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Tag: APC

  • Atiku comments: We did not ask Alhassan to resign – APC

    The leadership of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has said it did not request the resignation of the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Sen. Jumai Aisha Alhassan over her controversial comments declaring support for former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar.

    This was revealed by the spokesperson of the party, Malam Bolaji Abdullahi on Friday.

    He also said that her appearance at the party’s National Secretariat, Abuja, on Thursday, was not on summon.

    The minister, who had been in the eye-of-the-storm over her comment on her choice of presidential aspirant for the 2019 election, had a closed-door meeting with the party’s leadership at the secretariat.

    She had reportedly said that she would support former Vice President Atiku Abubakar if he showed interest in the 2019 presidential race, explaining that the man had been her “godfather’’.

    The comment drew the flak of APC stalwarts, who dubbed it anti-Buhari and anti-party, saying she was disloyal and should resign or be sacked.

    At the end of the “meeting’’, which lasted about two hours, Alhassan, a former senator, was said to have avoided media enquiry on her mission at the secretariat.

    Abdullahi told the newsmen in Abuja that the minister had just a meeting with leadership of the party, but “was not asked to resign her position as may be speculated’’.

    ‘’No, that did not come up, what we said was that we understood the context in which she said what she said.

    ‘’But, it was an act of indiscretion for someone occupying the position she is occupying in the party to make that kind of statement,’’ he explained.

    However, a source close to APC leadership confided that leaders at the meeting expressed shock and bitterness over the minister’s comment.

    According to the source, the minister was told that the party can no longer trust her.

     

  • Atiku comments: APC questions Alhassan

    Sequel to her comments declaring support for former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, the Minister of Women Affairs, Senator Aisha Alhassan on Thursday appeared before the National Working Committee of the All Progressives Congress, APC.

    The Minister met the APC National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun with the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi.

    Although details of the closed door meeting were not made public, it was learnt that the Minister was given an opportunity to explain herself in the light of the recent controversy generated by her media comments.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that Alhassan had last week openly declared her support for Atiku, a development that has sparked several reactions amongst the political class.

     

    Details later…

  • Omokri lambasts Bolaji Abdullahi, George Akume, says ‘If Jonathan is corrupt, joining APC doesn’t make you saints’

    Former media aide to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, Reno Omokri, has said the recent outbursts by former members of the opposition, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, now All Progressives Congress, APC, that the administration of former President, Goodluck Jonathan was corrupt is an indictment on themselves.

    Omokri who was reacting to a statement credited to the spokesperson of the ruling APC, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi that ‘Nobody could have looted like Jonathan’ said Abdullahi was simply insinuating with his statement that he was also corrupt and contributed to looting Nigeria’s treasury since he was an executive of the administration before his appointment was terminated by the former president.

    Omokri noted that Abdullahi who was the Minister of Sports and Youths Development under Jonathan cannot suddenly turn to a ‘saint’ after decamping to the APC.

    The former presidential aide also attacked Senator George Akume, a former Governor of Benue under the PDP for saying the PDP brought Nigeria untold hardships. He also maintained that the former President wasn’t corrupt and all his dealings in government are clear for all to see.

    Omokri said this on Tuesday in a statement he signed and sent to TheNewsGuru.com.

    The statement reads in full:

    “My attention has been drawn to a statement by the APC and released in some newspapers with the headline ‘Nobody could have looted like Jonathan, APC replies PDP’

    It is indeed disheartening that the All Progressive Congress has again decided to stand truth on its head by claiming that nobody looted Nigeria like former President Goodluck Jonathan.

    The statement by the national publicity secretary of the APC, Bolaji Abdullahi, a man who once benefitted from former President Jonathan’s generosity and rode on his back to become a minister, shows that the party is at its wits end and is running out of lies to feed Nigerians.

    First of all, no court has indicted or convicted former President Jonathan of corruption neither can they do so because the former President was not corrupt and did not loot.

    We remind the APC that former President Jonathan once truthfully declared that he has no accounts or property abroad. There is a Freedom of Information Act signed into law by Dr. Jonathan and I urge Bolaji Abdullahi and those who pull his puppet strings to take advantage of it in verifying that assertion.

