…says Buhari does not support automatic tickets
Kaduna State Governor, Nasir el-Rufai on Friday said that President Muhammadu Buhari is against giving out automatic tickets to aspirants.
According to him, the President has promised to wade into the various issues of automatic tickets granted to some politicians among other problems experienced in some states during the primary elections.
He spoke with State House correspondents after meeting with President Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
He said “Many contestants that have been screened by the committee, were removed from the list unilaterally by some elements in the party, there are rumors that some people have been granted automatic tickets. But by yesterday when the representatives of the progressive governors forum met with Mr President and National chairman, we thought that this rumour of automatic ticket which has no place in our constitution and any enlighten democracy have been resolved.
“But up to the time I left Kaduna this morning and came to see the President, we did not receive the list of those that will contest the legislative elections.
“On my way I received a list of our state party structure but it seems to me there are still exclusions. As you know exclusion are one of the many reasons elections are lost at the tribunal level.
“We are being careful in Kaduna state, we do not practice imposition, force people to step down for anyone, we believe in elections and we like people to subject themselves to full democratic process.
“In some states, you have one list from the governor, we don’t have any list. We gave everyone a level playing ground as subject to meeting the requirements of the party, everyone is allowed to contest and may the best man win.” he said
On the President’s response, he said “The President restated his position that he is a democrat, product of elections and he has never encouraged non-election.
“He has never supported imposition and he has never asked anyone to grant anybody automatic tickets.
“The position was restated yesterday to the progressive governors forum and he told me this and said he will take necessary steps to communicate this very clearly to the party leadership.” he said
On the prospects of the candidates for Kaduna State governorship seat, he said “It is not me, I only have one vote as the governor of the state, it’s up to the delegates in the Kaduna state APC to vote for Shehu Sani or vote for other candidates.
“But what democracy said is that every person should be given a chance to contest. Shehu Sani has done things against the interest of the people of Kaduna state and it is time for him to explain why he did what he did and ask the delegates to vote for him but to avoid facing the consequences of your actions by getting what is called automatic ticket is a recipe to losing the election to other parties.” he stated
Reminded that there is deadline for the primary elections, he said “There is time, we have three elections, do two elections the same day and three contest, the House of reps is 16, the house of assembly is the more difficult one because there are 34.
“But I believe we can meet the deadline provided that we have a list that does not reasonably and capriciously excludes the contestants.” he said.
El-Rufai went on ” I have been elected as the candidate of the party but it is up to the party at the headquarters to do the right thing and allow the constitution of the APC to be complied with which is to do primaries.”
He alleged that Shehu Sani was largely responsible for Kaduna state losing N100 billion loan from the World Bank at 1 percent interest payable over 50 years invested in building schools, hospitals and other infrastructure.
He said “Everyone in Kaduna knows this and many people are predictably angry. It’s an act of sabotage. It’s time for him to go and explain why he did what he did, if his actions are justified I am sure the delegates will vote for him.
“The state apparatus is a very small component of Kaduna state. There are 10 million people in Kaduna state and the apparatus is only 80 thousand people but what can we do.
“But Shehu Sani cannot even campaign in the market square in Kaduna central market. I challenge him let’s go to Kaduna central market and let’s see who will come out unscathed.
“It is a well known fact that he had done this and many people are angry. Like I said he has his reasons which he can justify to those voting in the election. All we ask for is a free and fair contest. We are not going to manipulate any process. Lets have all those that are qualified to contest for democratic competition.” he said.
Tag: Shehu Sani
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2019: El-Rufai frowns at automatic ticket to Sani, says APC may lose Kaduna Central
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Direct primaries remain most credible, transparent – Shehu Sani
As political parties prepare for the 2019 general elections, Senator Shehu Sani (APC/Kaduna), has said that direct primary elections are the most credible and transparent processes of determining candidates.
Sani, in a statement on Friday in Abuja, said that direct primaries would minimise the influence of money in deciding flag bearers.
The senator was reacting to the outcome of the All Progressives Congress National Executive Council meeting, held on Thursday in Abuja.
While noting that Nigerian politics had not lived up to expectations, Sani said that indirect politics had particularly “bastardised the national political space.”
“Direct primaries are the only channel through which politics of principles and ideas can flourish; whoever fears direct primaries fears the people.
“The only way we can instill political discipline and integrity is for political parties to adopt direct primaries. It is the most honourable thing to do.
