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Tag: APC

  • Buhari’s govt interfering in church activities – Pastor Adeboye

    The General Overseer of Redeemed Christian Church of God(RCCG), Worldwide, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, yesterday complained that the Buhari-led government is interfering too much in the affairs of the church.

    Adeboye made the disclosure at the annual Ministers Thanksgiving service held at the Redemption Camp, where he also announced a new leadership structure for RCCG Nigeria, to be led by Pastor Joseph Obayemi.

    In the course of the service, Adeboye reportedly began by telling the crowd that the federal government of Nigeria under President Buhari has, lately, formed the habit of interfering in the affairs of the Church.

    He recounted how the government forced the RCCG to abandoned the robust retirement package for their Pastors, where full time Pastors who retired from the employ of the Church collects their full salary and benefits till death, to adopt a statutory contributory pension scheme which has resulted in Pastors, both those in active service and retirees, earning far less than they should have earned under the old scheme.

    Similarly, Adeboye dwelt on the issue of how Christians are not taking advantage of their numerical strength to determine who becomes a political leader.

    He explained that the apathetic attitude of Christians has led to a situation where leaders are now imposed on them.

    His solution: “When you get home, tell every member of the Redeemed Christian Church of God to go and register for a Political Party. I want every member to be a Card carrying member of a political party.”

    “You can register for any party of your choice, but by all means, register. If you register, you will have to attend your party meetings at the Ward level.

    That way you will be part of those to nominate the party delegates who will decide who will run for elections and be our leaders at the national level”. He said

  • Group lauds Buhari over payment of N5000 to unemployed

    Group lauds Buhari over payment of N5000 to unemployed

    The Centre for Social Justice, Equity and Transparency (CESJET) on Saturday commend President Muhammadu Buhari over payment of N5000 to unemployed Nigerians living below poverty line.

    Addressing a press conference in Abuja, CESJET Executive Director, Joyce Adamu said the implementation of the Conditional Cash Transfer programme is a further testament that President Muhammadu Buhari is a leader who keeps his promises having similarly began the N-Power project that is paying N30,000 monthly to enrolled graduates as well as the home-grown school feeding programme.

    According to her, the various empowerment programmes introduced by the President Buhari led administration is the best way to end radicalization of youths by extremists groups.

    Adamu also appealed to the President to issue a directive that the anti-fraud component of the Conditional Cash Transfer programme and the other initiatives are scaled up to check abuses.

    According to her, it is unprecedented that 10,173 households are benefitting from this intervention that would make a difference in their quest to improve their standard of living.

    She said, “The programme is a confirmation that the administration is committed to safeguarding the interest of the vulnerable in the society.

    “As we salute this feat by Mr President, we see meaningful interventions like these by the federal government as going a long way to de-radicalize youths who fall pray to the wicked hands of terrorists and extremists who usually come from other parts of the world to indoctrinate them into ways that are alien to our culture and tradition as a people.”

    Speaking further, Adamu said, “Our view is that these programmes are too vital to the populace to be allowed to collapse owing to the capacity of corruption to derail them.

    “We count it fortunate that the National Identity Number, BVN and other identity data bases are assets that can and must be deployed to ensure that the bloodsucking demons that had stolen even from pension funds using multiple or ghost accounts are not allow to repeat their trickery with these laudable programmes.”

    She urged Nigerians to engage in self policing and to be whistle blowers to expose officials or individuals that attempt to steal from the poor under any guise as any money stolen from the programme would amount to snatching food from the mouth of hungry children and condemning them to starvation.

    “Law enforcement and anti-corruption agencies must treat any fraud uncovered around the conditional cash transfer programme as heinous crimes that must be prosecuted to conclusion,” she said.

     

  • APC won’t rig Feb. 11 LG election in Oyo State, Ajimobi assures

    Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State says the All Progressives Congress (APC) will not rig the Feb. 11 Local Government election in the state.

    Ajimobi stated this on Friday at the Empowerment Programme of Sen. Monsurat Sunmonu held at the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan.

    ‘’We won’t rig the local government election. We must all come together as a party to win the election.

    ‘’We must all sit down together in selecting the best candidates for the elections, so that we don’t lose the election,’’ he said.

    The governor opined that the appropriate method for the party to pick its candidate was by consensus, where all delegates would come together and pick the candidates.

