The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Adams Oshiomhole has dismissed the cancellation of the Lagos governorship primary that was held on Tuesday.
The National Working Committee Panel responsible for the primary had earlier cancelled the primary and called for a fresh one on Wednesday.
But briefing newsmen shortly after meeting president Muhammadu Buhari behind the closed door, Oshiomhole said the conduct of the primary was in order.
He affirmed the result, thereby laying to rest the controversy that has trailed the primaries.
The controversies:
In Lagos, the APC NWC panel chair, Clement Ebri Election had earlier said the exercise did not receive its blessing because the conditions prescribed were not followed.
Party Chairman Tunde Balogun rejected the Committee’s verdict, saying the election was free and fair.
Leaders of the party, including Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Deputy Governor Idiat Adebule, Speaker Mudashiru Obasa, commissioners, aspirant Babajide Sanwo-Olu and party members who turned out in large numbers, participated in the election.
But Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, who was in his hometown Epe for the primary, remained indoors.
Reporteers who accompanied him to Epe were asked to leave for Lagos shortly before 11a.m.
Ebri said at about 4.30 pm when he addressed the media was just ready for the primary.
He said he had contacted the APC national secretariat for further directives.
“We are ready to give the state the most credible election. It is not our fault that this exercise took this long. In some states, primary has been moved to Thursday.
“We were waiting for the (Lagos State) party chairman to provide certain information that will enable us post people to the wards. We have two aspirants and we needed to be fair to both parties. The information we demanded for came in about an hour ago. And we had to struggle this period to balance the equation,” Ebri said, adding:
“We have five persons from the local organising committee and four for each ward. They will all go out to ensure the primary is conducted. We all understand the terrain in the state, especially as it concerns the traffic situation. So, the materials are available now and ready for deployment.
“The national secretariat advised us to use ballot papers and we came into Lagos with thousands of them. But during the stakeholders meeting, it became obvious that the state chapter of the party wasn’t ready for such primary. They claimed that there was no time to educate the members and others. And based on the submission made at the stakeholders meeting, some changes were made.
“And we were advised to conduct the open ballot in a manner that would be objective to all parties. And that is one of the adjustments we made to accommodate views of the stakeholders.
“We had a session with representatives of both aspirants here at about 8 am. And we asked that they should bring names of their representatives that would be used for the exercise. But the names didn’t arrive early from both parties.”
Ebri went on: “Because of the political tension in the state, we decided to be very careful, very methodical and very meticulous in doing it. As party men, peace is very important to us than victory; we want victory that will be celebrated by both parties; we want victory that will be credible; a victory that will be in line with the guidelines and extant rules and laws in this country. We are ready to go to the field and execute this in clinical fashion.
“Lagos is a flagship of APC and must continue to remain so for years to come and so in conducting anything that has to do with Lagos, we have to do it with a lot of circumspection and objectivity and it should be a showpiece for the rest of the country.
Displaying the result sheets, the Panel Chairman said it was “in impeccable condition and not one single sheet is missing and it is not possible for this committee to do any other thing than it has been instructed to do”.
“We have guidelines and we will stick to those guidelines to be sure that we are fair to both parties.”
Balogun insisted that the primary was devoid of violence and, therefore, credible.
He said the agents of the two parties were present at the wards where the election took place and that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and election observers witnessed the exercise.
“The election took place simultaneously in all the 245 wards. Some of our members were visible in the local governments. For example our national leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu was at Ikeja, his own ward.
“He took part in the election and we saw the results. The results have been signed by the agents of the two aspirants. Those results were credible because the INEC too were there and they all signed. We were all witnesses to the conduct of the election. There were no violence, no chaos; it was free, fair and transparent.”
Asked whether any member of the NWC panel members was there, he said: ‘’What I know is that I did not go round the wards. The venue I went to, I saw some observers apart from the agents and INEC. They were publicly conducted, constitutionally done and I think we will leave the rest for the people and the press . That is why we have to wait for the committee charged with the responsibility to announce the results. We are not to announce the results.