“Direct primaries are the only way to minimise litigation and crises arising from illegal and parallel congresses,” he opined.
The APC had, at its NEC meeting on Thursday, adopted direct primaries to choose its presidential candidate for the 2019 elections.
NAN
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El-Rufai vows to remove Shehu Sani from Senate despite meeting with Buhari
Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has re-echoed his determination to replace the senator representing Kaduna Central, Shehu Sani.
He spoke at the weekend just two days after Sani paid Sallah homage to President Muhammadu Buhari at Daura, Katsina State.
Sani had disclosed that they deliberated on issues bordering on strengthening the All Progressives Congress, APC, through resolution of all internal tissues.
He said: “I am also here to fully assure him of the support of my constituency, Kaduna Central, to his aspiration for the second term.
“I’m also here to assure him (President Buhari) of my own wholehearted support to the success of his administration and his return to office for the second term.
“Those were the basic issues that we discussed with him and other issues that border on the need to strengthen our party; the need to end all internal strife and also the need to put heads, hearts and hands together for the success of his administration and also for the success of the party”.
On his Kaduna Central Senatorial ticket, the senator told journalists in Daura that, “the party had made it very clear and known to each and every person that there will be reward for loyalty but in every sense of the word due process of the party needs to be followed.”
But addressing party stakeholders at Kaduna North Local Government Area, El-Rufai declared that he would only listen to the senator if he secures $350million loan for Kaduna State.
“In politics, it is impossible to hide your choice. Government officials have their choices but the government does not have a candidate. Whoever you selected, is the choice of God”, Daily Nigerian quoted him as saying.
“But as you all know, I have my candidate here. You may recall that we voted for somebody named Shehu Sani in the last election. When he went to Abuja and drank Abuja water, he started misbehaving, abusing the president and this government and sabotaging the party.
“For this, I personally asked Uba Sani to contest against him. So Uba Sani is my candidate.
“As you all know, Shehu Sani is among the senators who denied Kaduna State access to loan. Since he has shown the people of Kaduna State this enmity, you must pay him back in his own coin at the primary election.
“I therefore, seek your favour in the primary election to support Uba Sani.
“We are surprised that Shehu Sani has not left the party. We thought he would commit political apostasy like others, but he remained in the party making efforts to correct his sins.
“We are waiting for him. As I have said, we have no grouse about him but his character. If he repents, we will listen to him. But if he refuses to secure that $350million loan for Kaduna State, we will not listen to him.
“Those close to him should tell him: wherever he goes (for lobbying), we will not listen to him if he did not bring $350million to Kaduna”.
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No automatic ticket for Shehu Sani – APC
The National Working Committee of All Progressives Congress (APC) has said it has not handed automatic ticket to any Kaduna Senator.
Senator Sani is the only APC Senator from Kaduna state following the recent defection of his colleague from Kaduna North, Senator Suleiman Othman Hunkuyi.
The party in a statement signed by its Deputy National Organizing Secretary, Mohammed Sani Ibrahim said, the rumour that automatic ticket has been given to a Senator should be disregarded.
According to Ibrahim, “the National Working Committee of the APC has not handed over an automatic ticket to any senator in Kaduna State.”
He added that, an automatic ticket does not apply in the party’s constitution and that whoever is interested in contesting has to slug it out at the primaries.
According to him, “As a compatriot, I feel deeply disturbed by the recent developments in our great party, especially the unfounded rumours regarding candidates for the various offices, as we approach the 2019 general elections.
“More disturbing is the story of the so-called endorsement or automatic tickets that people have been spreading on social media, especially as it relates to Kaduna central and many parts of the Northwest Senatorial District.
“For the records and in the interest of our great party’s constitution and its public image, I wish to declare that the party’s constitution is supreme and decisions at the National level is not a one-man show as some people wrongly assumed,” he said.
Ibrahim said the issue of automatic tickets can only happen after decisions are reached collectively by the National Working Committee in conjunction with the NEC which is vested with such powers.
“It follows logically therefore, that the stories being branded on social media are misleading, in the sense that our party is governed by its constitution and not individual wishes. And that is why we have the National Working Committee and the National Executive Committee.
“Let me make it categorically and abundantly clear that the APC will not and could not have given automatic ticket or endorsed any single candidate without recourse to guideline on nomination as stipulated in our party’s constitution.
