 Politics › APC Crisis: NWC Members Oppose Ganduje, Tip North Central For Chair by saintbillion(op): 4:23am On Jul 21, 2023 |
Strong indications have emerged that members of the ruling All Progressives Congress’ National Working Committee may clash with the party’s governors over a plan by the latter to adopt ex-governor Abdullahi Ganduje as the new national chairman of the party.
The development followed the sudden exit of Senator Abdullahi Adamu and Senator Iyiola Omisore as the party‘s national chairman and national secretary, respectively.
The crisis rocking the ruling party had on Tuesday led Adamu and Omisore to resign from their positions after they were accused of high-handedness and financial mismanagement by some members of the NWC.
However, barely 48 hours after the development, Progressives Governors’ Forum, the umbrella body of the party’s governors, met in Abuja and reportedly agreed to back Ganduje as Adamu’s successor.
Hours after the news went viral, party chieftains and members of the NWC were divided over the plan to make the 73-year-old ex-Kano State governor the substantive chairman of the party.
Some APC NWC members who spoke to The PUNCH said they were opposed to the governors’ plan, insisting that the office had been zoned to the North-Central geopolitical zone. Ganduje is from the North-West Geopolitical zone.
However, a source close to the former Kano State governor confirmed that Ganduje, believed to have been penciled down as a minister, was considered at the eleventh hour as the right candidate to reunite aggrieved members of the National Working Committee and supporters of the party.
“Nobody predicted the choice of Ganduje. In fact, he wasn’t among the top four ex-governors to replace Adamu in the first place.
“We believe President Tinubu must have considered him as a loyal and trusted ally who can turn things around at the party secretariat. It however took the intervention of the Chairman of the Progressives Governors’ Forum, Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State and his Kwara State counterpart to persuade Ganduje to accept the assignment,” he said.
The source also noted that the immediate past governor of Kano State had been given a free hand to recommend another loyal member of his camp to occupy his ministerial job.
Ganduje had on Wednesday reportedly visited President Bola Tinubu in the company of three APC governors at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
On the same Wednesday night, Uzodimma had an emergency meeting with members of the PGF at the Imo State Governor’s Lodge in Asokoro.
The crucial meeting, which started at about 9.54 pm did not finish until 11.12 pm.
In attendance were governors Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State; Umar Bago (Niger); Francis Nwifuru (Ebonyi); Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq (Kwara); Acting Governor of Ondo State, Lucky Ayedatiwa; Fr. Hyacinth Alia (Benue), Uba Sani (Kaduna); Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos); Mai Mala Buni (Yobe); and Dikko Radda (Katsina).
Addressing journalists after the meeting, Uzodimma denied there was crisis within the party, saying the APC governors were in support of Adamu and Omisore’s resignation.
He said, “Their resignations have also been accepted by the leadership of the party. There is now an acting chairman and acting Secretary.”
When reminded that the constitution of APC did not allow caretaker and acting committee, the Imo governor contested it.
Uzodimma, however, maintained a sealed lip over the controversial debate on Ganduje.
Efforts made to reach the National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Felix Morka, proved unsuccessful.
He neither responded to calls nor attended to the text messages sent for clarification.
However, findings by the PUNCH revealed that a number of NWC members were opposed to Ganduje’s choice.
The APC National Vice Chairman for North-West, Mallam Salihu Lukman, kicked against replacing Adamu with Ganduje, saying the action might upset the zoning arrangement of the party.
Lukman’s warning came in the wake of speculation that the President might have penciled down the ex-governor as the next chairman of the ruling party.
In a statement issued in Abuja on Thursday titled ‘APC: Way Forward,’ the NWC member said the move would be the height of insensitivity, if it turned out to be true.
The statement read in part, “So far, as things are, only the President and governors blocs are active in the negotiation to produce and engage leaders of the APC. Already, part of the speculations emerging from the governors’ bloc is that Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje is being considered to succeed Sen. Abdullahi Adamu. If this is true, it only suggests insensitivity and taking members of the party for granted. This is without prejudice to the person of Dr. Ganduje.
“This is because such a choice will completely distort the zoning arrangement that informed the present configuration of the leadership of the National Assembly. With the Speaker of House of Representatives and Deputy Senate President coming from North-West and North-Central shut out of consideration, to propose the party’s National Chairman to move to North West from North Central will be unjust and almost a political suicide.”
It further read, “We must caution our governors that since the emergence of the APC, governors have served almost as the conscience of the party. Any consideration for such an insensitive and unjust consideration of Dr. Ganduje to become the National Chairman of APC must be discarded. If anything, the position of National Chairman of the APC must be retained in North-Central. Part of the challenge of managing the current transition within the party is getting the NWC to properly take the driving seat in managing and facilitating negotiations to produce and engage leaders of the party. The NWC must sit up and guide the unfolding negotiations. No single power bloc should be allowed to appropriate the process.”
