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Tag: Second Term

  • El-Rufai unpopular in Kaduna, can’t win second term bid – Shehu Sani

    El-Rufai unpopular in Kaduna, can’t win second term bid – Shehu Sani

    The Senator representing Kaduna Central at the National Assembly, Shehu Sani, has described the state Governor, Nasir el-Rufai, as “unpopular.”

    Sani, who is contesting for the Senate on the People’s Redemption Party platform, also said the governor had not achieved anything since 2015.

    The senator had dumped the All Progressives Congress for the PRP three days after he was denied the ticket to contest for the Senate on the APC platform.

    His rift with the state governor was believed to have cost him the ticket.

    Speaking on Nigeria 2019, an Arise TV programme on Thursday, Sani said the PRP was a major threat to the APC in Kaduna State, saying, “This is why every morning and evening, they destroy our billboards and tear our posters. They are persecuting our members. If we were inconsequential, they would have ignored us.”

    Sani alleged that, the fact that “el-Rufai had a hand” in denying him the APC ticket didn’t mean anything.

    He said, “The question is, can he win? The fact is that he is one of the most unpopular governors in the history of Kaduna State.

    “The President (Muhammadu Buhari) has been to the state for many times, but how many times have you seen him inaugurating a project in the state?

    “The first time the President went there, he was given a honorary degree from a university that had not started a PhD programme; the second time he was in the state was to inaugurate Olam, a company from Singapore.

    “The third time was to inaugurate a project by the Ministry of Transport. So, he (el-Rufai) has not done anything and we are going to remove him out of power. That is a fact.”

    The lawmaker explained that he and el-Rufai had always been at daggers drawn because of their differences both politically and ideologically.

    He said, “Politically, he is a product of the establishment. Out of what they say is the 16-year tragedy of the Peoples Democratic Party, he spent 14 or 15 years there as a member, from the regime of (former President Olusegun) Obasanjo, where he held different positions. So, he was part of the system before he joined the APC.

    “All my life, I have been a freedom fighter, that is, a human rights activist. Most of the years under military rule, I spent my time in prison. From this angle, you can see where we differ.”

    Sani said the adoption of the Muslim-Muslim ticket by el-Rufai for the forthcoming governorship election in the state also showed that the governor “is arrogant and haughty.”

    “For a governor of a state who came into office with a Muslim-Christian ticket now going for a second term and saying some people don’t matter, I don’t want to be associated with that kind of person, because all I know is that, with all his arrogance, haughtiness and egoism as a governor, power is ephemeral.

    “There is a time he will be out of office and he will account for whatever he has done,” Sani stated.

     

  • CAN denies endorsing Buhari, Osinbajo for second term

    CAN denies endorsing Buhari, Osinbajo for second term

    The Christian Association of Nigeria has denied endorsing President Muhammadu Buhari for second term in office, describing as “a fabrication” an online report on the issue.

    The Christian body stated that no candidate was endorsed by the CAN leadership during its meeting with 14 presidential aspirants on Monday.

    Media Aide to the CAN President, Pastor Bayo Oladeji, in a statement in Abuja on Thursday, stated that the CAN engaged with the presidential candidates on their plans for the nation, noting that the issue of endorsement never arose.

    He said, “We appeal to members of the public to beware of those who are fabricating this fake news for whatever reasons.

    “We challenge the online platform that published this fake news to provide relevant footage and audio clip to back up the report.”

  • 2019: Yoruba youths warn Tinubu against supporting Buhari for second term

    A group of Yoruba youths under the aegis of Yoruba Youth Socio-cultural Association has warned Asiwaju Bola Tinubu against supporting President Muhammadu Buhari reelection in 2019.

    The President of the YYSA, Mr Olalekan Hammed, made the position of the group known in a statement made available to our correspondent in Osogbo on Sunday.

    He said it had become obvious that the All Progressives Congress and Buhari did not value the contributions of Tinubu towards the party and the emergence of Buhari as the President in 2015.

