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Tag: APC

  • New council executives will deepen strategic leadership – Obaseki

    Governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has said that the new helmsmen at the local councils in Edo State will deepen his brand of strategic leadership at the 18 local councils, to ensure that those at the grassroots enjoy result-oriented governance.

    The governor, who said this during a Thanksgiving Service at the St. Paul’s Catholic Church, Airport Road, Benin City, on Sunday, stressed that the ‘wake and see’ phenomenon of leadership will now be felt by those at the grassroots across the state.

    Speaking after the service, Obaseki said that the All Progressives Congress (APC) will introduce the same quality of service he is pioneering at the state level, in the local government through the new chairmen and councilors.

    According to him, “That is why our party, the APC, decided to field candidates we know are very credible, and are people with experience to take charge of the affairs of our local government areas.

    “So, we are quite excited and happy, and assure the people of Edo State that the new heads at the local governments will render services to the people that will surpass what they have seen before.

    “We will want to deepen the ‘Wake and See’ concept of programme execution. We want to make sure that the same spirit gets to the local government areas,” he added.

    Some of the new local government chairpersons who attended the service are Ogbemudia Eghe of Egor Local Government Area (LGA); John Akhigbe of Etsako Central LGA; Destiny Enabulele of Ovia South West LGA; Jenkins Osunde of Oredo LGA and Eric Osayande of Ikpoba Okha LGA.

    The Parish Priest, Reverend Father, Edwin Omorogbe commended the state government for organising the elections to enable the people choose those to lead them at the local government areas.

    He expressed appreciation to the governor for spearheading the campaign against human trafficking and illegal migration, noting that the church was worried about the trend and was committed to ensuring that the incidence is brought to a halt.

    “We are committed to end the scourge of illegal migration. The Archbishop Augustine Akubeze of Benin Archdiocese has thrown his weight behind the governor’s campaign and we are happy he is battling the ugly trend.

    “At the same time, we appreciate the state for organising the local government elections. The turnout showed that the people are concerned about electing who they see on a daily basis. So, the charge is now for these new heads not to disappoint,” he said.

    The only female chairperson-elect, Eghe Ogbemudia, said that she wouldn’t disappoint her people for reposing confidence in her and trooping out to vote for her.

    “I appreciate the people for coming out en mass yesterday. This confidence reposed in me will not go to waste. I promise not to disappoint my people,” she pledged.

     

  • 2019: Enugu APC endorses President Buhari for 2nd term

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) Enugu State Chapter, on Sunday, endorsed President Muhammadu Buhari for a second term in office as the 2019 General Elections draw close.

    The party equally passed a vote of confidence on the president and Dr Ben Nwoye, led executive committee of the party in the state.

    The unanimous decisions were taken during the state’s APC’s enlarged State Executive Council and stakeholders meeting held at the party’s secretariat in Enugu.

    Addressing the executive members and stakeholders, State Chairman of APC, Dr Ben Nwoye, said that the party would field candidates in all elective positions in 2019.

    According to Nwoye, the Lion Building (Enugu Government House) is our target, and in doing that, we must also make ensure that President Buhari gets the highest votes that will be cast in the state.

    “We have the power and all it takes to confront the PDP in 2019,’’ he said.

    He, however, cautioned against sabotaging the plans of the party by some members.

    “If there is anybody here who will support the election of a PDP candidate, this is not the place for you, you should leave us; what we want is purely candidates of APC extraction.

    “We must drop our egos and focus on winning elections in the interest of the party,’’ he said.

    Nwoye used the occasion to appeal for peace in the party and apologized to party faithful whom he might have offended during the crisis in the state.

    “I tender unreserved apology to those I may have offended by my words and actions.

    “By the same token, I have forgiven those who offended me through their conducts. These include those who filed false cases against me in the DSS, EFCC, courts, among others,’’ he said.

    In his remarks, the Director-General of Voice of Nigeria, (VON), Chief Osita Okechukwu, called on the party in the state and South East to support President Buhari for a second term in office.

    “We need to vote for President Buhari in 2019 because it is the closest possible gateway to Igbo presidency in 2023,’’ he said.

    “What the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leadership could not do for the South-East throughout its 16-year leadership was now being done by the APC government.