Some women from Shomolu/Bariga who protested at the Ikeja hotel where the panel members addressed the media, complained that they were not allowed to vote in their wards because they are known supporters of Governor Ambode.
Tag: Oshiomhole
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Oshiomhole affirms Sanwo-Olu as winner of Lagos governorship primaries
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APC Governorship Primaries: Oshiomhole addresses Lagos, Imo crises
The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole, on Tuesday described the results being circulated as the outcome of the Imo governorship primaries as fake.
Mr Oshiohmole stated this while fielding questions from State House correspondents after a closed door meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Tuesday.
The APC chairman also revealed that the party had disbanded the Ahmed Gulak-led Committee that conducted the party’s governorship primaries in Imo State.
According to him, another committee will be set up immediately for the conduct of fresh primaries in the state before the end of the week.
“Imo was not too good news for today, but not surprising they have to learn to begin to comply with rules, they have two fake results, none of them is genuine.
“We will disband and we will appoint a fresh committee (electoral panel) that will conduct transparent direct primaries that reflect the will of members of APC in Imo regardless of the interest and powers that are behind any of the groups.
“The truth does not require supporters club to stand, it has its hands and legs and we will do just that”.
Mr Oshiohmole, who said he was in the villa to update President Buhari on the developments in the APC, ruled out the possibility of honouring parallel results from states.
On the conduct of the APC primaries in Lagos State on Tuesday, the APC chairman disclosed that the National Working Committee (NWC) was in charge of the primaries and that every situation had been put under control.
“I told the president that the primaries held as planned and everything is being done to ensure there is no violence because democracy doesn’t flourish with violence.
“Nigerians must begin to learn how to differ in opinion and in choice without fighting; this is something people have to acquire over time.
“For me, I’m excited that if we can do it in Lagos it can be done anywhere.
“Everything that is being done is done under the control, supervision and direction of the NWC.’’
Mr Oshiohmole maintained that no matter how highly a member may be, he or she must subject himself/herself to the constitution of the party.
It would be recalled that the APC National Working Committee (NWC) panel had on Tuesday announced the cancellation of the Lagos governorship primary election, saying the preparatory process for the election had just been concluded.
The Chairman of the panel, Clement Ebri, made this known when he spoke at a news conference in Alausa, Ikeja.
He said: “The preparatory process had just been concluded for the primaries. The primary is to begin anytime soon.
“There was no election. Election materials are being sorted.
“The stage is set and election begins anytime from now. We have guidelines and we will stick to the guidelines.
“Because of the political tension in the state, we decided to be very careful, very methodical. As party men, peace is more important to us than victory.
“We want a kind of victory that will be celebrated by both parties.
“We want an election that will be credible and in line with the guidelines, the extant rules and the laws of the country.
“And that is what we have done. We are ready to go to the field and execute this so that at the end of the day, we will not be accused of partisanship. Lagos is very important to us and it is a flagship of the APC.’’
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2019: Buhari, Oshiomhole mock Saraki, Tambuwal, others over defection to PDP
President Muhammadu Buhari and the National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) Adams Oshiomhole on Thursday sale the gale of defections that hit the party in the last few months had no effect whatsoever on the structure of the party across the nation.
Senate President Bukola Saraki, Governors Aminu Waziri Tambuwal (Sokoto), Abdulfatai Ahmed (Kwara) and Samuel Ortom (Benue) and some members of the National Assembly, defected in a move believed to have planned to cripple the party.
Buhari and Oshiomhole spoke at the party’s sixth National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Abuja – the first under the Oshiomhole-led National Working Committee (NWC).
The President, who arrived at the APC national secretariat at about 11.20am and departed at 2.16 pm, said the party must ensure hitch-free, fair and credible primaries which will be a precursor to a free, fair and credible general elections in 2019.