“And right now, no such meeting has taken place yet and no publicity to that effect. The Senate of any senatorial district is not the exclusive preserve for any special favour,” he stated.
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2019: Shehu Sani visits Buhari over Kaduna APC crisis
A senator, Shehu Sani, on Thursday, paid Sallah homage to President Muhammadu Buhari in Daura, Katsina State, and thanked him for intervening in the crisis facing the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kaduna State.
Mr Sani, representing Kaduna Central in the National Assembly, who spoke to journalists after a closed door meeting with the president, said they deliberated on issues bordering on strengthening the APC through resolution of all internal strife in the party.
According to him, he used the opportunity to assure the president on the support of his constituency to his re-election bid in 2019.
He said: “I am also here to fully assure him of the support of my constituency, Kaduna Central, to his aspiration for the second term.
“I’m also here to assure him of my own wholehearted support to the success of his administration and his return to office for the second term.
“Those were the basic issues that we discussed with him and other issues that border on the need to strengthen our party; the need to end all internal strife and also the need to put heads, hearts and hands together for the success of his administration and also for the success of the party.’’
The senator stated that his decision to remain in the APC was not because his grievances against the party leadership in Kaduna State had been addressed, but due to the intervention of President Buhari and the national leadership of the party.
He, therefore, called on all aggrieved members of the APC in the National Assembly to put aside parochial interests and join hands with the party in promoting national interest for the general good of all citizens.
“Well, there is no human being without any grievances but when national interest is put at the front side you have to put aside other parochial interests.
“What we need to do as politicians and as people representing those who elected us is to always put the country first and know very well that we have both constitutional and moral duty to work to the progress of Nigeria and of this government.
“So, I think these are the basic issues which we discussed, grievances are natural but we have to know that we have a country that we need to keep and also we have a country that we need to support, so that it can progress,’’ he added.
On whether he has been assured of automatic ticket to seek re-election in 2019, Mr Sani said even he was not so keen about automatic ticket but the party had pledged to reward loyalty.
He, however, stressed that while rewarding members for their loyalty to the party, due process must be followed.
“I think the party had made it very clear and known to each and every person that there will be reward for loyalty but in every sense of the word due process of the party needs to be followed
“And as far as we are concerned, what matters most to us is not simply about automatic ticket but about the peaceful and transparent conduct of the 2019 election and also the very need for us as a people and as a nation to know that the fate of the country is on our hands.
“There is the need for us to keep aside all sectional, ethnic and religious differences for the progress of this country and going by the very fact that the President has intervened and chairman of the party has intervened – all family squabbles would certainly come to an end,’’ he said.
NAN
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2019: Sen. Sani okays Buhari’s N143bn request for INEC
Outspoken Kaduna Central Senator Shehu Sani has insisted the National Assembly approve the N143 billion request made by President Muhammadu Buhari for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in running the 2019 General Elections.
TheNewsGuru (TNG) reports Senator Sani stated this on Sunday stressing that it was the only way to resolve the disparity between Buhari’s request for the INEC and the presentation of N189 billion 2019 election budget the Commission made to NASS.
“The President request for INEC to the NASS is N143Billion and the INEC request is N189Billion. There should be no conflict or partisanship here.
“INEC should sort it out with the Presidency if there’s the need for adjustment. Otherwise, the President request should be approved,” Sani stated.
INEC Chairman Prof Mahmood Yakubu had defended the Commission’s N189.2 billion budget at separate sessions with the Senate’s and House of Representatives’ committees on INEC.
Yakubu, who gave a breakdown of the various components of the budget, told the lawmakers that preparations for the poll ought to have started by August 15th.
Documents submitted to the lawmakers by INEC indicated that election operational cost will gulp N134.4bn; technology -N27.5bn; administrative cost -N22.6bn; and miscellaneous -N4.6bn.
The INEC chair spoke of significant increase in the variables and logistics for the 2019 elections as against the 2015 polls that cost N120 billion.
According to him, the commission will be conducting elections with about 91 political parties on the ballot. There are over 82 million registered voters.
The voter population in 2015 was about 70 million, with about 40 political parties on the ballot.
Yakubu said the figures could rise in the months ahead, as the commission still had 140 applications for party registration still pending; the voter registration has been extended by two weeks to end August 30.
