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Tag: Oshiomhole

  • Oshiomhole denies rifts with Buhari’s wife, attacks PDP for ‘spreading fake news’

    Oshiomhole denies rifts with Buhari’s wife, attacks PDP for ‘spreading fake news’

    The National Chairman of the ruling all Progressives Congress (APC) has accused the main opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) of spreading fake and malicious information about his relationship with the President’s wife, Aisha Buhari.

    In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Simon Egbegbulem, Oshiomhole said the misinformation being peddled was part of the PDP’s plan to cause disaffection within the ruling party ahead of the 2019 general elections.

    The statement reads: “Our attention has been drawn to the malicious and misleading statement credited to Oshiomhole against the person of the First Lady in the social media.

    “We want to state that it is the handiwork of mischief-makers. At no fora did the National Chairman made such uncomplimentary remarks against the person of the First Lady.

    “This is part of the fake news from the pit of hell being propagated by highly unscrupulous elements of the PDP and their cohorts, knowing fully well that they have lost the forthcoming general elections.

    “Unfortunately for the PDP, all their efforts to cause disaffection among members of the ruling party have failed. As we speak, both the first lady, the APC National Chairman and other leaders of our party enjoy cordial relationship and working in unison to ensure that the PDP looters do not return to power.

    “We urge the highly discerning people of our great country to disregard the misleading comment currently on the social media as it is not only fake, but equally untrue.

    “The tiger cannot change its spots, as the saying goes. PDP has chosen to remain the lying party it has always been.”

     

  • [Photos] Jonathan, Oshiomhole, Dangote, Governors others attend Anenih’s funeral

    [Photos] Jonathan, Oshiomhole, Dangote, Governors others attend Anenih’s funeral

    Former President Goodluck Jonathan, Peoples Democratic Party’s vice presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and the national chairman of the All Peoples Congress, Adams Oshiomhole, on Saturday attended the funeral service of popular politician, Tony Anenih.

    Also at the funeral mass celebrated by the Arch-Bishop of Benin Diocese of the Catholic Church, Augustine Akubueze, were Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta state, James Ibori, Emmanuel Uduaghan, Governors Godwin Obaseki and Seriake Dickson, Patrick Osakwe, Aliko Dangote, among numerous personalities.

    The Mass took place at St. Anthony Catholic Cathedral, Uromi where the Bishop in charge of the Diocese, Most Rev. Donatus Ogun, urged Nigerian politicians to stop politics of mudslinging.

    According to the Bishop, Nigerians are tired of dirty politics, stating that as the 2019 general elections approaches, politicians should tell Nigerians what they can do to make their lives better.

    “Nigerians want hope, they want to be told what the candidates will do to make their lives better, they are tired of hearing rubbish from politicians,” he said.

    He emphasised, “Learn to go to church and have the fear of God; always know that there is a God who is ready to forgive when you come back to Him.”

    “Be generous, if you cannot spend what you can die and leave behind, how do you expect God to assist you? Heaven is real and we must work hard to enter heaven,” he said, noting that the late Tony Anenih was like a collosus.

    The Bishop stated, “Chief Anenih who helped to give solutions to many people’s problems, he was a man of integrity, he gave people opportunities to live.”

  • TRENDING [Video]: ‘I’ll fight Oshiomhole to finish, I’m ready for graveyard’ says Gov Yari

    A controversial video showing Governor Abdulaziz Yari threatening to attack the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, [APC], Adams Oshiomhole, has surfaced online.

    In the video making the rounds on the Internet, Yari warned Oshiomhole not to dare send the committee he sent to Zamfara State to conduct the APC governorship election.

    His words” The committee sent by Oshiomhole to do the dirty job should never dare to come to Zamfara State again, we are ready to be taken to the graveyard, If them born your father and mother well, send the committee members to the state again, it is fight to finish”

    Though it is not clear when the video was filmed, however, the threat is connected with the crisis in All Progressives Congress over governorship primaries.

    Recall that the governorship primaries earlier held in the state was cancelled by the party’s national secretariat and a fresh one was expected to hold.

    According to Abu Fari, chairman of the election panel, the cancellation was due to harassment and intimidation of voters and snatching of election materials by thugs sponsored by politicians.

