Our Crisis Are Exaggerated, We Are Not An Islamic Party - APC

The All Progressives Congress has said that the crisis within its ranks is only being exaggerated by those who are afraid of the wide acceptance it has received within a short time across the country.

Interim Publicity Secretary of the party,  Alhaji Lai Mohammed, who addressed journalists in Lagos on Tuesday, also condemned the disruption of a peaceful rally by Save Rivers Movement in Port Harcourt on Sunday.

He also rejected the tagging of his party as an Islamic party even as he maintained that the crisis within it was merely a storm in a tea cup.

He said, “This is nothing but a storm in a tea cup. It is exaggerated by those who cannot understand the runaway acceptability of the party in such a short time.

“The so-called crisis is nothing beyond the ability of our leadership to resolve, and we are doing just that. Nigerians should ignore those who are trying to orchestrate a crisis where there is none.”

Mohammed also described the self-appraisal of the President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration as being exaggerated, saying the President’s aides had only been reeling out figures to hoodwink Nigerians.

He said, “It is common knowledge, even to those within the PDP, that this administration ranks very low in terms of performance. Yet, the President and his men (and women) have been trying to hoodwink Nigerians with figures that have no bearing with the realities on the ground.”

He said  no administration had been embracing corruption as the Jonathan administration.

“The President’s body language encourages corruption. Even his party member, Speaker of the House of Reps, said so,” Mohammed said.

He also accused the President of shielding corrupt people in his cabinet, part of which he said, was why “Transparency International said corruption in the country has worsened under this administration, going by the latest rankings.”

He said, “Aviation Minister Stella Oduah is a classic example: She has been indicted by the House of Representatives and even the Presidential Panel set up by the President himself. Yet, she is sitting pretty as if nothing has happened. This President does not have the political will to fight corruption.”

He lamented that the “impunity in Rivers State has taken a dangerous dimension with Sunday’s gestapo-style truncation of a planned peaceful rally.”

He said Nigerians, especially those who were not PDP members, could no longer trust the police for protection, as they had on many occasions, shown partisan dispositions in the state.

He said, “In the latest incident of the double standard by the police in Rivers, we learnt that the armed thugs of Evans Bipi, who were arrested by the JTF with arms and ammunition in the home town of Bipi and Sekibo, have been set free by the police.

“The military that arrested the men handed them over to the police, who then set them free apparently on orders from above.

“How can Nigerians trust the same police that is this partisan to protect them, especially if they do not belong to the PDP? How can Nigerians trust this same police force to provide protection for all during the 2015 election

Source: Punch Nigeria
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Don't Be Intimidated, It's Your Right To Join Any Party You Choose - APC

Alhaji Aminu Sokoto , a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, in Sokoto State, has urged the electorate to exercise their constitutional rights to belong to any political parties of their choice.

Sokoto, however, told the News Agency of Nigeria that the supporters of the APC should not allow themselves to be intimidated or harassed, as the party was now a national organisation.

“The APC has come to stay for the overall political growth of the state and Nigeria.”

He also advised the party faithful not to allow any move to disrupt the peaceful co-existence among the people of the state.

“The Sokoto people are law abiding citizens, hence, the need for the opposition to desist from acts capable of causing a breach of the existing peace in the state,” he said.

Sokoto said members of the party in the state would work toward promotion of political tolerance and understanding.

“It is not in our character to engage in any action that would lead to political violence and thuggery.”

He said the party had embarked on a house-to-house campaign, to sensitise eligible voters to acquire the voters’ card.

He said the cards remained the only viable means needed to sustain the legacies of the current administration in the state.

“We will do all that we can to ensure that all the eligible voters participate in the forthcoming voter registration,” the APC chieftain said.

He called on supporters to report any person or group found sponsoring political thuggery to the security agencies.
READ MORE: http://news.naij.com/56642.html

Tukur's Fate Sealed, SEE Who Will Replace Him

At last, the fate of the embattled national chairman of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur has been sealed as governors elected on the platform of the party last night pointedly told President Goodluck Jonathan that only his exit  would guarantee peace in the party.

As a result, the former governor of the old Gongola State and chairman, African Business Roundtable, will resign as Chairman of the ruling party today. In his place, his deputy, Uche Secondus will act pending the election of another national chairman in March this year.

