    “But this time, for us to make it, we need all hands on deck. You see, I have publicly said and I mean it, that as a party, neither PDP nor APC can get us there as they have been.

    ” Never mind about reforms and apology and all that. And yet we have to get there. I asked one of the foundation members of PDP, the PDP when we started, was it a grassroots party? He said it was an elitist party.

    “Really, we have never had the so-called grassroots party. Even NEPU which we could say is the nearest, was not grassroots enough.

    “And I believe strongly that we must have a strong popular grassroots movement to bring about the change, sustainability and stability that we need in our democracy and development.

    “I am happy to meet with you but don’t take anything for granted. There will be a lot of work that we have to do.

    “What those I call power addicts would want to do is to divide you based on gender, age, tribe, religion and region. You have one commonality – interest of Nigeria.

    “And it doesn’t matter where you come from. We had that interest. The truth is this: when you have an ineffective and incompetent government, we are all victims.

    “And don’t let anybody deceive you. Those of you who are in business, your business could have been better today if we have a competent and effective and performing government.

    “As I said, stop giving excuses; we met challenges. If there are no challenges, then we wouldn’t need you to come. You come in because you know there are challenges and then giving us excuse that you have many challenges, that is why you haven’t achieved results.

    “And then you still want to go. The first lesson I learnt in my military training is never reinforced failure. What we have now is failure. Never you reinforce failure. Let failure be failure.

    “And if you do not see what you should see, you will then be a victim of what you don’t like because it’s only when you see what you should see and you do what you should do that you put away what you do not like. And if you don’t see what you should see and you don’t do what you should do, you will be a victim of what you don’t like.

    “But let us bring together all these movements because we are pursuing the same thing. If we allow ourselves to be take piecemeal, it is finished. Now if we are together… Yes, I said you cannot take PDP as it is and APC as it is; but they are not all made of evil people.

    “There are good people. I said PDP is leprous hand, APC is leprous hand, but there are some clean fingers in them. So, let’s take those clean fingers in them and graft the clean fingers in our own.

    “That is the way to go and if we go that way, we will get there, we will move together, and we will will move fast and we will move far,” Obasanjo said.

  • MUST SEE: Reno releases teaser list of looters in APC

    Following federal government Sunday’s list of alleged looters in the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), spokesperson to former President Goodluck Jonathan, Reno Omokri, has come out with a list of alleged looters in the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    In Reno’s statement publishing the names of the alleged looters, the former presidential aide, launched a blistering attack on the Nigerian government and the Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, over two lists of alleged looters released by the administration.

    READ MR OMOKRI’S FULL STATEMENT BELOW:

    A few days ago, the fallacious minister of information, the rightly named Lai Mohammed, whose first name rhymes with his life’s calling, released a so called ‘looters list’ with six names of alleged looters.

    After he was ridiculed by civil society, the opposition and the international community, Mr. Lai Mohammed hurriedly put out a statement tagging his list a ‘teaser’.

    When that lie refused to fly, the notorious fibber, Lai Mohammed, released yet another list yesterday, April 1, 2018.

    Coincidentally, April 1 is April Fools day and it was befitting that Lai released his list on that day because only a fool will believe the list he put together.

    His list did not contain even one member of the All Progressive Congress. If the list proves anything, it is that President Buhari, Lai Mohammed and their All Progressive Congress are not fighting corruption. Instead they are fighting corruption.

    I have taken the pains to produce a ‘teaser’ looters list of APC members who are collectively alleged to have looted over $2 billion (when you convert the dollar value of what they allegedly looted at the time they allegedly looted it).

    I challenge President Buhari and Lai Mohammed to explain why these men did not feature on their list and why they continue to remain in this APC government where they wield immense powers and influence, even over the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission that is meant to prosecute them.

    I further challenge President Buhari and Lai Mohammed to explain to Nigerians why they failed to reveal to Nigerians that President Buhari himself is a MAJOR beneficiary of the funds that the former National Security Adviser, Colonel Sambo Dasuki, received from the treasury for the security of Nigerians.

    I assure Nigerians that Sambo Dasuki is not in jail for a crime he committed in 2015. He is rather being persecuted for a ‘crime’ he committed in 1985.

    Please find below the teaser list of looters.

    Note that this is just a teaser. Depending on the reaction of the Buhari-led government, more names will be released.

    Looters List

    Rotimi Amaechi: Indicted by the Justice George Omeregi led Rivers State Judicial Commission of Inquiry of looting ₦97 billion along with co indictees including a former army general.

    Saminu Turaki: Alleged to have looted ₦36 billion. First charged before Justice Sabi’u Yahuza of the Federal High Court in Dutse, Jigawa State. Currently facing trial before justice Nnamdi Dimgba at the FCT High Court.

    Timipre Sylva: A well known financier and supporter of the APC administration of President Muhammadu Buhari. Alleged to have looted ₦19.7 billion. Was facing trial before Justice A. Y. Mohammed of the Federal High Court, Abuja. However, two days after President Buhari was sworn in, the new APC government WITHDREW the charges preferred against Sylva on June 1, 2015 and on October 3, 2018, the EFCC returned to Sylva, 48 houses seized from him during the administration of former president, Goodluck Jonathan in 2013 to him.

    Murtala Nyako: Alleged to have looted ₦29 billion. Currently facing trial before Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja

    Senator Danjuma Goje: Alleged to have looted ₦25 billion. Currently facing trial before the Federal High Court, sitting in Jos, Plateau State.

    Senator Abdullahi Adamu: Alleged to have looted ₦15 billion with the help of 18 co accused. Charged on March 3, 2010. The case continues to linger in court.

    Orji Kalu: Alleged to have looted ₦3.2 billion. Currently facing trial before Justice Mohammed Idris of the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos.