    “Ndigbo have hope in APC, if we support President Buhari to complete a two-tenure in 2023; Ndigbo will have golden opportunity to produce the president because equity and justice will be on our side,’’ he noted.

    The immediate past Governor of Enugu State, Mr Sullivan Chime, stressed the need for members to embrace peace; saying: “APC does not have the luxury of crisis’’.

    Chime applauded the decision of the APC NEC to extend the tenure of its national leaders noting that it would have been the opportunity for enemies to scatter the party.

    “As things are now, what is before us is more important,’’ he said.

    On the choice of the party’s governorship candidate, the former governor said it was necessary to choose credible candidates that would deliver.

    “I pray that we won’t have difficulty in choosing who will be our governorship candidate in 2019,’’ he said.

     

  • Edo council poll: APC wins all 18 chairmanship seats

    Edo council poll: APC wins all 18 chairmanship seats

    The All Progressive Congress (APC) has won all the 18 chairmanship seats in the March 3 local government election in Edo.

    The Chairman of the Edo State Independent Electoral Commission (EDSIEC), Prof. Stanley Orobator, announced the results of the council polls in Benin on Sunday.

    Orobator said the exercise was rancor-free and that there was no reported case of violence across the state during the election on Saturday.

    The elected chairmen are Mr Victor Emuanhagbon for Esan South-East Local Government Area, Augustine Okhoibkole for Esan North East and Mr Musa Yakubu for Etsako West.

    Others are Mr Waziri Idemudia (Esan Central), Mr Patrick Aguinede (Esan West), Mr Ogedengbe Odia (Igueben) Mr Sylvester Okoro (Orihonmwon) Mr John Akhigbe (Etsako Central) and Mr Eric Osayande (Ikpoba-Okha).

    Also elected are Evbareke Osunde (Oredo), Mr Aremiyau Momoh (Etsako East), Oteh Omoru (Akoko-Edo), Destiny Enabulele (Ovia South West) and Ogbemudia Osaze (Ovia North East).

    Mr Napoleon Agbama was elected chairman for Uhunwode, and Andrew Osigwe won in Owan East while Eghe Ogbemudia was declared winner in Egor as Frank Ilaboya won in Owan West.

    The commission’s chairman said certificates of return would be given to them at 3:p.m. on Monday.

    ”We will now compile results of the councilors and will brief you in about 48 or 72 hours,” he said.

    Ten political parties took part in the council poll while the main opposition, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) boycotted the election.

     

  • APC wins 7 councils in results declared by EDSIEC

    The chairmanship candidates of the All Progressives Congress in Edo State have won seven local councils with large margins, in the results of the election announced by the state’s Independent Electoral Commission ( EDSIEC).

    The Peoples Democratic Party boycotted the poll.

    According to the results announced by EDSIEC chairman, Professor Stanley Orobator, APC’s Oteh Omoru was elected the chairman of Akoko-Edo with 42,471 votes. ADP won only 23, SDP 17.

    In Ovia South West, Destiny Enabulele for APC triumphed with 56,664 votes. ADP won 360 votes, NCP 9, PPA 5, PDP 1.

    Ovia North East elected APC’s Ogbemudia Osaze with 41,303 votes. ADP got 256, DA 83, LP 167, PDC 33, PDP 3, PPA 26, SDP 15, NCP 60, GPN 46

    Napoleon Agbama of the APC is the new chairman of Uhunwode LG. According to EDSIEC, he polled 32,292 votes. The ADP got 83 votes, DA 52, LP 55, NCP 45, PPA 12, SDP 8.

    Owan East elected Andrew Osigwe, who won 34,579 votes and Eghe Ogbemudia also swept Egor with 15,348 votes, the smallest votes so far reported for the ruling party.

    Frank Ilaboya easily trounced all other contenders for the chairmanship of Owan West as he won with 28,406 votes. The ADP got 252, AD 100, LP 50, SDP 56.

    The chairman of the commission, Professor Orobator said further announcement of results would commence at 10am on Sunday.

     

  • APC proposes N14bn budget for 2018

    The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has proposed a budget of N14.82 billion for its activities in 2018.

    This was contained in a memo titled “Financial report for 2016, 2017 and presentation of 2018 budget to the National Caucus”, item 8 on the agenda of the meeting, according to a report by The Punch.