    Watch video:

  • Trouble for Oshiomhole as Buhari backs aggrieved APC members

    Trouble for Oshiomhole as Buhari backs aggrieved APC members

    President Muhammadu Buhari has publicly disagreed with the National Working Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) over the right of aggrieved members to seek redress in court.

    In a statement by Femi Adesina, the president’s media adviser, President Buhari stressed that if anyone is displeased with the way and manner anything has been done, and feels deprived of his/her rights, then such a person is at liberty to approach the courts for redress.

    It was the president’s first public reaction to the discontent within the party over the conduct of primaries, in the selection of candidates for elective offices.

    Until now, President Buhari had tried to appease members behind the scenes, begging and cajoling aggrieved members to bury the hatchet.

    In a different reaction, the NWC of the party headed by former governor Adams Oshiomhole forbade members from dragging the party to court. It even went further to threaten the litigants.

    President Buhari disagreed with the party:

    “We can’t deliberately deny people of their rights. We agreed that party primaries should be conducted either through direct, indirect or consensus methods, and if anyone feels unjustly treated in the process, such a person can go to court. The court should always be the last resort for the dissatisfied. For the party to outlaw the court process is not acceptable to me.”

    In the statement, President Buhari still favoured non-legal approach for reconciliation of the aggrieved as he urged them to embrace the party’s reconciliation panels.

    According to Adesina, President Buhari advised members to work with the reconciliation committees empanelled for the six geo-political zones by the APC, and not a purported Presidential Committee on Reconciliation, stressing that the Party is the only body authorised to constitute such committees.

    The APC had threatened aggrieved members who have headed to the courts, saying that: “The Party intends to activate constitutional provisions to penalise such members as their action is capable of undermining the Party and hurt the Party’s interest.

    “We hereby strongly advise such members to withdraw all court cases, while approaching the appropriate party organs with a view to resolving any outstanding disputes. In addition to this, aggrieved members are urged to take full advantage of the reconciliation committees the Party has put in place.

    “APC members should understand that as a progressive party that operates on the principle of change, it is not a matter of choice to keep to the rules.”

  • 2019: Obasanjo planning to rule by proxy – Oshiomhole

    2019: Obasanjo planning to rule by proxy – Oshiomhole

    The National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole on Sunday accused President Olusegun Obasanjo of planning to return to power by installing his former vice, Atiku Abubakar on Nigerians as president.

    He dismissed as “empty” the former leader’s boast that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will unseat the APC-led administration from Aso Rock.

    Oshiomhole spoke in Kano where he led other APC stalwarts to receive hundreds of members of the PDP and the Kwankwasiyya Movement, who defected into the ruling party at the Sani Abacha Stadium.

    ”Obasanjo’s dream to rule Nigeria by proxy will not succeed,” Oshiomhole told the crowd of supporters.

    He said: “It is a wonderful day that all the progressives have come together to reinforce power to sustain our democracy. Never again should this country be governed by opportunists.

    “President Muhammadu Buhari’s constituency is the army of the poor. We are building a country where those who work will be able to eat, not those who use telephones to make billions without working for it.

    “We are waiting for the message and shall respond appropriately to their message. This country must move forward. It does not belong to those who have a history of taking so much out of the system even as they cannot show what they have put into the system.

    “We have to fix all the problems; we did not come in to fix them overnight. What they did not do in 16 years cannot possibly be fixed in three and half years. But I believe we have shown the most important quality that we need in a leader – to have a man of honour, a man of integrity, a man that you can trust; and that is President Muhammadu Buhari.

    “Whether in America, they appreciate him, in Britain, they appreciate him, and other Africa Heads of State appreciate him. And, of course, we the ordinary people appreciate him. But those who make money without work, they don’t like him. As far as they are concerned, he will not stay one day long.”

    Oshiomhole replied to criticism by the PDP of the electoral process. He said: “Let me also use this opportunity to appeal to our opponents in PDP that they seem to be crying before the election takes place. When they win, everything is perfect; any time they lose, nothing is right. I see them writing a letter to the United Nations (UN) and I’m asking who is going to carry the letter.

    “Nigerians will not forget that it was PDP under President Olusegun Obasanjo who introduced what he called do-or-die politics. They remember when he said the election of 2007 was a do-or-die for him.

    “Fortunately, we did not die; fortunately, he is still alive. He would be alive to see a country that grows from strength to strength, that is detained by the bitterness of the past.