Continuing, Lukman urged the president to speak up to douse the tension and intervene on time with the ultimate aim of returning the APC to its founding vision of progressive politics.
According to him, no single power bloc should be allowed to usurp the process.
Also, some member of the NWC who spoke to the PUNCH on condition of anonymity, backed Lukman, saying it was the turn of the North-Central to produce Adamu’s replacement.
“Our thinking is that some persons are trying to play Ganduje’s card into the mind of the president. The North-West should not be seen struggling for the party’s leadership after being compensated with the Speaker of House of Reps and Deputy Senate President. Why else should they be clamouring for the position of APC national chairman?” a member of the APC NWC queried.
On his part, APC Deputy National Chairman (South), Emma Eneukwu, reiterated that the talks of former Kano governor taking over the party leadership were still in the realm of speculation.
“It is still speculation and not official to us. So we can’t comment on what is not concrete. We are hearing it as rumour that he (Ganduje) is the preferred candidate to the party,” he said.
National Vice Chairman for South-East, Dr Ijeoma Arodiogbu, believes the news may not true.
He said a few NWC members had a brief meeting on Thursday, but the issue of Ganduje was not brought up.
“We are talking about three things here. The party leadership is different. The administration is different, so also is the legislature. That should answer your question. I don’t think the party has taken any decision on the issue. That may come in the next couple of days.”
In a related development, Deputy National Organising Secretary, Nze Chidi Duru, also expressed surprise at the news without giving further details.
Meanwhile, the former Deputy Spokesman for the ruling party, Yekini Nabena, expressed reservation about the controversy.
Nabena, however, stressed that the choice of whoever would emerge as the next national chairman would be decided through votes at a mini convention.
He also expressed concerns that the current crops of APC NWC were built on a wrong foundation.
He said, “Ganduje cannot just be made as the next substantive chairman. Of course, there has to be a mini-convention. If that’s what the president wants, he has to talk to the governors. He will be voted for at the national convention of they want him there.
“Definitely, his coming will divide the system (NWC) because if it is zoned to the North-Central, why take it out of the region? As I said before and I am still saying it, you will spend all your time patching things if the foundation is wrong. And the house will keep getting cracks. Those are the cracks we are seeing.
“If you cannot accommodate somebody in your cabinet, why bring him into the party leadership? It will cause more problems. And if the party is not ready to work with you, they may decide not to call for a mini convention. It is only the party chairman and secretary that have a right o call for a convention. Well, we are waiting for the appropriate time. As I said, once you get the foundation wrong, you will continue to fight to amend it.”
Gololo backs Al-Makura
Meanwhile, a former member of the Board of Trustees of the APC, Garus Gololo has called on those who wish the party well to support a former Governor of Nasarawa State, Tanko Al-Makura, to succeed Adamu.
Gololo in a telephone conversation with The PUNCH noted that in the interest of fairness, Adamu’s successor should be a leader of the party from the North-Central zone.
Faulting those drumming support for the immediate past Governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Ganduje, Gololo wondered what criteria qualifies him (Ganduje) for the role.
“Al-Makura should get the role in the interest of fairness. He is from the North Central and it makes sense to give the zone the position.
“Why are they mentioning Ganduje? Was he able to win Kano State for the APC? What are they talking about?
“If we are talking about fairness, the Deputy Senate President is from the North-West, the Speaker is from the North-West. Now, they are talking about taking the chairmanship of the party to the North-West. Is that fair?” he queried.
Gololo further charged Tinubu to be guided by justice even as he urged him not to forget that it was not only the North-West zone that gave the vote which fetched him the Presidency.
“The North-West is not the only zone that voted to make him (Tinubu) President. He should consider this as the leader of the party and ensure that the position is retained in the North-Central,” he added . https://punchng.com/apc-crisis-nwc-members-oppose-ganduje-tip-north-central-for-chair/?amp
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| Crime › Amotekun Arrests 80-year-old Ekiti Man, Others For Vandalism by saintbillion(op): 7:21am On Jul 20, 2023 |
The Ekiti State Amotekun Corps has paraded 80-year-old Michael and 60-year-old Oladosu for allegedly vandalising equipment of the Ekiti State Water Corporation at Okemesi Ekiti in the Ekiti West Local Government area of the state.
