Echotitbits – Nigeria News

Tag: APC

  • [Leaked Video] PDP to Buhari: Pull in Gambari, Oshiomhole for Questioning

    [Leaked Video] PDP to Buhari: Pull in Gambari, Oshiomhole for Questioning

    Peoples Democratic Party National Campaign Council for Edo State Governorship Election has called out the Muhammadu Buhari Presidency over the trending video showing the sacked National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole, and the Chief of Staff to Mr. President, Ibrahim Gambari, at the Presidential Villa, in which alleged discussion on the arrests of certain individuals, ahead of the September 19 governorship election, was held.

    “Nigerians were alarmed by the video in which Oshiomhole was seen emphatically urging the Chief of Staff to Mr. President on the need to clampdown on certain unnamed Nigerians to achieve political suppression and submission ahead of the Edo election.

    File photo of Spokesman of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Kola Ologbodiyan.

    “Our National Campaign holds that the presence and involvement of the Chief of Staff to the President and the fact that the discussion held within the precincts of the Presidential Villa, have made the Presidency complicit and place a huge burden on President Muhammadu Buhari.

    “Already, there is anxiety in the public space that the discussion between Oshiomhole and Prof. Gambari as captured in the video is an extension of discussions that must have held behind closed doors in the Presidential Villa.

    READ ALSO:

    Just In: Sacked APC Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole meets President Buhari

    “The video has validated earlier revelations of plots by Oshiomhole and the discredited APC governorship candidate, Osagie Ize-Iyamu, to use compromised security operatives being mobilised by certain individuals in the Presidency, to arrest innocent Nigerians, including traditional, faith-based and community leaders on trumped up charges, ahead of Edo State governorship election.

    “It also confirms our stance that Adams Oshiomhole and the APC candidate have completely lost ground in Edo State, hence the plot to clamp down on the people.

    “Nigerians and the people of Edo State now know those to hold responsible should there be cases of illegal arrests, assassinations and unexplained killings, sudden disappearances of prominent people, accidental discharge by federal security operatives and mysterious accidents in the course of this Edo State governorship election.

    “The PDP National Campaign Council on Edo State governorship election charges President Buhari to reassure Nigerians by immediately ordering that Adams Oshiomhole and Prof. Gambari be pulled in for questioning over the video.

    “Anything short of a decisive action on this matter will further indict the Buhari Presidency especially coming on the heels of public anxiety over Mr. President’s widely condemned comment on the use of security forces for elections.

    READ ALSO:

    Oshiomhole Denies Plot to Stage a Comeback as APC National Chairman

    “Our campaign, however, wants the APC and Oshiomhole to know that their ignoble plots against the people of Edo State have come to naught as the people are at alert and will use every legitimate means available to defend their already expressed will in support of the candidate of our party, the PDP, Governor Godwin Obaseki in this election,” PDP alleged, in a statement by its Secretary, National Campaign Council on Edo State Governorship Election, Kola Ologbondiyan.

    Video:

     

     

    Idowu Sowunmi

  • Oshiomhole Denies Plot to Stage a Comeback as APC National Chairman

    Oshiomhole Denies Plot to Stage a Comeback as APC National Chairman

    A former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole, Monday met with President Muhammadu Buhari in State House, Abuja.

    Speaking with journalists after his meeting with the President, Oshiomhole debunked allegations recently made by the Director-General of the Progressives Congress Forum (PGF), Salihu Lukman, accusing him of scheming to return as APC national chairman.

    READ ALSO:

    UNILAG VC spent unapproved N120m, his sack legal –  says Babalakin

    Oshiomhole, who ia also a former Edo State Governor, described Lukman as a tool allegedly foisted on PGF as director-general by the Chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF), Kayode Fayemi.

    According to him, “You want me to engage in a fight with a pig? If you engage in a fight with a pig, the pig already is stained by its nature and you will wear your white garment, and in my own case, khaki to go and wrestle with a pig? I will not.

    “You see, what I want the media to interrogate, how does winning Edo State governorship election translates to returning as the APC national chairman. When I was removed as national chairman, Edo State was APC. So, do I have to win Edo State to become the national chairman? Do I look so unemployed? I’m 68.

    “What they don’t understand is that it is not the office of chairman that made me who I am.

    “So, it takes an empty brain to suggest that Oshiomhole wants to stage a comeback to become the national chairman. For what? To go and do a resit?

    “So, my attitude is not to reply the noise, which is coming from somebody who says he is an employee and appointee of Progressives Governors Forum.

    READ ALSO:

    African Development: Gbajabiamila pushes for debt cancellation, spearheads Conference of Speakers

    “He is just like the cowards that are using him that are not able to come out. Otherwise, you should ask this guy, who is now an election expert.