    “But his (Obasanjo) dream to rule by proxy will never succeed. Nigerians can never go back. We must move on. In another mandate for President Buhari, we will witness sustainable growth, development and happiness for the good of the average Nigerian.”

    The party chief praised Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje for his steadfastness in sustaining the manifesto of the APC, saying: “Thank you so much, Your Excellency. You have made a statement. Politics is not about social media where one man can recruit 2000 young men to just be posting fake stories.

    “Politics is on the ground and it is played by real people. When you promised to deliver five million votes I know you will do so because people of Kano State belongs to President Buhari; and President Muhammadu Buhari belongs to the people of Kano State.

    “It will interest you to know that during the primary election, President Buhari had 14.6 million Nigerian APC members voting for him freely to nominate him. Compare this to what my dear friend (Goodluck Jonathan) did in PDP in 2014 when they collected signatories to ask a sitting President to re-contest.

    ”I think we have changed the game, and the game can never be the same again. Nigeria can now grow from strength to strength. I want to ask you (Ganduje) to have faith. We shall be victorious at the end.”

    Presenting the defectors to Oshiomhole, Ganduje said: “Today, APC is the greatest party in Nigeria, and in Africa. APC is the only party in Kano State. We have the highest number of party members; our intention is to provide the highest number of votes for APC in Nigeria.

    “If you can recall, we promised President Muhammadu Buhari that we will give him over five million votes. Mr. Chairman, we assure you that APC is united in Kano. Kano is the home of progressives.

    “The late Malam Aminu Kano was a progressive, the late Sabo Barkin Zuwo was a progressive, and the late Abubakar Rimi was a progressive. Now, what do you expect in Kano – if not a progressive government, a progressive administration, a progressive voting. That is why we are ready to give President Buhari over five million votes.”

    Speaking on behalf of the defectors, two-time governor Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau said: “Today is a moment to reckon with history. On behalf of all my supporters, well-wishers far and near who have joined us to move into APC, it is a great pleasure for us to be part of APC.

    “I have this great honour to be one of the mid-wives of APC, history is repeating itself. In 2014, we stepped aside, and today, we are coming back to APC. I want to thank the national chairman and Governor Ganduje who have embraced us today.

    “We are happy to be part of APC. It is our sincere prayer that God, in His wisdom, come 2019 will grant APC victory from Presidency, governor, senator, House of Representatives and State House of Assembly. Insha Allah, it is going to be a total success.”

     

  • APC crisis: Oshiomhole inaugurates reconciliation committee, wants issues resolved before 2019 elections

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, has inaugurated a National Peace and Reconciliation Committee for each of the six geo-political zones of the country to reconcile all aggrieved members of the party ahead of the 2019 general elections.

    Oshiomhole, while inaugurating the committees on Wednesday in Abuja, said its members were expected to help the party’s national leadership to find an in-house solution to the acrimony that followed the party`s primary elections.

    He added that members of the committees were also to maintain peace and ensure internal harmony within the APC family before the elections.

    He further added that the essence of the committees was to bring about lasting peace in the party ahead of the 2019 general elections.

    “Help reconcile those who are aggrieved for whatever reasons, do everything that will help in your wisdom to bring peace in your zone,” Oshiomhole said.

    The national chairman said members of the committees should meet aggrieved members and leaders of the party in their zones to reconcile them.

    He explained that the party had to set up the committee in the six geo-political zones to fast track its reconciliation efforts.

    He thanked members of the committees for accepting the responsibility, adding that chairmen of the committees could appoint secretariat staff in their zones to facilitate their work.

    Oshiomhole, however, said that the party may not have been able to solve all the country`s problems but had done well in rebuilding the country`s economy.

    He said Nigerians who had good memories would recall that the APC had done better in the last three and half years than the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) which was in power for 16 years.

    According to him, the only integrity the PDP has is looting the national treasury, saying that the APC is today delivering on the campaign promises it made to Nigerians in 2015.

    Oshiomhole further said the APC was today a bigger family because of its antecedence which made more Nigerians to join its fold.

    “We have gone through a very crucial stage in the processes leading to the next Presidential, National Assembly, Governorship and House of Assembly elections.

    “I think, from my own records, of the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, I believe we have done exceedingly well as it is impossible for the most gifted child to score 100 per cent in every subject.

    “The more questions you have to answer, the more chances are that you will miss some of them.