    In any case, if the Jonathan administration was corrupt, what does that say about Bolaji Abdullahi who was a member of that government for three out of its five years? By indicting Dr. Jonathan, Malam Abdullahi also indicts himself, after all, he did not resign from that government until former President Jonathan sacked him.

    Bolaji Abdullahi, like Senator George Akume, is only being clever by half in indicting the PDP as the cause of Nigeria’s problems.

    Such is the APC’s hypocrisy that Senator Akume said ‘PDP caused the pain we are in’. Senator Akume, like Bolaji Abdullahi, forgets that the PDP ruled for 16 years and Akume was a PDP Governor for 8 of those years and a PDP Senator for 4 of those years.

    Is it that one suddenly becomes a saint by joining the APC after being in the PDP for 12 years?

    It is funny that no evidence of looting has ever been established against Dr. Jonathan, yet the APC believes he looted, yet though evidence abounds that ex-military head of state, General Sani Abacha looted, they believe and have publicly said ‘Abacha did not loot’.

    Over $5 billion has been traced to Abacha and over $1 billion has been recovered from him including $320 million recovered under the Buhari administration alone. The question for Malam Abdullahi is this-how much has been recovered from Dr. Goodluck Jonathan?

    No wonder Nigeria has not improved in the Corruption Perception Index of Transparency International since 2014 when we made our best improvement till date under Dr. Jonathan. Apparently, after sacking people like Bolaji Abdullahi, Transparency International saw fit to improve Nigeria’s Corruption Perception Rating by 8 points. The position we occupied in 2014 because of Jonathan (136) is the same position we occupy today. No progress has been made from where he left off.

    It is also sad for the APC to claim that its hands were tied by the courts forcing the government to authorize the release of 48 houses seized from Timipre Sylva, a major APC donor and chieftain.

    Such stories should only be told to children on the TV program ‘Tales by Moonlight’.

    We ask Nigerians to note that even when the same courts ordered the release on bail of Col. Sambo Dasuki and Sheikh Ibrahim el-Zak Zaky, these individuals were not released in defiance of court orders.

    It is obvious that the APC chooses which court order to obey based on how much the person involved has donated to the party.

    It is also sad that Malam Abdullahi, who knows the truth, continues with the propaganda that Jonathan said ‘stealing is not corruption’. Bolaji knows the truth because he was serving Dr. Goodluck Jonathan as a minister when this incidence occurred. Former President Jonathan merely quoted the then Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Dahiru Musdapher, who tried to differentiate between stealing and corruption.

    His Lordship the then CJN said most of the cases charged to courts and celebrated as cases of corruption are actually cases of stealing. No one has said stealing is good. Bolaji’s APC should stop this falsehood and propaganda.

    Why the APC continues to circulate beer parlor gossip, I wouldn’t know. Even the Nigerian Senate headed by a former PDP governor now APC Senate President accused the APC Federal Government of spreading beer parlour rumour on corruption (front page of the Daily Sun Friday, September 8, 2017). Bolaji’s statement is another beer parlour propaganda.

    The APC government has budgeted over N14tr in the last two years. Bolaji should tell Nigerians what the government has done with the money. Nigerians will not know the level of corruption in Bolaji’s APC government till another government takes over.

    A government that harbors a man who was indicted by a duly constituted Judicial Commission and even makes him a minister has no moral authority to point fingers at others.

    Finally, I appeal to Bolaji Abdullahi and the APC to focus on explaining to Nigerians why despite the fact that it claims to have recovered almost 2 trillion from the Jonathan administration, Nigeria still wants to borrow 1.6 trillion.

    With the amount ‘recovered’, Nigeria should have had enough not to borrow and a little extra on top to lend to others.

    These lies only go to show that you can use propaganda to get to power, but you cannot use propaganda to stay in power”.

  • Atiku campaigned against Buhari, contributed nothing to his campaign funds – APC chieftain

    Atiku campaigned against Buhari, contributed nothing to his campaign funds – APC chieftain

    A chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, and former Deputy Director of the Buhari Presidential Campaign Council, Mallam Mohammed Lawal has said former Vice President neither supported President Muhammadu Buhari nor contributed to his campaign funds in 2015 as he (Atiku) earlier claimed.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the former Vice President last week complained that President Muhammadu Buhari used his influence, wealth and other resources to emerge president but since sidelined him in the scheme of running the affairs of the country.

    However, in his reaction, Lawal, a director on the board of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation( NNPC), said Atiku remained bitter for losing the presidential ticket to Buhari.

    Lawal said: “We know that right from the time Buhari was sworn in, Atiku started plotting to cause problem, to ensure that this administration does not succeed.

    “During the campaign, he granted an interview to BBC and said he was sure APC would not win the presidential election.

    “He was making preparations that if APC did not win, he will go back to PDP and get the ticket after ex-President Goodluck Jonathan’s projected exit in 2019.

    “Immediately after the presidential primaries, Atiku left the country. He did not come back. All along, while we were prosecuting the presidential campaign, Atiku was not in Nigeria. He did not participate in the presidential campaign.

    “After the presidential election, he came to congratulate President Muhammadu Buhari and left the country. He is complaining now that he was not contacted.”

     

    He added: “I served as a Deputy Director at the Presidential Campaign Council.

    “ I knew all the intrigues. Atiku fought Buhari tooth and nail. He was extremely unhappy about the loss of presidential primaries.

    “He did not campaign for Buhari during the election. He even refused to contribute any money. He promised to campaign and to contribute to the campaign. He did not contribute anything meaningful.

    “ Let him say how much he spent. How much did he claim he spent? Is his money more important than his appearance at the campaign? He spent all the money he thinks he has to ensure that Buhari did not win.

    “People are not foolish. He told the BBC in 2015 that he was sure that Buhari was not going to win. So, will somebody who did not believe in the party’s candidate spend anything?”

    Lawal noted that despite Atiku’s complacency to achieving his presidential mandate, Buhari has been fair to him.

    “And out of magnanimity, Buhari’s first outing from Abuja, after winning the election, was to attend Atiku’s daughter’s wedding.

    “There are many Atiku loyalists in this government and he is saying that he has been sidelined. She (Women Affairs Minister Aisha Alhassan) and other Atiku loyalists were given appointment because of Atiku. They know themselves. And Atiku is saying nothing has been given to him. At least the principal appointment given to Atiku went to Aisha as the Minister of Women Affairs.

    “To be candid with you, Atiku started fighting Buhari since 2015. They just came out now because they were choked up; they did not get any reaction from him. They thought he was going to start fighting, abusing and dealing mercilessly with the opposition in government.”

    On the comments of the Minister of Women Affairs, Lawal said she ought to have resigned her appointment.

    He said: “When Atiku was having problem with ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo, did any of his boys attack Obasanjo? Why is she doing it now? If there is any political saint in this country, Buhari is number one. If there are other saints, Buhari is the most pious political saint in Nigeria.

    “If she is the daughter of Atiku, as she is claiming; if she is Mama Taraba, as she claims to be, let her resign and go and work for Atiku. Atiku is free to contest; she is free to campaign for anybody.

    “As for the President, he knew when she gave Aisha appointment that she is a political ally of Atiku and we were not surprised.

    “We are in government; we know about their machinations, meetings in order to discredit this government. It started after the primaries and shortly after the victory of President Muhammadu Buhari. We know what they have been planning underground. Recently it choked them because the President refused to answer or react to all their mischiefs.”

    Meanwhile, the spokesman of the Atiku Media Office Mr. Paul Ibe, said on Sunday that in spite of Atiku not accorded the respect he deserved, the former Vice President worked “harder for Buhari’s victory.”

    He said: “Lawal was not in the position to say that Atiku did not contribute to Buhari’s campaign. Those in the position knew what transpired. It is not the truth. I remember that I was a Deputy Director in the Presidential Campaign Council.

    “The ex-Vice President contributed his resources, time, counsel, and ideas, including the media resources which played a crucial role. Even after the election, when the media team met with the President, he acknowledged the role of the media unit.

    “After the election, Atiku Media Office became the temporary shelter for the presidential campaign media personnel.”

    He added: “Atiku was not accorded the respect he deserves as a major stakeholder during the campaign.

    “He was not even aware of the campaign itinerary. If you didn’t invite a leader for campaign, will you expect him to be there?

    ”When they realised what was happening, the Director-General of the Presidential Campaign Council, Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi, went to the former Vice President who said he was being excluded and there was a promise that they would not sideline him.

    “By coincidence, we ( his aides) also went to meet with Atiku. We asked: ‘Are we to withdraw because you are being excluded,’ But Atiku told us: ‘You are on a historic national assignment; what you have started, you will finish.’

    “So, after the meeting with Amaechi, the ex-VP went full blast into the campaign. He said he did it in the best interest of Nigeria. It is not about Atiku; it is about Nigeria.

    “Everything Atiku said I stand by it.The ex-VP has not been plotting against this administration. He is a democrat who has been giving advice to make sure the government succeeds.”

  • Atiku lied, Buhari never sidelined him – APC

    Atiku lied, Buhari never sidelined him – APC

    The All Progressives Congress, APC, has denied claims by former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar that he was sidelined by President Muhammadu Buhari despite contributing immensely to his emergence in 2015.

    The allegation by the former Vice President was debunked by the North West Zonal Vice Chairman of the party, Inuwa Abdulkadir.

    Abdulkadir also cautioned members of the party to be careful of their public utterances and not hide under the guise of freedom of speech to undermine the party or bring the party and the leadership to disrepute.

    Abdulkadir who was reacting to the statement credited to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar that he has been sidelined by both the President and the party describe the statement as an “unguided statement” which should not be coming from a statement of his repute.

    Abdulkadir who spoke with selected newsmen at the APC national secretariat on Friday also said that the Minister of Women Affairs was practically blackmailing the President with her statement which has attracted public comments in recent times, pointing out that while she was entitled to her own opinion, she was morally bound to either keep quiet or resign from the government, rather than creating the impression that things were not working well within the government.

    He said the former Vice President gave the impression of failure on the side of both the party and the government formed by the party, pointing out that as a statesman who contributed to building the party, statements of fact was expected from him.

    He said: “Atiku Abubakar is a very important member of this party. He is one of the leaders of this party and I have no doubt about his contribution to building this party. He has also added value by his personality during the last election

    “People of such statue and reckoning in this country, particularly being a former Vice President, of this great nation, he has attained the position of a statesman and what we expect from him is nothing less than that. By virtue of former his office and his age, he is qualified to be a statesman.

    “But when you reach that statue and age there are certain things you have to come to terms with, most important of which is to exhibit a high sense of decorum in your conduct. What I mean is that you have to guard what you say, how you say it and when you say it because what is expected of you as a statesman is nothing but factual.

    “Secondly, the majority of the people look up to you to provide leadership in the sense that from what you say people can learn a lot.

    “Of recent Atiku has made some statements to the effect that or create an impression of the failure of the party and the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government. At that level, good party members, especially of his status should not be seen to be making such public statements even if those criticisms are factual, whereas in this case some of these statements were misleading and incorrect.

    “These statements give an impression as if there is a crack in the house and in the party or that the party is not doing all that which it ought to. Ordinarily, I wouldn’t have been here to respond to certain statements because as leaders, we shouldn’t be seen as joining issues in the public domain. But since he has made a public statement, the public is entitled to get the other side or be told the truth.

    “Yes, Atiku like many others made certain contributions in the 2015 elections and in building the party. But the bigger picture which he gave is not correct. I know that in the North West zone which I represent, we had eight presidential campaign rallies and Atiku did not attend any.

    “Yes, he added value by his personality, but there are so many other members of the party, who made financial contribution and added electoral value. North West is the most populous zone in terms of the APC membership and in terms of electoral victory, not only to the president, but we have seven state governors and 20 out of the 21 senators in the zone are from the APC.

    “I think we are critical and major stakeholders in this party. So one of the reasons why I am making this statement is to calm our members in these states and not to be distracted and that APC is well on ground as all efforts are being made to solidify those gains and we shouldn’t be distanced by such unfortunate statements which are suggesting that the party is neglecting a particular person or group persons.

    “Some of these things are processes and you don’t expect everything to happen at the same time. More importantly, there should some decorum in what we do. People who have attained those high privileged positions should know that they have attained certain status in the society and so, they cannot afford to talk anyhow.

    “On the issue of consultation by the Mr. President, though I don’t work in the Villa, it is an open secret that whoever visited the president is no longer a secret. Whoever is meeting the president of Nigeria more than 20 people will know and the information will be shared.

    “As a matter of fact, several times, Atiku Abubakar has visited Mr. President and what they discussed, we don’t know but we know that he has visited. I am sure he is not just there to greet him. Those two leaders will meet without discussing one thing or the other.

    “On party meetings, I know that immediately after the convention where Buhari was nominated as the party flag bearer, there were a number of leadership meetings which he participated. Also, there were formal party meetings, some of which were held in the Villa and he was present.

    “There were some meetings here at the National Secretariat including two NEC meetings which he attended and other functions of the party. So the claim that the party only met once is not correct.

    “On his criticism of the President in the area of security and the fight against corruption, I want to say that if you critically listen to what he said, you will discover that it is not correct because we know where we were in 2015 and where we are now especially in terms of security and what the situation is now.

    “This is just a sign of caution. As a party, we caution our members from making unguarded statements that are capable of ridiculing the leadership of the party and the leadership of the government formed by this party. I think that we as a party, we will not relent in our effort in installing discipline and ensuring decorum among our members.

    “We should always remember that this party is an institution and it is not a personal enterprise belong to one person, a group of persons or a class of people. It has its own rules and regulations. People should not hide under the freedom of speech to undermine the party or bring the party and the leadership to disrepute. We all appreciate the efforts of members of this party in producing the president.

    “So, the party has a duty to ensure that party members e committed to the party and its principles. APC respects the right of all its members and the citizens from this country to make constructive criticism and we embrace such.

    “At the same time, we have a responsibility to ensure that those privileges, those rights being exercise by the members does not encroach into the reputation of the party or the party as an institution.”

    Speaking on the statement credited to the Minister of Women Affairs, Aisha Jummai Alhassan, Abdulkadir said the action of the Minister could be interpreted to mean that she was either blackmailing the President or boxing him into a corner.

    He said while she was entitled to her opinion, she is morally bound to resign her appointment if she is not satisfied with events in the cabinet, pointing out that her statement were suggestive of things not working well within the cabinet.

    He said: “People have rights to express their opinions and express their views. But those rights are morally suspended if you found yourself in a situation where you find yourself as a member of the cabinet or as a member of the party.

    “There are certain things that are expected from you because it sends wrong signals of your commitment to the party as well as the person you are serving. However, some of these things are within the discretion of the Principal of that Minister who is the President.

    “The situation is that her statement is capable of creating an impression that even at the cabinet level, things are not well. As far as the party is concerned, everything is well in terms of the cabinet. But there is personal responsibility on that minister to do the right thing.

    “As a leader and somebody who has accepted to serve in a government formed by the party, the right thing to do if you think otherwise is to honourably quit. What we have right now is a situation of blackmailing the President or boxing him which will not be accepted by the party.

    “These two issues have come to the public domain and it is part of our responsibility as leaders of this party to ensure that the current things are known and to correct whatever wrong impression that would have been created.

    “You are making such suggestion in respect of your principal in public, this is something that she can discuss with her principal to express to him so that he (President) will know her position. And if you feel like it should be public then you are saying that I’m no longer comfortable with this situation, if this situation should continue I’m not comfortable with it.

    “Whether Buhari has said that he will recontest or not is immaterial, what is material as serving Minister should not be seen to be making public statement that suggests that they are not on the same page with the team because she is a more member of a team.

    “In order places, the right thing is for her to resign, that she can no longer continue to be in this thing because my spirit ir my thought is not in conformity with this team, so we can no more work together. She is entitled to that. So, you can not you eat your cake and have it, that is the situation.