    “He contested for Senate against Makarfi, he lost. He even contested against Governor Nasir el-Rufai during the primaries and he lost before Fayemi unilaterally appointed him the DG.

    “So, if he is now the spokesman abusing me and all of that, you want to drag me to his level? No!

    “A gentleman does not wrestle with a pig, if you do you will always be stained”, the self styled Oshiomhole said.

    Idowu Sowunmi

  • APC Chieftain in Lagos, Lanre Rasak, Dies of Coronavirus

    APC Chieftain in Lagos, Lanre Rasak, Dies of Coronavirus

    A chieftain of All Progressives Congress (APC), Lanre Razak, and a member of Governor’s Advisory Committee (GAC), the highest decision-making body in Lagos State, has died of complications arising from the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19).

    Razaq, sources said, died early Saturday morning.

    The Epe-born politician was said to have taken ill some days ago now.

    Sanwo-Olu disapproves truck-parking on Apapa road, says Lekki port’ll ease congestion

    Information had it that he was already recovering only for him to pass on today at the age of 74.

    Announcing his obituary, Bayo Osiyemi said Razaq died of COVID-19.

    Osiyemi wrote: “Lagos State boisterous politician and the Balogun of Epe, Chief Lanre Rasaq is dead.

    “He succumbed to the coronavirus pandemic on Lagos after a long battle with it.

    “Chief Rasaq was a member of the state’s Governors Advisory Council (GAC) and was a one-time chairman of Epe local government before he was elevated to becoming the state commissioner for transportation in the military administration of Col Olagunsòyè Oyinlola.

    “Bìg and burly, KLM, as he was widely known, was a member of several social organisations.

    Breaking…Senator Buruji Kashamu Dies of Coronavirus

    “He ran a flourishing construction company which was involved in many housing programs of govt on private-pinlic partnership basis.”

    Razak had his political base in Epe where he earned the title of Balogun of Epeland. He was also honoured with the title of Fiwagbade of Lagos.

    Idowu Sowunmi

  • Malami Orders Police Chief to Provide Security for 17 Edo Lawmakers

    Malami Orders Police Chief to Provide Security for 17 Edo Lawmakers

    Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, Friday directed the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, to provide security for the 17 lawmakers of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State.

    Malami, in a letter dated August 5 based on a petition to his office by Idahosa-West Chambers, said the security measure has become necessary to prevent breakdown of law and order.

    READ ALSO:

    Update: President Buhari receives Edo gubernatorial candidate, Eze-Iyamu, presents party flag

    The 17 lawmakers, who are supporting APC governorship candidate, Osagie Ize-Iyamu, have been locked in a battle to access Edo State House of Assembly complex on Ring Road, Benin against seven legislators loyal to Governor Godwin Obaseki.

    Malami’s letter below:

  • Ondo Deputy Governor, Ajayi, denies defection from PDP

    Ondo Deputy Governor, Ajayi, denies defection from PDP

    Ondo State Deputy Governor, Agboola Ajayi, has dismissed claims about his defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which he only rejoined after resigning from the All Progressives Congress (APC) in order to fulfil his ambition of becoming the next Governor of the state.

    The Chief Press Secretary to the Deputy Governor, Babatope Okeowo, faulted the claims that his principal has defected to the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), after he lost the PDP primary, to guarantee his participation in the October 10 Ondo governorship contest, against incumbent Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu.

    In a chat with Channels Television on Sunday, Okeowo disclosed that the deputy governor was under intense pressure from his supporters to contest for the election.
    However, he insisted that his principal has yet to declare for the ZLP or any other political party to contest the governorship election.

    File Photo: L-R: Ondo State Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu; Ondo State, Deputy Governor, Agboola Ajayi.

    Sealing further, the deputy governor’s aide added that Ajayi has yet to take a decision on his next political move, saying he would likely make a declaration before the end of the week.

    According to a Channels Television report, the Publicity Secretary of ZLP in Ondo, Felix Olatunde, revealee that the party has adopted Ajayi as its governorship candidate.

    In his explanation, Olatunde stated that plans were being perfected to ensure that was done, noting that the candidate of the party, Rotimi Benjamin, had stepped down for the deputy governor.

    Meanwhile, the PDP Publicity Secretary in the state, Zadok Akintoye, had issued a statement that Ajayi was still a member of the party.

    The deputy governor defected from the APC to the PDP in June to fight for the party’s governorship ticket in the primary but lost to Mr Eyitayo Jegede.

    Thereafter, some of his supporters agitated that Ajayi be picked as Jegede’s running mate, but that was not the case as another person was chosen for the position.

