Politics
Daily Times Nigeria Monday, January 29, 2018
s
I have no plan to leave APC–Oni Former governor of Ekiti State and Deputy National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Segun Oni, said on Sunday that he was not planning to defect from the APC to another party. Oni, who was reacting to an online report that he was planning to join a speculated coalition, said there was no iota of truth in the publication. The spokesman for Oni, Mr Steve Alabi, in a statement in Ado-Ekiti quoted his principal as describing the report as the product of the imagination of the writer. The statement read in part: “Why would I decamp to any other political party, either existing or yet to be formed aside the APC. “ I have said times without number, and I want to reiterate it, as far as Segun Oni is concerned, the reason why I’m contesting this election is because of my party. “Therefore, if I’m not the candidate of my party, I will still work for my party, if I lose the upcoming Ekiti APC primaries, I will remain loyal to the party. “Why will I leave the APC? I have been here; we conscientiously fought the PDP out of power, with everything we have got.
ONI “Those peddling the rumours are either bystanders or those who don’t believe in the agenda of President Buhari and who are now trying to find ways of rubbishing people who believe in the president. “I’m a member of the APC and by the grace of God, the Deputy National
Chairman. I don’t know any other party. I don’t have a plan B. My plan A, B or C is APC because I’m not desperate. “Why would I be desperate when I know that honour has no equivalent? So if anybody tells you I want to go to any other party, the question you should ask the person is whether I told him so or if I held any meeting with him where such matter was discussed.” The statement added that it was incongruous that Oni, who just received a PDP chieftain, Sen. Basheer Garba Mohammed, into the APC fold in Kano over the weekend could be defecting himself. “It is not the first time that rumourmongers are spreading such fake stories of decamping about Oni. “The other time, they said he was defecting to APGA. This time, it is a party that is yet to be birthed,’’ it said. “After the failed APGA story, they want to come out again using Oni to gain prominence or sell their platform, but they have forgotten that the credentials of Chief Segun Oni could not be faulted. “So, I will advise them to try another person, but, for Segun Oni, they are already a failure on arrival,’’ it added. (NAN)
Ebonyi 2019: Prepare for defeat, APC tells Umahi The Catholic Archbishop of Abuja Diocese, John Onaiyekan, has advised Nigerians including religious leaders to be get involved in active politics, saying he is involved. The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ebonyi State has said that it defeat the incumbent governor of the state, Mr Dave Umahi in the 2019 election. The party stated this in a five-point communiqué jointly signed by Mr Victor Umeh and Mr Victor Elem-Nnaji, its Zonal Chairman and State Secretary respectively at the end of Ebonyi South Senatorial District stakeholders’ meeting in Afikpo. It said that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led administration of Gov. Dave Umahi had failed to deliver good governance and credible leadership to
the state. “The APC Ebonyi South Senatorial Zone leaders and stakeholders deeply regret the monumental failure in leadership in the state and have accordingly passed a- vote- of no confidence on the administration. “The administration has not only failed the people of the zone, but also the entire state with youth unemployment and lack of solid infrastructure bedevilling the state. “Our party is more prepared than ever, poised, determined and has risen to confront whatever challenges that may stare it in the face as it galvanises the people to wrestle power from PDP. “We enjoin the people to remain calm and not to despair and we are confident of providing competent, credible, reli-
UMAHI able and people oriented leadership in 2019,’’ the APC said.
Obaseki extols virtues of late APC leader Edo State governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki has described late Pa David Ogbomo as an outstanding political leader whose outstanding principles as a politician should be emulated by political office holders in Edo State and beyond. Obaseki made the remarks at the funeral mass in honour of late Pa Ogbomo, a founding member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, at St. Augustine’s Catholic Church, Benin City, Edo State. Governor Obaseki also commiserated with the family of Mr. Francis Osazuwa, a leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in Ward II, Oredo Local Government Area, over the death of his wife, late Mrs. Josephine OviaweOsazuwa. The governor, who was at the residence of the party chieftain in Benin City, said the death of Mrs. Oviawe-Osazuwa was painful and prayed that God should grant the family the fortitude to bear the loss. Speaking at the church service for Pa Ogbomo, Obaseki said “Edo State has lost a political icon, a true leader and father to many. He lived a meaningful life and contributed his part to the development of his community, state and the nation.” “Pa David Ogbomo by all measure was a successful man. His outstanding contributions to the development of his community for over 70 years will remain engraved in the hearts of many. He is one political leader who has stood against corruption and was quick to refuse money from those seeking political offices who visited,” he said. Obaseki promised to construct the road leading to St. Augustine Catholic Church, in Ukhegie Street, Benin City, to honour the uncommon contributions of Pa Ogbomo to political development in the state. He said, “In honour of the memory of Pa David Ogbomo, we will award the contract for the construction of the road leading to St. Augustine Catholic Church, in Ukhegie Street, Benin City.” At the residence of Mr Osazuwa, Obaseki said “We are truly sad over the death of Mrs. Osazuwa, but as believers, we are encouraged to give glory to God in every situation we find ourselves. It is God who gives and takes. As mortals, we are encouraged to accept God’s will in every situation.” Mr. Francis Osazuwa expressed appreciation to the governor and members of his entourage for the visit, and said the visit has strengthened him and members of his family.
Bring home your ideas, Peter Obi tells Nigerians in diaspora Former Anambra State governor, Mr Peter Obi has called on Nigerians in Diaspora to develop full interest in what happens in the nation. He stated that the task of developing Nigeria is for all Nigerians, whether home or abroad. Obi spoke at the inaugural investment conference with the theme of “Investing in Nigeria from the Diaspora: Challenges and Opportunities ” by the Nigerian American Business Forum at Tampa,
Florida. The former governor compared the economies of China, Indonesia, India, Philippines, South Korea and Malaysia with Nigeria, submitting with empirical examples how the nation’s problem emanates from “leadership failure” over the years. Obi said that nothing those countries did was “rocket science”, pointing out that leaders and followers understood set goals and pursued them without dis-
tractions. He thanked the organisers for thinking about Nigeria, saying that he was satisfied since “the very act of thinking about the rot in the country is a proof that Nigerians are becoming aware of the missing link in the development of the country. “Once a people start re-orientating their consciousness towards developmental needs, their salvation could be said to be at sight.”
11
OBASEKI