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  • Obi has nothing new to offer beyond hawking fake statistics – APC PCC

    Obi has nothing new to offer beyond hawking fake statistics – APC PCC

    The Presidential Campaign Council of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) on Tuesday said Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate Peter Obi has nothing new to offer Nigerians.

    APC-PCC condemned the LP manifesto titled: ‘It is possible: Our pact with Nigerians’.

    The campaign council in a statement by its Director, Media and Publicity, Bayo Onanuga in Abuja on Tuesday said aside from falling short of expectation, the LP policy document “is a poor imitation and regurgitation of what the current APC-led administration of President Muhammadu Buhari is doing.”

    According to the statement: “As a candidate, he (Obi) has nothing new to offer Nigerians beyond hawking fake statistics and preying on the young people’s sentiments as a demagogue.”

    The statement reads: “We are glad that Labour Party and its presidential candidate, Peter Obi finally released their much-awaited policy document after many contradictory statements on same.

    “After perusing the document which is very high on graphics and demagogic rhetorics and short on substance, we have concluded that the document is empty and vacuous.

    “The document which is titled ‘It is Possible: Our Pact with Nigerians’, offers nothing refreshing to Nigerians and comes across as total anti-climax. The subtitle ‘Action Plan’ was shamelessly parroted from Asiwaju Bola Tinubu’s manifesto.

    “By now, many of the gullible followers must have been utterly disappointed that their man didn’t offer them anything to be proud of after all the blusters and the initial leakage of the document, which contains, strangely, 15 pages of the biographical sketches of Obi and his running mate, Datti Baba-Ahmed.

    “Peter Obi’s document contains no grand policy initiatives and options to excite right-thinking Nigerians. It was silent about how Obi wanted to achieve his high falutin objectives. Instead, it will set alarm bells ringing in the South South and North East as Obi promises to ‘engineer the transition of Nigeria from a fossil fuel dependency to climate and eco-friendly energy use”.

    Faulting the document, APC-PCC alleged that Obi’s document contains fallacies and false statistics.

    “Obi claimed China moved 740 million people out of poverty. He understated the achievement and was silent about the period it took the Chinese Communist party to achieve this. China moved close to 800 million people out of poverty and it was achieved in 40 years. This makes the present APC government’s plan to move 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in 10 years, more realistic than Obi’s rhetoric tends to suggest.

    “One of the fallacies contained in the document, which Obi has often repeated to his followers, is that Nigeria is a failed state. We wonder whether the Labour Party candidate sometimes bothers to check the meaning of a failed state and whether the country he dreams to govern falls into the mould of Yemen or Somalia, where institutions of government have lost total control of their societies.

    “Another fallacy is Obi’s claim that Nigeria recorded modest gains between 1999-2015, the PDP years, even when all verifiable evidence points to the contrary.”

    APC further said, “The Labour Party candidate simplistically diagnosed Nigeria’s problem as ‘elite, which is self-indicting as he and his running mate, who he styled ‘new breed’ are members.

    “He claims incompetent leadership has divided the nation, playing up religious and ethnic sentiments. Another self-indictment as the hallmark of his campaign has been to jump from one church to the other, positioning himself as a ‘Christian candidate’ and inciting the church against the current APC government.

    “The document Obi released is a poor imitation and regurgitation of what the current APC-led administration of President Muhammadu Buhari is doing. If anything, the document showed him as a man without honour, credibility and character because he is promising to do all the things he has railed against and de-legitimised in the past.

    “We make bold to state that Obi lacks the mental acuity and rigour for the job he is asking Nigerians to entrust to him. He is surely not ready and prepared to be the President this great country deserves. And if indeed the Labour Party candidate paid for the wishy-washy document, he should ask for a refund for the following reasons:

    “On Security: In his document, Obi and his running mate promised to tackle insecurity, and defeat Boko Haram, Bandits and other violent crimes by partnering with Cameroon, Chad and Niger. It is a pity that Obi and his party didn’t know that President Muhammadu Buhari did this within his first week in office as President in 2015 and has continued to strengthen regional cooperation.

    “The Multinational Joint Military Task Force with headquarters in Ndjamena, Republic of Chad is an outcome of the successful diplomatic shuttle to these neighbouring countries, including the Benin Republic. Through the Joint Military Task Force and our gallant soldiers, Boko Haram and ISWAP have been routed out of Nigeria and permanently degraded and the whole of North East is stable.