    The deputy governor’s exit from the APC followed a disagreement between him and the state governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, who emerged the candidate of the his party, APC.

  • You’re a Legendary Political Swindler : PDP to Oshiomhole on Kneeling Stunt

    You’re a Legendary Political Swindler : PDP to Oshiomhole on Kneeling Stunt

    Edo State Peoples Democratic Party Governorship Campaign Council has told a former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole, to stop deceiving himself as the elders and leaders in the state could not be swayed by his pretenses and deceptive genuflections.

    The council, which is part of Governor Godwin Obaseki’s re-election bid, allegedly described “Oshiomhole as a self-confessed liar and political swindler, who can no longer enjoy the trust and confidence of the people, including members of his party, APC, who not only suspended him but kicked him out as a national chairman on account of his penchant for deception.”

    READ ALSO…Edo Guber: Oshiomhole, Ize-Iyamu go down on their knees for support

    “It is sad that Oshiomhole thinks that he can use his antics, orchestrations and stage-managed kneeling to suddenly grip the elders and leaders of Edo State in his voodoo of deception, to accept the same individual he exposed as a fake pastor and treasury looter, who is only fit for ‘night meetings’ and should not be trusted with the position of the governor of Edo State.

    “Oshiomhole ought to have also brought the already discredited APC candidate, Ize-Iyamu, along with him to kneel and plead for forgiveness over his alleged atrocities.

    “Furthermore, the sacked APC national chairman ought to have also used the occasion to offer explanation to the elders of Edo State how he allegedly siphoned billions of naira Edo State funds, for which he is being dragged to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    “It is unfortunate that Oshiomhole has turned himself into a wretched clown of a derelict circus, particularly as the people of Edo State can see through his selfish shenanigans and are not ready to dance to his deceptive tune.

    Read ALSO…. Full list: Oyegun, Oshiomhole among 49-man APC campaign council ‘arsenal’ for Edo

    “By trying to go back to his vomit, the former APC national chairman has confirmed that his intention is only to deceive. The people of Edo State know that Oshiomhole’s pain is that Governor Godwin Obaseki, upon assumption of office, refused to allow him to have unfettered access to the resources of Edo State which Governor Obaseki has continued to apply towards the development of the state.

    “The Edo people are already aware that Oshiomhole is desperate to foist Ize-Iyamu, who, giving his antecedents as exposed by Oshiomhole, will be ready to grant him unrestricted access to continue looting the state’s treasury.

    “We counsel Oshiomhole to stop deceiving himself and perish the dream of pillaging the treasury as the people of Edo State will never trade the focused, accountable, transparent and development-driven government under Governor Godwin Obaseki for deception, corruption, incompetence and disregard for value, which Oshiomhole, Ize-Iyamu and the APC have come to represent,” the council alleged, in a statement by Chris Osa Nehikhare.

    Idowu Sowunmi

  • Edo Guber Poll: Three Commissioners dump Obaseki, root for Ize-Iyamu

    Edo Guber Poll: Three Commissioners dump Obaseki, root for Ize-Iyamu

    Three Commissioners of Edo State Oil Gas Producing Area Development Commission (EDOSOGPADEC) have resigned their position on Monday, and declared support for the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its candidate, Osagie Ize-Iyamu.

    The commissioners are: Emmanuel Odigie, Rilwanu Oshiomhole and Osamwonyi Atu, representing Edo Central, Edo North Senatorial districts and Orhionmwon constituency respectively.

    Atu, in his resignation letter, said his decision to leave the Obaseki administration was to attend to family issues which has become necessary.

    Few hours after their resignations, the trio declared support for Ize-iyamu, promising to campaign and work for the victory of APC in the September 19 governorship election.

    Below are the resignation letters by the three Commissioners.

    By Idowu Sowunmi

  • Bayelsa Governor rejoices after Supreme Court verdict

    Bayelsa Governor rejoices after Supreme Court verdict

    Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, Tuesday celebrated and commended Justices of the Supreme Court for their uprightness.

    He described the verdict of the Supreme Court as the triumph of democracy.

    Diri, who spoke to journalists in Abuja shortly after the apex court dismissed the appeal filed by Chief Ndutimi Alaibe against his victory at the September 3, 2019 governorship primary election of the Peoples Democracy Party (PDP), explained that the incident has deepened democratic ethos in Nigeria.

    The governor noted that the judiciary remains the last hope of the common man in the country.

    “Clearly and transparently, the Justices have displayed uprightness. They have also displayed that the Supreme Court is indeed the last court in Nigeria.

    “I want to appreciate them and I believe and pray that God will continue to guide them, use them to do justice to all manner of people,” he said.