His resignation will come on the heels of series of meetings in the last one week following a vote of no confidence passed on him by majority members of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) at a meeting presided over by Jonathan.

Apart from the NWC, the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT), National Caucus as well as 34 state chairmen of the PDP had passed verdict of guilt on Tukur, a development that had compelled Jonathan to ask Tukur to throw in the towel or face the wrath of the PDP National Executive Committee (NEC).
READ MORE: http://news.naij.com/56637.html

Evading Certificate Scandal, Stella Oduah Takes ‘Medical’ Leave

Embattled Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah, has not returned to Abuja after SaharaReporters broke the news of her certificate scandal, presidency sources said on Tuesday.

According to the information provided by the sources, the minister informed President Goodluck Jonathan that she was attending to her medical needs in Brazil, following which she apparently left for an undisclosed country.

Mrs. Oduah, who was also embroiled in a BMW purchase scandal prior to the certificate mess, reportedly took off from Nigeria after the report of a presidential panel indicting her for a string of corrupt practices was leaked to her.

The panel reportedly went beyond its initial brief to unravel a string of corrupt acts of the minister including how she connived with commercial banks to receive kickbacks for renovation projects initiated at airports across the country.

In October Jonathan set up the panel to investigate how she squeezed the cash-strapped Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority to purchase two armored BMW cars for $1.6million.

Instead of facing the consequences of her actions, Mrs. Oduah has been telling anyone willing to listen that she merely “stepped on powerful toes” in the country.
READ MORE: http://news.naij.com/56622.html

Breaking News: Story of My Resignation Is Just a Speculation – Tukur

The embattled Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, has debunked the reports on his resignation, which rocked Nigerian news and media earlier today, January 15, 2014, Wednesday.

According to a statement issued by Tukur’s Aide on Media, Prince Oliver Okala, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur said the story that he has resigned was nothing more but“just speculation.”

“Be informed that the National Chairman has not resigned. It is all speculation. If such will take place, it has not taken place. The National Chairman will be at the Board Of Trustees' meeting and will also attend the National Executive Council meeting of the party tomorrow,” the statement, published by DailyTrust Newspaper, said

Politicians Sponsoring Violence For Selfish Ends – Wamakko

Governor Aliyu Wamakko of Sokoto State said yesterday that recent happenings in the country, especially the wave of insecurity sweeping across the land, were simply the handiwork of politicians, who do not mean well for the unity of the nation.

The governor stressed that people should not ascribe such happenings to any religion, noting that Islam preaches peace and hold same dearly, hence it is a cardinal foundation of the religion.

In a statement signed by his Special Assistant on Press Affairs, Abubakar Dangusau, and made available to journalists in Sokoto on Tuesday, Wamakko said that only peace could help the nation to make rapid progress.

In the statement, the governor also felicitated with the Muslim Ummah on the occasion of the birth of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), saying: “This memorable occasion underscores a major turning point in the life of all Muslims as it symbolizes the entrenchment of peace, justice and unity of Muslim Ummah which the holy prophet preaches and exemplified.

“Islam derived its name from peace and for this reason it is the duty of all faithful to promote this cardinal foundation upon which the religion was founded”.

The governor also noted that certain violent behaviours are being ascribed to the religion by enemies of progress.

“Yet, it is a common knowledge that such happenings are the handiwork politicians, who ignite such cowardly acts to achieve selfish ends”, he said

He commended the people of the state for their support, prayers and maturity in the face of provocation, and appealed for the sustenance of peace and prayers “to enable us achieve our desire for rapid progress”.

Nigeria Will Disintegrate If Jonathan Loses 2015 Presidential Election – Ezeife

A retired Federal Permanent Secretary and Third Republic governor of Anambra State, Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife, has warned that Nigeria may disintegrate if President Goodluck Jonathan fails to win the 2015 presidential election.

Ezeife, who spoke with Vanguard in Abuja, added that Jonathan’s second term ambition has become intertwined with the destiny of the country, saying the only way Nigeria could remain as one indivisible entity is for the president to continue in office beyond 2015.

He said, “At this juncture in Nigerian history, President Jonathan’s interest in a second term and Nigerians’ interest in the continued existence of the country have become coterminous”.

According to him, “If you say because you oppose President Jonathan’s bid for a second term in office, you are also opposed to a National Dialogue, you are saying no to one Nigeria.