    The memo was distributed to members of the party’s caucus at the last meeting held on Monday.

    The budget, which was prepared and presented to the APC National Caucus by the party’s National Treasurer, Bala Gwagwarwa, noted that out of this fund, the party hopes to acquire a National Secretariat at the cost of N1.96 billion and spend N1.3 billion on convention.

    The budget also proposed N400 million for election expenses and N500 million to procure vehicles.

    Other expenses include: Grants to states/ zones; N400 million, membership registration; N25 million, women/ youth activities; N2 million, legal costs; N2 million, and N2.48 billion was earmarked for reimbursement to states and zones.

    The party said it intends to finance this budget largely from the nomination fees, fundraising, levies on elected and appointed office holders and the sale of party membership cards.

    The memo read in part: “Looking ahead of 2018 which is an election year budget, a lot of activities ranging from the organisation of congresses/ primaries, conventions, sensitisation meetings and campaigns are expected.

    “The budget must inevitably have to be robust, flexible and capable of being implemented. Baring this in mind, a budget of N14.82bn as shown in the Annexure 2 is being proposed.

    “The main sources of income for the 2018 budget are nomination fees (N5.86bn), fundraising (N3.45 bn), membership dues (N4.2 bn), sales of party cards (N1.0 bn), and levies on Elected/Appointed Office holders (N 0.304bn).”

    “On the expenditure side, the major items are: Acquisition of national secretariat (N1. 96bn), conventions (N1.3bn), media /publicity (N1bn), election expenses (N0.4bn), vehicles (N0.05bn), grants to states/zones (N0.4bn), membership registration (N0.2bn), reimbursements to states and zones (N2.48bn).”

    “In order to ensure funding stability and respectable budget implementation, membership contribution has been identified as crucial.”

    “Accordingly, a framework to deploy electronic payment system that assures convenience, transparency and ease of reconciliation of payment has been designed.”

    “This system allows the use of airtime to pay the monthly N100 membership dues by members while bigger payments can be transacted through banking channels customised for the party in all banks.”

    “This system has been substantially completed except for the negotiation of the revenue sharing formula between the party and the telecoms companies whose platform will be used in collecting the payment and regulatory impediments will soon be resolved, which will substantially support the party’s on-going discussions on revenue sharing formula with the telecoms companies.”

    The treasurer, Mr Bala explained in the memo that due to the difficulty faced by the party with its planned engagement of telecoms firms to ease the collection of fees, it has engaged the services of “System Spec (Remita)” as an alternative channel for collection of membership fees and hopes this would be inaugurated soon.

    “Based on the membership strength of about 10 million and 35 per cent success in collection of membership fees, we are confident that this system will provide sustainable funding for the party.”

     

  • PDP totally destroyed, APC will win more states come 2019 – El-Rufai boasts

    Governor Nasir Ahmad E-Rufai of Kaduna on Wednesday said that the All Progressives Congress [APC] would win next general election because the party is a 21st-century miracle.

    Governor El-Rufai made the call today at the first public lecture of Al-hikmah University, Adewole, Ilorin titled “Governing justly: Perspectives from near and far with lessons for Nigeria”, held at the University’s auditorium.

    “We are a party that is just five years old. We are a miracle. We are truly a 21st-century miracle. A party that was formed a year to the election and ejected a party which had been for 16 years is a miracle. We will solve our problems and we will win the next elections even in more states. Because we are capable of solving our problem and the other party is so disorganized, misinformed.
    “If you look at the Nigerian political environment, the APC has no opposition, PDP is totally destroyed as a brand. We have no effective opposition. The opposition with APC is within APC. We have people that are unhappy, there are many unhappy people, some of them legitimately, there are some disgruntled people that are unhappy without basis, and we also have rascals and troublemakers who think politics is rascality and to each one there is a different solution.

    The Governor who is a member of the All Progressives Congress Restructuring Committee, stressed the need to use human capital development to grow the country, saying that the population of Nigeria should not be seen as a curse rather as an opportunity and blessings which government must invest on its sustainability to reduce unemployment and poverty rate.

    The Writer of Accidental Civil Servant who is the guest speaker charged governments at all levels to begin to explore the untapped potentials in all sectors of the economy to ensure accelerated growth in Nigeria.