    Hammed said the position of former President Olusegun Obasanjo that Tinubu did not hold any post within the APC was justifiable, saying Buhari had written the Independent National Electoral Commission to state that he was the national leader of the APC.

    The statement said, “The fact that President Muhammadu Buhari deliberately wrote INEC to affirm his position as the APC national leader vindicates the former President Obasanjo who had sometime challenged the former Lagos State governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu to state his roles in the APC as the national leader of the party.

    “Constitutionally, APC has no reasonable provision for him (Tinubu) in the party and he has been used and dumped.

    “It would have been better and respectable, provided Mr Buhari did not write to INEC or talk about the issue. The letter he wrote to the electoral umpire to attest that he is the party’s national leader was aimed at ridiculing Tinubu.

    “Yoruba people understand body language more than any other tribe in Nigeria. There is no sense in staying with people who do not appreciate your presence or feel your impact. The YYSA implores Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to think twice before supporting Buhari’s re-election bid. There is no difference between someone who steals your property and someone who shows no gratitude for all the favour rendered to him.”

  • PDP warns visiting Theresa May against endorsing Buhari for second term

    Opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party has warned the British Prime Minister, Theresa May, of an alleged plan by the Presidency to make her forcefully make endorsement statements for President Muhammadu Buhari’s reelection in 2019.

    Recall that the British Prime Minister is scheduled to visit Nigeria today.

    The party urged May to use her state visit to Nigeria to uncover the alleged dismal state of the country by resisting what it called “choreographed plan by the Buhari Presidency to hoodwink her for an endorsement stunt.”

    The party also called on the British leader not to allow the Buhari Presidency to confine her to the parlours of the Presidential Villa, but to insist on visiting other parts of the nation to enable her to appreciate the alleged level of lies and false performance indices which it said the Federal Government had been dishing out to the world.

    The National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Mr Kola Ologbondiyan, said in a statement in Abuja on Tuesday, that there were plans by the Federal Government to roll out inaccurate figures during the visit to deceive the international community.

    He said, “We have been made aware of plans by the Federal Government to use the visit to dish out more lies to the international community in an effort to cover its failures in governance in the last three years, for which Nigerians are clamouring for a new President under the PDP.

    “The PDP further charges the British Prime Minister, as a parliamentarian, to take the Buhari Presidency to task on its unabated interferences and violent attacks on the institution of the National Assembly, including threats to forcefully remove the elected presiding officers of the Senate, as well as the recent invasion and blockade of the National Assembly by the Presidency-controlled security forces.

    “The PDP also wants the British leader to put President Muhammadu Buhari to task on his widely condemned stand against the supremacy of the rule of law in addition to records of the violation of human rights in Nigeria.

    “This includes government’s disobedience to court orders, reported extrajudicial killings, torture, unlawful political arrests and detention, restriction of free speech and media freedom and lack of government’s accountability as detailed in the reports by various international bodies, including Transparency International, Amnesty International and the US Department of State.”

    Ologbondiyan said the British leader should also elicit discussions with the President on the recent report by Price Waterhouse Cooper which he said allegedly showed humongous corruption in his administration, including the circumstances surrounding the N4tn unremitted oil money in agencies under his direct supervision as a minister.

    He urged the Prime Minister to engage Buhari on the alleged violent rigging of elections under his watch and extract a commitment from him on his administration’s preparedness to organise free, fair and credible general elections in 2019.

    He said there “are apprehensions across Nigeria,” that the President’s actions, utterances and body language suggest otherwise.

    Furthermore, the party asked President Buhari to explain the whereabouts of the alleged Four trillon unremitted oil revenue and other “financial rots in the Presidency” as detailed in the audit report by the Price Waterhouse Cooper, a firm commissioned by the administration.

    The party said the report had further confirmed that Buhari had been presiding over what it described as a very corrupt administration, while at the same time posturing as Mr Integrity and pointing fingers at everyone else but himself.