Buhari congratulated the new NWC leadership, saying: “The team emerged at a turbulent time when there were rumours and speculations of massive defections in such a way that could rock the very foundation of the party.
“Despite reconciliatory attempt to keep the house together, some members were hell bent on pulling down the roof. They left, threatening to go along with scores of people. But due to the work of the new party leadership, the exit barely made a dent on our super structure as they could not muster the figure they had envisaged to cause an upset, particularly in the two chambers of the National Assembly. The APC remains in control and is increasing by the day with quality people joining the party.”
The President added that as the party marches towards the primaries, “I ask all and sundry to ensure that we play the game according to the rules. Let us come out with free, fair and credible primaries which will be a precursor to free, fair and credible election next year.
“Let us shine the light through our primaries and the rest of the country will find the way. Our primaries must be in complete compliance with the provisions of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended, the Electoral Act and, above all, the constitution of the party.
“This is the time we must work for unity, harmony and togetherness. Let us all join hands to move the party forward. We must take our party to the next level and I urge all and sundry to give support to our National Working Committee.
“The new National Executive Committee members assumed duty at a very critical time. With the general elections coming very early next year, 2019, any political party worth its salt must get its internal dynamics right and march as a team.”
Buhari assured of his commitment to fulfilling his electoral promises, saying “Hope is rekindled in our heart that we will give our country purposeful leadership and improve the quality of life of the people.
“We will continue to secure the country, fight graft and reposition the economy in such a way that jobs can be provided for our youth and give them a future and hope. We will fulfill all the promises we made to Nigerians. We are fulfilling them and will continue to serve with heart and might to build a nation where peace and justice and prosperity shall reign.”
Oshiomhole said ambition was responsible for the exit of those who defected and not because of any thing done to them by the party.
He said: “I stumbled on a quote which might interest Mr President and I think it summarises what has happened to us. I can’t find anything more appropriate.
“I do not know exactly the occasion and I don’t know the date this statement was made by one of Nigeria’s foremost political leaders who was described as the best president Nigeria never had, Chief Obafemi Awolowo.
“In one of his works, he said, ‘For the Progressives to be in power, they need the support and collaboration of some Conservatives. After attaining power, the conservatives would on their own move away. The progressives, once the conservatives have moved away on their own, would now build a great party that will move the nation forward’.
“Mr President, the conservatives have moved away. So, this was bound to happen because when we promised change, they all sang it, but it had different meanings to different people.
“For some, it was to be the change that would lead to more of the same but for the Nigerian people; they know that change meant a move from a political order that services only the political elite at the expense of the poor and the masses.
“When it became clear that this change cannot allow business as usual, the conservatives left on their own. Our party is stronger, smarter, more cohesive and there is no better evidence than the fact that we have won all the major elections after they left the party.”
He recalled the efforts of his NWC to persuade those who defected to stay adding that although some people left, the efforts paid off with many senators and Representatives staying in the party.
“I made a comment which seems to have been misunderstood in some quarters, when I said that if some individuals of no particular fixed political address decide to leave, I will not lose my sleep.
“I speak of no particular fixed address because if you have a history of moving every season from one political party to the other with one constant thing in mind, to contest, now what is your political address? So, for people like that who are migrant politicians, rolling stone politicians, I am not able to identify their political address and, therefore, I refuse to miss my sleep.”
On defectors, Oshiomhole said: “We have seen people who go back to their communities to defect and we see ‘uncommon defectors’ but the others sat in their chambers, in a guest house and prepared their defection notes. Some are known to have remained in Abuja, detained by their own conscience and unable to visit their constituencies.
“So, I want to assure you that we have purged ourselves of excess fat that would have possibly interfere, with the flow of blood in our veins. We are stronger, more determined and we are much certain of our future.”
Turning to the President, he said: “We asked the President to continue to provide leadership to deal with the vices that have detained Nigeria and which seem to explain the paradox that has detained Nigeria, a country that is so rich and its people so poor.
