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Tag: APC

  • PDP describes Martin Luther King award saga as national disgrace

    With controversy surrounding the Martin Luther King leadership award presentation to President Muhammadu Buhari, opposition Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) has described the whole development as a national disgrace.

    After President Buhari was reported to have received Martin Luther King First Black History Month National Black Excellence and Exceptional African Leadership Award 2018, The King Center dissociated Martin Luther King Jr.’s family from the award, prompting a reaction from Buhari’s aides.

    The leading opposition party, in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, on Thursday, said the whole development is an embarrassing one and that the “act has again made our nation a laughing stock before the international community”.

    “The lie by President Buhari’s handlers smacks of desperation by the Presidency and the All Progressives Congress (APC), to procure international endorsement, ahead of the 2019 general elections,” the statement added.

    The party said the nation was jolted when The King Center distanced itself from the award and noted that, “the award given to President Buhari of Nigeria was not given by The King Center, at the request of The King Center or by the children of Martin Luther King Jr”.

    “It is now clear that this sinking, incompetent and deceptive APC administration, in their desperation, can fabricate and stage-manage anything, including name-dropping of international figures and agencies, in their desperate attempt to delude Nigerians, once again, now that the 2019 general election is fast approaching.

    “Nigerians have discovered that having failed to gain any endorsement from reputable international figures such as Bill Gates, the APC and the Presidency have now cheapened the nation by resorting to this despicable act of name-dropping of world-renowned human right activist, Dr. Martin Luther King jr, further dragging down our once sterling image before the comity of Nations.

    “The fact remains that not many Nigerians believed in the authenticity of the award in the first place, as the Buhari-led administration, by its undemocratic and anti-people proclivities, including records of violations of rights of citizens, is not deserving of any form of recognition by any human rights group, let alone the family of the world-acclaimed Martin Luther King jr.

    “Today, the PDP has been vindicated in its stand that the APC government is not only hypocritical but overtly deceptive and must not be trusted,” the PDP said.

    “It would be recalled that we had issued a statement, earlier this year, cautioning Nigerians and the international community to be wary of information and claims coming from the APC and the Presidency, particularly on endorsements and performances indices.

    “While we urge the Presidency to shed its proclivity for lies, we demand the immediate arrest, investigation and prosecution of all the Presidency officials involved in this messy scandal and crime against our nation.

    “Moreover, the Presidency and the APC should save the nation further embarrassment by jettisoning other planned endorsement stunts and fabricated performance indices, as Nigerians are already rallying with the repositioned and rebranded PDP in their collective quest to end the misrule of the APC and restore a sincere, purposeful and people-oriented government come 2019,” the statement further read.

     

  • APC youth leader, Sedi shot dead in Edo state

    A youth leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Etsako West Local Government Area of the Edo State, Mr. Samson Sedi, has been reportedly shot dead by armed robbers while attempting to rescue a female petrol station attendant from robbery attack.

    Confirming the development the State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, expressed shock at the news of the brutal killing of the APC youth leader that happened on Wednesday night in Jattu.

    “I was shocked on receiving the news of Mr. Samson Sedi’s death. My heart goes out to his family. I have ordered the relevant security agencies to arrest the killers and prosecute them without delay,” Obaseki said.

    He described the late Sedi as “a grassroots mobiliser, a philanthropist who cared for orphans and a great lover of people, whose death is a huge loss to Edo people and the APC”.

    Mr. Sedi was allegedly killed by armed robbers while attempting to rescue a female petrol station attendant in Jattu, Etsako West Local Government Area, who was being robbed on Wednesday in Jattu.

    “I learnt he was driving into a road around a petrol station in Jattu and heard a female petrol station attendant shouting for help.

    “The late Sedi, drove into the petrol station to ascertain what was happening, only to be shot by the armed robbers who were operating at the petrol station.

    “Sedi has been with us in our party for a long time and I sympathise with his family,” the governor said.

    Sedi who was fondly called ‘Power Remain’ by his friends and supporters, was a rallying point for APC youths in his ward and constituency.

     

  • Gov. Okowa congratulates Tinubu @ 66

    Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta on Thursday congratulated former Lagos State Governor and National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu on his 66th birthday.

    Okowa’s congratulatory message was contained in a press statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Charles Aniagwu.