    “I believe that the house is bigger today than it was before, because those who have reservations, have since realised that President Muhammadu Buhari means business and APC is delivering on its promises,” Oshiomhole said.

    He maintained that the party`s accomplishment in the last three and half years had enlarged it and brought in more quality political activists and leaders as well as huge electoral value across the states.

    Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State who spoke on behalf of the committees, thanked the party`s leadership for the responsibility and assured that the committees would deliver on their mandate.

    “Be rest assured that we will put in our best to ensure the reconciliation of all aggrieved party members ahead of 2019 general election,” Shettima who heads the South West National Peace and Reconciliation Committee, said.

    Below is the full list of members of the committees.

    NORTH-WEST

    1. Gov. Abiola Ajimobi – Chairman

    2. Gov. Mohammed Abubakar

    3. Gov. Yahaya Bello

    4. Sen. Adamu Aliero

    5. Sen. Danjuma Goje

    6. Sen. Jim Nwobodo

    7. Amb. Fati Balla

    SOUTH-EAST

    1. Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje – Chairman

    2. Gov. Samuel Lalong

    3. Gov. Kayode Fayemi

    4. Sen. Godswill Akpabio

    5. Alh. Umaru Dembo

    6. Alh. Nasiru Koki

    7. Mrs. Ify Okoye

    SOUTH-WEST

    1. Gov. Kashim Shettima – Chairman

    2. Gov. Nasiru el Rufai

    3. Gov. Akinwumi Ambode

    4. Sen. Ken Nnamani

    5. Prof. Modupe Adelabu

    6. Dr Dakuku Peterside

    7. Sen. Seida Bugaje

    NORTH-CENTRAL

    1. Gov. Ibrahim Geidam – Chairman

    2. Gov. Godwin Obaseki

    3. Gov. Rotimi Akeredolu

    4. Gov. Jibrilla Bindow

    5. Chief Pius Akinyelure

    6. Barr. (Mrs) Vivian Chukwuani

    7. Chief Audu Ogbe

    SOUTH-SOUTH

    1. Gov. Rauf Aregbesola – Chairman

    2. Gov. Atiku Bagudu

    3. Gov. Abubakar Bello

    4. Sen. Gbemisola Saraki

    5. Mr Emeka Wogu

    6. Mr Sullivan Chime

    7. Mrs Aleluchi Cookey-Gam

    NORTH-EAST

    1. Gov. Tanko Al-Makura – Chairman

    2. Gov. Aminu Masari

    3. Gov. Abubakar Badaru

    4. Chief (Mrs) Jumoke Anifowoshe

    5. Mr Matthew Omegara

    6. Hajia Hafsat Baba

    7. Gen. Abdullahi Aboki

     

  • Oshiomhole, Akpabio make surprise appearances at Jonathan’s book launch

    The National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress, Adams Oshimohole, has made a surprise appearance at the venue of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan’s book presentation.

    Oshiomhole, Akpabio make surprise appearances at Jonathan’s book launch

    He arrived at the same time with a former Akwa Ibom State Governor, Godswill Akpabio.

    Akpabio recently left Peoples Democratic Party for the APC.

    Their arrival at the venue also disrupted events.

    Oshiomhole ensured that he took photographs with the National Chairman of PDP, Uche Secondus.

     

  • Oshiomhole to Saraki: Start preparing for retirement in 2019

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, has said the people of Kwara State will retire the President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, from active politics in 2019.

    He said this on Monday in Abuja, while speaking with journalists at the end of a meeting of the party`s National Working Committee (NWC).

    Mr Oshiomhole stressed that the way the people of Kwara voted in Saturday`s House of Representatives by-election in the state, was an attestation that they were tired of Mr Saraki mismanaging their political life.

    “I am sure Saraki would be politically retired by the good people of kwara whom he has mismanaged their economic and political rights over the years.

    “I am very excited about that and we think that this is something worth celebrating and we took time to celebrate it today,” Oshiomhole said.

    He added that the APC was proud of the fact that since the assumption of the party`s current NWC which he headed on June 24, it had not lost any major election.

    Mr Oshiomhole further added that the party`s victory in Saturday`s by-election in Bauchi, Kastina and Kwara states was a proof that the APC was still the preferred party of Nigerians.

    “More outstanding for me and the APC, both the leadership and the membership, is the humiliating defeat that Sen. Bukola Saraki suffered in the hands of Kwara people.