    “Thousands of displaced people have returned to their communities to restart their social and economic activities. Peter Obi has nothing to offer on security if he is only promising what Buhari has been doing for over 7 years. Anambra was one of the most unsecured and volatile states riddled with criminals and kidnappers when Obi was Governor for 8 years without any solution until Governor Willie Obiano came to tackle the problems head-on.

    “On Power: In a surprising departure from his penchant for falsehood, Peter promised to continue and complete the $ 2.5 billion FG-Siemens Power network upgrade. Nigerians should recall Peter Obi told the world that he went to Egypt on a study tour of power where he was told by Siemens that nothing is happening on the power agreement the company signed with the Nigerian government. Without apologising for his lies and deliberate mischief, Peter Obi is promising in his document to continue with a project he said does not exist. What a travesty! In a show of total lack of awareness, Obi also promised to complete Dadinkowa hydropower project as part of his promise to solve electricity problems in Nigeria without knowing that the same project has since been completed by the current administration of President Buhari.

    On Infrastructure: Peter Obi promised to invest in infrastructure, especially rail, ports, broadband, roads, airports etc. We find this laughable and barefaced dishonesty just to hoodwink Nigerians. This is the same Obi who has launched the most vicious attacks on President Buhari for having the courage to upgrade our broken critical infrastructure. For the past 7 years, Obi’s sing-song has been that infrastructure does not help the economy and eliminate poverty. While President Buhari and the APC administration believe there can never be any meaningful economic growth without the infrastructure to power it, we don’t expect, Obi, a warehouse and container economist to understand the nexus between economic growth and infrastructure. It is good that Obi has now seen the light on the social and economic imperatives of infrastructure but he can’t be trusted to do anything. There is no signature infrastructural project Obi can point to in Anambra State where he governed for 8 years.

    On non-oil GDP and Widening Tax Net: We are happy that Obi admitted in his document that non-oil revenue has increased significantly under the Buhari-led APC administration and he will continue with the success. Unfortunately, Obi has no record of increasing revenue. As Governor for 8 years in Anambra State, Obi could not grow the Internally Generated Revenue of the state by the ordinary 5% year on year.

    “His current successor, Governor Charles Soludo attested to Obi’s mediocre performance as Governor of Anambra in his recent widely published article. If Obi could not change the fortunes of the state he led for 8years, he cannot deliver on non-oil revenue for Nigeria.

    “Only our candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has the record to grow revenue and significantly improve non-oil GDP because he set the standards in Lagos which the Federal government copied. Today, Lagos State is the 5th largest economy in Africa with over $150b GDP. “

  • PDP PCC dismisses report on resignation of Udom Emmanuel

    PDP PCC dismisses report on resignation of Udom Emmanuel

    The Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) of the Peoples Democratic Party, has dismissed reports that Gov. Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom has resigned from his appointment as the Chairman of the Atiku/Okowa Presidential Campaign Organisation.

    This is contained in a statement issued by the Spokesperson, Atiku/Okowa Campaign Organisation, Kola Ologbondiyan on Tuesday.

    Ologbondiyan described the report as fake news.

    “Our Campaign assures Nigerians as well as all pro-democracy and development partners that such idea is not in the contemplation of Gov. Emmanuel.

    “Gov. Emmanuel, this afternoon at the launch of the PDP Governorship Campaign which held at the Nest of Champions Stadium in Uyo, cleared this as a lie from the pit of hell and that he remains the Chairman of the PDP Presidential Campaign Council.”

    Ologbondiyan said that the appointment of Emmanuel as Chairman of the presidential campaign council was predicated on his belief and commitment to PDP and the ideals of PDP founding fathers.

    He said it was also predicated on his unwavering confidence in PDP Presidential Candidate, Atiku Abubakar, as the leader that has the required capacity to lead the charge to rescue and rebuild the nation.

    “Gov. Emmanuel is effectively and committedly leading a successful campaign that will take our Party to victory and will not be distracted by the wishful thinking of the enemies of Nigeria.”

    Ologbondiyan urged Nigerians to ignore such shenanigans and fake news coming from the enemies of the nation who were desirous of causing confusion in the polity with a view to derailing the electoral process.

    “We caution those behind this wicked rumour to desist from such and know that they are fighting a lost battle as Nigerians across board are already rallying with the PDP and cannot be swayed by fake news,” Ologbondiyan said.

  • Sen. Binani resigns as APC PCC Co-ordinator

    Sen. Binani resigns as APC PCC Co-ordinator

    The All Progressive Congress (APC) in Adamawa has confirmed the resignation of Sen. Aishatu Binani as Coordinator, Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) in Adamawa.