    The governor eulogised the APC chieftain for his patriotic and unrelenting service to the nation and described him as a worthy leader with great vision and aspirations.

    “On the occasion of your 66th birthday anniversary on Thursday 29th of March, 2018, I write to heartily rejoice with you and your family on behalf of the Government and people of Delta State.

    “In the past 66 years of a life of outstanding accomplishments and great personal fulfillment, you have not only served the people of Lagos State as a two-term governor, you also served our great nation as a Senator.

    “In the process of your political journey, you have inspired many to become great leaders in our polity and business world.

    “I join your family, friends, business associates and well-wishers to thank Almighty God for your life,’’ Okowa said.

    He prayed that God will continue to bless Tinubu with robust health and imbue him with “His continued guidance, protection, and enduring provision.’’

     

  • Buhari commends Ambode, inaugurates Ikeja Bus Terminal

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday at the inauguration of the Ikeja Bus Terminal commended Lagos State Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode for the development he had brought to the state in the space of three years.

    Buhari, in his brief remarks during the ceremony, shortly after arriving the state for a two-day official visit, lauded Ambode for his reform in the area of public transportation.

    Buhari said that the Federal Government, on its part, would adhere to its plan for the ports and other transport infrastructure in the country.

    He also reiterated his administration’s commitment to tackling security challenges, stabilising the economy, creating an enabling environment for jobs and returning Nigeria to its pride of place in the comity of nations.

    In his remarks, Ambode specially thanked President Buhari for waiving the import duty on the five thousand air-conditioned buses which would be operated from the terminal.

    He said the state looked forward to having an assembly plant for the buses in the next 20 months.

    Ambode said his administration was committed to improving public transport infrastructure and management.

    He said with the state’s bus reform project, 5,000 new buses would be introduced in the next three years.

    According to him, 820 environmentally-friendly high-capacity buses, in the first phase, are expected by September.

    In an address of welcome, the Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Mr Ade Akinsanya, said the terminal was part of the bus reform initiative, based on recommendations of the 2015 Lagos Transport Summit.

    The terminal has a concourse for arrival, ticketing, waiting and departure areas, loading bay, ATM gallery as well as food court and parking facilities.

    It is designed to change the face of public transportation and will convey more than 200,000 passengers daily to over 22 destinations across the state.

    The facility, which is sitting on 10,000 square metre-land space, is equipped with Intelligent Transport System (ITS), free Wi-Fi and electronically controlled shades, among others.

    Through the ITS, intending passengers can be informed of the departure time and arrival of the next bus, which allows them to plan their movement.

    The facility was designed and constructed by Planet Projects, an indigenous construction firm.

    TheNewsGuru reports that the president had earlier arrived at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos, to begin the visit to the state, amidst tight security.

    The president’s plane landed at about 9.30a.m. at the Presidential Wing of the airport.

    Buhari was welcomed by Ambode and top officers of the various security outfits at the airport, including the Nigeria Police, Nigerian Air Force, Nigerian Immigration Service, Nigerian Customs Service and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency.

    He inspected a ceremonial guard of honour at the Presidential Wing before proceeding to the Ikeja Bus Terminus for the inauguration.

    The president returned to the airport later and proceeded to Lagos Island via a chopper to attend a colloquium in honour of the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

    Security operatives immediately re-opened access to the general aviation terminal of the airport which was earlier barricaded, shortly after the departure of the president for the colloquium.

    Buhari received a rousing welcome from some Nigerians who lined up on the airport road to catch a glimpse of him.

    The crowd chanted “Sai Baba ”, as the president’s motorcade made its way back to the airport after the inauguration of the bus terminal.

     

  • Oyegun cancels meeting with APC Reps over Buhari’s rejection of tenure extension

    Embattled chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun on Wednesday hastily called off a scheduled meeting between the National Working Committee of the party and House of Representatives caucus.

    Oyegun was scheduled to lead the NWC members to the meeting at 2pm.

    Investigations that the venue, Conference Room 034, House of Representatives Wing, National Assembly Complex, was set for the meeting and many members had arrived ahead of 2pm.

    The Leader of the House, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila, had also led some officials to the venue, awaiting the Speaker, Mr. Yakubu Dogara, to receive Odigie-Oyegun.

    It was gathered that Oyegun had written the lawmakers on March 15, requesting a meeting with them on happenings in the polity.