The Corps Commandant, Brig.-Gen. Joe Komolafe (retd.), who paraded the suspects on Wednesday, said Michael and Oladosu were arrested by Amotekun operatives at Okemesi Ekiti while allegedly vandalising equipment belonging to the state water corporation.
He said the corps operatives also arrested three suspects for allegedly breaking into a residential house in the Tinuola area of Ado Ekiti, the state capital.
Komolafe said the suspects, 26-year-old Rufai, 30-year-old Ibrahim and 30-year-old Yahaya, were apprehended with the support of residents of the area.
“Our operatives, in the early hours of Tuesday, received a distress call from a member of the public that some suspected vandals had broken into a residential house in the area and vandalised a pumping machine installed in one of the houses in the area, following which they went into action,” he said.
The corps commandant said the suspects would be handed over to the police for further investigation and prosecution.
He urged residents of the state not to hesitate in giving relevant information that would assist the corps in its operations and as well assist in ridding the state of criminal activities.
Komolafe reiterated the readiness of the corps to continue to ensure the security of the lives and property of the people of the state https://punchng.com/amotekun-arrests-80-year-old-ekiti-man-others-for-vandalism/?amp
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| Politics › Train Attack: Court Okays Secret Trial Of Boko Haram Negotiator by saintbillion(op): 7:06am On Jul 20, 2023 |
The Federal High Court in Abuja, on Wednesday, granted an application by the Federal Government to protect the identity of the witnesses lined up to testify against an alleged terrorist collaborator, Tukur Mamu. The Kaduna-based cleric and publisher is facing trial in connection with the terror attack on a Kaduna-Abuja train in March last year, leading to the death of at least eight persons with scores abducted for ransom. Mamu, who was arraigned in March this year, is facing 10 counts bordering on terrorism financing, among others. He was accused of receiving ransom payments in the sum of $120, 000 on behalf of the Boko Haram terrorists from families of hostages of the train attack. Mamu was also accused of exchanging voice-note communications in relation to acts of terrorism with one Baba Adamu (a Boko Haram spokesperson). Furthermore, he was accused of dealing in terrorist funds in the sum of $300,000, which were allegedly found in his possession. The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges. On Wednesday, counsel for the Attorney General of the Federation, D.E. Kaswe, took an ex parte application before Justice Inyang Ekwo for an order to protect the identity of the prosecution witnesses. In the motion sighted by the News Agency of Nigeria, the FG prayed for “an order of this honourable court shielding the physical identity of the prosecution witnesses by wearing facial masks and/or the use of screen whenever prosecution witnesses are testifying.” The prosecution also prayed the court to direct the use of pseudonym by prosecution witnesses “and deleting the real names and addresses of prosecution witnesses throughout the proceedings of this case.” Furthermore, the government lawyer prayed for an order “excluding persons other than parties and their legal representatives at the hearing of the above-named charge except for members of the accredited press.” Justice Ekwo, in a ruling, granted the motion as prayed. Earlier, when the matter was called, Mamu, who was the sole defendant in the charge, was not in court. Kaswe then told the court that Mamu was still on his way with the security operatives. “I urge this honourable court to stand down this matter as they are still on their way coming,” he prayed. But the judge refused the application, quipping: “Do you think this is a stand-down court? That application is refused.” The case was subsequently adjourned till July 21 for the commencement of trial. https://cdn.punchng.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/06070846/Federal-High-Court-Abuja.jpghttps://punchng.com/train-attack-court-okays-secret-trial-of-boko-haram-negotiator/?amp |
| Politics › NNPCL Monopoly Ends As Marketer’s Fuel Vessel Arrives by saintbillion(op): 6:48am On Jul 20, 2023 |
First batch of petrol, 27 million litres imported by an independent marketer has arrived in the country, putting an end to a downstream monopoly market once enjoyed by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited.
The vessel, ST Nnene earlier billed to arrive since last week, but was held down off Lome waters due to adverse weather, birthed at Ijegun-Egba on Wednesday following the official end to subsidies by President Bola Tinubu on May 29.
ST Nnene, The PUNCH gathered, had cost Emadeb Energy’s Chief Executive Officer, Adebowale Olujimi, and its bank partners of $17m (about N13b) to hire.
Five financial institutions- Polaris, First Bank, Union Bank, Access Bank and Fidelity bank had bankrolled the deal.
This was as foreign exchange rose from N745 to one dollar three weeks ago, to N845 as of Tuesday, and crude price rising to $80 per barrel as of 1:45pm Nigerian time on Wednesday.
Until now, state oil firm NNPCL had enjoyed a monopoly downstream market for years. The firm had singlehanded imported petrol consumed in-country, and had dictated prices.