    According to him, government must be guided by justice, adding that President Muhammad Buhari constantly emphasize on the need for governors and members of his cabinet to put social justice on their top agenda.

    Governor El-Rufai charged Nigerians to put their respective governments on their toes to deliver on the legitimate rights of citizens, especially in the area of solid qualitative education and Agriculture.

    In his welcome address, the Vice Chancellor of Al-hikmah University, Professor Taofeek Ibrahim, said the choice of the Kaduna State Governor to deliver the first public lecture of the institution was a consensus reached by both the staff and students looking at his track records in Nigeria’s politics.

    Professor Ibrahim disclosed that the Kaduna State Government initiated a scholarship programme for indegenes of the state to study different courses in the University, adding that the University would continue to strengthen the existing relationship with the state government

  • PDP mourns Adamawa spokesman, says ‘Nigeria falling by the day under APC’

    The National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party has expressed shock over the alleged murder of its spokesperson in Adamawa State, Mr. Sam Zadock, by suspected gunmen.

    Describing him as one “known for his patriotism, dedication to national development and pursuit of the revitalisation of the re-positioned party in the state,” PDP said Zadock’s killing must be investigated.

    The party said this was necessary in the face of “rising speculations over the circumstances surrounding his murder.”

    National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan, said in Abuja on Wednesday that it would be wrong “to wave off the killing without full investigation.”

    He said, “While we appreciate the efforts of the military in its response leading to the arrest of some persons, we reject any attempt to wave off this killing without an exhaustive investigation by relevant security agencies and the report must be made public.

    “The PDP is particularly appalled by the fact that our nation is failing by the day, following the inability of the Federal Government to ensure a peaceful Nigeria and to provide adequate security for our citizens.

    “On a daily basis, the nation is inundated by news of gruesome killings and unrelenting violence across the country, with Nigerians being hacked down or abducted by marauders and insurgents under the … All Progressives Congress-led government, which has failed to take decisive steps to stem the ugly tide.

    “Gradually, our nation is being turned into a funeral parlour with bloodletting in Benue, Taraba, Adamawa, Yobe, Kaduna, Zamfara, Enugu, Kogi, Ebonyi, Edo, Plateau, Nassarawa and other states across the country.

    “Indeed, we cannot continue to lose our fine, bright and talented citizens to bandits, while those vested with the mandate to protect them are more interested in their … 2019 re-election.”

    He added, “The national leadership of our party, therefore, demand an urgent action by the Buhari-led Federal Government to restore peace and end the violence in the land, even as we urge the security agencies to ensure a thorough investigation into the killing of Zadock. ”

    He called on members of the party in Adamawa State and across the country to remain calm, assuring them that the leadership of the party at the national level will continue to engage the security agencies until it gets to the root of the matter.

  • No matter the condition, I won’t leave APC – Abe

    The senator representing Rivers South-East Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Senator Magnus Ngei Abe, has declared that he will remain a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and will never abandon the party for whatever reasons.

    Even as he reiterate his unflinching support and commitment to President Muhammadu Buhari stating that he will do whatever it takes to ensure that APC will win in 2019 in Rivers State.

    Abe, who spoke during an interactive session at a one day dialogue and reception program organized by Network of Youth and Student Leaders in Rivers state in his honour in Port Harcourt said, people need to understand that the main dynamics of social cohesion in the state favours the APC.

    The senator said, “Let me say it clearly without any iota of doubt; I am a member of the All Progressives Congress and I will remain a member of the All Progressives Congress. No matter what happens, I will not leave my party, the All Progressives Congress”.

    “But, people need to understand certain things. In this state, the main dynamics of our social cohesion is in favour of our party. Rivers State is ours for the taking; everybody who knows the story of our state knows that APC should be able to take the state. But to do that, we have to be one party”.

    “We cannot be in a party where the Minister of Transportation, with all due respect, have stated clearly that what he is running now is his own faction and certain people do not belong to that faction. That if he is removing leaders, he is removing leaders because they are not part of his own group, not because they are not members of the APC”.

    “Now, if all of us are in the APC and one group is this way and another group is the other way, where will the party meet to take the state? We have a State Executive Committee of the party, the Chairman should call a meeting of the State Executive Committee of the party so that members from all the factions can meet and discuss the way forward.”