    “As high as that office is people resign and leave on principle that if not that I’m a member of APC I would not have accepted to serve but I’m not convinced still, so I think giving an opportunity to somebody else I will support him not you”.

  • Alhassan voted Atiku against Buhari during APC presidential primary – El-Rufai

    …says we warned Buhari not to appoint her minister

    Governor Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna State has accused the embattled Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Senator Aisha Alhassan of voting former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar against President Muhammadu Buhari in the then All Progressives Congress, APC, presidential primaries held in the build up to the 2015 general elections.

    El-Rufai noted further that the leadership of the party warned President Buhari against appointing Alhassan as a minister because she has never hidden her loyalty to the former Vice President.

    The governor said this while speaking with State House Correspondents at the Villa on Friday.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that El-Rufai’s comment is coming in a reaction to a viral video where the minister was seen endorsing Atiku for President in the 2019 general elections.

    The governor, however, advised Nigerians not to be surprised or shocked at her outburst.

    El-Rufai noted that the decision lies on President Muhammadu Buhari to either retain or sack her as a member of his cabinet.

     

    Details later…

  • Nnamdi Kanu insistence on election boycott in Anambra is a ploy to enthrone APC – Uwazuruike

    …says IPOB leader is comprised, receiving bribes from FG

    The founder of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, has said the insistence of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, is a plough by the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, to illegally edge the incumbent governor, Chief Willie Obiano out of office.

    Uwarizuke also explained that the IPOB leader has been compromised insisting that the Federal Government has bought mansions for him in London.

    Uwazuruike said this in a chat with The Interview, a monthly magazine.

    The MASSOB founder said Kanu had been secretly recruited by the Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government to destroy the Biafran movement from within.

    He said, “Apparently they saw Nnamdi Kanu as someone of high value for use. They heard him shouting on radio and approached him and he accepted. Naturally, only a strong, principled man can say no because they will give you irresistible offers.

    “I know the mansions Nnamdi Kanu and people like him have abroad, given to them by the same government, – the same security agencies. Don’t worry, the truth will emerge soon.”

    Uwazuruike said Kanu’s insistence “on the boycott of the Anambra State governorship election in November is a ploy to ensure that the All Progressives Congress takes over in the state.”

    He added, “All things playing out today, including the so-called ‘no election’ in Anambra State is nothing but a smokescreen. The ‘no election’ is aimed at favouring the APC to edge out Governor (Willie) Obiano; that’s the only thing.”

    Uwazuruike said the IPOB leader was a mere rabble-rouser as he had no clue about how to attain Biafra.

    He said for instance, Kanu lacked an understanding of the process of a referendum.

    The MASSOB leader said, “Let him tell you his own agenda. What does he know about Biafra? Somebody who doesn’t know the difference between an election and a referendum; that there is no difference between election and referendum.

    “He says ‘give me Biafra or give me a date for referendum.’ So, what is the difference between the two? All the materials you use in a referendum are the same you use in an election. The only difference is that in an election, you may have many political parties while in a referendum, you vote yes or no.”

    Uwazuruike slammed Kanu for using hate speech to promote his message.

    He said Igbo people were known as a decent and respectful people but Kanu’s tactics was changing the mindset of the people.

    He said it was such hateful rhetoric that caused the Arewa youths to issue a quit notice on Igbo living in the North.

    The MASSOB founder said innocent Igbo living in the North might lose their lives because of Kanu’s misinformed utterances.

    Uwazuruike said even though he was detained for over two years by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, he never insulted the ex-President because he respected the office of the President.

    He said the best way to attain freedom was to use a decent and non-violent approach like Martin Luther King (Jnr.) and Mahatma Gandhi.

    The MASSOB founder added, “Ndigbo must make sure they bring up their children well. Nnamdi Kanu is a bad example of what an Igbo child should be. He insulted the President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo.

    “Even if there is Biafra and you are the President, what type of Biafra are you leading? If the Biafra we are talking about cannot be better than Nigeria, we better stay in Nigeria.”

    Uwazuruike lambasted Obasanjo and Buhari for marginalising Igbo, accusing them of hating people of the South-East.

