The national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, has stated that the party’s campaigns are ongoing in states of the federation, saying that elections are not decided in Abuja. Oshiomhole made this comment yesterday while giving reasons why governors elected on the platform of the party were absent at the inaugural meeting of the APC Presidential Campaign Council. The governors, who are members and also state coordinators of the presidential campaign council, were all absent at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, yesterday. Speaking to State House correspondents at the end of the meeting, Oshiomhole said the governors were busy coordinating activities in their states. “It is because they are governors; they are governing their states. Don’t forget that elections are not defined in Abuja; they will take place in the 36 states . “I’m assuring you (that) there are APC members who are campaigning for the House of Assembly, various federal House of Representatives and Senate constituencies, governorship constituencies. So it will not be helpful to bring them to Abuja.” He explained that the meeting was about policies which would be consummated and translated into practice across the 36 states, 774 local governments and awards across the country. “The key issue was to go through the programme of activities, calendar of campaigns, various interest groups within the country, the business community, the youths, women, people with disabilities and various special interest groups. “The whole country is Mr President’s constituency, so he will have to visit each of the 36 states with appropriate messages, reminding people always. You know, people in the country today , given the challenges of survival, tend to forget where we are coming from; they just look at where we are. “There is a saying that except you know and remember where you are coming from, you cannot appreciate where you are. Even in the life of a man, those who look at those in their front will never thank God enough but when you look at your back and see those behind, then you will appreciate that you have made a lot of progress.” The APC national chairman insisted that the ruling party has “to constantly remind Nigerians of what happened in the last 16 years and what has changed over the past three and a half years, and what will change even more over the next four years, if given the mandate to continue and consolidate.” In his address, President Muhammadu Buhari expressed confidence that the ruling party would win the forthcoming general elections. According to him, the main objective of the meeting was to serve as the forum for collective decision-making to enhance the effectiveness of the campaign effort. Buhari appealed to the members of the presidential campaign council to commit themselves to the task at hand. “There is no doubt that victory is with us: it is ours, but that shouldn’t mean we should rest even for a moment. Even though we are confident of winning, I urge you to work as hard as you can so that we can maximise the scale and extent of our victory. “I urge you to rise to the challenge of the great expectations this party and Nigerians have for you and the confidence that I personally have in the ability of all of you to deliver,” the president said. He further explained that the agenda for the meeting was to consider and approve the structure and operational modalities of the Presidential Campaign Council. On his part, former governor of Akwa Ibom State and chairman of the South South presidential campaign council, Senator Godswill Akpabio, accused the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of running a campaign of calumny and false accusations against the APC. Akpabio remarked that unlike the APC which uses its achievements to campaign, the opposition party has nothing to campaign with, hence the resolve to the use of vulgar language. “APC is very poised not just to undertake very smooth and scintillating and enjoyable campaign but also very poised to win the next election. “We have very few weeks to the general elections, starting with the presidential election, and we are quite ready. As you are aware, so far so good, we are running on the basis of our first term performance. “The achievements of Mr. President are all there for people to see and I think the entire country is quite excited, quite unlike our colleagues in the PDP who do not seem to have anything, except to criticize, attempt to run campaign of calumny and false accusations against us in the APC.” Meanwhile, the APC has said that it was not necessary for everyone on the campaign council to be in attendance at yesterday’s meeting chaired by President Muhammadu Buhari at the presidential villa. The party insisted that matters slated for discussion were to drawn up the timetable and decide on how to distribute their messages to the electorate. Reacting to stories suggesting that governors who are to serve as coordinators in their various states shunned the meeting, the national publicity secretary of the APC, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, clarified that yesterday’s meeting was not the inaugural session as there had been no fewer than three meetings of the council. Onilu said: “The agenda for the meeting had to do with drawing the timetable and deciding on the messaging. It didn’t require everyone in the council to be present.
…as APC Apex leader, Dr. Ajose, LGA Chairman, Alhaja Adeshina Others applaud her exemplary virtue and kind-hearted role in the LCDA
AJAGBE ADEYEMI TESLIM
SPONSORED BY: H&H
It was another colourful and well attended political gathering yesterday at the prestigious Ola-Oki School of Health Auditorium, Ibereko Olorunda LCDA in Lagos state as the former Supervisor for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Hon. Nurat Olayinka-Zubair hosted over 300 widows and aged in the LCDA as she presented them food items and cash gifts to cushion the current economic hardship as part of efforts to celebrate her political associates and mark her birthday anniversary.
Report has it that, this is the seventh edition of its kind since she assumed office as Supervisor for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation before and during the era of the present Council Chairman Honourable SAMOLA.
In her welcoming address to the mammoth crowd, Zubair acknowledged each leader and guest with utmost respect adding that their support, advice, mentorship and prayers have made her to continue steering.
According to her, “I have invited you all here today to come and thank God for what he has done in my life, because this is a time and avenue to appreciate God and to continue to demonstrate the covenant I made with God even before I got appointment that I will continue to feed and support the widows and aged.”
