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Tag: North-Central

  • 2023 Presidency: Saraki says it is turn of North-Central

    2023 Presidency: Saraki says it is turn of North-Central

    Former Senate President Bukola Saraki has said that it was the turn of the North-Central geo-political zone to lead the country.

    Saraki spoke on Tuesday in Jos when he addressed delegates from Plateau ahead of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) primary elections slated to hold in May.

    The former Kwara governor, who is among the many aspirants in the race for the PDP ticket, pointed out that the North-Central had consistently supported other regions to lead the country and deserved similar support from other zones, this time.

    “You remember that before the national convention of our party, we held a meeting in Abuja with delegates of North-Central extraction.

    “We said to ourselves that for many times and many years, we, in the North Central, have worked hard, we struggled, used our efforts, used our money, used our energies to support other people to lead.

    “Everybody, who had become President under this great party, got the seat because of our massive sacrifices.

    “We have now resolved that it is time for others to vote for us in 2023,” he said.

    He stated that the North-Central had capable hands to address the myriads of problems bedeviling the country.

    Saraki said that if given the opportunity, he would run an open government that would be transparent and fair to all Nigerians.

    The presidential aspirant said that security and other challenges bedeviling Nigeria went out of hand because of lack accountability by the people that were responsible for tackling the issues.

    “The problem of insecurity in Nigeria is because there has been no accountability.

    “People have done things and nobody was held accountable for their failures.

    “When I was Senate President, we sat down with security agencies and drew a roadmap on how to address the issue of insecurity, but the report was abandoned.

    “If I am the President, I will hold people accountable and they will do what is right to end insecurity and there will be no injustice,” he said.

    Saraki further stated that the country was so divided and needed someone that had capacity and a good grasp of the situation to restore its lost glory and unite the people.

    Mr Chris Hassan, PDP Chairman in Plateau, told the delegates that Saraki stood with the state during its trying times.

    Hassan said that Saraki was a stabilising factor that had traversed the length and breadth of the country to reconcile members of the PDP.

    The chairman said that delegates would assess all aspirants and make an informed decision based on their antecedents.

    Rep Beni Lar, daughter of Chief Solomon Lar, first PDP chairman, in her remarks, said that Nigerians were tired of bloodshed and that Saraki had the capacity to end the killings.

    Lar urged the presidential aspirant to ensure that women got their 35 per cent affirmation action when elected President come in 2023.

  • Security alert: Another ENDSARS like crisis is looming over fuel scarcity – DSS raises alarm

    Security alert: Another ENDSARS like crisis is looming over fuel scarcity – DSS raises alarm

    The Department of State Services (DSS)on Saturday raised an alarm that a similar protest in the mould of ENDSARS is looming particularly in the North Central axis of Nigeria.

    TheNewsGuru.com, (TNG) reports this was contained in a statement issued by Dr Peter Afunanya, the Public Relations Officer on Saturday.

    The spokesman said the aim was to cause ethno-religious crisis, ignite reprisals and heat up the polity.

    The DSS said the sponsors have mobilised foot soldiers and held several meetings in and outside the target areas.

    The agency said students, striking lecturers, labour unions, disgruntled individuals and strategic groups are to be used “to exploit the global energy situation to carry out a mass protest like the ENDSARS.”

    Afunanya noted that this is despite ongoing efforts by the government to address the issues.

    The Service is also aware of a plot to use students, striking University teachers, labour unions, disgruntled individuals and strategic groups as well as exploit the global energy situation to carry out a mass protest like the ENDSARS. This is despite ongoing efforts by Government to address the issues”, Afunanya stated.

    While the Service views the machination as unpatriotic, it added that, it is on the trail of the agents of destabilisation who are desirous of using violence to achieve ulterior goals.

    According to the DSS spokesman, “though we have emplaced measures to disrupt these tendencies, we warn the ring leaders and their cohorts to desist from acts capable of causing a breakdown of law and order, stressing tha the public should be rest assured that the Service will, in conjunction with other security agencies, go after the sponsors of this scheme and ensure the law takes it course.

    “Citizens are advised not only to engage according to rules but should resist persuasions to be used to destroy their own country. Those who may wish to go contrary to the law will, however, face the consequences”, the statement noted.

