Politics
2011: Shekarau Joins Race For Presidency
Governor Ibrahim Shekarau of Kano State has declared his intention to run for the presidency in 2011 on the All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP) platform with a promise to engender change.
Shekarau, the only governor that has served two terms in Kano State, made the declaration on Thursday in Abuja at a ceremony organised by “Shekarau for Nigeria Project 2011” group.
According to him, 50 years have gone in the history of Nigeria as a country since independence, and it is therefore time for a new beginning for the nation.
He said the aspiration for a new and better Nigeria could be achieved only when Nigerians “elect a leader who cares, someone whose only interest is to build, whose only interest is to raise Nigeria above everything associated with corruption.”
“A leader whose only interest is to fight poverty and implement policies that will create employment, whose only interest is to put the country on the path of growth by restoring confidence in our system and by honouring our commitments.
“It is with great humility that I offer myself for this selfless service,” he said.
The ANPP presidential aspirant said that it was a common knowledge that Nigerians of every standing and circumstance were struggling relentlessly to improve their lives.
He noted that the entire country “is yearning for an operating environment that is rule-based and transparent’’.
Shekarau also said that the attitude of the components of the society in any nation depended largely on the qualities of its leaders.
“Citizens of a given nation cannot manifest a higher degree of discipline than their leaders.
“Nobody will contest that Nigeria in the First Republic possessed more sense of brotherhood and general decorum than we do today,” he noted.
Such landmark leadership, he noted, was achieved by people like Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Sir Ahmadu Bello, Dr Nnmadi Azikwe and others who displayed laudable virtues and values with the fear of God.
He declared that attitude ”left the colonial masters in no doubt about their sincerity of purpose and commitment to service of the people”.
According to the governor, the attention given to structural development in the place of attitudinal change in Nigeria “has left us with wider roads, but with narrower viewpoints, more degrees but less sense”.
“We planned more but accomplish less. We learn to rush but not to take our turn. We attempted to conquer outer space but not inner space.
‘We build taller buildings but with shorter tempers, so much that our apex law-making citizens could resort to exchange of blow while at work, instead of ideas,” he said.
He, however, argued that if Nigeria got its act together it could change the world.
“In order for that to be accomplished, however, we must take responsibility; we must participate in this new Nigeria enterprise, we must moblise and organise as groups, as communities and professionals and elect responsible leaders at all levels,” he said.
He, therefore, urged the people to come together and elect him as the president to build a better Nigeria.
“With great humility I present myself as one in your number who is committed to provide the kind of leadership you have been yearning for, if you elect me as your president in 2011,” he declared.
In his comment, the Chairman of the occasion, Chief Olu Falae, described Shekarau as a performer who transformed Kano State, that was known for riots and social unrest to a peaceful and stable state in the past seven years.
“I have told him more than once that I truly believe in his ambition to be president, which is motivated by his sense of patriotism and commitment to the unity and progress of Nigeria,” he said.
The former Secretary to the Federal Government, said “the true characteristic of a true progressive movement is its commitment to welfare of the average citizen through policies and programmes”.
“The people of Nigeria deserve better progressive administration than what PDP government has inflicted on them,” he said.
The former presidential candidate on the AD/ANPP ticket called on all progressive parties to field a single list of candidates against the PDP in all elections in 2011.
“I wish to seize this opportunity to call on the leadership of progressive parties to agree to attend a summit of leaders to work out modalities for this historic alliance after Ramadan.
“Consultations are ongoing about the timing and venue.
“I hope and pray that we will not let Nigeria down by failing to reach agreement on this historic platform which is the only way to put the PDP out of business for many years to come,’’ he said.
Politics
Alia Denies Calling For Ganduje’s Resignation
Governor of Benue State, Hyacinth Alia, has denied calling for the resignation of the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Abdullahi Ganduje.
This was contained in a press statement issued on Wednesday in Makurdi by his Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Mr Tersoo Kula.
The Tide source reports that the CPS was reacting to some media reports that the governor had called for the resignation of the APC national chairman.
Kula said the governor at no time called for the resignation of the APC national chairman.
He said the governor enjoyed a good relationship with the Ganduje-led leadership of the APC.