    “What the people of Kwara have done to him is that they are going to politically bury him come February next year and he has seen the first warning,” he said.

    He said Kwara people, based on the outcome of the election, had dealt with Mr Saraki a political blow.

    This, he said, was most humiliating since Mr Saraki was the acclaimed leader of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara State, and had recently led elections in other states.

    “Here is a native doctor who was busy going to other states, now unable to heal his own people in his own state, that defeat in Kwara is most outstanding,” the APC national chairman stressed.

    He said this was particularly so, because the candidate who won the election was not put in place by anybody close to Mr Saraki.

    He, however, said that the APC would not accept a Nigerian variant where a minority party presided over the affairs of the National Assembly, saying that it was not right.

     

  • Nigerians await how Buhari’ll handle bribery allegations against Oshiomhole – Saraki

    Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, has stated that Nigerians are eagerly awaiting how President Muhammadu Buhari will handle the serious allegations of bribery levelled against the National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Adams Oshiomhole, over the conduct of the just concluded primary elections in the party.

    The Senate President in a statement by his Special Adviser (Media and Publicity), Yusuph Olaniyonu, also described the threat by the former Edo State Governor to sue him over his statement that Oshiomhole ought to quit politics on moral grounds over the allegations against him, as an empty boast because he (Saraki) will be ready to meet him (Oshiomhole) in court.

    “Nigerians are waiting to see how the President will handle the serious allegations against his party chairman. We expect the President with his anti-corruption campaign to institute thorough and transparent investigation into the allegations against his party chairman.

    “The failure of the President to get to the root of the matter will finally destroy his ability and that of the party to continue to talk of any anti-graft battle. The President should let the investigation be thorough, open and transparent. This is no time for any cover-up”, he stated.

    Saraki maintained that until the outcome of a thorough investigation is known to Nigerians and the APC chairman is cleared of the allegations against him, Oshiomhole is not on a firm ground to talk about moralty or fight against corruption.

  • Alleged $55m bribe: DSS urges Buhari to prosecute Oshiomhole

    Alleged $55m bribe: DSS urges Buhari to prosecute Oshiomhole

    The Department of State Services (DSS) has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to probe the national chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole, for allegedly receiving over $55 million in bribes.

    The former Edo State governor had initially been detained by the agency on November 4, 2018 and interrogated for nine hours on allegations made by certain governors that he received bribes to manipulate the APC’s primary elections conducted across the country over a month ago.

    The agency was also revealed to have compelled Oshiomhole to resign as the APC chairman, but he refused, noting that he still had President Buhari’s confidence. That confidence might be on the wane now if the report of the DSS, based on its findings, is anything to go by.

    According to SaharaReporters, the report, which has already been forwarded to Buhari, indicated that Oshiomhole most notably received bribes from governorship candidates in Imo, Ogun, and Zamfara states.

    “Hope Uzodinma, the APC governorship candidate in Imo State, gave $3 million; Rochas Okorocha, Governor of the state, offered $500,000 but it was rejected; Dapo Abiodun, the APC candidate in Ogun State, paid $5 million. The DSS also said some of the money was paid into Oshiomhole’s niece’s account,” a source told SaharaReporters.

    The source also disclosed that the report alleged that Oshiomhole received $17 million as bribe from Zamfara State. A former Ekiti State governor, Niyi Adebayo, and a former Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Farouk Adamu, were listed as his accomplices in the DSS report which has also been forwarded to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    The source noted that the presidency and top party officials including APC national leader, Bola Tinubu and vice president, Yemi Osinbajo, are trying to deal with the controversy as delicately as possible because of the impact it could have on the party’s chances in the upcoming 2019 general elections.

    The primary elections of the APC to choose candidates to contest in the 2019 general elections has been trailed by a lot of divisions and controversies within the party.

    A lot of state governors are openly feuding with Oshiomhole over what they’ve alleged to be his role in truncating the processes to install certain candidates.

    His most notable feuds are with Ogun State governor, Ibikunle Amosun, Imo State governor, Rochas Okorocha, and Zamfara State governor, Abdulaziz Yari who all failed in their bids to handpick their successors.

    While he has maintained his innocence about the allegations, Oshiomhole has also decried the role of the DSS in the episode, arguing that it should be investigated by the EFCC instead.