Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential screening committee, John Oyegun, has revealed that all the presidential aspirants agreed on a consensus candidate except one.
Oyegun claimed that 99 percent of the aspirants gave their nod for a consensus candidacy in the APC except just one.
However, Oyegun refused to mention the name of the only aspirant who objected to a consensus candidate.
Oyegun disclosed this while presenting the committee’s report to the National Chairman of the party, Abdullahi Adamu, on Friday.
“We engaged every aspirant on the issue of consensus. It is a pleasant surprise that 99 percent agreed that the party is supreme. And that whatever the party decides – with proper consultation – they will likely accept.
“Only one exception, who said I will accept consensus only if it is for me. I think it is a point that needs to be made and emphasised.
“So that gives you a lot of leeway in the hours ahead to trim down even more drastically.
“But finally we think we should not be afraid of a contested primary if anybody insists on a contest,” Oyegun said.
Frontline presidential aspirant Asiwaju Bola Tinubu last night appeared before the John Odigie-Oyegun-led All Progressives Congress (APC) screening panel, explaining why he is qualified to fly the flag of the party as its presidential candidate.
He answered questions bordering “on his upbringing, educational and professional background”, his campaign spokesman Mr. Bayo Onanuga said.
Onanuga, in a statement, said: “He confidently told the panel why he is qualified to fly the flag of APC as its presidential candidate.
“He cited his success as governor of Lagos State, his raising the internal revenue generation of the state from a paltry N600 million monthly, which has now grown to N51billion today.
“He also cited his invitation to Enron to begin the first state-backed power generation in Nigeria and how Nigeria will need to take the power transmission lines as a highway.
“Tinubu in his answers demonstrated vast knowledge in economic management and a perfect understanding of Nigeria’s political economy.
“The screening committee expressed satisfaction with Tinubu’s knowledge of the economy and sociopolitical issues that are affecting the country.”
Bola Tinubu with the Odigie-Oyegun panel
Eleven other aspirants, including former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Ameachi, Jigawa State Governor Abubakar Badaru, Ebonyi State Governor Dave Umahi, Dr. Tunde Bakare and the only female aspirant Uju Ken-Ohanenye also faced the panel.
The rest are Former Minister of State, Education, Chukwuemeka Nwajuiba; Senator Ajayi Boroffice, Felix Nicholas, former Senate President Ken Nnamani, Senator Ibikunle Amosu and Senator Sani Yarima Ahmed.
Twenty-eight forms were sold, but only 23 aspirants are listed for screening. Eleven, including Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and Senate President Ahamad Lawan, will be screened today.
Former President Goodluck Jonathan being touted as a likely candidate on the APC platform is finally out of the equation. He is not listed to be screened. The party’s convention will hold on Monday at the Eagles Square in Abuja.
Before the commencement of the screening at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja, members of the screening panel were inaugurated by party chair Abdullahi Adamu behind closed doors.
Tinubu was accompanied to the venue by Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
He arrived at about 5:50 pm to a large crowd of supporters led by James Abiodun Faleke, former Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF) Babachir Lawal and chieftains of Tinubu Support Groups.
Amaechi, who came on the heels of Tinubu, headed straight for the elevator brushing aside all reporters at the hotel lobby.
A source in the screening panel said Tinubu was ushered into Suite 312 venue at about 8:20 pm. He left after less than an hour with the panel.
Amaechi was the last to be screened last night.
TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that Tinubu did not speak with reporters as he headed straight for his vehicle after the screening.
However, Mrs Ken-Ohanenye spoke to reporters after her screening and the General Overseer of the Citadel Global Community Church, Lagos, Pastor Tunde Bakare, spoke before he faced the panel.
Aspirants for today’s screening
For screening today are Vice President Osinbajo, Lawan, former Speaker Oladimeji Bankole, Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi, former Minister of Niger Delta Development, Senator Godswill Akpabio, Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, Tein Jack-Rich, former Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Ogbonnaya Onu, Cross River State Governor Ben Ayade and former Minister of Information, Ikeobasi Mokelu.
Though slated for screening today, the fate of Senator Rochas Okorocha, who is in Economic and Financial Crimes Commission custody, is unknown.
The former governor will have a date in court today over allegations of misappropriating N2.9 billion. He has also filed a N1billion suit against the commission to challenge his arrest.
Missing on the screening list of aspirants that purchased the nomination forms apart from Jonathan are the President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr Akinwunmi Adesina; Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria Godwin Emifiele; Minister of Labour and Employment Chris Ngige and Minister of State, Petroleum, Timipre Sylva.
Meanwhile, Mrs Ken-Ohanenye said she was prepared to step down if the party asked her to do so.
She would insist on the adoption of her economic blueprints.
She said: “I will never see it (stepping down) as a problem to my party because I am going to respect them.
“I am going to do whatever it takes to promote my party and make them relax so that they can make a better decision.
“So, if they decide to ask me to step down, I will not have a choice but to step down. So long as they can carry my blueprints onboard I will respect my party.”
On her screening experience, Ken-Ohanenye commended the panel, recalling that she was relaxed in responding to questions and the conversation with the panel was very frank and straight.