“It is imperative to clarify that at no point did Governor Alia assembled, attended and sent a representative or participated in any meeting to discuss the removal or call for resignation of Alhaji. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.
“The Benue State governor remains firm in his support and allegiance to the leadership of the National Working Committee of the APC, under the leadership of Alhaji Ganduje.
“Furthermore, at no point, whether publicly or privately, has the governor advocated or expressed any desire for the resignation of the national party chairman”, he said.
He said the governor was focused on positively changing the fortunes of the state.
“He is alive to his responsibilities as the leader of APC in Benue State and is doing everything legitimate to reposition the party for future victories,” Kula said.
Politics
LP Re-Elects Abure As National Chairman
The embattled national chairman of the Labour Party (LP), Mr. Julius Abure, has been re-elected for a second term by a unanimous affirmation of delegates despite the protests by the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).
The Chairman of the National Convention and Deputy Governor of Abia State, Mr. Ikechukwu Emetu declared him the winner during the party’s national convention that held in Nnewi, Anambra State, on Wednesday.
Other serving officers of the party were also returned unopposed.
Recall that the NLC had called for Abure’s resignation as party chairman and the immediate constitution of a caretaker transition committee to organize an all-inclusive national convention for the party.
Meanwhile, a factional chairman of the Labour Party in Anambra State, Mr Peter Okoye has boasted that the Nnewi national convention will not stand.
Describing the convention as a sham, Okoye said: “This is not a convention. We are on top of the matter. It’s purely illegal.
“There was no ward congress, no local government congress, no state congress, and now who and who are the elected delegates that are electing the National Working Committee, NWC, members?
“The NLC was not there, TUC was not there, the owners of the party and members of the NEC and BOT members were not there too. So, who is holding the convention?”
Politics
Suswam Blames External Forces For Problems In PDP
Former Governor of Benue State, Gabriel Suswam, has said that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is being undermined by external forces which have rendered the party ineffective as a viable opposition.
Senator Suswam stated this during a live television interview on Wednesday.
He lamented that the party had since after the 2023 general elections failed to live up to expectations of Nigerians as a viable opposition.
Senator Suswam, who blamed the current PDP leadership for the ineffective state of the largest opposition party in the country, said unless there is an overhaul of its leadership, the party would “go nowhere” because the current leadership has lost focus.
He said, “I think there are subterranean forces inferring in the party and they are determining what is going on in the party. And the leadership is acquiescing to it.
“Subterranean suggests that people are trying to control the party from the outside. They are controlling the party from the outside and they are keeping the party in a comatose state.”
The Benue senator accused the party of refusing to call a National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting to help resolve some of the issues arising in the party.
He regretted the inability of the party to resolve the fallout of the 2022 presidential primary election which saw a group of five governors work against the party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 presidential election.
He added that the inability of the Iliya Damagum-led leadership to discipline erring party members worsened the situation.
Senator Suswam said it was wrong for the party not to have sanctioned the G-5 governors and their allies who openly declared that they would remain in the party and work against its interest.
“They were not sanctioned which made others become emboldened to act anyway they wanted. PDP has been weakened since then,” he said.
He said no serious organisation does that, stressing that, “A serious organisation would apply sanctions” based on the laid down rules as contained in its constitution.
He further accused the acting national chairman of the party, Ambassador Iliya Damagum, of occupying the position which belongs to the North-Central zone, following the removal of the substantive chairman, Senator Iyorchia Ayu, who hails from the zone.
Amb. Damagum, who was the Deputy National Chairman (North), hails from the North-East zone but was, as permitted by the party’s constitution, made acting chairman after Ayu’s removal by a court order.
The party’s law provides that the deputy chairman from the same region as the chairman takes over in the event of the latter’s removal from office.
Senator Suswam further lamented that “PDP is comatose now, and nothing can happen now,” adding that it was regrettable that politicians are now preferring to hold talks with smaller parties and not the PDP.
Noting that the PDP was at the precipice, Senator Suswam said, “Until we provide that leadership, PDP will not be a viable platform. We need to overhaul the leadership of the party. There is no pretence about it, everybody in PDP knows it. Without discipline and reconciliation, the party goes nowhere.”
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