“Mr. President, God has a purpose for sparing your life and that is because you have not finished the mission that He entrusted to you, to lead the forces of change, to reposition our country, reorder our values and to encourage all of us.
“Those who submit to change, in spite of their past, still have a chance to play a role in the commitment to rebuild the nation and ensure it offer hope to every citizen.
“Mr. President, you are the only one who has had the courage to look at western leaders eye ball to eye ball and ask them to return the stolen money. If you have stolen money in their vault, you won’t have the courage to say so. None of your predecessors has had the courage to say so in the manner that you did. Those are things we are proud of and they give us courage and confidence that Nigerians will not be fooled come 2019.”
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2019: Why APC won’t miss ‘migrant,’ ‘rolling stone’ politicians – Oshiomhole
The National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole, has said the party would not miss politicians who have perfected the art of migrating from one party to another with each election season.
Describing them as ‘migrant’ and ‘rolling stone’ politicians, the party chairman said this in his opening remarks at the National Executive Council meeting of the party holding at its National Secretariat, Abuja.
According to him, when he took over as national chairman, he initiated peace moves to assuage the feelings of those who had genuine grievances that he felt the party could address.
He, however, said, “But those who were determined to leave, not on account of what anybody has done wrong against them, but on account of an ambition they believe they cannot realise on our platform, even though they were not denied the opportunity to try out that ambition, but perhaps because they could read like an oracle what the future would be, particularly as people have contested before when we didn’t have any incumbent.
“Those who had dollars gave; those who had nails gave and Mr. President said I don’t have, but even if I have, I won’t give, but will offer honest leadership. At the end, the President won, but the victory did not purge those with that ambition and they were determined that they must contest and they were free to do that.
“I had thought that by the provisions in our party constitution, they had the right to contest and that right was not going to be denied them. But reflecting on what has happened in the past and reading the minds of party members and leaders, they came to the conclusion that the only way they can realise their ambition was to relocate and they relocated.”
He further said, “For distant observers, they think that this is a huge blow to our party. I made a comment which seems to have been misunderstood in some quarters, when I said that if some individuals of no particular fixed political address decide to leave, I will not lose my sleep.
“I speak of no particular fixed address because if you have a history of moving every season from one political party to the other with one constant thing in mind — to contest — now, what is your political address? So, for people like that who are migrant politicians, rolling stone politicians, I am not able to identify their political address and therefore, I refuse to miss my sleep.”
Oshiomhole stressed that some misconstrued his comments to mean arrogance, but that all he did was to be blunt, noting that there was little, if anything, he could do about people who felt they must contest and win every election and if they don’t, they take their loyalty elsewhere.
He assured party members, especially legislators who have genuine cases of unfair treatment, that the party would do what is right to ensure that justice is done.
The party chairman expressed delight that President Muhammdu Buhari has not disappointed Nigerians since he took over the saddle of leadership in 2015.
He also noted that since the president took over, the APC has won most of the elections it had contested in various states, the latest being in Ekiti State which, before APC’s victory, was a stronghold of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party.
Recall that both the ruling APC and PDP had benefitted from the gale of defections that started earlier in the year.
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Thieves, potential thieves are worried over Buhari’s intention to jail more looters – Presidency
The Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, has said that only thieves or potential thieves have a reason to worry about President Muhammadu Buhari’s comments on jailing more thieves.
Adesina said this when he made an appearance on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, in reaction to the criticism that followed the President’s comments.
According to him, the presidency is not worried about the criticisms because it is typical for people to find faults with anything.
He said, “Some people will criticize anything. They will find faults about anything.
“If they don’t have something to fault, they will begin to fault themselves. Therefore, it doesn’t worry us when we hear people like that because even if they mistakenly get to heaven, they will find fault with God.
“It is typical of some human beings and we have plenty of them in the country. But we are also grateful that we have many more, millions and millions who know what is going on and who appreciate the president.