    While describing the direct primaries in the electoral process as cumbersome, Ajimobi said that the party can also go for indirect primaries if consensus would not work.

    ‘’Our best option in APC is consensus or the indirect primaries.

    We can only continue winning elections if there is unity among our members,’’ he said.

    The governor called on members to welcome all new members defecting to the APC, and urged them to imbibe the art of forgiving one another.

    According to him, the local government election will determine if APC is still strong and formidable in the state.

    Ajimobi said that he remained the leader of APC in the state, and urged those who did not believe in his leadership to establish their own party.

    He said that that there were no factions in the APC in Oyo State, saying those championing Sen. Abiola Ajimobi Campaign Organisation (SENACO) and Lamidi Adesina Loyalist (LAMIST) are mischievous.

    ‘’Let me tell you that there is nothing like SENACO and LAMIST in Oyo State again, they are all dead. I remain the leader of the party in the state’’, he said.

  • Buhari has no plans to Islamise Nigeria – Osinbajo

    Buhari has no plans to Islamise Nigeria – Osinbajo

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Thursday urged faith-based organisations in the country to shun rumours that the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari was moving to Islamise Nigeria.

    He told religious leaders after receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award of the Student Christian Movement of Nigeria (SCM) in his office, that they should dwell on facts.

    Recall that before the election in 2015, Prof. Osinbajo spoke out that the All Progressives Congress (APC) was not secretly plotting to Islamise Nigeria if it won the election.

    Osinbajo He again reaffirmed that stand stressing that the rumour making the rounds about plans to make Islam the official religion of Nigeria were unfounded as the country “can’s be Islamised”.

    Osinbajo emphasised that it was impossible to Islamise the country given the 1999 Constitution that forbids state religion.

    He urged religious bodies to channel their energies towards proffering solutions to the numerous challenges facing the country.

    The vice president also challenged Nigerian youths to wake up from slumber and take advantage of abundant opportunities in ICT, agriculture and other sectors. While noting that the opportunities were far much more now than they were in the past, Osinbajo harped on the need for young people to take responsibility for their future and be creative.

    He also emphasised the importance of using the internet to acquire knowledge as well as learning a second language to boost their global competitiveness.

    Expressing appreciation to SCM for the honour, the vice president solicited the organisation’s assistance in disseminating factual information about the Federal Government’s policies and programmes.

    Earlier, the National President of SCM, Rev, Eric Ighalo, commended the government for its social interventions such as the N-Power initiative and the conditional transfer scheme.

    Ighalo expressed the willingness of the body to partner with government in several areas including serving as government ambassadors in their constituencies.

    The SCM national president said that the award was conferred on the vice president in recognition of his integrity and outstanding leadership he had demonstrated over the years.

    The award presentation, according to him, culminated the 75th anniversary of the organisation.

  • FG’s N5,000 payment to the poor, another empty promise‎ by APC – Fayose

    FG’s N5,000 payment to the poor, another empty promise‎ by APC – Fayose

     

    Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State has discredited the Federal Government’s claim of the payment of N5,000 to indigent Nigerians, describing it as another empty promise by the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.

    He said: “A blind man will say it is when it gets into my mouth that I will say you are feeding me, not promises.”

    The governor, in a statement on Tuesday in Ado-Ekiti by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Idowu Adelusi, said there was no evidence of the payment in his state, which was one of the states the federal government claimed the exercise had started.

    Fayose said apparently, the states they claimed had started receiving the payment were APC-controlled states, knowing that the governors cannot come out to disprove the payment.

    The governor stated further that the All Progressives Congress (APC) government led by President Muhammadu Buhari should come to the reality that Nigerians were hungry and also angry and that they were no longer interested in empty promises.

    He also explained that the people had realized that the APC government only operated by deceit and that Nigerians were running out of patience.

    Fayose challenged the government to publish the number of people receiving it and their accounts

    He insisted that the economic policy of the federal government ahead of the 2019 elections was on how to entrench themselves in power and not on the welfare of Nigerians.

    He condemned the N2Bn to be spent on entertainment alone in the Villa in the 2017 budget.

    While calling on the federal government to put a proper economic team, beyond party line in place to salvage the economy of Nigeria, which he said was already on the floor as many businesses had been closed down.

    He appealed to the President not to allow Nigerians die before the so-called benefit and ‘change’ comes to bear on them.