    Diri also appreciated Bayelsans home and abroad as well as lovers of the state government for their prayers and promised not to fail them.

  • EFCC: DCP Mohammed Umar resumes as Acting Chairman, PDP berates Govt.

    EFCC: DCP Mohammed Umar resumes as Acting Chairman, PDP berates Govt.

    A Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Mohammed Umar, has been appointed as Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    The appointment of Umar by President Muhammadu Buhari comes after Ibrahim Magu, who is being investigated for alleged corruption, was suspended.

    Recall that the Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Abubakar Malami had In his petition against Magu recommended to the President three candidates to replace the now suspended Acting Chairman, Umar’s choice as Acting Chairman is a deviation from that list.

    Mohammed, who, until his appointment, was the Director of Operations at the anti-graft agency, resumed duties yesterday, Wednesday.

    The presidential probe panel headed by Justice Ayo Salami, is specifically looking into sundry documents and meeting with persons connected to the case at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    Reports have it that access to the premises of where the probe panel is sitting was heavily guarded by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS).

    However, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has demanded that the Federal Government immediately begin prosecution of Magu.

    The party, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, yesterday, observed that the alleged diversion of recovered funds and fraudulent sale of assets seized by the EFCC among other forms of sleaze, as detailed in the memo by the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, as well as the DSS report on Magu’s activities, further exposed the racket that the fight against corruption had become under the All Progressives Congress (APC) government.

    It stated that Magu’s indictment reinforced its position that the hyped corruption war by the EFCC under Magu had been a huge scam.

    Also, an arm of the party known as the Peoples Democratic Party Youth Alliance (PDPYA) called for immediate resignation of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo for his involvement in the case. Magu, who is under probe on a 22-count charge of fraud, alleged that he gave N4 billion out of the N39 billion he recovered to Osinbajo.

    In a release made available to newsmen yesterday, Kalu said the development was clear evidence that the President Muhammadu Buhari administration had only been paying lip service to the corruption fight.

    In the same vein, former governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, has asked security agencies to tighten the noose around Magu, for him not to escape. Fayose yesterday called on the DSS, the police and other security agencies to place the suspect on the country’s watch list, so that he would not disappear into thin air.

    This is just as the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) called on the panel to be thorough and fair in its investigation. According to the Executive Director, CISLAC, Auwal Musa (Rafsanjani), while it is unclear what the real issues are, “CISLAC is concerned about the conflicting signals it sends to Nigerians. Being that Magu heads a very sensitive position in a government agency tasked with the investigation of financial crimes, it is thus pertinent that the case be handled with all diligence and transparency to ensure that the gains in the fight against corruption are not lost in the battle for supremacy and political advantage.”

  • APC: There is no fight to reconcile – Tinubu tells Buni

    APC: There is no fight to reconcile – Tinubu tells Buni

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on Thursday night declared that there were no differences to be sorted out in the party.

    This declaration was made shortly after a closed door meeting with Gov. Mai Mala Buni, Chairman of the APC Caretaker Committee, who led other committee members to Tinubu’s Bourdillon Residence in Ikoyi, Lagos.

    The former Governor of Lagos State, who recently reacted to the decisions of President Buhari-led meeting of the APC’s National Working Committee (NWC) by affirming his relationship with the President said: ”We have no differences to be sorted out in the APC, we just had consultation and it is how our party, the APC, would continue to be a progressive party,” he said.

    According to him, the committee is a consultation and not reconciliation committee since nobody is fighting anybody.

    “There is no crisis in the party, hence, no fight to reconcile.

    ”There are instances when you disagree, but it doesn’t mean that you cannot discuss it over and be a good example in leadership and politics,” Tinubu said.

    The former Lagos State governor also said that politics without seeming media crisis would be less interesting.

    ”But the question is, are we committed to building this party and Nigeria? That is what we are all about.

    ”We are steering the ship of our nation and our party in the right direction,” Tinubu said.

    He said that the party leadership had trust and respect for the chairman of the caretaker committee and would support him to succeed for the party to continue in its progressive governance of the country.

    The committee chairman, who led other members to the meeting, said that the meeting was part of ongoing consultations.

    ”You know the task before us is daunting, and we need guidance, experience and prayers from our leaders,” Buni said.

    The host Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, expressed his pleasure to have his colleagues in the state.

    ”It’s been a very fruitful discussion we have had here this evening,” Sanwo-Olu said.

    Other members of the committee in attendance included the Chairman of Progressive Governor’s Forum, Gov. Abubakar Atiku Bagudu; Secretary of Caretaker Committee, APC, Sen. James Akpan Udo-Edehe and Niger State Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Bello.

    Photos: