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Tag: APC

  • Anambra 2017: Buhari has no anointed candidate – APC

    The All Progressives Congress, APC, has assured candidates in the 2017 Anambra Governorship race of fair play stating that the party’s leader, President Muhammadu Buhari does not have an anointed candidate.

    This was revealed on Friday by the Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima.

    The governor assured that the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primary slated for Saturday would be free and fair.

    Meanwhile, the Chairman of Joint Security Agencies in the state and the state Police Commissioner, Mr. Garba Baba Umar, has told the aspirants that the joint security team would not hesitate to deal with anybody that tries to cause trouble during the primary election.

    The police commissioner said he was aware that some of the aspirants had imported or planned to import hoodlums to the state, adding that security operatives are equal to the task of ensuring hitch-free exercise.

    “This APC primary is family affair. We have enough security personnel to deal with anybody or group and anybody who has thugs should make sure they stay 200-300 meters away from the designated centers of the primary,” he said.

  • Opposition doesn’t mean hostility, Buhari lectures APC,PDP leaders

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday met with leaders of the two major political parties in the country- the ruling All Progressives Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    The APC delegation was led by the party’s National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun; while the Chairman of the PDP’s Caretaker Committee, Ahmed Makarfi, led the opposition party’s delegation to the meeting.

    Buhari in his remarks described the visit by the two main political parties as signifying the unity of the country.

    The President noted that a democracy needs a vibrant but responsible opposition, adding that opposition does not translate to hostility and antagonism.

    He thanked all Nigerians for praying for his recovery and asked them to continue to pray for the peace and prosperity of the country.

    The President said, “I thank you sincerely, collectively and individually for finding time from your busy schedules to come all the way to Abuja and welcome me back home.

    “This visit signifies the unity of Nigeria. It is not a party occasion. It is not a political gathering. It is a symbol of our national unity. It is also an expression of the maturity of our democracy.

    “Multi-party democracy is a very tried and tested form of government; opposition does not mean hostility, enmity or antagonism. Democracy needs opposition, one which is vibrant but responsible.

    “I am very pleased to see you assembled here all shades of opinion in Nigeria. Please convey to our countrymen and women in your respective states my deep gratitude to all those who prayed for my recovery. I am imploring all Nigerians to continue praying for peace and prosperity in Nigeria.”

    Makarfi promised that the PDP will continue to support Buhari in his efforts aimed at moving the nation forward.

  • BREAKING: Buhari meets APC, PDP leaders

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday met behind closed doors with the leaderships of the All Progressives Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    The meeting, which started around 11.10a.m., was still ongoing as of the time of filing this report.

    It is being attended by the Vice-President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, chairman of the APC, Mr John Odigie-Oyegun and the caretaker chairman of the PDP, Sen. Ahmed Makarfi.

    Other APC members attending the meeting include the National Legal Adviser of the APC, Muiz Banire, Sen. Olorunnimbe Mamora, Prince Tony Momoh, former Senate President, Ken Nnamani amongst others.

    Those from the PDP are Sen. Ben obi and other members of the caretaker committee.

    The meeting might discuss socio-political issues especially the problem of hate speech and the prevailing security situation in the country.

    The Presidency on Wednesday advised the nation’s opinion leaders and proponents of restructuring to exercise restraint in their choice of words to avoid heating up the polity and causing acrimony among Nigerians.

  • You are looters, show evidence of N1.3trn spent on capital projects in 2016, PDP tells APC, Osinbajo

    The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, on Tuesday reacted to a statement credited to the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo that the Federal Government spent N1.3 trillion on capital projects in 2016.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that Osinbajo disclosed this at a plenary of the 2017 Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) national conference in Lagos with the theme: “African Business: Penetrating Through Institution Building.”

    The party noted that there was absolutely nothing on ground to show that such outrageous amount was spent on any project anywhere in the country.

    The party’s position was made known through series of tweets via its Tweeter handle @OfficialPDPNig

    The party tweeted: “We are alarmed and highly bewildered to hear from VP @ProfOsinbajo that N1.3tr was spent on Capital Projects in 2016! #APCLooters

    “N1.3tr on capital projects & nothing to show for it is unacceptable. Should we assume the VP @ProfOsinbajo was misquoted?

    “Apart from the infrastructures handed over to the @APCNigeria led gov’t by PDP, nothing has been done in the last 2 1/2 years

    The PDP called on the Vice President to provide clarifications on how the money was spent.”

    It added, “We believe the VP @ProfOsinbajo will provide clarifications on how the N1.3tr was spent on Capital Projects in 2016.”

    As at press time, TheNewsGuru.com reports that spokesperson to the Vice President, Laolu Akande is yet to issue any official statement to the accusations of the PDP.

  • APC inaugurate committee to reconcile Yahaya Bello, Melaye

    The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, on Monday in Abuja, inaugurated a seven-member reconciliation committee for the party’s Kogi State chapter at the APC National Secretariat.