    Ologbondiyan in a separate statement in Abuja on Tuesday, that Nigerians, particularly those who he said had been defending the Buhari administration, were shocked by the revelations.

    He said it was more shocking that the alleged theft of N4tn could happen under the direct supervision of ‘honest’ President Buhari, as minister of Petroleum Resources.

    He said, “Nigerians are also shocked to learn how some ministers under President Buhari stole N413m from agencies and parastatals using fraudulent imprests.

     

  • 800m Sallah trek: Buhari now fit to run for second term – Presidency

    The Presidency said President Muhammadu Buhari has demonstrated his fitness to run for a second term by trekking 800 metres from the Eid praying ground in Daura to his private residence.

    After the Eid prayers, President Buhari shunned protocol and opted to trek some 800 metres, acknowledging cheers from Nigerians who lined up on his home route to catch a glimpse of him.

    A presidential aspirant and incumbent governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal, last week alleged that Buhari was “too old’’ to rule the country beyond 2019.

    According to Tambuwal, “President Muhammadu Buhari is just too old to be Nigeria’s leader, despite his integrity and impeccable character.” Tambuwal stated this during a solidarity visit of students and youth in Sokoto, last week.

    “We love President Buhari and that was why we supported him in 2015 unconditionally, and while doing that, we are too sure that he will seek re-election after his first term. But when things are wrong, we have to tell him.

    “We still believe in his integrity, patriotism and courage, but these are not enough for a leader.

    “We all know that there is a vacuum in the government occasioned by his indisposition probably because of his old age or health condition.

    “That is why Nigerians are yearning for younger ones to lead this country.’’

    However, Malam Garba Shehu, the President’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, said the trekking by the president was a positive response to Tambuwal’s diatribe.

    “I think there are two things here; one is to say that the President is responsive to the enormous support and commitment of his own people that had come out in their numbers to see him and he just decided that he couldn’t go on riding in a black vehicle and he came out and walked to the distance.

    “The second thing, he is curious that these days, one or two people who are aspiring to be president are campaigning on their youthfulness and good health.

    “I think the president has done one thing today – that the issue is not how old one is but how fit he is; how healthy he is. Now that the president has proven his fitness and well-being to continue in office is a settled matter

    “I think that if people want to campaign against him they should do so on issues that are of significance to Nigerians. The President is fit, he is healthy; he is good to go for second term,’’ he said.

  • Second term: Buhari’s remarks at APC NEC meeting

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday in Abuja declared his intention to seek re-election for second term in the 2019 general elections.

    President Buhari made the declaration at a closed-door meeting of the National Executive Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    The President said he was responding to the clamour by Nigerians to recontest in 2019, adding that he wanted to give NEC the honour of notifying them first.

    Shortly before making the declaration, the President presented a speech on the report submitted by the APC National Executive Technical Committee.

    His remarks:

    REMARKS BY HIS EXCELLENCY, MUHAMMADU BUHARI, PRESIDENT, FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA, ON THE REPORT SUBMITTED BY THE ALL PROGRESSIVES CONGRESS NATIONAL EXECUTIVE TECHNICAL COMMITTEE 9TH APRIL, 2018

    I am delighted to welcome you all to this very important meeting in the affairs of our party and our country. I want to specifically thank members of the Technical Committee for a job well done within the limited time frame.

    2. It shows a great sense of commitment to the ideals of our party with a view to consolidating and positioning the party to continue delivering good governance in the overall interest of Nigerians.

    3. With the present state of the party and based on the report submitted by the Technical Committee, it is important to focus on how to move the party forward by avoiding actions detrimental to the interest of the party. Considering that politics is a game of numbers, we must not be a house divided against itself and must try to note, appreciate and accommodate our differences as far as the law permits.

    4. Upon my review of the Report, my position is to ensure that the party tows the path of unity, legality and cohesion and not that of division.