INEC will conduct the presidential and National Assembly elections in February. They will be followed by governorship elections in 29 states, alongside state assembly election in the 36 states.
Also included in the budget is the cost of conducting elections into the six area councils in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) as the expiration of the tenure of the elected officials coincides with the general elections.
Also captured in the INEC budget is the Osun State governorship election coming up on September 22. The INEC chair said 48 political parties will participate in the Osun election.
The Total cost for 2019 polls is N242, 445b, made up as follows: INEC to receive N189.207b, ONSA to get N4.2b, DSS to receive N12.213 b, NSCDC to get N3.573 b, NIS to get N2.628 b, Police to get N30.541 b.
A breakdown of the police budget is: Police dogs N166,315m, Dogs’ medical/ general expenses N143,782m and 50 Polie horses’ feeding N7,719.4m.
The chairman of the Senate committee, Suleiman Nazif, assured INEC of the legislature’s desire to expedite action on the budget, considering the time constraint.
Nazif said the committee members will meet again today through Friday to fast track the process and refer the documents to the Appropriation Committee of the Senate.
The chairperson of the House of Representatives Committee on INEC, Mrs. Aisha Dukku, stressed the need for the parliament to approach the budget proposal from both process and content perspectives.
Dukku told Yakubu: “It is only by so doing that one can begin to unravel the intricacies of the entire range of issues involved and their interconnectedness.
“You will agree with me that for a government that promised change for its people, the foundation of this change ought to be evident in the way we plan our elections and electoral processes.
“The estimates should represent a true picture of the Fiscal Responsibility Act (FRA).”
She expressed concern over INEC’s previous budgets, saying they were neither productive nor effective because of poor planning.”
“It is my prayer and hope that the present administration would address the issues with budgeting, especially as regards funding; unlike the previous budgets that were not productive in the entire planning of elections,” Dukku added.
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Preaching against corruption: Omokri, Sani lampoon Ag President Osinbajo
Reno Omokri, former social media aide to Ex-President Goodluck Jonathan and Kaduna Central Senator Shehu Sani have lampooned Acting President Yemi Osinbajo for berating gospel preachers not preaching against corruption.
TheNewsGuru (TNG) reports the duo were reacting to Osinbajo’s utterances on Saturday in Enugu State, during the 30th National Biennial Conference of the Students Christian Movement (SCM) of Nigeria, during which he berated gospel preachers for failing to lend support to the Federal Government’s anti-corruption war by failing to preach against the scourge.
“Very rarely do you hear our preachers talk about corruption from their pulpits. If a nation is not righteous nothing will help it. Our problem in this country is not ethnicity or religion; it is not about Christians or Muslims. Our problems are the same wherever you go in this country.
“The story of our country is about good and evil. It is about those that have left us in this condition by stealing our common resources. Do not let anyone deceive you. You should understand that our country can be delivered by people like you.
“All of the great nations of the world were transformed by the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is not a gospel that tickles people’s imaginations or dwells on prosperity. It is not a gospel that fits your fancy. It is a gospel that teaches that righteousness exalts a nation,” Osinbajo had said.
Responding on Sunday, Omokri wondered why Osinbajo who himself is a pastor has refused to speak against evident corruption in the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.
“Prof. Osinbajo complained that Nigerian pastors don’t support Buhari administration’s anti-corruption war and berated them for not preaching against corruption. This is coming from a pastor VP who himself does not talk about Leah Sharibu.
“Pastors condemned Babachir, Buhari let him go free; pastors condemned Maina, Buhari gave him double promotion; pastors spoke about Kemi, Buhari retained her; pastors condemned NNPC $25 billion scam, Buhari did nothing; who is the hypocrite between Osinbajo and pastors?” Omokri queried.
In his reaction, Senator Sani said, “We are not in short of Preachers against corruption; we are not in short of preachings against corruption; we are in short of compliance with the sermons”.
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Breaking: Islamic Scholar, Sheikh Adam Algarkawi kidnapped
Kaduna based Islamic Scholar, Sheikh Ahmad Adam Algarkawi, has been reported to be kidnapped on Thursday evening.
TheNewsGuru reports Kaduna Central District Senator Shehu Sani made this known in a statement.
Sani condemned the kidnap and called on all security agencies to intensify efforts to secure his immediate release.