    The letter, which signed by Oyegun himself read in part, “I wish to request that you arrange an early meeting between the NWC and the APC House Caucus at the National Assembly to discuss a few recent developments in the polity.”

    While Gbajabiamila and other members of the party were waiting for the meeting to start, words came from Odigie-Oyegun that it had been cancelled.

    A source said, “The chairman’s advance party and secretariat members of staff had already arrived in the National Assembly.

    “But, Odigie-Oyegun called Gbajabiamila on the telephone to say the meeting would no longer be taking place.”

    It was learnt that the turn of events flowed from the outcome of the party’s Tuesday National Executive Committee meeting, where President Muhammadu Buhari opposed tenure elongation for the Oyegun-led NWC.

    “A message got to him (Oyegun) that some members celebrated the action of the President.

    “His associates claimed that the chairman was not sure of the likely reception to receive from the lawmakers,” a legislative source said

    Reacting to the development, House leader, Femi Gbajabiamila said: “There is nothing serious. I mean, there are no issues with the party. All the organs and activities are working.

    “Members are angry? How? Why will they be angry? There is nothing of that nature,” Gbajabiamila said.

  • ‘APC brought untold hardship on Nigerians; party will collapse before 2019 elections’

    ‘APC brought untold hardship on Nigerians; party will collapse before 2019 elections’

    A former governorship aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party in Delta State, Mr. Sunny Onuesoke, has oredicted the collapse of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) before the 2019 general elections in the country.

    Onuesoke, who is also a leader of the PDP, said the APC had brought hardship to Nigerians.

    This was contained in a statement by the ex-governorship candidate on Wednesday in his reaction to the call by the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, for the deregistration of the PDP.

    He challenged the ruling party to conduct a national convention to elect new executives, if the party would survive the crisis that would greet the exercise.

    Onuesoke said, “I am not surprise that such a call is coming from the now infamous Minister of Information, whose name is now synonymous with propaganda. The APC as a party is currently grasping for breath, the only thing keeping them going, is the single fact that they are still the unfortunate ruling party.

    “I assure you that before the 2019 elections, the APC as a party, will collapse. This may come as a surprise to you but the signals are already there. There is no denying the fact that the ruling party is divided along different interests, coupled with the recent tenure elongation of the party’s executive committee, which in itself is a contravention of its own constitution.

    “As a ruling party, the APC has failed on all fronts, not only as a government but as a party. The division within the ranks of the ruling party is glaring to all that is why the ruling party has failed to conduct even a non-elective convention since it was given birth to.”

    Onuesoke lamented that since 2015 when the APC took over, it had been doing its best to create a one party system by discrediting other political parties in the country.

    “I challenge them to conduct a national convention to elect new executives, if they will see the light of the day, I am telling you this now that the APC will crash like a pack of cards even before the 2019 general elections.”

    “In their almost three years as a ruling party nothing has been achieved, one begin to wonder what they intend to use to campaign in the 2019 elections, no wonder they are calling for the de-registration of the main opposition party, in order to create room for a one party state, which is now their main goal since they have been rejected by Nigerians,” he said.

     

  • Dogara congratulates Tinubu at 66

    Dogara congratulates Tinubu at 66

    The Speaker of House of Representatives, Mr Yakubu Dogara, has congratulated Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, National Leader of All Progressives Congress (APC) as he clocks 66 years.

    In a congratulatory message on Wednesday in Abuja, Dogara commended Tinubu over what he described as “relentless commitment and sacrifice for democracy and track records of service, mentoring and outstanding accomplishments.”

    Dogara described Tinubu as a dogged and rare breed politician who mentored new generation leaders for future challenges.

    He said “you (Tinubu) is indeed an astute politician, patriotic leader and democrat of high repute who has track records of mentoring and supporting upcoming leaders to accomplish their dreams.

    “I commend your courage in leadership and abiding faith in the ideals of democracy and the Nigerian project.

    “On behalf of the entire membership of the House of Representatives, I congratulate you on this milestone and pray God Almighty to continue to strengthen you and bless you with good health and long life for service to the nation and humanity.”

    Born on March 29, 1952 in the city of Lagos, Chief Bola Ahmed Tinubu attended St. John’s Primary School, Aroloya, Lagos and Children’s Home School in Ibadan, South West Nigeria.

    Tinubu then went to the U.S. in 1975, where he studied first at Richard J. Daley College in Chicago, in Illinois, and then at Chicago State University, where he graduated with Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting in 1979.

    He worked for the American companies Arthur Andersen, “Deloitte Haskins & Sells GTE Services Corporation and when he returned to Nigeria in 1983, he joined Mobil Oil Nigeria and later became an executive of the company.

    He was elected Senator for Lagos West constituency in Lagos state in 1993 and became governor of Lagos State from May 29, 1999 to May 29, 2007.

    He is the Asiwaju of Lagos State and the Jagaban of “Borgu” Kingdom in Niger State, as well as national leader of All Progressives Congress (APC)

     

  • 2019: No regrets apologizing to Nigerians over mistakes of 16 years, PDP tells FG, APC

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said it does not regret apologising to Nigerians over its past mistakes during the sixteen years it held sway as the country’s ruling party.

    The party in a statement on Tuesday by its spokesperson, Kola Ologbodiyan, said as a responsible party committed to the good of Nigerians, having learnt its lessons, it saw it as necessary to make the move.

    Recall that the chairman of the party, Uche Secondus, had Monday apologised to Nigerians for the mistakes it made while in power.

    The party has, however, criticised the reactions of the federal government and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to the apology.

    Recall that the APC in a statement on Tuesday said the PDP will have to do more for Nigerians to forgive its misrule of 16 years, saying an apology is not enough.

    The APC also called on the PDP to confess what it referred to as its sins.

    The federal government also in a statement by Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, said the PDP will have to return the funds it looted for it to be forgiven.

    Commenting on the reactions, the PDP said it was deeply sad that people were suffering because of the party it voted for in its place, saying the APC has wrecked the economy and inflicted on Nigerians hunger, starvation and daily bloodletting.

    The party claimed Nigerians are now looking up to its “repositioned and rebranded platform” to pull the country from the brinks and return it to the path of true democracy, national cohesion and economic prosperity, which it said were the hallmarks of PDP’s 16 years in government.

    Admitting it made mistakes in its internal administration prior to the 2015 general elections, the opposition party said its new leadership had already smoothened the rough edges to ensure strict adherence to internal democracy and good governance in all processes.

    “Our apology to Nigerians is the pathway to national healing, renewal of hope and remobilisation of the citizenry for the task of rescuing the nation from the current pathetic situation and the painful misrule of the All Progressives Congress (APC),” the party said.

    “Our apology is to ask Nigerians, once again, to put their trust in the rebranded PDP, particularly, as our party is the only platform that is committed to the national agenda of peace, unity, justice and prosperous nation.”

  • UPDATED: Buhari addresses APC NEC, rejects Oyegun’s tenure elongation

    UPDATED: Buhari addresses APC NEC, rejects Oyegun’s tenure elongation

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday addressed members of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and insisted that the recent tenure elongation of executives of the party was against the party and Nigeria’s constitution.

    Recall that the APC had in its NEC meeting on February 28 extended the tenure of members of National Working Committee (NWC) led by its chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun by one year.

    The decision, however, did not go down with some powerful members of the party who had since been mounting pressures that the decision be reversed.

    Speaking shortly before the commencement of NEC meeting Tuesday, President Buhari told party members at the APC national secretariat to cancel the tenure extension decision because “it is against the party constitution and the Nigerian constitution.”

    He therefore, presented the matter “for discussion” at the meeting.

    The president noted he is having a change of heart because he doesn’t want the party’s activities to be faulted by any court of law.

    NEC members were shocked because the issue of tenure extension is not in the agenda circulated to members.

    It was also not discussed at the national caucus meeting which held at the Presidential Villa Monday night, Mr. Odigie-Oyegun had said.

    Caucus meetings are precursor to what would be discussed at NEC.

    Read the president’s full speech below:

    REMARKS BY HIS EXCELLENCY MUHAMMADU BUHARI, PRESIDENT, FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA, AT THE NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING OF THE APC ON TUESDAY, 27TH MARCH, 2018

    I am delighted to once again welcome you to this National Executive Committee Meeting of our great party. As we usually do, I hope we will take the opportunity of this gathering to resolve outstanding issues and consolidate our plans towards making APC the strongest defender of the interests of our people.

    2. 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.

    3. 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.