    5. Therefore, I am stressing that we should strengthen our internal democracy by organising the Party’s Congresses and Convention where election of National Executive Committee members would be held. This will automatically end the cases filed by members seeking orders of Court compelling the party to hold its Congresses.

    6. I also believe that the current executives should be free to vie for elective positions in the party if they so wish as permitted by our Party constitution.

    7. However, considering the provision of Article 31(1)(iii) of the APC Constitution which requires any serving officer desirous of seeking re-election to resign from office 30 days before election, I am not sure of the practicality of present serving officers’ ability to meet this condition.

    8. Accordingly, the party may consider granting waivers to party executives at all levels so that they are not disenfranchised from participating in the elections should they wish to do so, provided this does not violate our rules.

    9. Necessary waiver(s) should also be extended to executives at the Ward level whose tenures may have elapsed, and indeed to anyone knocking at our doors from other political parties. This is in the spirit of the Right to Freedom of Association guaranteed by the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).

    10. In this circumstance, the party should officially issue a statement on the above Waivers so that our house may be full. We all must not be ignorant of the times, and the journey that is ahead of us.

    11. Just like our party symbol; “the Broom,” which typifies strength in unity, let us strive to remain united in our purpose. Victory is sure by the Grace of God, and together we must continue to sanitize Nigeria’s political environment.

    12. Once again, I welcome you all to this meeting with the hope that we will, in our deliberations today, conduct ourselves without rancour and promote the highest interest of the party and the nation.

     

  • Egbeda community endorses Gov. Wike for second term

    The Political and Traditional Leadership of Egbeda Community, the most populated community of Ikwerre Ethnic Nationality, have endorsed Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike for a second term.

    This is as hundreds of APC leaders and members defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in appreciation of the outstanding developmental strides of Governor Wike.

    Egbeda Community is the maternal home of the immediate past Rivers State Governor, Mr Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi.

    The people of Egbeda Community endorsed the re-election of Governor Wike at a Mega Empowerment/Permanent Voter Cards Sensitization Programme on Sunday at State School 1 Field, Egbeda.

    Speaking at his palace, Traditional Ruler of Egbeda, Nyeweli Egbeda, Eze Christopher Didia said that the people of Egbeda Community support the re-election of Governor Wike because he has transformed the state.

    Eze Didia declared that beginning 2013, the people of Egbeda Community have always supported Governor Wike, saying that the support will continue in 2019.

    Leader of the PDP in Egbeda, Mr David Omereji assured Governor Wike of the unalloyed support of the Egbeda people in the 2019 General Election.

    Egbeda PDP Chairman, Comrade Humphrey Assor said that structures have been erected to ensure the victory of PDP and Governor Wike in the area.

    Responding, Representative of the Rivers State Governor and Chief of Staff, Engr Chukwuemeka Woke assured Egbeda people that the Rivers State Government will continue to improve on the security situation in the state.

    He said that the Neighbourhood Safety Corps will help protect all communities and also create employment opportunities for youths.

    According to the governor, those fighting against the Neighbourhood Safety Corps are agents of insecurity, who profit from violence.

    He said: “Never again, will any group of criminals be allowed to unleash mayhem on Rivers communities. What happened in January in Egbeda will never repeat itself again”.

    He said that the administration will continue to execute development projects in the area.

    He said that the State Government will invest in educational and water projects of Egbeda Community. He commended the Egbeda PDP leadership for sinking two boreholes for the area.

    He berated the immediate past Rivers State Governor for annexing huge parcels of land from Egbeda Community for his private farm.

    “The APC is just a party of lies and deceit. I commend the APC defectors for realising the truth and returning back to the PDP, where their future lies”, he said.

     

  • JUST IN: Obiano, deputy take oath office for second term

    Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State and his deputy, Dr. Nkem Okeke on Saturday took oath of office for their second term in office.

