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Tag: Buni

  • Our plan is to be in power for another 32 years – APC

    Our plan is to be in power for another 32 years – APC

    Chairman of Caretaker Extra-Ordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Governor Mai Mala Buni, on Tuesday said the party plans to rule Nigeria for another 32 years.

    He spoke while inaugurating Governor Badru Abubakar 65-man Strategy and Contact Committee of the party in Abuja.

    Buni said the party was set to go beyond 8th term of office.

    According to him: “Our vision is to provide a wheel that will drive the party to go beyond 6th, 7th and even 8th term of office to effectively implement the party manifesto, improve the lives of Nigerians and, to remain Nigeria’s leading political party.

    “This committee is therefore very key to our process of transition towards successful congresses and national convention and, to establish a very solid, reputable and reliable future for the party”.

  • Fresh crisis hits APC as plot to deal with Tinubu, Osinbajo thickens

    Fresh crisis hits APC as plot to deal with Tinubu, Osinbajo thickens

    …‘New Cabal’ Strikes Deal with Buni to extend mandate till April
    …Concerned APC members kick, warns Buni not to attempt to extend tenure beyond December
    …Threatens court action
    Fresh crisis erupted in the All Progressives Congress, APC, weekend signaling that the crisis which rocked the Party and gave birth to the Governor Mai Mala Buni led caretaker committee, was not over. It surfaced as a grand conspiracy seemingly designed to finally sideline Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and nail the presidential ambition of Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the party.
    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG, can reveal that 27 leaders of the party, under the umbrella of the ‘new cabal’, as a first step, met with selected members of the committee in Abuja and concluded on extending the Caretaker Committee’s tenure till April.
    The meeting was attended by members from almost all the geo-political zones, with former Governor of Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, standing in as the South West representative.
    TNG further checks also revealed that some of the resolutions at the meeting, which was held at the private residence of the Attorney General of the Federation, Shehu Malami, were:
    extension of the tenure of the caretaker committee till April, 2021; commencement of a jealously guided party registration that would take care of the ‘new cabal’s’ presidential interest; whittling down of Tinubu’s grip on the party’s structure; and possible resignation of Buni as Governor and his subsequent emergence as party chairman, among others.
    But a mild drama however ensued at the meeting when one of the conveners suggested that those in attendance should swear to an oath to prevent information from the meeting from being leaked to other leaders of the party.
    The suggestion was however turned down by a few members, who dismissed it as ‘immature and petty’.
    Meanwhile, following signals from the secret meeting, another set of APC members known as ‘APC Concerned Members Forum’ have warned Buni led committee not to attempt to elongate its tenure in office beyond December and should stop the proposed membership registration.
    The Concerned APC Members, stated in a statement signed by one of the 2019 Gubernatorial Aspirants from Benue State, Ogenyi Okpokwu, that they supported the move to dissolve Comrade Adams Oshiomhole led executive council after it discovered that it lacked capacity to listen to opposing views within the party, internal democracy and listen to advise from members.
    The group indicated that they were part of the court processes and movement, leading to the major Protest that led to the sack of Comrade Oshiohmole’s National Working Committee and that their expectation was for the present Caretaker Committee to resolve the internal crises within the Party, conduct Convention and handover to the duly elected National working Committee of the APC after the expiration of the six months mandate given by the National Executive Committee, NEC.
    “As loyal party members, even though the composition of the Caretaker Committee was at variance with section 17 (4) of our party’s constitution which states “nobody can hold Executive Position at the same time with Party Position”.
    They party’s National Executive Council breached this same constitution with the imposition of Mai Mala Buni led Caretaker Committee. Remember the word Caretaker is not known to our constitution.
    “We obeyed the resolution of the NEC meeting as directed by our leader, President Muhammadu Buhari after they made the two-resolutions public, which is to reconcile party members in various states of the federation and conduct convention in December 2020. But we were shocked when we read it in the newspapers this Thursday that the Caretaker Committee is embarking on new membership registration.
    This is outright fraud! How can a Party that have existed for over seven years commence a new registration instead of updating the existing register.
    It is now clear that the intention is to divert ₦1.5 billion the committee has budgeted for the same exercise without procurement process.
    The Committee is also planning the dissolution of all Wards, LGA and State Excos and conduct new congresses even though their tenures will not expire till two (2) years’ time, this is must be resisted by all Party members,” the statement stated.
    As to the committee’s claims of having finished reconciliation in Ekiti and some other states, the forum said the public should know that Buni and his co-travellers have further encouraged crisis in those state chapters than solving problems inherited.
    In particular, the forum made reference to Zamfara where it said Senator Kabir Marafa recently exposed the committee’s lies in a statement.
    According to them, Marafa declared that the Buni Committee lied and that the two factions in the state are still very much alive each with its secretariat in operations, likewise in Ekiti, Rivers and other states.
    The forum was quick to remind the CTC that National Executive Committee (NEC) resolution did not give them such powers to begin new registration of members because none of them were elected without party membership cards.
    Are Governors Buni, Oyetola,Bello and other members of CTC no longer card carrying members of the party that we now want to give them new membership cards? the statement queried.
    Driving home their points, the forum now table their demands to include;
    1. The Caretaker Committee should begin the process of convening the National Convention in December with immediate effect
    2. All the permanent party membership cards that were printed and submitted to the party’s National Secretariat by APC Data Center for onward distribution to our members in the Wards, LGA and States should be distributed immediately. In case they cannot find it; they should request for it at our data center.
    3. The incoming National Working Committee should handle the updating of new register if we so need to update one.
    4. If our demands are not met, we will have no option than to approach the courts for interpretation of our constitution as it was done before you came on board and we will occupy our secretariats. The party belongs to us all.
    5. The most senior member of sacked Oshiohmole led NWC should be returned as Chairman because that is what our party constitution says.
    6. We call on State Chairmen of the parties not to join the illegal registration because is tailored for your removal from office in the long run
    The steps of Buni led Caretaker Committee has further left no one in doubt that the committee has lost foothold in the discharge of its duties as unbiased umpires and now interested in squandering the 3.9 Billion Naira left in the Party’s purse which has been depleted daily.
    Lastly, we the Concerned APC members call on President Muhammadu Buhari to Call to order the Caretaker Committee before they destroy the image and the goodwill of our great party due to their selfish interests and tenure elongation plot. We will not sit back and allow this to happen to our beloved party.
  • #EdoDecides2020: Buni, Ganduje brief Buhari on APC performance in Aso Villa