  • APC denies zoning its chairmanship to North Central

    APC denies zoning its chairmanship to North Central

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has denied zoning its national chairmanship to the North Central.

    Sen. James Akpanudoedehe, the National Secretary, APC Caretaker and Extra-ordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) said this on Monday in Abuja when he spoke with newsmen.

    Akpanudoedehe was reacting to a media report that the party had zoned the position to the North Central, adding that the issue of zoning was not part of the mandates of the CECPC.

    “I have the mandate to report that whatever decision the CECPC takes and to the best of my knowledge the committee has not discuss zoning,’’ he said.

    He added that with the party`s national convention slated for February 2022, it was expected that party members would come up with different zoning speculations.

    “People are just flying what will favour their interest, all I know is that the caretaker committee has not discussed or reached a zoning decision,’’ he said.

    Also Sen. Victor Lar, Media Director, Sen. Ali-Modu Sheriff Campaign Organisation, said that the report was laughable describing it as figment of the imagination of those who planted it.

    Sen. Ali-Modu Sheriff, a two term governor of Borno, was a frontline aspirant for the APC chairmanship.

    “We find the purported story as very laughable because the organs of the party that are supposed to communicate that kind of information are not the ones communicating it.

    “For that reason, we will take it with a pinch of salt.

    “Again, the APC as a party has never adopted zoning, therefore, the story of it zoning the national championship to the North Central can better be described as a figment of the imaginations of those who planted it.

    “We find the report as the very poor scheming of people who are scared of contesting the position with Sheriff,’’ Lar said.

    He said it was obvious that Sheriff’s hard work and his manner campaign had unsettled other aspirants.

    This, he said, was especially because he had gained unprecedented support from party members and critical stakeholders from across the country.

    Lar added that the race for the APC national chairmanship was an open contest, saying that the best candidate should be allowed to emerge.

    He said this was necessary for the party to be galvanised for victory in the 2023 general elections.

    He said that Sheriff- a two term governor of Borno remained the best candidate for the APC national chairmanship.

    On the approval given by President Muhammadu Buhari for the party`s National Convention to hold in February 2022, Lar said there was need for the National Executive Committee (NEC) to meet and rectify the date.

    “Though we had commended the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF) for taking the initiative to meet with Buhari on the need for the party’s National Convention to be conducted.

    “The decision to hold the convention in February 2022 has to be taken by the party’s NEC. The president does not have the constitutional powers to call for a meeting;

    “Neither do the governors elected on the party’s platform. It is only the party’s NEC that can take such decision as regards to when its national convention will hold.

    “The February date must therefore be rectified by the party’s NEC to make it constitutional,“ he said.

    Lar appealed to APC members and Sheriff`s teeming supporters to remain calm and focused.

    “We are on course and victory is certain.

    “I want to assure that Sheriff will work amicably and with open heart with everyone, irrespective of religion and tribe when he becomes the party`national chairman by God’s grace and with their support,” he said.

  • 2023: We Want North Central to Produce President, not Party Chairman – Ex-PDP Chair, Baraje

    2023: We Want North Central to Produce President, not Party Chairman – Ex-PDP Chair, Baraje

    Former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje has stated that notwithstanding the zone that eventually gets the nod of the party leaders to produce the next national chairman, qualified sons, and daughters of the North Central zone will vie for the 2023 Presidential ticket.

    Baraje in a statement in Abuja noted that the North Central zone will follow to the letter the earlier declaration of the National Executive Committee (NEC) that zoning of Party offices will not affect who flies the party flags for various elective offices.

    He noted that the people of the zone aspire to produce the next President of Nigeria and that it has produced five national chairmen already for the party while there is a zone in the North that is yet to produce a substantive national chairman.

    He also advised that the PDP should sustain its tradition of justice, equity, and fairness by ensuring that the zone which has not produced a substantive national chairman in the North is allowed to present a solid candidate capable of leading the party to victory in the next election.

    He added that the North Central has produced five national chairmen in the 23-year history of the PDP while the North East has produced two. The North West has produced only one interim chairman and a caretaker chairman.