    The Chief Judge of the state, Justice Peter Umeadi, led them in the oath of office.

    In his speech, the governor vowed to fight criminals in the state to a standstill.

    He said he would tighten security to ensure Anambra State remains the safest state in the country.

    The governor said he would set up state of the art hospital in the three senatorial districts, while assuring that major roads in Onitsha Nnewi and Awka would be fixed.

    The governor said he would encourage small and medium enterprises in the state to boost economic powers of the people, while assuring the completion of the airport project.

    Among the dignitaries who attended the swearing-in was President Muhammadu Bihari, the minister of labour and employment, Dr Chris Ngige, who stood in for Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, among numerous others.

    Obiano was reelected on November 18, 2017.

     

  • 2019: Corrupt elements opposing Buhari’s second term bid – CACOL

    2019: Corrupt elements opposing Buhari’s second term bid – CACOL

    The Centre for Anti -Corruption and Open Leadership said on Thursday that Nigerians asking President Muhammadu Buhari not to contest in 2019 were those feeling the heat of his anti-graft fight.

    The Chairman of the centre, Mr Debo Adeniran, said that the voices of such people were loudest in discrediting the President, “because they knew it was no more business as usual.’’

    Adeniran said Buhari had acquitted himself remarkably well in the fight against corruption, “leaving no breathing space for treasury looters.’’

    According to him, the recent cacophony of voices condemning all that the current administration has done is proof of corruption fighting back.

    “When you fight corruption, corruption fights back. Some of the recent voices condemning the president and asking him not to seek re-election are not honest in their assessment of his administration.

    “These people are not comfortable with the heat of the anti-corruption war because it is affecting them.

    “They know things will continue to be difficult for them with Buhari in power because of their corrupt ways.

    “That is why they do not want him to finish his first term let alone wanting him to get a second term,’’ he said.

    Adeniran added that the recent naming of Buhari as “Anti -Corruption Champion in Africa” by the African Union attested to the strides of his administration in the anti-graft war.

    He said the honour had vindicated CACOL and others which had endured scathing criticisms for supporting the anti-corruption war of the Federal Government.

    The CACOL chairman expressed optimism that the award would add impetus to the fight and encourage the president to do more.

    Adeniran urged responsible Nigerians to support Buhari as “corruption cannot be fought and won by the government alone.”

  • 2019: No regrets supporting Buhari’s second term bid – Northern Govs

    Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State on Friday insisted that he and his northern colleague governors do not have regrets for supporting President Muhammadu Buhari’s second bid come 2019.

    El-Rufai was speaking after seven state governors from the Northern part of the country met behind closed doors with President Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    All the governors were elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress.

    The governors are Abubakar Bello (Niger); Ibrahim Gaidam (Yobe); Yahaya Bello (Kogi); Abdullahi Ganduje (Kano); Nasir El-Rufai (Kaduna); Jibrilla Bindo(Adamawa) and Simon Lalong (Plateau).

    El-Rufai said they felt satisfied that whenever they met the President, they always noticed that he was getting better as far as his state of health was concerned.

    He said, “We are politicians and those of us you see here want the President to contest the 2019 election. We have no apologies for that.

    “We believe in Mr. President, we want him to continue running the country in the right direction.

    “People can speculate about 2019, we have no apologies. Whether they are right or wrong is beside the point.

    “Everybody is entitled to his own opinion, but as governors, and most of us here with the exception of Yobe Governor, are first time governors, we are interested in continuity and stability and we want the President to continue with that.”

    Some of the governors had earlier joined Buhari for the Jumat prayers inside a mosque located near his office before the brief meeting.

    Ganduje later told State House correspondents that the governors were on separate visits and they decided to meet with the President after the prayers.

    “We are seven in number here but we came separately, not for any purpose but after the Friday prayers, we decided to say hello to Mr. President.

    “It is just a coincidence that we met in the mosque and some joined us later and we decided to go and greet him,” he said.