“Let me tell you, there was so much fun. The reception was out of this world. I didn’t want to leave. I was chatting with them explaining myself and what I will do if I am elected the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“And why a woman is needed in things that we do. And I was able to tell them that in my own house I have four children and for that, I have four geopolitical zones. Because every child is different. I am already used to managing things like this.”
According to Bakare, he would be willing to step down if the party mulls a consensus candidate.
He said: “The party supremacy is the utmost essence. You cannot force your way through a party’s structure. The party has the final say. And when we get to that bridge, we will know how to cross it.
“The screening exercise is to check who is guilty and who is not. And it depends on the people who are doing the screening. By God’s grace, we have complied with everything demanded. We have supplied every information.”
A former National chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, has congratulated Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, on his re-election.
Oyegun, in a statement on Tuesday, noted that egocentric politicking could be overcome.
“Please accept my deepest congratulations, Mr. Governor on your re-election as Governor of our great Edo State.
“You and your exemplary Deputy have shown that with good work and principled leadership, the ills of overbearing and egocentric politicking in our nation can be overcome.”
He noted: “Your very significant victory marks a watershed in Edo and indeed Nigerian politics and so places additional responsibilities on your shoulders.
“I wish you and your Deputy four more years of inspired and productive leadership of our people who have reposed so much confidence in you,” Odigie-Oyegun added.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) on Tuesday celebrated elder statesman and former National Chairman, H.E. Chief John Odigie-Oyegun on the occasion of his 81st birthday.
This is contained in a press statement signed by Yekini Nabena, Deputy National Publicity Secretary, All Progressives Congress (APC).
It read; ”Our great Party rejoices with Chief Odigie-Oyegun and his family, friends and associates for the good health, exemplary life and good tidings the Almighty God has granted him.
”Chief Odigie-Oyegun is undoubtedly a man of many positive firsts. The country’s youngest permanent secretary, first elected governor of Edo State, first national chairman of the APC who led us as then opposition party to presidential victory in 2015 after defeating the then ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
”Indeed, there is much to celebrate as Chief Odigie-Oyegun clocks another year in an illustrious life journey.
”A gentleman with uncommon humility, our great party attests that Chief Odigie-Oyegun remains a voice of reason in the national polity and a strong advocate of the APC’s progressive ideals and mantra.
”In the ongoing drive by the Governor Mai Mala Buni-led APC Caretaker/Extraordinary National Convention Committee to reposition the party and ensure peace and unity across party ranks, the Party continues to count on the support of Chief John Odigie-Oyegun and other party leaders to achieve this goal.
”The Party prays for Chief Odigie-Oyegun a long, healthy and fulfilling years in service to the Party and country”.
The National Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr John Odigie-Oyegun has said that the meeting of the party’s national caucus on Monday night discussed more serious issues but not about his removal from office.
Odigie-Oyegun, who fielded questions from State House correspondents on the outcome of the meeting which was chaired by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, said the meeting discussed the party’s report on true federalism.
He dismissed the insinuation that the members of the national caucus deliberated on a court case instituted against him by some aggrieved members of the party.
Some members of the APC had dragged the national chairman to court over what they described as “illegal tenure elongation’’
Others alleged that Odigie-Oyegun had been running the accounts of the party without recourse to majority of national officers of the party.
But the party chairman said that the issue of his removal from office as being advocated by the aggrieved members had now become history.
“No, the meeting concluded the agenda we started the last time we met which we did not complete.
“Today we discussed true federalism, something a lot more serious, a lot more serious,’’ he added.
Also commenting on the outcome of the meeting, the speaker of the House of Representatives Mr Yakubu Dogara said that it was a routine meeting of the party to set the agenda for the NEC holding on Tuesday.
“All I can tell you is that there is a meeting which is routine and the caucus meeting is determined to set up an agenda of the NEC meeting tomorrow. And all I can tell you is that the agenda is well set.
“I believe that it will be the responsibility of NEC to decide and after a decision is taken, some of our faithful members will address the press.
“I don’t think it is in my place to divulge what was discussed.
“Tactically, it is an agenda setting meeting and we have had that meeting but the main meeting will take place tomorrow,’’ Dogara said.
Asked whether he was worried over the elongation of the tenure of the party chairman, Dogara said, “It is not a question of my being worried because I am just one perhaps of millions of APC members.
“Like I said, certainly it’s going to be an agenda for the consideration of NEC, whatever NEC decides, that will be binding on all of us as faithful members of the party.”
Also, The President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, described the meeting as “a good meeting’’, adding that members deliberated on a number of issues to do with the party’s constitution.
“We deliberated a number of issues to do with the constitution of the party which are very important issues here, the constitution, and to prepare for NEC tomorrow, it was a good meeting,” he said.
Gov. Aminu Masari of Katsina State, expressed delight with the attendance and comments of members at the meeting
“We discussed so many things – one of them is the proposed amendment of the constitution.
“We are united as a party and we believe the amendment of the constitution would unite us more and we are happy with attendance and comments by members of the caucus,’’ he added.
The meeting was attended by the Vice-President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, and past state governors of APC, members of the National Assembly, Secretary to the Government of the Federation , Mr Boss Mustapha and other cabinet ministers
Two chieftains of the party, a former Lagos State Governor, Chief Bola Tinubu, and Chief Bisi Akande as well as Gov. Rauf Aregbesola of Osun and Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara were absent at the meeting.