“I received the news of the kidnapping of Kaduna based Islamic Scholar, Sheikh Adam Algarkawee. It stands condemned. I call on all security agencies to intensify efforts to secure his release. My heart and prayers goes to him and his family,” he said.
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JUST IN: APC suspends Shehu Sani indefinitely
The ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, has suspended Senator representing Kaduna Central in the National Assembly, Shehu Sani.
The party based its decision on the alleged disrespect for party rules, unguarded utterances against President Muhammadu Buhari, Governor Nasir El-Rufai and the executives of the party.
Recall that the embattled senator had had a running battle between him and Governor Nasir El-Rufai. He, however, shocked many last week when he refused to defect with his colleagues to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The senator was suspended in a letter by the Tudun-Wada North chapter (Ward 6) of the party.
In a statement signed by its chairman, Ibrahim Salisu Togo, Tudun-Wada North chapter of the APC insisted that their decision was based on the constitution of the party.
The statement reads, “We, the Tudun Wada North (Ward 6) Exco of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Kaduna South Local Government Area wish to affirm our decision on the indefinite suspension of Senator Shehu Sani.
“This affirmation was informed by the need for updating the general public and the good people of Kaduna State regarding our collective resolve.
“We make bold to say.that our decision was based on the provisions of the constitution of our great party. Therefore, Senator Shehu Sani remains suspended. In all fairness to the party and Kaduna State voters, the only pre-condition for lining this suspension on Senator Shehu Sani is for the lawmaker to openly apologize to the leadership of our great party for his various acts of misconduct and disrespectful attitudes towards both his constituents, party leadership and his vicious media attacks against our amiable President, Muhammadu Buhari.
“He should also apologize to the Government and people of Kaduna State for frustrating the $350 million loan meant to develop the State in the areas of Education. Healthcare delivery, Works and Housing, Women and Youth Empowerment among others.
“We cannot justify the pain to which the disappointed voters of Kaduna State have been subjected by the Senator’s uncooperative and selfish attitude over the World Bank loan.
“We wish to also seize this opportunity to stress our allegiance and respect for the leadership of our great party at all levels. We also identify fully with the developmental strides of Governor Nasir El-Rufai-led administration in many areas, especially infrastructure.”
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2019: How Tinubu, Oshiomole, others stopped me from defecting – Shehu Sani
Senator representing Kaduna Central Senatorial District, Shehu Sani has explained how some leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) talked him out of his planned defection.
The outspoken senator said it took the efforts of the chairman of the APC, Adams Oshiomole, a national leader of the party, Bola Tinubu, and the national chairman of the Peoples Redemption Party, Balarabe Musa to stop his defection most likely to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as his colleagues did on Tuesday.
On Tuesday, 15 members of the ruling party changed allegiance, with 12 joining the PDP.
“My defection was stopped by Asiwaju Tinubu, Oshiomole and Balarabe Musa. First of all, they recognised and accepted the fact that an injustice has been done to me in Kaduna.
“Balarabe Musa invited me to his house, cautioned and counselled me against defection. Asiwaju did the same thing. Adams Oshiomole reminded me of my activism and the struggles.
“They drew my attention to the fact that all those who defected to the PDP were once PDP members. I don’t have the pedigree of PDP. I’m an activist.
“The assurance they gave me was that everything will be sorted out. They assured me that they will intervene on issues which I raised. Because of that I could not defect.”
Apart from the three, the lawmaker alluded his change of mind to interventions by lawyer, Femi Falana, religious leaders and his constituents.
Sani said he raised five issues the party leaders were to address.
“The first was the fact that the governor (El-Rufai) engineered my suspension and neither the presidency nor the party have ever lend a voice about that.”
“Secondly, my office was attacked five times by thugs. Thirdly, the governor tried to frame me in a murder case. Then the governor publicly incited the general public to attack me because we denied him loan.
“The governor also demolished the house of the national vice chairman of the party when he tried to intervene.”
Sani said his decision to dump the party was upturned a night before the formal announcement on the floor of the Senate.
He added that his colleagues, who later defected mounted intense pressure on him to yield.
“I was under intense pressure from my colleagues who defected, to defect along with them. I explained to them that we have different political constituencies, calculations and background.
On his plan ahead of 2019, Sani said he would contest for the senatorial seat again.
But he quickly added: “It’s still open, it depends on the decision of the party. I’m going to contest for the Senate. That is it for now.”