Since the end of subsidies which cost the country about N12tn, prices of petrol had risen from an average of between N180/N200 per litre, to N614 per litre as of Tuesday.
While speaking at the ceremony, Olujimi said petrol importation was no longer sustainable.
According to him, resuscitating local refining was the way to go.
He said, “Petrol importation is not a sustainable way for a country to run. From what we saw yesterday when PMS price rose to over N600 per litre, it is an indication that the dynamics of the business is a tough one. It requires huge US dollars to bring in this. The way forward is for local refineries to be revived,” he said.
Representing the Chief Executive Officer, the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, Farouk Ahmed, Sadiq Bashir, explained that the development was an important milestone since the downstream sector was deregulated.
He said, “This is what we have been looking forward to. When we talk about deregulation, people think it’s all about increasing prices. No. Although prices would now be determined by market dynamics, deregulation also opens up the market for other players to come in.
“Yes, we would experience teething problems at first; however, if market forces are allowed to come into play, prices would eventually go down due to high competition. We assure that NMDPRA would continue to ensure quality control of products being sold to the public.”
General Secretary, the Natural Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, Afolabi Olawale, also canvassed for local refining.
He said, “If we want to go for deregulation, we should not go for importation. We should not submit our economy to be determined by foreign firms. But since we are there now, the government needs to speed up on palliatives because things are hard on everybody. We also enjoin marketers to shun excessive profiteering.”
The National Controller Operations, the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, Mike Osatuyi, said issuing licences to independent marketers to import would give rise to competition and fairness in the downstream sector.
He advised marketers to satisfy their customers by selling at fair prices, and dispensing the correct quantity.
https://cdn.punchng.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/15173118/Group-Managing-Director-of-NNPC-Mele-Kyari.jpg
https://punchng.com/nnpcl-monopoly-ends-as-marketers-fuel-vessel-arrives/?amp |
| Romance › Re: You Are To Delete Two From These Options. Which Will You Go With? by saintbillion(op): 9:13pm On Jul 19, 2023 |
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| Romance › Re: You Are To Delete Two From These Options. Which Will You Go With? by saintbillion(op): 9:13pm On Jul 19, 2023 |
Tenrack:
Seun na anyhow human being. Smh. Despite the fame and fortune. seun have refuse to remove it ooo. Seun i am not a Muslim na |
| Romance › Re: You Are To Delete Two From These Options. Which Will You Go With? by saintbillion(op): 9:11pm On Jul 19, 2023 |
pansophist:
I do not smoke, and I do not drink. So the remaining two, leave am for me abeg. 
But wait o, see as the man body masculine? see muscle and definition everywhere. If attracting a woman na your problem, try looking like that man. Go lift weight and eat to loose fat
Na you go run from women. Many men don't know what it means to be truly desired by a woman sensually, and its because they allow themselves to deteriorate, by getting obese with a complimentary potbelly. all these epistle just for woman? My brother them dey please woman? If u like build like mansion she go still cheat |
| Romance › Re: You Are To Delete Two From These Options. Which Will You Go With? by saintbillion(op): 8:53pm On Jul 19, 2023 |
Dyfynezz12:
A nd D
I have never smoked nor drank alcohol before |
| Romance › Re: You Are To Delete Two From These Options. Which Will You Go With? by saintbillion(op): 7:36pm On Jul 19, 2023 |
wumi2017:
A and D ,,I kuku no dey smoke and drink before oya come let me assist u on c. |
| Romance › Re: You Are To Delete Two From These Options. Which Will You Go With? by saintbillion(op): 7:34pm On Jul 19, 2023 |
Omoawoke:
So u don’t want knack? sex is over hype. I dont want it now that I'm still a virgin |
| Romance › Re: You Are To Delete Two From These Options. Which Will You Go With? by saintbillion(op): 7:16pm On Jul 19, 2023 |
Omoawoke:
So which would you delete The empty hennessy carton and the idiot man behind the lady |
| Romance › Re: You Are To Delete Two From These Options. Which Will You Go With? by saintbillion(op): 7:15pm On Jul 19, 2023 |
Tenrack:
You're still in your twenties? |
| Programming › Re: Need Help Downloading Copyrighted Videos by saintbillion(m): 7:13pm On Jul 19, 2023 |
Tenrack:
Good day fellaz. Happy Sunday