    Mr Raymond Chidama ,state party secretary gave the confirmation while speaking with newsmen after the party’s stakeholders meeting in Yola on Friday.

    He said her resignation followed the nullification of the primary that produced her as the party’s governorship candidate by the Federal High Court,Yola.

    “Just this morning we saw her letter of stepping down from that responsibility”, he said.

    Chindama said Mr Babale Martins,deputy governor to former Gov. Muhammad Bindow,was now to co-ordinate the campaign council in the state.

    According to him, all party candidates, from presidential down to state assembly, were also coordinators for their respective constituencies.

    He said that the party had finally resolved at the meeting that the local government party chairmen should come with an all- inclusive list that reflect all the areas for the campaign team.

    “The party has directed all local government chairmen of the party to go back and meet to come back with formidable list that will be acceptable to all that will serve as the PCC in the state and operate at each level.

    “As you are aware there is a PCC list from national level for the state, that list will not be affected ”, he said.

    The Federal High Court sitting in Yola on Oct. 14 nullified the Adamawa governorship primary of the APC which produced Sen. Aishatu Binani, as the party’s gubernatorial candidate for 2023 .

    Ruling on the case filed by Malam Nuhu Ribadu, the court declared Binani’s candidature null and void.

    In his ruling, Justice Abdulaaziz Anka said the APC had no candidate for the 2023 governorship election in the state

  • Photos: APC releases date to flag-off presidential campaign

    Photos: APC releases date to flag-off presidential campaign

    The All Progressive Congress (APC) has release date to kick start its campaign for the 2023 presidential election.

    In a timetable and schedule of activities obtained by Thenewsguru.com, the rally will kick start in Jos, Plateau state on November 15.

    Several town hall meetings would be held with different stakeholders across the country while December 4-10 has been slated for “international engagements”.

    On February 8, 2023, there will be a rally and musical concert in the Federal Capital Territory FCT, Abuja while the Lagos rally which would be the last, would hold on February 13.

    The PCC will use the period from February 12 – 24 for “election planning”.

    See Photos below:

  • Tinubu to present Action Plan to private sector leaders in Lagos — PCC

    Tinubu to present Action Plan to private sector leaders in Lagos — PCC

    Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, All Progressives Congress (APC) 2023 Presidential candidate, will on Tuesday, Nov. 1, in Lagos present his Action Plan to the leaders of the organised private sector.

    Mr Bayo Onanuga, Director, Media and Publicity, APC Presidential Campaign Council (APC), disclosed this in a statement on Sunday night in Abuja.

    According to him, Tinubu will meet with business leaders and captains of industry at the Eko Hotels and Suites, Lagos, where he will present his action plan.

    Onanuga said the meeting would afford the economic players and thought leaders in the private sector an opportunity to interact with Tinubu and interrogate his action plan for Nigeria.

    He recalled that President Muhammadu Buhari on Oct. 21 unveiled Tinubu-Shettima policy document christened “Action Plan for a Better Nigeria“.

    He said the document had enjoyed positive reviews across various segments of the economy since it was launched.

    “The town hall session is convened to allow Tinubu share his vision for a better Nigeria with various actors in the economy and allow for critical examination of the policy options contained in the Action Plan.

    “Asiwaju Tinubu has a very rich private sector background and experience. He has abiding faith in private enterprise and its fundamental role in national development and economic growth.

    “The private sector needs power, predictability and consistency in policy to drive investment and boost national productivity,” the statement quoted the Secretary of APC PCC, Mr James Faleke, as saying.

    Faleke added that the dialogue would enable business leaders to also share their insights and concerns with Tinubu.

    He expressed optimism that the town hall would be a great avenue to sell Tinubu’s vision for Nigeria.

    Newsmen reports that Tinubu had on Sunday presented his action plan to Pa Reuben Fasoranti and other leaders of Afenifere in Akure, the Ondo State capital.

    Afenifere is a Yoruba socio-cultural and political organization.

  • Tinubu, Afenifere leaders to meet over action plan – PCC

    Tinubu, Afenifere leaders to meet over action plan – PCC

    Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, All Progressives Congress (APC) 2023 presidential candidate, said he would present his Action Plan to Pa Reuben Fasoranti and other Afenifere leaders in Akure, for their appraisal.

    Mr Bayo Onanuga, Director, Media and Publicity, APC Presidential Campaign Council (PCC), announced this in a statement on Saturday in Abuja.