“Talking of jailing thieves, its only thieves and potential thieves that need worry about that statement.
“If you are a thief, yes you have every cause to worry. If you are a potential thief, you have every cause to worry – because there was a time stealing was not corruption, but stealing is corruption today and if you are caught in corruption, you’ll answer. Therefore, you have every cause to worry,” Adesina stated.
President Buhari who returned from his 10-day vacation on Saturday, made the vow to jail more persons who were responsible for Nigeria’s economic problems.
Read Also: Buhari Vows To Jail ‘More Thieves’ Who Caused Nigeria’s Economic Problems
“We are going to jail more of the thieves, you know – that brought the economic problem to the country. I think this is really expected of me and I will do it,” he said.
When asked why the president had to re-iterate the goal of his administration, Adesina explained further that the anti-corruption fight is a continuous war which still has a long way to go.
“It is a work in progress and a war in progress,” he said.
“There is a lot still, to do and the President will take that war very far. Remember when he came back from medical vacation last year, he said he was re-dedicating himself to serving the country and what are the three main things. the secure the country, to fight corruption and revive the economy so if he comes back like he did yesterday and reiterates the war against corruption, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with it,” he added.
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Jail Oshiomhole, sacked DSS DG, Daura, APC chieftains before other looters – PDP tells Buhari
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Sunday welcomed President Muhammadu Buhari’s declaration to jail treasury looters, but challenged him to start from the Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Adams Oshiomhole.
PDP said in line with his declaration, Buhari should also prosecute the sacked Director-General of the Department of State Services, DSS, Lawal Daura, and chieftains of the APC.
A statement by PDP’s spokesperson, Kola Ologbondiyan, said Buhari should show “integrity by starting with immediate investigation and prosecution of the factional National Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole and a host of other indicted persons in his presidency, who he is currently covering.”
The party challenged Buhari to also allow an investigation into the alleged stealing of “billions of naira by his allies and party chieftains, including the sacked former Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Lawal Daura, his former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal and the Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Prof. Yusuf Usman.”
The statement added, “President Buhari should immediately allow the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to commence Oshiomhole’s investigation, which has been stalled despite his indictment for allegedly stealing billions of naira belonging to Edo state.
“The PDP further challenged President Buhari to allow an investigation into the alleged frittering of over N11 trillion in the petroleum sector, under his direct supervision as minister, including the alleged N9 trillion illegal oil contract as detailed in the leaked presidency memo, the alleged N1.4 trillion corrupt subsidy regime and alleged diversion of N1.1 trillion worth crude oil using 18 illegal companies allegedly linked to Presidency cabal and APC chieftains.
“The President should also allow the investigation of his ministers, who as former governors, were indicted of stealing billions of naira belonging to their states, particularly, a former governor, who was
indicted by his state for allegedly diverting over N40 billion to finance APC’s 2015 Presidential campaign.“Mr. President must also investigate how billions of naira allegedly moved from parastatals under his Petroleum ministry to finance the failed attempt to change the leadership of the National Assembly as well as the certificate scandals among his ministers and special advisers and jail all those involved.
“These are the people Nigerians have been expecting President Buhari to investigate, prosecute and if found wanting sent to jail. Unfortunately, Mr. President has been pursuing perceived political enemies, and innocent opposition members while dining and wining with corrupt persons, a development that has completely called to question the integrity of his anti-corruption fight.
“Since President Buhari came into office, he has not allowed any investigation into the corrupt activities under his Presidency, instead he has been attracting to himself, all manner of corrupt persons and giving them the perfume of sainthood, once they identify with his APC.”
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Libel: Ortom slams N10bn suit on Oshiomhole
Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State has slammed a N10bn libel suit against the chairman of the ruling All Progressive Congress, Adams Oshiomhole.
The governor, through his legal counsel, Samuel Irabor, demanded that Oshiomhole should within seven days retract the libellous statements he made against him in 10 national dailies and in the prime beat of national television and radio.