So I paid for a course online, and it involves Listening to sounds. But the thing here is I can't download the videos on the site. I have tried different apps. It just doesn't activate the download button. This is very stressful because I can't access them offline. I have to be playing them online every time. I can't minimize my browser or do anything else when this happens
Please help Na small thing na |
| Romance › Re: You Are To Delete Two From These Options. Which Will You Go With? by saintbillion(op): 7:10pm On Jul 19, 2023 |
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| Romance › Re: You Are To Delete Two From These Options. Which Will You Go With? by saintbillion(op): 7:10pm On Jul 19, 2023 |
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| Romance › Re: You Are To Delete Two From These Options. Which Will You Go With? by saintbillion(op): 7:09pm On Jul 19, 2023 |
Tenrack:
you see Seun, na one kind bigot. Is it by force to be Moslem?? My brother the thing tire me oo. He will be busy on twitter enjoying their services,
but can't render same here. seun comot that thing for my profile abeg |
| Romance › Re: You Are To Delete Two From These Options. Which Will You Go With? by saintbillion(op): 6:13pm On Jul 19, 2023 |
Tenrack:
most definitely. we're on thesame boat bro |
| Romance › Re: You Are To Delete Two From These Options. Which Will You Go With? by saintbillion(op): 6:05pm On Jul 19, 2023 |
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| Education › Re: Maduka University Announces The First Batch Of Admission List. by saintbillion(m): 4:26pm On Jul 19, 2023 |
This sch again? |
| Romance › Re: You Are To Delete Two From These Options. Which Will You Go With? by saintbillion(op): 4:18pm On Jul 19, 2023 |
Seun, Lalasticlala, nlfpmod, abeg how do i remove this rubbish from my profile? Pics attach below 
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| Romance › Re: You Are To Delete Two From These Options. Which Will You Go With? by saintbillion(op): 4:04pm On Jul 19, 2023 |
mayor1814:
I'm deleting only one and that is A.
I love the rest. |
| Romance › Re: You Are To Delete Two From These Options. Which Will You Go With? by saintbillion(op): 4:03pm On Jul 19, 2023 |
Ngenge:
Deleting A and D. I have not tasted them since I was here on earth but u have tasted C. U are a bad boy, you are a very bad boy |
| Romance › Re: You Are To Delete Two From These Options. Which Will You Go With? by saintbillion(op): 4:01pm On Jul 19, 2023 |
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| Romance › Re: You Are To Delete Two From These Options. Which Will You Go With? by saintbillion(op): 3:25pm On Jul 19, 2023 |
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| Romance › Re: You Are To Delete Two From These Options. Which Will You Go With? by saintbillion(op): 3:23pm On Jul 19, 2023 |
Reminderz:
how the people with good life and not brainwashed cope...
lol the way you're even saying it as if it's oxygen... lmao... man thats life support. We all need it to be okay |
| Romance › Re: You Are To Delete Two From These Options. Which Will You Go With? by saintbillion(op): 3:10pm On Jul 19, 2023 |
Reminderz:
A and D... no singular benefit... just causing more health complications.... how do u guys cope without A? |
| Romance › Re: You Are To Delete Two From These Options. Which Will You Go With? by saintbillion(op): 3:08pm On Jul 19, 2023 |
Westerhoffe:
Thanks.
I don't need it.
Even if you see me real life, you won't advise I attempt it.
I'm good enough off it. ok boss i respect ur decision. |
| Romance › Re: You Are To Delete Two From These Options. Which Will You Go With? by saintbillion(op): 3:07pm On Jul 19, 2023 |
Westerhoffe:
Sorry sir.
I have about 3 to 4 of them in my contacts. Though them being tear rubber does not guarantee a successful marriage. That's why I let GOD choose for me.
I'm not in a rush.
man ur lucky ooo. All the ones i done meet i was swimming. E be like them swear say i wont meet virgin |
| Romance › Re: You Are To Delete Two From These Options. Which Will You Go With? by saintbillion(op): 3:05pm On Jul 19, 2023 |
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| Romance › Re: You Are To Delete Two From These Options. Which Will You Go With? by saintbillion(op): 3:04pm On Jul 19, 2023 |
Westerhoffe:
Weed! I don't joke with my health at all… never going to start smoking out my lungs like smoked fish. weed is medicinal bro. Na ciga dey bad. Try weed, then u will understand the beauty of nature. |
| Romance › Re: You Are To Delete Two From These Options. Which Will You Go With? by saintbillion(op): 3:02pm On Jul 19, 2023 |
Westerhoffe:
They are very much available my brother. I don't pray to end up with a second hand. my brother since i come this earth i never see ooo. If i see i go marry am asap |
| Romance › Re: You Are To Delete Two From These Options. Which Will You Go With? by saintbillion(op): 2:59pm On Jul 19, 2023 |
MrSinister:
Guy life no be exam. I don already delete those things for real life. No time for dulling |