    #EdoDecides2020: Buni, Ganduje brief Buhari on APC performance in Aso Villa

    National Caretaker Committee Chairman, All Progressives Congress (APC), Mai Mala Buni and the Chairman of the party’s Governorship Election Campaign for Edo State, Abdullahi Ganduje on Monday met with President Muhammadu Buhari behind ‘closed door’ at the State House, Abuja.

    The meeting is coming after the APC was routed by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Saturday’s governorship election in Edo State.

    Governor Godwin Obaseki, who defected to PDP to contest the election defeated the APC’s candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu to win re-election.

    The two governors, it was gathered, entered the State House for the meeting with Buhari and took different exit door when leaving as no one knew the outcome of the meeting.

    INEC’s Returning Officer, Prof. Akpofure Rim-Rukeh, had on Sunday announced Obaseki as winner of the election after he polled 307,955 votes to defeat Ize-Iyamu of the APC who scored 223,619 votes.

  • Ondo 2020: Do all you can to ensure Akeredolu is reelected, Buni tells Sanwo-Olu, others

    Ondo 2020: Do all you can to ensure Akeredolu is reelected, Buni tells Sanwo-Olu, others

    The Chairman of the All Progressive Congress Caretaker/Extra-Ordinary National Convention Planning Committee, Mai Mala Buni, has charged the Babajide Sanwo-Olu-led Ondo State Governorship Election National Campaign Council to work assiduously to ensure the state remains within the APC family.