Our correspondent gathered that over 300 widows and aged across the 5 wards in Olorunda LCDA received food items such as rice, garri, salt, tomato paste and cash from the celebrant.
Political gladiators and leaders of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) who attended the gathering applauded Zubair for her kindness, support and love for the party as they all expressed their promise to support her candidature during the forthcoming local government poll.
According to the representative of the Badagry APC Apex Leader, Dr. Sunny Ajose, who was ably represented by the Badagry Central Party Chairman, Alhaji Gafar Meyon, said this is commendable from a former office holder who is not currently serving. He added that what he witnessed here today will be reported to the party and leaders of the APC as he call on other political officer holders in Olorunda LCDA to emulate Zubair leadership style.
The second speaker at the gathering who spoke about Zubair’s unique and leadership style was Alhaja M.l Adeshina. In her words, she said, “I am a living witness to what zubair has been doing in Olorunda since the inception of its first edition up to this seventh edition, claiming that the empowerment program had brought succour to many homes and we need to support the program because this is coming from a woman.”
Also Speaking at the event, Alhaja Princess Kikilemo Pesu Ladipo said Zubair’s humility and generosity is second to none and this good act will take her to places because God will never undermine her intention.
On his own side, Hon. Ashade Joseph said what the celebrant did was purely human as he personally donated the sum of 20,000 Twenty Thousand Naira to support the good initiative and kind gesture of Hon. Zubair.
it will be correct to say, Zubair, a former supervisor for WAPA in the LCDA who work rigorously towards the success of the party during the last Presidential and Governorship poll in state is now vying for the ticket of the number one seat of OLORUNDA LCDA come 2025.
Highpoint of the event was the cutting of the birthday cake and presentation of the packed food stuffs to the widows.
Special Guest at the event where senior staff of the Lagos state Ministry of Information and Strategy, Mr, Ayo Afuwape; Olori Aholu Agano, The First Ajara Agamathen Kingdom, Dr. Chief Mrs. Busola Onilogbo Odedina, Senior lecturer from the Lagos State University, (LASU) Dr. Mrs. Fatimoh Abass, current Supervisor for WAPA in Olorunda, Hon. Chief Mrs. Taibat Abisoye and The LGA Woman leader of Olorunda LCDA, Mrs Esther Asade and other Wards Woman leaders.
Wike and his T-Pain Collaborators playing politics with the suffering of Nigerians
…Atiku preoccupied with genuine issues affecting Nigerians
Our attention has been drawn to the recent remarks made by Mr. Nyesom Wike, which can only be described as another of his theatrical outbursts. Ordinarily, we would not respond, but we recognize that silence might be misinterpreted.
However, we remain calm, knowing that Nigerians are well acquainted with his antics, a lingering symptom of the bitterness he harbours from his defeat to the Waziri Adamawa at the 2022 party presidential primaries.
Mr. Wike’s comments are nothing more than a string of inanities, lacking substance and driven by personal grievances. If he truly believes Nigerians are content with the current state of affairs under the government he serves, it reveals a deeper truth: his priorities lie not with the people but with himself. This self-absorption is evident in his preoccupation with domestic affairs in Rivers rather than his ministerial responsibilities.
While he may seek to divert attention with his baseless rants, we remain focused on the genuine issues affecting Nigerians. It is clear that Mr. Wike is more concerned with self-interest than addressing the real challenges faced by the nation. In contrast, our commitment remains unwavering, centred on the welfare and progress of the people.
Mr. Wike appears to delight in conjuring fantasies, indulging in his imagination, and paying for live TV coverage to launch tirades against whomever he pleases. However, we shall not descend into the gutters where he feels at home. Instead, we prefer to rise above, maintaining our dignity while others revel in the mud.
Former Vice President of Nigeria and presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the 2023 election, Atiku Abubakar has described Nigeria’s former military Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon as a refined and uncontroversial public figure with unwavering commitment to national unity and integrity.
Gowon
In a statement on the occasion of Gowon’s 90th birthday anniversary on Friday, the former Vice President joins Nigerians and others to celebrate this great statesman who had demonstrated leadership acumen, finesse and sagacity in handling the Nigerian civil war.
According to Atiku, “healing the wounds of the civil war through national reconciliation was one of General Gowon’s greatest and indelible achievements.”
He explained that the introduction of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) is a shining example of Gowon’s commitment to national integration by encouraging our youths from different cultural backgrounds to interact with other people outside their own ethnic zones.
“Happily, the NYSC has gone a long way to encourage intermarriages, thereby breaking down the barriers of cultural, ethnic and religious prejudices,” Atiku added.
The former Vice President also recalled that the impact of General Gowon’s national development plan in building infrastructure to boost economic development is still visible on the ground.
Similarly, Gowon was instrumental in the founding of one of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which has helped in forging socioeconomic economic and political integration in the sub region.
He further praised Gowon’s humility and integrity, saying that his modesty and simplicity are some of the remarkable virtues for which he is widely respected.
He prays to the Almighty God to continue to bless him with a longer life and good health in the service of humanity.