    Abe, who is Chairman, Senate Committee on FERMA, informed the youths that Amaechi, Peterside and other leaders of the party, especially, the party Chairman and Secretary, Dr. Davies Ibiamu Ikanya and Chief Emeka Bekee, respectively as well as Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs, were not their problems.

    He said, “On the issue of attacks and counter-attacks on social media, honestly, I have said severally and I want to say it here to all of you young people that how you address people even when you disagree with them is not a sign of courage. It is a reflection of your upbringing. Anywhere that I go and talk to people, I am very conscious of the fact that when I leave there, people are going to review what I said. They are going to look at it in the context of who Senator Abe is. I am the son of my father and my father was a priest of the Anglican Church”.

    “So, sometimes, it takes courage to stand in front of people to say things that are mean and hurtful and sometimes, it takes more courage to sit down quietly and refuse to say things that are mean and hurtful. I think it makes you a better person. Love is the greatest blow you can give to anyone; you will always win when you have a good heart”.

    “So, I have never supported attacks on anybody in any form. I am not even happy when people attack people on the basis that they are defending me or that I was attacked. You know today, anybody with a phone and with data on the phone is an authority. There is nobody who can stand here and control what other people will say”.

    “But for me as a member of my party, the All Progressives Congress, I want to use this opportunity to appeal to those youths who are members of the APC, please, do not attack any of our leaders. Don’t attack Rotimi Amaechi on social media, don’t attack Dakuku Peterside no matter what he says, don’t attack Davies Ikanya, don’t attack Dumu Lulu-Briggs, don’t attack Emeka Bekee; they are not your problems”.

    “If you have issues that you want to articulate and you are not satisfied with the way people are doing things, say so to them politely, respectfully. But a lot of things I see contain no idea whatsoever and will not help in moving the party forward in anyway. A divided house can win no battles. We must be very careful; some of the persons who are doing things to divide the house may not be interested in the success of the house because at the end of the day, if we don’t succeed, we will suffer for it.”

    He urged Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike who has talked repeatedly about putting the interest of Rivers State first, to walk the talk by creating an atmosphere in which there can be free, fair and credible elections in the state.

    Addressing the issue of jobs and opportunities for the youths the senator said, “Rivers State is where it is today but the state can be somewhere else. We can chart a different direction, we can create more than what we are creating. We can focus on jobs, we can focus on opportunities and we can do that by creating an atmosphere in which investment and opportunities can thrive in Rivers State. These things are not magic; other people have achieved it.

    “I have said before and I want to say here, that one of the things we must get in Rivers State is that we must pick leaders who will concentrate on our state. You know when we have a leader whose attention is outside the state, he wants to control Abuja, he wants to control Nigeria, the state suffers. We need a leader that will focus on the challenges facing Rivers State.”

     

  • APC national leader letter to Buhari accusing NDDC board of administrative fraud

    A national officer of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Yekini Nabena, has petitioned President Muhammadu Buhari to redress the injustice and illegality regarding the subsistence of the current Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

    In an open letter to the president dated February 26, 2018, Nabena, who is a National Ex-Officio Member of APC from Bayelsa State, said the tenure of the Board formally ended last December and its continued stay was like allowing illegitimacy to run riot.

    The full text of the open letter dated February 26, 2018, reads:

    “Dear Mr President, Sir

    This is to humbly express my grave concern over the anomaly existing in the tenancy of the posts of Managing Director and Chief Executive of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) as well as Chairman of the Commission’s Board. I have followed this case since late last year, when the tenure of the Managing Director and the Chairman officially ended and now feel constrained to write you, Mr. President, to highlight the aberration that abounds in their continued stay in office.

    The tenure of Nsima Udo Ekere as Managing Director and Chief Executive of NDDC has since elapsed. This is according to his letter of appointment from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, dated November 1, 2016, with Ref. No: SGF.55/S.2/C.3/IV/52, which was signed by the then SGF, Babachir David Lawal.

    The letter reads in part, “The appointment took effect from November 1, 2016 and you are to serve out the remainder of the term of office of your predecessor in line with Section 5(2) of the Act.”

    Ekere, from Akwa Ibom State, was appointed to serve out the tenure of fellow Akwa Ibomite, Mr Bassey Dan-Abia, who was removed following the dissolution of the NDDC Board by Mr. President in 2015.