    The seven-member committee, which is chaired by Gen. Idris Garba(retd.), also has as members, Chief Don Etiebet, Patricia Etteh; Group Capt. Rufai Garba(retd.), Alhaji Umar Lawan Kareto, Group Capt. Joe Orji (retd.) and the party’s Deputy National Secretary, Mr. Victor Giadom (secretary).

    The state Governor, Mr. Yahaya Bello, and Senator Dino Melaye, have been fighting for the control of the soul of the party.

    At the inauguration, the APC national chairman thanked members of the reconciliation committee for agreeing to serve the party.

    He said the party’s leadership wanted peace and settlement in the Kogi State chapter of the party.

    Odigie-Oyegun said, “The situation in Kogi is unique. And we want to give every possible opportunity for a settlement. What triggered the events in Kogi was very tragic in their nature.

    “So for us as a party, we are bending over backwards to say, yes we understand your feelings; we understand what you have been through; we understand the work that you have put in to get the APC elected; we understand also that God who disposes of power, brought somebody at the last minute to be the beneficiary of all the work and labour that everybody obviously has put in.”

    Garba thanked the party for selecting the committee members for the assignment and expressed the resolve of the committee to bring peace to the party in the state.

  • Oyegun sets up committee to resolve Kogi APC crisis

    The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), John Odigie-Oyegun, has inaugurated a reconciliation committee for the Kogi State chapter of the party.

    The seven-man committee is chaired by retired General Idris Garba while the party’s Deputy National Secretary, Honourable Victor Giadom, is the secretary.

    Its members are Mr Don Etiebet, Honourable Patricia Etteh, retired Group Captain Rufai Garba, Mr Umar Lawan Kareto, and retired Group Captain Joe Orji.

    Speaking on Monday during the inauguration ceremony at the APC National Secretariat in Abuja, Oyegun thanked members of the committee for agreeing to serve the party.

    He said the party’s leadership wanted peace and settlement in its Kogi State chapter, noting that they were ready to give every possible opportunity for a settlement.

    We Want Peace In Kogi State

    In a statement issued by the party, Oyegun explained, “What triggered the events in Kogi was very tragic in their nature. So for us as a party, we are bending over backwards to say, ‘yes we understand your feelings’.

    “We understand what you have been through, we understand the work that you have put in to get the APC elected; we understand also that God who disposes of power, brought somebody at the last minute to be the beneficiary of all the work and labour that everybody obviously has put in.

    “So we are bending over backwards and we have assembled this very top-level team so that those on the ground there will see that we mean everything we say when we say ‘we want peace in Kogi state’. So your responsibility is a very great one.

    “Fortunately, we had a fact-finding committee that has done a lot of the basic work and submitted a report which will be made available to the reconciliation committee. We know the principal parties in the various groups in Kogi; we know what their grievances are.

    “So the issue now is really to call just the principal groups and say look, this has to stop, how do we go about it? The governor of course will be there to say his piece and give you all the assistance necessary to make your task successful.

    “We want peace in Kogi state; events there have been very unusual but like I said, given the emotive nature of the event that led to it, we have decided to stretch the opportunities for reaching peace.”

    In his response, General Garba thanked the party for selecting the committee members for the assignment.

    He also assured the APC National Chairman that the committee would bring peace and settlement to the party in Kogi State.

    “There is no doubt that it is an onerous task but we are committed people and I believe bringing our experiences to bear on the issue, we will be able to resolve the issue as directed by our great party.

    “I want to assure the National Chairman that we will put in everything possible to succeed in the task given to us,” he said.

  • APC welcomes Buhari, thanks Osinbajo, Nigerians

    Nigeria’s ruling party, the All Progressives Congress said it welcomed President Muhammadu Buhari back home to Nigeria after his medical vacation to the United Kingdom.

    In a statement by Malam Bolaji Abdullahi, the publicity secretary, the Party thanked the Vice President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo for his competent leadership in the absence of President Buhari.

    The party especially commends him for his effort to unite the country and drive the recovery of the national economy.

    The APC also thanked all Nigerians who had prayed ceaselessly for the speedy recovery and safe return of the President, assuring them that the APC-led Federal Government is poised to fulfil all the electoral promises the Party made to Nigerians.

    President Buhari who went on a medical vacation since 7 May, is scheduled to return home today.

     

     

    NAN

     

  • You must apologise to Nigerians for hate speeches made in the past, Fayose tells Buhari, APC

    Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State has the President Muhammadu Buhari led All Progressives Congress, APC, administration must apologise to Nigerians for issuing several hate speeches in the past before categorizing it as an act of terrorism.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo had on Thursday said the the Federal Government had drawn a line on hate speech and would treat it as an act of terrorism.

    Fayose revealed this in a statement issued in Ado Ekiti on Friday, by his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka.

     

    The statement read: “I wish to express concern over the pronouncement of the Acting President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo that hate speech will henceforth be treated as terrorism.

    “While I am totally against hate speech and will support any effort to curb it, it is important to caution the federal government on the danger inherent in the blanket categorisation of hate speech as treasonable.

    “I make bold to say that saying the truth concerning the country and its rulers cannot be termed as hate speech.