Ortom also asked for N10bn as punitive, general exemplary and aggravated damages.
The governor said that the national chairman had, during a press conference, made wild allegations against his administration on security votes, non-payment of salaries and the killings in the state.
“It boggles the mind to begin the process of thinking that led to your unconscionable statement that ‘Benue Christians’ are responsible for the mass killings and sustainable genocide against their own people”, he said.
The governor’s counsel said that since his client exercised his political freedom by moving to a party that guaranteed safety for his kinsmen, Oshiomhole had embarked on a campaign of hatred and propaganda against his person.
He however called on the national chairman to within seven days of receipt of the letter meet all the demands or face legal action.
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Resign honourably or be impeached, Oshiomhole warns Saraki
The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole, has warned Senate President Bukola Saraki to resign if he doesn’t want to be humiliated out of office.
The APC chairman also accused the senate president of never acting in the interest of Nigeria.
He made this call on Friday during a press conference held at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja.
“Lastly, in support of my ‘thesis’ that the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki has never acted in the Nigeria National interest in view. My parlance submission is the way in which he adjourned the Senate about two weeks ago.
“The Senate calender is not a secret to the presiding officer of the Senate. The Senate calender that was known was that the Senate was going to be adjourned by Thursday. By Tuesday morning, or Monday night, Senator Saraki used his guest house, write out the name of senators in provisions, straight for signatories for Senators to decamp to the PDP from the APC.”
Mr Oshiomole, whose party has expressed contradictory stance on last week’s siege by security officials on the National Assembly, also opposed the stance of Mr Saraki on the matter.
Saraki, who recently defected from the APC to the PDP, said the siege was to forcibly carry out his illegal removal.
“How can a presiding officer arrive at such a conclusion that there was a plan to carry out illegal impeachment. Until an action takes place, how can you determine the status?” Mr Oshiomhole said.
“But it is lawful to impeach anyone including the President of the Senate, including the deputy president of the Senate, if the number required to do so is present, so he cannot preempt, as they say, you don’t have to be a pathological liar before you understand this generally. Once you start with one lie, you will need serious of lies to support that one lie.
“In any case, Saraki is not going to be the first senate president to be impeached and I doubt if he is going to be the last but definitely he will be impeached according to law and to democratic norms. The only way Saraki can avoid impeachment is for him to do what is honourable which again leads to the issue of character.”
Making reference to Godswill Akpabio who resigned before defecting from the PDP to the APC, he said Mr Saraki should have resigned.
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We’ll deal with Saraki, Tambuwal other defectors in 2019 – Oshiomhole
National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, has opened up on the strategy he will deploy to defeat defectors like Senate President Bukola Saraki, Governor Samuel Ortom and Aminu Tambuwal in Kwara, Benue and Sokoto states respectively.
He therefore called on Nigerians to support President Muhammadu Buhari and the APC to remove thieves and looters who believe it is their birthright to continue to loot the country.
Answering questions on unfolding political development in the country, Oshiomhole said the interest of Nigeria was greater than the sum total of the political parties. “We must engage and engage and pro-attack whether they call me attack dog. I will rather be an attack
dog than be a mushroom eater. I asked you to understand that what is at stake is beyond the APC and the PDP. Nigeria is much more than the sum total of all the political parties.
“We will see who is who next year February. In Edo, they made this argument that politics is different from labour, we used labour tactics to humble them and they became converted. Exactly the same way we used it in Edo, we will use it either in Kwara, Benue or Sokoto or anywhere.
“Be fair in your reportage, this is not about me, it is not about them, it is about the Nigerian people. For those questioning my choice of style, I will not adopt the ruling class tactics to deal with a cankerworm of disease. I offer different style in order to get different outcome”, he said.
While addressing party supporters who came to welcome him at the Benin Airport on his way to Delta State yesterday, he stated that working with the President, he would ensure that government focuses on the people, rather than a few at the expense of the majority, adding that government must do everything possible to ensure that those who work have something to show for their labour.
“We must support the President and the APC to remove all those thieves, all those looters who believe it is their birthright to continue to loot; those who say that their purpose in government is for juicy contracts not for the welfare of the people.”
The APC National Chairman who expressed his gratitude to the people, promised that he will represent their feelings, their aspirations and meet their expectations as far as the running of the party was concerned.
“At this point, I am very clear: we will have to fight odds on the basis of our conviction and we will adjust our style; we will not borrow other people’s style. I am very proud of my working class background and we will bring those values into the leadership and management of the All Progressives Congress”, he said.
In apparent response to youths and party faithful clamouring for attention from the state government, Oshiomhole said: “I assure you that I will work together with our governor and ensure that any error, any concern that you have that they are addressed satisfactorily.
“And I want to assure you that the tradition of carrying our people along will be sustained; you represent what I call our infantry division, you are the ones on election day who ensured that our voters come out, you are the ones who ensured that the PDP rigging machine was defeated. We must keep you as a standing force, together we will march on and will ensure that everyone who works is looked after.”
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2019: How APC will win back Sokoto, Benue, Kwara, others – Oshiomhole
The National Chairman of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, has revealed how his party will win back the states whose governors recently defected to the People Democratic Party (PDP).
Oshiomhole who spoke to reporters at the Bénin Airport on his way to Sapele, Delta State on Friday, said the APC would continue to engage and pro-attack, whether the opposition called him an attack dog or not.
The former Edo State governor added that APC would deploy labour tactics to humble the PDP in Kwara, Benue and Sokoto states.
He said: “I asked you to understand that what is at stake is beyond the APC and the PDP. Nigeria is much more than the sum total of all the political parties.
“We will see who is who in February next year. In Edo, they made this argument that politics is different from labour, but we used labour tactics to humble them and they became converted.
“Exactly the same way we used it in Edo, we will use it either in Kwara, Benue or Sokoto or anywhere.
“This is not about me, it is not about them, it is about the Nigerian people.
“I will not adopt the ruling class tactics to deal with a cankerworm of disease. I offer a different style in order to get a different outcome.”
Addressing thousands of APC supporters who were at the Bénin Airport to welcome him, Oshiomhole said the APC under his leadership would not borrow what he termed other people’s style.
Oshiomhole urged APC supporters not to despair as he would work with President Muhammadu Buhari to ensure that the party meets their aspirations.
He promised to work with Governor Godwin Obaseki to ensure that any concerns the party members have would be addressed satisfactorily.
He said: “I will represent the feelings, the aspirations and I will meet your expectations as far as the running of the All Progressives Congress is concerned.
“We will have to fight odds on the basis of our conviction and we will adjust our style. We will not borrow other people’s style.
“I am very proud of my working class background and we will bring those values into the leadership and management of the APC.
“I will ensure working together with President Buhari to see that government focuses on the people; that government will not focus on the welfare of the few at the expense of the majority; that government must do everything possible to ensure that those who work have something to show for their labour.
“We must support the President and the APC to remove all those thieves, all those looters who believe it is their birthright to continue to loot.
“I want to assure you that the tradition of carrying our people along will be sustained.
“You represent what I call our infantry division. You are the ones who on election day ensure that our voters come out. You were the ones who ensured that the PDP rigging machine was defeated.
“We must keep you as a standing point. Together we will match on and will ensure that everyone who works is looked after.
“I know there are people with all kinds of stories, but let me assure you that after the storm, the weather will settle.
“Trust me, as you have not abandoned me, I will never abandon you.
“To our youths, I want to particularly appeal to you: don’t lose faith. There will be work, there will be participation, there will be involvement. We will not throw anybody away.
“Nobody will be used and dumped. If yesterday has come beautiful, tomorrow will be better,” he stated.