    “From late Chief Solomon Lar, Chief Audu Ogbeh, Dr. Ahmadu Alli, Chief Barnabas Gemade, and myself, all of us from North Central have led the party at different times. Alhaji Bamanga Tukur and Alhaji Adamu Muazu from North East have emerged as national chairman while Dr. Haliru Bello spent only one year as acting chairman with Sen. Ahmed Makarfi serving as caretaker chairman. With this history, in the spirit of fairness and equity, the North West is most suitable to produce the next chairman.

    “We have noted that some leaders outside the North Central zone are scheming and exerting a lot of energy to push the national chairmanship position to the North Central Zone to ensure that the post is not in their zone. If the chairman eventually comes from the North Central Zone, it is just an extra for us. Presidential aspirants from the zones will still vie for the post.

    “Let it be noted that it is our position in the North Central zone that we stand by the earlier announcement by the party leadership that the presidential ticket will be free for all qualified aspirants to seek. We believe the party should respect its publicly declared position.

    “It is not in the interest of the party for leaders to impose their will on the people. Leaders must consult widely and ensure that their decisions reflect the will and aspiration of the people on any issue. The issue of how we source the leadership of our party and who flies the flag of the party in the general election should reflect the wishes and aspirations of the people. Leaders must act in the best interest of the party and the nation. Anything short of that is courting needless crisis”, Baraje stated.

  • 2023: Saraki says North-Central crucial to PDP’s success

    2023: Saraki says North-Central crucial to PDP’s success

    The immediate past Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, has advised leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Plateau, Niger, Nasarawa, Kwara, Kogi, Benue States and the FCT to unite and work together as the success of the party in the next national elections depends on its ability to win across the North-Central zone.

    Saraki, while addressing delegates during the zonal congress of the party in Aper Aku Stadium, Makurdi, on Saturday, noted that in all the past elections that PDP won at the national level, the party has always recorded sound victory in the North-Central zone and that the calculations has not changed.

    “We have looked at the statistics for past elections since 1999 and projected into the 2023 elections, for PDP to return to control of federal power, the party needs to return to winning ways in this zone.

    “This is a party that started with controlling four of the states plus FCT in 1999 and at one time was in control of all the six states. Today, a situation where we now have only one State is partially responsible for our loss of federal power. Therefore, our leaders in the zone must make sacrifices, forget their differences and work together in national interest.

    “With what is happening across the country today, it is also clear that the hope of rescuing, rebuilding and repositioning Nigeria to become greater depends on the PDP. That is why it is in the interest of Nigeria for the PDP to become stronger and united and the North-Central has a key role to play in all these. Our zone has always been a key factor in keeping Nigeria together and moving the country forward,” Saraki stated.

    Saraki further congratulated the leaders and delegates for the peaceful manner in which the congress went and the unity displayed in ensuring all the zonal officers were elected unopposed after intense deliberation and give-and-take arrangement.

    “I congratulate Mr. Theophillus Shan who was returned unopposed as the North-Central zonal chairman and all members of the zonal executives. As they work to strengthen our party in the zone, they have our full support moving forward,” he added.

  • BREAKING: [COVID-19] South West records seven fresh cases, North Central one, toll jumps to 89

    BREAKING: [COVID-19] South West records seven fresh cases, North Central one, toll jumps to 89

    The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) on Saturday announced eight fresh cases of the novel coronal virus [COVID-19] in Nigeria.

    According to the NCDC, Lagos records seven cases and 1 in Benue State. As at 04:00 pm 28th March there are 89 confirmed cases of #COVID19 reported in Nigeria with 1 death.

  • Ninth House: North Central caucus rejects Gbajabiamila’s endorsement by APC

    …as Imo, Benue Reps declare for Speakership

    The North Central Caucus of the House of Representatives on Wednesday rejected the endorsement of Majority Leader of Femi Gbajabiamila as Speaker of the incoming 9th National Assembly.

    Gbajabiamila was endorsed by the party at a meeting hosted by President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday night.

    A member John Dyegh (Benue) said the North Central caucus was not satisfied with the decision.

    He said the North Central caucus has asked the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to reconsider the decision and zone the seat to the North Central.

    It would be recalled that Chike Okafor (Imo) also declared his intention to run for the Speaker’s office on Tuesday shortly before the Presidential dinner, saying that the Southeast deserved the Speaker’s position for the 9th House of Representatives.