    Buni made the call while inaugurating the campaign council at the APC National Secretariat, in Abuja, on Saturday.

    He expressed confidence that the people of Ondo, who kept faith with the party four years ago, were willing to support Governor Rotimi Akeredolu again.

    Buni said, “You will all recall that four years ago, the good people of Ondo State generously voted our party, the All Progressives Congress for an initial four-year mandate.

    “I am happy to state that the chairman and members of the council were carefully selected based on their personal records of hard work, proven integrity and commitment to the ideals of our dear party.

    “I have no doubt in my mind that the rich cream of personalities on this council, with vast electioneering experience, would once again secure the mandate of the people of Ondo State, for the party and its candidate.”

    He also told the council members, “The party and its supporters across the country have enormous confidence in your ability to succeed.

    “You are, therefore, encouraged to always engage in teamwork and collective participation. We are fully confident that by the grace of God, you will succeed and do us proud.

    “Let me use this occasion to assure the good people of Ondo state that your investment in the party in this election will consolidate the achievements recorded in the last four years. I want to assure you that APC will not renege in its drive to build a peaceful and prosperous Ondo State that will be the pride of all.”

  • Crisis: Police unseal APC National Secretariat as Buni takes over [Photo]

    The blockades on the National Secretariat of the All Progressives Congress have been lifted.

    The Nigerian police had earlier chased out the staff of the All Progressives Congress as they sealed off the office for the second time this week.

    It was done a few hours to the commencement of the virtual NEC meeting of the party, convened by Victor Giadom.

    However, the secretariat was unsealed a few minutes after the National Executive Committee meeting of the party presided over by the President Muhammadu Buhari dissolved the Oshiomhole-led National Working Committee and replaced with a Caretaker Committee.

    After the meeting, the newly appointed Chairman of the APC Caretaker Committee and Convention Planning Committee, Mai Mala Buni had a brief stopover at the secretariat.

    He went into the secretariat and exchanged pleasantries with members of staff, most of whom were his colleagues when he served as APC National Secretary before he was elected Governor of Yobe State in 2019.

    The Buni-led Caretaker Committee is now expected to organise a National Convention that would reset the party.

    Other members of the caretaker committee and extra-ordinary convention planning committee, include Gov. Gboyega Oyetola of Osun (South-West), Sen. Ken Nnamani (South-East), Stella Okorete (Women Representative).

    Gov. Sani Bello of Niger (North-Central), Dr James Lalu for the physically challenged, Sen. Abubakar Yusuf (Senate Representative) and Rep. Akinyemi Olaide, representing House of Representatives.

    David Lyon (South/South); Abba Ari (North-West); Prof. Tahir Mamman (North-East); Ismail Ahmed (Youth Leader) and Sen. Akpan Udoedehe as the Committee Secretary.

  • Starting on a faulty note: Three governors that got it twisted

    Starting on a faulty note: Three governors that got it twisted

    By Ishola Adeshola

    If it were the enthronement of a traditional ruler, the scenario would have been photo perfect. But the nation was stunned when, the day after his inauguration as the Governor of violence ravaged Yobe State, Mai Mala Buni, took a third wife at a public ceremony in Damaturu.

    With that singular act, Mai Mala Buni became the poster boy for those who started on a faulty note among the new class of governors that were sworn in last week.

    In that class was also the new governor of Imo State, Emeka Ihedioha, who made news for the wrong reason when some men suspected to be acting at the behest of the new government went to demolish the Akachi (Hand of God) monument erected by the immediate past governor of the state, Rochas Okorocha.

    The public outcry that greeted the unwholesome conduct stopped the chisel wielding gang in their track. Although the new government denied knowledge of the misconduct and tried to exonerate itself, keen watchers took the denial with a pinch of salt.