“The truth of the matter is that opposing President Jonathan’s second term is like opposing the continued existence of Nigeria as one united country.

“What do you think would happen if as a result of the handiwork of the opposition, President Jonathan is disallowed from running for a second term in office? Can you control what would happen?

“Whether you are from the North, South or West, you can’t stop President Jonathan from going for a second term and winning.

“Everybody can make noise but if those who are making noise should think deeply, they would realize that the continued existence of Nigeria as one country is anchored on Jonathan’s continuation in office come 2015”.

On what would happen if the president fails to win reelection in 2015, Ezeife said, “We would be faced with the same problem. The Niger Delta boys would blow up all the oil pipelines and then a part of the country could say they are no longer interested in Nigeria; they could say Nigeria legally expired when the nation marked its centenary and that they are now on their own”.

PDP chairman Bamanga Tukur resigns

The news filtered in yesterday that he'd resigned but his media aide denied it. But according to a new report by Punch, embattled national PDP chairman Alhaji Bamangar Tukur has really resigned.

A senior member of the divided National Working Committee of the party, who spoke with Punch confirmed the news today and said Pres. Jonathan will inform the meeting of the National Caucus of the party tonight in Abuja about the development.

Power Struggle Between Governor Wamakko And Ex-Governor Bafarawa For APC Leadership In Sokoto

A power struggle between two politicians for control of APC leadership in Sokoto is in further disarray today after both appointed separate interim committees.

Sokoto governor Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko is backing Barrister Inuwa Abdulkadir Esq as chair of an interim committee.

According to Bamako's supporters, Abdulkadir was approved in a letter dated January 7 after consultation with APC leadership.

A copy of the letter was obtained by Sahara Reporters which confirms the appointment.

But in a separate press release, issued January 12, Attahiru Dalhatu Bafarawa, former Governor of Sokoto, appointed his own interim committee led by chair Abubakar Sadiq Sanyinna.

There has been a power tussles of who controls APC in Sokoto state between Bafarawa and Wamakko since Wamakko announce his defection from PDP to APC.

There are two different headquarters for the party in the state and the two factions are anxiously waiting for the final verdict from the interim national leadership of the party.

READ MORE: http://news.naij.com/56612.html

JUST IN: Jonathan’s Photographer Shot

Some unidentified gunmen on Monday night reportedly shot a photojournalist with the News Agency of Nigeria, Callistus Ewelike, in Abuja.

He was attacked in front of his house in Nyanya, Abuja, between 10pm and 11pm by two men who were said to have arrived the scene in a motorbike.

The victim of the attack, who is attached to the State House, is currently acting as President Goodluck Jonathan’s official photographer.

He was attacked in front of his residence after covering an assignment attended by the President in Durumi and Shape communities in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

As Ewelike was coming down from his vehicle, one of the assailants reportedly confronted him and shot him in the neck at close range.

The gunmen managed to flee, while Ewelike was rushed by his neighbours to a nearby hospital.

He was later transferred to the National Hospital, Abuja where medical doctors are currently preparing him for surgery. He is said to be in a stable condition.

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, FCT Command, DSP Altine Daniel, confirmed the incident.

According to her, the Commissioner of Police, Mr Femi Ogunbayide, has directed "full scale investigation" into the shooting and has given a matching order for the manhunt and arrest of the assailants.

It would be recalled that some armed men had few months back visited Ewelike’s residence and robbed him of his working tools including camera,a laptop and few other personal effects.
READ MORE: http://news.naij.com/56610.html

Nigeria Gay Law Is Wrong - Canada

Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister, John Baird, Tuesday expressed concern about criminalization of homosexuality in Nigeria.

In a tense press statement issued by the Canadian Embassy and made available to journalists in Abuja, Baird called on Nigeria to repeal the law.

He also urged Nigeria government to promote and protect the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all Nigerians regardless of their sexual orientation.

He said, “Canada has clearly spoken out against human rights violations committed against people on the basis of their sexuality, and we will continue to do so.

“Canada is deeply concerned that Nigeria has adopted a law that further criminalizes homosexuality. This law can be used to impose prison sentences of up to 14 years.

“We call on Nigeria to repeal this law and to promote and protect the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all Nigerians regardless of their sexual orientation.

“Canada has clearly spoken out against human rights violations committed against people on the basis of their sexuality, and we will continue to do so.”
READ MORE: http://news.naij.com/56600.html