    He said Igbo knew that Buhari did not like them and that was why they voted massively against him in 2015. He added that Buhari’s attitude towards them was expected.

  • Ebonyi APC holds rally for Buhari, says he’s fit to contest 2019 presidential election

    Ebonyi APC holds rally for Buhari, says he’s fit to contest 2019 presidential election

    The Ebonyi chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC on Monday in Abakaliki held a rally to kick start campaigns for President Muhammadu Buhari’s second term in office.

    Acting state APC Chairman, Eze Nwachukwu, commended party faithful for turning out in their large numbers for the rally.

    “We thank God for the recovery of Mr President from his sickness and successful return from the medical vacation in London to resume his normal duty as president.

    “The overwhelming crowd that attended the rally is a clear indication that Ebonyi is indeed an APC state and by massively attending this solidarity rally is another indication of the love Ebonyi people have for our president and his populist government.

    “This is the third time APC in Ebonyi is organising this type of rally to demonstrate its love, support and loyalty for Buhari and APC led central government,” Nwachukwu said.

    He added that: We have witnessed tremendous live-transforming programmes and policies which are impacting positively on the lives of the ordinary citizens, including job creation, economic repositioning, infrastructure, anti-graft and fight against insecurity, among others.

    “We are calling for more support for Mr President while urging him to avail himself for 2019 to enable him consolidate on the many achievements so far recorded by his administration.

    “We want to reiterate that Ebonyi is an APC state and that we pledge our unalloyed and unflinching support and loyalty to the President and Commander – in – Chief of Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria”.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the Minister for Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, former Governor of Ebonyi, Chief Martin Elechi, among other top party members were all in attendance for the rally.

  • APC ward suspends Banire for 10 years

    The Ward ‘C’ chapter of the All Progressives Congress in Mushin Local Government Area of Lagos State has suspended the National Legal Adviser of the party, Muiz Banire, for 10 years for alleged anti-party activities and misappropriating campaign materials and logistics.

    The ward on Wednesday said its disciplinary committee recommended the suspension, which it merely upheld.

    The chapter had set up the committee, headed by one Bolaji Abass, to investigate the allegations, which were contained in a petition written against Banire by two members of the APC in the ward, Olukayode Tolu and Ayodeji Adebayo.

    The committee had it sitting on August 14, 2017, at Bishop Aggey Memorial School, Ilasamaja, but Banire allegedly shunned its invitation.

    The petitioners had alleged that Banire had been absent from ward meetings for more than two years and was engaging in media campaign against the party.

    The Acting Chairman, Ward C, APC, Omobolaji Amusan, said on Wednesday that the report would be forwarded to the Mushin Local Government Area chapter of the party for necessary action.

    However, Banire described those that announced his suspension as impostors, adding that they were not known in the Mushin LGA chapter of the party.

    “I will not shy away from ensuring that the APC follow due process in its conduct at all times,” Banire said in a statement.

  • The APC, PDP fight over ‘ownership’ of restructuring, by Ehichioya Ezomon

    By Ehichioya Ezomon

     

    It looks ludicrous, even childish that the two leading political parties in Nigeria – All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) – would be fighting over who owns “restructuring” of the country, as an item in their agenda for the people.

    There shouldn’t be any skirmish if the parties present and/or represent clear-cut ideologies. Even when they have something akin to ideology, it’s only meant for the campaigns, and would sooner be dropped when actual governance stares them in the face.

    Nonetheless, the APC-PDP imbroglio over who possesses “restructuring” couldn’t have come at an opportune moment when the top issue in the polity is a possible re-examination and redefinition of the “non-negotiable” UNITY of the Nigerian State, as established in 1914 when the British colonial masters cobbled the Northern and Southern Protectorates into one entity.

    The APC National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, reportedly started the snivelling over “restructuring” when he censured the PDP as “not interested in restructuring,” but only bringing it up through the 2014 National Conference, ahead of the 2015 general elections.

    Trust the opposition to fire back immediately through its national spokesman, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, who said the APC’s sudden interest in restructuring was a bait for the 2019 general elections, “after several months of denial” by its top officials that the party “did not promise restructuring in its manifesto and during the campaigns in 2015.”