    But the medal for the new governor with the highest number of early missteps will definitely go to Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State.

    Governor Makinde must have looked promising in the eyes of the people that elected him into office, but no sooner had he resumed office than the people started expressing doubt over his competence to run the state.

    Sacking of the local government chairmen

    Governor Makinde, no doubt, has started running the affairs of the state on a faulty note. In an attempt to make his very fledgling administration appear to be one that takes populist decisions, one of his first major assignments, to the consternation of many, was the sacking of all elected local government chairmen and the Council Development Area counterparts in the state, directing them to hand over to heads of Local Government administration or the most senior directors in their various councils. He did not stop at that as he also dissolved all boards of government agencies in the state. Outrage now trails the governor’s decision given the fact that the sacked local government chairmen were elected just as the governor himself.

    In view of what seems to amount to illegality and hasty decision made by the governor, the state chapter of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, ALGON, has since rejected the said dissolution of the local governments, insisting that the governor was not properly guided.

    This only points to the fact that he may have, from the onset, surrounded himself with neophytes in governance and political matters who may have been misguiding him perhaps to achieve some selfish ends or settle some political scores.

    The ban on transport union

    In what appears to be a shocker to many peace loving citizens of Oyo state, the governor announced the proscription of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, in the state. What that means to some citizens of the state is that the peace and security of lives, achieved by the Ajimobi administration has come under threat as the members of this union may not take this lying low.

    Indeed, many discerning observers contend that the move against the elected NURTW leaders has the colouring of favouring one group over another. NURTW, they argued, has its constitution which stipulates how its leaders should be elected without the intervention of any government. Dissolving a validly elected executive without any apparent or real crisis, they insist, is Executive highhandedness, a needless exercise that can only exacerbate tension in the state.

    Rejected national minimum wage

    Governor Makinde, in a hasty manner which left the teeming workers in Oyo State in a quandary and shock, on his inauguration day disowned the N30,000 minimum wage, declaring emphatically that the state could not pay a minimum wage that had been painstakingly negotiated between governments (Federal and States) and the workers Unions.

    Analysts wondered how a governor who had not look into the finances of the state and yet to look into the books could come out to inflict such a deep wound on the long suffering workers of the state. In any case, this declaration becomes more shocking when the fact that the new governor promised to pay the N30, 000 minimum wage during his campaign stops is taken into consideration.

    Reversal of promotions of permanent secretaries

    Makinde took another bizarre decision by announcing the reversal of appointment of eleven Permanent Secretaries in the state’s Civil Service. Although the Permanent Secretaries were promoted towards the end of the previous administration, discretion demands that the new administration settles down to have better understanding of issues of governance in the state before taking certain decision. No doubt, this hasty decision is rather aimed at scoring cheap political goals than anything else.

    Political observers described the governor’s reversal of the promotion exercise as pure partisan political move, as the Head of Service, wife of a top PDP chieftain, who was also a beneficiary of the exercise was not affected.

    In all these, there are clear indications that the governor is set to pull down virtually everything he inherited, no matter how valuable they may be. This, analysts contend, amounts to taking Oyo State many years backward.

    Governor Makinde should rather take a cue from his counterpart in Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu who, on assumption of office, declared a state of emergency on refuse disposal in the state as well as the perennial traffic situation in the state. These are concrete areas of need for the people of the state, which Makinde is expected to emulate.

    The expectation of the people is for the Makinde administration to roll out programmes for the development of the state; programmes for the welfare of the people, paramount of which is their security. The governor is expected to tell the people how he is going to build on the achievements of his predecessor in the areas of education, health, infrastructural development, job creation and transformation of the economy.

    The governor will do well to realize, and in good time too, that government is a continuum, and that the unwholesome act of bringing down the gains of the previous government no matter its value can only be counter- productive.