    Kayode Fayemi: Indicted by the Ekiti Judicial Commission of Inquiry headed by former Ekiti State chief judge and the Oluyin of Iyin-Ekiti, Ademola Ajakaiye, of sundry financial malfeasance totaling over ₦2 billion.

    Senator Joshua Dariye: Alleged to have looted ₦1.2 billion. Currently facing trial before Justice Adebukola Banjoko at an FCT High Court.

    Babachir Lawal: former Secretary to the Government of the Federation. Allegedly gave a ₦200 million contract to his own company from monies meant to look after Internally Displaced Persons. Has been sacked after protest by the opposition and civil society. Has still not been charged. Was allowed to be replaced by his own cousin.

    By the omission of these names, the Buhari led Federal Government has vindicated Transparency International.

    According to Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index, Nigeria is more corrupt today under Buhari than at any other time since Transparency International started keeping records!

    We have moved 12 places backward from 136 to 148. Yet this administration has the guts to accuse a government under whom Nigeria made her best ever progress on the Corruption Perception Index of corruption? We moved from 144 to 136 in 2014 under President Jonathan because that government fought corruption in court and not through the media.

     

  • Fayemi declares interest in Ekiti guber poll

    Fayemi declares interest in Ekiti guber poll

    Former Ekiti state governor and current Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Dr Kayode Fayemi on Sunday says he will contest the July 14 gubernatorial election coming up soon in the state under the APC.

    He made his ambition known at a news conference at his Isan-Ekiti country home in Oye Local Government Area of the state.

    Fayemi had hosted leaders and scores of members of the party from all the 16 Local Government Areas and the 177 Wards of the state.

    He said he was driven by his past records of positive achievements, especially for workers, retirees and pensioners while in office in the state.

    He explained that his decision to seek re-election was to deliver the state from incompetent and dubious hands and take her to where its supposed to be.

    The former governor becomes the 35th person to formally indicate interest in the governorship poll in the APC alone, aside from dozen others whose campaign posters and billboards are already out on the streets without formal declaration.

    Fayemi said he would formally submit his letter of intent to the state secretariat of the APC as soon as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) lifts ban on campaigns on April 15.

    On the issue of a White Paper, indicting him for corruption and consequently banned him from seeking public office for 10 years, Fayemi said he was not bothered.

    He declared that the said White Paper cannot stop his ambition, describing the document as final result of several months of political witchhunt launched against him by the Ayo Fayose-led administration that cannot stand the test of time.

    “Regardless of whatever anybody may think, I know I am eminently qualified to contest the election, if I am not qualified, I would never have come to tell you I want to contest.

    “Most of the negative things Fayose and his government said or alleged of me were deliberately concocted out of malice to either malign my character or score cheap political goal; but the truth will always prevail.

    “Same goes for the manipulated debt profile of the state which was a clear case of exaggeration and distortions.

    “Can you imagine, Fayose said he issued White Paper banning me from holding public office, but today, I am giving him red card. By the end of the gubernatorial poll exercise, we will know who is right between the two of us,” he said.

    The Minister vowed to dislodge Fayose and his deputy in the poll if picked at the May 5, 2018 gubernatorial primary of the party in Ado Ekiti.

    He advised other aspirants against divisive tendencies by their followers, stressing that whoever that eventually emerged from the coming primary must be embraced by all since the national secretariat of the party had promised that the whole exercise would be open, free and fair.

    He promised to use his second-term to correct all past mistakes and improve on the good ones, saying he had learnt his lessons since leaving office about four years ago as governor.

    Fayemi, therefore, asked all those he offended while in office as governor to forgive him, while also saying he had forgiven all those who erred against him, in the interest of the party.

    He warned Fayose not to attempt to remove or destroy his campaign posters and billboards the way his government was currently doing to some opposition posters.

    The minister was however silent on when he would be resigning his appointment as minister from the Federal Executive Council.

     

  • 2019: Only Buhari, APC can disrupt credible polls, Obasanjo’s coalition replies security chiefs

    The Coalition for Nigeria Movement led by former President Olusegun Obasanjo has reacted to claims by the country’s security chiefs that some groups were plotting to discredit the conduct of the 2019 general elections.

    The group explained further that the statement by a former Minister of Defence, Lt. Gen. Theophilus Danjuma (retd.), that the military was colluding with unscrupulous individuals should not be dismissed.

    Recall that the Directors-General of the Department of State Services, Mr. Lawal Daura; and National Intelligence Agency, Mr. Ahmed Rufa’I as well as the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Gabriel Olonisakin, had raised the alarm over the plans by some groups to disrupt the processes leading to the 2019 elections.

    The evil plan, according to them, was for the groups to create a stalemate during the elections.

    However, Osuntokun in a swift response said the security heads were acting out the script of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

    He said, “It all sounds funny to me. I don’t know any group that meets that description but why would anyone want to disrupt the 2019 elections? The only people that would want to disrupt the elections are the APC which has sensed its imminent defeat.

    “If what Gen. Danjuma said is true whereby our protectors have become murderers, then it means they are the ones that should be feared. They are the ones that should be suspected.

    “If you can extrapolate from what Gen. Danjuma said, that means Nigerians are at the mercy of the government or the army that is colluding. The people we should fear are (those in ) the government.”

    Osuntokun said it was unfortunate that the heads of security agencies were serving a ‘conspiratorial parochial agenda’ as they were protecting the President’s ethnic base.

    He added, “Where is the need to reserve the command of the Nigerian military and security services exclusively for the ethno-religious base of the President if it is not to serve a conspiratorial parochial agenda?

    “The only group that fits this description of a fictitious fifth columnist agenda is the government itself.”