    He explained that the “federal government’s N5,000 payment to the poor was designed in a way that the state governors are also involved because they are to clear and present prospective beneficiaries before payments are made.”

    Recall that the federal government in a statement on Monday said: “Funds for the commencement of the payments in four states were released last week to the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS) – the platform that hosts and validates payments for all government’s social intervention programmes. Funds for another set of five states to complete the first batch of nine states would follow soon.

    “Though the sequence for the payment of the money would be operationally managed by NIBSS, beneficiaries in Borno, Kwara and Bauchi States have started receiving the money. The other states in the first batch to commence the CCT payments are Cross Rivers, Niger, Kogi, Oyo, Ogun and Ekiti States.”

  • Gov Okowa not decamping to APC, Aide cries out

    Gov Okowa not decamping to APC, Aide cries out

    Political Aide to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State has denounced speculations that the Delta State Governor is moving camp to Nigeria’s ruling political party, All Progressives Congress (APC), stressing that the Governor’s visit to Ibe Kachikwu is not politically motivated.

    Governor Okowa of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has in December 2016 attended an event organized by Kachikwu, the Nigerian Minister of State, Petroleum Resources, who is a staunch member of the present ruling party, but Ossai Ovie Success has said the attendance of the Governor is not politically motivated.

    “The Praise Night and Carols Night wasn’t for APC members neither was it for PDP members but for all,” Ossai wailed.

    The Governor’s aide who took his blog to decry the speculations said that it is on record that Kachikwu is not a career politician but a professional and as such they have been friends before politics.

    “It will interest you to note that Dr Ibe Kachikwu has been a personal friend of the Governor for long time now,” he said.

    “Also it might interest you to know that Gov Okowa has been there for PDP, He was one of the founders of PDP in Delta State.

    “Gov Okowa is doing well in PDP, he has kept to his promises unlike the APC’s, he is one of the best Governor in PDP, so I see no reason why there are speculations of him moving to APC,” he added.

    Meanwhile, the Delta State Governor has in his New Year’s message to Deltans pledged continued implementation of programmes with social benefits, with special reference to security of lives and properties.

    “Be rest assured that we will strive, as always, to ensure that your security is paramount, just as social services, including the provision of adequate infrastructure will be up-scaled,” Okowa said.

    The Governor, however, enjoined Deltans to continue to keep the peace, which he said is the core element of his smart agenda that focuses mainly on strategic wealth creation projects and provision of jobs for all Deltans; meaningful peace building platforms aimed at political and social harmony; agricultural reforms and accelerated industrialization; relevant health and education policies, and transformed environment through urban renewal.

  • Anambra Guber: We have no anointed candidate, says APC chairman

    Anambra Guber: We have no anointed candidate, says APC chairman

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Anambra says it has not anointed any candidate for the governorship election billed to hold in the state in November 2017.

    Mr Emeka Ibe, the state chairman of the party, made the announcement while addressing newsmen on Tuesday in Awka.

    He spoke on the side line of a meeting of the party’s executive and other stakeholders with governorship aspirants under the platform of the party.

    Ibe, who assured the aspirants of a level playing ground during the party’s primaries, said the APC was committed to transparency and fairness.

    “The number of people that you see today coming into the party is an indication that APC is the party to beat in 2017 Anambra governorship election.

    “In APC, we have a history and culture of fairness and transparency.

    “The assurance I am giving to them is that there will not be an anointed candidate.

    “If you join the party today, you have equal status with members who were on ground during the time of the merger.

    “The only people we do not want are those who would create problems. We want people who would support President Mohammadu Buhari’s anti-corruption programme,” the chairman said.

    He disclosed that more than 10 aspirants had so far indicated interest to fly the party’s flag at the governorship poll.

    Ibe said: “we are in touch with serving legislators at state and National Assemblies as well as serving commissioners, who have indicated interest to join the party.

    “What it shows is that APC has become the number one party that will take over the seat of power in the state in 2017.”

    The chairman said the party had not considered zoning the governorship position in the state, noting that the party would rather support any candidate that emerges as its flag bearer.

    “The government of APC will not be a propaganda government, but a government that will show the people the reality and will lead them out of the current quagmire,” he emphasised.

    Among the governorship aspirants who attended the stakeholders’ meeting were: Chief Obinna Uzor, Chief Johnbosco Onunkwo, Mr Tony Nwoye, Mr Donatus Okonkwo, Chief George Muoghalu and Dr Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah.