    “I only hope Nigeria is not being systematically returned to the colonial days when the law of sedition was used to jail many of those who fought for our independence or the era of Buhari’s military regime when the notorious Public Officers (Protection against False accusation) Decree 4 of 1984 was used to jail Tunde Thompson and NdukaIrabor, both of The Guardian newspapers for publishing what the government termed as false.

    “Most importantly, going by the APC government’s use of the so-called anti-corruption fight to harass, intimidate, arrest and detain opposition figures, there is no doubt that categorising whatever that is termed as hate speech as act of terrorism is unconstitutional and an attempt to gag Nigerians, especially the press.

    “It should therefore not be seen that since the use of corruption to harass, arrest and detain opposition figures is no longer fashionable, hate speech will now be another instrument of oppression to be used against the opposition.

    “The questions that must be answered by the federal government are; what constitutes hate speech and who determines it? Has the Presidency becomes law unto itself such that it is now the one to determine what is an offense and what punishment to be applied?

    “From all intent and purposes, the Acting President pronouncement which is obviously not backed by any legislation is an attempt to provide reasons for an impending clampdown on opposition and Nigerians will resist any attempt to mortgage their fundamental rights to freedom of expression under the guise of hate speeches.

    “When the APC was looking for power, several provocative statements were made. Nigerians are yet to forget President Buhari’s “the dog and the baboon would all be soaked in blood” hate speeches and the threat by the APC to form a parallel government.

    “What can be more treasonable than these statements made by President Buhari and his party?

    “It is also on record that during the 2011 election campaign, President Buhari’s inciting statement led to widespread violence by his supporters in the North after he lost. Over 1000 people were slaughtered in cold blood, including innocent National Youth Service Corp members.

    “Therefore, even if the APC government is sincere with its new found hatred for hate speeches, the APC government must first apologise to Nigerians for being the number one promoter and beneficiary of hate speech.

    “Also, rather than this blanket criminalising of hate speeches, the federal government should embark on reorientation of Nigerians, especially the youths on the consequences of hate speeches to the unity of the country while the confidence of the people in the ‎government (at all levels) must be restored.”

  • Anambra guber: APC clears 12 candidates ahead of primaries

    Anambra guber: APC clears 12 candidates ahead of primaries

    Ahead of the Anambra gubernatorial primaries of the All Progressives Congress (APC) slated for next week Saturday, the party, after screening its candidates has cleared all the twelve aspirants who have shown interest in the governorship ticket of the party

    Ondo state deputy governor and chairman of the screening panel, Agboola Ajayi, said yesterday in Abuja that all the 12 aspirants were eligible to contest the governorship primary.

    The chairman of the screening panel while presenting the report of his committee, commended all the aspirants saying the party ‘is one in Anambra state.’

    He said all the aspirants compiled with the guidelines and all signed an undertaking form assuring that they will all support whoever emerges eventually as the candidate of the party.

    The National Organising Secretary Osita Izunaso, who congratulated the aspirants for being all competent to stand for the primary, added that the next face will be that of Appeal panel if there need be.

    He also commended the aspirants saying “so far we have not received any report of violence among all the aspirants. We urge you to carry on and we are very hopeful that one of you will eventually emerge as the next governor of Anambra state.”

    Speaking with newsmen shortly after he received his clearance certificate, Senator Andy Uba, assured that he will stand with APC whether he eventually win the party’s ticket or not, adding that the incumbent ggovernor of the state “must park his load and go because APC must Anambra.”

    According to Uba, “we have all signed an undertaking to support whoever will at the primary,” he said.

  • PDP doors are open to APC senators who want to defect – Akpabio

    Senator Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom North-West, PDP), says his colleagues in the All Progressives Congress (APC) are welcome to join his party.

    He said they have been making inquiries if there was room for them in the PDP, also that Nigerians await the party’s return to power in 2019.

    Speaking at the PDP’s national convention in Abuja on Saturday, he said, “APC senators, the doors are open for you. We are going to welcome you and you are welcome. Without a viable democracy, there is no way you can have good governance.

    “We will continue to support policies that will take Nigeria out of recession but we cannot support ones that will take Nigeria into depression.

    “When gold passes through the furnace, it comes out shining. Having seen the rough days for PDP, we shall now shine like gold.

    “Our brothers who were misled into thinking they are changing party, the doors are open for you. Feel free to come back. You can come back and join us, you are always welcome.

    “It is time to change the change. A change that is negative must go to make room for positive change.

    “What a beautiful day this is, what a beautiful moment this is for democracy in Africa. The only thing that shows there is democracy is the legislature and that is why we (lawmakers) are here in our large numbers.

    “PDP stands for democracy; for the chance for people to determine who leads them. I don’t need to talk about whether PDP is ready for government. I don’t need to talk about whether we have come back. Have we not come back? Who can you say we don’t have here?

    “If we did not achieve anything, I want to tell you that we have achieved experience. We did a lot while in power and our achievements are there for all to see.

    “Which party set up the GSM revolution? Which party hates corruption? Which party set up ICPC, EFCC?” he asked.

    “Corruption is not a Nigerian invention but we must distinguish between fighting corruption and fighting political opponents,” he said.