    Similarly, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, from Cross River State, was appointed Chairman of the NDDC Board to complete the tenure of Senator Bassey Ewa-Henshaw, who is from the same state. Ewa-Henshaw had been appointed for a statutory four-year tenure, which ran from December 16, 2013 to December 15, 2017.

    The Act establishing the NDDC provides for a rotation of its leadership among the nine NDDC states of Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Edo, Abia, Imo, and Ondo. In line with the law, states that produced officers of the dissolved board retained the slots, for the purpose of completing their tenures and maintaining equity in the leadership of NDDC.

    Mr. President, I wish to humbly point out that the headship of the NDDC Board ought to revert to my home state of Bayelsa, after Cross River, going by the existing statutory arrangement. Following the expiration of its tenure, the Ndoma-Egba Board ought to have left without much ado. The resort to sit-tight, crude propaganda and manipulation does not only display an arrogant contempt for the law guiding the Commission, but it also offends basic decency and public morality. In fact, it amounts to administrative fraud. Any further day the board exists is tantamount to allowing wilful iniquity and illegality to run riot. Moreover, the fact that they have been paying themselves all manner of allowances even after the expiration of their legal tenure is criminal.

    I urge you, Sir, to act fast to get rid of this anomaly.

    Besides the injustice to Bayelsa and the other states that are being denied their statutory slots, and the contravention of the law, the issue of the NDDC tenancy is given urgency by certain allegations and suspicions that have come to the fore, which border on the integrity and image of the present administration.

    Since last year, there have been claims about some underhand dealings by some senior officials of the government to illegally extend the tenure of the NDDC Board. Several groups and individuals have protested the alleged move to make the board stay longer than is statutorily provided. This situation certainly does not augur well for the administration and the change agenda.

    I am, therefore, calling on Mr. President to immediately dissolve the NDCC Board and reconstitute it in line with the law and the existing rotational arrangement that has ensured peace and equity among the NDDC states.

    I trust that you will act fairly on this matter.”

    YEKINI NABENA

    National Ex-Officio

    All Progressives Congress (APC)

    Abuja

     

  • APC national officer accuses ‘sit-tight’ NDDC board of administrative fraud

    A national officer of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Yekini Nabena, has petitioned President Muhammadu Buhari to redress the injustice and illegality regarding the subsistence of the current Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

    In an open letter to the president dated February 26, 2018, Nabena, who is a National Ex-Officio Member of APC from Bayelsa State, said the tenure of the Board formally ended last December and its continued stay was like allowing illegitimacy to run riot.

    Nabena said the tenures of the NDDC managing director/chief executive, Nsima Udo Ekere, and chairman of the commission’s Board, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, expired since last year, judging by the terms of their appointment and the law establishing NDDC, which explicitly stated that they were to complete their respective state’s tenure.

    While Ndoma-Egba was appointed to serve out the tenure of fellow Cross River State indigene, Senator Bassey Ewa-Henshaw, Ekere was chosen to complete the tenure of fellow Akwa Ibom citizen, Mr Bassey Dan-Abia, Nabena stated.

    Ewa-Henshaw and Dan-Abia were inaugurated in 2013 for a four-year term that ought to have ended last December.

    The APC leader said Ndoma-Egba and Ekere’s continued stay in office was fraudulent and a demonstration of contempt for the law.

    He alleged that Bayelsa State, to which the board chairmanship post ought to have reverted, and other NDDC states were being short-changed under the current situation.

    He also lambasted the managing director and the chairman for allegedly applying manipulative schemes to try to change the rules to give themselves more time in office.

    “The resort to sit-tight, crude propaganda and manipulation does not only display an arrogant contempt for the law guiding the Commission, but it also offends basic decency and public morality,” he stated.

    He stressed, “In fact, it amounts to administrative fraud. Any further day the board exists is tantamount to allowing wilful iniquity and illegality to run riot. Moreover, the fact that they have been paying themselves all manner of allowances even after the expiration of their legal tenure is criminal”.

    Nabena urged Buhari to quickly redress the anomalous situation by disbanding the NDDC Board and reconstituting it based on fairness in order to restore sanity to the commission’s leadership and save the image of his government and its campaign to bring about change.