    Okafor said the party must look beyond numbers but more on fairness and equity.

    Dyegh told reporters the loyalty of the North Central caucus to the party, went ahead to declare his intention to vie for the position of the 9th Speaker of the House.

    “We are not fighting the party, we are not. We shall not, we are only giving the party an opportunity to come back and look at the zoning and look at what we are saying.

    “Taking what the party says hook, line and sinker is not democratic, we are in a democracy. We have right to vie for position, there’s freedom of expression.

    “We believe in party supremacy. Yes, the party is supreme. I sing that, I say it, I believe it, I go by what the party says but this is democracy and I believe we should give the Green chamber an option.”

    According to him, in addition to being the third largest contributor to the 2019 election success of the party, fairness and equity demands the North Central be considered for the position since the region has never produced the Speaker or Deputy Speaker since the return to democracy in 1999.

    He said: “My party the APC in her wisdom zoned the position of Speaker to the South West and even micro-zoned.

    “I am a party man and my loyalty to the APC is 100 percent, however, the North Central zone has not been convinced nor given reasons why their votes should not count and why we should not run and we feel very strongly that there is still room for negotiation because we believe “it is not over until it is over’.

    “We are therefore appealing to the party to have a rethink and rezone the speakership to the North Central for justice and fair play. We pray to God Almighty to touch the hearts of our Leaders to reconsider us favourably.”

    On his candidacy for the post, the lawmaker said the decision to join the race was based on his unyielding faith in a united and prosperous Nigeria.

    Citing sections of the constitution, Dyegh noted: “It will only be fair, if the position of Speaker is given to the North Central, having taken away the seat of Senate President to the North East.

    “It is instructive to note that the North Central has neither produced Speaker nor the Deputy Speaker since 1999.

    “We are saying that reward in politics is based on what you bring to the table and the North Central brought the third highest number of votes in making President Muhammadu Buhari’s second term a reality and enabling the APC to form Federal Government”.

    On his agenda if successful, Dyegh said the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) would be re-organised while the Electoral laws would be reviewed for enduring electoral processes.

  • Ninth Assembly: North-Central APC Reps demand speakership position

    Ninth Assembly: North-Central APC Reps demand speakership position

    From Jonas Ezieke, Abuja

    The North Central Caucus of the ruling All Progressives Congress APC in the House of Representatives has called on the National Working Committee NWC of the ruling party to push to the zone the position of Speaker of the House of Representatives in the upcoming 9th National Assembly.
    The Caucus made up of lawmakers from Benue Nasarawa, Taraba, Kwara, Kogi and Niger states at a press briefing at the House Press Corps on Tuesday called for equity in the zoning of principal officers of the National Assembly by the ruling party.
    Leader of the group Hon.Dr.John Dyegh who addressed journalists alongside other APC lawmakers said that they appeal to APC leadership to strongly consider the North Central geo-political zone for the position of Speakership of the House of Representatives in the 9th National Assembly.
    He added that zoning the position of speaker to the North Central will satisfy and advance the cause of equity since the North-West and and South-west already have the presidency respectively.
    He further hinted that apart from the North-west and North East, the North Central zone delivered handsomely for the party in the general elections and as such needs to be rewarded for the hard work and loyalty.
    He said: “the need to ensure balance and spread between and among the six geopolitical zones has made it imperative to give prime consideration to the North Central zone to produce the position of speaker. Being the zone with delicate and peculiar location and challenges within the federation, it is of utmost importance to carry us along in the hierarchy of power distribution in the country as this will in no small measure help in stabilizing the polity.
    ” It is no coincidence that the Nigerian Constitution enshrines federal character in the distribution of offices and leadership positions in the country. Section 14 ( 4) of the grundnum speaks eloquently to this fact. The North Central geopolitical zone would feel a sense of belonging if it is allowed to produce the Speaker in the next assembly”.
    The lawmakers said that the call for the North Central zone to produce the next speaker of the House is an appeal to the sense of justice, fairness and equity on the ruling APC and would help the party to avoid pitfalls and engender harmony, peace, stability in the House of Representatives as partners in progress with the executive.