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

    5. While the APC Constitution, in Article 17(1) and 13.2(B), limits the tenure of elected officers to four years, renewable once by another election, the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended), in section 223, also prescribes periodic elections for party executives at regular intervals, which must not exceed four years.

    6. Furthermore, Article 31 of our Party Constitution provides that any principal officer wishing to re-contest or contest for another post, must resign from his current post at least one month before the election

    7. In this circumstance, what is expected of us is to conduct fresh elections, once the tenure of the current executives approaches its end. A Caretaker Committee cannot remedy this situation, and cannot validly act in place of elected officers.

    8. Furthermore, I think if we deviate from the constitutional provisions, we might be endangering the fortunes of our party. If the tenure of our party executives can be legally faulted, then it means that any nominations and primary elections that they may conduct, can also be faulted.

    9. This is not to talk of divisions that would arise, and is already arising within the party, when some of our members feel that they are being denied the right to aspire to executive positions, or that internal democracy is not at play within the party.

    10. I am therefore of the firm view that it is better to follow strictly the dictates of our party and national constitutions, rather than put APC and its activities at grave risk.

    11. Fortunately, we have already approved a timetable for the holding of congresses and elections. I think these should be allowed to go forward and all efforts should now be geared towards making them a great success.

    12. Once again, I welcome you all to this meeting with the hope that we will promote, always, the highest interest of the party and of our people.

     

    Thank you.

     

  • APC Caucus Meeting: We discussed serious issues, not my removal – Odigie-Oyegun

    The National Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr John Odigie-Oyegun has said that the meeting of the party’s national caucus on Monday night discussed more serious issues but not about his removal from office.

    Odigie-Oyegun, who fielded questions from State House correspondents on the outcome of the meeting which was chaired by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, said the meeting discussed the party’s report on true federalism.

    He dismissed the insinuation that the members of the national caucus deliberated on a court case instituted against him by some aggrieved members of the party.

    Some members of the APC had dragged the national chairman to court over what they described as “illegal tenure elongation’’

    Others alleged that Odigie-Oyegun had been running the accounts of the party without recourse to majority of national officers of the party.
    But the party chairman said that the issue of his removal from office as being advocated by the aggrieved members had now become history.

    “No, the meeting concluded the agenda we started the last time we met which we did not complete.

    “Today we discussed true federalism, something a lot more serious, a lot more serious,’’ he added.

    Also commenting on the outcome of the meeting, the speaker of the House of Representatives Mr Yakubu Dogara said that it was a routine meeting of the party to set the agenda for the NEC holding on Tuesday.

    “All I can tell you is that there is a meeting which is routine and the caucus meeting is determined to set up an agenda of the NEC meeting tomorrow. And all I can tell you is that the agenda is well set.

    “I believe that it will be the responsibility of NEC to decide and after a decision is taken, some of our faithful members will address the press.

    “I don’t think it is in my place to divulge what was discussed.

    “Tactically, it is an agenda setting meeting and we have had that meeting but the main meeting will take place tomorrow,’’ Dogara said.

    Asked whether he was worried over the elongation of the tenure of the party chairman, Dogara said, “It is not a question of my being worried because I am just one perhaps of millions of APC members.

    “Like I said, certainly it’s going to be an agenda for the consideration of NEC, whatever NEC decides, that will be binding on all of us as faithful members of the party.”

    Also, The President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, described the meeting as “a good meeting’’, adding that members deliberated on a number of issues to do with the party’s constitution.

    “We deliberated a number of issues to do with the constitution of the party which are very important issues here, the constitution, and to prepare for NEC tomorrow, it was a good meeting,” he said.

    Gov. Aminu Masari of Katsina State, expressed delight with the attendance and comments of members at the meeting

    “We discussed so many things – one of them is the proposed amendment of the constitution.

    “We are united as a party and we believe the amendment of the constitution would unite us more and we are happy with attendance and comments by members of the caucus,’’ he added.

    The meeting was attended by the Vice-President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, and past state governors of APC, members of the National Assembly, Secretary to the Government of the Federation , Mr Boss Mustapha and other cabinet ministers

    Two chieftains of the party, a former Lagos State Governor, Chief Bola Tinubu, and Chief Bisi Akande as well as Gov. Rauf Aregbesola of Osun and Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara were absent at the meeting.