    Of a truth, the sudden altercation between the APC and PDP wouldn’t have occurred had the top shots of the ruling party not engaged in vacillation, equivocation and doublespeak on the hot-button issue of restructuring of the polity, which the party promised in its ‘Manifesto’ presented to the public on Wednesday, August 21, 2013, by then APC Interim Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande, in Abuja.

    In the 11-paragraph ‘Preamble’ to the Manifesto, at paragraphs 7-9, the APC, showcasing itself as an “Agent of change” for committed, transparent and focused leadership, declares:

    “As a change Agent, APC intend to cleanse our closet to halt the dangerous drift of Nigeria to a failed state; with a conscious plan for post-oil-economy in Nigeria.

    “To achieve this laudable programme, APC government shall restructure the country, devolve power to the units, with the best practices of federalism and eliminate unintended paralysis of the centre.”

    And in its seven (eight) cardinal programmes offered to the Nigeria populace, the party specifically lists “Devolution of Power” as the sixth (6) item.

    Indeed, several of the 28 Sections of the “Guiding Philosophy” of the APC Manifesto contain declarations for “restructuring” and “devolution of powers” that are so germane in Nigerians’ agitation today. Samplers:

    Under Politics & Governance, the APC promises to, “Initiate action to amend our Constitution with a view to devolving powers, duties and responsibilities to states and local governments in order to entrench true Federalism and the Federal spirit.” It also pledges to “Amend the Constitution to remove Immunity from prosecution for elected officers in criminals cases.”

    National Security: “Begin widespread consultations to amend the Constitution, to enable States and Local Governments to employ State and Community Police, to address the peculiar needs of each community.

    Conflict Resolution, National Unity, Social Harmony: “Initiate policies to ensure that Nigerians are free to live and work in any part of the country by removing state of origin, tribe, ethnic and religious affiliations and replace those with state of residence.”

    Jobs and the Economy: “Amend the Constitution and the Land Use Act to create freehold/leasehold interest in land with matching grants for states to create a nationwide electronics land title register on a state by state basis.”

    Local Government: “We shall ensure that the Local Government system of administration is autonomous so that it can perform the constitutional role demanded of it.”

    Prisons Service & Correction Centres: “We will explore the option of suspended sentence, community service and more frequent periodic pardon.”

    For initially questioning, “What is restructuring” that’s cardinal to its ‘Manifesto’ and which it campaigned with at rallies for the 2015 elections, the APC literally ceded “ownership” of the subject to the opposition PDP, which is clutching it tenaciously, aftermath of the consensus for it across the country.

    However, it should be stressed that although it didn’t campaign with, and had been silent about it, “restructuring” forms part of PDP’s ‘Manifesto’ and resolution on the party formation passed on Wednesday, August 19, 1998, at the Sheraton Hotel in Abuja.

    In the ‘Preamble’ to the document, under items 5 and 6 of the ‘Resolution,’ the PDP promises: “(5) To restructure Nigeria in the spirit of true federalism, so as to achieve a just and equitable distribution of power, wealth and opportunities.

    “(6) To resolve such fundamental matters as proper devolution of powers, power shift and power sharing in a federal structure, so as to create the socio-political conditions conducive for our living together in peace, unity and social harmony.”

    And under ‘Indivisibility of the Nigerian Polity’ in its 32-item programme of action, the party states: “The PDP believes in the perpetual unity of Nigeria under the federal system of government,” and “… shall also promote geopolitical balancing (which the South-East particularly clamours for) as a fundamental principle of power sharing in the country.”

    So, between the APC and the PDP, which is “interested” in “restructuring” of Nigeria: The APC, which promises the matter in its 2013 Manifesto, campaigned with it ahead of the 2015 polls, questioned it thereafter, and finally set up a committee for its possible adoption in the wake of challenges facing the country?

    Or the PDP that drew up the item in its 1998 Manifesto, but never campaigned with it for 16 years nor advanced its implementation even after the 2014 National Conference convoked by the government it controlled?

     

    Mr. Ezomon, Journalist and Media Consultant, writes from Lagos, Nigeria.