  • Rivers APC urges members to be peaceful, hopeful in New Year

    Rivers APC urges members to be peaceful, hopeful in New Year

    The Rivers State Chapter of All Progressives Congress, APC, has urged his members and people of Rivers State to be peaceful and optimistic as they celebrate the New Year.

    APC, in a New Year message signed by the State Publicity Secretary, Warisenibo Chris Finebone, called on the party faithful and people of the State to be hopeful as they enter a New Year that promises to be prosperous despite the economic recession across the nation with its attendant negative impact on the people in 2016.

    According to him, “It is only when we are at peace with ourselves and our neighbours that our success can be guaranteed. The APC wishes to thank its teeming faithful in Rivers State for remaining steadfast in the face of excruciating economic recession which has impacted negatively on their lives. The party therefore urges you to preach peace and hope this New Year because we believe that the economy will experience a lift out of the doldrums of recession and back on the path of growth in 2017.”

    “Particularly the APC notes that 2016 was politically remarkable in several ways and the party believes that the resolve of each and every APC member will soar in 2017 moving forward.

    “The APC pays tribute to our members and associates who might not have been lucky to step into 2017 for whatever reasons. The highest remembrance we can accord them is for those of us alive to exhibit unparalleled audacity for peace, vigour, tenacity, steadfastness, courage and hope in the New Year,” the statement said.

    The APC also called on Rivers people to march into the New Year with confidence and renewed enthusiasm because the achievements of the APC in the area of national security and fight against corruption are expected to reflect positively on the national economic sphere for the upliftment of the peoples’ standard of living and welfare in 2017.

  • APC not threatened by proposed formation of mega party – Deputy Speaker

    APC not threatened by proposed formation of mega party – Deputy Speaker

     

    The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Lasun Yusuf, has lashed out at the chieftains of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) allegedly planning to form a mega party.

    He said the alleged plan reportedly in conjunction with members of other political parties showed desperation and selfishness.

    Yusuf told newsmen in Ilorin that leaving the APC was not the solution as there were other ways to resolve grievances amicably.

    The deputy speaker noted that, “Whether mega party, minor party or major party; the best thing in democracy is a virile opposition. If you don’t have virile opposition, then it is very difficult to know whether you are doing correct thing or not.

    “And the APC as a government is now doing its best and all Nigerians now see that the ruling APC means well for them.

    “Nigerians now know what is going on in the NNPC, FRSC, EFCC among others as there is no secrecy in the act of governance unlike the past administrations.

    “Even, the National Assembly is open in its legislative functions to the people of the country, especially in the area of budget, presentations of bills and making of laws‎ for the Nigerians.

    “Whether some politicians in the APC are allegedly planning to form a mega party, minor party, we are not threatened at all.

    “And don’t forget that in politics, it will take time to take root and if anybody feels aggrieved that he had been maltreated in the party,‎ then they should follow what they used to preach to us. I mean internal peaceful resolutions within the party.

    “If anybody is trying to leave the party, they should not forget what they used to tell us that if there is a problem in the party, we should stay within the party and sort it out amicably if at all they are planning to leave and form another party.”

    He further appealed to Nigerians to continue to support “the government in the task of building a virile nation rather than threatening to go to another party”.

     

  • APC planning to bomb my plane – Wike

    APC planning to bomb my plane – Wike

    Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, has accused the leaders of the All Progressives Congress in Rivers State of planning to bomb him while travelling in a plane.

    Wike explained that the target was for the state APC to get rid of him in its desperate bid to unseat the Peoples Democratic Party-led government in the state.

    He maintained that no one had the ability to destroy what God had blessed, the governor added that the opposition party in the state was not happy that he was paying workers’ salaries and pensions to retirees despite the economic recession.

    Wike, who spoke on Thursday at a thanksgiving service organised by the state PDP in Port Harcourt, criticised those calling for bloodshed in the state for selfish reasons.

    The governor said blood would continue to flow in their families.

    He explained that God would continue to grant him victory no matter how hard the APC leaders in the state planned to eliminate him.

    “They said they will blow the plane that I will board. You are plotting, do you know whether God will blow your own plane before that time?” the governor said, adding that the state was under constant assault by the leaders of the opposition party.