    He said during the presentation, Tinubu would brief the Yoruba leaders on how he intended to tackle the economic and other problems the country was currently grappling with.

    Onanuga said the 80-page action plan, christened Renewed Hope, was formally launched in Abuja on Oct. 21 by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    “On Oct.17, Tinubu addressed a coalition of Arewa groups in Kaduna during which he highlighted the key elements of the plan, especially as they benefitted the people of Northern Nigeria,” Onanuga recalled.

    He said the APC presidential candidate and a former two-term governor of Lagos State, would similarly speak on his plans before the Yoruba group, led by Pa Reuben Fasoranti on Sunday.

    He added that he would on Tuesday in Lagos, discuss with the chambers of commerce in the South-West on how he intended to improve the economy of Nigeria to achieve a double digit growth.

    Afenifere was formed as a socio-cultural and political organisation for the Yoruba people of Nigeria, with Chief Abraham Adesanya as its leader and late Chief Bola Ige as deputy leader at the time.

  • Get yourself engage in more useful ventures – APC to Akintoye

    Get yourself engage in more useful ventures – APC to Akintoye

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) 2023 Tinubu-Shettima Presidential Campaign Council  (PCC) has said that Prof. Banji Akintoye does not have the mandate of the Yoruba to speak for them.

    Mr Bayo Onanuga, PCC Director, Media and Publicity,  said this in a statement on Thursday in Abuja while reacting to separatist comments made by the professor.

    Onanuga, while describing the comments as unfortunate and divisive, advised Akintoye to get himself engaged in more useful ventures.

    “Our attention has been drawn to an unfortunate and divisive statement credited to Prof. Akintoye, in which his group threatened to pull the South-West Nigeria from Nigeria.

    “Since there has been no referendum held in Yorubaland about whether to stay in Nigeria or not, we presume that the separatist idea is basically Akintoye’s idea.

    “We want to advise him not to plunge our people into crisis or another Rwanda.

    “There was nowhere Yoruba people sat in a meeting with a mandate given to Prof. Akintoye and his band of confusionists in his so-called Ilana Yoruba Group to lead Yoruba out of Nigeria,” Onanuga said.

    He said that the APC PCC found as unwarranted, the professor’s accusation that Asíwájú Bola Tinubu, APC 2023 presidential candidate, was running for the country’s presidency to pursue his personal interest.

    He explained that the former two-term Lagos State governor was contesting the country’s presidency because of his readiness to render unflinching service to Nigerians.

    He said that Tinubu was in the race because of his abiding faith in a strong, united and prosperous Nigeria where all men and women could find joy and personal fulfillment, regardless of their ethnicity and religious beliefs.

    “Asiwaju is contesting to be president of Nigeria because he is a nationalist, a bridge builder and a man with a clear vision to make Nigeria work for all Nigerians.

    “Tinubu believes in Nigeria and its manifest greatness and he is prepared to provide the leadership required to make our country one of the greatest nations on earth.

    “We want to advise Prof. Akintoye to use the remaining part of his life to be at peace with himself and his maker instead of fanning the embers of discord,” Onanuga advised.

    He, however, noted that most of the issues on the structure of the country’s federalism raised in Akintoye’s statement had been sufficiently addressed in Tinubu’s action plan.

    This, he said, was with his promise to address some of the problems plaguing our federalism and to make states more viable as federating units by devolving more powers to them.

    “Since our nation’s inception, too much power and resources have been lodged at the federal level, this has come at the expense of state and local governance.

    This is problematic because state governments are closer to the people and must be more responsive to local needs and aspirations.

    “A Tinubu administration will rebalance the responsibilities and authorities of the different tiers of government.

    “We will collaborate with the National Assembly and state governments to amend our national governance architecture such that states are afforded the autonomy and resources needed to better serve,” Onanuga said.

    He said it was inexplicable that Akintoye, who served as a Senator on the platform of the defunct Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) between 1979 and 1983, wanted to leave a legacy of hatred, bitterness, intolerance and acrimony in the country

    Onanuga said at 87 years old, Akintoye he should be a voice of reason, wisdom and stability.

    According to Onanuga, Akintoye seems to be using his old age to create discord and enmity within the polity.

    “Prof. Akintoye said Asiwaju Tinubu was using his old video to campaign. This is a lie.

    “Asiwaju Tinubu and his campaign organisation have never used any video made by the old man to promote his presidential aspiration,” Onanuga said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Akintoye, a renowned historian, is the leader of the Yoruba self-determination movement, Ilana Omo Oodua.

