12 Politics
Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, September 16, 2017
Ambode treating us well, says Arewa community Kwasu Joseph Alhamdu The Arewa Community in Lagos State has debunk allegations by one Alhaji Mohammed Bambado, who claimed and addressed himself as the Sarkin Fulani of Lagos that the Northern people has been side-lined in the affairs of the state. In a statement signed by the secretary general of the Arewa Community in Lagos and signed by Alhaji Musa Saleh, the group said Alhaji Mohammed Bambado is not in position to speak for the Arewa Community. “The statements credited to him are his personal opinion which we unequivocally submit are practically lies from the figment of his imagination. Categorically, the Arewa people have not been in any way sidelined in the socio-economic and political affairs of Lagos State by the present administration of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode. “Economically, we have been in control of our various markets in Alaba Rago, Iddo Market, Mile-12 Market, Okeodo Market, Gatankowa Market, Lagos State Abattoir, Sabo Ikorodu to mention a few. “We also requested for the development of an ultra modern
market for food products and the state governor approved it and is presently working assiduously on the development of this multi-million market in Imota where the already choked Mile-12 Market will be relocated to. “Politically, we have representatives in various positions in the ruling party, APC and even in the Lagos State government cabinet. Arc. Ahmed Kabiru Abdullahi is presently serving as the Executive Secretary of the Lagos State Water Regulatory Commission. He was appointed by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode. Alhaji Musa Saleh is also serving as EA in the same Commission,” the statement said. The statement added: “Our own Hon. Gambo Manzo is also serving as the SA to the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. During the last local government elections, we also got three principal officers as Majority Leaders of Apapa Local Government Council and Ikoyi/ Obalende Local Council Development Area, Ishaq Ali Danbaba and Sulainman Jibrin respectively. Sani Yau Bichi is also the Chief Whip in Apapa L. G., while Mrs. Sulaiman K. A. is also a Counsellor in Ifelodun Development Area of Lagos State.
AMBODE
“We are equally awaiting various appointments across the 57 local governments for those who contested and lost but aided our great party to victory. As you all know, we had representatives who served as Supervisory Councilors and Special Advisers in 37 Local Governments and LCDAs in Lagos State,” the statement added. The Arewa community called
Anambra 2017: No candidate or godfather can unseat Obiano – Prince Tabansi
on the general public, the Lagos State government and the people of Lagos State to ignore what it described as the fallacious press statement by Mohammed Bambado as they are not in tune with the reality on ground, but a bunkum and a very cheap attempt to create disharmony between the Arewa Community and the Lagos State government. “It is a blackmail to gain
Enugu LG poll: APC applauds conduct of successful primaries
Alphonsus Nweze, Awka
Moses Oyediran, Enugu
A prominent politician and business man in Anambra State has predicted the victory of Governor Willie Obiano of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) in the November 18, 2017 governorship election. Tabansi who spoke to newsmen in his country home, Nri, Anaocha Local Government Area of Anambra State declared that no candidate from other political parties could afford to unseat the incumbent governor in the forthcoming governorship election due to his excellent performance since he took over the governance in the state in March 2014. Tabansi noted that Obiano had an edge over other governorship candidates because there were visible things he had done to show to the people. He said: “I don’t see any of the other candidates or even by the intrigues of godfatherism to unseat him. He is doing his best and his best is good for Anambra people. That is why I am personally working for him. “He is constructing roads, especially in the major food producing areas of the state, which has helped for easy evacuation of agricultural proceeds. He has also constructed one of the longest bridges leading to the agricultural belt of the state and the people are happy with him and would therefore want him to be re-elected.” Tabansi also enumerated some of the achievements of the governor to include provision of security, attracting foreign investors to the state and placing Anambra State among the fastest growing state economies in the country. He contended it was
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Enugu State has applauded the outcome of its primary elections for the Nov. 4 local government polls in the state. The chairman of the APC Local Government Election Committee, Hon. Eugene Odoh, however, said that the party would cancel the outcome in centres that did not comply with party regulations. Odoh, who is the immediate past Speaker of the State House of Assembly, said that the party had directed that all candidates must emerge through direct primaries. “What this means is that every member with party cards must come out to vote individuals of their choice where there are no consensus candidates. “I was in my local government area for the exercise and it came out fine. We are also getting similar reports from most centres. “However, the primaries in centres that did not comply with the rule will be cancelled,” he said. Odoh said that the party decided to participate in the poll after weighing its options, adding that the state governor had assured of a free and fair polls. “We believe that the governor is a democrat and will not like to occasion breakdown of law and order in the state.
OBIANO
improper for former Governor Peter Obi to dump Obiano after bringing him to be the governor, adding that since he had proved himself capable of governing the state, he should be supported to complete two terms. “Though, initially I hesitated to support Gov. Obiano because Peter Obi was bringing him out without consultation but later I decided to change my decision because he was my senior in CKC, Onitsha and the same time my brother by Eri tie of consanguinity. “So, for Peter Obi to turn around now and say that he is going to replace him (Obiano), who is he to say that he can replace Obiano in this state? “People say that Obiano was not a politician before he became the governor, Peter Obi was also not a politician before but people helped him and those people that helped him, he kicked their ass and was shouting there is nothing like godfather in Anambra politics.” Tabansi continued, “He vowed that nobody will be a godfather in this state and suddenly turns around to works to be a godfather,” insisting “ Obi cannot be a godfather.”
political relevance through the backdoor. The administration of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode have been carrying the Arewa community along, we have been having meaningful interactions with the government of Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode and we are very happy with the outstanding performance of his government. “We are calling on our action governor to continue with the cordial relationship we have developed over time and not get distracted by the antics of hate propagators from rendering good governance to us as we strongly believe more and more benefits are coming our way. “Lagos State Government and Kaduna State Government remain the only truly Nationalistic State Governments in Nigeria and we commend them. Thank you Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode. Lets emulate them to make Nigeria work. “The Arewa Community is solidly in support of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s administration as partners in progress, we know how the government is managing the state resources in achieving the massive infrastructural development in the state as Lagosians are witnessing now. And we thank you so much,” the statement added.
“He has charged all involved in the exercise to be fair to all parties and the APC has taken him in his words,” he said. He said that the party had been so proactive and had set up a security committee that would give pre-action notices to security agencies before, during and after the polls. He said that heads of security agencies in the state including the commissioner of police, the military and the SSS had been notified of the development. “The whole essence is to give a pre-action notice of an impending breakdown of law and order within the period. “The posture of the Enugu State Independent Electoral Commission (ENSIEC) is taking at the moment appears as if the election is going to be rigged. “All the indices that surround a free and fair election are yet to be seen. Notwithstanding, we are still going to participate believing that ENSIEC will be fair to all,” he said. Odoh said that the APC would do all within the law to protect its vote, adding that the party would not contest the outcome of the election where it lost fairly. “I can assure our supporters that wherever we win we are going to protect our victory,” Odoh said.