  • Buhari inaugurates APC Presidential Campaign Council, unveils party’s Action Plan

    Buhari inaugurates APC Presidential Campaign Council, unveils party’s Action Plan

    President Muhammadu Buhari has inaugurated the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council and also unveiled the party’s Action Plan, in Abuja on Friday.

    Newsmen reports that the event was witnessed by the APC presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and his vice-presidential candidate, Sen. Kashim shettima, all of whom were accompanied by their wives.

    Newsmen reports that the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, Gov. Simon Lalong of Plateau and Director-General of APC Presidential Campaign Council, as well as National Working Committee members of the APC also graced the occasion.

    The event was also attended by the APC National Chairman, Sen. Abdullahi Adamu and all Governors elected on the platform of the APC led by the Chairman of the Progressives Governors’ Forum, Gov. Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi.

    Newsmen reports that all State Chairmen as well as local government officials of the party witnessed the event.

  • APC disowns Adamu’s purported letter on campaign council

    APC disowns Adamu’s purported letter on campaign council

    The All Progressives Congress (APC), has disowned a letter purportedly written by the National chairman, Sen. Abdullahi Adamu, expressing dissatisfaction with the composition of the party’s campaign council.

    Mr Felix Morka, the APC National Publicity Secretary, said this in a statement on Thursday in Abuja.

    The social media has been awash with a letter purportedly written to the APC presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu by Adamu  expressing dissatisfaction with the composition of the party’s Presidential Campaign Council (PCC).

    But Morka said the letter was fake.

    “To be clear, the draft letter did not emanate from the party, an unsigned letter that marks itself as a ‘DRAFT’ cannot and should not be attributed to its purported author.

    “The National Chairman of our party and our presidential candidate maintain cordial and effective communication channels.

    “They enjoy full liberty of open and frank conversations on matters of interest to the party and our presidential campaign.

    “As such, an unsigned draft letter of the kind in circulation is patently unnecessary and of no qualitative value to engagement between the party and the PCC,” he said.

    Morka said that the party would not be distracted by the wishes and actions of detractors who waited gleefully but in vain for some kind of crisis to erupt between the party and its PCC.

    “We stand united, as a party, in our resolve and commitment to execute a focused and issue-driven campaign to persuade Nigerians to renew our mandate in next year’s general election,” he said.

  • Why APC included opposition party senator in its presidential campaign council

    Why APC included opposition party senator in its presidential campaign council

    Controversies have continued to trail the Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) list released by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) last weekend.

    While some Governors under the aegis of the Progressive Governor’s Forum have accused the party of disregarding their nominations, the party has defended the inclusion of an opposition senator.

    The Director of Media for the PCC, Bayo Onanuga, said on Monday in Abuja, that the inclusion of Senator Chimaroke Nnamani who was elected to represent Enugu East Senatorial District under the platform of the Peoples democratic Party (PDP), in the 42-member list was deliberate.

    Some had argued that the intended person was a former Senate President, Ken Nnamani, a member of the ruling party, but Onanuga clarified that Chimaroke had earned spot as a close ally and personal friend of the APC presidential candidate Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

    “The PCC will also want to clarify that the appearance of the name of HE Chimaroke Nnamani, a distinguished senator from Enugu State, was not a mistake. He is on the list in his own right as a supporter of our presidential candidate,” the media director said in a statement.

    He added that while Nnamani may not be on the field, his presence can serve as ‘moral support’ to Tinubu, which is part of his fundamental human right and supersedes any provision in a Party Constitution.

    “His position and allegiance to his party is self-defining and does not need any qualifying by us,” he added.

    Similarly, the National Publicity Secretary of the APC Felix Morka, told Channels TV that Tinubu enjoys support beyond the APC and the cross-party alignment was not unusual, stressing that the presidential campaign was not necessarily about party membership.

    “People who believe in the candidate are very free to work for the candidate that they support. Our candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is a candidate that enjoys widespread multi-partisan support.

    “The support for our candidate is not limited to APC members only; he enjoys support from others who know him and who trust in his ability to deliver,”Morka said.

    Meanwhile, the party has announced that the inauguration of its 422- member Presidential Campaign Council, will hold on Wednesday, September 28, same day for scheduled for the official commencement of the president election campaigns.n

    “Nominated members are expected to participate in the special prayer sessions marking the commencement of the 2023 presidential election campaigns,” Onanuga said.

    The party would also stage a peace walk after the prayers, and all nominees would be issued their letters of appointment on the same day.